As we’ve noted, the banks and private credit managers occupy different places in the corporate finance ecosystem. That’s not to say, of course, that large corporate financings don’t represent real investment opportunities for the right buyers. Or that the expansion and evolution of private capital won’t lead to interesting and constructive solutions for a wide […]
One of the frequent observations of private credit, usually couched as a complaint, is how many competitors are crowding into the asset class. In part this is due to the increasingly specialized strategies managers are employing that all fit into the PC classification. A few years back, we received a gift membership for a popular […]
When you’re successful, everyone wants a piece of you. That’s the challenge private credit faces today. It’s grown from a small, largely ignored corner of leveraged loans called the middle market two decades ago to an asset class rivaling both broadly syndicated loans and high-yield bonds. And now private credit is drawing attention from sophisticated […]
This week we conclude our series on the private capital outlook for the year ahead with our fifth theme: “A breath of fresh air: Investing and fundraising in 2025.” As private capital’s virtuous cycle sets in motion, 2025 should present plenty of attractive investment opportunities across the capital stack. For senior debt investors, the direct […]
In today’s sophisticated market, where capital is concentrated among a smaller number of managers, only the highest quality platforms garner investor dollars. A consistent track record, low or no key person turnover, scale and diverse capabilities, and alignment with LPs are the bare minimum in today’s market. They may get a manager a foot in […]
There are clear reasons for a more bullish sentiment to take hold in private capital investment in the year ahead. A more certain macro backdrop, a decisive election result, US companies reporting above-expectation results, and the S&P 500 building on a strong 2023 by rising more than 25% in 2024, are building optimism. Work with […]
Asset managers with deep-rooted PE relationships forged via a range of touchpoints beyond private debt, including through fund commitments and as co-investment partners and secondary deal investors, have unique insights into the likely capital needs of sponsors and their portfolio companies. Taking a whiteboard approach to capital structures, they can bring new ideas to sponsors […]
The hope is for enough positive GDP momentum to keep adding new jobs and improving productivity. December’s labor report showed 256,000 job adds, and core CPI decelerating modestly to 3.2%. And while other inflation data remained stubbornly above the Fed’s target, investors should draw confidence from a resilient backdrop. At a portfolio level, we have […]
The focus now is on mostly global rather than domestic issues. Tariffs, trade, and geopolitical risks are taking center stage. Some of these are theoretical but could mirror events from 2017-2020. And while the rise of bond yields since the election suggest higher inflation to come, capital markets remain full speed ahead. Or as a […]
Increased competition between banks and private credit leading to weaker terms? Not in the middle market, where terms remained investor-friendly. Yes, all-in spreads contracted, but more pronounced at the upper end of the market and for large cap financings. And despite warnings that banks would erode private credit market share, leading direct lenders reported anywhere […]