Elfa forms private debt committee
The European Leveraged Finance Association has launched a new private debt committee which aims to providea forum for direct lenders 

BlueCrest settles SEC charges of favouring internal fund over client capital
BlueCrest Capital Management has agreed to pay $170 million to settle charges related to a fund that managed internal capital

Six European CLO managers switch to Ireland after Dutch tax hike
European CLO managers have been rapidly shifting their Netherlands-domiciled SPVs to Irish DAC vehicles, according to sources, including PGIM, Barings and Cairn

European CLO managers switch legacy deals to originators ahead of Brexit deadline
A few European CLO managers are undertaking house keeping ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period in January, by switching the method by which their legacy CLOs comply with risk retention from sponsor to originator

Partners triggers frequency switch event on European CLO
Partners Group has made the rare decision to flip the frequency switch on one of its European CLOs

European CLOs should obtain STS certification, urges ACC
The Alternative Credit Council has urged policymakers to allow European CLOs to obtain Simple, Transparent and Standardised (STS) certification in a bid to boost non-bank lending

Dislocation and costly payment debacle highlight loan tech lag
Coronavirus-led dislocation in the leveraged loan market, as well as a bank’s recent claims of human error in making a large loan payment, underscore the industry’s need to embrace long-overdue efficiency improvements

Changes in scope for CDS indices and tranches ahead of roll
Structural changes look to be afoot globally for CDS indices and tranches ahead of the September roll, with IHS Markit weighing amendments to products in all three traded regions

It takes just a few CLO collateral managers selling into the distressed community to start cracks forming
It is becoming increasingly clear that CLO collateral managers need to improve their collaboration efforts in distressed situations

US swaps rule relaxation brings underperformance of bank CDS
US Federal Reserve changes to the Volcker rule has caused bank stocks to surge, but credit market perceptions are less positive

VAT guidance leaves CLO managers in 'limbo' as they weigh options
The Dutch Tax Authority’s move to ease the pressure on European CLO managers by grandfathering deals against VAT until at least January 2021 has drawn mixed responses

European CLOs earn VAT wiggle room - and varying grandfathering protection
European CLOs domiciled in the Netherlands have been given some breathing room as various stock exchange announcements suggest the Dutch Tax Authority (DTA) will not retroactively impose VAT bills on CLOs

Delay on derivatives phase five initial margin roll-out is vital, says Isda
Regulators must agree to delay the roll out of the next initial margin phase because of the coronavirus pandemic - and notify the market soon, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said in a letter signed by 21 trade associations

CLO manager notices cast doubt on Dutch VAT hike
An expected Netherlands VAT tax on CLOs has been thrown into doubt today, with several managers issuing announcements to their investors that suggested there will be a grace period, as well as no back payment

Dutch VAT ruling to reduce impacted CLO equity returns by 1 to 2%, says BofA
The Dutch tax authority’s decision to charge a 21% VAT on CLO collateral management fees will have a ‘substantial’ impact on equity, with returns likely to be 1 to 1.2% lower going forward, according to a research paper published by Bank of America

Managers seeking bond buckets will need high yield track record
US CLOs could soon be permitted to buy corporate bonds amid an overhaul of the Volcker rule, but market sources say that in the short term bond flexibility is a luxury that will only be afforded to a select group of CLO managers.

Dutch-registered CLO costs to jump 10bp as managers face VAT bill
CLO special purpose vehicles in the Netherlands are to be clogged with a 21% VAT bill on management fees, according to market sources, a blow to equity investors in around 20% of European CLOs

New accounting rules could be the axe that decapitates zombie credits

Managers face ESG disclosure pressure under ‘ambitious and demanding’ EU regulations
New rules finalised by the European Union will shake up the way managers approach environmental, social and governance investing, sources say. The ambitious initiative is relevant for funds which have a specific ESG mandate — but will also be applicable to firms without an express ESG or sustainability focus.

Credit event protocol goes into force with 60 extra sign-ups
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association is going live today with a protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events from the CDS market, having signed up 1,358 entities

Four days left to join narrowly tailored credit event protocol
Those market participants yet to sign up to the International Swaps & Derivatives Association’s protocol on narrowly tailored credit events have until Friday to do so

Deadline just hours away for CDS users to sign Isda protocol
Midday New York time is the cut-off for market participants to sign up to the International Swaps & Derivatives Association’s protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events from CDS

Search for clarity over reporting templates leads European CLO managers to tech solutions
Service providers are seeking to help European CLO managers comply with their disclosure requirements under the EU securitisation regulation after it emerged last month that relevant reporting must be submitted by March at the latest.

Over 1,200 sign up to CDS protocol
Plans to improve CDS market integrity have received a boost, with the International Swaps & Derivatives Association drawing a stronger than expected response to its protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events (NTCEs).

CDS traders get second extension on narrowly tailored credit event protocol
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association has extended for a second time the deadline for market participants to adhere to a protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events from the CDS market