Blue Owl has decided to call off the merging of two of its private-credit funds after the deal caused some angst among investors, according to people familiar with the matter. The firm had planned to merge its smaller, non-traded Blue Owl Capital Corporation II (OBDC II), into the larger, publicly traded fund Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC). In doing so, the firm restricted investors in the $1.7 billion OBDC II from redeeming until the deal closed, even as the merger would have meant about 20% paper los ...

Given these vulnerabilities, Gundlach recommended investors allocate less to financial assets than typical, suggesting a maximum of 40% in equities (largely non-U.S.) and 25% in fixed income (favoring short-term Treasuries and non-dollar fixed income). He advocated for the remainder to be held in cash and real assets like gold. Gundlach reminded investors that market trends, even when correctly identified, take time to unfold, citing his own experience where being negative on packaged mortgages in 2004 took ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted net investment income for Q4 2025 was $35.4 million or $0.40 per share, up from $32.5 million or $0.37 per share in the prior quarter, reflecting a return to normalized prepayment fees and lower interest expenses [4][16] - NAV per share decreased to $16.64 from $16.76 in the previous quarter due to unrealized depreciation on certain investments [16] - Adjusted total investment income increased to $76.9 million compared to $74.3 million in Q3, driven by higher prepayment fees and dividend income [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New-funded investment commitments amounted to $220 million, up 54% from the prior quarter, with prepayments totaling $177 million [10] - First-lien loans represented 88% of new originations, indicating a focus on senior-secured loans [10] - Over 40% of portfolio companies were marked up by about 70 basis points, reflecting improving fundamentals [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Private credit deal flows showed modest improvement, but the quality of deals was mixed, with a steady supply of high-quality opportunities alongside lower-quality deals [7] - The weighted average spread on deployments during the quarter was approximately SOFR plus 570, indicating competitive pricing in the market [10] - The company noted a cautious optimism regarding private credit spreads, suggesting they may have bottomed out at SOFR plus 450 [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to prudently increase balance sheet leverage to enhance earnings power and deploy capital into interesting investment opportunities [6] - Focus on optimizing joint ventures and reducing non-accruals in equity positions to improve earnings power [6] - The long-term outlook on private credit remains bullish, with expectations for continued premium spreads relative to other floating-rate asset classes [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the current market environment, noting mixed themes and ongoing political and economic uncertainty in Europe [7] - The company does not expect outsized repayments for the December quarter and anticipates deployment levels to remain consistent with past quarters [22] - Management highlighted ongoing operational workouts for long-standing non-accruals, focusing on driving performance and maximizing value [31] Other Important Information - The company has ample liquidity of approximately $695 million, including $80 million in cash and $615 million in undrawn capacity on its credit facility [18] - The leverage ratio at quarter end was 0.97 times, slightly up from 0.93 times in the previous quarter, indicating a conservative leverage approach [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations around investment activity in the December quarter - Management does not expect any outsized repayments and anticipates deployment levels to remain consistent with past quarters [22] Question: Insights on the yield increase related to the Walgreens deal - The yield on new investments was higher due to the complexity of the Walgreens deal, but management does not foresee similar high-spread opportunities in the near term [23][25] Question: Status of non-accruals in healthcare and pharma - Management acknowledged a few larger positions in life sciences that are undergoing workouts, with stable to slightly improving conditions [29][30] Question: Workout strategies for long-standing non-accruals - Operational improvements are being made, with management working closely with teams to drive performance and maximize value [31]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted net investment income for the fourth quarter was $35.4 million or $0.40 per share, up from $32.5 million or $0.37 per share in the prior quarter, reflecting a return to normalized prepayment fees and lower interest expenses [4][16] - NAV per share decreased to $16.64 from $16.76 in the third quarter due to unrealized depreciation on certain investments [16] - Adjusted total investment income increased to $76.9 million compared to $74.3 million in the third quarter, driven by higher prepayment fees and dividend income [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New-funded investment commitments amounted to $220 million, up 54% from the prior quarter, with first-lien loans representing 88% of new originations [10][12] - Weighted average yield on debt investments was 9.8%, with the median EBITDA of portfolio companies at approximately $150 million, a decrease of $11 million from the prior quarter [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Private credit deal flows showed modest improvement, although the quality of deals was mixed, with a steady supply of high-quality opportunities alongside lower-quality deals [7][8] - The weighted average spread on deployments during the quarter was approximately SOFR plus 570, with a tightening of the illiquidity premium observed [10][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to prudently increase balance sheet leverage to enhance earnings power and deploy capital into interesting investment opportunities, maintaining a conservative leverage ratio of 0.97 times [6][16] - Focus on optimizing joint ventures and reducing non-accruals in equity positions to improve earnings power [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding private credit spreads, indicating that they may have bottomed out at SOFR plus 450 [8] - The long-term outlook on private credit remains bullish, with expectations that private debt will continue to deliver a premium spread relative to other floating-rate asset classes [8][9] Other Important Information - The company has ample liquidity of approximately $695 million, including $80 million in cash and $615 million in undrawn capacity on its credit facility [18] - The company received a $525,000 dividend from its joint venture during the quarter [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations around investment activity in the December quarter - Management does not expect any outsized repayments for the December quarter and does not foresee significant deviations in deployment or leverage levels compared to past quarters [21][22] Question: Insights on the yield increase related to the Walgreens deal - The yield on new investments was higher due to the complexity of the Walgreens deal, but management does not anticipate similar high-spread opportunities in the upcoming quarter [23][24][25] Question: Status of non-accruals in healthcare and pharma segments - Management noted that there are a few larger positions in life sciences that continue to be subject to workouts, with operational improvements being made [29][31] Question: Workout strategies for long-standing non-accruals - The company is focusing on operational workouts and working closely with management teams to drive performance, with no significant changes expected in the near term [31][32]

Market Overview - Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index are at 26,178, down from the last close of 26,384.28 [1] - Japan's Nikkei 225 decreased by 0.92%, while the Topix fell by 0.6% [1] - South Korea's Kospi dropped by 0.64%, and the small-cap Kosdaq declined by 0.58% [1] - In the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 557.24 points, or 1.18%, closing at 46,590.24 [2] - The S&P 500 decreased by 0.92% to end at 6,672.41, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.84% to settle at 22,708.07 [2] Company-Specific Insights - Nvidia's stock dropped nearly 2% ahead of its third-quarter results, scheduled for release after the market closes on Wednesday [3] - Concerns about stretched valuations have put pressure on Nvidia and other companies in the AI sector [3] - Blue Owl Capital, a private credit lender, saw a nearly 6% decline due to worries over its significant lending related to AI data center developments [3]

Thereafter, Mike and Amit will discuss our investment portfolio and financial results in greater detail, and we'll leave some time for questions at the end. Yesterday, after market close, we delivered another quarter of solid results for the third quarter ended September 30. Q3 net investment income per share was $0.45, representing an annualized yield on book value of 10.3% and exceeding our regular quarterly dividend by 7%. Q3 earnings per share were $0.29, reflecting an annualized return on book value of ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net investment income per share for Q3 2025 was $0.40, with a net asset value (NAV) per share of $12.75, reflecting a decrease of 2.1% from the previous quarter's NAV, partially due to a $0.16 per share special dividend and markdowns on underperforming assets [7][8] - The adjusted NAV per share for Q3 2025, accounting for the supplemental dividend, was $12.71, a non-GAAP measure introduced due to changes in the dividend policy [7] - The company declared a fourth quarter base dividend of $0.32 per share, with a net debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17 as of September 30, 2025, compared to 1.12 as of June 30, 2025 [8][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New investment commitments during the quarter totaled approximately $470.6 million across 27 portfolio companies, marking the highest level of new commitments since Q4 2021 [9] - 100% of originations in the quarter were in first-lien loans, indicating a continued focus on maintaining exposure to the top of the capital structure [9] - Total investments at fair value were $3.2 billion, with 98.2% in senior secured loans and a weighted average yield of 10.3% at amortized cost, down from 10.7% in the previous quarter [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The M&A market showed resilience, with total dollar volumes in Q3 2025 being 40.9% higher year-over-year compared to Q3 2024, driven by renewed risk-on sentiment among investors and lower borrowing costs [3][4] - The company noted that broader credit dynamics remain a concern, but it is comfortable with risk dynamics in the private credit space due to the overall health of portfolio fundamentals [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has adjusted its dividend policy to position itself well in a lower yield environment, emphasizing credit selection as a key focus [4] - The integration of the platform in 2022 has allowed the company to evaluate and invest in high-quality opportunities across various market segments [11] - The company aims to leverage its proximity to the investment banking franchise as a competitive advantage in evaluating opportunities [4] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the M&A activity being the start of a longer-term trend, driven by the need for private equity firms to exit existing portfolios and invest in new ones [22][23] - The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend and believes that fund managers will be rewarded for their credit selection in a lower-yielding environment [18] Other Important Information - The company repurchased over 2.1 million shares for $25.1 million during the quarter, which was NAV accretive [13] - The company issued $400 million of a five-year investment grade unsecured note with a coupon of 5.65%, which was oversubscribed [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on sustaining M&A activity into next year - Management believes the current M&A activity is the start of a longer-term trend, driven by the need for private equity firms to exit existing portfolios and invest in new ones [22][23] Question: Impact of increased activity on spreads - Management does not anticipate spreads to widen significantly in the near term, despite the increase in M&A activity [24] Question: Performance of non-accrual investment at Dental Brands - Management indicated that the non-accrual status was due to continued underperformance, but it represents a small exposure in the overall portfolio [25][26]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net investment income per share for Q3 2025 was $0.40, with a net asset value (NAV) per share of $12.75, reflecting a decrease of 2.1% from the previous quarter's NAV [7][8] - The adjusted NAV per share, accounting for the supplemental dividend, was $12.71, a non-GAAP measure introduced due to changes in the dividend policy [7] - The company ended the quarter with a net debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, up from 1.12 in the previous quarter [8][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New investment commitments reached approximately $470.6 million across 27 portfolio companies, marking the highest level since Q4 2021 [9] - 100% of originations during the quarter were in first-lien loans, indicating a focus on maintaining exposure to the top of the capital structure [9] - Total investments at fair value were $3.2 billion, with 98.2% in senior secured loans [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - M&A dollar volumes in Q3 2025 were 40.9% higher year-over-year compared to Q3 2024, driven by renewed risk-on sentiment among investors and lower borrowing costs [3][4] - The weighted average yield of debt and income-producing investments at amortized cost was 10.3%, down from 10.7% in the previous quarter [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has adjusted its dividend policy to position itself well in a lower yield environment, emphasizing credit selection [4] - The integration of the platform in 2022 has allowed the company to evaluate and invest in high-quality opportunities across various market segments [11] - The company aims to leverage its proximity to the investment banking franchise as a competitive advantage in deal evaluation [4] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the M&A market and anticipates continued activity into 2026, driven by private equity firms needing to exit existing portfolios and invest in new ones [22][23] - The company remains focused on downside risk mitigation, particularly in the context of software and AI investments [6] - Overall portfolio quality is stable, with a slight decrease in non-accrual investments [14][25] Other Important Information - The company repurchased over 2.1 million shares for $25.1 million, which was NAV accretive [13] - The board declared a supplemental dividend of $0.04 per share for Q3 2025, payable on or about December 15, 2025 [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on sustaining M&A activity into next year - Management believes the current M&A activity marks the start of a longer-term trend, driven by the need for private equity firms to exit existing portfolios and invest in new ones [22][23] Question: Impact of increased activity on spreads - Management does not anticipate spreads to widen significantly in the near term due to high demand and dry powder in the market [24] Question: Performance of non-accrual investment at Dental Brands - The company placed a senior tranche of Dental Brands on non-accrual status due to continued underperformance, but overall portfolio quality remains stable [25][26]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net investment income per share for Q3 2025 was $0.40, with a net asset value (NAV) per share of $12.75, reflecting a decrease of 2.1% from the previous quarter's NAV [6][8] - The adjusted NAV per share, accounting for the supplemental dividend, was $12.71, a non-GAAP measure introduced due to changes in the dividend policy [7] - The company declared a fourth quarter base dividend of $0.32 per share [8] - The net debt-to-equity ratio increased to 1.17 as of September 30, 2025, compared to 1.12 as of June 30, 2025 [8][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New investment commitments reached approximately $470.6 million across 27 portfolio companies, marking the highest level since Q4 2021 [9] - 100% of originations during the quarter were in first-lien loans, indicating a focus on maintaining exposure to the top of the capital structure [9] - Total investments at fair value were $3.2 billion, with 98.2% in senior secured loans [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - M&A dollar volumes in Q3 2025 were 40.9% higher year-over-year compared to Q3 2024, driven by renewed risk-on sentiment among investors and lower borrowing costs [3] - The company noted a tightening of credit spreads in the market, with expectations that spreads may not widen significantly in the near term [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company adjusted its dividend policy earlier in the year to position itself well in a lower yield environment, emphasizing credit selection [4] - The integration of the platform in 2022 has allowed the company to evaluate and invest in high-quality opportunities across various market segments [11] - The company remains focused on mission-critical, market-leading companies, particularly in the software and AI sectors, while mitigating downside risks [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the M&A market and indicated that the recent uptick in activity could signal a longer-term trend [22] - The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend and believes that fund managers will be rewarded for their credit selection in a lower-yielding environment [19] - Overall portfolio quality has been stable, with a slight decrease in non-accrual investments [26] Other Important Information - The company repurchased over 2.1 million shares for $25.1 million during the quarter, which was NAV accretive [13] - The weighted average yield of debt and income-producing investments at amortized cost was 10.3%, down from 10.7% in the previous quarter [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on sustaining M&A activity into next year - Management believes the recent M&A activity is the start of a longer-term trend, driven by the need for private equity firms to exit existing portfolios and invest in new ones [22][24] Question: Impact of increased activity on spreads - Management does not anticipate significant widening of spreads in the near term due to high demand and dry powder in the market [25] Question: Performance of non-accrual investment at Dental Brands - The company placed a more senior tranche on non-accrual status due to continued underperformance, but this position is small and does not significantly impact overall non-accruals [26][27]

I'm sure you paid attention to the earnings from not only the alternative asset managers but also the big banks. Um we're seeing comments about tightening of standards. Is that a it sounds like it's a good thing, but what does that mean for generally the private credit industry space that you obviously are in.>> Yeah, look there there is talk about tightening of lending standards. It's not that obvious to me. The reality is that there has been a lot of money raised by private debt funds.There's a desperatio ...