
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net investment income (NII) per share was $0.39 for the quarter, corresponding to an annualized return on equity (ROE) of 10.5% [11] - GAAP net income per share was $0.19, corresponding to an annualized ROE of 5.2% [11] - Net asset value (NAV) per share was $14.75, down 1.2% compared to the prior quarter [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - MFIC made $262 million of new commitments across 29 transactions during the quarter [12] - The weighted average spread on new commitments was 538 basis points, with a slight increase compared to the prior quarter [12][23] - The weighted average net leverage on new commitments was 4.0 times, down from 4.2 times in the prior quarter [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The quarter began with heightened volatility due to U.S. tariffs, but market sentiment improved as tariffs were paused and trade deals were struck [20] - The labor market showed resilience with steady unemployment, and the Federal Reserve kept its policy rate unchanged [20] - The weighted average yield at cost of the direct origination portfolio was 10.5%, down from 10.7% in the prior quarter [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on lending to the core middle market on a first lien senior secured basis, which offers attractive risk-adjusted returns [22] - The reduction in exposure to Merx is expected to provide capital for deployment into first lien middle market loans, which are believed to deliver higher returns [17] - The company intends to redeploy capital repaid from Merx to enhance earnings power and strengthen dividend coverage [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the M&A pipeline is building, with sponsors remaining active despite previous uncertainties [55] - The company expects a busy second half of the year with plenty of opportunities to deploy capital [55] - Management expressed confidence in covering the declared dividend of $0.38 per share through net investment income, despite potential base rate pressures [90] Other Important Information - The company reported total investment income of approximately $81.3 million, up 3.2% compared to the prior quarter [33] - Total principal debt outstanding was $2.05 billion, with total net assets standing at $1.3 billion [38] - The company received an $8.5 million pay down from Merx during the quarter [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you clarify the structure of the remaining investment in Merx? - The remaining investment consists of four aircraft and a servicing platform, with 40% of the remaining exposure related to servicing contracts [43][44] Question: What are the expectations for investment activity in the second half of the year? - The company anticipates a busy second half with a growing M&A pipeline and active sponsors, which should provide ample opportunities for deployment [55] Question: How does the company view the current leverage levels? - The company is comfortable with the current leverage levels and expects them to remain within target ranges, especially with anticipated M&A activity [56][58] Question: What is the expected impact of the Merx transactions on NAV? - The Merx transactions are expected to result in a positive impact to NAV in the high single-digit per share range, specifically between $0.06 to $0.09 [94]