Sponsored-related activity in the loan market has been slower in recent quarters as higher interest rates and tightening lending conditions has made it more difficult for private equity shops to execute on M&A deals. Private credit continues to take a much larger share of sponsored middle market loan volume, so when narrowing it down to the syndicated middle market, the result is even lower loan volumes. Completed US syndicated sponsored middle market loan volume totals US$4.3bn so far in 2Q23. That includes only US$583m of LBO volume and US$819m of tack-on acquisition volume. 2Q23 could be the fourth consecutive quarter for syndicated sponsored middle market loan volume to total under US$10bn, something that has not happened since 2Q09-1Q10.
(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)
Latest news
European mid-market direct lending margins face steady compression since 2024
European mid-market direct lending margins have seen consistent compression over recent years but recorded a slight increase in the second quarter of 2026…
US leveraged loan issuance rebounds in September
Following three consecutive months of declining issuance, the US leveraged loan market has reversed course in September. Approximately $48.7b of…
Reversion to the Mean
Climbing toward the average is a very different story than surpassing it.