CVC plots further quasi-CLOs after landmark €400 million deal
CVC Credit closed a CLO-like’ vehicle backed by senior secured loans in December. Officials at the firm say they are in early stage discussions to launch similar vehicles after interest from equity investors"  

European CLO managers trade loans to avoid (par) burn
Between March and July, European CLO managers traded €21 billion of assets within CLOs that were still in their reinvestment period as opportunities arose amid a weaker macro environment and Russia’s war with Ukraine

Fitch raises European default rate assumptions with loans in tougher spot than bonds
Analysts at Fitch Ratings have raised their base-case leveraged loan default rate for end-2023 in Europe to 4.5% from 3.5%, and their severe-case rate to 6%

Credit Suisse to streamline European CLO manager client list
Credit Suisse is unlikely to be among the heavyweights in European CLO origination with market sources indicating that the bank is reducing its CLO manager client list

Beneath the triple C: Stormy October hits CLOs with rising tide of downgrades
After a slight respite in the pace of downgrades over the summer for CLOs, October brought renewed momentum as macro-economic pressures - primarily high interest rate burdens for corporate borrowers and supply side inflation - became the recurring rationale

Private equity firms are becoming CLO converts: TwentyFour
Private equity firms have increasingly bought CLO and other securitised debt tranches in recent weeks instead of their usual preference for physical assets - a trade TwentyFour believes "makes perfect sense"

US managers recalibrate as Euro CLO portfolio spreads rise: Moody's
CLO managers have had to readjust this year and data from Moody’s Investor Services shows weighted average rating factor scores for all US CLOs have held steady, while weighted average spreads have dropped 0.15%

Patchy primary market slows European take-outs
European CLO issuance is reaching a crossroads, with several warehouses ramped while the path to the primary market is hazardous.

US loan index falls below 92 to almost wipe out gains since July
The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index sank to an average bid of 91.92 cents by Monday, down by two points in as many weeks, wiping out almost all the gains seen in the late-summer market rally

Axa IM plots Euro CLO warehouse investment amid loan pressure and possible liquidations
Some European CLO warehouse may face liquidations and there will be further pressure on leveraged loans in the last quarter of the year, according to Axa Investment Management

European IG CLO mezz is attractive versus US paper: Barclays
There is no reason for European CLO mezzanine tranches to be as wide as they are versus equivalent US paper, according to a strategy note from Barclays.

Beneath the triple C: US CLOs take a dip in the triple C as Europe watches from the sun lounger
The US CLO market bore the brunt of downgrades to triple C in July and August, with a total of $6.22 billion of paper affected. European CLOs enjoyed a more relaxing summer holiday, with only 1 name representing €33.88 million worth of bonds downgraded to triple C.  

15 CLO managers aim to print European deals as 'aspirational pipeline' forms
European CLO market participants are doubtful the pace of issuance will return to full swing in September, despite a reasonably healthy forward-looking pipeline.

Fitch launches ESG scoring for Euro lev fin issuers with 75% CLO coverage
Fitch has scored 430 individual borrowers in the European market, which are on average more than 75% of the portfolio in an average Fitch-rated European CLO

Keep an eye on gaming, leisure and entertainment issuers in Euro CLOs, says BofA
CLO investors should be mindful of industry concentration exposure, with the gaming, leisure and entertainment sector an area of focus, according to Bank of America research released yesterday

Euro CLOs demonstrate "considerable resiliency" to upcoming CLO maturity wall, says S&P
Managers and investors should keep an eye on upcoming CLO maturity wall with “potential adverse effects” amid tighter financing conditions and the impact that could have on CLO performance and ratings

CLOs keep eyes glued to screen as Cineworld previews possible chapter 11
Cineworld, the UK-based cinema giant, has announced that a chapter 11 restructuring is among the options it is considering, in response to recent media speculation about a possible default

Widening asset/liability gulf will hurt CLOs: Barclays
A mismatch between CLO asset / liability rate risk is increasing in the US as more leveraged loan issuers opt for one-month pay frequency, Barclays credit strategists have found

Short duration CLOs are putting reset risk in the post: Barclays
The CLO market’s recent trend of shorter duration issuance could be setting up a problem for managers down the line that will impact their equity returns, Barclays has warned

FinDox steps in on climate disclosure reporting for CLOs
FinDox has become involved in reporting on carbon data for ­climate-related financial disclosure regulations, having been mandated by leading CLO managers to source relevant ESG key performance indicators

Beneath the triple C: ebbs and flows leave triple C levels at a temporary stasis
Following a rising tide of downgrades in May the loan market stabilised somewhat in June, with seven issuers held by CLOs downgraded to triple C and a counter-swell of five names upgraded to single B.

CLO managers try loan restructuring provision
European CLO managers have taken advantage of new loss mitigation language in deals for the first time, after Schur Flexibles announced a restructuring last month

European CLO managers wait for stability as loans slide
European loan prices have dipped into the high 80s, as Creditflux goes to press, which should create an attractive entry point for loan buyers. But, in reality, the bid for these assets has not been strong, particularly from CLOs amid fears loans could slump further still

Tech platform aims to cut time spent reading CLO docs
Officials at Claira, the new platform that provides natural language understanding technology backed by Citi, say the CLO market is a core industry for them as they seek to help market participants quickly assess loan and CLO documents

Loan traders eagerly await electronic trading solution
The announcement of Octaura’s electronic loan and CLO trading platform last month has been met with positivity by market participants, who laud the unified approach taken by large investment banks in supporting the initiative