Focus Financial presses pause on $3.65B term-loan deal

Focus Financial presses pause on $3.65B term-loan deal
The RIA aggregator pulled the transaction as worldwide turbulence in the markets puts a chill on debt issuance.
AUG 06, 2024

A $3.65 billion term-loan package for Focus Financial Partners has been postponed, the third such instance this week for a US leveraged-loan deal as global market tumult of recent days has curbed debt market issuance.

The transaction was pulled from syndication Tuesday morning, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified as the details are private. 

Royal Bank of Canada was leading the two-part deal, which launched on July 31 and consisted of a $3.33 billion term loan and a $325 million delayed draw term loan. Focus, which provides investment-management services, was seeking to refinance an existing loan and fund a distribution to shareholders.  

Planned term loans for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc. and SBA Communications Corp. were postponed on Monday, amid big declines in stock markets around the world and big moves in bond yields and spreads. Leveraged loans, which had been among the best-performing debt classes this year, on consecutive days posted their biggest price declines since March 2023. The average secondary price is now at its lowest this year, according to a Morningstar/LSTA index.

Focus and RBC didn’t reply to a request for comment, nor did Focus co-owner Stone Point Capital. Fellow sponsor Clayton, Dubilier & Rice declined to comment.

Latest News

SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis
SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis

The "Crypto Mom" departure would leave the SEC commission with just two members and no Democratic commissioners on the panel.

Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors
Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors

IFP Securities’ owner, Bill Hamm, has a long-term plan for the firm and its 279 financial advisors.

Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships
Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships

Meanwhile, a Osaic and Envestnet ink a new adaptive wealthtech partnership to better support the firm's 10,000-plus advisors, and RIA-focused VastAdvisor unveils native integrations with leading CRMs.

Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions
Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions

A former Alabama investment advisor and ex-Kestra rep has been permanently barred and penalized after clients he promised to protect got caught in a $2.6 million fraud.

Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation
Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation

As more active strategies get packaged into the ETF wrapper, advisors and investors have to look beyond expense ratios as the benchmark for value.

SPONSORED Are hedge funds the missing ingredient?

Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management