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

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

Clearlake launches Clearlake Credit to chase private and public credit investments
The new platform will integrate the newly acquired MV Credit and WhiteStar Asset Management

Bank-asset manager partnerships reach European shores
EXCLUSIVE: the recent announcement from Arini and Lazard shows how new entrants into the direct lending market might copy the US model of leaning on bank partners

CLO manager M&A driven by search for talent and scale

M&G to acquire majority stake in P Capital Partners
London-based investment firm to take 70% share in Swedish private credit business  

This time around, BlackRock will be poised to be a shaper of the move
USD 12bn seems a lot to pay for HPS. But BlackRock urgently needed to catch up in private credit

NY Life Investments acquires stake in European mezz specialist
New York Life Investments and affiliate Candriam has agreed to take a 40% stake in Andera Partners, a European investment manager specializing in PE investments and mezzanine debt

BlackRock acquires HPS in USD 12bn deal
BlackRock has acquired HPS Investment Partners for USD 12bn in an all-stock transaction, creating a private credit franchise with a combined USD 220bn in client assets

Fidelity Investments buys Fidelity International’s European CLO platform
Life has become a little simpler for CLO investors, as the two different Fidelity CLO platforms combine into one manager

PSL acquired by investment bank Houlihan Lokey
London-based CLO valuation service Prytania Solutions Ltd. (PSL) has been acquired by investment bank Houlihan Lokey

Wendel announces purchase of majority stake in Monroe Capital
French investment firm Wendel announced on Tuesday it has agreed to acquire 75% of US private credit firm and CLO manager Monroe Capital for USD 1.13bn, as part of its planned expansion into third-party asset management.

Deals and prospective deals create optimism about European M&As
After years of lacklustre activity, M&A and LBO green shoots are emerging in Europe

Clearlake Capital agrees to buy MV Credit
Clearlake Capital has agreed to purchase European credit manager MV Credit Partners from Natixis Investment Managers

Janus Henderson inks deal to buy private credit manager Victory Park 

BNP Paribas announces negotiations to buy AXA IM
BNP Paribas said it entered exclusive talks to buy AXA's asset management unit and set-up a partership for EUR 5.1bn

Hayfin agrees to Arctos-backed management buyout
The management team at Hayfin Capital Management is taking over the company in a management buyout backed by Arctos Partners

Lloyds Bank joins forces with Oaktree for European direct lending platform
Lloyds Bank and Oaktree Capital Management have formed a new multi-year European direct lending facility

M&A activity on fire in private credit despite overall M&A slowdown
The M&A market has had a rough time in the past 12 to 18 months, but there’s one area that’s bucking the trend: private credit

New direct lending business formed after management buyout
503 Capital Partners, a new direct lending business, has been formed as part of a management buyout of Tortoise Capital Advisor's private credit arm

Hayfin raising new direct lending fund while narrowing potential buyer list
Hayfin Capital Management is fundraising a new European direct lending fund even as the UK asset manager narrows down a list of potential acquirers to buy the firm

Pensions specialist Broadstone snaps up credit risk shop
Broadstone has acquired credit and analytics firm Vestigo Partners Limited for an undisclosed amount, as the UK-based pensions, investments and employee benefits specialist expands its credit risk capabilities

AEW Europe completes deal to buy private debt manager Natixis
AEW Europe has finalized a deal to buy private debt platform Natixis Investment Managers International for an undisclosed amount, as the European real estate investment manager continues to expand its global direct lending footprint

Impax Asset Management scoops up Danish boutique manager
Impax Asset Management, an asset manager that invests in the transition to a more sustainable economy, has agreed to buy a boutique Danish business

Manulife Investment agrees deal to buy CQS
Manulife Investment Management, the global wealth and asset management portion of Manulife Financial Corporation, has agreed to buy London-based alternative credit manager CQS, including the CQS credit platform and CQS brand