CPPIB moves into Australian real estate debt fund
The $272.6 billion Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has partnered with Sydney-based Challenger Investment Partners to provide middle market real estate loans in Australia and New Zealand 

Heitman gains $1.3 billion for US real estate debt fund
Illinois-based Heitman Capital Management has raised at least $1.3 billion for its open-ended real estate debt fund, exceeding its $1 billion target size

Credit drives strong returns for five of the largest asset managers in the business
Carlyle is close to hitting its ambitious fundraising target; direct lending has been kind to Ares; and Och-Ziff has decided to shed its US CLO risk retention stakes after exiting its financing agreements

Cheyne holds £600 million final close for opportunistic real estate debt fund
Cheyne Capital Management has held a £600 million ($800 million) final close for its fifth opportunistic real estate debt fund, the firm has announced

PGIM picks up $765 million for US real estate debt fund
PGIM has edged closer towards its $2 billion target size with inflows from at least 19 investors

Savills adds to real estate debt capabilities with initial 25% acquisition in DRC
Savills Investment Management has acquired an initial 25% stake in specialist real estate debt provider DRC Capital. As part of the deal, DRC has granted Savills a call option to acquire the remaining 75% interest in the firm in 2021

GAM launches new commercial real estate debt fund
Zurich-headquartered GAM Investments has launched of a new commercial real estate debt fund, the firm announced today

KKR forms lending JV to target "clear need for UK mainstream housing development"
KKR and London-based Urban Exposure, a specialist residential development finance provider, have formed a strategic partnership and launched a lending joint venture to target significant opportunities in "mainstream housing throughout the UK”.  

Stone Point acquires majority interest in real estate credit manager Sabal
Real estate credit manager Sabal Capital Partners is set to be acquired by private equity form Stone Point Capital

Investors eye alternative credit ahead of expected interest rate increase – report
Investments in alternative credit are set to rise among institutional investors over the next 12 months, according to an alternative credit report published by NN Investments Partners

Thrivent looks to the heavens for new interval loan fund
Minneapolis-based Thrivent Asset Management hopes to receive blessings and capital commitments from investors, after it has registered its new interval Church Loan and Income Fund

Texas pension fund mandates $100 million to real estate credit fund
Texas County & District Retirement System has mandated $100 million to a real estate credit fund managed by New York-headquartered Taconic Capital Advisors

Square Mile boosts real estate debt strategy with $152 million
New York-headquartered Square Mile Capital Management has raised at least $152 million for its second credit fund 

IFM looks set to launch infra debt fund for Korean institutional investors
IFM Investors and KDB KIAMCO are looking to launch their second joint infrastructure debt fund – this time, targeting Korean institutional investors

Brunswick holds €640 million final close for Nordic real estate debt fund
Nordic real estate lender Brunswick Real Estate Capital has held a final close for its second senior debt fund, with capital commitments reaching over SEK 6.6 billion (€640 million)

BlackRock seeks $1 billion for new multi-strat opportunities fund
The new trust will invest at least 80% of its assets in fixed income securities and up to 40% in special situations, SEC filings reveal 

Octopus appoints head of structuring
UK-based property lender Octopus Property has appointed Matthew Pritchard as head of structuring, the firm announced today

Greystone notches up $750 million final close for real estate fund
New York-headquartered Greystone has held a final close for its Greystone Senior Debt Opportunity Fund with $750 million capital commitments

Trawler banks $151 million for inaugural real estate debt fund
New York-based Trawler Capital Management has raised just over $151 million for its inaugural real estate debt fund, Creditflux has learned

RM launches “highly defensive alternative fund” with 7-8% total return target
London-headquartered alternative credit fund manager RM Capital has launched a “highly defensive alternative fund”, VT RM Alternative Income Fund, which it claims to be the first of its kind

Real estate debt takes off as funds raise billions
Octopus's Ludo Mackenzie on why real estate debt is attractive: “In absolute terms, property yields are close to where they were in 2007, which would imply that the asset class is fully priced. In relative terms, however, compare commercial property yields to the risk-free rate and there is a healthy margin of around 3.5%.”  

Aviva establishes real assets platform and sells real estate multi-manager business
London-based Aviva Investors has established a new £37 billion real assets platform, which aims to integrate real estate, infrastructure, structured finance and its private debt business

Real estate debt set for major growth in the middle east, accordng to report
Real estate private debt is set to see major growth in the middle east over the next five to 10 years, according to joint research by JLL and Clifford Chance

Ostrum and Natixis unite to launch real asset private debt platform
The new real asset private debt arm will target €6 billion AUM by 2020 and focus on three sectors: real estate, infrastructure and aviation

San Francisco pension fund to deploy up to $4.5 billion in private debt
The City and County of San Francisco Employee’s Retirement System has revealed details of its new private debt pacing plan - which will see it deploy up to $4.5 billion and partner with up to 25 private debt managers over the next six years