BlackRock TCP Capital (US:TCPC)2025-02-27 20:53Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full year 2024 adjusted net investment income was $1.52 per share, down from $1.84 per share in 2023, with an annualized net investment income ROE of 14.5% [10] - Fourth quarter adjusted net investment income per share was flat at $0.36 compared to the previous quarter [11] - NAV per share decreased to $9.23 from $10.11, reflecting markdowns in the investment portfolio [11][12] - Non-accruals represented 5.6% of the portfolio at fair market value, up from 3.8% in the previous quarter [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The portfolio had a fair market value of approximately $1.8 billion invested across 154 companies, with 91.2% in senior secured loans [30] - The weighted average effective yield of the portfolio decreased to 12.4% from 13.4% in the previous quarter [31] - New investments had a weighted average yield of 10.8%, while exited investments had a yield of 14% [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall M&A volumes remained below expectations, but there was a healthy flow of new investment opportunities [33][39] - The market is experiencing tighter spreads due to increased competition between private credit and traditional lending sources [41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to focus on the core middle market with a proactive approach to sourcing and underwriting [24] - A highly diversified portfolio will be maintained, limiting exposure to specific industry subsectors [26] - The company will prioritize investing in first lien loans and deepen connections with the broader BlackRock platform for competitive advantage [27][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about navigating challenges in 2024 and returning to historical above-market returns [10] - The company is focused on resolving credit issues with borrowers and sponsors, emphasizing that quick resolutions may not always yield the best results for shareholders [12][13] - The management team is confident in their ability to work through current challenges and return the portfolio to historical performance levels [29] Other Important Information - The Board decided to reduce the regular dividend to $0.25 per share for the first quarter, while also declaring a $0.04 special dividend [20][21] - The advisor agreed to waive one-third of the base management fee for three quarters beginning January 1, 2025 [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide details on the spillover and target level for dividends? - The company has about $0.10 of carryover from the prior quarter and aims for a sustainable regular dividend level based on current earnings power [54][55] Question: Will there be any strategic changes due to the BlackRock HPS acquisition? - Management does not expect meaningful changes and emphasizes a focus on business as usual, while highlighting expanded resources from the acquisition [58][60] Question: What level of confidence is there regarding write-downs in the portfolio? - Management is focused on managing existing non-accruals and acknowledges that while there may be ongoing markdowns, they are largely centered around known assets [67][70] Question: What are the risks associated with the new non-accrual, Renovo? - The underlying issues are related to inflation and consumer appetite, but operational execution issues are also present, which are considered easier to address [74][75] Question: Is the management fee waiver related to the HPS acquisition timing? - Management clarified that the fee waiver is a thoughtful approach to acknowledge NAV decline and is not specifically timed with the HPS acquisition [79] Question: What steps are being taken to maintain investment grade rating ahead of the 2026 debt maturity? - The company is focused on maintaining its investment grade rating and plans to access capital markets closer to the maturity date [85][88]