The PitchBook LCD six-month forward default projection is 1.86% by issuer count.

The company is in the midst of winding down its remaining assets and operations after a last-ditch effort to obtain a government bailout fell short.

Over the past 12 months, 18 Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index issuers that conducted distressed LMEs contributed to the dual-track default rate, down 50% from 36 LMEs in the twelve months through April 2025.

The stakeholders have been trying to untie the Gordian knot of competing claims against First Brands’ assets.

The model currently estimates a 1.48% rolling-12-month default rate by issuer count for Sept. 30, 2026, or slightly above the 1.43% default rate as of March 31.

QVC made the disclosure after its net leverage ratio exceeded 4.5x, resulting in a breach of its credit facility’s financial covenant.

Distressed volume grew 25% in March alone even as average bid prices in the software sector edged modestly higher, signaling deteriorating support for stressed credits.

Rising interest rates and higher commodity costs are likely to impinge on cash flows — and therefore raise the refinancing risk — of highly leveraged companies.

The Software and Healthcare Providers & Services sectors remained at the forefront of the LME landscape, with 22% and 13% shares over the last twelve months.

The data points to ‘concentrated pockets’ of stress in smaller firms and cyclical sectors, rather than a system-wide crisis.

Repeat defaulters will be one of the key drivers of European high-yield bond and leveraged loan defaults in 2026, according to Fitch.

S&P noted that the company is in the midst of discussions with stakeholders to restructure its balance sheet.

The number of issuers with loan facilities priced at distressed levels is at a two-year high.

Elevated leverage and a looming maturity wall could create downgrade pressure for loans in Europe’s embattled Software sector.

Dollar weakness could potentially diminish demand for US credit assets.

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

January featured three LME restructurings and two Chapter 11 bankruptcies.

Failures at Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop expose the risks still lurking on the high street.