Author's Profile

Rachelle Kakouris

Director, EMEA Credit Research

Rachelle Kakouris covers the US leveraged finance markets with a focus on stressed and distressed credits. Before joining LCD, Kakouris was a reporter for Reuters and IFR on the US high-yield corporate bond market in New York. Prior to that, she covered sovereign and covered bonds as a markets reporter for IFR Magazine and IFR Markets in London during the height of the financial crisis.

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Articles by Rachelle Kakouris

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
February 13, 2026

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
February 6, 2026

Ranks of distressed software leveraged loan issuers balloon to record $25B

Software loans account for 13% of the leveraged loan market as a whole, so losses in the sector weigh heavily on broad market returns.
February 4, 2026

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
January 30, 2026

European Leveraged Loan Default Monitor

The European Leveraged Loan Default Monitor provides a high-level view of default and distressed activity among companies in the Morningstar European Leveraged Loan Index. Topics covered include default rates capturing payment defaults and liability management exercises, and forward indictors from distress ratios to downgrade activity.
January 29, 2026

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
January 23, 2026

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
January 16, 2026

Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap

The Global Distressed Credit Weekly Wrap provides a comprehensive summary of the latest news for leveraged loans and high-yield bonds, and a rundown of courtroom bankruptcy activity.
January 9, 2026

Loan issuer default rate eases in 2025, but mega-bankruptcies lift dollar amount

The dollar volume of conventional defaults rose by nearly 40% year-over-year, even as fewer loan issuers fell by the wayside.
January 7, 2026

US Credit Markets Quarterly Wrap

The US Credit Markets Quarterly Wrap summarizes the dynamics of the US leveraged finance markets, featuring extensive commentary and data on loans, bonds and private credit.
January 5, 2026