How US private credit can endure downturns

Credit investments have become more attractive than ever as investors pursue assets that could capitalise on the US Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening cycle. 

While rising rates are unfavourable to bond values, private credit’s floating rates move in tandem with the rate hikes, providing yield protection. 

Globally, close to US$100 billion in capital has been raised for private credit as of the second quarter this year, and the year-end total is forecast to rival 2021’s record of more than US$200 billion.

North America has the largest share of private capital raised in Q2 2022

Surging inflation could put a damper on credit’s floating rate advantage as borrowers face higher debt servicing, labour, and other input costs, potentially putting pressure on their ability to repay loans. 

Still, we maintain that the US private credit market — the largest globally — offers attractive risk-adjusted performance vis-à-vis comparable credit strategies. We believe this should appeal to investors looking for above-high-yield returns on a lower risk budget. 

As every loan transaction is customised, the asset class’ correlation with public debt and equity remains low, making it an attractive diversifier. That said, we do recognise that relative to high-yield and other fixed-income assets, private credit is relatively less liquid, as instruments are not traded in the secondary market and there is a place in portfolios for a range of credit opportunities. 

Accordingly, within the private credit space, we focus on more resilient segments of the market and build portfolios based on a conservative risk-adjusted returns focused on downside protection and diversification.

US private debt has offered better risk-adjusted returns than comparable assets

US private credit: a large and mature market

Private equity deals have been a key driver of the US private debt market as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) required financing. 

Over the past year, demand for loans went up alongside the pent-up M&A activity after a Covid-related cooldown in 2020. With a typical equity capitalisation of 40%, PineBridge estimates that the available private equity dry powder today implies approximately $110 billion in new senior loan demand and $90 billion of maturing middle-market loans (sponsored and unsponsored volume), which PineBridge estimates to be $200 billion in new loan demand.

Middle-market US private equity fundraising activity

Middle-market US private equity dry powder

The bulk of US private debt capital goes to direct lending. Unlike more liquid credit strategies, direct lending offers investors greater control over the parameters of their risk/reward by targeting specific segments, putting in robust covenants, and having the ability to work directly with the borrowers themselves to manage outcomes. 

This flexibility affords investors a wider berth to navigate rising risks in global markets. For example, an institution may use a senior secured direct lending strategy in the lower-middle-market segment as a proxy for a capital preservation fixed income allocation.

We prefer the lower-middle-market segment of the US market, which represents one of the backbones of American enterprise. We remain sanguine on the resiliency of these companies, as highlighted by their performance over the global financial crisis (GFC) and the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, we remain active in our credit selection process and focused on sectors with historically low defaults, such as technology, health care, food, paper and packaging, and industrials.

While the private credit markets in Asia and Europe are growing and attracting large international providers, the US remains the most established, liquid, and diversified market. 

Last year, Preqin estimated that Asia-focused credit funds represented only about 5% of the global private credit capital-raising. Regulations are improving in Asia, which should help fuel demand, and over time we see the region becoming an attractive market, mirroring its long-term economic growth trajectory.

Read more: An introduction to private credit

Low and mid-market borrowers: between Main Street and the Fortune 500

Smaller businesses have historically contributed close to half of US economic activity. The lower-middle-market segment refers to companies that are bigger than the small and medium enterprises we typically associate with “Main Street” but smaller than large global corporations. 

They constitute a variety of high-value-adding enterprises poised to tap US secular trends for growth opportunities: from plant-based food manufacturing to oncology research to final-mile logistics. They generally have established track records and demonstrated ability to generate consistent cash flows. 

However, the size, business focus, and credit risk of these companies may be out of reach for banks because of tighter capital regulations after the GFC. This left a large imbalance of supply and demand of financing between the lower-middle market and other areas of the market. 

With more accommodative terms, companies have found that direct lending from asset managers and other nonbank lenders can be more attuned to their needs.

While inflation does loom large among smaller companies’ concerns over the next 12 months, confidence remains buoyant, according to the second-quarter 2022 MetLife and US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index. The index showed that smaller companies’ optimism on cash flows have softened, but two-thirds (66%) anticipate their revenue to increase over the next year.

Similarly, a National Center for the Middle Market survey found that nearly four out of five middle-market companies reported revenue increases during the first half of 2022 from a year ago, with over half growing 10% or more. Most of those surveyed expect robust growth into 2023.

Potential key advantages during downturns

Yet even if conditions rapidly deteriorate, US private debt has historically provided strong protective features that may help cushion its impact better than other comparable asset classes.

Lower credit loss

Being smaller doesn’t equate to being less creditworthy. The senior lower-middle-market credit segment has shown significantly lower credit loss than other segments, as well as high-yield bonds and leveraged loans, over extended periods.

Average credit loss by asset class

Annual credit loss by asset class

Stronger loan covenants for this segment play a large role in managing credit loss by including certain financial conditions for companies to meet over the duration of the loan. 

For this sector, we focus on making senior secured first-lien loans to sponsor-backed companies seeking capital for acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and recapitalisations. 

The average recovery rate for first-lien loans stands at 76% for the period of 2002 to 2021, according to Fitch Ratings (as of 21 Mar 2022).

Lower leverage

Excessive leverage may limit the ability of companies to manage inflation and higher interest rates. However, this has not been the case in this segment, which has demonstrated lower average leverage of 4.7x since 2013, versus 5.8x for the upper middle market and 6.5x for broadly syndicated loans (BSLs), according to Refinitiv LPC analysis as of 31 Dec 2021.

Yield premium

Returns from private credit are derived primarily from income. Middle-market direct lending has been priced at an average 204 bp premium over broadly syndicated loans (BSLs), with an average term loan yield of 7.3% since 2013. 

In contrast, upper-middle-market loans had an average 166 bp premium over BSLs with an average term loan yield of 6.9% for the same period.

The quarter-on-quarter deal comparison below highlights the superior terms offered in the lower middle market than the upper middle market, with higher yields and deals priced at better multiples, although they have risen since the first quarter.

Upper vs. Lower Middle Market Direct Lending Terms

Robust underwriting

While typically smaller deals, the underwriting for the lower-middle-market segment tends to be more robust and forms the backbone of risk mitigation. Transactions typically include one or more financial covenants and comprehensive agreements, with longer due diligence periods of eight to12 weeks. Other segments have shorter due diligence periods (one to six weeks) and are covenant lite, which could offer less recourse should problems arise.

As with other private asset classes, the manager’s performance may vary. Institutions seeking to take advantage of this opportunity may find that partnering with managers that have deep experience in sourcing deals, a robust underwriting process, and disciplined portfolio management, as well as a wide expert network, will be key to successfully navigating an evolving macro environment.

‍This article was originally published by PineBridge Investments on 30 Sept 2022.

PineBridge Investments is a global asset manager focused on active, high-conviction investing. As of 30 June 2022, the firm managed US$141.1 billion across global asset classes for sophisticated investors around the world. 

Endowus has three funds from PineBridge (as of 7 Dec 2022), namely the US Large Cap Research Enhanced Fund, the Asia ex Japan Small Cap Equity Fund, and the India Equity Fund.

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