FICC Focus

State of Distressed Debt: Andrew Milgram on Middle-Market Opportunity

32 snips
Feb 9, 2026
Andrew Milgram, managing partner and CIO at MarbleGate, is a middle-market distressed investor who leads hands-on operational turnarounds. He discusses MarbleGate’s direct-investing model, how embedded operations teams and clearer decision processes speed capital turns. Topics include loan documentation pitfalls, liability management exercises, sector avoids like retail and tech, and lessons from First Brands.
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INSIGHT

Specialize Roles For Deeper Restructuring

  • MarbleGate separates sourcing, analysis, financial restructuring, and operational work into specialist teams.
  • They believe fixing operations and balance sheets together produces better recovery outcomes than outsourcing restructuring work.
ADVICE

Use Shoe Leather And Change Reporting

  • Put people on the ground and engage management; MarbleGate calls shoe leather their best investment tool.
  • Ask companies to change reporting frequency and form to expose inconsistencies and hidden problems.
INSIGHT

Middle Market Credit Is Weakening

  • Rapid Ratings data shows declining middle-market credit quality, rising leverage, and about 20% annually with DSCR below 1.
  • MarbleGate expects increased bankruptcies and sustained reorganization activity into 2026.
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