U.S. CLO portfolio trade prices climb

U.S. CLO portfolio trade prices have climbed from their early 2016 levels. The weighted average purchase was 98.92 in September, with the average sale price at 97.31. For the October trades collected so far, the weighted average purchase price is at 99.24, while selling prices average 97.67. Selling prices were more dispersed than purchase prices in 3Q16, as a higher share of portfolio sales were in the sub-98 and par-plus categories. CLOs sold loans at higher prices in the third quarter, with 50% of sales in the par-plus category, up from 37% in 2Q16...

Primary yields widen slightly so far in November

Yields have widened slightly in November to the highest average since July. The average yield, assuming a three year term to repayment on first-lien institutional loans is in the 5.36% context so far in November, slightly up from 5.1% in October. Demand for loans remains strong, and some issuers continue to successfully tap the market to cut costs, but weaker credits are facing some pushback. In turn, the number of downward and upward price flexes are roughly the same so far this month. In contrast, downward price flexes outnumbered upward price revisions by 2.3 times in October...

European CLO Issuance

Issuance of European CLOs has reached a post-crisis high as jumbo investments in senior tranches have anchored issuance. European CLOs have seen year-to-date issuance of €14.7 billion across 36 deals, compared with the previous post-crisis high of €14.3 billion in 2014, when 34 deals were completed...

Downward flexes dominated in October

Downward flexes continued to dominate flex activity in October. There were 21 downward price flexes on first-lien institutional term loans in October and only 8 upward flexes. Both downward and upward price flexes were down from September which recorded 28 price cuts and 12 upward price revisions...

U.S. CLOs posted their best month since June 2015 with issuance of $8.4 billion in October, taking year to date issuance to $54.5 billion. In addition to new issuance, much of the energy in October was focused on refinancings and resets in advance of the upcoming risk retention deadline. After the new regulation comes into effect on December 24, compliance with risk retention rules will be required for deals that refinance...

Influx of second-lien issuance has investors pushing back on terms

Recently, investors have been more open to the lower rated, higher return type of loans that were more scarce earlier in the year. In particular, second-lien issuance has picked up. Just two weeks into October and there has already been US$1.5bn in completed second-lien loan issuance which would account for 57% of second-lien issuance for all of 2Q16. This influx of higher yielding assets into the market has caused more push back from investors during negotiations...