Creditflux

Blackstone follows in footsteps of KKR and Ares by converting to corporation
The conversion is anticipated to be effective from 1 July

UBS unveils combined leveraged debt capital markets group structure
The new business will be led by Brendan Connolly, according to an internal memo 

Loan trading round-up: CLO managers fall out of love with First Data
An analysis of loan trading among CLO managers in February shows that First Data is falling down the pecking order with managers selling $182 million of the company's loans

Three "critical safeguards" required for competitive loan syndication, European Commission says
The European Commission has published its final report on European loan syndication and the impact of competition in credit markets, in which it outlines three "critical safeguards"

CQS names CEO for its US business
CQS Asset Management has appointed Michel Brogard as chief executive officer of the firm’s US business

Shenkman targets $500 million for opportunistic credit fund
Shenkman’s opportunistic fund will aim to take advantage of the volatility in the market

Large, liquid loans aren’t always perfect
CLOs could be forgiven for rushing to buy Refinitiv loans — after all it was the biggest LBO since the crisis. But some large managers have abstained, while others have bought opportunistically

Moving on from the late 2018 hangover
It might be too early to call a full recovery, but it’s fair to say that the US loan market is back on track with $48 billion of institutional issuance in 2019 — 88% of which is made up of new issues

BlackRock names global alternatives head amid senior leadership shake-up
BlackRock has reshuffled its leadership and made several senior changes across various parts of its business, according to an internal memo seen by Creditflux

LSTA's Coffey floats five-point plan for Libor replacements
"Unlike Brexit, a benchmark is definitely going to happen", the audience at the IMN European CLO and Leveraged Loan conference heard 

Leveraged loans pose credit risk but not systemic risk, conference told
Regulators and the press need to understand the difference between credit risk and systemic risk, claimed panelists at the IMN European CLOs and Leveraged Loans conference

New manager Resco lands ex-credit head to found advisory board
Resco Asset Management, a London based asset manager set up last year, has appointed the first of an anticipated three advisory board members

Debut manager touts non-ethical CLO
“We are looking at this as a sort of Darth Vader of CLOs,” says the firm's portfolio manager

Mariner founding member rejoins firm as CEO
Mariner Investment Group has appointed founding member Curtis Arledge as its chief executive officer and chairman

US CLO managers look to scale flat WALs in search of flexibility
The anticipation of a downturn in the credit cycle has made investors turn their attention toward document provisions that give CLO managers flexibility

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.  

Muzinich launches multi-strategy credit fund with Italian wealth manager
Available for retail investors, the fund will invest in syndicated loans, private debt and high yield. It will be structured as a European Long-Term Investment Fund

Investcorp hires ex-Medley structured credit head as John Fraser retires
Investcorp has appointed a CLO specialist as co-head of US credit, following the retirement of the firm’s previous sole US credit head

Industry veteran joins B Riley's new credit unit to manage CDOs
B. Riley Capital Management has established a new credit platform 

Dechert adds funds partner in London office
Law firm Dechert has expanded its fund practice with the appointment of a partner from Akin Gump 

Credit manager Post unveils new leadership structure
The reshuffle follows the departure of Post Advisory's chief investment officer   

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.

Antares Capital's Brackett becomes sole CEO after Martin departure
Antares Capital founding partner David Brackett will become sole chief executive officer of the $24 billion firm

Affinion skipped interest payment impacts small number of CLOs
Only two CLO managers could be affected by the debt of Affinion Group, who skipped its scheduled 19 Feb interest payment ($22.2 million) to its first-lien 2022 term loan holders