European Leveraged Finance Client Alert Series: March 2021

Although most SPAC activity is concentrated in the US, the boom in listings spells opportunities for European firms

When COVID-19 closed the IPO window at the start of last year, expectations were bleak. But the market fought back and 2020 ended on a high.

As the pandemic continues to overshadow financial markets and the global economy, the following factors will have a major impact on the IPO market in 2021

Although COVID-19 hit the region hard, there was a surge of IPOs in the second half of last year, mainly centered around Brazil’s consumer industry

Early-year highs gave way to a pandemic-driven downturn, which was then followed by a revival in H2

After more than a decade of buildup, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have exploded and are gaining momentum in the US and beyond

IPO activity ground to a halt following the outbreak of the pandemic, but activity in the second half of the year more than made up for the downturn

This alert reviews the steps taken by the various market regulators across the EU in response to market volatility

Record SPAC issuance is expected to boost M&A activity, supporting additional leveraged finance issuance, while financial sponsors take advantage of the opportunity to exit existing investments.

COVID-19 disruption and tension between the US and China saw loan and high yield bond issuance decline across Asia-Pacific in 2020, and borrowers and lenders remain cautious

General partner-led fund restructurings accounted for the majority of private equity secondaries volume in 2020 as managers sought liquidity in a flat exit market

The European leveraged finance market remains resilient after a year of unprecedented hardship, as lenders dissect credits to determine the best possible deals, from pricing to documentary terms

After years of warnings about maturity walls, impending cliff edges, downturns and interest rate hikes that failed to emerge, COVID-19 was the event that brought everything to a temporary standstill—but there's every chance that the markets will explode with activity in the months ahead

Mining companies entered 2020 in good financial shape and have continued to secure finance despite disruption from COVID-19

The use of net asset value finance by private equity firms has spiked under COVID-19 as managers explore new sources of liquidity in a weak M&A market

Refinancing activity has proven an attractive option amid COVID-19 disruption, with borrowers in good standing seeking to extend maturities and take advantage of low interest rates