OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2016. Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. (NASDAQ:FSFR) ("FSFR" or "we") today announced its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Second Fiscal Quarter 2016 Highlights 

  • Net investment income of \\$5.8 million, or \\$0.20 per share;
  • Net asset value per share of \\$11.18; and
  • Entered into a \\$25.0 million revolving credit facility with East West Bank.

"During the March quarter, we experienced lower than normal origination levels, reduced portfolio turnover, and incremental professional expenses related to our proxy contest.  Despite the operating environment, we are pleased that our net investment income, excluding these professional expenses, would have covered our quarterly run rate dividend for the third consecutive quarter,” stated Chief Executive Officer, Ivelin M. Dimitrov, adding, “We would once again like to express our gratitude to our stockholders and with the annual meeting behind us, we look forward to continuing our efforts to generate consistent results and enhance value for all FSFR stockholders."

Portfolio and Investment Activity

FSFR's Board of Directors determined the fair value of our investment portfolio at March 31, 2016 to be \\$575.4 million, as compared to \\$623.6 million at September 30, 2015.  Total assets were \\$629.1 million at March 31, 2016, as compared to \\$697.7 million at September 30, 2015.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, we closed \\$15.5 million of investments in two new and two existing portfolio companies and funded \\$20.5 million across new and existing portfolio companies.  This compares to closing \\$109.9 million in eight new and one existing portfolio companies and funding \\$116.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, we received \\$9.8 million in connection with full repayments of two of our debt investments, both of which were exited at par, and an additional \\$33.4 million in connection with paydowns, syndications and sales of debt investments.

At March 31, 2016, our portfolio consisted of investments in 62 companies.  At fair value, 89.3% of our portfolio consisted of senior secured floating rate debt investments, and 10.5% 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 \\$9.2 million at March 31, 2016.  The average portfolio company EBITDA was \\$58.9 million at March 31, 2016, with only 0.6% of the portfolio's fair value invested in the energy sector.

At March 31, 2016, FSFR Glick JV had \\$211.4 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 33 portfolio companies.  The joint venture generated income of \\$2.1 million for FSFR during the second fiscal quarter, which represented a 14.0% weighted average annualized return on investment.

Our weighted average yield on debt investments at March 31, 2016, including the return on FSFR Glick JV, was 8.4%, and included a cash component of 8.3%.  We effectively utilized our attractively priced leverage and operated within our target range of 0.8x to 0.9x debt-to-equity during the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Results of Operations

Total investment income for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 was \\$13.2 million and \\$11.3 million, respectively. For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the amount primarily consisted of \\$11.6 million of cash interest income from portfolio investments. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, this amount primarily consisted of \\$9.9 million of cash interest income from portfolio investments.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, payment-in-kind ("PIK") interest net of PIK collected in cash represented only 0.2% of total investment income.

Total expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 were \\$7.4 million and \\$5.0 million, respectively.  Total expenses increased for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015, due primarily to a \\$0.6 million increase in interest expense and a \\$1.7 million increase in professional fees.

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on our investment portfolio for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 were (\\$6.4 million) and \\$0.4 million, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2016, we had \\$36.7 million of cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash), portfolio investments (at fair value) of \\$575.4 million, \\$4.1 million of interest, dividends and fees receivable, receivables from unsettled transactions of \\$7.3 million, \\$112.9 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facilities, \\$180.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our debt securitization and \\$67.8 million of unfunded commitments.  Our regulatory leverage ratio was 0.89x 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, receivables from unsettled transactions of \\$13.5 million, payables from unsettled transactions of \\$11.8 million, \\$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.

On January 12, 2016, we announced the closing of a \\$25.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with East West Bank.  The facility has a final maturity of January 2021 and will accrue interest at LIBOR or East West Bank's prime rate plus a variable margin according to the agreed upon schedule.

Dividend Declaration

In addition to our previously declared dividend of \\$0.075 per share, which is payable on May 31, 2016 to stockholders of record on May 13, 2016, our Board of Directors met on May 6, 2016 and declared the following distributions:

  • \\$0.075 per share, payable on June 30, 2016 to stockholders of record on June 15, 2016;  
  • \\$0.075 per share, payable on July 29, 2016 to stockholders of record on July 15, 2016; and 
  • \\$0.075 per share, payable on August 31, 2016 to stockholders of record on August 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 March 31, 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 March 31, 2016 September 30, 2015
 Fair Value % of Portfolio Leverage Ratio Fair Value % of Portfolio Leverage Ratio
1 —  —  —  —  —  — 
2 \\$560,589,543  97.43% 4.55  \\$596,955,786  95.72% 4.71 
3 —  —  —  26,691,688  4.28  5.87 
4 14,799,548  2.57  NM (1)—  —  — 
Total \\$575,389,091  100.00% 4.55  \\$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 March 31, 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 March 31, 2016, there were two investments on which we had stopped accruing cash and/or PIK interest or original issue discount ("OID") income that represented 2.6% of our debt portfolio at fair value in the aggregate. One of the securities on non-accrual status, Ameritox Ltd., which represented 2.2% of the debt portfolio fair value, was restructured subsequent to quarter end.

Recent Developments

On April 11, 2016, we restructured our debt investment in Ameritox Ltd.  As a part of the restructuring, we exchanged our debt securities for debt and equity securities in the restructured entity.  The fair value of our debt securities exchanged on the restructuring date approximated their fair value as of March 31, 2016.

 
Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.
 
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
 
(unaudited)
 
  March 31,
 2016		 September 30,
 2015
ASSETS  
Investments at fair value:    
Control investments (cost March 31, 2016: \\$66,415,474; cost September 30, 2015: \\$58,977,973) \\$60,177,037  \\$57,156,921 
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (cost March 31, 2016: \\$540,743,112; cost September 30, 2015: \\$574,538,984) 515,212,054  566,490,553 
Total investments at fair value (cost March 31, 2016: \\$607,158,586; cost September 30, 2015: \\$633,516,957) 575,389,091  623,647,474 
Cash and cash equivalents 28,821,280  41,433,301 
Restricted cash 7,864,686  11,258,796 
Interest, dividends and fees receivable 4,057,918  2,783,379 
Due from portfolio companies 162,951  11,587 
Receivables from unsettled transactions 7,287,374  13,541,056 
Deferred financing costs 5,025,968  5,001,675 
Other assets 477,822  33,216 
Total assets \\$629,087,090  \\$697,710,484 
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS  
Liabilities:    
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities \\$2,211,302  \\$1,964,249 
Base management fee and incentive fee payable 2,285,775  2,055,179 
Due to FSC CT LLC 315,030  379,641 
Interest payable 1,747,752  1,669,012 
Payables from unsettled transactions —  11,809,500 
Credit facilities payable 112,946,800  136,659,800 
Notes payable 180,000,000  186,366,000 
Total liabilities 299,506,659  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 March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015 294,668  294,668 
Additional paid-in-capital 373,995,934  373,995,934 
Net unrealized depreciation on investments (31,769,495) (9,869,483)
Net realized gain (loss) on investments (3,053,660) 1,800,070 
Accumulated overdistributed net investment income (9,887,016) (9,414,086)
Total net assets (equivalent to \\$11.18 and \\$12.11 per common share at March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively) 329,580,431  356,807,103 
Total liabilities and net assets \\$629,087,090  \\$697,710,484 
Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
(unaudited)
 
  Three months
ended
March 31, 2016		 Three months
ended
March 31, 2015		 Six months
ended
March 31, 2016		 Six months
ended
March 31, 2015
Interest income:        
Control investments \\$1,210,027  \\$—  \\$2,330,518  \\$— 
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments 10,331,927  9,883,751  21,337,524  18,145,280 
Interest on cash and cash equivalents 12,771  5,250  33,170  9,185 
Total interest income 11,554,725  9,889,001  23,701,212  18,154,465 
PIK interest income:        
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments 23,871  —  41,032  — 
Total PIK interest income 23,871  —  41,032  — 
Fee income:        
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments 741,073  1,452,158  2,053,680  5,109,837 
Total fee income 741,073  1,452,158  2,053,680  5,109,837 
Dividend and other income:        
Control investments 875,000  —  1,312,500  — 
Total dividend and other income 875,000  —  1,312,500  — 
Total investment income 13,194,669  11,341,159  27,108,424  23,264,302 
Expenses:        
Base management fee 1,520,489  1,523,167  3,106,681  2,680,078 
Part I incentive fee 765,287  939,995  2,514,098  2,727,388 
Part II incentive fee —  78,444  —  (178,697)
Professional fees 1,912,236  188,709  2,635,039  498,495 
Board of Directors fees 152,950  86,050  321,600  184,300 
Interest expense 2,337,849  1,705,137  4,611,282  2,591,292 
Administrator expense 128,408  177,562  313,408  423,697 
General and administrative expenses 592,253  347,740  819,200  547,891 
Total expenses 7,409,472  5,046,804  14,321,308  9,474,444 
Net investment income 5,785,197  6,294,355  12,787,116  13,789,858 
Unrealized depreciation on investments:        
Control investments (666,893) —  (4,417,385) — 
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (978,962) (125,507) (17,482,627) (1,565,085)
Net unrealized depreciation on investments (1,645,855) (125,507) (21,900,012) (1,565,085)
Realized gain (loss) on investments:        
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (4,799,610) 517,727  (4,853,730) 945,729 
Net realized gain (loss) on investments (4,799,610) 517,727  (4,853,730) 945,729 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations \\$(660,268) \\$6,686,575  \\$(13,966,626) \\$13,170,502 
Net investment income per common share — basic and diluted \\$0.20  \\$0.21  \\$0.43  \\$0.47 
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic and diluted \\$(0.02) \\$0.23  \\$(0.47) \\$0.45 
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted 29,466,768  29,466,768  29,466,768  29,466,768 
Distributions per common share \\$0.15  \\$0.30  \\$0.45  \\$0.60 
                 

Conference Call Information

We will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, May 11, 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 92668310 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 May 18, 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 92668310. An archived replay will also be available online on the "Investor Relations" section of FSFR's 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.