Investments

Regulatory relief remains uncertain, but there's plenty to celebrate as some more esoteric asset classes, such as franchise fees and aircraft leases, move into the mainstream, while others, such as nonprime RMBS, are starting to revive.

CIFC once preferred investing in the equity of other managers' CLOs and selling stakes in its own deals. Risk retention has forced a change in this business model.

Cisco DeVries, the chief executive of Renew Financial, said the bills will bring much-needed stability to Property Assessed Clean Energy, which uses a property assessment to finance upgrades.

The upstart firm, owned by private equity firm Eldridge Industries, is issuing its third deal since June; the $1.3 billion offering brings its total issuance for the year to over $4 billion.

MJX CEO Hans Christensen thinks the $500 billion market lacks the heft to influence lawmakers or regulators; he says any relief from rules requiring "skin in the game" of deals will have to benefit other asset classes as well.

U.K. authorities are years away from phasing out the London Interbank Offered Rate, but Conning's Paul Norris is urging the industry to pick up the pace on alternative benchmarks now that it's a matter of "when," not "if."

RREEF America, the real estate investment unit of Deutsche Asset Management, is securitizing an unusual mix of speculative-grade project finance and corporate in a debut $431.3 million collateralized debt obligation.

New issuance of U.S. collateralized loan obligations reached $11.9 billion across 24 deals, taking year-to-date volume past $72.3 billion, according to Thomson Reuters LPC. The eight-month total is higher than the total issuance for all of 2016.

The proceeds will be used to repay three existing bonds series, as well as pay down commercial paper and credit line debt of the real estate investment trust, formerly known as Land Securities.

CVC Cordatus Loan Fund IX is CVC's ninth overall Euro-denominated CLO, and only the second that will price since early June, according to Thomson Reuters LPC.

Race Point IX CLO, a 2015 vintage deal, follows four other refinancings that Bain has completed for its Race Point, Avery Point and former Cavalry issuance platforms; Bain has also refinanced a Euro CLO.

The family-owned real estate group affiliate has committed a significant amount of capital to growing the finance and investment side of the organization, which includes balance sheet lending.

The pricing of BlueMountain Fuji's second-ever transaction pushed the monthly new issuance total to $10.1 billion - only the third time since last November the market has eclipsed the $10 billion barrier.

The number of junk-rated companies downgraded fell to 19 in July, comparedwith an average of 30 for the trailing 12 months. The upgrade count also fell 10, down from 19 in June.

It’s not clear whether syndicated credit agreements require 100% investor consent before adopting a new benchmark. The industry trade group suggests giving new loans the flexibility to change indexes without unanimous approval, but investor advocates are balking.

The $533.1 million collateralized loan obligation portfolio has an unusual capital structure; just two senior tranches will be issued, along with a single subordinated tranche comprising more than one-third of the notional value.

The three new deals totaling $1 billion that priced in August, bringing issuance for the year-to-date to $8.3 billion., That matches 2016's full-year total.

Although challenges have accelerated for certain segments of the U.S. retail industry, the exposure to troubled retail in U.S. structured finance sectors is limited, posing small-to-modest risks for some asset classes.

In Europe, €1.6 billion of new collateralized loan obligations priced during the month July, taking issuance volume for the year to date to €10 billion across 25 deals. That's in line with the €9.7 billion issued during same period last year.

Credit risk transfers have emerged as more than just a method for mitigating taxpayer exposure. They could be a key component of comprehensive housing finance reform.