US CLO Sales Reach Fresh Record in 2025 as Demand Stays Strong

Money managers have sold a record amount of bonds backed by portfolios of leveraged loans this year, profiting from heavy demand from investors for higher-yielding loans funding buyouts in a form that offers extra protections.

Sales of collateralized loan obligations — or CLOs — have hit $201.5 billion this year, a fresh record and up from last year’s $201.2 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News that tracks volumes since 2016. Most of the securities were backed by senior secured bank loans.