In the previous two issues of our special series on the state of credit standards in the leveraged lending market, we took a deep dive on covenant trends. This week we take a step back and look at the overall picture of middle market credit fundamentals. So much of leveraged lending is tied to the…
The response to last week’s column, as we initiated our special series on the state of credit standards in the leveraged lending market, was heartening. Readers enthusiastically supported the notion that industry players need to be reminded of the basics of credit risk and why it’s critical to stick to the fundamental tenets of sound…
Much attention has been paid to regulators’ concerns over banks pushing leverage and other risk elements. What goes missing in these discussions is what lenders, including non-banks, think about the credit environment we’re currently in. Specifically, regardless of what the Fed, OCC, and FDIC (the Big Three) are doing with their Leveraged Lending Guidance, the…
This week we wrap up our three-part response to the contention, as argued in an articulate WSJ op-ed by Andy Kessler that the glory days of private equity are over. One interesting contention made by Mr. Kessler is that PE is “holding back the economy.” He uses examples of buying drugstores and car-rental companies, leveraging…
Last week we began to respond to the WSJ op-ed by Andy Kessler in which he stated the glory days of private equity are over. We first reviewed how many ups and downs the industry has had over the past thirty or so years; at least seven stages, at the end of each of which…
It was apparently too much for Jerry. With things over-frothy in the buyout market, mega deals proliferating and purchase price multiple escalating, the co-founder of the largest buyout shop in the world announced he was leaving to start his own smaller practice. In moving on, Jerry said in an interview he would look for more…
How much direct lending capacity is in the middle market? Welcome to one of the most frequently asked (and most challenging) questions in the world of leveraged lending. Several factors make this question topical. First, banks are being forced to scale back their ambitions in “risky loans” as regulators bury them with restrictions. Non-regulated entities…
Last week we noted the coincidence between “Pi Day” and the birth date of Albert Einstein, but pondered any π connection with that other March 14 celebrity, Billy Crystal. One astute TLL reader (and keen observer of the pop scene) solved that riddle for us: Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmha1NsQRU. Well done. In closing out our series on loan pricing,…
We noted with interest the “Pi Day” celebrations last Saturday. 3/14/15 echoed that mathematical constant (the definition of which escapes us for the moment), spawned dozens of matrimonials, and marked the birth of Albert Einstein. March 14 was also the birthday of Billy Crystal, though we haven’t figured out the π connection there yet. Speaking…
Pricing flex is a relatively recent phenomenon in the history of leveraged loans. Prior to 1998 lead arrangers would price loans weeks, sometimes months, before launching transactions into the market. Because many lenders in the syndicate traditionally ended up being relationship banks, underwriters had relatively little risk those banks would flake on a deal if market…