11 Comments
User's avatar
S D's avatar

This is the most comprehensive post I have read so as to understand BDC as a sector. Definitely waiting for the second part.

Kath.Rob's avatar

I can’t agree with SD enough. Concise and well researched. One doesn’t see enough of this quality in today’s world. Ty.

anon's avatar

early congrats on a time-worthy and timely 1-2 punch.

Nicholas Weber's avatar

Very good piece of work.

DWW's avatar

Great primer on BDC. I learned a ton. Well written, clear, informative.

Freddie's avatar

you should be on the Odd Lots podcast!

Bryan Ferrari's avatar

Great research, thank you

papas's avatar

is it possible that BDCs with a higher % of secured revolving credit as liability are better priced because are more scrutinized by the banks?

Luis Rouco Ferriz's avatar

Great post, v comprehensive. Small typo - BDCs are open-ended vehicles, can’t have perpetual capital and be closed-ended at the same time

Komar's avatar

You have perpetual non-traded BDCs that are open ended to HNWs / Private channels - e.g. BCRED. And you have those that are close ended - with tickers that are traded, and trade with discounts to NAVs.

David Schmidt's avatar

The software concentration chart is the story. The issue isn't just 'high yields on floating debt.' It's that underwriting during the zero-rate era was often based on equity-like growth assumptions but with debt-like security. When those growth assumptions falter, the 'senior secured' position is secured by assets (intangibles) whose value is evaporating. This creates a massive gap between recovery expectations and reality, a lesson commercial credit analysts learned in the dot-com bust and need to remember now.