WhiteHorse Finance(WHF) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's Q1 2025 GAAP net investment income and core NII was $6,800,000 or$ 0.02 per share, down from $8,000,000 or$ 0.03 per share in Q4 2024, and below the quarterly distribution of $0.03 per share [6][18] - NAV per share at the end of Q1 was$ 12.11, representing a 1.6% decrease from the prior quarter, impacted by net realized losses and markdowns totaling $2,600,000 [6][18] - The weighted average effective yield on income-producing debt investments decreased to 12.1% at the end of Q1 from 12.5% in Q4 2024 [9][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross capital deployments in Q1 totaled$ 45,500,000, with net deployments of $26,100,000 after repayments and sales of$ 19,400,000 [6][9] - The portfolio mix at the end of Q1 consisted of approximately 90.3% first lien, senior secured debt, with a mix of two-thirds sponsor and one-third non-sponsor deals [7][9] - Nonaccrual investments totaled 8.8% of the debt portfolio, up from 7.2% in the prior quarter [13][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The STRS JV portfolio had an aggregate fair value of $310,200,000 with an average effective yield of 10.8%, down from 11.1% in Q4 [8][20] - The lending market has seen a 25 to 50 basis point increase in pricing due to increased volatility, but most of that premium has dissipated recently [15][18] - The M&A market has slowed significantly, with many deals being put on hold due to uncertainty in the economic environment [41][42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus on the non-sponsor market, where there are better risk-return profiles and less competition [16][18] - The company added a new coverage region in Nashville, Tennessee, to enhance non-sponsor and off-the-run sponsor origination capabilities [16][18] - The company is actively monitoring the debt capital markets for opportunities to optimize or refinance its capital structure [21][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that challenges in the portfolio are more company-specific rather than related to the overall economy, with no signs of a recession yet [10][18] - The company expects a decent amount of refinancing activity in the second half of the year as prepayment penalties on higher-rate deals expire [46][18] - Management is cautious about the environment for deal closures in Q3, anticipating a quiet period due to the current market conditions [42][18] Other Important Information - The company declared a first-quarter distribution of$ 0.03 per share, consistent with the prior quarter, and will continue to evaluate its quarterly distribution based on core earnings power [22][18] - Cash resources at the end of Q1 were approximately $19,600,000, including$ 8,200,000 in restricted cash [21][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Telestream and its return to accrual status - Management indicated progress on restructuring Telestream, hoping to complete it by May, which would allow a portion of the existing debt to return to cash-paying status [26][27] Question: Dividend update and spillover income - Spillover income was approximately $28,400,000, with a current dividend run rate equating to about$ 8,950,000 in distributions, indicating a shortfall for Q1 [33][35] Question: Market conditions and bid-ask spreads - Management noted that good companies without significant tariff or recession risk are trading at high multiples, while those with risks are seeing buyers being conservative [40][41]