Back from the dead: CLO risk retention resurfaces in the US
Risk retention is making an unexpected comeback in the US CLO market as more managers look to structure their deals to comply with European risk retention regulations

Credit Rendezvous: the outlook in 2020 across a dozen segments of the credit market
Welcome to the Credit Rendezvous, the first instalment of a regular feature published by Creditflux that tracks credit market dynamics in a dozen segments from investment grade, liquid loans, CLOs and CSOs all the way through to distressed debt. We view this as the meeting point for credit specialists across strategies to share their perspectives

Big firms better prepped for Libor change and less operationally exposed, survey finds
The largest financial organisations are further ahead with their Libor transition efforts, and are likelier to move into 2020 with 'greater confidence' than small and mid-size firms, according to a market survey

Norinchukin's CLO portfolio decreases for first time in years
Japanese CLO heavyweight Norinchukin posted its financial statements yesterday, where it reported a 1.42% drop from its statements at the end of the second quarter

CLO supply set for double-digit drop in 2020, says JP Morgan
US CLO supply in 2020 will be as much as 20% down on 2019, while European issuance will fall 13% year-on-year, predict JP Morgan strategists in a research note. Even so, new CLOs should still outpace existing deal paydowns, as well as high yield primary market net new issuance

CLOs' risk to Japanese banks 'subdued' despite ratings and mark-to-market risk, says Bank of Japan
The risk to Japanese banks posed by their investments in CLOs is ‘subdued’, according to the Bank of Japan Financial System Report

Ares spots growth in Australia and forms distribution JV with Fidante
Ares has teamed up with Fidante Partners to boost its distribution capabilities in Australia and New Zealand across its credit, private equity and real estate strategies

US credit managers make ESG breakthrough after taking a first step via UNPRI
Incorporating a framework for investing in companies based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is a challenge that US credit managers are accepting in growing numbers

Fund performance
A round-up of fund performance

EQT looks to raise €500 million via IPO
The initial public offering is anticipated to increase EQT's flexbility to “pursue growth opportunities” and expand its private market investing business

Carlyle CLO warehouse investment results in 26.7% return for South Korean firm
A CLO warehouse investment in a transaction managed by Carlyle Group has generated a $1.3 million return for Seoul-based Tiger Alternative Investors, according to a report in The Korea Economic Daily

Japan Post Bank's CLO book grows fastest of top five buyers
Japan Post Bank continues its march toward the top tier of CLO investors, with the bank registering JPY 1.32 trillion (around $12.24 billion) of CLOs on its balance sheet as of 30 June, according to its latest financial statements

Bank of Japan keeps rates in check to keep CLOs within reach
The US Federal Reserve’s pivot toward a more dovish monetary policy has buttressed the symbiotic relationship between Japanese investors and US CLO managers

Credit plays a big part as KKR increases AUM by $6.5 billion
KKR grew its assets under management by 8% over the second quarter, according to the firm’s earnings call, which took place on Thursday.

Investor requirements rather than performance is driving ESG push: Creditflux survey
Only 14% of respondents to Creditflux's global credit ESG survey said performance was the main reason they were adopting envoronmental, social and governance-themed strategies

Abu Dhabi fund eyes CLO tranche investments
Having gained exposure to the CLO market via its seed investment in New York-based AGL Credit Management, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is looking to double up by also investing in CLO tranches.

Florida-based manager revives plan for rare emerging markets CBO
RVX Asset Management has launched an unusual securitisation backed by emerging markets debt, according to market sources

US and European investors score new allocations to triple A CLOs as managers 'de-Nochu'
US and European investors in triple A-rated CLOs are in good spirits as the world’s largest buyer of these notes pulls back from investing

CLOs are 11% of Nochu's assets as bank posts JPY 7.4 trillion investments
Norinchukin bought another JPY 600 billion ($4.77 billion) CLOs in the first quarter, taking its total investments in the asset class to JPY 7.4 trillion ($66.8 billion), according to the bank’s latest financial statements

Japan Post Bank's CLO investments grow another 17.13% in first quarter
Japan Post Bank added another 17.13% to its CLO investments in the first three months of 2019, taking its total holdings to JPY 1.18 trillion ($10.63 billion)

16% of insurers plan CLO allocation increase, survey finds
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has released its annual insurance asset management survey

Japanese investors must confirm assets are appropriate... CLO managers can provide assurances
The stipulation that Japanese banks invest in appropriately formed assets is unlikely to hurt the CLO industry

Mizuho looks to make return to CLO management
Mizuho is shaking up its credit business in Europe and is pushing into CLOs as both manager and arranger, according to several sources

Past Returns: Repacking in land of the rising sun
Five years ago in Creditflux, we reported that Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ was embarking on a strategy of buying repackaged CLO triple A notes denominated in Japanese yen

Japan regulation affords CLOs breathing room
Japan’s regulators have avoided disruption of the global CLO market by softening the impact of their risk retention rules that came into effect in March