The recent shift in common wisdom with respect to covenant-lite loans hearkens the warning to be careful of changing opinions in the face of unchanging facts and steadfast opinions. This note summarizes the pro–covenant lite positions articulated to us and points out their weaknesses.
Every day, CREO and Cambridge Associates encounter wealth owners, families, and family office professionals who are starting down the path of sustainability investing. This paper details the typical path these investors take, the questions many of them face, and the way that many of them successfully develop a winning strategy that generates both returns and impact.
No. While US companies have some defensible profitability advantages, today’s elevated margin levels may be poised for a reversal of fortune.
Due to mounting pressures in the healthcare industry, many hospitals will likely rely on spending from investment pools to support operations and capital plans. While investments will be a source of funding, our survey of healthcare clients indicates that for many, investment strategy will balance spending needs and growth goals.
Direct lending, or senior debt, funds have come to dominate the private credit asset class, capturing significant portfolio allocations and outpacing fundraising of other private credit strategies. However, over the past 18 months, Cambridge Associates has felt enthusiasm for senior debt allocations cool as discussions turn to senior debt funds’ performance through the credit cycle.
Fixed income assets and gold advanced, as escalating trade tensions cast uncertainty regarding the global growth outlook and global central banks sounded a more dovish tone; equities and other real assets were more mixed. This chart book presents returns and other market metrics for fiscal year 2019.
In contrast to the public markets, and despite a weak fourth quarter, the Cambridge Associates US private equity and venture capital indexes both produced double-digit positive returns for calendar year 2018.
Yes. While equity and bond markets don’t often rise in tandem like they have lately, history suggests that both recent moves could be warranted if central bank stimulus successfully extends the cycle. But that is a big “if”; several moving parts cloud the macro outlook, and markets are assuming that central banks can reverse the recent economic slowdown.
As part of our ongoing commitment to alternative credit, Cambridge Associates (CA) began compiling a database of credit stress and losses in one of the largest strategies within private credit, senior debt (i.e., direct lending). Our initial outreach in the United States and Europe yielded data from 11 senior debt funds tracking material document modifications (which we use as a proxy for credit stress, greater detail below) and loss rates in bilateral and clubbed middle-market lending.
No. While we do not expect the trade war to end after President Trump and President Xi meet this week at the G20 in Japan, we have not changed our view that investors should consider dedicated allocations to China broadly and A-shares in particular.