At $10.2 billion, middle market sponsored volume fell 12% from the second quarter, though it remains up from the $8.2 billion issued in the first quarter. From a cumulative standpoint, sponsored volume continues to fall short of 2015’s run rate: year-to-date volume stands at $30 billion, a 19% decline from the comparable period last year. 2016 may now shape up to be the slowest for sponsored lending since 2009.

Read the full Fifth Street Capital Market Outlook report.