Loan Highlights 3Q23: Loan volumes remain significantly lower than historical averages
Capital markets loan activity continued to struggle in the third quarter of 2023, as issuers in the Americas and Europe held off from tapping markets

European CLOs win out against US deals
Last month, our analysis explored the performance of US CLOs that were previously reset. We found that they delivered higher distributions than deals which weren’t reset, with the exception of the 2017 and 2018 vintages (Creditflux September 2023 — Do resets help CLOs perform better?). This article expands that analysis to the European market, and compares the performance of US BSL and EU CLO equity tranches.

Basel III looks likely to further increase banks investment in CLO triple As
Demand for CLO triple As has grown substantially over the past few years as more banking institutions, pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies discover this attractive asset class, which historically has never taken a loss.

Primary market roars into life
The primary CLO market pickup that started in August continued strongly in September, both in Europe and the US. Although the overall direction was the same on both sides of the Atlantic, the type of activity was quite different.

Fed members need to restore their credibility, which could translate into excessive tightening
Rising wages have boosted spending and GDP — but the party can’t last forever

Big banks see small changes in CLO holdings — but that may change in third quarter
The major bank buyers of CLO triple A notes saw limited change in their holdings during the second quarter, according to their latest financial statements

CLO round-up: blinded by the tights
Secondary CLO spreads continued to grind tighter this week and, at last, the primary market began to follow in both the US and Europe

CLO round-up: secondary market rallies amid increased primary supply
CLO primary activity increased across the board this week, with US new issue supply amounting to $1.8 billion - up 48.7% on the week prior - while in Europe supply increased 208.8% to €1.2 billion

Barings strikes strategic partnership agreement with Lakemore to support CLO issuance
Barings has entered into a strategic partnership with Lakemore Partners to support the growth of the manager's CLO platform

Fund performance
Good month for CLO funds sees six in top 10 as Axiom sets pace

Loan Highlights 2Q23: Running aground
The global loan market endured a bleak first half of the year, with the overall 1H23 volume falling 28% year-on-year (YoY) to $1.9 trillion, the lowest showing since 2012.

Sound Point becomes 5th largest CLO manager as Assured deal completes
Sound Point announced the completion of its partnership with Assured Guaranty yesterday jumping Sound Point into position as 5th largest CLO manager in the world.

Global CLO league tables - May 2023 YTD
Global CLO league tables - May 2023 YTD

LP round up: HPS wins $550m mandate as Ares launches third US direct lending fund
US institutional investors allocated nearly $3 billion to credit funds in April. The news comes amid a BlackRock survey in the month which showed significant investor interest in private credit

Global CLO league tables - April 2023 YTD
Global CLO league tables - April 2023 YTD

CLO rankings: manager AUM, advisory firm and trustees Q1 2023
Two acquisitions close to shake up the top and Dechert takes early lead over Milbank in manager counsel rankings

Virginia pension discloses $800 million in credit allocations
Virginia Retirement System has disclosed $800 million in credit fund allocations made over the first quarter of this year

Fund performance: European CLO funds lead the way
February was a positive month for many funds, as only one quarter failed to reach the black. This builds off a stellar start to the year: 96% of funds reached a positive return in January

HPS raises $12 billion for fifth junior capital fund
HPS Investment Partners has closed its fifth junior capital solutions fund, HPS Strategic Investment Partners V, at $12 billion. With leverage, the strategy has $17 billion investable capital

Ares and Mubadala establish $1 billion global credit secondaries JV
The pair aim to capitalise on the 'anticipated growth and substantial demand’ from managers and investors for customised liquidity solutions

Global CLO league tables - February 2023 YTD
Global CLO league tables - February 2023 YTD

Barclays won't let sleeping dogs lie after another Newfoundland CLO reset
Newfoundland CLO, the long running and world's largest balance-sheet CLO, has been given a new leash of life by upsizing in a reset yesterday, according to announcements from Moody’s and Scope Ratings.

Global CLO league tables - January 2023 YTD
Global CLO league tables - January 2023 YTD

Fund performance: Credit funds end difficult 2022 on a positive note
In December 66% of credit funds reached a positive return, following an even better November where 81% of all funds pushed into the black

Sound Point holding CLO M&A talks which could catapult it to fifth-largest manager
Sound Point Capital Management is locked in talks with a large, global CLO manager over a deal that could take its CLO AUM north of $36 billion