Skip to main content
PGIM Investments LogoPGIM Investments Logo
  • Funds

    • UCITS Funds by Asset Class
    • Prices
    • Performance
  • Investment Solutions

    • Active Fixed Income
    • Alternatives Investing
    • Carbon Solutions
    • Data Centers
    • Global Real Estate
    • Innovative Growth
  • Thought Leadership

    • Insights
    • Market Outlooks
    • Investment Themes
    • Webinar Hub
    • Proprietary Research
  • Literature
  • About Us

    • About PGIM Investments
    • Awards & Accolades
    • Careers
    • ESG Investing
    • Newsroom

    About our Managers

    • Jennison Associates
    • PGIM Fixed Income
    • PGIM Real Estate
    • PGIM Quantitative Solutions

  • Contact
""
Alternatives

Middle Market Remains Private Credit Sweet SpotMiddleMarketRemainsPrivateCreditSweetSpot

Dec 12, 2024

Macro stability and monetary easing should accelerate the M&A cycle in 2025, benefiting middle market companies with attractive risk-adjusted return profiles.

  • View PDF
Share
  • Mail
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Copy URL
  • Print

Share

Private credit continues to garner investor interest due to its attractive yield and return potential through different market conditions. The asset class remained resilient even amid the recent Federal Reserve rate-hiking cycle. As we navigate a lower-rate environment with greater spread tightening potential, private credit should continue to offer exceptional portfolio allocation benefits given its novel return sources and capacity to enhance diversification.

MATURING INTO THE MAINSTREAM

Private credit is becoming more mainstream, increasingly filling a void among middle-market borrowers with limited capital-markets access left by banks in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Once considered a niche alternative strategy, private credit is now a ~$1.7 trillion asset class, rivaling the public broadly syndicated loan market in size. It is anticipated to grow at a ~10% compound annual growth rate through 20291.

EASING ENCOURAGES M&A

Private credit volume primarily stems from M&A activity driven by private equity sponsors. While the syndicated loan market historically dominated private equity funding, private credit’s growing share reflects a structural shift away from traditional bank lending. Private lenders accounted for 85% of leveraged buyouts in 2024, up from 64% in 20192. Steadying macro conditions and the onset of central bank easing helped lift M&A out of its recent slump, with year-over-year volume increasing 43% on strength at the lower end of the middle-market segment2. Lower rates should accelerate the M&A cycle in 2025 as private equity firms deploy stockpiled cash and drive stealth demand for private credit.

HIGHER SPREAD PER UNIT OF LEVERAGE WITH LESS SPREAD COMPRESSION IN MIDDLE MARKET

Source: LSEG as of 9/30/2024. Data based on first-lien debt to first-lien leverage.

MATTHEW HARVEY

Head of Direct Lending
PGIM Private Capital

Private credit showed resilience over the past two years of central bank tightening. As we move further into the easing cycle, growing confidence among borrowers should contribute to improved conditions, which should bode well for private credit demand.
Matthew HarveyHead of Direct LendingPGIM Private Capital

MIDDLE-MARKET ADVANTAGES

Rising transaction volume is likely to drive heightened competition in large-company lending, which could weigh on yields and contribute to riskier underwriting standards in the larger-market segment. Untested companies will encounter stress as the economy slows, making it essential to carefully balance opportunities and risks. While many private credit lenders focus on the larger market, we continue to believe middle-market companies enjoy a more attractive risk-adjusted return profile marked by higher yields and lower balance sheet leverage.

Related Insights

Actively Investing Through Paradigm Shifts

Actively Investing Through Paradigm Shifts

Dec 12, 2024

PGIM asset managers highlight key trends and related opportunities that they believe warrant the most investor attention as 2025 gets underway.

The Private Credit Opportunity
Alternatives

The Private Credit Opportunity

Jul 16, 2024

Learn why private credit will be a key beneficiary as alternative financing needs continue to increase.

A Favourable Climate for Private Credit
Alternatives

A Favourable Climate for Private Credit

Jul 1, 2024

PGIM Private Capital’s Head of Direct Lending, Matthew Harvey, shares his perspectives on private credit.

1Source: Preqin Special Report: The Future of Alternatives in 2029 published in September 2024.

2Source: LSEG as of 9/30/2024.

 

References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities. The securities referenced may or may not be held in the portfolio at the time of publication and, if such securities are held, no representation is being made that such securities will continue to be held.

The views expressed herein are those of PGIM investment professionals at the time the comments were made, may not be reflective of their current opinions, and are subject to change without notice. Neither the information contained herein nor any opinion expressed shall be construed to constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities mentioned herein. Neither PFI, its affiliates, nor their licensed sales professionals render tax or legal advice. Clients should consult with their attorney, accountant, and/or tax professional for advice concerning their particular situation. Certain information in this commentary has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable as of the date presented; however, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information, assure its completeness, or warrant such information will not be changed. The information contained herein is current as of the date of issuance (or such earlier date as referenced herein) and is subject to change without notice. The manager has no obligation to update any or all such information; nor do we make any express or implied warranties or representations as to the completeness or accuracy.

Any projections or forecasts presented herein are subject to change without notice. Actual data will vary and may not be reflected here. Projections and forecasts are subject to high levels of uncertainty. Accordingly, any projections or forecasts should be viewed as merely representative of a broad range of possible outcomes. Projections or forecasts are estimated based on assumptions, subject to significant revision, and may change materially as economic and market conditions change.

For compliance use only 4082799

  • PGIM Funds

    • Home
    • Contact
    • Newsroom
    • Awards
    • Careers
  • About Us

    • Overview
    • PGIM Fixed Income
    • PGIM Real Estate
    • Jennison Associates
    • PGIM Quantitative Solutions
  • Funds

    • Explore Funds
    • Prices
    • Performance
    • Literature
  • Disclosures

    • Disclosure
    • Cookies and Pixel Tags
    • UK Regulatory Disclosure
  • Insights

    • Latest Insights
    • Webinars
    • Market Outlooks
PGIM Investments Logo
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Help
  • Cookie Preference Center

UCITS HAVE NO GUARANTEED RETURN AND PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE.

For Professional Investors only. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital.

Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. 

In the United Kingdom, information is issued by PGIM Limited with registered office: Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5HR. PGIM Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) of the United Kingdom (Firm Reference Number 193418), and with respect to its Italian operations by the Consob and Bank of Italy. In the European Economic Area (“EEA”), information may be issued by PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Limited or PGIM Luxembourg S.A. depending on the jurisdiction.  PGIM Netherlands B.V., with registered office at Eduard van Beinumstraat 6, 1077CZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is authorised by the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (“AFM”) in the Netherlands (Registration number 15003620) and operates on the basis of a European passport. PGIM Luxembourg S.A., with registered office at 2, boulevard de la Foire, L-1528 Luxembourg, is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (the “CSSF”) in Luxembourg (registration number A00001218) and operating on the basis of a European passport. In certain EEA countries, information is, where permitted, presented by PGIM Limited in reliance on provisions, exemptions or licenses available to PGIM Limited under temporary permission arrangements following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. This information is issued by PGIM Limited, PGIM Netherlands B.V. and/or PGIM Luxembourg S.A. to persons in the UK who are professional clients as defined under the rules of the FCA and/or to persons in the EEA who are professional clients as defined in the relevant local implementation of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II). In Switzerland, information is issued by PGIM Limited, through its Representative Office in Zurich with registered office: Kappelergasse 14, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland. PGIM Limited, Representative Office in Zurich is authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and these materials are issued to persons who are professional or institutional clients within the meaning of Art.4 para 3 and 4 FinSA in Switzerland. In certain countries in Asia-Pacific, information is issued by PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. with registered office: 88 Market Street, #43-06 CapitaSpring, Singapore 048948. PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. is a regulated entity with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) under a Capital Markets Services License (License No. CMS100017) to conduct fund management and an exempt financial adviser. In Hong Kong, information is issued by PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited with registered office: Units 4202-4203, 42nd Floor Gloucester Tower, The Landmark 15 Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong. PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited is a regulated entity with the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong (BVJ981) (“SFC”) to professional investors as defined in Section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) (Cap.571). PGIM Limited, PGIM Netherlands B.V. and PGIM Luxembourg S.A., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM” and the “Investment Manager”), the principal asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“PFI”), a company incorporated and with its principal place of business in the United States. PFI of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. PGIM, the PGIM logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of PFI and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. PGIM Fixed Income and PGIM Real Estate are trading names of PGIM, a SEC registered investment adviser in the United States. Jennison and PGIM Quantitative Solutions are trading names of Jennison Associates LLC, and PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC, respectively, both of which are SEC registered investment advisers and wholly owned subsidiaries of PGIM. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level or skill or training.

The information on this website is for informational or educational purposes. The information is not intended as investment advice and is not a recommendation about managing or investing assets. In providing these materials, PGIM is not acting as your fiduciary.

Please click on this PGIM Funds plc disclosure linkopens in a new window for important information.

© 2025 Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States and its related entities.

PGIM Investments Logo
PGIM Investments Logo

You are viewing this page in preview mode.

Edit Page