Sector developments and company hires

Strategic partnership expanded
Pretium has entered into an expanded strategic partnership with American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company (AEL), building upon AEL's prior investment commitments with the firm and increasing total commitments to US$1bn, with pre-agreed terms for expansion to US$2.25bn. The investments will initially be primarily deployed into attractive residential credit assets sourced and managed by Pretium.

In addition, AEL has invested US$100m in the growth of Pretium's management platform. The firm intends to use the proceeds to expand its growing franchise in real estate, residential credit and corporate and structured credit.

In other news…

EMEA
Alantra has appointed Francesco Dissera as md, to lead its new securitisation activity, alongside James Fadel’s secured financing activities. Dissera joins the firm from Banco Santander, where he led its Continental Europe securitisation business. Prior to this role, he was head of structuring and advisory at StormHarbour Securities, and has also worked at UBS and JPMorgan. Dissera and Fadel will lead a London-based team of more than 15 senior professionals dedicated to advising on structured finance transactions across Europe.

North America
DFG Investment Advisers has recruited Rehan Virani as ceo, overseeing management of the firm, spearheading strategic fundraising initiatives and developing tailored investment solutions that align investors’ interests with DFG’s core competencies in structured and corporate credit. Virani most recently served as head of business development for private debt for the Americas and Asia at Partners Group and before that worked at Bardin Hill Investment Partners, Napier Park Global Capital and Credit Suisse. Additionally, DFG is expanding its leadership team with the promotions of Kashyap Arora to co-cio, Selma Cilka to co-chief risk officer and Alex Nerguizian to co-head of business development.

Flat Rock Global has hired Laurent Rimmen as md within its capital markets team, specialising in marketing and client relations with institutional investors, registered investment advisors (RIAs) and family offices. Rimmen was previously an md at DFG Investment Advisers, responsible for business development, marketing and client relationships. Before that, he worked at Hybrid Financial, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Société Générale. 

Pemberton has unveiled the latest step in its strategic expansion into the US and Canadian markets, with the appointment of Scott Hamilton to the newly created role of md for North American business development. Hamilton will lead institutional client coverage and consultant relations for Pemberton’s European private debt strategies in the region. He brings 19 years of experience of client coverage and structuring solutions across a range of alternative credit opportunities, most recently as md, institutional distribution at Alcentra. He previously held senior roles at Bank of New York Mellon and Thomas Weisel Asset Management.