Even the most successful companies find themselves facing distressed situations, opening another window of opportunities for investing
in distressed debt across the globe.
They usually earn much lower fees, and valuations... Only a smaller subset
of distressed debt managers deserve premium alternative manager valuations.
In my last post, I briefly highlighted some difficulties a private investor might face with classic
distressed debt investing.
They focus
on distressed debt, which isn't that bad considering we live in a world were everybody spends money they don't have.
The private equity segment invests in control equity and related debt instruments, convertible securities and
distressed debt investments.
The most challenging thing about
buying distressed debt is knowing all of the legal requirements and ramifications, especially when a borrower is in or near bankruptcy.
Similarly they may invest beyond the equity market in «less liquid» investments such
as distressed debt.
While good PE & absolute return managers can, to a fair extent, make their own luck, the best returns may come
from distressed debt.
Recognizing these limitations, I usually prefer to stick
with distressed debt asset managers & investment vehicles.
There will be tremendous opportunities in discounted asset / special situation investments — best accessed through private equity (PE), event driven &
distressed debt strategies.
[They might also consider bankruptcy sales, and / or purchases of vessel / fleet specific
distressed debt].
Through investments
in distressed debt and equity, we provide liquidity to parties seeking to exit troubled situations.
She has also represented clients in connection with the sale
of distressed debt and the acquisition of collateral through foreclosure.
In contrast to the previously mentioned sale, however, five of the 20 loans were sold separately and the remaining loans were divided between one
distressed debt fund and a life insurance company.
Our experience
with distressed debt is invaluable in this regard, as it allows us to fully understand the intrinsic value of a security in a negative scenario.
Credit default swaps on Saudi Arabian debt have ballooned, and Dubai's debt pile, estimated to have reached $ 130 billion at the end of 2015 by the Institute of International Finance, is once again garnering the attention of
distressed debt investors.
Mr. Walldorf is a member of the Cerberus Capital Management
Global Distressed Debt Committee and Real Estate Investment Committee.
«Shorter duration hedge fund assets have grown at a rapid pace even as market liquidity has deteriorated, particularly in the high yield and
distressed debt markets.
Mr. Bruno is a member of the Cerberus Capital Management Operating / Management Advisory Committee, Private Equity Investment Committee, Real Estate Investment Committee, Valuation Committee, and Global
Distressed Debt Committee.
As Research In Motion slugs it out with the global handset Goliaths, and the Nortel carcass is picked apart
by distressed debt investors, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty seems determined to put the full weight of the federal budget behind resurrecting Canada's innovation sector.
Before joining Eaton Vance, he was an analyst specializing in
distressed debt securities at Cowen & Company and later at Amroc Investments, L.P.
Of course this lack of supply, and unrealistic pricing on any remaining debt being sold, has jacked up prices & competition for
distressed debt buyers.]
Larry also advises clients in connection with all aspects of the sale or other disposition of businesses, assets and debt, and routinely represents funds and other entrepreneurs in
purchasing distressed debt at discounted prices.
Hanson Capital provides flexible and timely financing investors acquiring
distressed debt secured by commercial real estate.
Sean has managed the firm's investments strategies which have included: Property investment funds in multiple asset classes; convertible debentures; FDIC structured transactions; preferred equity placements:
distressed debt opportunity funds; and strategic land assemblies.
He regularly advises clients on general corporate and commercial matters with a particular focus in the areas of real estate and finance, including DIP facilities, mezzanine debt and
distressed debt transactions.
In addition to focusing on acquiring
distressed debt portfolio acquisitions and properties in the U.S., Mr. Giller served as Managing Director of JER France, SA, where he started and was responsible for building and running JER's European investment platform.
Based on the thoughtful memos from Howard Marks, one of the
best distressed debt investors, this book covers a lot of ground and teaches you how to think about the investing environment as it evolves without getting bogged down by the unimportant.
Prior to joining the firm, he served for three years as an assistant vice president in the loan administration /
distressed debt group of LaSalle Bank, N.A. and was a basic industries analyst for the investment banking division of Deutsche Bank for two years.
Oaktree Capital Group (OAK: US) & Apollo Global Management (APO: US) are two other US firms with a primary focus on
distressed debt asset management.
Given the deep discounts historically afforded on
distressed debt during a credit crisis, investors could triple or even quadruple their money as prices recover, he says.
For insights into how to do this, it's well worth visiting some research by Cambridge Associates in a report
entitled Distressed Debt: A New Way to Categorise Managers, which was published in February this year.
While interesting and instructive, the case should not provide any false sense of comfort to lenders and
distressed debt participants in the burgeoning world of middle - market financing using unitranche structures.