Loans and High Yield

Taiwan’s GaleMed Corp is tapping the loan market for a $70m-equivalent dual-currency deal for refinancing debt and dividend recapitalisation.

Plastics packaging firm Klöckner Pentaplast (KP) has included an ESG margin ratchet in the loan leg of a refinancing, the first time this has been added to a dollar-denominated loan, though the structure is becoming increasingly common in euros.

UK broadband company TalkTalk sold an add-on to its existing high yield notes this week, raising new term debt to pay down its revolver. The company is subject to a takeover bid from Toscafund and Penta Capital, which will leave its existing bonds in place, but grant them security, as well as layering in extra leverage with a PIK toggle from Ares.

Hellman & Friedman refinanced the capital structure of portfolio company TeamSystem this week as it moved ownership between funds. H&F recently completed a similar transfer of its Verisure holding but, unlike that switch, this move isn’t accompanied by a monster dividend payment to the new fund, although the TeamSystem deal still boosts leverage.

Biogroup’s debut in the high yield bond market has become one of the tightest ever triple-C rated issues, validating the former loan-only company’s decision to turn to public markets to add subordination to the refinancing of its capital structure.

A bond for French jewellery store operator Thom Group showed that investors can digest debt from lesser loved sectors like retail, though the decision to opt for bonds to refinance its existing loan capital structure might have been prompted by the greater taste for adventure typically seen in the public market.

European and US direct lending’s insatiable rise to relevance has so far not brought with it a push towards sustainable finance. But this year may be different, as certain private debt funds are setting out ESG blueprints for others to follow.

Chinese property company Kaisa Group Holdings raised $200m from a rapid return to the debt market this week.

KKR has appointed a new partner to help manage its private credit business.

Smurfit Kappa, the Irish paper and cardboard packaging company, has signed its first sustainability-linked loan for €1.35bn, at the same time as setting new targets to reduce its carbon footprint and water use and employ more women.

Anglo-German travel and tourism group TUI has completed its heavily discounted €544m rights issue, which is part of a bailout of the company.

ION Analytics has returned to the market with a $1.9bn-equivalent loan package to fund the combination of Dealogic with Acuris. It tried to sell this deal before the US presidential election but pulled it in the face of weakening sentiment and concerns over political stability.