Market favours retrospective over forward-looking approach to Ibor benchmark fallbacks, says Isda
New benchmark fallbacks for derivatives contracts that reference interbank offered rates are likely to be based on the “compounded setting in arrears rate” and the “historical mean/median approach to the spread adjustment”, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said

Pro Mach packs biggest punch for CLOs as lev loan index takes a tumble
 The US manufacturer's $819 million Term Loan B, due March 2025, dropped 0.76% on Monday from Friday’s close

Till debt us do part: CLOs have and hold David's Bridal loans as they plummet 10.87%
CLOs hold $26.63 million exposure to David’s Bridal, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday

24 CLO managers hold J Crew loan as it drops 4.62%
A total of 109 CLOs hold $219.4 million exposure to J Crew, whose Term Loan B traded down 4.62% from yesterday 

Recent CLO debutant Vista brings in GSO official to lead credit team
Vista Credit Partners has hired a former GSO official to lead its credit team

Ex-Citi CDO trading chief joins Jefferies as head of European fixed income
Jefferies has appointed a former Citi European credit and pre-crisis CDO trading head to lead its European fixed income business

US clothing brand default leaves CLOs exposed
As many as 100 CLOs are among the holders of debt issued by FullBeauty, which defaulted on 31 October on an interest payment to its $345 million second lien loans  

European loan issuance set to decline in 2019, says Moody's
The outlook for European leveraged loan issuance remains strong for next year, according to report by Moody’s, although levels will depend on M&A activity

Selling at the time of the default or downgrade can often be the worst value decision for the CLO
CLOs don’t have to be forced sellers during distress cycles: skilled CLO managers and well-structured indentures can give optimal recoveries, says our columnist Thomas Majewski

Kicking the tyres: CLOs survive examination as bankruptcies tick higher
US CLOs are weathering the turbulence triggered by a couple of bankruptcies in the broadly syndicated loan universe, namely US retailer Sears and American Tire Distributors. Those bankruptcies, filed on 15 and 4 October, respectively, have failed to dent CLO structures

Ares ups its target for US senior direct lending growth to $4.7 billion
Following $5 billion of inflows into global direct lending in the third quarter, Ares has upped the target for its US direct lending strategy 

LSTA asks for return of CLO bond buckets as part of Volcker reform
The Loan Syndication and Trading Association is advocating the return of high yield bond baskets within US CLO portfolios in what could be another sign of the shackles being loosened on CLO regulation in the US

OFS holds IPO for $50 million CLO fund
OFS Capital Management has held an initial public offering for its closed-end CLO fund, OFS Credit Company

Serone expands structured credit team as former GoldenTree official joins
London-based Serone Capital Management has added to its team with the hire of a structured products specialist

Axonic unveils plans for credit interval fund
New York-based Axonic Capital has registered its income producing offering Axonic Alternative Income Fund with US regulators

Loan managers need an equity-like mindset instead of relying on docs
Octagon's Lauren Basmadjian takes our credit quiz and talks about buying CLO equity in 2009, the impact of technology on the retail sector and Eddie Murphy's 1980s heyday

If the loan was not cov-lite, it is likely that Weight Watchers would have defaulted
Cov-lite loans have negative connotations, but they will enable some companies to trade through a bad patch and return to health  

Pension fund hires portfolio manager to oversee loan and CLO investments
PensionDanmark has hired a senior portfolio manager to oversee its credit investments

CLO managers give ESMA requirements a test run
This year has already broken records for the European CLO market, but a new dose of regulatory uncertainty could put that growth at risk

CLO market gauges counterparty risk as it predicts economic cycle will turn
Credit is showing symptoms of a cycle in its latter stages, according to CLO market participants. While this makes loan and manager selection important, participants are increasingly focusing on counterparty risk.

August: fund performance
CLO spreads jumped wider in August, but funds that invest in these assets have been able to outperform

September: credit funds at a glance
White Oak Global Advisors held a $2.1 billion final close on a new direct lending fund, while Phil Raciti's move from CVC Credit Partners to Halcyon Capital Management was one of the biggest moves in the credit industry

Symphony CEO Stein steps down after 19 years
Symphony Asset Management's CEO and CIO has resigned, with four colleagues assuming his responsibilities

Halcyon poaches CVC's US performing credit head Raciti
Halcyon Capital Management has poached CVC Credit Partners’ Philip Raciti and appointed him head of US performing credit and portfolio manager

BlackRock becomes latest manager to explore interval fund structure for credit
Several managers have hit the market with the interval fund structure, as investors look to invest in illiquid strategies through an illiquid fund structure