Borrowers and Sponsors Cautiously Optimistic Despite Macroeconomic Challenges, Finds Antares Survey

Antares released its inaugural Credit Market Outlook Survey assessing private equity sponsors and middle-market portfolio companies. It found expectations for moderate U.S. growth, healthy borrower revenue and EBITDA expansion, and potential improvement in mergers and acquisitions. Among borrower respondents, 78 percent expected U.S. growth of zero to two percent over the next 12 months; 68 percent anticipated revenue growth and 74 percent expected organic EBITDA growth. Sponsors highlighted industrial, business services and healthcare as attractive sectors. The results are survey respondent expectations rather than Antares' realized returns, portfolio allocation percentages, or fund-level performance.