Distressed loans get IHS Markit workover as tech service aims to cut settlement times
IHS Markit is unveiling an electronic solution through its ClearPar platform aimed at simplifying trade settlement for distressed leveraged loans, an area that has greatly lagged efficiency in the par loans market    

Crestline targets $1.75 billion for 'all weather' fund but investor questions fund size
Crestline Investors is seeking $1.5 billion capital ($1.75 billion hard cap) for its next 'all weather' global special situations fund, Crestline Opportunity Fund IV, with the Fort Worth-based firm looking to hold a final close in October 2019. But one institutional investor has raised concerns about the size of Crestline's latest fundraise.

JP Morgan AM closes first special situations fund
JP Morgan Asset Management has held a final closing for its first special situations fund, with more than 50% of investors backing the fund to be first-time investors in a JP Morgan Alternatives fund

Highland LP’s bankruptcy could trigger power grab, as hunt for assets begins
Creditors to Highland Capital Management's limited partner subsidiary are calling for a change of management to handle the firm's emergence from bankruptcy protection

Maine pension boosts alternative credit bucket with $50 million US special situations mandate
The $14.9 billion pension fund continues to be underweight its 5% target allocation to alternative credit 

US university backs Kayne's mid market fund
The University of Michigan Regents has committed $25 million to  mid market fund with a flexible remit 

Direct lending across the Atlantic: Creditflux unveils two direct lending reports
Creditflux is pleased to unveil two direct lending reports with the third edition of European Direct Lending Perspectives now available, along with the inaugural US Private Credit Perspectives report.

Russell and Mediobanca launch multi-asset fund with CLO allocation
Mediobanca Private Banking has joined forces with Russell Investments to set up a fund that has a 20% allocation to credit, sources say  

Ropes & Gray adds two global finance partners in New York
The law firm has poached two partners from Willkie Farr & Gallagher

CarVal’s independence backed by five-year Cargill loan
CarVal Investors’ management buy-out from parent company Cargill will be financed with a five-year term loan from Cargill alongside equity contributions by management, documents seen by Creditflux reveal.

Narrowly tailored event protocol set to go live in weeks
Investors have until 14 October to sign up to an Isda protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events (NTCEs) from the CDS market.

Roll week leaves CDS in strange places
CDS traders navigate a much-changed landscape in October, after one of the most impactful index rolls in recent times. 

Ucits at a glance
A round-up of ucits fund performance

Franklin Templeton reorganises long-short credit fund team
Asset manager Franklin Templeton Investments will make changes to the portfolio managers for the Franklin K2 Long Short Credit funds, effective from October

Michigan pension commits over $300 million to credit
State of Michigan Retirement System has earmarked $302 million for new commitments to credit during the period April to June 2019, according to a document seen by Creditflux.  

Texas pension to lift direct lending budget to $250 million
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) is considering investment in a number of direct lending funds, with existing and new managers, according to documents seen by Creditflux  

Thomas Cook looks set to fly solo as default in outgoing Crossover series 31
The Determinations Committee has accepted a request to rule on whether Thomas Cook Group has triggered a bankruptcy credit event, after the UK-based travel company filed for chapter 15 protection in New York

Black Diamond hires veteran distressed debt specialist
Black Diamond Capital Management has appointed a senior ex-BlueMountain distressed debt specialist to its team in Greenwich, Connecticut

MacKay Shields integrates CVP's loan team while spinning out distressed debt
MacKay Shields has spun out the distressed debt business of Credit Value Partners and focus resources on CVP’s leveraged loan platform

Texas pension awards $250 million to US lending fund
Texas County & District Retirement System has awarded $250 million to a special situations fund managed by Silver Point Capital. The commitment will sit in its direct lending bucket

Texas pension awards $150 million to first distressed debt commitment this year
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) has awarded $150 million to global distressed debt fund, Davidson Kempner Long-Term Distressed Opportunities Fund V

Texas pension to invest up to $225 million in distressed debt
Investment consultant Cliffwater recommends an annual commitment of up to $225 million in distressed debt to Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), according to documents seen by Creditflux

Boston-based pension backs Searchlight distressed fund
Cambridge Retirement System, the $1.27 billion pension fund, has committed $150 million to Searchlight Capital Partners III during the second semester of 2019, according to documents seen by Creditflux.  

CIFC preps inaugural distressed debt fund
The New York-based firm is the latest in a line of managers to have begun fundraising for an inaugural distressed debt fund

Direct lenders brace themselves for distressed opportunities
Credit managers are launching distressed vehicles with a twist by narrowing their focus down to the direct lending market.