Apollo sells Yellow term loan to Citadel

Private equity firm wasn’t going to be chosen as bankruptcy financing lender

The provider of Yellow's bankruptcy financing could be announced on Thursday. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Apollo Global Management has sold the term loan it held for Yellow Corp. and has withdrawn its proposal for bankruptcy financing, according to Financial Times.

Miami-based hedge fund Citadel has acquired Yellow’s $485 million debt from Apollo and other lenders. A Tuesday Delaware bankruptcy court filing showed counsel representing Citadel Credit Master Fund would depose representatives from Yellow on Wednesday regarding post-petition financing.

Apollo’s (NYSE: APO) debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing package was touted in bankruptcy filings as the only viable offer made to the less-than-truckload carrier in the days leading up to its Chapter 11 petition. The $142.5 million deal was expected to provide the company with the funds necessary to market and sell off its terminals and equipment.

The deal would have also provided the private equity firm with an improved lien position among secured creditors. It held first-lien position on the term loan as well as a better lien position than the U.S. Treasury, which is due $737 million from a 2020 COVID relief loan to the carrier.

However, representation for Yellow said last week that better offers came forward following the bankruptcy petition and that Apollo’s terms were too onerous. That deal carried a 17% interest rate, a $32 million closing fee and a 90-day window to liquidate the assets.

The frontrunners at the time included LTL carrier Estes Express Lines and Boston hedge fund MFN Partners, which acquired a 40% stake in Yellow’s stock in July. However, Yellow attorney Pat Nash said at a Friday hearing there had been “a number of inbounds from other parties” willing to provide new money in a junior position to existing creditors.

A Tuesday hearing, which could have potentially revealed the new DIP lender, was pushed backed to Thursday.

In recent days, company insiders have been selling restricted and other shares of Yellow ahead of the stock’s delisting on Wednesday.

More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Todd Maiden

Based in Richmond, VA, Todd is the finance editor at FreightWaves. Prior to joining FreightWaves, he covered the TLs, LTLs, railroads and brokers for RBC Capital Markets and BB&T Capital Markets. Todd began his career in banking and finance before moving over to transportation equity research where he provided stock recommendations for publicly traded transportation companies.