Blue Owl calls off BDC merger
The firm previously planned to merge its listed BDC, OBDC, with the nontraded BDC, Blue Owl Capital Corporation II

Amundi to take ICG stake as the two launch a private wealth partnership
The two firms will start by creating a private debt European evergreen fund and private equity secondaries-focused European evergreen fund

Finastra's banking software assets pique sponsor interest ahead of NBO deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Non-binding offers due on 11 November; Cinven, Brookfield, Warburg Pincus among suitors

Ares to acquire systematic credit shop BlueCove
The London-based fixed income manager invests in high-yield, corporate investment grade, convertible bonds and other liquid credit assets

Millennium Management explores buying a CLO manager
EXCLUSIVE: the global investment firm, with a multi-strategy hedge fund, is looking to enter the CLO business

HPS partners with Vistina on investment grade ABF
The new collaboration will give HPS parent company BlackRock greater access to the growing ABF market for its investors

Eagle Point and Apple Bank strike equipment finance JV
The new platform will offer bespoke financing options to companies with limited access to traditional bank lending programs

Insurer CNO takes minority stake in Janus Henderson’s Victory Park
CNO Financial Group also agreed to commit a minimum of USD 600m to new and existing investment strategies by the private asset-backed credit firm

Evolving M&A is transforming the capital formation landscape – KKR
'Critical' link between M&A and credit is set to fuel growth in private markets

PGIM and Partners Group to create public-private asset portfolio products
The two struck a partnership to create multi-asset investment products designed for both individual investors and the institutional investor channel

PineBridge explores sale of structured capital fund
EXCLUSIVE: PineBridge Structured Capital Partners III looks to sell debt and equity portfolio; fund invests in junior capital, closed at USD 600m in 2016

Samsung Life becomes latest institution to take minority stake in Hayfin
Insurer Samsung Life joins Mubadala and AXA IM Prime as minority stakeholders in Hayfin

Goldman, T. Rowe partner on public-private asset products for individual investors
As part of the agreement, Goldman Sachs will take a small stake in T. Rowe Price by purchasing up to USD 1bn in the publicly traded asset manager’s common stock

Rithm acquires Crestline, creating USD 98bn alts platform
Crestline adds USD 17bn in assets under management and capabilities across direct lending, fund liquidity solutions and insurance

Asset-based lending increasingly acts as private debt diversifier
Direct lender Bow River is the latest manager to acquire a lower middle market asset-based financing firm as investors seek to diversify existing private debt portfolios

Bow River Capital acquires asset-based lending firm
The acquisition will add a 12-person team and a strategy focused on providing private, asset-based loans to companies in the lower middle market

Venture debt specialist Horizon expands lending to listed, small cap companies
EXCLUSIVE: Horizon Technology Finance revamps its strategy by merging with Monroe’s other listed BDC and expanding its focus beyond traditional venture lending

Churchill’s survey of private equity firms suggests M&A is returning to normal levels
Senior PE executives are confident in both deal activity and returns

AXA Prime, Mubadala take stakes in Hayfin as more private credit firms welcome outside investors
Private credit managers selling GP stakes to third parties has become more common as managers seek ways to spur additional growth

Man Group to acquire CLO and private credit manager Bardin Hill
The USD 3bn credit manager, now named Bardin Hill, is a private credit and US CLO shop based in New York

Blackstone inks new private credit partnership with L&G
PRECIS: The partnership will see L&G gain access to IG private credit assets and the two firms create new public-private credit products.  

The M&A market is normalising – Ares’ Matt Theodorakis
PODCAST: “People are looking to do deals going forward” after taking a pause following ‘Liberation Day’, Theodorakis told Lisa Lee, managing editor at Creditflux, on the latest Credit Exchange podcast

Clearlake seals largest new direct lending deal for Dun & Bradstreet
Ares leads deal, taking USD 1.5bn; Morgan Stanley, Clearlake Capital Markets, Golub and Blue Owl also helped arrange the largest new unitranche ever

Clearlake, direct lenders plan to ink USD 5bn private credit loan for Dun & Bradstreet
EXCLUSIVE: A group of direct lenders led by Ares are wrapping up a USD 5bn term loan and USD 500m revolver, prepping to sign commitment documents within hours

PNC Bank to buy Aqueduct to grow fundraising service capabilities
The acquisition will add to the existing capital advisory services provided by PNC subsidiary Harris Williams