Sponsor-backed direct lending volume and deal count ticked up in the three months ended Aug. 31, recovering from the lows seen in Q2 but remaining below Q1 levels, according to new LCD data.
Direct lenders provided an estimated $28 billion across 124 sponsor-backed deals over the past three months, up from $23 billion across 101 deals in Q2, though still short of Q1's $45 billion across 133 deals, according to the latest US LCD Private Credit Monitor.
On a year-to-date basis, sponsor-backed direct lending volume of $87 billion across 322 deals through August runs 27% behind last year's $120 billion (from 356 deals) over the same period, signaling that sponsors remain cautious even as quarterly activity firms up.
Buyout financing has followed a similar path. Direct lenders backed 50 LBOs for roughly $14 billion over the three months through August, an improvement on Q2's 47 deals and $13 billion but still well below Q1's 56 deals and $23 billion. Year-to-date, direct lending buyout volume of $44 billion across 135 deals trails the $57 billion and 154 deals at the same time last year, suggesting sponsors are still hesitant to launch new platform deals amid the higher-for-longer rate backdrop.
Healthcare sector deals accounted for 20% of new-issue direct lending deals in 2026 year-to-date, versus 18% in full-year 2025. Technology's share of new direct lending deals has fallen to 16% YTD, from 18% for FY 2025, representing the largest drop of any sector over the period. Utilities and building materials both saw large increases, though both sectors sit on small relative bases.
#billion #lending #three
Direct lenders provided an estimated $28 billion across 124 sponsor-backed deals over the past three months, up from $23 billion across 101 deals in Q2, though still short of Q1's $45 billion across 133 deals, according to the latest US LCD Private Credit Monitor.
On a year-to-date basis, sponsor-backed direct lending volume of $87 billion across 322 deals through August runs 27% behind last year's $120 billion (from 356 deals) over the same period, signaling that sponsors remain cautious even as quarterly activity firms up.
Buyout financing has followed a similar path. Direct lenders backed 50 LBOs for roughly $14 billion over the three months through August, an improvement on Q2's 47 deals and $13 billion but still well below Q1's 56 deals and $23 billion. Year-to-date, direct lending buyout volume of $44 billion across 135 deals trails the $57 billion and 154 deals at the same time last year, suggesting sponsors are still hesitant to launch new platform deals amid the higher-for-longer rate backdrop.
Healthcare sector deals accounted for 20% of new-issue direct lending deals in 2026 year-to-date, versus 18% in full-year 2025. Technology's share of new direct lending deals has fallen to 16% YTD, from 18% for FY 2025, representing the largest drop of any sector over the period. Utilities and building materials both saw large increases, though both sectors sit on small relative bases.
#billion #lending #three
2 days ago
