Ares wins $750 million for direct lending SMA with another $100 million in the pipeline
Two US based pension schemes have recently backed or looked to commit to direct lending products managed by Ares Management, according to documents seen by Creditflux  

Ares buys majority stake in Asian credit manager SSG
Ares has bought a majority, controlling interest in SSG Capital Management, an Asian alternative asset manager focused on private credit and special situations 

Ares makes rare move by pulling out of private debt mandate
Greater London’s local government pension pool has lost one of its credit managers after Ares Management withdrew from its role as fund manager on an illiquid loan and private debt mandate  

European Direct Lending Perspectives: fundraising records shatter
Fundraising in European direct lending hit €32.2 billion in September to mark a record-breaking year for the industry, according to the latest version of European Direct Lending Perspectives

US pension backs special opportunities fund
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has committed $150 million to a special opportunities fund, managed by Ares Management Corporation  

Ares hires head of credit trading
Ares Management has appointed a head of credit trading in a newly created role

The ideal home for a loan

Direct lenders start to overcome bank dominance in Spain
Spain is becoming a popular destination for direct lenders — despite the competitive terms offered by local banks. Sources say that borrowers are starting to look beyond pricing to ease of execution and flexible documentation.

Few CLOs charred by Murray bankruptcy
25 CLO managers hold  $389.6 million exposure to the debt of coal company Murray Energy Holdings, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Ohio on Tuesday, according to the latest trustee reports from CLO-i   

Ares joins exclusive group of managers to price six new CLOs in 2019
Ares Management yesterday completed its sixth new issue CLO of the year, joining the exclusive list of managers to have achieved this number of new money deals

Ares spots growth in Australia and forms distribution JV with Fidante
Ares has teamed up with Fidante Partners to boost its distribution capabilities in Australia and New Zealand across its credit, private equity and real estate strategies

Ultra Resources loan downgrade unlikely to burn CLOs
The downgrade of Ultra Resources to triple C is not expected to have a material impact on CLO portfolios, accordng to market sources. Loan investors took the matter in their stride as the issuer's term loan Bs are being quoted today at 68.4/70.2 - up from 68.2/70.25 from Thursday, according to IHS Markit

CLO pipeline: managers look to avoid a repeat of 2018 with new issue flutter
US and European CLO managers are preparing to up the ante in September, but they will have to defy a trend set a year ago

Credit funds at a glance
A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit

CLO managers cash in their chips as Caesars trade pays off
Caesars Entertainment was the most sold issuer in June with $158.8 million of its term loan sold out of CLOs.

Ares appoints Atalaya founding partner to co-head alternative credit unit
He will serve as co-head of Ares' $4 billion alternative credit unit alongside Keith Ashton 

Ares credit business grows 4.4%, driven by US direct lending
US and European direct lending, alternative credit and syndicated loan funds dove growth for Ares Management Corporation in the second quarter, the firm said

Global CLO b-wic round-up: 71% of equity positions trade as supply picks up
The European and US secondary CLO market took a step back this week as the primary CLO generated $7.8 billion of deal flow globally

Ares refinances single tranche of 2016 CLO
Ares Management returned to the CLO primary market on Friday to price its seventh transaction of 2019

Ares and Barings lead the way as triple A spreads regain lost ground
CLO triple A spreads in Europe have reached their tightest point in months, with two deals issuing their first pay notes at 108 basis points over Euribor

Ares brings in $1 billion for first credit special situations fund
The Los-Angeles based manager is now just over halfway to its $2 billion target size

US CLO b-wic round-up: secondary volumes reach new heights with equity lagging
The US CLO secondary space saw almost $1.8 billion of paper listed last week according to CLO-i, a record amount for this year. Equity, however, did not draw much interest

Direct lender hires head of credit as it closes in on European mid market CLO
BeSpoke Capital has made a big hire as part of a reorganisation of the direct lender’s business

New kids on the block dominate awards

Ares hires Natixis deputy CEO for the Americas to credit investing role
Ares Management has poached the Americas deputy chief executive officer from Natixis's investment banking business