Ronald Kahn
We’ve all seen the data showing that the first quarter middle-market leverage loan volume was much less than everyone expected. So why aren't yields coming down on mid-market loans?
Over the years, the demise of mezzanine has been predicted countless times. Robust cash flow senior debt markets, prolific BDCs, and private equity groups funding mezzanine themselves have all caused the pundits to suggest that the end of mezzanine is near.
Unitranche loans are not so simple anymore--but that may just be a good thing for borrowers.
Are lenders playing fair when they demand sponsors put more cash into a deal simply to do an add-on acquisition that could easily be financed with debt?
We all know that interest rates are incredibly low. The three month Libor continues around 30 bps., an extremely low level designed to spur growth in the economy. Yet, other than asset-based loans priced at L+200 to 300, loans to middle-market companies continue to be expensive, and have not declined nearly in proportion to the […]
So you finally find this great acquisition – one of your targeted industries, consistent performance, great prospects and strong management team. Oh yeah, it does have a couple of blemishes – some customer concentration, for one, but you’re comfortable with that. What nags at you are the two owners who started the company and are […]
For the last 18 months, we’ve been extolling the virtues of unitranche debt. This structure has gained substantial popularity over the last few years as an ideal replacement for the cash flow senior debt that banks and CLOs no longer supplied as eagerly to the middle market following the 2008 credit crisis. With the ability […]
The stock market has seen incredible volatility during the last several months, and, unfortunately, the overall trend has been downward. But does a decrease in equity values affect the valuations of illiquid debt securities? The answer is yes. And why do we even care? Because many middle market lending institutions like BDCs, hedge funds, credit […]
It’s only August. We should all be out enjoying the hot summer weather. Yet winter may be coming early this year as we see signs of a freeze upon us. Of course, I’m not talking about the weather, but financings for middle market companies—particularly those thousands of companies that make up the back bone of […]
Here we go again – the lenders are out in full force, aggressively marketing to borrowers and eager to deploy capital. It wasn’t that long ago when we dreamed that these days would return and now they are upon us. Interestingly, with the advent of unitranche debt and the increasing number of hedge funds and […]