We believe sound ESG practices have the potential to improve performance while promoting a positive impact on society and the greater environment. We embrace and integrate ESG factors into our investment strategy and believe doing so enhances our ability to build better businesses and create value. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Engine & Transmission Exchange is a leading independent remanufacturer of aftermarket vehicle transmissions and other automotive aftermarket repair and replacement parts. ETE offers a number of complementary services, including transmission repair, engine and transfer case repair and replacement, and servicing of torque convertors. With a legacy spanning over 35 years, the Company’s proven remanufacturing process returns used transmissions to “new” or “better-than-new” condition by using reclaimed and re-machined components.
Heightened interest in mezzanine financing similarly suggests sponsors have a desire to turn back the clock. In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the local laws governing Debt & Collection include the Bulgarian Debt Collection Act, which outlines the procedures for debt collection and the rights of creditors and debtors. It is essential to familiarize yourself with these laws to protect your rights and interests when dealing with debt-related matters.
Audax Private Debt issued its eighth new issue middle market CLO, adding a number of new lenders to the Audax Senior Debt CLO platform and bringing its CLO AUM to $3.9 billion. BNP Paribas priced the upsized $505.5 million Audax Senior Debt CLO 8 LLC transaction. Before joining Audax in 2019, Steve worked for Great Point Partners, where he focused on evaluating and executing leveraged buyouts and growth equity investments in the Healthcare Industry. The lawyers at Plovdiv Legal are experienced in debt collection of contractually owed debt from legal entities and individuals residing in Bulgaria.
The awards may not be representative of any one client’s experience with Audax and is not indicative of Audax’ future performance. Audax has or may provide certain of the parties Mary Hoover Drucker above with de minimis compensation to make use of such awards and recognition. Prior to Audax, Mr. Wolpow was a General Partner and Managing Director of Bain Capital.
In a high interest rate environment, some borrowers may struggle to maintain adequate FCCR and interest-coverage ratios. Mezzanine’s ability to allow for PIK-interest payments improves the ability of borrowers to cover their current cash interest and fixed charges. Given heightened base rates, the cash interest rate for mezzanine tranches is often lower than unitranche and sometimes lower than senior debt cash interest rates. In this sense, mezzanine structures can preserve cashflow during windows when liquidity dries up. Kevin is responsible for overseeing all facets of Audax’ debt business, including origination, underwriting, and portfolio management as well as setting the business’ strategic direction.
Even as all-senior financing structures and unitranche facilities have become more common, mezzanine remains critical within the capital structures of sponsor-backed companies. For instance, despite the appearance of one legal document, some historical unitranche facilities were, at times, carved up into first-out/last-out positions via a separate lender agreement. More recently, mezzanine funds have generally had flexibility to invest in traditional unsecured notes, second lien loans, holdco PIK notes, and preferred and common equity. Adam joined Audax in 2000 and has since invested in 40 platform companies across healthcare, consumer, and software/technology sectors. Prior to joining Audax, Adam was with the private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, where he focused on leverage buyouts across a number of industries.
Solid relationships and flexible solutions are key to private debt’s ongoing success in the PE mid-market, says Audax Private Debt president Kevin Magid. Our team is collaborative, experienced, and has built lasting relationships, establishing Audax Private Debt as a trusted name in the U.S. middle market. Chelsea is a Principal at Audax Private Debt, overseeing portfolio management for our Originated Debt platform. Prior to joining Audax in 2009, Alex was a Manager of Business Development at Arrowstreet Capital, where he built relationships with institutional investors on a global basis. Prior to Arrowstreet, Alex was a Principal at Hamersley Partners, where he helped emerging managers raise capital.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Magna provides litigation support services to over 13,000 law firms, corporations, insurance carriers, and government agencies. The Company provides critical support to its clients throughout the litigation process, including court reporting, translation, videography, records retrieval, jury evaluation and consulting, graphic design, and trial presentation services. Magna was founded in 2007 and has established itself as one of the industry’s leading and fastest growing litigation support providers, with offices across the US serving clients in all 50 states. Audax Private Debt seeks to collect meaningful, performance-based, and comparable ESG data from its portfolio companies.
In an uncertain rate environment, the fixed-rate options of mezzanine structures provide an interest-rate hedge, instilling more certainty for borrowers in a dynamic and evolving market. The increase in the cost of capital for floating-rate debt is also driving weaker fixed-charge coverage and interest coverage ratios. But to fully appreciate the pick-up in the mezzanine market, it helps to understand the factors influencing other areas of debt financing. Banks and other senior debt lenders have reduced their risk appetite and pulled back on their commitment sizes.
PitchBook’s 2023 Global League Tables rankings are compiled using the count of completed deals for the specified criteria. Only publicly disclosed transactions and/or transactions confirmed by PitchBook’s primary research team are included. The Select Roles list comprises only bookrunners, lead arrangers, mandated lead arrangers, and all types of agents that are specifically listed within PitchBook.
Audax Private Debt (“Audax”) announced that, as Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger, it provided a unitranche credit facility to support Gauge Capital (“Gauge”) in their acquisition of Engine & Transmission Exchange (“ETE” or the “Company”). Audax Private Debt Flexible, customized equity solutions for private equity sponsors. Paradoxically, the shifting landscape has had little influence on purchase price multiples – at least not for the deals getting done. A flight to quality coupled with a dearth of dealflow means that valuations for businesses with strong growth prospects remain elevated. Adequate leverage, thus, is required to finance new platform acquisitions, and mezzanine debt has helped fill this gap.
This has translated into widening spreads for unitranche loans and LBO leverage levels generally trending lower. A few significant differences distinguish the gravitation to mezzanine debt from other fashion trends. The surge in interest is an outgrowth of more fundamental drivers, ranging from escalating interest rates to the ongoing retrenchment of “traditional” bank lenders. Also, while vinyl records have been collecting dust, mezzanine financing never went away.
He was previously employed at Drexel Burnham Lambert and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he began his career and focused on leveraged finance. Marc Wolpow is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Audax Group and Executive Chairman of Audax Private Debt. Along with his business partner, Geoff Rehnert, Mr. Wolpow manages the firm and has overseen all phases of Audax Group’s development since its founding in 1999. Prior to starting Audax Private Debt in 2000, Kevin was a Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance/Merchant Banking Group at CIBC World Markets Corp. He also previously worked at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Wasserstein Perella and Kidder Peabody, principally in a leveraged finance role.