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

European Leveraged Finance Survey: Wider credit spreads, more defaults expected

Amid late-cycle markers of tight valuations and rising credit risk, European leveraged finance professionals are heading into 2026 with a more cautious outlook.
December 19, 2025

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.
December 19, 2025

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.
December 12, 2025

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.
December 5, 2025

US leveraged loan default rate including LMEs slides to two-year low

Forward indicators of distress, including ratings agency actions and the share of loans priced below 80, are mixed.
December 2, 2025

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.
November 25, 2025

LMEs migrate to Europe, lifting combined loan default rate to 2.15%

The use of liability management exercises (LMEs) by European borrowers is increasing.
November 25, 2025

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.
November 20, 2025

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.
November 17, 2025

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.
November 13, 2025