GREENWICH, CT, Aug. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. (NASDAQ:FSFR) (“FSFR” or “we”) today announced its financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Third Fiscal Quarter 2016 Highlights

  • Net investment income of $6.2 million, or $0.21 per share;
  • Net asset value per share of $10.99;
  • Closed $112.2 million of new investments; and
  • Reported only one investment on non-accrual status at June 30, 2016, representing 0.2% of the portfolio at fair value.

“During the June quarter, we benefited from a rebound in origination volumes, although we also continued to be impacted by unusually high professional expenses.  We expect these expenses to return to normal levels beginning in the September quarter,” stated Ivelin M. Dimitrov, FSFR’s Chief Executive Officer.  “With respect to our investment strategy, FSFR continues to focus on delivering consistent returns to stockholders by investing in senior secured assets with strong risk adjusted returns.  We are pleased to report that despite some softness in the broader economy and credit deterioration in a few concentrated investments, our overall portfolio remains solid, with only one investment on non-accrual status, representing just 0.2% of the total portfolio at fair value.”

Portfolio and Investment Activity

FSFR’s Board of Directors determined the fair value of our investment portfolio at June 30, 2016 to be $598.3 million, as compared to $623.6 million at September 30, 2015.  Total assets were $639.8 million at June 30, 2016, as compared to $697.7 million at September 30, 2015.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, we closed $112.2 million of investments in nine new and three existing portfolio companies and funded $107.1 million across new and existing portfolio companies.  This compares to closing $336.5 million in 26 new and eight existing portfolio companies and funding $282.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2015. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, we received $34.1 million in connection with full repayments of two of our debt investments, both of which were exited at par, and an additional $45.2 million in connection with paydowns, syndications and sales of debt investments.

At June 30, 2016, our portfolio consisted of investments in 64 companies.  At fair value, 88.0% of our portfolio consisted of senior secured floating rate debt investments, and 10.6% of the portfolio consisted of investments in the subordinated notes and LLC equity interests of FSFR Glick JV LLC (“FSFR Glick JV”).  The portfolio remained spread across a number of industries and our average portfolio company debt investment size at fair value was $9.1 million at June 30, 2016.  The average portfolio company EBITDA was $58.9 million at June 30, 2016, with only 0.5% of the portfolio’s fair value invested in the energy sector and no exposure to CLO equity.

At June 30, 2016, FSFR Glick JV had $220.3 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 36 portfolio companies.  The joint venture generated income of $2.1 million for FSFR during the third fiscal quarter, which represented an 11.7% weighted average annualized return on investment.

Our weighted average yield on debt investments at June 30, 2016, including the return on FSFR Glick JV, was 8.6%, and included a cash component of 8.4%.  We effectively utilized our attractively priced leverage and operated within our target leverage range of 0.8x to 0.9x debt-to-equity for much of the quarter, ending the quarter at 0.91x leverage.

Results of Operations

Total investment income for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 was $13.1 million and $14.1 million, respectively. For the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the amount primarily consisted of $11.5 million of cash interest income from portfolio investments. For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, this amount primarily consisted of $11.2 million of cash interest income from portfolio investments.  For the quarter ended June 30, 2016, we collected payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest in excess of PIK accrued.

Total expenses for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 were $7.0 million and $7.1 million, respectively.  Total expenses decreased for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to a $1.3 million charge, net of a decrease in the incentive fee, in the quarter ended June 30, 2015 related to a debt securitization in which we repaid and terminated our credit facility with Natixis, New York Branch by issuing $180.0 million of low-cost, senior secured notes with ten-year maturities.  The decrease due to this charge was partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in professional fees incurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Net realized and unrealized losses on our investment portfolio for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 were $5.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2016, we had $23.0 million of cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash), portfolio investments (at fair value) of $598.3 million, $4.2 million of interest, dividends and fees receivable, $4.5 million of net payables from unsettled transactions, $115.8 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facilities, $180.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our debt securitization and $57.8 million of unfunded commitments.  Our regulatory leverage ratio was 0.91x debt-to-equity.

At September 30, 2015, we had $52.7 million of cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash), portfolio investments (at fair value) of $623.6 million, $2.8 million of interest, dividends and fees receivable, $1.7 million of net receivables from unsettled transactions, $136.7 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, $186.4 million of borrowings outstanding under our debt securitization and $76.8 million of unfunded commitments.  Our regulatory leverage ratio was 0.91x debt-to-equity.

Dividend Declaration

In addition to our previously declared dividend of $0.075 per share, which is payable on August 31, 2016 to stockholders of record on August 15, 2016, our Board of Directors met on August 4, 2016 and declared the following distributions:

  • $0.075 per share, payable on September 30, 2016 to stockholders of record on September 15, 2016;  
  • $0.075 per share, payable on October 31, 2016 to stockholders of record on October 14, 2016; and 
  • $0.075 per share, payable on November 30, 2016 to stockholders of record on November 15, 2016.

Dividends are paid primarily from distributable (taxable) income. To the extent our taxable earnings for a fiscal taxable year fall below the total amount of our dividend distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a return of capital to our stockholders. Our Board of Directors determines dividends based on estimates of distributable (taxable) income, which differ from book income due to temporary and permanent differences in income and expense recognition and changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments.

Portfolio Asset Quality

We utilize the following investment ranking system for our investment portfolio:

  • Investment Ranking 1 is used for investments that are performing above expectations and/or capital gains are expected.
  • Investment Ranking 2 is used for investments that are performing substantially within our expectations, and whose risks remain materially consistent with the potential risks at the time of the original or restructured investment.  All new investments are initially ranked 2.
  • Investment Ranking 3 is used for investments that are performing below our expectations and for which risk has materially increased since the original or restructured investment.  The portfolio company may be out of compliance with debt covenants and may require closer monitoring.  To the extent that the underlying agreement has a PIK interest provision, investments with a ranking of 3 are generally those on which we are not accruing PIK interest.
  • Investment Ranking 4 is used for investments that are performing substantially below our expectations and for which risk has increased substantially since the original or restructured investment.  Investments with a ranking of 4 are those for which some loss of principal is expected and are generally those on which we are not accruing cash interest.

At June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 4 investment ranking scale at fair value was as follows:

Investment Ranking   June 30, 2016   September 30, 2015
  Fair Value   % of Portfolio   Leverage Ratio   Fair Value   % of Portfolio   Leverage Ratio
1                        
2   $ 589,971,359     98.61 %   4.36     $ 596,955,786     95.72 %   4.71  
3   7,121,550     1.19     5.35     26,691,688     4.28     5.87  
4   1,200,000     0.20     NM (1 )          
Total   $ 598,292,909     100.00 %   4.37     $ 623,647,474     100.00 %   4.76  

_____________
(1) Due to operating performance this ratio is not measurable and, as a result, is excluded from the total portfolio calculation.

We may from time to time modify the payment terms of our investments, either in response to current economic conditions and their impact on certain of our portfolio companies or in accordance with tier pricing provisions in certain loan agreements.  As of June 30, 2016, we had modified the payment terms of our investments in four portfolio companies.  Such modified terms may include increased PIK interest rates and reduced cash interest rates.  These modifications, and any future modifications to our loan agreements, may limit the amount of interest income that we recognize from the modified investments, which may, in turn, limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. 

As of June 30, 2016, there was one investment on which we had stopped accruing original issue discount income, which represented 0.2% of our debt portfolio at fair value in the aggregate.

 
Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
(unaudited)
 
    June 30,
 2016
  September 30,
 2015
ASSETS    
Investments at fair value:        
Control investments (cost June 30, 2016: $71,030,006; cost September 30, 2015: $58,977,973)   $ 63,443,232     $ 57,156,921  
Affiliate investments (cost June 30, 2016: $15,902,053; cost September 30, 2015: $0)   13,521,320      
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (cost June 30, 2016: $539,870,867; cost September 30, 2015: $574,538,984)   521,328,357     566,490,553  
Total investments at fair value (cost June 30, 2016: $626,802,926; cost September 30, 2015: $633,516,957)   598,292,909     623,647,474  
Cash and cash equivalents   15,067,740     41,433,301  
Restricted cash   7,980,698     11,258,796  
Interest, dividends and fees receivable   4,213,089     2,783,379  
Due from portfolio companies   269,734     11,587  
Receivables from unsettled transactions   8,898,941     13,541,056  
Deferred financing costs   4,801,668     5,001,675  
Other assets   314,309     33,216  
Total assets   $ 639,839,088     $ 697,710,484  
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS    
Liabilities:        
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities   $ 1,893,044     $ 1,964,249  
Base management fee and incentive fee payable   2,731,300     2,055,179  
Due to FSC CT LLC   379,244     379,641  
Interest payable   1,717,231     1,669,012  
Payables from unsettled transactions   13,425,000     11,809,500  
Credit facilities payable   115,826,800     136,659,800  
Notes payable   180,000,000     186,366,000  
Total liabilities   315,972,619     340,903,381  
Commitments and contingencies        
Net assets:        
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 29,466,768 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015   294,668     294,668  
Additional paid-in-capital   373,995,934     373,995,934  
Net unrealized depreciation on investments   (28,510,017 )   (9,869,483 )
Net realized gain (loss) on investments   (11,560,596 )   1,800,070  
Accumulated overdistributed net investment income   (10,353,520 )   (9,414,086 )
Total net assets (equivalent to $10.99 and $12.11 per common share at June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively)   323,866,469     356,807,103  
Total liabilities and net assets   $ 639,839,088     $ 697,710,484  

 
Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
 
    Three months ended
June 30, 2016
  Three months ended
June 30, 2015
  Nine months ended
June 30, 2016
  Nine months ended
June 30, 2015
Interest income:                
Control investments   $ 1,351,423     $ 754,216     $ 3,681,941     $ 754,216  
Affiliate investments   85,003         85,003      
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   10,078,942     10,450,360     31,416,467     28,595,641  
Interest on cash and cash equivalents   20,141     7,042     53,311     16,227  
Total interest income   11,535,509     11,211,618     35,236,722     29,366,084  
PIK interest income:                
Affiliate investments   42,502         42,502      
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   21,753         62,786      
Total PIK interest income   64,255         105,288      
Fee income:                
Affiliate investments   3,148         3,148      
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   811,548     2,854,182     2,865,229     7,964,019  
Total fee income   814,696     2,854,182     2,868,377     7,964,019  
Dividend and other income:                
Control investments   700,000     74,375     2,012,500     74,375  
Total dividend and other income   700,000     74,375     2,012,500     74,375  
Total investment income   13,114,460     14,140,175     40,222,887     37,404,478  
Expenses:                
Base management fee   1,511,490     1,594,872     4,618,171     4,274,950  
Part I incentive fee   1,219,810     1,107,961     3,733,909     3,835,350  
Part II incentive fee       (587,855 )       (766,552 )
Professional fees   894,245     259,933     3,529,285     758,428  
Board of Directors fees   143,425     80,250     465,025     264,550  
Interest expense   2,437,152     4,162,905     7,048,434     6,754,197  
Administrator expense   92,622     152,647     406,030     576,344  
General and administrative expenses   652,199     283,556     1,471,399     831,447  
Total expenses   6,950,943     7,054,269     21,272,253     16,528,714  
Net investment income   6,163,517     7,085,906     18,950,634     20,875,764  
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments:                
Control investments   (1,348,337 )   (571,710 )   (5,765,722 )   (571,710 )
Affiliate investments   (2,380,733 )       (2,380,733 )    
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   6,988,548     (2,725,039 )   (10,494,079 )   (4,290,124 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   3,259,478     (3,296,749 )   (18,640,534 )   (4,861,834 )
Realized gain (loss) on investments:                
  Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   (8,506,936 )   (1,334,908 )   (13,360,666 )   (389,179 )
Net realized loss on investments   (8,506,936 )   (1,334,908 )   (13,360,666 )   (389,179 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   $ 916,059     $ 2,454,249     $ (13,050,566 )   $ 15,624,751  
Net investment income per common share — basic and diluted   $ 0.21     $ 0.24     $ 0.64     $ 0.71  
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic and diluted   $ 0.03     $ 0.08     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.53  
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted   29,466,768     29,466,768     29,466,768     29,466,768  
Distributions per common share   $ 0.225     $ 0.300     $ 0.675     $ 0.900  

Conference Call Information

We will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, to discuss our quarterly financial results. All interested parties are welcome to participate. Domestic callers can access the conference call by dialing (877) 359-2861. International callers can access the conference call by dialing +1 (540) 318-1180. All callers will need to enter the Conference ID Number 48926580 and reference “Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.” after being connected with the operator. All callers are asked to dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the call so that name and company information can be collected.  An archived replay of the call will be available approximately four hours after the end of the conference call and will be available through August 17, 2016 to domestic callers by dialing (855) 859-2056 and to international callers by dialing +1 (404) 537-3406. For all replays, please reference Conference ID Number 48926580. An archived replay will also be available online on the “Investor Relations” section of our website under the “News & Events – Calendar of Events” section.

About Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.

Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. is a specialty finance company that provides financing solutions in the form of floating rate senior secured loans to mid-sized companies, primarily in connection with investments by private equity sponsors.  FSFR’s investment objective is to maximize its portfolio’s total return by generating current income from its debt investments while seeking to preserve its capital.  The company has elected to be regulated as a business development company and is externally managed by a subsidiary of Fifth Street Asset Management Inc. (NASDAQ:FSAM), a nationally recognized credit-focused asset manager with over $5 billion in assets under management across multiple public and private vehicles.  With a track record of over 18 years, Fifth Street’s platform has the ability to hold loans up to $250 million and structure and syndicate transactions up to $500 million.  Fifth Street received the 2015 ACG New York Champion’s Award for “Lender Firm of the Year,” and other previously received accolades include the ACG New York Champion’s Award for “Senior Lender Firm of the Year,” “Lender Firm of the Year” by The M&A Advisor and “Lender of the Year” by Mergers & Acquisitions.  FSFR’s website can be found at fsfr.fifthstreetfinance.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, because they relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. Forward-looking statements may include statements as to the future operating results, dividends and business prospects of FSFR. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “seeks,” “plans,” “should,” “estimates,” “project,” and “intend” indicate forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in these forward-looking statements for any reason. Such factors are identified from time to time in FSFR’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include changes in the economy and the financial markets and future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in the Company’s operating areas. FSFR undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT: CONTACT:           
Investor Contact:
Robyn Friedman, Executive Director, Head of Investor Relations
(203) 681-3720
[email protected]

Media Contact:
James Golden / Aura Reinhard / Andrew Squire
Joele Frank Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449