Portfolio managers wary of US default rates, IACPM survey reveals
Portfolio managers are more pessimistic about North American corporate defaults in the next 12 months than other global regions, according to the latest survey by the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers

US loan trading: Sinclair loans dominate the airwaves as CLOs tune in
Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Diamond Sports – both subsidiaries of issuer Sinclair - worked their way into CLO portfolios in July, with 91 managers purchasing $1.42 billion of the loans in July

Trump tariffs and oil slip dent Europe vs US credit decompression trades
Underperformance of US credit derivative indices at the end of last week has created a trading entry point for those still convinced that Europe has more problems. But bearish factors continue to coalesce on both sides of the Atlantic

Market rout drives US/Europe credit convergence, as Brazil leads Latin widening
Credit spreads have sharply widened globally as financial markets are being rocked by concerns for a trade war and rising US rates. An equity-led rout in the US yesterday afternoon

Pimco raises nearly $700 million for new real estate debt fund
The vehicle will invest in private and public real estate debt opportunities, including senior mortgages, mezzanine financing, CMBS, and other real estate debt related investments

65% of distressed managers plan new funds over the next year, survey finds
Distressed debt is proving to be a popular strategy for managers, with 65% intending to launch a distressed strategy in the next 12 months, according to a report by Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire and law firm Ropes & Gray.     

Massachusetts pension fund invests $75 million with TowerBrook
Mass PRIM) has made a $75 million commitment to New-York based TowerBrook Capital Partners for its second structured opportunities fund, according to 15 May board documentation

Ares emerges as favourite to take over troubled direct lending fund
Following Oaktree’s wind-down request, the board of the Ranger Direct Lending Fund has chosen Ares as replacement manager - moves which could see the fund change its focus from peer-to-peer loan investments to asset-backed loans

Ares switches to C-Corp structure as it announces "record year" in earnings release
Ares has announced a change to its corporate tax status in an earnings release that described 2017 as “a record year” for the firm

Blackstone's credit AUM up 48% YoY as firm announces "exceptional" results
The firm's credit business enjoyed composite gross returns of 11.2% for performing credit and 7.7% for distressed strategies in 2017

Private debt performance shines in institutional investing study
A quarter of institutional investors say private debt outperformed their expectations over 12 months to 28 August 2017

Managers line up behind tighter guidelines for drawdown funds
Six months after new guidelines were released over the use of subscription lines of credit for private equity-style funds, the aftershocks have been less dramatic than some credit managers expected

Balance of power shifts away from direct lenders
Mid-sized corporations are getting their way at the expense of direct lenders at the negotiation table, recent research suggests.

Angel Oak CMV plants seed for newly risen CLO market
Atlanta-based manager Angel Oak Capital is looking to fertilise the budding market for CLOs backed by subordinated bank debt

Axa IM puts money to work in the US as it closes global real estate debt fund
AXA’s real estate investments arm has closed its 10^th commercial real estate senior debt fund after achieving its capped target of €1.5 billion