Anna Devine

Beechbrook Mezzanine II has deployed almost two-thirds of the €67 million it had raised by its first close, as it prepares to wrap up the fundraising in June.

Audrey Howe has joined the Canadian firm to help manage the expansion of its real estate debt platform.

The investment specialist has signed a memorandum of understanding with UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaulo and restructuring specialist Alvarez & Marsal as a precursor to establishing a vehicle that would house some of the lenders' distressed corporate loans.

The Chinese state-owned bank plans to attract foreign investors in a bid to improve access to a hitherto relatively impenetrable sector. 

The placement agent has also added a new partner, former Blackstone managing director Martin Donnelly, to lead its efforts in the region.

The chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland's Irish subsidiary told a government committee that about 35 percent of its SME loan book is classed as distressed.

The asset manager has provided €110 million of acquisition financing for a Dutch residential portfolio.

Macquarie Lending has provided a debt and equity package to support the acquisition of ACH Care Home.

The supply-demand imbalance in the European loan market is leading to more highly leveraged transactions and more borrower-friendly terms, the ratings agency warns.

The upsized issuance will reduce equity in BMC Software to less than 7 percent.