Credit Cockroaches: Infestation or Isolation?

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Season 9, Episode 16

This week on “Know More. Risk Better.” Zachary Griffiths is joined by Peter Simon and Meghan Neenan to unpack the latest “cockroach risk” headlines in U.S. capital markets, following bankruptcies at Tricolor and First Brands. The team analyzes credit quality trends for regional banks and BDCs, finding that fundamentals remain solid and recent losses are idiosyncratic, not symptomatic of broader stress. 

Meghan highlights differentiation across BDCs, notes that exposures to recent bankruptcies were minimal and mainly linked to broadly syndicated loans, not private credit. The discussion explores leverage, dividend management as rates fall, and a looming 2026 maturity wall. The team flags growing liquidity and suitability risks as perpetual BDCs and private asset vehicles expand and touches on the increasing interconnectedness between banks and non-bank lenders.