Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated net investment income of $4.6 million or $0.50 per share, an increase from $4.3 million or $0.47 per share in the prior quarter [3][13] - Total investment income for the quarter was $12.6 million, up from $12.1 million in the previous quarter [12] - Net asset value (NAV) decreased to $164.7 million from $173.5 million in the prior quarter, with NAV per share dropping to $17.89 from $18.85 [13][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The merger with Logan Ridge Finance Corporation was highlighted as a transformational milestone, with Logan Ridge generating net investment income of $1.2 million or $0.47 per share, up from $0.9 million or $0.35 per share in the previous year [4] - The company ended the quarter with a diversified debt investment portfolio across 69 different companies and 25 industries, with an average par balance of $2.6 million [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Activity in core markets was constrained initially due to tariff announcements, but deal volume picked up towards the end of the quarter [7] - Approximately 86.9% of the debt securities portfolio was based on floating rates, primarily linked to SOFR, which slightly declined over the last two quarters [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to leverage enhanced scale and diversified portfolio to deliver compelling risk-adjusted returns and drive long-term value for shareholders [6] - A new corporate name, BCP Investment Corporation, will be adopted to reflect the affiliation with BC Partners and the commitment to building an industry-leading business development company [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the opportunities in the second half of the year, particularly with increased refinancing activity and a healthy mix of new LBO processes [8][36] - The management team remains confident in their strategy and experienced leadership as they navigate the current market environment [6] Other Important Information - The company modified its dividend policy to introduce a stable base distribution of $0.47 per share, expected to be sustainable across market cycles [5] - The company has six investments on non-accrual status, representing 2.14% and 2.64% of the investment portfolio at fair value and cost, respectively [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Were there any non-recurring items in the quarter? - Management confirmed there were no material non-recurring items outside of the other income reported [18] Question: Why was interest income higher quarter over quarter despite a smaller portfolio and a slight dip in yield? - The increase was largely driven by net deployment activity from the prior quarter [19][20] Question: What was the reason for the realized loss of $15 million? - The loss was primarily attributed to ProAir and Anthem, with Anthem undergoing restructuring [24] Question: When will the trading symbol and name change take effect? - The change is expected to occur within the next couple of weeks, pending the completion of the new website [25] Question: Has deal activity picked up for merging with other BDCs? - Management noted that deal activity has increased significantly, with a robust M&A pipeline [26] Question: How does the pipeline break down in terms of new and add-on opportunities? - The focus is on refinancing activity, with a healthy mix of new sales and refinancing opportunities [35] Question: What is the potential NAV benefit from positions currently held at a discount to par? - The average remaining maturity for these positions is about two and a half to three years, with potential NAV benefits expected over that timeframe [46] Question: What changes will occur in the combined portfolio post-merger? - The portfolios are similar, with a slight increase in diversification expected, but no dramatic changes anticipated [56][60]

Group 1 - The author has adopted a conservative stance towards Business Development Company (BDC) investments while maintaining a structural bullish outlook on the sector [1] - The author has a significant portion of their portfolio allocated to BDC investments, indicating a strong belief in the long-term potential of the sector [1] Group 2 - Roberts Berzins has over a decade of experience in financial management, focusing on helping top-tier corporates with financial strategies and large-scale financings [1] - Berzins has contributed to institutionalizing the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) framework in Latvia to enhance liquidity in pan-Baltic capital markets [1] - His policy-level work includes developing national State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) financing guidelines and frameworks to channel private capital into affordable housing [1]

Overview - Fidus Investment Corporation has a diversified investment portfolio totaling $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2025, invested in 92 companies[12] - The company targets firms with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million[20] - Fidus' senior investment professionals have an average of over 25 years of relevant experience[31] Investment Strategy & Performance - Fidus targets investments between $5 million and $35 million per portfolio company[18] - The company's cumulative realized net capital gains from equity investments since IPO is $175.2 million[37] - The adjusted NAV per share at June 30, 2025, was $19.57, a 35.3% premium to the IPO level of $14.46[37] - Fidus has a historical annual median GAAP ROE of 12.5% since its initial IPO[41] Portfolio & Financial Review - The weighted average debt yield of the investment portfolio is 13.1%[47] - Secured debt investments constitute 82.5% of the portfolio[49] - Equity represents 12.0% of portfolio fair value versus cost of 8.0%[58] - The company maintains an attractive 11.2% dividend yield based on total LTM dividends of $2.26 per share as of June 30, 2025[68]

Group 1 - Business Development Companies (BDCs) are gaining popularity among investors looking to benefit from the current higher interest rate environment [1] - Gladstone Capital (NASDAQ: GLAD) has shown strong performance over the past few years, indicating a positive trend in the BDC sector [1] - A hybrid investment strategy combining classic dividend growth stocks with BDCs, REITs, and Closed End Funds can enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds like the S&P [1]

Company Overview - WhiteHorse Finance's portfolio fair value was $629.3 million as of June 30, 2025 [8] - The company's net asset value (NAV) per share was $11.82 as of June 30, 2025 [8] - The company's current dividend yield is 17.5% based on the August 6, 2025 share price of $8.78 [8] - Since its IPO in December 2012, WhiteHorse Finance has invested $2,811 million across 263 transactions [12] Portfolio Performance - The weighted average effective yield on income-producing investments was approximately 11.9% at the end of Q2 2025, compared to 12.1% in Q1 2025 [16] - The company's return on its investment in STRS JV at the end of Q2 2025 was 14.0% [16] - Total fair value of investments decreased from $651.0 million in Q1 2025 to $629.3 million in Q2 2025 [24] - Investments on non-accrual status were $24.0 million in fair value, representing 4.2% of investments based on fair value [24] Financial Highlights - Q2 Net Investment Income (NII) and Core NII was $6.6 million, or $0.282 per share [16] - The company completed a $298.15 million CLO term debt securitization in June 2025 [16]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reduced the investment portfolio weighted average debt to EBITDA from 3.5 times to 3.4 times [4] - The investment revenue pick rate decreased from 7.6% to 5.8% [4] - The non-accrual rate improved from 1.7% to 0.8% of the investment portfolio at fair value [4] - Pre-tax net investment income was reported at $0.61 per share, with total investment income increasing to $55.9 million from $52.4 million in the prior quarter [18] - The company's NAV per share decreased from $16.70 to $16.59 [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $27.2 million in realized gains from two equity investment exits during the quarter [5] - The on-balance sheet credit portfolio grew year-over-year by 21% to $1.6 billion [10] - 100% of new portfolio company debt originations were first lien senior secured [10] - The equity co-investment portfolio consisted of 80 investments with a total fair value of $166 million, representing 9% of the total portfolio [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported $115 million in total new commitments to three new portfolio companies and 12 existing portfolio companies [6] - Approximately 55% of total capital commitments during the quarter were follow-on offerings in performing portfolio companies [7] - The company noted a distinct pickup in the volume and quality of deals in the past six weeks [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company transitioned its regular dividend payment frequency from quarterly to monthly, declaring a total of $0.58 in regular dividends for the quarter [5] - The company received final approval from the SBA for its second SBIC license, allowing access to $175 million in additional SBA debentures [6] - The company aims to maintain a conservative leverage approach while being opportunistic in raising secured and unsecured debt capital [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a competitive landscape in the lower middle market, with banks and non-bank lenders being aggressive in deploying capital [26] - The company anticipates significant activity in terms of new platform company originations and add-on activity in the existing portfolio [8] - Management expressed confidence in maintaining dividends based on the current UTI balance of $1 per share and expectations of continued gains from the equity portfolio [20] Other Important Information - The company reported a robust balance sheet liquidity with approximately $444 million in cash and undrawn leverage commitments [21] - The regulatory leverage ended the quarter at a debt to equity ratio of 0.82 to 1, down from 0.89 to 1 in the prior quarter [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the competitive landscape right now? - Management noted a supply-demand dynamic with a scarcity of quality assets and aggressive competition from banks and non-bank lenders [26][27] Question: What underpins your optimism in the M&A market? - Management highlighted a strong pipeline with $110 million of originations already closed and additional deals pending [36][37] Question: What is the outlook on operating leverage? - Management indicated that operating leverage is expected to trend down to 1.4% to 1.5% by the end of the fiscal year [40][41] Question: How do you view the competitive pressure from banks? - Management acknowledged that banks are currently competitive, which is driving lower spreads, but noted that this could change [52][53] Question: Any updates on adding an asset manager vehicle within the BDC? - Management confirmed ongoing efforts to enhance earnings and origination capabilities, potentially through strategic initiatives [56] Question: Can you provide a breakout between new versus add-on opportunities? - Management indicated a robust quarter with approximately 75% of originations being new opportunities [62]

Core Insights - BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (TCPC) experienced a decline in net asset value (NAV) in Q2 2025, primarily due to markdowns on previously restructured portfolio companies rather than new credit issues [12][19] - The company reduced nonaccruals to 3.7% of the portfolio's fair market value, down from 4.4% in Q1 2025 and 5.6% at the end of 2024, indicating improved management of distressed assets [12][19] - The acquisition of HPS by BlackRock has led to the formation of the Private Financing Solutions (PFS) platform, which is expected to enhance TCPC's investment sourcing and risk management capabilities [11][41] Financial Performance - Net realized losses for Q2 2025 totaled approximately $66 million, or $0.78 per share, mainly due to restructurings in several portfolio companies [3][36] - Adjusted net investment income was $0.31 per share in Q2 2025, down from $0.36 per share in Q1 2025; gross investment income was $0.61 per share, down from $0.66 [7][34] - The weighted average annual effective yield was 12% in Q2 2025, compared to 12.2% in the prior quarter [7][33] Portfolio Management - The portfolio included 153 companies across more than 20 industry sectors, with an average investment size of $11.7 million [6][32] - 89% of the $1.8 billion portfolio was invested in senior secured debt, all in floating-rate instruments [6][32] - Four new investments were added to nonaccrual status in Q2 2025 due to uneven performance and liquidity constraints [4][19] Dividend and Share Repurchase - A regular dividend of $0.25 and a special dividend of $0.04 per share were declared for Q2 2025, payable on September 30 [8][24] - The company repurchased 40,830 shares during Q2 2025 [8][25] Leverage and Liquidity - Total liquidity at the end of Q2 2025 was $566 million, with available leverage of $155 million and cash of $107 million [9][37] - Net regulatory leverage rose to 1.28 times, exceeding the targeted range of 0.9 to 1.2 times, due to new investments and delayed repayments [3][38] Strategic Outlook - Management expects net regulatory leverage to return to approximately Q1 2025 levels in the next quarter following investment deployments and delayed repayments [14] - The integration into the PFS platform is anticipated to provide enhanced sourcing and allocation capabilities, benefiting TCPC's investment strategy [41][42]

Financial Performance - Net investment income (NII) was $173 million, or $0.62 per share, down from $187 million, or $0.67 per share in the previous quarter[2] - Adjusted net investment income (Adjusted NII) was $168 million, or $0.60 per share, compared to $182 million, or $0.65 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025[2] - Net asset value (NAV) per share decreased to $21.93 as of June 30, 2025, from $23.37 as of March 31, 2025[2] - Adjusted NII coverage of the base dividend was 94%, and total dividend coverage was 86% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025[2] Investment Activity & Portfolio - New investment fundings totaled approximately $1.4 billion in the second quarter[2] - Net investment activity for the second quarter was $311 million, including $561 million of sales to Credit Opportunities Partners JV, LLC (COPJV)[2] - The portfolio is diversified across 218 companies in 23 industries[2,10] - Exposure to the top ten largest portfolio companies was 19% of the total portfolio fair value[2,10] - Senior secured investments represent 64.1% of the portfolio fair value, or 73.4% when looking through to COPJV investments[10,16] Capital Structure & Liquidity - The company has $3.1 billion of liquidity, including undrawn debt, cash, and unsettled trades[2,26] - 54% of drawn leverage was unsecured as of June 30, 2025, and the weighted average effective rate on borrowings was 5.34%[2,28] - 90% of liabilities mature in 2027 and beyond[2,26]

Over the past several years, business development companies have been a focal point of my coverage on Seeking Alpha. Following several years of rising interest rates and the proliferation of private lending, business development companies have stolen the spotlight asAnalyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PBDC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it ...

Core Viewpoint - WhiteHorse Finance reported its financial results for Q2 2025, highlighting ongoing portfolio challenges but expressing confidence in the overall stability of its investments [2][3]. Financial Results - Total investment income for Q2 2025 was $18.838 million, a slight increase of 0.2% from $18.801 million in Q1 2025 [3]. - Total expenses, including excise tax, rose to $12.276 million, up 2.7% from $11.958 million in the previous quarter [3]. - Net investment income decreased to $6.562 million, down 4.1% from $6.843 million in Q1 2025, with a per-share income of $0.282 compared to $0.294 [3][18]. - The company declared a distribution of $0.385 per share for Q2 2025, consistent with the previous quarter [7][8]. Portfolio and Investment Activity - As of June 30, 2025, the fair value of the investment portfolio was $629.3 million, down 3.3% from $651.0 million as of March 31, 2025 [4]. - The portfolio consisted of 132 positions across 71 companies, with a weighted average effective yield of 11.9% on income-producing debt investments [4]. - During Q2 2025, the company invested $33.1 million in three new portfolio companies and added $5.9 million to existing companies [5]. Asset Management - The company transferred assets totaling $22.8 million to STRS JV in exchange for cash during the quarter [6]. - The net realized losses for the quarter were $22.045 million, while net unrealized appreciation was $17.733 million [3]. Shareholder Information - The distribution of $0.385 per share will be payable on October 3, 2025, to stockholders of record as of September 19, 2025 [7]. - The company has maintained distributions at or above $0.355 for 51 consecutive quarters since its IPO [8]. Management Commentary - The CEO noted that while earnings power remains below prior-year levels, progress is being made in resolving underperforming investments [2]. - The focus remains on credits with strong fundamentals, leveraging diversified sourcing capabilities and disciplined underwriting [2].