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PDF | Research | Week of February 12, 2024

Quote of the Week

“We’re focused on the fact that despite all the soft landing talk, we might have yet to feel all the profound impacts of historical rate hikes.”

– Adam Hetts, global head of multi-asset, Janus Henderson Investors. 

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Four for '24 (Fourth of a Series)

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How to Stop Worrying About the Maturity Wall (Second of a Series)

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A recent report from KBRA’s research team (“Private Credit: 2024 Maturity Wall is a Myth”) outlined three conditions that need to exist for looming maturities “to present a challenge to the industry.”


First, there have to be a “significant” number of maturities coming up. Second, if lenders have to take losses as a result of their inability to successfully roll these loans, their losses have to “deplete substantial equity cushions” as a result. And finally, if borrowers’ owners “hand over the keys,” lenders must lack sufficient “infrastructure to extract value” from those companies.


From data comprising over 1,800 portfolio companies and $750 billion of private debt, KBRA estimates only 10-15% of their total loans come due in 2024 and 2025. The firm also analyzed the portfolios in the 27 BDCs it rates. Only 14% of those loans mature in the next two years. Nor is this information limited to private portfolio data. KBRA looked at the same information on all BDCs and came up with about the same figure – 16%...

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Episode 3: Mickey D. Levy, Macro Economist

"I believe the U.S.’s favorable characteristics will lead it forward and I remain positive." - Mickey D. Levy

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Chart of the Week

Four More Years

The bulk of private debt doesn’t start maturing until 2027, peaking in 2028. 

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Source: KBRA DLD


(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)

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Stat of the Week

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Loan Stats at a Glance 

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Contact: Ryan Brown / PitchBook LCD

PDI Picks

ESG’s return impact downgraded

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Investors overall appear to have less faith in ESG’s transformative characteristics in the long term, especially those based in the US.

After a period of heightened focus on environmental, social and governance issues, LPs have begun to recalibrate their ESG strategies amid escalating political pushback against such initiatives, particularly in the US...

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Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis

BDC portfolio marks edge higher in most recent quarter*

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*Based on universe of BDCs that have reported 4Q23 earnings as of 2/13/24.


BDC earnings season is in its early stages, with the vast majority of funds still yet to file. However, taking a look at the 16 BDCs that have published their 4Q23 results as of February 13 shows that portfolio loan valuations have edged higher overall, as hopes of an economic soft landing increased and credit spreads tightened...

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Contact: CJ Doherty / LSEG

The Pulse of Private Equity

Over the long term, PE growth and buyout have been standout performers. VC was keeping pace but has retrenched since 2021.

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This assumes investing in our universe of funds for which we have cash flows and net asset value (NAV) data available each quarter...

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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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Fitch’s Privately Monitored Middle Market Portfolio Overview, 4Q23

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In the charts above, Fitch presents aggregate data for MM companies, defined as in the area of $500 million of debt or $100 million of EBITDA or below, that it privately rates for asset managers.


• Interest coverage (EBITDA/interest) is estimated to have declined to 1.6x in 2023 as a full year of increased rates and refinancings done at higher spreads fully flowed through income statements...

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Contact: Brad Hamner / FitchRatings

Covenant Trends 

Synergies & Cost Savings EBITDA Addbacks (Capped vs. Uncapped vs. None Allowed)

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Download Data

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 10.9% as of 2 February, down from the highest level in last 12 months of 12.1% in May 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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GPs target APAC’s emerging private debt market

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APAC’s nascent private debt market is witnessing significant growth, with the amount of capital targeted by direct lending funds rising to $11.7bn from 45 APAC-focused vehicles at the end of 2023, up from $7.3bn by 40 funds at the start of the year, according to Preqin data...

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Contact: Grant MurgatroydPreqin

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.