Middle Market Credit Spreads and Required Returns
In Q4 2020, market participants noted improving comfort with company and industry fundamentals, outlooks, and the ability to weather a second wave of the virus.
In Q4 2020, market participants noted improving comfort with company and industry fundamentals, outlooks, and the ability to weather a second wave of the virus.
The private equity and credit markets held up remarkably well in the face of a global pandemic and are adjusting to the “new normal.” Market participants should go into 2021 with heightened vigilance as the impacts of the pandemic may not have yet entirely played out.
On track for recovery: Pandemic implications, not all doom or gloom.
In Q3 2020, secondary equity and credit markets rebounded, primary equity and levered finance markets reopened, and the price of risk declined.
As we head into Q4 2020, the new normal in private capital markets has fully set in, generally defined by prudence and caution, albeit a work in progress.
Private asset valuations snapped back in Q2 as the economy began to reopen, and private capital investors took concrete steps to shore up portfolio companies.
A Q2 2020 update on credit spreads and required returns.
Considering the virus’ material impact on specific industries, we’ve seen a greater emphasis on secondary industry-specific loan indexes when controlling for credit risk.
As private credit manager valuation leaders scrutinize how to optimize their internal teams, they also are leveraging technology tools and third-party service providers—both domestic and offshore—to meet the demands of scale.
The only comparable event to the spread of the virus for modern private capital markets is the Great Recession, but there are some key differences this time.