Private debt : yield, safety and the emergence of alternative lending

1. Overview of U.S. Middle Market Corporate Direct Lending 2. The Historical Performance of U.S. Middle Market Direct Loans 3. Performance Comparisons to Other Asset Classes 4. Current Yield or Yield-to-Maturity? 5. Comparative Credit Loss Rates 6. How Liquid Are Direct Loans? 7. Middle Market Loans as a Hedge Against Rising Interest Rates 8. Credit as a Separate Asset Class 9. Senior and Unitranche Direct Lending 10. Loans and the Theory of Credit 11. Risk Premiums in U.S. Middle Market Lending 12. Covenants and the Loan Agreement 13. Should Direct Loan Portfolios Be Leveraged? 14. The Democratization of Alternatives 15. Business Development Companies (BDCs) 16. Interval and Tender Funds 17. Selecting Direct Lending Managers 18. Loan Valuation 19. Investment Fees 20. Portfolio Construction 21. Expected Returns and Risks from Direct Lending 22. Asset Allocation 23. All-Weather Private Debt 24. Enter SOFR 25. European Middle Market Direct Lending 26. The Borrower's Perspective 27. Enhanced Lending

This book is a comprehensive resource for understanding the growing direct loan market. Traditionally a niche asset class, corporate direct lending has become an important allocation for institutional investors. Since 2008, assets managed by Business Development Company structures have experienced over 600% growth, becoming a $91 billion market. The onerous Dodd-Frank regulation has opened the opportunity for private asset managers to replace banks as corporate lenders, making direct loans an increasingly attractive option for institutional and retail investors.