PennantPark Floating Rate Capital .(PFLT) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the quarter ended December 31st, Core Net Investment Income was $0.27 per share, consistent with GAAP net investment income [5][14] - Net realized and unrealized change on investments resulted in a loss of $30 million, with NAV decreasing to $10.49 per share, down 3.1% from the previous quarter [14] - Debt-to-equity ratio was reported at 1.57x, which was reduced to 1.5x after selling assets post-quarter end [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The new joint venture, PSSL II, invested $197 million during the quarter and an additional $133 million after the quarter end, with a total portfolio currently at $326 million [5][6] - The portfolio remains well-diversified, comprising 160 companies across 50 industries, with a weighted average yield on debt investments at 9.9% [15][16] - PIK interest represented only 2.5% of total interest income, indicating a conservative portfolio structure [8][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The current market environment shows an increase in M&A transaction activity across the private middle market, expanding the pipeline of new investment opportunities [6][7] - Pricing on high-quality first lien term loans remains attractive, typically ranging from SOFR plus 475-525 basis points, with leverage around 4.5x EBITDA [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to scale PSSL II to over $1 billion in assets, consistent with existing joint ventures, focusing on generating a steady, stable dividend stream while preserving capital [6][13] - The strategy emphasizes strong private equity sponsor relationships and disciplined underwriting, which are seen as competitive advantages in the current lending environment [7][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the M&A activity driving repayments of existing portfolio investments and the potential for equity rotation into new income-producing investments [6][24] - The company believes it is well-positioned to cover dividends as the new joint venture ramps up, although this will depend on M&A activity and market conditions [24][25] Other Important Information - The company has invested $8.7 billion in 545 companies, with a loss ratio on invested capital of only 13 basis points annually since inception [12] - The focus remains on core middle market companies, typically those with $10 million-$50 million of EBITDA, which operate below the threshold of high yield markets [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why is software such a low exposure within the portfolio? - Management indicated that the low exposure to software (4.4%) is a strategic decision to focus on cash flow loans with reasonable multiples and strong covenant protections, avoiding high-leverage, covenant-lite structures prevalent in the market [19][21] Question: Does the expectation to cover the dividend assume full optimization of the new joint venture? - Management confirmed that the expectation to cover the dividend is based on ramping the joint venture to about $1 billion in assets, with M&A activity being a key driver [22][24] Question: What are the drivers of the unrealized marks in the quarter? - Management noted that most markdowns were related to the 2021 vintage, with some specific companies experiencing softness, but they do not foresee significant additional markdowns in the near term [40][44] Question: What is the mix of loans by vintage year in the portfolio? - Management did not have the exact data on hand but suggested that it would be useful for further analysis [45] Question: Is there a lot of activity around the software sector in M&A? - Management indicated that they are not major players in the software lending space and suggested that M&A activity in the sector may be lower as the market stabilizes [49][51]