Reported cash flow growth of all institutional loan issuers has slowed from nearly 20% to just over 5% during the past four years of weak economic recovery.

Over the past three years, private equity sponsors have cut the time in half they are taking dividends from LBOs. Source: S&P/LCD

The share of middle market borrowers with 50% excess cash flow sweeps has grown since the credit crisis. Source: S&P Capital IQ

The total share of loans that waived or reduced cash flow sweeps is still not back to pre-crisis levels, but those that waived sweeps is at an all-time high.

Cash flowed into retail loan funds for the first time in two months. The $530 million figure was also the largest such in-flow in more than a year. Source: S&P/LCD, Lipper

Private equity deal closings are at their lowest level in almost four years, as buyers turn cautious on purchase price multiples.Source: PitchBook  

The universe of private equity backed companies in the US has leveled off, but still represents significant opportunities for future deal-making. Source: PitchBook

As banks retreat under regulatory pressures, non-banks are bulking up in their capacity to do larger middle market deals Average Middle Market LBO Size Source: Thomson Reuters LPC

As loan spreads have widened over the past year, the incentive for borrowers to seek better terms has diminished sharply. Source: Thomson Reuters LPC

Spreads on middle market loans have risen in concert with those of their broadly syndicated counterparts; now at a 116 bps premium. Source: S&P LCD