AI blockbuster deals surge as Middle East conflict test dealmaker confidence
Mergermarkets M&A Highlights 1Q26: Global M&A volume jumped 22% to the second highest start ever

Investors scrutinise AI disruption and opportunities in the European loan market
Lower EV, high leverage elevate credit risk and refi challenges; AI-driven sell-off creates selective buy opportunities

Loan market sell-off set to widen, Sealed Air enters primary despite expected issuance slowdown – Europe Loan Digest
Electronic Arts to price today; strong CLO bid protects prices from macro volatility

EQT, Advent, Cinven embrace deal flexibility as hedge against Middle East chaos
ECM Pulse:Optionality trumps predictions in chasing LP returns; uncertainty dogs IPO prospects as bid-ask gap remains

EU insolvency law harmonisation campaign marches on with new directive
LEGAL ANALYSIS: European Parliament signs off new ‘harmonisation’ directive: Relates to five areas, including avoidance actions and ‘pre-packs’

ABS primary braves geopolitical uncertainty as spreads start to feel pressure – European ABS Weekly Digest
The European ABS primary market mostly shunned geopolitical risk this week as seven deals priced, two of which were pre-placed

AI’s potential may be underestimated despite investing concerns – Howard Marks
AI’s potential is likely underestimated, but worries about job losses and an AI investment bubble persist, said Oaktree co-founder Howard Marks in a new memo

Schroders, InPost deals boost 2026 takeover pipeline by EUR 19bn
InPost agrees EUR 7.8bn deal with Advent, FedEx; modest premium for Schroders may open for rivals

Group.ONE TLB and Cision loan fall on continued AI selloff
Market Comment: Software leveraged loans are under pressure on continued AI fears

London leveraged finance leaders turn out for melanoma fight
The British Museum played host to the second edition of Leveraged Finance Fights Melanoma (LFFM) London on Wednesday evening, with some 700 attendees from 90 firms across the leveraged finance and private equity helping raise over GBP 1.6m for melanoma research

Loan market steams ahead with new launches as more deals line up in Europe
Flex-downs abound, but Hologic’s sub-300bps spread raises eyebrows, while performance in focus for Archroma, Seqens and Lipton Tea

Repricings comprise half of European levloans’ record year, new money drops to lowest level since GFC
The European leveraged loan market reached its highest yearly issuance volume ever in 2025, according to Debtwire data, driven by repricings

LME litigation in Europe in focus as Hunkemöller and Selecta bondholders fight back
ANALYSIS: Selecta sees use of creditor cooperation agreement challenged as anticompetitive in court; More LMEs and litigation expected in Europe next year and beyond

Janus Henderson warns of underperformance in stressed loan market
The asset manager highlighted ‘pockets of fragility’ as the loan markets bifurcate

First Brands' German subsidiaries file for insolvency
Four entities impacted, including Diepersdorf and SMK; Over 1,000 employees' salaries secured for two months

Platinum talks A&E with Biscuit International’s lenders, could subordinate sponsor debt
EXCLUSIVE: Bilateral talks held; Platinum holds EUR 80m notes ranking pari passu with TLB

First Brands factoring provider Raistone seeks examiner over USD 2.3bn in missing funds
Alleged disappearance of third-party factored receivables sparks demands for the appointment of an examiner

First Brands' distorted balance sheets serve as warning to private credit lenders – Market React
Company secured fresh debt despite missing payments to Onset Financial; Special committee investigates double invoice pledging

Altice France new capital structure starts trading as investors consider M&A potential
Restructuring completed as secured debt trades; break-up of Altice France business possible through sector consolidation

Apollo to launch three evergreen funds in Europe to tap individual investors
Apollo has secured regulatory approval in Luxembourg for three semi-liquid evergreen private markets funds including two credit ones

Evolving M&A is transforming the capital formation landscape – KKR
'Critical' link between M&A and credit is set to fuel growth in private markets

JPMorgan credit research team pitches top trades at levfin conference, strategists recommend overweight BBs
Buy opportunities in AT1 debt, periphery banks, Ardagh Metal, Altice France, Ithaca; Sell ideas on Guala Closures, Nissan, Nomad Foods, Hapag Lloyd
 

Corporate default rates predicted to fall despite tariff uncertainty - S&P
Speculative-grade corporate default rates expected to fall on both sides of the Atlantic as trade tension uncertainty eases, but some concerns remain

Pimco urges caution in credit markets despite recent resilience
The resilience of the private sector has supported the credit market in the first half of the year, despite “whipsawing” market volatility, a new report from Pimco has found. 

Volatility could cause credit markets to break this year – TCW’s Bryan Whalen
PODCAST: Investors aren’t being paid enough of a premium for the risks in US corporate credit, TCW’s chief investment officer of fixed income told Creditflux’s Lisa Lee on the latest ‘Credit Exchange’ podcast