2025 LevFin has been busier than Oxford Street during the festive period so we can all use the breather…

The European LevFin Wrap will be back to regularly scheduled programming on Friday 9 January, but here’s some stocking fillers in the meantime:

• 2025 high yield recap
• 2026 high yield sector outlook (only on 9fin)
• 2026 CLO outlook
• 2025 distressed recap
• 2025 private credit recap

Now, that’s out the way…

Crack open the mince pies, whack on those Christmas bangers, and Merry Quizmas (you can find our previous editions here and here)!

Answers are directly below question 10.

1. According to 9fin sources, The Traitors contributed how much 2024 revenue to parent company All3Media last year?
   a. €45m
   b. €65m
   c. €75m
   d. €85m
2. Breitling athlete Erling Haaland had a much better 2025 than the struggling Swiss watchmaker. How many matches did it take for the Manchester City striker to score his 100th Premier League goal, earlier this month?
   a. 111
   b. 124
   c. 132
   d. 147
3. CD&R’s Morrisons recently got into a £17m VAT spat with HMRC over which item?
   a. Freddo bars
   b. Krispy Kreme doughnuts
   c. Mince pies
   d. Rotisserie chickens
4. Chocolate and peanut butter maker Natra launched its €500m TLB on 1st December, the first day of advent calendar opening. When did chocolate giant Cadbury produce its first advent calendar?
   a. 1971
   b. 1969
   c. 1966
   d. 1964
5. Electronic Arts (EA) is set to be the biggest LBO in history — but what is its biggest game franchise?
   a. The Sims
   b. FIFA (EA Sports FC)
   c. Need for Speed
   d. Madden NFL
6. Häagen-Dazs operator Froneri came to market with a jumbo dividend this summer. When the ice cream brand was created in 1960, its first three flavours were vanilla, chocolate and…
   a. Strawberry
   b. Cookie dough
   c. Salted caramel
   d. Coffee
7. Luggage manufacturer Samsonite tapped euro high yield markets in November. Which Belgian football star has been the face of one of its campaigns?
   a. Kevin De Bruyne
   b. Romelu Lukaku
   c. Eden Hazard
   d. Thibaut Courtois
8. Sticking with the Belgian theme, INEOS head honcho, Jim Ratcliffe, founded the company in 1998 after purchasing a BP chemical plant where?
   a. Brussels
   b. Antwerp
   c. Brugge
   d. Liège
9. Boots returned to the LevFin market after Sycamore Partners’ acquisition of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Another meal deal purveyor, Tesco, raised eyebrows when it released 2024’s most popular UK meal deal combination:
   a. BLT sandwich, egg protein pot and Evian
   b. Ginsters steak slice, fruit pot and Coca-Cola
   c. Chicken club sandwich, egg protein pot and Coca-Cola
   d. Egg mayo sandwich, Walkers ready salted crisps and Coca-Cola
10. In January, 9fin asked “how spicy is Wagamama’s new bond deal?” What is the spiciest dish on its menu?
    a. The Firecracker
    b. Chilli chicken ramen
    c. Hot chicken katsu curry
    d. Chilli squid

Answers

1. b
2. a
3. d
4. a
5. b
6. d
7. b
8. b
9. c
10. a