Featuring Charts
Chart of the Week: Returns Department
Leveraged loan prices recovered steadily through 2Q and 3Q 2020, bringing cumulative returns to positive territory.
Read MoreChart of the Week: Steady As She Goes
Last year was Exhibit A on how non-traded loans perform amid volatility relative to their liquid cousins.
Read MoreChart of the Week: SPAC Up the Truck
The value of initial business combinations (IBCs) produced by SPAC IPOs has reached unprecedented levels in 2020.
Read MoreChart of the Week: SPAC Race
SPAC related IPOs are showing higher float rotation on the dates deals are announced.
Read MoreChart of the Week: SPACtator Sport
The number of special purpose acquisition company filings have ramped up sharply.
Read MoreChart of the Week: SPACtacular
Market volatility and dry powder pushed special purpose acquisition company activity to record levels.
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Features
The Pulse of Private Equity – 1/11/2021

Growth rounds hit record Download PitchBook’s Report here. US PE growth activity hit a record in 2020 in terms of value, according to the 2020 Annual US PE Breakdown. At $62.5 billion, 2020 just leapfrogged 2018 by the dollar metric, even though volume hit its lowest level since 2013. The 810 transactions had an average deal
View ArticleLeveraged Loan Insight & Analysis – 1/11/2021

Middle market non-sponsored syndicated volume was up 65% in 4Q20 Non sponsored syndicated loan volume bounced back to total US$19.7bn in 4Q20, the highest quarterly level since 4Q19. In the last couple of years, the non-sponsored middle market had been chugging along, as corporate issuers were cautious about undertaking any expansion plans....
View ArticlePrivate Debt Intelligence – 1/11/2021

Record Number of Private Debt Funds in Market Private debt funds in market have reached a new record high, and there are now more find seeking for capital than ever before. The start of 2021 saw a total of 547 private debt funds on the road targeting a record $290bn in combined capital commitments....
View ArticlePDI Picks – 1/11/2021

Fundraising takes a dip The pandemic has taken its toll on fundraising, but the largest managers appear to be benefitting. Unsurprisingly perhaps, private debt fundraising dropped to its lowest level in more than six years during 2020 as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic hit world markets. Preliminary data from PDI’s upcoming Fundraising Report 2020
View ArticleDL Deals: News & Analysis – 1/4/2021

Volume surged in December, strong M&A tone carries into first week of 2021 Direct lenders established a new high watermark for volume in December, setting the tone for an aggressive first quarter in 2021. Last month’s volume soared past every previous monthly tally since DLD launched in September 2019....
View ArticleReview of Current Market Conditions/ Analysis of Capital Markets Metrics/ Review of Credit Quality/ Outlook for First Quarter 2021
Beginning in July 2020 The Lead Left published a series of articles on COVID-impacted deal flow. This report consolidates those articles.
Beginning in June 2020 The Lead Left published a series of articles on post-pandemic healthcare. This report consolidates those articles.