CLOs for All Seasons

CLO structures incorporate mechanisms designed to protect investors across varying credit environments. Historical performance data from Standard & Poor’s confirms negligible defaults across multiple stress periods, from the 2008-09 crisis through the recent inflation cycle.

In the latest article in our CLO Insights Series, produced in association with Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP, we provide an analysis of:

  • Matching principles: How CLOs are designed to limit interest rate, currency and maturity mis-matches.
  • Portfolio construction: Asset selection process and the role of eligibility criteria, collateral quality tests and concentration limits.
  • Active Management: The benefits of a dynamic approach to portfolio management.
  • Risk retention: Regulatory frameworks requiring 5% economic interest alignment.
  • Protections: Tools available to CLO managers for managing distressed and defaulted assets.
  • Amortisation: Investors are repaid from amortisation of the underlying investments
  • Looking forward: What to look out for in the future.

Current market conditions, including increased uncertainty around default trajectories, spread compression and asset availability, underscore the relevance of these structural protections.

Read the analysis below.

Download CLOs for All Seasons

Robert Reynolds

Managing Director, Head of CLOs

Robert is a Managing Director and Head of Collateralised Loan Obligation (‘CLO’) for Pemberton. CLOs invest in broadly syndicated leveraged loans and Robert is responsible for building Pemberton’s CLO business into an innovative platform.

More about Robert Reynolds

Other Insights Within the Same Category

The Standard of Care in a CLO

The Standard of Care in a CLO

The Standard of Care is central to CLO management. In the second edition of our CLO Insights Series, we examine its practical impact on managers’ responsibilities. The principle is straightforward but important: CLO Managers must manage capital with the same level of skill and attention they apply to comparable assets across their business. Reasonable care […]

Understanding Par Value in CLOs

Understanding Par Value in CLOs

Par value is the cornerstone of CLO structures, shaping investor protections and serving as a key measure of a manager’s skill. The first edition of our CLO Insights Series explores the central role of par value with a focus on: For institutional investors, understanding par value dynamics is essential for CLO evaluation and manager selection. […]

Contact Us

For further information or if you have a specific query, please get in touch.

Contact