FICC Focus

Oaktree’s Rosenfelt on LME Tensions: State of Distressed Debt

12 snips
Jul 14, 2025
Ross Rosenfelt, a managing director at Oaktree’s Opportunities Group with expertise in restructuring, shares insights into today’s distressed debt landscape. He discusses how disqualified lender lists may misguide sponsors by overlooking constructive funds. The conversation touches on innovative liability management strategies and the importance of collaboration in restructuring. Rosenfelt also reflects on his career transition from law to finance, the ambitious market mood amidst economic challenges, and the complexities of recent bankruptcy cases involving significant debt.
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INSIGHT

LMEs Replace Many Bankruptcies

  • Liability management exercises (LMEs) have replaced many bankruptcies due to lower costs and quicker resolutions.
  • More restructuring now happens in the boardroom than in court, changing the dynamics of distressed debt negotiations.
INSIGHT

Inclusive LMEs Reduce Litigation

  • Liability management deals have evolved to be more inclusive, reducing disputes with minority creditors.
  • Sponsors now usually initiate creditor engagement to find consensus and avoid costly litigation.
INSIGHT

Antitrust Concerns in LMEs

  • Antitrust concerns about creditor cooperation in LMEs seem misplaced since they arise from borrower contracts, not competition.
  • Ross expects these issues may be litigated, but believes creditor cooperation is not anti-competitive.
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