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PDF | Research | Week of June 10 2024

Quote of the Week

“If you keep interest rates at this level, there will be folks who just can’t hang on.”

– Randal Quarles, executive chairman, The Cynosure Group, former Fed vice chairman.

 
 

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Where We Are (First of a Series)

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Where We Are (Last of a Series)

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In this series we’ve reviewed market conditions for issuers as we wrap up 2Q and head into the second half of the year. Let’s conclude by looking at how investors view this environment and what questions and conclusions are arising.  


As we’ve highlighted, there are headwinds and tailwinds in deal flow. Demand from managers who have raised significant dry powder is incessant. And for good reason: the uncertain rate and economic outlook is a major driver of investor appetite for private credit. With each month’s inflation data alternating between good (slowing activity) and bad (heating up), no one has a clue on the timing of rate cuts or likelihood of a soft landing. 


This lack of visibility on market direction has combined with private credit’s performance and yield stability over time to convince many investors that alternatives generally – and private credit, specifically – is a strategic play, not a tactical one. Trying to time vintages (“betting” on illiquids, as some would characterize it), ignores how the risk/reward dynamic of the asset class has held up through cycles...

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Chart of the Week

Steady as She Goes

Middle market direct lending spreads per unit of leverage consistently higher than large caps.

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Source: LSEG LPC


(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)

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Loan Stats at a Glance 

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Contact: Ryan Brown / PitchBook LCD

PDI Picks

‘Grace period’ on road to net zero

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Private debt has new guidelines as it seeks credibility in its response to climate change.

The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change – formed in 2001 as a forum for collaboration between pension funds and asset managers on climate change issues – has published the first net-zero guidelines for private debt managers...

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Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis

What are middle market lenders top 3 concerns for the remainder of the year?

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Middle market lenders were asked in a recent LPC survey what are their top 3 concerns for the remainder of 2024...

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Contact: CJ Doherty / LSEG

The Pulse of Private Equity

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In PitchBook’s 2024 US Private Equity Outlook, we forecast this would be the year that continuation funds hit critical mass and would reach 100 or more exits of this nature...

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Contact: Garrett Black / PitchBook

KBRA Direct Lending Deals: News & Analysis

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TTM Default Volume, Count

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Contact: Eric Rosenthal / KBRA DLD

Middle Market & Private Credit

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U.S. BDC Earnings, Credit Headwinds to

Persist in 2024

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Fitch-rated U.S. business development companies (BDCs) face persistent headwinds in 2024, with rising paid-in-kind (PIK) income and continued markdowns of investments during 1Q24 signaling additional credit issues and resultant net investment income (NII) pressure. However, increased utilization of supplemental dividend policies will support dividend coverage, with BDCs well positioned for new originations as M&A activity picks up given relatively low leverage and strong funding profiles.


BDCs continue to tap the unsecured debt markets, with four rated BDCs issuing

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Contact: Eva Olsson / FitchRatings

Covenant Trends 

Average Total Deleveraging Required

To Meet RP Ratio Test

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Contact: Steven Miller / Covenant Review

High-Yield Bond Statistics

Launched Volume

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New-issue Yields

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Weekly Fund Flows

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Weekly fund flows source: Lipper

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Contact: Robert Polenberg / LevFin Insights

Debtwire Middle-Market

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The blue line in the chart is the current dividend yield of the *VanEck BDC Income ETF (currently at 10.3% as of 7 June, down from the highest level in last 12 months of 11.7% in October 2023) that tracks the overall performance of publicly traded business development companies (BDCs, lenders to privately held middle-market businesses that tend to be below investment grade or not rated, with most lending comprising of senior secured loans)...

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Contact: Suneet Chandvani/ Debtwire 

Private Debt Intelligence

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Distressed debt leads Preqin’s performance forecasts

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Preqin forecasts that returns from private debt will remain steady up to 2028 at 9.8% per annum (a drop of just 0.1% from the 2019-2022 period)...

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Contact: William Bennett-Lynch / Preqin

Middle Market Deal Terms at a Glance

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Contact: Stefan Shaffer / SPP Capital Partners

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This publication is a service to our clients and friends. It is designed only to give general information on the market developments actually covered. It is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of recent developments or to suggest parameters for any prospective financing opportunity.