At $2.3B, Calypso’s record unitranche demonstrates larger capacity for jumbos The $2.3 billion unitranche loan supporting Thoma Bravo’s acquisition of Calypso Technology has set a new record for size, but what’s even more notable is that the credit was assembled as new issue, not incrementally, like other recent unitranches that crossed the $2 billion threshold…

Twenty is the new 50; Cov-lite invasion continues into direct lending It’s no exaggeration that covenant-lite is invading direct lending. Market participants across the board say today’s cutoff is $20 million EBITDA, compared to $35-40 million pre-Covid, and $50 million prior to the Great Credit Crisis of ‘08. Last week DLD covered a covenant-lite buyout…

January volume soars on LBOs; Unitranche to feel broader pricing pressures January’s direct lending tally set a new high, up from the previous record in December. Momentum from the fourth quarter’s catch up rally continued to spill into the New Year, however deal flow has since decelerated to normal this month…. Login to Read More...

Volume surged in December, strong M&A tone carries into first week of 2021 Direct lenders established a new high watermark for volume in December, setting the tone for an aggressive first quarter in 2021. Last month’s volume soared past every previous monthly tally since DLD launched in September 2019…. Login to Read More...

U.S Direct Lending: Purpose November 2020 Direct lending in November for buyouts surged to 47%, leveling the lopsided pull of add-on acquisitions that had dominated the pipeline since the pandemic hit, according to DLD. In fact, November generated the best share for LBO financing since February’s 61%. Add-on activity slipped slightly to 48% last month,…

Sun Life’s $338M acquisition of Crescent Capital underscores confidence in direct lending Sun Life Financial’s $338 million acquisition of Los Angeles-based Crescent Capital underscores investor confidence in direct lending, even as the Covid pandemic has upended global economies. Sun Life, a Toronto-based insurance company that has a small direct lending team within its $193 billion…

Third quarter finishes on high note; Lower middle market LBOs rally in Sept The second quarter’s heavy caution all but disappeared by last month in a swift reversal of deal flow. Uncertainty is onmnipresent, but investors have capital to deploy, financing has stabilized and after idling for six months, it’s risk on toward year end….

August amped up deal flow in lower middle market; Busy season ahead Lower middle market deal flow amped up in August, with volume exceeding July as lending found its footing amid calmer secondary prices and outflows. Quarter-to-date volume overtook 2Q weeks ago. Final numbers will be available in our upcoming Quarterly Report…. Login to Read

Non Accruals rise, not spike; Lower middle market BDCs steady at 7.5% BDC non-accruals rose to an average of 5.3% at June 30, up from 4.9% at the end of March, based on a DLD analysis using Refinitiv’s BDC Collateral database. Last quarter’s increase hoisted the average above the historical range of 3% to 5%…