Company Overview - Investcorp Credit Management BDC, Inc (ICMB) was formed as CM Finance LLC in 2012 and had its IPO in February 2014[12] - As of March 31, 2025, ICMB's market capitalization was $46.3 million[12] - The investment portfolio's fair value was $192.4 million[12] Portfolio Composition - As of March 31, 2025, 77.04% of the portfolio was in Senior Secured First Lien Debt[18] - 22.96% of the portfolio was in Equity / Warrants / Other[18] - The largest regional exposure is in the Northeast, accounting for 29.16% of the portfolio[18] Financial Performance - Total assets were $207.6 million as of March 31, 2025[21] - Net assets were $78.1 million as of March 31, 2025[21] - Net asset value increased by $0.03 per share to $5.42 as of March 31, 2025[23] Investment Activity - ICMB made investments totaling $5.13 million in one new and two existing portfolio companies during the quarter ended March 31, 2025[23] - ICMB fully realized investments in three portfolio companies during the quarter, totaling $5.7 million in proceeds[23] - The weighted average yield on debt investments, at fair value, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, was 10.78%[23]

Group 1 - Business Development Companies (BDCs) are effective in leveraging the current high interest rate environment, but not all BDCs are of the same quality [1] - A diversified investment strategy that includes classic dividend growth stocks, BDCs, REITs, and Closed End Funds can enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds like the S&P [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross investment income for Q1 2025 was $11.9 million, a decrease from $12.7 million in Q4 2024 [11] - Net investment income was $7.6 million or $0.34 per share, compared to $8.0 million or $0.35 per share in the previous quarter [12] - Net expenses were $4.3 million, slightly down from $4.4 million in the last quarter [12] - Net assets at quarter end were $301 million, with NAV per share at $13.19 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has 31 portfolio companies, with 21% of the portfolio invested outside of cannabis [12] - The average debt position size is 3% of the debt portfolio, with 76% of the portfolio being floating rate [13] - The gross weighted average yield on company debt investments is approximately 16.6% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has originated $52.8 million in gross fundings since October 1, 2024, with $32.3 million committed and $20.8 million funded in Q1 2025 [7] - The pipeline includes approximately $590 million in potential debt transactions across 35 unique companies, with $462 million in cannabis opportunities and $128 million in non-cannabis investments [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on lending to cannabis companies and other underserved markets, aiming to deploy capital with differentiated risk-reward profiles [5] - The strategy includes maintaining a disciplined underwriting approach and being selective with borrowers to build durable investment portfolios [19] - The company aims to grow its dividend component as it scales its platform, having declared a total of $1.27 in dividends over the last four quarters [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the outlook for common sense reforms in the cannabis industry is positive, but the timing remains unpredictable [10] - The company is positioned well for 2025, focusing on proven operators and strong markets to support growth initiatives [10] - Management emphasizes a long-term view of partnership building with operators, regardless of broader market conditions [23] Other Important Information - The company has no non-accruals compared to an industry average of 3.9% [7] - A new $100 million credit facility was closed during the quarter, providing ample liquidity for future investments [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: General macro outlook and deployment readiness - The company maintains a focus on individual state markets rather than the broader U.S. cannabis industry, allowing for disciplined deployment of capital [23][25] Question: Pipeline activity comparison to previous quarters - There is no significant difference in the ratio of cannabis to non-cannabis investments, with fluctuations being ordinary [26] Question: Flexibility to increase the credit facility - The company sees room to grow its senior secured credit facility and add modest unsecured notes in a disciplined manner [27] Question: Debt leverage threshold - The company expects to remain well below industry averages for debt leverage in the foreseeable future [28] Question: Dividend growth expectations - The company does not provide specific dividend guidance but will distribute nearly all of its income by the end of the year [30]

Group 1 - FS KKR Capital's quarterly earnings met expectations, indicating stable financial performance [1] - The quality of FS KKR Capital's balance sheet improved quarter-over-quarter, suggesting enhanced financial health [1] - The company supported its dividend through net investment income, reflecting strong operational performance [1] Group 2 - FS KKR Capital is actively growing its portfolio through new investments, indicating a strategic focus on expansion [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1]. Investment Strategy - The investment approach focuses on high-quality dividend stocks and assets that provide long-term growth potential, which can significantly contribute to income generation [1]. - A balanced portfolio that includes both growth and income-generating assets can lead to efficient investment income while maintaining a total return aligned with the S&P [1].

WhiteHorse Finance, Inc. Earnings Presentation Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 NASDAQ: WHF (Common Stock) NASDAQ: WHFCL (7.875% Notes due 2028) Important Information and Forward Looking Statements References in this presentation to "WHF", "WhiteHorse Finance", "we", "us", "our" and "the Company" refer to WhiteHorse Finance, Inc. This presentation and the information and views included herein do not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation or an offer to enter into any transaction with the Company or a ...

Together with Blackstone Secured Lending Fund ( BXSL ) , which I covered this month, Hercules Capital Inc. (NYSE: HTGC ) is my preferred choice in the market for business development companies right now, primarily because the BDC offers passive investors a solidA financial researcher and avid investor with a keen eye for innovation and disruption, as well as growth buy-outs and value stocks. Keeping an eye on the pace of high tech and early growth companies, I write about current events and the biggest news ...

Core Insights - Blue Owl Capital Corp. (NYSE: OBDC) demonstrated resilience in the first quarter earnings, showcasing robust net investment income despite a challenging and volatile market [1] - The company successfully grew its portfolio value, indicating strong performance in a difficult economic environment [1] Financial Performance - The first quarter earnings report highlighted the company's ability to maintain strong net investment income [1] - The growth in portfolio value reflects the company's strategic positioning and adaptability in the current market conditions [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total investment income for Q1 2025 was $35.4 million, an increase from $33.8 million in Q4 2024, while net investment income rose to $15.6 million from $14.6 million in the previous quarter [5][18] - The fair value of the total investment portfolio decreased to $1 billion, down 6.7% from $1.08 billion in Q4 2024 and down 1.2% from $1.02 billion in the same period last year [17] - Net assets decreased to $503.3 million from $514.9 million at the end of Q4 2024, with NAV per share falling to $13.48, a decrease of 2.2% [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio primarily consists of first lien senior secured loans, with 97% of assets being floating rate [17] - The dollar weighted loan to value ratio increased from 28% to 29.1% [17] - The debt portfolio generated a dollar weighted average annualized yield of 15.4% for Q1 2025, compared to 14.7% in Q4 2024 [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter of 2025 was characterized by a cautious market environment, with a noted slowdown in healthcare lending and overall deal activity [12][29] - The company executed three investments in existing portfolio companies totaling $50.7 million in funded loans during Q1 2025 [6][16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its portfolio and enhance origination channels following the merger with BC Partners Credit, focusing on credit-first underwriting practices [6][9] - The strategic focus is on diversifying the portfolio and mitigating risks, with a target loan size range of $30 million to $150 million [6][9] - The company is positioned to benefit from a strategic focus on sustainable growth and a strong track record of low loss rates compared to peers [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a shift in the venture ecosystem, with companies now prioritizing sustainable growth over top-line growth due to market conditions [12][13] - The sentiment in the market is expected to shift, with companies needing to demonstrate growth to attract investment [14] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to cover dividends and build NAV per share, despite a cautious approach to credit [37][38] Other Important Information - The company has a total available liquidity of $315.4 million, including unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and a borrowing capacity of $297 million [20] - A new stock repurchase program of $25 million was approved, reflecting management's confidence in the stock's valuation [22] - A regular distribution of $0.33 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.02 per share were declared for Q2 2025 [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on healthcare lending and its slowdown - Management indicated that healthcare remains a core vertical but noted a softer quarter in lending, influenced by broader market conditions [28][29] Question: Update on the investment pipeline - The pipeline is currently seeing a mix of refinances and new opportunities, with a cautious approach to credit impacting activity levels [30][33] Question: Trends in net investment income and dividend declaration - The supplemental dividend for Q2 is lower due to a strategic decision to build NAV rather than focus solely on dividend payouts [36][38] Question: Impact of private credit market conditions - Management noted improvements in the structure of the pipeline, with lower leverage asks and maintained quality of covenants [44][45] Question: Insights on AI investment opportunities - The company is focused on mature businesses in the AI space, avoiding early-stage companies due to their high burn rates [46][48] Question: Factors driving realized gains and unrealized depreciation - Realized gains were driven by the sale of Gynasonics, while unrealized depreciation was influenced by performance and market multiples [51][53]

Core Viewpoint - WhiteHorse Finance reported its financial results for Q1 2025, highlighting challenges affecting earnings power while maintaining a focus on long-term value creation for shareholders [2][3]. Financial Results - Total investment income for Q1 2025 was $18.8 million, a decrease of 10.5% from $21.0 million in Q4 2024 [3]. - Total expenses, including excise tax, were $12.0 million, down 8.2% from $13.0 million in the previous quarter [3]. - Net investment income decreased by 14.2% to $6.8 million, with a per-share figure of $0.294, compared to $0.343 in Q4 2024 [3][4]. - The company declared a distribution of $0.385 per share for Q1 2025, consistent with the previous quarter [7][8]. Portfolio and Investment Activity - As of March 31, 2025, the fair value of the investment portfolio was $651.0 million, up 1.4% from $642.2 million at the end of 2024 [4]. - The portfolio consisted of 134 positions across 74 companies, with a weighted average effective yield of 12.1% on income-producing debt investments [4]. - During Q1 2025, the company invested $40.8 million in seven new portfolio companies and added $4.7 million to existing companies [5]. Asset Transfers - WhiteHorse Finance transferred assets totaling $17.0 million to STRS JV in exchange for cash during the quarter [6]. Management Commentary - The CEO noted that while earnings power has moderated, the company is addressing underperforming investments and remains active in the non-sponsor market [2].