Author: Ann Hynek

Ann Hynek is the Director of Marketing for Flat Rock Global. With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing for financial services, Ann is a recognized expert in thought leadership content and brand strategy.
19 Dec 2024

Why Advisors Might Consider CLOs

In an interview with InvestmentNews, Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates explains why financial advisors may want to consider Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) in client portfolios.

The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice, or be used to evaluate any investment or security. This podcast is not directed at any investment or potential investors in any Flat Rock Global Fund.




Definition Section


AUM refers to assets under management.


LMT or liability management transactions are an out of court modification of a company’s debt.

Layering refers to placing additional debt with a priority above the first lien term loan.


The secured overnight financing rate, SOFR, is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by treasury securities.


The global financial crisis, GFC, was a period of extreme stress in global financial markets and banking systems between mid 2007 and early 2009.


Credit ratings are opinions about credit risk for long-term issues or instruments. The ratings lie on a spectrum ranging from the highest credit quality on one end to default or junk on the other. A AAA is the highest credit quality. A C or D, depending on the agency issuing the rating, is the lowest or junk quality.


Leveraged loans are corporate loans to companies that are not rated investment grade.


Broadly syndicated loans (BSL) are underwritten by banks, rated by nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations and often traded by market participants.


Middle market loans are usually underwritten by several lenders with the intention of holding the investment through its maturity.


Spread is the percentage difference in current yields of various classes of fixed income securities versus treasury bonds or another benchmark bond measure.


A reset is a refinancing and extension of a CLO investment period.

EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. An add back would attempt to adjust EBITDA for non-recurring items.


ETFs are exchange traded funds.


LIBOR, the London Interbank offer rate, was replaced by software on June 30th, 2024.


Delever means reducing the amount of debt financing.


High yield bonds are corporate borrowings rated below investment grade that are usually fixed rate and unsecured


Default refers to missing a contractual interest or principle payment.


Debt has contractual interest principle and interest payments, whereas equity represents ownership in a company.


Senior secured corporate loans are borrowings from a company that are backed by collateral. Junior debt ranks behind senior secured debt in its payment priority.


Collateral pool refers to the sum of collateral pledged to a lender to support its repayment. A non-call period refers to the time in which a debt instrument cannot be optionally repaid.


A floating rate investment has an interest rate that varies with an underlying floating rate index.




General Disclaimer Section






References to interest rate moves are based on Bloomberg data. Any mentions of specific companies are for reference purposes only and are not meant to describe the investment merit of or potential or actual portfolio changes related to securities of those companies unless otherwise noted.


All discussions are based on US markets and US monetary and fiscal policies. Market forecasts and projections are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. Projections should not be considered a guarantee. The views and opinions expressed by the Flat Rock global speaker are those of the speaker as of the date of the broadcast and do not necessarily represent the views of the firm as a whole. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Flat Rock Global disclaims any responsibility to update such views. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice. It is not a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities, or to adopt any investment strategy. Neither Flat Rock Global nor the Flat Rock Global Speaker can be responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered. None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment related course of action as neither Flat Rock Global nor its affiliates are undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial advisor, or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. Additional information about this podcast along with an edited transcript may be obtained by visiting flatrockglobal.com.
27 Nov 2024

CLO Market Update with Shiloh Bates

Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates talks to Giovanni Amodeo, Chief Influencers Officer at ION Analytics about Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO) markets, CLO equity, and BB notes.

References to interest rate moves are based on Bloomberg data. Any mentions of specific companies are for reference purposes only and are not meant to describe the investment merits of or potential or actual portfolio changes related to securities of those companies unless otherwise noted. All discussions are based on US markets and US monetary and fiscal policies.
Market forecasts and projections are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, projections should not be considered a guarantee.
The views and opinions expressed by the Flat Rock Global speaker are those of the speaker as of the date of publication and do not necessarily represent the views of the firm as a whole. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Flat Rock Global disclaims any responsibility to update such views.
This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice. It is not a recommendation offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Neither Flat Rock Global nor the Flat Rock Global speaker can be responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered. None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment related course of action as neither Flat Rock Global nor its affiliates are undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial or give advice in a fiduciary capacity.
02 Aug 2024

Private Credit and CLO Investing

The InvestmentNews Podcast hosted Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates in a discussion about the surging popularity of private credit and CLO investing. Listen to the podcast at InvestmentNews.com.  

References to interest rate moves are based on Bloomberg data. Any mentions of specific companies are for reference purposes only and are not meant to describe the investment merits of or potential or actual portfolio changes related to securities of those companies unless otherwise noted. All discussions are based on US markets and US monetary and fiscal policies. Market forecasts and projections are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, projections should not be considered a guarantee. The views and opinions expressed by the Flat Rock global speaker are those of the speaker as of the date of the broadcast and do not necessarily represent the views of the firm as a whole. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Flat Rock Global disclaims any responsibility to update such views. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice. It is not a recommendation offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Neither Flat Rock Global nor the Flat Rock Global speaker can be responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered. None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment related course of action as neither Flat Rock Global nor its affiliates are undertaking To provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. 

The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal business tax or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security. This podcast is not directed at any investment or potential investors in any Flat Rock Global fund.

AUM refers to assets under management

LMT or liability management transactions are an out of court modification of a company’s debt.

Layering refers to placing additional debt with a priority above the first lien term loan.

The secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight,
collateralized by treasury securities.

The global financial crisis (GFC) was a period of extreme stress in global financial markets and banking systems between mid 2007 and early 2009.

Credit ratings are opinions about credit risk for long-term issues or instruments. The ratings lie on a spectrum ranging from the highest credit quality on one end to default or junk on the other.

A AAA is the highest credit quality. A C or D, depending on the agency issuing the rating, is the lowest or junk quality. Leveraged loans are corporate loans to companies that are not rated investment grade broadly.

Syndicated loans are underwritten by banks, rated by nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations and often traded by market participants.

Middle market loans are usually underwritten by several lenders with the intention of holding the investment through its maturity spread is the percentage difference in current yields of various classes of fixed income securities versus treasury bonds or another benchmark bond measure

ETFs are exchange traded funds.

Offset is a refinancing and extension of A CLO investment. 

The Bloomberg US Ag Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade US dollar denominated fixed rate taxable bond market.

RMBS stands for Residential mortgage-backed securities.

Non-Agency mortgages are mortgages not owned by a government agency CDO or asset-backed security is a securitization backed by collateral that is not first lien corporate loans. 

26 Jul 2024

Here’s Why CLO Products are Taking Off

Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates spoke with InvestmentNews host Gregg Greenberg about why CLOs, CLO products, and private equity products may be of interest to investors. Watch the video at InvestmentNews.com.  

References to interest rate moves are based on Bloomberg data. Any mentions of specific companies are for reference purposes only and are not meant to describe the investment merits of or potential or actual portfolio changes related to securities of those companies unless otherwise noted. All discussions are based on US markets and US monetary and fiscal policies. Market forecasts and projections are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, projections should not be considered a guarantee. The views and opinions expressed by the Flat Rock Global speaker are those of the speaker as of the date of the broadcast and do not necessarily represent the views of the firm as a whole. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Flat Rock Global disclaims any responsibility to update such views. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice. It is not a recommendation offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Neither Flat Rock Global nor the Flat Rock Global speaker can be responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered. None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment related course of action as neither Flat Rock Global nor its affiliates are undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. 

01 Jul 2024

Interval Funds a Compelling Option for Retail Investors

Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates spoke with LevFin Insights reporter Krista Giovacco about interval funds as an investment option for retail investors. Interval funds provide daily share prices and allow investors to redeem or add shares at specific intervals. They also provide daily share prices and offer greater liquidity and accessibility to retail investors. Read the article and take a look at Shiloh’s video on interval fund basics to learn more.  

This must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus

  • Flat Rock Core Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that is operated as an interval fund.
  • The Fund’s investment objective is the preservation of capital while generating current income from its debt investments and seeking to maximize the portfolio’s total return.
  • ALPS serves as our principal underwriter, within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and will act as the distributor of our shares on a best efforts’ basis, subject to various conditions.
  • Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.
  • Interest Rate Risk: Rising interest rates may adversely affect the value of our portfolio investments which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
  • Closed-End Management Company Risk: Regulations governing our operation as a registered closed-end management investment company affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so. As a registered closed-end management investment company, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.
  • Repurchase Risk: The timing of our repurchase offers pursuant to our Repurchase Program may be at a time that is disadvantageous to our shareholders.
  • Market Risk: Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy. We may be more susceptible than a diversified fund to being adversely affected by any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence. Regulations governing our operation as a registered closed-end management investment company affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so.
  • Investing in Senior Loans involves a number of significant risks. Below investment grade Senior Loans have historically experienced greater default rates than has been the case for investment grade securities.

The Fund’s use of leverage creates the opportunity for increased returns in the Fund, but it also creates special risks. To the extent used, there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful.

  • All historical performance prior to 11/23/2020 is of the Predecessor Fund, Flat Rock Capital Corp.
  • Investing in the Fund’s shares involves risks, including the following:
  • Shares of the Fund will not be listed on any securities exchange, which makes them inherently illiquid.
  • There is no secondary market for the Fund’s shares, and it is not anticipated that a secondary market will develop. Thus, an investment in the Fund may not be suitable for investors who may need the money they invest in a specified timeframe.
  • The shares of the Fund are not redeemable.
  • Although the Fund will offer to repurchase at least 5% of outstanding shares on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Fund’s repurchase policy, the Fund will not be required to repurchase shares at a shareholder’s option nor will shares be exchangeable for units, interests or shares of any security.
  • The Fund is not required to extend, and shareholders should not expect the Fund’s Board of Trustees to authorize, repurchase offers in excess of 5% of outstanding shares.
  • Regardless of how the Fund performs, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her shares whenever such investor would prefer and, except to the extent permitted under the quarterly repurchase offer, will be unable to reduce his or her exposure on any market downturn.
  • The Fund’s distributions may be funded from unlimited amounts of offering proceeds or borrowings, which may constitute a return of capital and reduce the amount of capital available to the Fund for investment. Any capital returned to shareholders through distributions will be distributed after payment of fees and expenses. The amounts and timing of distributions that the Fund may pay, if any, is uncertain.
  • A return of capital to shareholders is a return of a portion of their original investment in the Fund, thereby reducing the tax basis of their investment. As a result of such reduction in tax basis, shareholders may be subject to tax in connection with the sale of Shares, even if such Shares are sold at a loss relative to the shareholder’s original investment.

Shares are speculative and involve a high degree of risk, including the risk associated with below-investment grade securities and leverage.

22 May 2024

The Resurgence of the CLO Marketplace

Flat Rock Global CIO Shiloh Bates talks to Barry Hortz about the opportunities and risks in the collateralized loan obligations (CLO) marketplace; the origins of the CLO Equity Index; the significance of the interval fund structure; and his book, CLO Investing with an Emphasis on CLO Equity and BB Notes

15 May 2024

Insights from a CLO Expert

During the Creditflux CLO Symposium in London, Shiloh Bates joined a fireside chat with Tom Davidson, Managing Editor of Creditflux. They discussed current opportunities in the CLO market, among other topics.

The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal business tax or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security. This video is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Flat Rock Global Fund.  

AUM refers to assets under management.

The secured overnight financing rate software (SOFR) is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by Treasury securities.

The London Interbank offer rate (LIBOR) was a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight for banks on an unsecured basis, leveraged loans or corporate loans to companies that are not rated investment grade. 

Broadly syndicated loans are underwritten by banks, rated by nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations and often traded by market participants.

Middle market loans are usually underwritten by
several lenders with the intention of holding the investment through its
maturity.

A collateralized obligation (CLO) is a structured finance
product that is backed by a pool of assets other than leveraged loans.

Global financial crisis or GFC refers to the banking downturn in 2008 and 2009.

Risk retention is when the CLO manager acquires securities in its CLO to meet regulatory requirements.

Junior capital is financing that has a lower priority
claim in debt repayment to a secured term loan spread is the percentage difference in current yields of various classes of fixed income securities versus treasury bonds. Or another benchmark bond measure yield is income returned on investments such as the interest received from holding a security. The yield is usually expressed as an annual percentage rate based on the investments cost.

Current market value or face value amortization is the process by which the CLO repays its financing after the reinvestment period ends. CLO equity missing payments happens when there are too many triple C rated loans or defaulted loans in the CLO disclosures for the Flat Rock Global CLO equity index can be found on the Flat Rock Global website.

Liability management exercises or LME are an out of court restructuring of a company’s debt in which the lenders take a haircut on the principal balance of their loans. General disclaimer section, references to interest rate moves are based on Bloomberg data. The credit quality of fixed income securities and a portfolio is assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, such as Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch as an indication of an issuer’s credit worthiness ratings range from triple A (highest) to D (lowest) bonds rated Triple B or above are considered investment grade credit ratings. Double B and below are lower rated securities, also known as junk bonds.

Any mentions of specific companies are for reference purposes only and are not meant to describe the investment merits of or potential or actual portfolio changes related to securities of those companies unless otherwise noted. All discussions are based on US markets and US monetary and fiscal policies.

Market forecasts and projections are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, projections should not be considered a guarantee.

The views and opinions expressed by the Flat Rock
Global speaker are those of the speaker as of the date of the broadcast and do not necessarily represent the views of the firm as a whole.

Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and Flat Rock Global Disclaims any responsibility to update such views. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice.

It is not a recommendation offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy.

Neither Flat Rock Global nor the Flat Rock Global Speaker can be responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment related course of action as neither Flat Rock Global nor its affiliates are undertaking. To provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial advisor or give advice in a fiduciary capacity.

This broadcast is copyright 2024 of Flat Rock Global LLC. All rights reserved.

This recording may not be reproduced in whole or in part or in any form without the permission of Flat Rock Global. Additional information about this podcast along with an edited transcript may be obtained by visiting flatrockglobal.com.