TheLeadLeft

Lead Left Interview - Art Penn (Part 2)

This week we continue our conversation with Art Penn, Founder and Managing Partner, PennantPark. PennantPark Investment Advisers– founded in 2007 – is a leading investment firm focused on partnering with middle-market companies to provide them with creative and flexible capital. Second of two parts – View part one. The Lead Left: You’re among the few managers I’ve…

Chart of the Week - Club Room

First quarter activity in the non-syndicated middle market slowed, but less sharply than for syndicated deals. Club/Private Middle Market Issuance Source: Thomson Reuters LPC

The Pulse of Private Equity - 5/2/2016

U.S. PE-backed hold times in the middle market remain high Reflecting the decline in private equity-backed exit activity observed across the whole market in the first quarter of 2016, U.S. PE-backed exits in the middle market were also quite low, with only 170 sales for nearly $13 billion recorded. After the banner run PE sellers…

Markit Recap – 4/25/2016

Japanese bonds rise despite BOJ disappointment Japanese sovereign bonds managed to deliver positive returns today, while almost every other asset class suffered from the Bank of Japan’s decision to reject further loosening of monetary policy. Japanese government bonds tightened by 3 bps today but corporate bonds saw risk surge Corporate bond CDS spreads jumped by…

Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis - 4/25/2016

Credit concerns have increased this year as defaults, while still low by historical standards, continue to move higher. The U.S. leveraged loan default rate ended the first quarter at 2.8%, up from 2% in the previous quarter, and up from 1% a year ago, according to Moody’s. In the first quarter, $7.3 billion of leveraged…

Inflection Point

News reached us last week of a daring nighttime escape from the National Aquarium of New Zealand. An octopus named Inky sneaked out of a small hole in his tank, across the floor, and down a 164-foot drain pipe into Hawke’s Bay. “Didn’t even leave us a message,” said the aquarium manager, Rob Yarrall. What…

Lead Left Interview - Art Penn

This week we chat with Art Penn, Founder and Managing Partner, PennantPark. PennantPark Investment Advisers– founded in 2007 – is a leading investment firm focused on partnering with middle-market companies to provide them with creative and flexible capital. The Lead Left:  Art, you’ve had nearly 30 years of experience in middle market debt. Where are…