CLO 2021 outlook: back to the 'old' normal with volumes, spreads and structures to revert to pre-covid levels
Predictions went out the window this year because, well, who in December 2019 could have foreseen a pandemic devastating lives and wrecking financial markets? But the emergence of vaccines to combat the threat of the coronavirus has spurred a rally in credit over the last month. And CLO researchers expect a resurgence in 2021 with US new issue CLO volumes predicted to hit the $80-110 billion range, according to reports analysed by Creditflux.

Vaccine boosts credit as PE firms open up to bridge loans
The leveraged loan and CLO markets ended 2020 on a long-awaited high after multiple vaccines for covid-19 were rubber-stamped by regulators

Europe leads corporate credit rally, but US outperforms in CLOs
iTraxx Crossover has been the CDS market's outperformer this week, tightening over 30 basis points, or 11.4%, to trade at 235bp today. But in the CLO market, US deals have come out on top thanks to a BlackRock CLO that priced its double Bs at some of the tightest levels this year

US and European CLO PMs earn promotion as Carlyle's Pace takes on new role
Carlyle Group’s global head of liquid credit has decided to take on a new role as vice chair of global credit, according to an internal memo seen by Creditflux, which will involve investing capital across the Carlyle platform

Beneath the triple C: cinemas get clipped but default picture improves
14 corporate debt issuers were downgraded to triple C or below in October by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s – hurting $3.15 billion of US CLO loans, €761.73 million of European CLO portfolios and $37.95 million of middle market CLOs loans, according to CLO-i. Cinema chains were among those to suffer last month

Managers brave covid-hit sectors to drum up returns
Price dislocations among companies operating in industries affected by covid-19 mean they may offer some of the best opportunities for CLO managers and CSO investors — and sources say that neglecting these sectors could hurt performance

DFG appoints CEO and makes several promotions including new co-CIO
A Partners Group official has been appointed chief executive officer of DFG Investment Advisers in New York as the firm makes several leadership promotions

[update] Beneath the triple C: theme parks take portfolios on downward ride
Seven corporate debt issuers were downgraded to triple C or below in September by Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s – hurting $2.16 billion of US CLO loans and €1.16 billion of European CLO portfolio. The pace of CLO loan downgrades to triple C has slowed steadily since the peak in April

Libor floors and Volcker tweak bode well for future of CLOs
It’s been a truly miserable year, but amid all the despair covered so tirelessly by the mainstream media has been an omission; namely, that CLOs have withstood the damage caused by the pandemic

CLO rally keeps primary market flowing for most prolific issuers
The rally in CLO liabilities in September has given fresh impetus to the primary CLO market, which has benefitted from almost six months of favourable market dynamics

Academic highlights 1.0 CLO inflationary and cross-trading practices
CLO managers during and after the 2008 financial crisis used discretion in reporting the fair value of defaulted assets or loans downgraded to triple C, and may have inflated these fair values, according to a research presentation at Creditflux’s CLO Symposium in September

Methodology tweaks could prove a boost for CLO warfs
Moody’s proposed CLO methodology changes could impact 8% of US and European CLO tranches positively, the rating agency says

Garrett Motion stalls with CLOs holding $608 million of bankrupt firm's debt
Garrett Motion enters chapter 11 proceedings with a stalking horse offer from private equity firm KPS Capital Partners, which has agreed to buy substantially all of the firm’s assets for around $2.1 billion. CLOs hold around $680 million of Garrett's term loans

iQor files for chapter 11 with CLOs holding $260 millon
17 CLO managers hold $263.1 million term loans of customer services provider iQor, which filed for chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas today

Banks tighten asset approval terms for CLO warehouses
Managers have raised concerns over tighter, lender-friendly terms in new-look US CLO warehouses as banks gradually reopen these lending facilities

Guernsey puts Highland wrangles out to pasture
A royal court’s dismissal of proceedings in Guernsey could spell the beginning of the end in Highland Capital Management’s legal action against former employee Josh Terry

Loan leverage in CLOs has risen 1.3 turns, finds S&P
Leverage in US CLO portfolios increased by an average of 1.3 turns compared to the pre-covid-19 loan market, according to new research from S&P Ratings

Highland no longer defendant in Citi's Revlon loan lawsuit
Citi has dismissed its suit against Highland Capital Management as it seeks repayment on a Revlon loan, according to court filings. The lawsuit remains open against another 11 defendants

Details emerge on nature of Revlon payment 'error' and lender attitudes
Fresh details have emerged on the nature of the ‘operational error’ Citi says took place when it transferred $900 million to Revlon loan holders

Lenders argue for extended timeline in Revlon loan lawsuit
A 30 September preliminary injunction hearing and trial has been outlined under Citi’s schedule. But the defendants have proposed an alternative schedule, under which the lawsuit would culminate in a trial mid-December

CLOs stuck with $100 million of bankrupt TNT Crane's debt
14 CLO managers hold $92.5 million debt of TNT Crane & Rigging, which filed for chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court For The District Of Delaware yesterday

Citi files lawsuit against nine more lenders over 'accidental' $900 million Revlon transfer
Citi has filed a new lawsuit against nine more asset managers regarding its transfer of $900 million to Revlon lenders, which Citi says was made mistakenly. The bank is looking to claim the money back against lenders 

Beneath the triple C: CLOs get their sneakers on as retailers run into bankruptcy
July added further relief to CLO portfolios with the slowest rate of downgrades to triple C since March. US CLO portfolios faced downgrades of $2.18 billion to triple C while European portfolios faced just €59.13 million of such downgrades

The Last Tranche with Guggenheim's Duffy: CLOs will pay more for loans than today’s index prices
Marking the long-awaited return of the Last Tranche podcast, Creditflux's Hugh Minch talks to Adrian Duffy, head of European corporate credit at Guggenheim Investments in Dublin

Cut! Cineworld’s cancelled merger boosts CLO OCs
Investors in Cineworld’s $1.9 billion term loan breathed a sigh of relief in July after the UK cinema chain cancelled its merger with Canadian firm Cineplex, with holders repaid in full, according to market sources