Ellington hires business development head in London
Ellington Management Group has appointed Jonas Frantz to head up business development in Europe and the Middle East, according to market sources

ICG hires from Cerberus as it prepares for distressed opportunities
Intermediate Capital Group has announced that Alan Ross has joined from Cerberus Capital Management to work on special situations credit

Steinhoff CDS auction in limbo due to lock-up and CVA
A date to settle CDS referencing Steinhoff Europe had still to be agreed as Creditflux went to press — more than a month on from when the EMEA Determinations Committee (DC) ruled that the company had triggered a failure-to-pay credit event.

Credit Suisse adds special situations trading head among raft of hires
Credit Suisse has continued to build momentum in its credit business with the hire of a managing director to head special situations and loan trading with its Europe, Middle East and Africa credit products business, following on from nine others across its London and New York credit business

US pension fund to commit $1.1 billion in private credit by 2020
Investment consultant NEPC has recommended that Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) commit $550 million in private credit in both 2019 and 2020, according to a private credit review  

Pemberton closes strategic credit opportunity strategy at €1 billion
Pemberton has closed its first fund dedicated to strategic credit opportunities today

Clearlake casts $1 billion net for second opportunistic fund
The Santa Monica based firm has upped the target size for its opportunistic credit, distressed and structured equity fund  

Jefferies subsidiary and Stonyrock plan mid-market alternative manager stake acquisitions
The new joint venture will invest in private equity, credit, hedge funds, real estate, venture, and infrastructure firms

Maryland pension carves out private debt bucket
The Baltimore pension fund has also mandated a total of $25 million to one direct lending fund and one distressed debt fund 

Searchlight nears first close for $2.75 billion special situations fund
Searchlight Capital Partners is expecting to hold a first close for Searchlight Capital III April, according to documents seen by Creditflux

Distressed specialists monitor weaknesses in direct lending
Stressed and distressed debt managers might be best served by looking at the direct lending market for opportunities. Sources say that two of the most experienced direct lenders in the business have been forced to deal with problem credits in their portfolios

Danish pension fund eyes niche credit opportunities
PensionDanmark is preparing for more volatility in 2019 by casting its eye towards niche opportunities in the special situations and distressed debt market. The Copenhagen-based pension fund last month merged its alternatives and private debt platforms

New Look bankruptcy credit event question put before Determinations Committee
The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee for the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region has been asked to rule on whether New Look, the UK based clothes retailer, has triggered a bankruptcy credit event

Californian pension reveals 2019 private credit plan
Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association is considering committing up to $80 million to private credit funds, following a recommendation of its investment consultant NEPC  

Belgian pension fund appoints JP Morgan to run allocations to alternative investments
Hydralis, the statutory pension manager of Belgium water utility Vivaqua, has appointed JP Morgan to manage the fund’s allocation to unlisted assets for an eight years period, Creditflux has learned.  

US pension backs Vista credit fund
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) has approved a $50 million commitment to Vista Credit Partners Fund III, according to documents from the March board of trustees meeting  

Restructuring partner rejoins Allen & Overy after buy-side stint
The law firm has bolstered its funds practice in London 

Steinhoff has triggered failure-to-pay credit event, rules DC
Steinhoff Europe has triggered a failure-to-pay credit event, the EMEA Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee has ruled unanimously

Steinhoff Europe failure-to-pay credit event question posed to DC
The EMEA Determinations Committee has been asked to rule on whether Steinhoff Europe has triggered a failure-to-pay credit event, following the retailer’s lock-up period request

UBP expands alternatives business with credit Ucits fund
L’Union Bancaire Privée has expanded its alternative investment offering, teaming up with New York-based Global Credit Advisors for the launch 

Värde partners with Guber on €734 million NPL deal
Värde Partners along with Guber Banca have led a group of investors to make a joint acquisition of a €734 non-performing loan portfolio originated by 22 mutual, rural, and cooperative banks spread throughout Italy  

Brookfield strikes deal to buy 62% stake in Oaktree
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to buy a 62% stake in Oaktree Capital Management in a move which will lead to the creation of one of the largest asset managers in the business.

Connection hires from Invesco for head of funds role
London's Connection Capital has named Lorna Robertson as the firm’s new head of funds

US pension fund earmarks $375 million for various credit strategies
Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (Mass PRIM) has committed $125 million to distressed, $100 million to aviation investments, while earmarking $150 million for structured credit    

Kartesia fills vacancy in DACH with key hire from Bayside
Kartesia has hired Guiseppe Mirante as its head of credit opportunities for DACH, according to an announcement today