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New Mountain Finance (NMFC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-25 17:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted net investment income for Q4 2025 was $0.32 per share, covering the $0.32 per share dividend paid on December 31 [4][5] - Net asset value (NAV) declined to $11.52 per share from $12.06 per share, primarily due to lower valuation on Edmentum [5][25] - Total investment income for the quarter was $77 million, a 4% decrease compared to the prior quarter [34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 95% of the loan portfolio is ranked green, with no positions rated red [8][24] - PIK income is expected to decrease by 20%-25% as cash proceeds from the asset sale are redeployed [20] - The top five positions now account for 14% of NMFC's portfolio value, down from a higher concentration [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company sold approximately $477 million of assets at a price of 94% of the 12/31/2025 marks, which is considered essentially par [12][13] - The secondary sale is expected to improve diversification, with senior-oriented assets now representing 81% of the portfolio, up from 75% [19][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to utilize the full Dividend Protection Program, reducing the performance fee from 20% to 15% until the end of 2026, and intends to maintain this lower fee permanently thereafter [12] - The focus is on redeploying proceeds from the asset sale into first lien assets and potentially buying back stock [41][42] - The company aims to improve earnings and book value through strategic investments and stock buybacks [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's quality, with 95% rated green, and highlighted the potential for equity appreciation in companies like UniTek [11][16] - The impact of AI on the market is acknowledged, with a focus on managing risks associated with technological changes [22] - Management believes NMFC shares should trade back towards book value, given the positive factors in the market [11] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $52 million of shares in 2025 and has board authorization to buy an additional $80 million [16] - Nonaccruals remain low at 1.4% of the portfolio at fair value, with expectations for DCA to return to accrual status in Q2 [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the 94% discount inclusive of any advisory fee? - The 94% of par was the purchase price of the assets, with expected fees and expenses around $7 million [41] Question: Did the company try to sell any struggling assets? - The company focused on reducing concentration and PIK income, selling larger positions that were scrutinized by the market [44][46] Question: How were the assets selected and priced? - The sale was a competitive process with multiple bidders, and assets were selected based on concentration and PIK characteristics [50][52] Question: How does the pricing of these assets relate to internal marks? - The sale was seen as fair for both sides, validating internal marks while improving portfolio composition [60]
New Mountain Finance (NMFC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-25 17:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted net investment income for Q4 2025 was $0.32 per share, covering the $0.32 per share dividend paid on December 31, 2025 [4] - Net asset value (NAV) declined to $11.52 per share from $12.06 per share, primarily due to lower valuation on Edmentum [5][25] - Total investment income for the quarter was $77 million, a 4% decrease compared to the prior quarter [35] - Total net expenses decreased by 5% to $44 million, including a fee waiver [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 95% of the loan portfolio is ranked green, with no positions rated red [8][24] - The company sold $477 million of assets, diversifying the portfolio and reducing PIK income [12][18] - Senior-oriented assets now represent 81% of the portfolio, up from 75% in the prior year [19][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects to see some spread widening and increased pricing dispersion in direct lending [28] - Approximately 41% of pro forma PIK income will be generated by high-performing companies like Benevis and UniTek [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to utilize the full Dividend Protection Program, reducing the incentive fee from 20% to 15% until the end of 2026 [12] - Following the asset sale, the company aims to redeploy proceeds primarily into first lien assets [19][32] - The company is focused on business building and leveraging its expertise in software loans, particularly in the context of AI [10][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes NMFC shares should trade back towards book value, citing several positive factors [11] - The company acknowledges increased risks related to AI but sees opportunities for well-informed lenders [22] - Management remains optimistic about the potential for equity appreciation in companies like UniTek [16] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $52 million of shares in 2025 and has authorization to buy an additional $80 million [16] - Nonaccruals remain low at 1.4% of the portfolio at fair value [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the 94% discount on the asset sale inclusive of any advisory fees? - The 94% of par was the purchase price, with expected fees and expenses of about $7 million [41] Question: Did the company try to sell any struggling assets? - The company focused on reducing concentration and PIK income, selling larger positions that were scrutinized by the market [44][45] Question: How were the assets selected for the sale? - The assets were chosen based on concentration and PIK characteristics, aiming to improve portfolio composition [51][52] Question: How does the pricing of the assets compare to internal marks? - The sale was seen as fair for both sides, validating internal marks while reducing concentration [61]