Recent Insights

LED lights
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Refinancings and resets dominate European CLO space
Tightening liability spreads and the backlog from 2020 have seen European collateralized loan obligations resetting and refinancing at historic levels in 2021
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China and private equity fuel Asia's tech dealmaking in Q1
Emerging technologies attract increasing interest from dealmakers, buoyed by strong economic fundamentals and healthy macroeconomics
stormy seas
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Global merger control: Navigating stormy seas
There have been a number of developments in merger control in 2020 and Q1 2021. Some are related to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others are borne out of the ambitions and changes sought by individual competition authorities or unexpected jurisprudence
Music Board
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Streaming royalties are music to private equity's ears
Dependable recurring income from digital music rights is attracting major investment from PE funds.
Miami
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Lenders eager to finance US buyouts, but supply of new deals tightens
High yield bond and syndicated loan lenders are eager to fund US buyout deals, but competition from private debt markets and high secondary buyout volumes have restricted supply
Pharmaceutical
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Healthcare M&A delivers promising first quarter
Dealmaking within the PMB sector enjoyed an impressive start as companies across the globe embarked on their post-pandemic recovery.  
factory
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Industrials, chemicals and materials issuers take advantage of borrower-friendly backdrop
High yield bond and leveraged loan issuance by European industrials, chemicals and materials companies sustained steady activity levels in Q1 2021 as they took advantage of a borrower-friendly market to raise financing
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2021 International Arbitration Survey: Adapting arbitration to a changing world
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Repricing on the rise
Borrowers are taking advantage of buoyant leveraged loan markets in the US and Europe to reprice existing credits at lower interest rates, and lenders are happy to oblige
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Transportation M&A posts new record in Q1
The first quarter of 2021 saw a string of big-ticket deals in the transportation sector, pushing quarterly deal value to a record high
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Abundant liquidity drives leveraged loan issuance
Highly competitive and liquid markets saw leveraged loan issuance in the US and Europe surge, while activity in Asia-Pacific dipped despite high-profile jumbo deals
buildings
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High yield bond issuance climbs in borrower-friendly market
Borrowers in the United States, Europe and Asia are tapping buoyant bond markets to extend maturities and refinance existing debt at cheaper rates
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PE real estate deals bounce back in Q1
Signs of a rebound follow last year's pullback in private equity real estate deals
Lincoln Memorial
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Assessing prospects for change under the Biden administration
Consider three factors: likelihood of legislation; complexity of regulatory action; and timeline for infrastructure development
Offshore Winds
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Offshore wind fuels European M&A wave
A string of deals took place in the first quarter as energy firms look to capitalize on offshore wind's potential  
Electric Towers
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Electrification, hedging risk spur utilities M&A
More than any other factor, the energy transition motivates utilities deals worldwide
bank notes
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COVID-19 and the state of the European NPL market
Early in 2020, as the pandemic took hold, the European NPL market went into lockdown along with the rest of the economy—but as the market opened up in the second half of the year, NPL sellers jumped back in, setting the stage for a busier 2021.
macroshot of a plant
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Grass roots and green shoots
European non-performing loan trends in a post-COVID-19 world
Stock Market
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Megadeals drive global M&A to 10-year high in Q1 2021
Global M&A value more than doubled YOY to the highest first quarter total on record
buildings
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Global PE deal value jumps to highest quarterly total since 2007
In Q1 2021, private equity activity reached its highest quarterly value in more than a decade
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Africa Focus: Spring 2021
Navigating a changing business landscape in Africa and beyond
infrastructure at night
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Asia-Pacific oil & gas infrastructure: New opportunities for the nontraditional investor
Without being part of the full hydrocarbon value chain, pension and super funds are now claiming stakes in the Asia-Pacific oil & gas market, bringing into play nontraditional sources of funding for processing infrastructure assets in the region.
building
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President Biden and leveraged finance: Short-term stability, long-term change?
Many leveraged finance dealmakers welcomed the certainty and stability President Biden's election brought to capital markets but attention will now turn to what the new administration means for the markets in the long-term
metal wall
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Clearing the debt maturity wall
COVID-19 disruption has had little impact on borrowers' ability to refinance debt and extend loan maturities
Singapore city
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Sovereign wealth fund M&A volume surge in 2020
SWFs acquired more deals in 2020 as they hunted for stable returns in volatile times
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Sponsor and lender demand are back
Jennifer Kloud and Mitchell Kinastowski from BMO Sponsor Finance speak with White & Case partner Jacob Schtevie about BMO’s approach to funding technology credits, the importance of financial sponsor relationships in the mid-market and the growing popularity of recurring revenue financings
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US SPACs look beyond their backyard to Europe
Although most SPAC activity is concentrated in the US, the boom in listings spells opportunities for European firms
Hong Kong city
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Private equity in APAC ready to rebound
After a challenging 2020, APAC private equity dealmakers are forging ahead with deals, and financing markets are well-positioned to support the revival
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Asia-Pacific Infrastructure 2021: Strong foundations in a changing world
Although the world has been in the grip of a pandemic, our survey shows that the Asia-Pacific infrastructure market is set for considerable growth in the next few years with technology and ESG considerations at the heart of that expansion
stock market display
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Global IPOs: Back in the game
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.
staircase
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The flight to quality in European issuance
The European leveraged finance market remains resilient following a year of unprecedented hardship, as lenders dissect credits to determine the best possible deals, from business fundamentals to pricing and documentary terms
seoul city image
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South Korean M&A staged Q4 comeback
An active fourth quarter and strong economic fundamentals signal a busy year ahead for South Korean dealmaking
office building windows
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Shareholder activists poised for a resurgence in 2021
As the dust begins to settle, shareholder activists are making a comeback
Aviation
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Aviation finance in Russia and CIS countries
Opportunities in uncertain times  
tables outside a restaurant
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Leisure industry readies for distress amid prolonged lockdowns
Despite encouraging signs that economies could reopen as COVID-19 vaccinations are rolled out, additional waves of infections and extended travel restrictions weigh heavily on the leisure and hospitality industry
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Chapter 11 cases soared in 2020, with more distress likely in 2021
Commercial chapter 11 filings in the US increased significantly in 2020, but government stimulus measures and widespread availability of fresh capital resulted in fewer corporate restructurings than many anticipated—that could change in the next 12 months
Climate change
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Climate change disputes: Sustainability demands fuelling legal risk
Businesses must be prepared for legal challenges to their activities and proactively take steps to limit their exposure to climate change-related claims
SPACs on track to drive M&A leveraged loan issuance
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SPACs on track to drive M&A leveraged loan issuance
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.
Shanghai city image
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COVID-19 and trade tensions weighed on Asia-Pacific debt markets
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
airport boarding area
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Transportation M&A showed signs of recovery in Q4
Dealmaking is gradually making a comeback in the sector, both as a means to rebuild hard-hit companies and to meet growing consumer demand