SLR Investment Corp. Announces Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2023 Financial Results
- None.
- None.
Insights
The reported net investment income (NII) of $0.44 per share for Q4 2023 by SLR Investment Corp. indicates a solid performance in a quarter, which is typically scrutinized for its ability to meet or exceed market expectations. The declared quarterly distribution of $0.41 per share aligns closely with the NII, suggesting a sustainable payout ratio. The slight increase in net asset value (NAV) from $18.06 to $18.09 per share reflects a stable investment portfolio and prudent asset management. However, the net realized and unrealized loss of $0.3 million, although minimal, may raise questions about the valuation adjustments or investment exits during the period.
From a leverage perspective, the 1.19x net debt-to-equity ratio is within the company's target range and indicates a moderate level of risk in terms of debt financing. The comprehensive portfolio highlights show a dynamic investment environment with significant originations and repayments, which could be indicative of active portfolio management and the seizing of market opportunities. The portfolio's diversification across approximately 790 unique issuers and over 110 industries is a defensive strategy that mitigates risk and ensures income stability. The emphasis on senior secured loans (99.2% of the portfolio) is a conservative approach, focusing on capital preservation and prioritizing claim in the event of a borrower default.
SLR Investment Corp.'s record originations in 2023 demonstrate the company's aggressive growth strategy and its ability to capitalize on favorable investment conditions. The shift back to quarterly distributions from monthly ones may be a strategic move to align cash flows with investment cycles and could be well-received by investors who prefer predictable and less frequent income streams. The low levels of non-accruals are indicative of a healthy credit environment and effective credit risk management, which is crucial for maintaining investor confidence.
The company's investment in the SLR Senior Lending Program (SSLP) and the expected return of above 10% on equity investment in SSLP could be a significant contributor to future NII growth. The year-over-year increase in investment income and net investment income highlights the company's ability to grow its income-producing assets and manage expenses effectively, despite an increase in index rates on borrowings. The financial results also provide insights into the company's operational efficiency and the potential for sustained earnings growth, which are key factors for long-term valuation.
SLR Investment Corp.'s adherence to regulatory requirements is evident in their detailed reporting and the maintenance of leverage within their stated target range. The company's investment strategies, including sponsor finance, asset-based lending, equipment finance and life science finance, are structured to comply with industry regulations and investment company standards. The comprehensive disclosure of portfolio composition, asset quality and risk ratings provides transparency and allows stakeholders to assess the company's compliance with fiduciary responsibilities.
Additionally, the company's management of unfunded commitments and its control over the funding of its specialty finance portfolio companies demonstrate a disciplined approach to capital commitments and liquidity management. The Board's declaration of quarterly distributions reflects a governance structure that is responsive to shareholder interests and market conditions. Overall, SLR Investment Corp.'s operational practices appear to align with legal and regulatory expectations, contributing to the company's reputation and investor trust.
Net Investment Income of
Declared Quarterly Distribution of
Stable NAV and Strong Portfolio Credit Quality
NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SLR Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: SLRC) (the “Company”, “SLRC”, “we”, or “our”) today reported net investment income of
As of December 31, 2023, net asset value (NAV) was
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company returned to making quarterly, rather than monthly, distributions to shareholders and distributed
“We are pleased to report a
“We believe our 2023 investments represent an attractive vintage and should produce strong risk-adjusted returns,” said Bruce Spohler, Co-CEO. “We were successful in further ramping the SLR Senior Lending Program, which contributed to an expansion in our NII. Additionally, we continue to believe the performance and financial condition of our portfolio companies remains solid, with credit quality metrics remaining strong as evidenced by the sequential increase in net asset value and low levels of non-accruals.”
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023:
At December 31, 2023:
Net assets:
Leverage: 1.19x net debt-to-equity
Operating Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023:
Net investment income:
Net realized and unrealized loss:
Net increase in net assets from operations:
Operating Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2023:
Net investment income:
Net realized and unrealized loss:
Net increase in net assets from operations:
COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO(1) HIGHLIGHTS AND ACTIVITY(2) FOR QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023:
At December 31, 2023:
Portfolio fair value:
Number of unique issuers: approximately 790
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023:
Investments made during the quarter:
Investments prepaid and sold during the quarter:
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023:
Investments made during the year:
Investments prepaid and sold during the year:
(1) The Comprehensive Investment Portfolio for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023 is comprised of SLRC’s investment portfolio and SLR Credit Solutions’ (“SLR-CS”) full portfolio, SLR Equipment Finance’s (“SLR-EF”) full portfolio, Kingsbridge Holdings, LLC’s (“KBH”) full portfolio, SLR Business Credit’s (“SLR-BC”) full portfolio, SLR Healthcare ABL’s (“SLR-HC ABL”) full portfolio owned by the Company (collectively, the Company’s “Commercial Finance Portfolio Companies”), and the senior secured loans held by the SLR Senior Lending Program LLC (“SSLP”) attributable to the Company, and excludes the Company’s fair value of the equity interests in SSLP and the Commercial Finance Portfolio Companies and also excludes SLRC’s loans to KBH and SLR-EF.
(2) Comprehensive Portfolio Activity for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, includes investment activity of the Commercial Finance Portfolio Companies and SSLP attributable to the Company.
Comprehensive Investment Portfolio
Portfolio Activity
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, SLRC had Comprehensive Portfolio originations of
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023 ($mm) | |||||
Asset Class | Sponsor Finance(1) | Asset-based Lending(2) | Equipment Finance(3) | Life Science Finance | Total Comprehensive Investment Portfolio Activity |
Originations | |||||
Repayments / Amortization | |||||
Net Portfolio Activity | $(78.0) | $(15.2) | $48.5 | $32.4 | $(12.3) |
During the year ended December 31, 2023, SLRC had Comprehensive Portfolio originations of
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 ($mm) | ||||||||||
Asset Class | Sponsor Finance(1) | Asset-based Lending(2) | Equipment Finance(3) | Life Science Finance | Total Comprehensive Investment Portfolio Activity | |||||
Originations | ||||||||||
Repayments / Amortization | ||||||||||
Net Portfolio Activity | $96.7 | $(51.8) | $58.2 | $29.0 | $132.1 | |||||
(1) Sponsor Finance refers to cash flow loans to sponsor-owned companies including cash flow loans held in the SLR Senior Lending Program LLC attributable to the Company.
(2) Includes SLR-CS, SLR-BC and SLR-HC ABL’s full portfolios, as well as asset-based loans on the Company’s balance sheet.
(3) Includes SLR-EF’s full portfolio and equipment financings on the Company’s balance sheet and Kingsbridge Holdings’ (KBH) full portfolio.
Comprehensive Portfolio Composition
The Comprehensive Investment Portfolio is diversified across approximately 790 unique issuers, operating in over 110 industries, and resulting in an average exposure of
SLRC’s Comprehensive Investment Portfolio composition by asset class as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
Comprehensive Investment Portfolio Composition (at fair value) | Amount | Weighted Average Asset Yield(5) | |||
($mm) | % | ||||
Senior Secured Investments Cash Flow Loans (Sponsor Finance)(1) | |||||
Asset-Based Loans(2) | |||||
Equipment Financings(3) | |||||
Life Science Loans | |||||
Total Senior Secured Investments | $3,073.1 | 99.2% | 11.6% | ||
Equity and Equity-like Securities | |||||
Total Comprehensive Investment Portfolio | $3,097.4 | 100.0% | |||
Floating Rate Investments(4) | |||||
First Lien Senior Secured Loans | |||||
Second Lien Senior Secured Cash Flow Loans | |||||
Second Lien Senior Secured Asset-Based Loans |
(1) Includes cash flow loans held in the SSLP attributable to the Company and excludes the Company’s equity investment in SSLP.
(2) Includes SLR-CS, SLR-BC, and SLR-HC ABL’s full portfolios, as well as asset-based loans on the Company’s balance sheet, and excludes the Company’s equity investments in each of SLR-CS, SLR-BC, and SLR-HC ABL.
(3) Includes SLR-EF’s full portfolio and equipment financings on the Company’s balance sheet and Kingsbridge Holdings’ (KBH) full portfolio. Excludes the Company’s equity and debt investments in each of SLR-EF and KBH.
(4) Floating rate investments are calculated as a percent of the Company’s income-producing Comprehensive Investment Portfolio. The majority of fixed rate loans are associated with SLR-EF and leases held by KBH. Additionally, SLR-EF and KBH seek to match-fund their fixed rate assets with fixed rate liabilities.
(5) The weighted average asset yield for income producing cash flow, asset-based and life science loans on balance sheet is based on a yield to maturity calculation. The yield calculation of Life Science loans excludes the impact of success fees and/or warrants. The weighted average yield for on-balance sheet equipment financings is calculated based on the expected average life of the investments. The weighted average asset yield for SLR-CS asset-based loans is an Internal Rate of Return calculated using actual cash flows received and the expected terminal value. The weighted average asset yield for SLR-BC and SLR-HC ABL represents total interest and fee income for the three-month period ending on December 31, 2023 against the average portfolio over the same fiscal period, annualized. The weighted average asset yield for SLR-EF represents total interest and fee income for the three-month period ending on December 31, 2023 against the portfolio as of December 31, 2023, annualized. The weighted average yield for the KBH equipment leasing portfolio represents the expected return on equity during 2023.
SLR Investment Corp. Portfolio
Asset Quality
As of December 31, 2023,
The Company puts its largest emphasis on risk control and credit performance. On a quarterly basis, or more frequently if deemed necessary, the Company formally rates each portfolio investment on a scale of one to four, with one representing the least amount of risk.
As of December 31, 2023, the composition of our Investment Portfolio, on a risk ratings basis, was as follows:
Internal Investment Rating | Investments at Fair Value ($mm) | % of Total Portfolio | |
1 | |||
2 | |||
3 | |||
4 |
Investment Income Contribution by Asset Class
Investment Income Contribution by Asset Class(1) ($mm) | |||||
For the Quarter Ended: | Sponsor Finance | Asset-based Lending | Equipment Finance | Life Science Finance | Total ($mm) |
12/31/2023 | $59.8 | ||||
% Contribution | 100.0% |
Investment Income Contribution by Asset Class(1) ($mm) | |||||
For the Year Ended: | Sponsor Finance | Asset-based Lending | Equipment Finance | Life Science Finance | Total ($mm) |
12/31/2023 | $229.3 | ||||
% Contribution | 100.0% |
(1) Investment Income Contribution by Asset Class includes: interest income/fees from Sponsor Finance (cash flow) loans on balance sheet and distributions from SSLP; income/fees from asset-based loans on balance sheet and distributions from SLR-CS, SLR-BC, SLR-HC ABL; income/fees from equipment financings and distributions from SLR-EF and distributions from KBH; and income/fees from life science loans on balance sheet.
SLR Senior Lending Program LLC (SSLP)
As of December 31, 2023, the Company and its
In Q4 2023, the Company earned
SLR Investment Corp.’s Results of Operations Year Over Year
Investment Income
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, gross investment income totaled
Expenses
SLRC’s net expenses totaled
Net Investment Income
SLRC’s net investment income totaled
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
Net realized and unrealized loss for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Credit Facilities and Available Capital
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had
Leverage
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s net debt-to-equity was 1.19x, within the Company’s target range of 0.9x to 1.25x.
Unfunded Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, excluding commitments to SLR-CS, SLR-EF, SLR-HC ABL and SSLP, over which the Company controls such funding, the Company had unfunded commitments of approximately
Subsequent Events
On February 27, 2024, the Board declared a quarterly distribution of
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Company will host an earnings conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. All interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (800) 445-7795 approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call, international callers should dial (203) 518-9814. Participants should reference SLR Investment Corp. and Conference ID: SLRC4Q23. A telephone replay will be available until March 13, 2024 and can be accessed by dialing (800) 757-4761. International callers should dial (402) 220-7215. This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties from the Event Calendar within the “Investors” tab of SLR Investment Corp.’s website, www.slrinvestmentcorp.com. Please register online prior to the start of the call. For those who are not able to listen to the broadcast live, a replay of the webcast will be available soon after the call.
Supplemental Information of SLR Investment Corp.’s Results of Operations Quarter Over Quarter
Operating results: | Quarter Ended December 31, 2023 (unaudited) | Quarter Ended September 30, 2023 (unaudited) | |
Interest income | |||
Dividend income | 12,204 | 11,429 | |
Other income | 2,095 | 821 | |
Total investment income | 59,787 | 59,641 | |
Management fee | 8,026 | 8,051 | |
Net Performance-based Incentive fee | 5,865 | 5,621 | |
Interest and other credit facility expenses | 19,505 | 19,874 | |
Administrative services expense | 1,336 | 1,575 | |
Other general and administrative expenses | 1,146 | 1,161 | |
Net expenses | 35,878 | 36,282 | |
Net investment income | $23,909 | $23,359 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (287) | 3,588 | |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | 23,622 | 26,947 | |
Net investment income per common share | |||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) per common share | ( | ||
Earnings per common share - basic and diluted | |||
Financial Statements and Tables
SLR INVESTMENT CORP. | |||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | |||||||
(in thousands, except share amounts) | |||||||
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Investments at fair value: | |||||||
Companies less than | $ | 1,271,442 | $ | 1,289,082 | |||
Companies | 44,250 | — | |||||
Companies more than | 839,074 | 797,594 | |||||
Cash | 11,864 | 10,743 | |||||
Cash equivalents (cost: | 332,290 | 417,590 | |||||
Dividends receivable | 11,768 | 11,192 | |||||
Interest receivable | 11,034 | 9,706 | |||||
Receivable for investments sold | 1,538 | 1,124 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 608 | 664 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 2,523,868 | $ | 2,537,695 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Debt ( | $ | 1,177,777 | $ | 1,085,998 | |||
Payable for investments and cash equivalents purchased | 332,290 | 417,611 | |||||
Distributions payable | — | 7,481 | |||||
Management fee payable | 8,027 | 7,964 | |||||
Performance-based incentive fee payable | 5,864 | 5,422 | |||||
Interest payable | 7,535 | 7,943 | |||||
Administrative services payable | 1,969 | 1,488 | |||||
Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 3,767 | 4,057 | |||||
Total liabilities | $ | 1,537,229 | $ | 1,537,964 | |||
Net Assets | |||||||
Common stock, par value | $ | 546 | $ | 546 | |||
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 1,117,930 | 1,162,569 | |||||
Accumulated distributable net loss | (131,837 | ) | (163,384 | ) | |||
Total net assets | $ | 986,639 | $ | 999,731 | |||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 18.09 | $ | 18.33 | |||
SLR INVESTMENT CORP. | |||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||
(in thousands, except share amounts) | |||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |||||||
Interest: | |||||||
Companies less than | $ | 163,589 | $ | 121,491 | |||
Companies | 2,058 | — | |||||
Companies more than | 11,627 | 9,515 | |||||
Dividends: | |||||||
Companies more than | 45,986 | 44,383 | |||||
Other income: | |||||||
Companies less than | 5,802 | 2,116 | |||||
Companies | 26 | — | |||||
Companies more than | 224 | — | |||||
Total investment income | $ | 229,312 | $ | 177,505 | |||
EXPENSES: | |||||||
Management fees | 31,661 | 29,982 | |||||
Performance-based incentive fees | 22,898 | 15,097 | |||||
Interest and other credit facility expenses | 72,507 | 46,087 | |||||
Administrative services expense | 5,899 | 5,401 | |||||
Other general and administrative expenses | 4,756 | 6,099 | |||||
Total expenses | 137,721 | 102,666 | |||||
Performance-based incentive fees waived | (500 | ) | (1,527 | ) | |||
Net expenses | 137,221 | 101,139 | |||||
Net investment income | $ | 92,091 | $ | 76,366 | |||
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: | |||||||
Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents: | |||||||
Companies less than | $ | (27,602 | ) | $ | (36,485 | ) | |
Companies more than | (381 | ) | — | ||||
Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents | (27,983 | ) | (36,485 | ) | |||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments: | |||||||
Companies less than | 20,425 | (2,909 | ) | ||||
Companies | (1,384 | ) | — | ||||
Companies more than | (6,761 | ) | (18,630 | ) | |||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 12,280 | (21,539 | ) | ||||
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments and cash equivalents | (15,703 | ) | (58,024 | ) | |||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $ | 76,388 | $ | 18,342 | |||
EARNINGS PER SHARE | $ | 1.40 | $ | 0.35 | |||
About SLR Investment Corp.
SLR Investment Corp. is a closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. A specialty finance company with expertise in several niche markets, the Company primarily invests in leveraged, U.S. upper middle market companies in the form of cash flow, asset-based, and life sciences senior secured loans.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events, future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements may include statements as to: an increase in the size of SLRC’s income producing comprehensive portfolio; an increase in the size of SSLP’s investment portfolio; the expected dividend yield payable to SLRC from SSLP; the market environment and its impact on the business prospects of SLRC and the prospects of SLRC’s portfolio companies; prospects for additional portfolio growth of SLRC; and the quality of, and the impact on the performance of SLRC from the investments that SLRC has made and expects to make. In addition, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “plan,” “should,” “estimate,” “project” and “intend” indicate forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected, including the uncertainties associated with: (i) changes in the economy, financial markets and political environment, including the impacts of inflation and rising interest rates; (ii) risks associated with possible disruption in the operations of SLRC or the economy generally due to terrorism, war or other geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, or pandemics; (iii) future changes in laws or regulations (including the interpretation of these laws and regulations by regulatory authorities); (iv) conditions in SLRC’s operating areas, particularly with respect to business development companies or regulated investment companies; and (v) other considerations that may be disclosed from time to time in SLRC’s publicly disseminated documents and filings. SLRC has based the forward-looking statements included in this press release on information available to it on the date of this press release, and SLRC assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although SLRC undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that it may make directly to you or through reports that SLRC in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.
Contact
SLR Investment Corp.
Investor Relations
slrinvestorrelations@slrcp.com | (646) 308-8770
FAQ
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