UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 814-00757
FS Investment Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 495-1150
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
There were 241,702,625 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of May 8, 2015.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2014
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Schedules of Investments as of March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2014
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3.
ITEM 4.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 5.
ITEM 6.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Assets
Investments, at fair value—unaffiliated (amortized cost—$4,130,468 and $4,164,166, respectively)
Investments, at fair value—affiliated (amortized cost—$17,931 and $17,931, respectively)
Cash
Foreign currency, at fair value (cost—$5,657 and $1,661, respectively)
Receivable for investments sold and repaid
Interest receivable
Deferred financing costs
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Payable for investments purchased
Credit facilities payable
Unsecured notes payable
Repurchase agreement payable(1)
Stockholder distributions payable
Management fees payable
Accrued capital gains incentive fees(2)
Subordinated income incentive fees payable(2)
Administrative services expense payable
Interest payable
Directors’ fees payable
Deferred financing costs payable
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies(3)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized, 241,101,342 and 240,896,559 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
Capital in excess of par value
Accumulated undistributed net realized gains on investments and gain/loss on foreign currency(4)
Accumulated undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income(4)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and unrealized gain/loss on foreign currency
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Net asset value per share of common stock at period end
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
1
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
Investment income
Interest income—unaffiliated
Fee income—unaffiliated
Total investment income
Operating expenses
Management fees
Capital gains incentive fees(1)
Subordinated income incentive fees(1)
Administrative services expenses
Stock transfer agent fees
Accounting and administrative fees
Interest expense
Directors’ fees
Other general and administrative expenses
Total operating expenses
Net investment income
Realized and unrealized gain/loss
Net realized gain (loss) on investments—unaffiliated
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments—unaffiliated
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments— affiliated
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency
Total net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
Per share information—basic and diluted
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (Earnings per Share)
Weighted average shares outstanding
2
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
(in thousands)
Operations
Net investment income (loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
Stockholder distributions(1)
Distributions from net investment income
Distributions from net realized gain on investments
Net decrease in net assets resulting from stockholder distributions
Capital share transactions(2)
Reinvestment of stockholder distributions
Repurchases of common stock
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
Net assets at beginning of period
Net assets at end of period
Accumulated undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income(1)
3
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Cash flows from operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchases of investments
Paid-in-kind interest
Proceeds from sales and repayments of investments
Net realized (gain) loss on investments
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments
Accretion of discount
Amortization of deferred financing costs
(Increase) decrease in receivable for investments sold and repaid
(Increase) decrease in interest receivable
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets
Increase (decrease) in payable for investments purchased
Increase (decrease) in management fees payable
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital gains incentive fees
Increase (decrease) in subordinated income incentive fees payable
Increase (decrease) in administrative services expense payable
Increase (decrease) in interest payable
Increase (decrease) in directors’ fees payable
Increase (decrease) in other accrued expenses and liabilities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock
Stockholder distributions
Borrowings under credit facilities(1)
Borrowings under unsecured notes(1)
Repayments of credit facilities(1)
Borrowings under repurchase agreement(2)
Deferred financing costs paid
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Total increase (decrease) in cash
Cash and foreign currency at beginning of period
Cash and foreign currency at end of period
Supplemental disclosure
Local and excise taxes paid
4
Unaudited Consolidated Schedule of Investments
As of March 31, 2015
(in thousands, except share amounts)
Portfolio Company(a)
Industry
Senior Secured Loans—First Lien—92.1%
A.P. Plasman Inc.
AccentCare, Inc.
Allen Systems Group, Inc.
Altus Power America, Inc.
American Racing and Entertainment, LLC
AP Exhaust Acquisition, LLC
Aspect Software, Inc.
Azure Midstream Energy LLC
BenefitMall Holdings, Inc.
Boomerang Tube, LLC
Cadillac Jack, Inc.
Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.
Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties, LLC
Corel Corp.
Corner Investment PropCo, LLC
CoSentry.Net, LLC
Crestwood Holdings LLC
Dent Wizard International Corp.
Eastman Kodak Co.
Flanders Corp.
Fronton Holdings, LLC
H.M. Dunn Company, Inc.
5
Unaudited Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued)
HBC Solutions, Inc.
Industrial Group Intermediate Holdings, LLC
Industry City TI Lessor, L.P.
Infiltrator Systems, Inc.
Lantiq Deutschland GmbH
Larchmont Resources, LLC
Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc.
LEAS Acquisition Co Ltd.
MB Precision Holdings LLC
Micronics, Inc.
MMM Holdings, Inc.
MModal LLC
MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc.
New Star Metals Inc.
Nova Wildcat Amerock, LLC
PHRC License, LLC
Polymer Additives, Inc.
Production Resource Group, LLC
PRV Aerospace, LLC
Reddy Ice Corp.
Safariland, LLC
Shell Topco L.P.
Smile Brands Group Inc.
Sorenson Communications, Inc.
Southcross Holdings Borrower LP
Stallion Oilfield Holdings, Inc.
SunGard Availability Services Capital, Inc.
Sunnova Asset Portfolio 5 Holdings, LLC
(12.0% Max PIK)
6
Swiss Watch International, Inc.
The Sports Authority, Inc.
U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.
Vertellus Performance Chemicals LLC
Virtual Radiologic Corp.
VPG Group Holdings LLC
Waste Pro USA, Inc.
Total Senior Secured Loans—First Lien
Unfunded Loan Commitments
Net Senior Secured Loans—First Lien
Senior Secured Loans—Second Lien—29.2%
AdvancePierre Foods, Inc.
Affordable Care, Inc.
Alison US LLC
American Energy—Utica, LLC
Brasa (Holdings) Inc.
Brock Holdings III, Inc.
Byrider Finance, LLC
Compuware Corp.
DEI Sales, Inc.
FullBeauty Brands, Inc.
Nielsen & Bainbridge, LLC
Paw Luxco II Sarl
PSAV Acquisition Corp.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Stadium Management Corp.
Total Senior Secured Loans—Second Lien
7
Senior Secured Bonds—15.1%
Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc.
Avaya Inc.
FourPoint Energy, LLC
Global A&T Electronics Ltd.
JW Aluminum Co.
Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc.
Speedy Cash Intermediate Holdings Corp.
Total Senior Secured Bonds
Unfunded Bond Commitments
Net Senior Secured Bonds
Subordinated Debt—19.1%
Alta Mesa Holdings, LP
Aurora Diagnostics, LLC
Brooklyn Basketball Holdings, LLC
Comstock Resources, Inc.
EV Energy Partners, L.P.
Global Jet Capital Inc.
8
Jupiter Resources Inc.
KODA Distribution Group, Inc.
Lightstream Resources Ltd.
Mood Media Corp.
NewStar Financial, Inc.
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.
RKI Exploration & Production, LLC
Samson Investment Co.
SandRidge Energy, Inc.
Sequel Industrial Products Holdings, LLC
Talos Production LLC
ThermaSys Corp.
Warren Resources, Inc.
Total Subordinated Debt
Unfunded Debt Commitments
Net Subordinated Debt
Collateralized Securities—4.6%
ACASC 2013-2A B Class B
Dryden CDO 23A Class Subord.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Credit-Linked Notes
NewStar Clarendon 2014-1A Class D
NewStar Clarendon 2014-1A Class Subord. B
Rampart CLO 2007 1A Class Subord.
Stone Tower CLO VI Class Subord.
Wind River CLO Ltd. 2012 1A Class Subord. B
Total Collateralized Securities
9
Equity/Other—14.3%(k)
Altus Power America Holdings, LLC, Preferred Equity
Amaya Gaming Group Inc., Warrants
American Energy Appalachia Holdings, LLC, Common Equity
AP Exhaust Holdings, LLC, Common Equity
Aquilex Corp., Common Equity, Class A Shares
Aquilex Corp., Common Equity, Class B Shares
Burleigh Point, Ltd., Warrants
CoSentry.Net, LLC, Preferred Equity
Eastman Kodak Co., Common Equity
ERC Ireland Holdings Ltd., Common Equity
Flanders Corp., Common Equity
FourPoint Energy, LLC, Common Equity, Class C Units
FourPoint Energy, LLC, Common Equity, Class D Units
Fronton Investor Holdings, LLC, Class B Units
Global Jet Capital Holdings, LP, Preferred Equity
HBC Solutions, Inc., Common Equity, Class A Units
Industrial Group Intermediate Holdings, LLC, Common Equity
JW Aluminum Co., Common Equity
Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc., Common Equity
Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc., Preferred Equity
MB Precision Investment Holdings LLC, Class A-2 Units
Micronics, Inc., Common Equity
Micronics, Inc., Preferred Equity
Milagro Holdings, LLC, Common Equity
Milagro Holdings, LLC, Preferred Equity
MModal LLC, Common Equity
New Star Metals Inc., Common Equity
NewStar Financial, Inc., Warrants
Plains Offshore Operations Inc., Preferred Equity
Plains Offshore Operations Inc., Warrants
PSAV Holdings LLC, Common Equity
Safariland, LLC, Common Equity
Safariland, LLC, Preferred Equity
10
Safariland, LLC, Warrants
Sequel Industrial Products Holdings, LLC, Common Equity
Sequel Industrial Products Holdings, LLC, Preferred Equity
Sequel Industrial Products Holdings, LLC, Warrants
Sorenson Communications, Inc., Common Equity
ThermaSys Corp., Common Equity
ThermaSys Corp., Preferred Equity
VPG Group Holdings LLC, Class A-2 Units
Total Equity/Other
Unfunded Contingent Warrant Commitment
Net Equity/Other
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—174.4%
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS—(74.4%)
NET ASSETS—100%
11
Portfolio Company
Equity/Other
12
Consolidated Schedule of Investments
As of December 31, 2014
Senior Secured Loans—First Lien—93.2%
13
Consolidated Schedule of Investments (continued)
(5.3% Max PIK)
Intralinks, Inc.
Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc.
MModal Inc.
Panda Sherman Power, LLC
Panda Temple Power, LLC (TLA)
Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc.
Sports Authority, Inc.
14
Sunnova Asset Portfolio 5 Holdings, LLC.
(1.5% Max PIK)
Senior Secured Loans—Second Lien—29.9%
Advance Pierre Foods, Inc.
(5.5% Max PIK)
BPA Laboratories, Inc.
Consolidated Precision Products Corp.
15
OSP Group, Inc.
Pelican Products, Inc.
Sensus USA Inc.
Senior Secured Bonds—15.2%
(1.0% Max PIK)
Logan’s Roadhouse Inc.
Subordinated Debt—19.6%
Alta Mesa Holdings, L.P.
(7.0% Max PIK)
16
(13.8% Max PIK)
(17.5% Max PIK)
Global Jet Capital, Inc.
(8.0% Max PIK)
(12.5% Max PIK)
Jupiter Resources, Inc.
Kinetic Concepts, Inc.
Lightstream Resources, Ltd.
(8.8% Max PIK)
Sandridge Energy, Inc.
(2.5% Max PIK)
Sidewinder Drilling Inc.
Talos Production, LLC
(5.0% Max PIK)
(2.0% Max PIK)
17
Collateralized Securities—5.2%
ACASC 2013-2A B
Lightpoint CLO 2006 V Class D
NewStar Clarendon 2014-1A Sub B
Wind River CLO Ltd. 2012 1A Class Sub B
18
Equity/Other—13.6%(l)
Altus Power America, Inc., Preferred Equity
American Energy Appalachia Holdings, LLC
BPA Laboratories, Inc., Series A Warrants
BPA Laboratories, Inc., Series B Warrants
ERC Ireland Holdings Ltd., Warrants
FourPoint Energy, LLC, Class C Units
FourPoint Energy, LLC, Class D Units
MModal Inc., Common Equity
19
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—176.7%
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS—(76.7%)
20
21
Note 1. Principal Business and Organization
FS Investment Corporation (NYSE: FSIC), or the Company, was incorporated under the general corporation laws of the State of Maryland on December 21, 2007 and formally commenced investment operations on January 2, 2009. The Company is an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. In addition, the Company has elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and intends to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company, or RIC, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had four wholly-owned financing subsidiaries and three wholly-owned subsidiaries through which it holds equity interests in non-controlled portfolio companies. The consolidated financial statements include both the Company’s accounts and the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries as of March 31, 2015. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company’s investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in senior secured loans and second lien secured loans of private U.S. companies. The Company seeks to generate superior risk-adjusted returns by focusing on debt investments in a broad array of private U.S. companies, including middle market companies, which the Company defines as companies with annual revenues of $50 million to $2.5 billion at the time of investment. The Company may purchase interests in loans or make other debt investments, including investments in senior secured bonds, through secondary market transactions in the “over-the-counter” market or directly from the Company’s target companies as primary market or directly originated investments. In connection with the Company’s debt investments, the Company may on occasion receive equity interests such as warrants or options as additional consideration. The Company may also purchase minority interests in the form of common or preferred equity or the equity-related securities in the Company’s target companies, generally in conjunction with one of the Company’s debt investments or through a co-investment with a financial sponsor, such as an institutional investor or private equity firm. In addition, a portion of the Company’s portfolio may be comprised of corporate bonds, collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs, other debt securities and derivatives, including total return swaps and credit default swaps.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation: The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, the Company’s interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with its audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015. The December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet and consolidated schedule of investments are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company is considered an investment company under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The Company has evaluated the impact of subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.
22
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Use of Estimates: The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Many of the amounts have been rounded, and all amounts are in thousands, except share and per share amounts.
Capital Gains Incentive Fee: At the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company received stockholder approval to amend and restate the investment advisory and administrative services agreement, dated February 12, 2008 (as amended on August 5, 2008), or the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, by and between the Company and FB Income Advisor, LLC, or FB Advisor, effective upon a listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on a national securities exchange. The Company’s shares of common stock were listed and commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, on April 16, 2014. On April 16, 2014, the Company entered into an amended and restated investment advisory agreement, or the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, with FB Advisor. Also on April 16, 2014, the Company entered into an administration agreement with FB Advisor, or the administration agreement, which governs the administrative services provided to the Company by FB Advisor that had previously been addressed in the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement.
At a special meeting of stockholders of the Company that was adjourned on June 23, 2014 and reconvened on July 17, 2014, the Company received stockholder approval to amend and restate the April 2014 investment advisory agreement. On July 17, 2014, the Company entered into an amended and restated investment advisory agreement, or the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, with FB Advisor.
Pursuant to the terms of each of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the incentive fee on capital gains is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of such agreement). Such fee will equal 20.0% of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains (i.e., the Company’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated as of the end of the applicable period, net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis), less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees. On a quarterly basis, the Company accrues for the capital gains incentive fee by calculating such fee as if it were due and payable as of the end of such period.
While none of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement or the July 2014 investment advisory agreement include or contemplate the inclusion of unrealized gains in the calculation of the capital gains incentive fee, pursuant to an interpretation of an American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA, Technical Practice Aid for investment companies, commencing during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company changed its methodology for accruing for this incentive fee to include unrealized gains in the calculation of the capital gains incentive fee expense and related accrued capital gains incentive fee. This accrual reflects the incentive fees that would be payable to FB Advisor if the Company’s entire portfolio was liquidated at its fair value as of the balance sheet date even though FB Advisor is not entitled to an incentive fee with respect to unrealized gains unless and until such gains are actually realized.
Subordinated Income Incentive Fee: Pursuant to the terms of each of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment
23
advisory agreement, FB Advisor may also be entitled to receive a subordinated incentive fee on income. The subordinated incentive fee on income under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, which was calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, equaled 20.0% of the Company’s “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter and was subject to a hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on adjusted capital, as defined in the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, equal to 2.0% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0%. As a result, FB Advisor did not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeded the hurdle rate of 2.0%. Once the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeded the hurdle rate, FB Advisor was entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equaled 2.5%, or 10.0% annually, of adjusted capital. Thereafter, FB Advisor received 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income. Under the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income was calculated in the same manner, except that the hurdle rate used to compute the subordinated incentive fee on income was based on the value of the Company’s net assets rather than adjusted capital.
Under the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets, was reduced from 2.0% to 1.875% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 7.5%. As a result, FB Advisor will not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeds the hurdle rate of 1.875%. Once the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeds the hurdle rate, FB Advisor will be entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equals 2.34375%, or 9.375% annually, of net assets. Thereafter, FB Advisor will be entitled to receive 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income.
Under both the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income is subject to a total return requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income will be payable except to the extent that 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. Accordingly, any subordinated incentive fee on income that is payable in a calendar quarter will be limited to the lesser of (i) 20.0% of the amount by which the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter exceeds the applicable quarterly hurdle rate, subject to the “catch-up” provision, and (ii) (x) 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters minus (y) the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. For the foregoing purpose, the “cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations” is the sum of pre-incentive fee net investment income, base management fees, realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of the Company for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters. There will be no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter and, accordingly, there will be no clawback of amounts previously paid if subsequent quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate and there will be no delay of payment if prior quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate.
Reclassifications: Certain amounts in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 may have been reclassified to conform to the classifications used to prepare the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015. These reclassifications had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as previously reported.
24
Note 3. Share Transactions
Below is a summary of transactions with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
Reinvestment of Distributions
Share Repurchase Program
Net Proceeds from Share Transactions
In connection with the listing of its shares of common stock on the NYSE, the Company terminated its previous distribution reinvestment plan, or the old DRP. The final distribution reinvestment under the old DRP was made in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2014. On May 23, 2014, the Company adopted a new distribution reinvestment plan, or the new DRP, which became effective on June 2, 2014. The new DRP was first implemented in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on July 2, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 24, 2014. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company issued 204,783 and 2,854,659 shares of common stock pursuant to its distribution reinvestment plan in effect on the applicable date of issuance for gross proceeds of $2,006 and $29,257 at an average price per share of $9.79 and $10.25, respectively. During the period from April 1, 2015 to May 8, 2015, the Company issued 601,284 shares of common stock pursuant to the new DRP for gross proceeds of $5,965 at an average price per share of $9.92. For additional information regarding the terms of the new DRP, see Note 5.
Listing and Fractional Shares
The Company’s shares of common stock were listed and commenced trading on the NYSE on April 16, 2014. The Company eliminated any outstanding fractional shares of its common stock in connection with the listing, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The Company eliminated all outstanding fractional shares by rounding up the number of fractional shares held by each of the Company’s stockholders to the nearest whole number of shares as of April 4, 2014. As a result of the fractional share round up, the number of then outstanding shares was increased by 30,533 shares.
Historically, the Company conducted quarterly tender offers pursuant to its former share repurchase program to provide limited liquidity to its stockholders. In anticipation of the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on the NYSE, the Company’s board of directors terminated its share repurchase program effective March 21, 2014. The listing has provided liquidity to the Company’s stockholders, and therefore the Company does not expect to implement a new share repurchase program in the future.
25
Note 3. Share Transactions (continued)
The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock repurchased by the Company under its share repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2014:
For the Three Months Ended
Fiscal 2014
December 31, 2013
Listing Tender Offer
On April 16, 2014, the Company commenced a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer, or the listing tender offer, to purchase for cash up to $250,000 in value of the Company’s shares of common stock from stockholders. In accordance with the terms of the listing tender offer, the Company selected the lowest price, not greater than $11.00 per share or less than $10.35 per share, net to the tendering stockholder in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, that enabled the Company to purchase the maximum number of shares of common stock properly tendered in the listing tender offer and not properly withdrawn having an aggregate purchase price of up to $250,000.
The listing tender offer expired on May 28, 2014. Due to the oversubscription of the listing tender offer, on June 4, 2014, the Company accepted for purchase on a pro rata basis 23,255,813 shares of common stock, or approximately 96.6% of the shares tendered at a purchase price of $10.75 per share, for an aggregate cost of approximately $250,000, excluding fees and expenses relating to the listing tender offer. The 23,255,813 shares of common stock accepted for purchase in the listing tender offer represented approximately 8.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of June 4, 2014. The Company used available cash and borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility with ING Capital LLC, or ING, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, or the ING credit facility, to fund the purchase of shares of common stock in the listing tender offer and to pay for all related fees and expenses.
Note 4. Related Party Transactions
Compensation of the Investment Adviser
Pursuant to the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, FB Advisor is entitled to an annual base management fee based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets and an incentive fee based on the Company’s performance. The Company commenced accruing fees under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement on January 2, 2009, upon commencement of the Company’s investment operations. Base management fees are paid on a quarterly basis in arrears. The annual base management fees under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement and the April 2014 investment advisory agreement were equal to 2.0% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets.
In anticipation of the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on the NYSE, FB Advisor recommended that the April 2014 investment advisory agreement be further amended to (i) reduce the annualized
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Note 4. Related Party Transactions (continued)
hurdle rate used in connection with the calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income, expressed as a rate of return on the Company’s net assets, from 8% to 7.5% and (ii) assuming the reduction to the hurdle rate was approved, reduce the base management fee from 2.0% to 1.75% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets. At a special meeting of stockholders that was adjourned on June 23, 2014 and reconvened on July 17, 2014, the Company received stockholder approval to amend and restate the April 2014 investment advisory agreement to reflect the amendments approved by the Company’s stockholders. On July 17, 2014, the Company entered into the July 2014 investment advisory agreement. While stockholder approval of the proposal was pending, FB Advisor agreed, effective April 1, 2014, to waive a portion of the base management fee to which it was entitled under the April 2014 investment advisory agreement so that the fee received equaled 1.75% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets.
The incentive fee, which had consisted of three parts under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, consists of two parts under each of the April 2014 advisory agreement and July 2014 investment advisory agreement. The first part of the incentive fee, which is referred to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, and equals 20.0% of the Company’s “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter. Under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income was subject to a hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on adjusted capital, as defined in the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, equal to 2.0% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0%. As a result, FB Advisor did not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeded the hurdle rate of 2.0%. Once the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeded the hurdle rate, FB Advisor was entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre- incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equaled 2.5%, or 10.0% annually, of adjusted capital. Thereafter, FB Advisor received 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income. Under the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income was calculated in the same manner, except that the hurdle rate used to compute the subordinated incentive fee on income was based on the value of the Company’s net assets rather than adjusted capital.
Under the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets, was reduced from 2.0% to 1.875% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 7.5%. As a result, FB Advisor will not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeds the hurdle rate of 1.875%. Once the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeds the hurdle rate, FB Advisor will be entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equals 2.34375%, or 9.375% annually, of the value of the Company’s net assets. Thereafter, FB Advisor will be entitled to receive 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income.
Under both the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income is subject to a total return requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income will be payable except to the extent that 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. Accordingly, any subordinated incentive fee on income that is payable in a calendar
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quarter will be limited to the lesser of (i) 20.0% of the amount by which the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter exceeds the applicable quarterly hurdle rate, subject to the “catch-up” provision, and (ii) (x) 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters minus(y) the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. For the foregoing purpose, the “cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations” is the sum of pre-incentive fee net investment income, base management fees, realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of the Company for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters. There will be no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter and, accordingly, there will be no clawback of amounts previously paid if subsequent quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate and there will be no delay of payment if prior quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate.
The second part of the incentive fee, which is referred to as the incentive fee on capital gains, is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the July 2014 investment advisory agreement). This fee equals 20.0% of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains, which equal the Company’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated as of the end of the applicable period, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. The Company accrues for the capital gains incentive fee, which, if earned, is paid annually. The Company accrues the incentive fee based on net realized and unrealized gains; however, the fee payable to FB Advisor is based on realized gains and no such fee is payable with respect to unrealized gains unless and until such gains are actually realized. The methodology for calculating the capital gains incentive fee is identical under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement.
The third part of the incentive fee under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement was referred to as the subordinated liquidation incentive fee, which equaled 20.0% of the net proceeds from a liquidation of the Company in excess of adjusted capital, as calculated immediately prior to liquidation. The April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement do not include the subordinated liquidation incentive fee.
Pursuant to the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the Company reimbursed FB Advisor for expenses necessary to perform services related to the Company’s administration and operations. The amount of this reimbursement was set at the lesser of (1) FB Advisor’s actual costs incurred in providing such services and (2) the amount that the Company estimated it would be required to pay alternative service providers for comparable services in the same geographic location. FB Advisor was required to allocate the cost of such services to the Company based on factors such as total assets, revenues, time allocations and/or other reasonable metrics. The Company’s board of directors then assessed the reasonableness of such reimbursements based on the breadth, depth and quality of such services as compared to the estimated cost to the Company of obtaining similar services from third-party providers known to be available. In addition, the Company’s board of directors considered whether any single third-party service provider would be capable of providing all such services at comparable cost and quality. Finally, the Company’s board of directors compared the total amount paid to FB Advisor for such services as a percentage of the Company’s net assets to the same ratio as reported by other comparable BDCs.
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Pursuant to the administration agreement, the Company reimburses FB Advisor for expenses necessary to perform services related to the Company’s administration and operations, including FB Advisor’s allocable portion of the compensation and related expenses of certain personnel of Franklin Square Holdings, L.P., or Franklin Square Holdings, providing administrative services to the Company on behalf of FB Advisor. The Company reimburses FB Advisor no less than quarterly for all costs and expenses incurred by FB Advisor in performing its obligations and providing personnel and facilities under the administration agreement. FB Advisor allocates the cost of such services to the Company based on factors such as total assets, revenues, time allocations and/or other reasonable metrics. The Company’s board of directors reviews the methodology employed in determining how the expenses are allocated to the Company and the proposed allocation of administrative expenses among the Company and certain affiliates of FB Advisor. The Company’s board of directors then assesses the reasonableness of such reimbursements for expenses allocated to the Company based on the breadth, depth and quality of such services as compared to the estimated cost to the Company of obtaining similar services from third-party service providers known to be available. In addition, the Company’s board of directors considers whether any single third-party service provider would be capable of providing all such services at comparable cost and quality. Finally, the Company’s board of directors compares the total amount paid to FB Advisor for such services as a percentage of the Company’s net assets to the same ratio as reported by other comparable BDCs.
The following table describes the fees and expenses accrued under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, the July 2014 investment advisory agreement and the administration agreement, as applicable, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
Related Party
Source Agreement
Description
FB Advisor
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Potential Conflicts of Interest
FB Advisor’s senior management team is comprised of substantially the same personnel as the senior management teams of FS Investment Advisor, LLC, FSIC II Advisor, LLC, FSIC III Advisor, LLC and FS Global Advisor, LLC, the investment advisers to certain other BDCs and a closed-end management investment company affiliated with Franklin Square Holdings. As a result, such personnel provide investment advisory services to the Company and each of FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III and FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund. While none of FB Advisor, FS Investment Advisor, LLC, FSIC II Advisor, LLC, FSIC III Advisor, LLC or FS Global Advisor, LLC, is currently making private corporate debt investments for clients other than the Company, FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III or FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund, respectively, any, or all, may do so in the future. In the event that FB Advisor undertakes to provide investment advisory services to other clients in the future, it intends to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner consistent with the Company’s investment objectives and strategies, if necessary, so that the Company will not be disadvantaged in relation to any other client of FB Advisor or its management team. In addition, even in the absence of FB Advisor retaining additional clients, it is possible that some investment opportunities may be provided to FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III and/or FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund rather than to the Company.
Exemptive Relief
In an order dated June 4, 2013, the SEC granted exemptive relief permitting the Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, to co-invest in certain privately negotiated investment transactions with certain affiliates of FB Advisor, including FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III and any future BDCs that are advised by FB Advisor or its affiliated investment advisers, or collectively the Company’s co-investment affiliates. The Company believes this relief has and may continue to enhance its ability to further its investment objectives and strategy. The Company believes this relief may also increase favorable investment opportunities for the Company, in part, by allowing it to participate in larger investments, together with the Company’s co-investment affiliates, than would be available to it if it had not obtained such relief. Because the Company did not seek exemptive relief to engage in co-investment transactions
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with its investment sub-adviser, GSO / Blackstone Debt Funds Management LLC, or GDFM, and its affiliates, it will continue to be permitted to co-invest with GDFM and its affiliates only in accordance with existing regulatory guidance.
Expense Reimbursement
Beginning on February 26, 2009, Franklin Square Holdings agreed to reimburse the Company for expenses in an amount that was sufficient to ensure that, for tax purposes, the Company’s net investment income and net capital gains were equal to or greater than the cumulative distributions paid to its stockholders in each quarter. This arrangement was designed to ensure that no portion of the Company’s distributions would represent a return of capital for its stockholders. Under this arrangement, Franklin Square Holdings had no obligation to reimburse any portion of the Company’s expenses. Franklin Square Holdings is controlled by the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer, Michael C. Forman, and its vice-chairman, David J. Adelman.
Pursuant to an expense support and conditional reimbursement agreement, dated as of March 13, 2012, and amended and restated as of May 16, 2013, or, as amended and restated, the expense reimbursement agreement, Franklin Square Holdings had agreed to reimburse the Company for expenses in an amount that was sufficient to ensure that no portion of the Company’s distributions to stockholders were paid from proceeds of the sale of shares of its common stock or borrowings.
As a result of the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on the NYSE, effective November 7, 2014, Franklin Square Holdings terminated the expense reimbursement agreement pursuant to its terms. Since entering into the expense reimbursement agreement, no reimbursements were made, and no reimbursements were expected to be made in the foreseeable future, by Franklin Square Holdings, pursuant to the expense reimbursement agreement.
Trademark License Agreement
On April 16, 2014, in connection with the listing of its common stock on the NYSE, the Company entered into a trademark license agreement, or the trademark license agreement, with Franklin Square Holdings. Pursuant to the trademark license agreement, Franklin Square Holdings granted the Company a non-exclusive, nontransferable, royalty-free right and license to use the name “FS Investment Corporation” and certain other trademarks, or the licensed marks, as a component of the Company’s name (and in connection with marketing the investment advisory and other services that FB Advisor may provide to the Company). Other than with respect to this limited license, the Company has no other rights to the licensed marks. The trademark license agreement may be terminated by Franklin Square Holdings or the Company on sixty days’ prior written notice and expires if FB Advisor or one of Franklin Square Holdings’ affiliates ceases to serve as investment adviser to the Company. Furthermore, Franklin Square Holdings may terminate the trademark license agreement at any time and in its sole discretion in the event that Franklin Square Holdings or the Company receives notice of any third-party claim arising out of the Company’s use of the licensed marks or if the Company attempts to assign or sublicense the trademark license agreement or any of the Company’s rights or duties under the trademark license agreement without the prior written consent of Franklin Square Holdings. FB Advisor is a third-party beneficiary of the trademark license agreement.
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Note 5. Distributions
The following table reflects the cash distributions per share that the Company has declared on its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
March 31, 2014
Fiscal 2015
March 31, 2015
On April 29, 2015, the Company’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash distribution of $0.22275 per share, which will be paid on or about July 2, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 24, 2015. The timing and amount of any future distributions to stockholders are subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of the Company’s board of directors.
Historically, the Company had an “opt in” distribution reinvestment plan for its stockholders, which terminated upon the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on the NYSE. The final distribution reinvestment under the old DRP was made in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2014. Under the old DRP, if the Company made a cash distribution, its stockholders received distributions in cash unless they specifically “opted in” to the distribution reinvestment plan so as to have their cash distributions reinvested in additional shares of the Company’s common stock. On May 23, 2014, the Company adopted an “opt out” distribution reinvestment plan, which was effective June 2, 2014. The new DRP was first implemented in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on July 2, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 24, 2014. Pursuant to the new DRP, the Company will reinvest all cash dividends or distributions declared by the Company’s board of directors on behalf of stockholders who do not elect to receive their distributions in cash. As a result, if the Company’s board of directors declares a distribution, then stockholders who have not elected to “opt out” of the new DRP will have their distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Company’s common stock.
With respect to each distribution pursuant to the new DRP, the Company reserves the right to either issue new shares of common stock or purchase shares of common stock in the open market in connection with implementation of the new DRP. Unless the Company, in its sole discretion, otherwise directs the plan administrator, (A) if the per share market price (as defined in the new DRP) is equal to or greater than the estimated net asset value per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) of the Company’s common stock on the payment date for the distribution, then the Company will issue shares of common stock at the greater of (i) net asset value per share of common stock or (ii) 95% of the market price; or (B) if the market price is less than the net asset value per share, then, in the sole discretion of the Company, (i) shares of common stock will be purchased in open market transactions for the accounts of participants to the extent practicable, or (ii) the Company will issue shares of common stock at net asset value per share. Pursuant to the terms of the new DRP, the number of shares of common stock to be issued to a participant will be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by the price per share at which the Company issues such shares; provided, however, that shares purchased in open market transactions by the plan administrator will be allocated to a participant based on the average purchase price, excluding any brokerage charges or other charges, of all shares of common stock purchased in the open market.
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Note 5. Distributions (continued)
If a stockholder receives distributions in the form of common stock pursuant to the new DRP, such stockholder generally will be subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as if it elected to receive distributions in cash. If the Company’s common stock is trading at or below net asset value, a stockholder receiving distributions in the form of additional common stock will be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of cash that they would have received if they had elected to receive the distribution in cash. If the Company’s common stock is trading above net asset value, a stockholder receiving distributions in the form of additional common stock will be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock. The stockholder’s basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of common stock received in a distribution will be equal to the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to the stockholder. Any stock received in a distribution will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares of common stock are credited to the stockholder’s account.
The Company may fund its cash distributions to stockholders from any sources of funds legally available to it, including proceeds from the sale of shares of the Company’s common stock, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, and dividends or other distributions paid to the Company on account of preferred and common equity investments in portfolio companies. The Company has not established limits on the amount of funds it may use from available sources to make distributions. During certain periods, the Company’s distributions may exceed its earnings. As a result, it is possible that a portion of the distributions the Company makes may represent a return of capital. A return of capital generally is a return of a stockholder’s investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from the Company’s investment activities. Each year a statement on Form 1099-DIV identifying the sources of the distributions (i.e., paid from ordinary income, paid from net capital gains on the sale of securities, and/or a return of capital, which is a nontaxable distribution) will be mailed to the Company’s stockholders. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.
The following table reflects the sources of the cash distributions on a tax basis that the Company has paid on its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
Source of Distribution
Offering proceeds
Borrowings
Net investment income(1)
Short-term capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets
Long-term capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets
Non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets
Distributions on account of preferred and common equity
Total
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The Company’s net investment income on a tax basis for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $56,501 and $51,851, respectively. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $159,756 and $152,743, respectively, of undistributed net investment income and realized gains on a tax basis.
The difference between the Company’s GAAP-basis net investment income and its tax-basis net investment income is primarily due to the reversal of the required accrual for GAAP purposes of incentive fees on unrealized gains even though no such incentive fees on unrealized gains are payable by the Company and the reclassification of unamortized original issue discount and prepayment fees recognized upon prepayment of loans from income for GAAP purposes to realized gains for tax purposes.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation between GAAP-basis net investment income and tax-basis net investment income during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
GAAP-basis net investment income
Reversal of incentive fee accrual on unrealized gains
Reclassification of unamortized original issue discount and prepayment fees
Other miscellaneous differences
Tax-basis net investment income
The determination of the tax attributes of the Company’s distributions is made annually as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year based upon the Company’s taxable income for the full year and distributions paid for the full year. Therefore, a determination made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes of the Company’s distributions for a full year. The actual tax characteristics of distributions to stockholders are reported to stockholders annually on Form 1099-DIV.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Distributable ordinary income (income and short-term capital gains)
Distributable realized gains (long-term capital gains)
Incentive fee accrual on unrealized gains
Unamortized organization costs
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and gain/loss on foreign currency(1)
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The aggregate cost of the Company’s investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes totaled $4,177,977 and $4,210,963 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The aggregate net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on a tax basis was $(8,415) and $(23,085) as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
Note 6. Investment Portfolio
The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s investment portfolio at cost and fair value as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Senior Secured Loans—First Lien
Senior Secured Loans—Second Lien
Senior Secured Bonds
Subordinated Debt
Collateralized Securities
As of March 31, 2015, except for one equity/other investment, Fronton Investor Holdings, LLC, the Company was not an “affiliated person” of any of its portfolio companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. As of March 31, 2015, the Company did not “control” any of its portfolio companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, the Company would be presumed to “control” a portfolio company if it owned 25% or more of its voting securities or it had the power to exercise control over the management or policies of such portfolio company, and would be an “affiliated person” of a portfolio company if it owned 5% or more of its voting securities.
The Company’s investment portfolio may contain loans that are in the form of lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, delayed draw credit facilities or other investments, which require the Company to provide funding when requested by portfolio companies in accordance with the terms of the underlying loan agreements. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had eleven such investments with aggregate unfunded commitments of $116,193 and one equity/other investment with an unfunded commitment of $746. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had ten such investments with aggregate unfunded commitments of $101,099 and one equity investment with an unfunded commitment of $788. The Company maintains sufficient cash on hand and available borrowings to fund such unfunded commitments should the need arise.
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Note 6. Investment Portfolio (continued)
The table below describes investments by industry classification and enumerates the percentage, by fair value, of the total portfolio assets in such industries as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Industry Classification
Automobiles & Components
Capital Goods
Commercial & Professional Services
Consumer Durables & Apparel
Consumer Services
Diversified Financials
Energy
Food & Staples Retailing
Health Care Equipment & Services
Materials
Media
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
Retailing
Software & Services
Technology Hardware & Equipment
Telecommunication Services
Transportation
Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Under existing accounting guidance, fair value is defined as the price that the Company would receive upon selling an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction to a market participant in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. This accounting guidance emphasizes that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable market inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The Company classifies the inputs used to measure these fair values into the following hierarchy as defined by current accounting guidance:
Level 1: Inputs that are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs that are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 3: Inputs that are unobservable for an asset or liability.
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Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s investments were categorized as follows in the fair value hierarchy:
Valuation Inputs
Level 1—Price quotations in active markets
Level 2—Significant other observable inputs
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs
The Company’s investments as of March 31, 2015 consisted primarily of debt investments that were acquired directly from the issuer. Forty-four senior secured loan investments, one senior secured bond investment, eleven subordinated debt investments and one collateralized security, for which broker quotes were not available, were valued by independent valuation firms, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, prevailing interest rates for like investments, expected cash flows, call features and other relevant terms of the debt. Except as described below, all of the Company’s equity/other investments were also valued by an independent valuation firm, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, contractual rights ascribed to such investments, as well as various income scenarios and multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues or, in limited instances, book value or liquidation value. One equity investment which is traded on an active public market was valued at its closing price as of March 31, 2015. One senior secured loan investment, which was newly issued and purchased near March 31, 2015, was valued at cost as the Company’s board of directors determined that the cost of such investment was the best indication of its fair value. Except as described above, the Company valued its other investments, including one equity/other investment, by using the midpoint of the prevailing bid and ask prices from dealers on the date of the relevant period end, which were provided by independent third-party pricing services and screened for validity by such services.
The Company’s investments as of December 31, 2014 consisted primarily of debt investments that were acquired directly from the issuer. Forty-one senior secured loan investments, one senior secured bond investment, eleven subordinated debt investments and one collateralized security, for which broker quotes were not available, were valued by an independent valuation firm, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, prevailing interest rates for like investments, expected cash flows, call features and other relevant terms of the debt. Except as described below, all of the Company’s equity/other investments were valued by the same independent valuation firm, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, contractual rights ascribed to such investments, as well as various income scenarios and multiples of EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues or, in limited instances, book value or liquidation value. One equity investment which is traded on an active public market was valued at its closing price as of December 31, 2014. One senior secured loan investment and two collateralized loan securities, which were newly issued and purchased near December 31, 2014, were valued at cost as the Company’s board of directors determined that the cost of each such investment was the best indication of its fair value. Except as described above, the Company valued its other investments,
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including three equity/other investments, by using the midpoint of the prevailing bid and ask prices from dealers on the date of the relevant period end, which were provided by independent third-party pricing services and screened for validity by such services.
The Company periodically benchmarks the bid and ask prices it receives from the third-party pricing services and/or dealers, as applicable, against the actual prices at which the Company purchases and sells its investments. Based on the results of the benchmark analysis and the experience of the Company’s management in purchasing and selling these investments, the Company believes that these prices are reliable indicators of fair value. However, because of the private nature of this marketplace (meaning actual transactions are not publicly reported), the Company believes that these valuation inputs are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company may also use other methods, including the use of an independent valuation firm, to determine fair value for securities for which it cannot obtain prevailing bid and ask prices through third-party pricing services or independent dealers, or where the Company’s board of directors otherwise determines that the use of such other methods is appropriate. The Company periodically benchmarks the valuations provided by the independent valuation firms against the actual prices at which the Company purchases and sells its investments. The Company’s valuation committee and board of directors reviewed and approved the valuation determinations made with respect to these investments in a manner consistent with the Company’s valuation process.
The following is a reconciliation for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 of investments for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
Fair value at beginning of period
Accretion of discount (amortization of premium)
Net realized gain (loss)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
Purchases
Sales and redemptions
Net transfers in or out of Level 3
Fair value at end of period
The amount of total gains or losses for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to investments still held at the reporting date
38
39
The valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in recurring Level 3 fair value measurements as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
Type of Investment
Valuation
Technique(1)
Unobservable Input
40
Unobservable
Input
41
Note 8. Financing Arrangements
The following table presents summary information with respect to the Company’s outstanding financing arrangements as of March 31, 2015. For additional information regarding these financing arrangements, please see the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the additional disclosure set forth in this Note 8.
Arrangement
Rate
Broad Street Credit Facility
ING Credit Facility
JPM Facility
4.000% Notes due 2019
4.250% Notes due 2020
The Company’s average borrowings and weighted average interest rate, including the effect of non-usage fees, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were $1,877,622 and 3.50%, respectively. As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s weighted average effective interest rate on borrowings, including the effect of non-usage fees, was 3.61%.
Arch Street Credit Facility
On July 14, 2014, Arch Street Funding LLC, or Arch Street, the Company’s wholly-owned, special purpose financing subsidiary, repaid the revolving credit facility, or the Arch Street credit facility, with Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the financial institutions and other lenders from time to time party thereto. The Arch Street credit facility provided for borrowings in an aggregate principal amount up to $350,000 on a committed basis. Prior to the termination of the Arch Street credit facility, borrowings under the Arch Street credit facility accrued interest at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 2.05% per annum. Beginning November 27, 2012, Arch Street became required to pay a non-usage fee of 0.50% to the extent the aggregate principal amount available under the facility was not borrowed.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no amounts remained outstanding under the Arch Street credit facility.
For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the components of total interest expense for the Arch Street credit facility were as follows:
Direct interest expense
Non-usage fees
Total interest expense
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Note 8. Financing Arrangements (continued)
For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the Arch Street credit facility were as follows:
Cash paid for interest expense(1)
Average borrowings under the facility
Effective interest rate on borrowings (including the effect of non-usage fees)
Weighted average interest rate (including the effect of non-usage fees)
Borrowings of Arch Street were considered borrowings of the Company for purposes of complying with the asset coverage requirements applicable to BDCs under the 1940 Act.
On January 28, 2011, Broad Street Funding LLC, or Broad Street, the Company’s wholly-owned, special-purpose financing subsidiary, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, or Deutsche Bank, and the other lenders party thereto entered into an amended and restated multi-lender, syndicated revolving credit facility, or the Broad Street credit facility, which amended and restated the revolving credit facility that Broad Street originally entered into with Deutsche Bank on March 10, 2010 and the amendments thereto. On March 23, 2012, Broad Street and Deutsche Bank entered into an amendment to the Broad Street credit facility which extended the maturity date of the facility to March 23, 2013, increased the aggregate amount which could be borrowed under the facility to $380,000 and reduced the interest rate for all borrowings under the facility to a rate of LIBOR, for an interest period equal to the weighted average LIBOR interest period of debt securities owned by Broad Street, plus 1.50% per annum. On December 13, 2012, Broad Street repaid $140,000 of borrowings under the facility, thereby reducing the amount which could be borrowed under the facility to $240,000. On March 22, 2013, Broad Street and Deutsche Bank entered into an amendment to the facility to extend the maturity date of the facility to December 22, 2013. On December 20, 2013, Broad Street and Deutsche Bank entered into an amendment to the facility that extended the maturity date to December 20, 2014 and reduced the maximum amount which could be borrowed under the facility to $125,000. On December 18, 2014, Broad Street and Deutsche Bank entered into a further amendment to the facility which extended the maturity date to December 18, 2015, incorporated a commitment fee of 1.50% payable on unused amounts (triggered after five consecutive business days of Broad Street utilizing less than 33% of the maximum commitment), and gave Broad Street the right to reduce the maximum commitment upon three (3) days’ notice to the administrative agent. The Broad Street credit facility provides for borrowings of up to $125,000 at a rate of LIBOR, for an interest period equal to the weighted average LIBOR interest period of debt securities owned by Broad Street, plus 1.50% per annum. Deutsche Bank is a lender and serves as administrative agent under the facility.
Under the Broad Street credit facility, the Company transfers debt securities to Broad Street from time to time as a contribution to capital and retains a residual interest in the contributed debt securities through its ownership of Broad Street. The obligations of Broad Street under the facility are non-recourse to the Company and its exposure under the facility is limited to the value of its investment in Broad Street.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $70,008 and $65,808, respectively, was outstanding under the Broad Street credit facility. The carrying amount of the amount outstanding under the facility approximates
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its fair value. The Company incurred costs of $2,566 in connection with obtaining and amending the facility, which the Company has recorded as deferred financing costs on its consolidated balance sheets and amortizes to interest expense over the life of the facility. As of March 31, 2015, all of the deferred financing costs have been amortized to interest expense.
For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the components of total interest expense for the Broad Street credit facility were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the Broad Street credit facility were as follows:
Effective interest rate on borrowings
Weighted average interest rate
Borrowings of Broad Street will be considered borrowings of the Company for purposes of complying with the asset coverage requirements applicable to BDCs under the 1940 Act.
On April 3, 2014, the Company entered into the ING credit facility. The ING credit facility provides for borrowings in U.S. dollars and certain agreed upon foreign currencies in an initial aggregate amount of up to $300,000, with an option for the Company to request, at one or more times after closing, that existing or new lenders, at their election, provide up to $100,000 of additional commitments. The ING credit facility provides for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $25,000. The Company’s obligations under the ING credit facility are guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than its special-purpose financing subsidiaries. The Company’s obligations under the ING credit facility are secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the subsidiary guarantors thereunder other than the equity interests of its special-purpose financing subsidiaries.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $103,997 and $123,019, respectively, was outstanding under the ING credit facility, which includes borrowings in Euro in an aggregate amount of €29,625 and €29,625, respectively. The carrying amount of the amount outstanding under the facility approximates its fair value. The
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Company incurred costs of $3,406 in connection with obtaining the ING credit facility, which the Company has recorded as deferred financing costs on its consolidated balance sheets and amortizes to interest expense over the life of the facility. As of March 31, 2015, $2,272 of such deferred financing costs had yet to be amortized to interest expense.
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the components of total interest expense for the ING credit facility were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the ING credit facility were as follows:
JPM Financing
On April 23, 2013, through its two wholly-owned, special-purpose financing subsidiaries, Locust Street Funding LLC, or Locust Street, and Race Street Funding LLC, or Race Street, the Company entered into an amendment, or the April 2013 amendment, to its debt financing arrangement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, or JPM, which was originally entered into on July 21, 2011 (and previously amended on September 26, 2012). The April 2013 amendment, among other things: (i) increased the amount of debt financing available under the arrangement from $700,000 to $950,000; and (ii) extended the final repurchase date under the financing arrangement from October 15, 2016 to April 15, 2017. The Company elected to structure the financing in the manner described more fully below in order to, among other things, obtain such financing at a lower cost than would be available through alternate arrangements.
Pursuant to the financing arrangement, the assets held by Locust Street secure the obligations of Locust Street under certain Class A Floating Rate Notes, or the Class A Notes, to be issued from time to time by Locust Street to Race Street pursuant to the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 and as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated April 23, 2013, with Citibank N.A., as trustee, or the Amended and Restated Indenture. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of Class A Notes that may be issued by Locust Street from time to time is $1,140,000. All principal and
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interest on the Class A Notes will be due and payable on the stated maturity date of April 15, 2024. Race Street will purchase the Class A Notes to be issued by Locust Street from time to time at a purchase price equal to their par value.
Race Street, in turn, has entered into an amended repurchase transaction with JPM pursuant to the terms of an amended and restated global master repurchase agreement and the related annex and amended and restated confirmation thereto, each dated as of April 23, 2013, and subsequently amended as of October 24, 2013, or, collectively, the JPM Facility. Pursuant to the JPM Facility, JPM has agreed to purchase from time to time Class A Notes held by Race Street for an aggregate purchase price equal to approximately 83.33% of the principal amount of Class A Notes purchased. Subject to certain conditions, the maximum principal amount of Class A Notes that may be purchased under the JPM Facility is $1,140,000. Accordingly, the maximum amount payable at any time to Race Street under the JPM Facility is $950,000. Under the JPM Facility, Race Street will, on a quarterly basis, repurchase the Class A Notes sold to JPM under the JPM Facility and subsequently resell such Class A Notes to JPM. The final repurchase transaction must occur no later than April 15, 2017. The repurchase price paid by Race Street to JPM for each repurchase of Class A Notes will be equal to the purchase price paid by JPM for such Class A Notes, plus interest thereon accrued at a fixed rate of 3.25% per annum. Commencing April 15, 2015, Race Street is permitted to reduce (based on certain thresholds) the aggregate principal amount of Class A Notes subject to the JPM Facility. Such reductions, and any other reductions of the principal amount of Class A Notes, including upon an event of default, will be subject to breakage fees in an amount equal to the present value of 1.25% per annum over the remaining term of the JPM Facility applied to the amount of such reduction.
Pursuant to the financing arrangement, the assets held by Race Street secure the obligations of Race Street under the JPM Facility.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Class A Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,140,000 had been purchased by Race Street from Locust Street and subsequently sold to JPM under the JPM Facility for aggregate proceeds of $950,000. The carrying amount outstanding under the JPM Facility approximates its fair value. The Company funded each purchase of Class A Notes by Race Street through a capital contribution to Race Street. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Race Street’s liability under the JPM Facility was $950,000, plus $6,518 and $6,690, respectively, of accrued interest expense. The Class A Notes issued by Locust Street and purchased by Race Street eliminate in consolidation on the Company’s financial statements.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of assets held by Locust Street was $1,823,523 and $1,832,095, respectively, which included assets purchased by Locust Street with proceeds from the issuance of Class A Notes. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of assets held by Race Street was $871,281 and $855,341, respectively.
The Company incurred costs of $425 in connection with obtaining the JPM Facility, which the Company has recorded as deferred financing costs on its consolidated balance sheets and amortizes to interest expense over the life of the JPM Facility. As of March 31, 2015, $35 of such deferred financing costs had yet to be amortized to interest expense.
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For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the components of total interest expense for the JPM Facility were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the JPM Facility were as follows:
Amounts outstanding under the JPM Facility will be considered borrowings of the Company for purposes of complying with the asset coverage requirements applicable to BDCs under the 1940 Act.
Walnut Street Credit Facility
On December 3, 2014, Walnut Street Funding LLC, or Walnut Street, the Company’s wholly-owned, special purpose financing subsidiary, repaid and terminated the revolving credit facility, or the Walnut Street credit facility, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC served as the administrative agent and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association was the sole lender, collateral agent, account bank and collateral custodian under the facility. The Walnut Street credit facility provided for borrowings in an aggregate principal amount up to $250,000 on a committed basis. Prior to the termination of the Walnut Street credit facility, borrowings under the Walnut Street credit facility accrued interest at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR, plus a spread ranging between 1.50% and 2.50% per annum, depending on the composition of the portfolio of debt securities for the relevant period. Beginning on September 17, 2012, Walnut Street became subject to a non-usage fee of 0.50% to the extent the aggregate principal amount available under the Walnut Street credit facility was not borrowed.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no amounts remained outstanding under the Walnut Street credit facility.
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For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the components of total interest expense for the Walnut Street credit facility were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the Walnut Street credit facility were as follows:
Borrowings of Walnut Street were considered borrowings of the Company for purposes of complying with the asset coverage requirements applicable to BDCs under the 1940 Act.
On July 14, 2014, the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, or U.S. Bank, entered into an indenture, or the base indenture, and a first supplemental indenture thereto, or together with the base indenture and any supplemental indentures thereto, the indenture, relating to the Company’s issuance of $400,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.000% notes due 2019, or the 4.000% notes.
The 4.000% notes will mature on July 15, 2019 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at any time or from time to time at the applicable redemption price set forth in the indenture. The 4.000% notes bear interest at a rate of 4.000% per year, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on January 15, 2015. The 4.000% notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 4.000% notes and rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
In addition, on the occurrence of a “change of control repurchase event,” as defined in the indenture, the Company will generally be required to make an offer to purchase the outstanding 4.000% notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date.
The indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to comply with the asset coverage requirements of Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the 1940
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Act, whether or not it is subject to those requirements, and to provide financial information to the holders of the 4.000% notes and U.S. Bank if the Company is no longer subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These covenants are subject to limitations and exceptions that are described in the indenture.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $400,000 of the 4.000% notes were outstanding. As of March 31, 2015, the fair value of the 4.000% notes was approximately $400,355. The Company incurred costs of $6,177 in connection with issuing the 4.000% notes, which the Company has recorded as deferred financing costs on its consolidated balance sheets and amortizes to interest expense over the life of the 4.000% notes. As of March 31, 2015, $5,292 of such deferred financing costs had yet to be amortized to interest expense.
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the components of total interest expense for the 4.000% notes were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the 4.000% notes were as follows:
On December 3, 2014, the Company and U.S. Bank entered into a second supplemental indenture to the base indenture relating to the Company’s issuance of $325,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.250% notes due 2020, or the 4.250% notes.
The 4.250% notes will mature on January 15, 2020 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at any time or from time to time at the applicable redemption price set forth in the indenture. The 4.250% notes bear interest at a rate of 4.250% per year, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2015. The 4.250% notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 4.250% notes and rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
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In addition, on the occurrence of a “change of control repurchase event,” as defined in the indenture, the Company will generally be required to make an offer to purchase the outstanding 4.250% notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date.
The indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to comply with the asset coverage requirements of Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the 1940 Act, whether or not it is subject to those requirements, and to provide financial information to the holders of the 4.250% notes and U.S. Bank if the Company is no longer subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. These covenants are subject to limitations and exceptions that are described in the indenture.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $325,000 of the 4.250% notes was outstanding. As of March 31, 2015, the fair value of the 4.250% notes was approximately $331,782. The Company incurred costs of $4,954 in connection with issuing the 4.250% notes, which the Company has recorded as deferred financing costs on its consolidated balance sheets and amortizes to interest expense over the life of the 4.250% notes. As of March 31, 2015, $4,639 of such deferred financing costs had yet to be amortized to interest expense.
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the components of total interest expense for the 4.250% notes were as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the cash paid for interest expense, average borrowings, effective interest rate and weighted average interest rate for the 4.250% notes were as follows:
Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnification provisions. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown; however, the Company has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management of FB Advisor has reviewed the Company’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to the Company to be remote.
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Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
The Company is not currently subject to any material legal proceedings and, to the Company’s knowledge, no material legal proceedings are threatened against the Company. From time to time, the Company may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of the Company’s rights under contracts with its portfolio companies. While the outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not expect that any such proceedings will have a material effect upon its financial condition or results of operations.
See Note 6 for a discussion of the Company’s unfunded commitments.
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Note 10. Financial Highlights
The following is a schedule of financial highlights of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014:
Per Share Data:(1)
Net asset value, beginning of period
Results of operations(2)
Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and gain/loss on foreign currency
Stockholder distributions(3)
Capital share transactions
Issuance of common stock(4)
Repurchases of common stock(5)
Net asset value, end of period
Per share market value, end of period
Shares outstanding, end of period
Total return based on net asset value(6)
Total return based on market value(7)
Ratio/Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(8)
Ratio of total operating expenses to average net assets(8)
Ratio of waived expenses to average net assets(8)
Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets(8)
Portfolio turnover(9)
Total amount of senior securities outstanding, exclusive of treasury securities
Asset coverage per unit(10)
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Note 10. Financial Highlights (continued)
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Ratio of accrued capital gains incentive fees to average net assets
Ratio of subordinated income incentive fees to average net assets
Ratio of interest expense to average net assets
Ratio of excise taxes to average net assets
Note 11. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03,Interest—Imputation of Interest, to simplify the presentation in financial statements of debt issuance costs. Under existing guidance, debt issuance costs are recognized as a deferred charge and presented as an asset on the balance sheet. The amendments to the guidance require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized liability for indebtedness be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs is not affected by the amendments to the guidance. The amendments to the FASB codification guidance are to be applied retrospectively with applicable disclosures for a change in accounting principle upon transition. For public entities, the amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early application by public entities is permitted. Management of the Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 12. Subsequent Events
4.750% Notes due 2022
On April 30, 2015, the Company and U.S. Bank entered into a third supplemental indenture to the base indenture relating to the Company’s issuance of $275,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.750% notes due 2022, or the 4.750% notes.
The 4.750% notes will mature on May 15, 2022 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at any time or from time to time at the applicable redemption price set forth in the indenture. The 4.750% notes bear interest at a rate of 4.750% per year, payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2015. The 4.750% notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 4.750% notes and rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
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Note 12. Subsequent Events (continued)
In addition, on the occurrence of a “change of control repurchase event,” as defined in the indenture, the Company will generally be required to make an offer to purchase the outstanding 4.750% notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date.
The indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to comply with the asset coverage requirements of Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the 1940 Act, whether or not it is subject to those requirements, and to provide financial information to the holders of the 4.750% notes and U.S. Bank if the Company is no longer subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. These covenants are subject to limitations and exceptions that are described in the indenture.
The net proceeds to the Company from the issuance of the 4.750% notes were approximately $271,656 before expenses, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions of $2,475. The Company used the net proceeds received from the issuance of the 4.750% notes to repay borrowings under existing indebtedness.
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The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. In this report, “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to FS Investment Corporation.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q may include statements as to:
our future operating results;
our business prospects and the prospects of the companies in which we may invest;
the impact of the investments that we expect to make;
the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
our current and expected financings and investments;
receiving and maintaining corporate credit ratings and changes in the general interest rate environment;
the adequacy of our cash resources, financing sources and working capital;
the timing and amount of cash flows, distributions and dividends, if any, from our portfolio companies;
our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;
actual and potential conflicts of interest with FB Advisor, FS Investment Advisor, LLC, FS Energy and Power Fund, FSIC II Advisor, LLC, FS Investment Corporation II, FSIC III Advisor, LLC, FS Investment Corporation III, FS Global Advisor, LLC, FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund, GDFM or any of their affiliates;
the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its effect on the industries in which we may invest;
our use of financial leverage;
the ability of FB Advisor to locate suitable investments for us and to monitor and administer our investments;
the ability of FB Advisor or its affiliates to attract and retain highly talented professionals;
our ability to maintain our qualification as a RIC and as a BDC;
the impact on our business of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations issued thereunder;
the effect of changes to tax legislation and our tax position; and
the tax status of the enterprises in which we may invest.
In addition, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect” and “intend” indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:
changes in the economy;
risks associated with possible disruption in our operations or the economy generally due to terrorism or natural disasters;
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future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in our operating areas; and
the price at which shares of our common stock may trade on the NYSE.
We have based the forward-looking statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q on information available to us on the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Stockholders are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to stockholders or through reports that we may file in the future with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
Overview
We were incorporated under the general corporation laws of the State of Maryland on December 21, 2007 and formally commenced investment operations on January 2, 2009. We are an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act and has elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and intends to qualify annually, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.
On April 16, 2014, shares of our common stock began trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “FSIC”. This listing accomplished our goal of providing our stockholders with greatly enhanced liquidity.
Our investment activities are managed by FB Advisor and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent. Under the July investment advisory agreement, we have agreed to pay FB Advisor an annual base management fee based on the average value of our gross assets and an incentive fee based on our performance. FB Advisor has engaged GDFM to act as our investment sub-adviser. GDFM assists FB Advisor in identifying investment opportunities and makes investment recommendations for approval by FB Advisor according to guidelines set by FB Advisor.
Our investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We have identified and intend to focus on the following investment categories, which we believe will allow us to generate an attractive total return with an acceptable level of risk.
Direct Originations: We intend to leverage our relationship with GDFM and its global sourcing and origination platform to directly source investment opportunities. Such investments are originated or structured for us or made by us and are not generally available to the broader market. These investments may include both debt and equity components, although we do not expect to make equity investments independent of having an existing credit relationship. We believe directly originated investments may offer higher returns and more favorable protections than broadly syndicated transactions.
Opportunistic: We intend to seek to capitalize on market price inefficiencies by investing in loans, bonds and other securities where the market price of such investment reflects a lower value than deemed warranted by our fundamental analysis. We believe that market price inefficiencies may occur due to, among other things, general dislocations in the markets, a misunderstanding by the market of a particular company or an industry being out of favor with the broader investment community. We seek to allocate capital to these securities that have been misunderstood or mispriced by the market and where we believe there is an opportunity to earn an attractive return on our investment. Such opportunities may include event driven investments, anchor orders and CLOs.
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In the case of event driven investments, we intend to take advantage of dislocations that arise in the markets due to an impending event and where the market’s apparent expectation of value differs substantially from our fundamental analysis. Such events may include a looming debt maturity or default, a merger, spin-off or other corporate reorganization, an adverse regulatory or legal ruling, or a material contract expiration, any of which may significantly improve or impair a company’s financial position. Compared to other investment strategies, event driven investing depends more heavily on our ability to successfully predict the outcome of an individual event rather than on underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. As a result, successful event driven strategies may offer both substantial diversification benefits and the ability to generate performance in uncertain market environments.
We may also invest in certain opportunities that are originated and then syndicated by a commercial or investment bank, but where we provide a capital commitment significantly above the average syndicate participant, i.e., an anchor order. In these types of investments, we may receive fees, preferential pricing or other benefits not available to other lenders in return for our significant capital commitment. Our decision to provide an anchor order to a syndicated transaction is predicated on a rigorous credit analysis, our familiarity with a particular company, industry or financial sponsor, and the broader investment experiences of FB Advisor and GDFM.
In addition, our relationship with GSO Capital Partners LP, the parent of GDFM, and one of the largest CLO managers in the world, allows us to opportunistically invest in CLOs. CLOs are a form of securitization where the cash flow from a pooled basket of syndicated loans is used to support distribution payments made to different tranches of securities. While collectively CLOs represent nearly fifty percent of the broadly syndicated loan universe, investing in individual CLO tranches requires a high degree of investor sophistication due to their structural complexity and the illiquid nature of their securities.
Broadly Syndicated/Other: Although our primary focus is to invest in directly originated transactions and opportunistic investments, in certain circumstances we will also invest in the broadly syndicated loan and high yield markets. Broadly syndicated loans and bonds are generally more liquid than our directly originated investments and provide a complement to our less liquid strategies. In addition, and because we typically receive more attractive financing terms on these positions than we do on our less liquid assets, we are able to leverage the broadly syndicated portion of our portfolio in such a way that maximizes the levered return potential of our portfolio.
Our portfolio is comprised primarily of investments in senior secured loans and second lien secured loans of private middle market U.S. companies and, to a lesser extent, subordinated loans of private U.S. companies. Although we do not expect a significant portion of our portfolio to be comprised of subordinated loans, there is no limit on the amount of such loans in which we may invest. We may purchase interests in loans or make other debt investments, including investments in senior secured bonds, through secondary market transactions in the “over-the-counter” market or directly from our target companies as primary market or directly originated investments. In connection with our debt investments, we may on occasion receive equity interests such as warrants or options as additional consideration. We may also purchase minority interests in the form of common or preferred equity or the equity-related securities in our target companies, generally in conjunction with one of our debt investments or through a co-investment with a financial sponsor, such as an institutional investor or private equity firm. In addition, a portion of our portfolio may be comprised of corporate bonds, CLOs, other debt securities and derivatives, including total return swaps and credit default swaps. FB Advisor will seek to tailor our investment focus as market conditions evolve. Depending on market conditions, we may increase or decrease our exposure to less senior portions of the capital structure or otherwise make opportunistic investments.
The senior secured loans, second lien secured loans and senior secured bonds in which we invest generally have stated terms of three to seven years and subordinated debt investments that we make generally have stated terms of up to ten years, but the expected average life of such securities is generally between three and seven years. However, there is no limit on the maturity or duration of any security in our portfolio. Our debt
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investments may be rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization and, in such case, generally will carry a rating below investment grade (rated lower than “Baa3” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or lower than “BBB-” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services). We also invest in non-rated debt securities.
Revenues
The principal measure of our financial performance is net increase in net assets resulting from operations, which includes net investment income, net realized gain or loss on investments, net realized gain or loss on foreign currency, net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and net unrealized gain or loss on foreign currency. Net investment income is the difference between our income from interest, dividends, fees and other investment income and our operating and other expenses. Net realized gain or loss on investments is the difference between the proceeds received from dispositions of portfolio investments and their amortized cost, including the respective realized gain or loss on foreign currency for those foreign denominated investment transactions. Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency is the portion of realized gain or loss attributable to foreign currency fluctuations. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments is the net change in the fair value of our investment portfolio, including the respective unrealized gain or loss on foreign currency for those foreign denominated investments. Net unrealized gain or loss on foreign currency is the net change in the value of receivables or accruals due to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
We principally generate revenues in the form of interest income on the debt investments we hold. In addition, we generate revenues in the form of non-recurring commitment, closing, origination, structuring or diligence fees, monitoring fees, fees for providing managerial assistance, consulting fees, prepayment fees and performance-based fees. Any such fees generated in connection with our investments will be recognized as earned. We may also generate revenues in the form of dividends and other distributions on the equity or other securities we hold.
Expenses
Our primary operating expenses include the payment of management and incentive fees and other expenses under the July 2014 investment advisory agreement and the administration agreement, interest expense from financing facilities and other indebtedness, and other expenses necessary for our operations. The management and incentive fees compensate FB Advisor for its work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, executing, monitoring and servicing our investments. FB Advisor is responsible for compensating our investment sub-adviser.
FB Advisor oversees our day-to-day operations, including the provision of general ledger accounting, fund accounting, legal services, investor relations and other administrative services. FB Advisor also performs, or oversees the performance of, our corporate operations and required administrative services, which includes being responsible for the financial records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports for our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, FB Advisor assists us in calculating our net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally overseeing the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others.
Pursuant to the administration agreement, we reimburse FB Advisor for expenses necessary to perform services related to our administration and operations, including FB Advisor’s allocable portion of the compensation and related expenses of certain personnel of Franklin Square Holdings providing administrative services to us on behalf of FB Advisor. We reimburse FB Advisor no less than quarterly for all costs and expenses incurred by FB Advisor in performing its obligations and providing personnel and facilities under the administration agreement. FB Advisor allocates the cost of such services to us based on factors such as total assets, revenues, time allocations and/or other reasonable metrics. Our board of directors reviews the methodology employed in determining how the expenses are allocated to us and the proposed allocation of administrative expenses among us and certain affiliates of FB Advisor. Our board of directors then assesses the reasonableness of such reimbursements for expenses allocated to us based on the breadth, depth and quality of such services as compared to the estimated cost to us of obtaining similar services from third-party service
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providers known to be available. In addition, our board of directors considers whether any single third-party service provider would be capable of providing all such services at comparable cost and quality. Finally, our board of directors compares the total amount paid to FB Advisor for such services as a percentage of our net assets to the same ratio as reported by other comparable BDCs.
We bear all other expenses of our operations and transactions, including (without limitation) fees and expenses relating to:
corporate and organization expenses relating to offerings of our securities, subject to limitations included in the July 2014 investment advisory agreement;
the cost of calculating our net asset value, including the cost of any third-party pricing or valuation services;
the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of shares of our common stock and other securities;
investment advisory fees;
fees payable to third parties relating to, or associated with, making investments and valuing investments, including fees and expenses associated with performing due diligence reviews of prospective investments;
interest payments on our debt or related obligations;
transfer agent and custodial fees;
research and market data (including news and quotation equipment and services, and any computer hardware and connectivity hardware (e.g., telephone and fiber optic lines) incorporated into the cost of obtaining such research and market data);
fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts;
federal and state registration fees;
federal, state and local taxes;
fees and expenses of directors not also serving in an executive officer capacity for us or FB Advisor;
costs of proxy statements, stockholders’ reports, notices and other filings;
fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance and other insurance premiums;
direct costs such as printing, mailing, long distance telephone and staff;
fees and expenses associated with accounting, corporate governance, independent audits and outside legal costs;
costs associated with our reporting and compliance obligations under the 1940 Act and applicable federal and state securities laws, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
brokerage commissions for our investments; and
all other expenses incurred by FB Advisor, GDFM or us in connection with administering our business, including expenses incurred by FB Advisor or GDFM in performing administrative services for us and administrative personnel paid by FB Advisor or GDFM, to the extent they are not controlling persons of FB Advisor, GDFM, or any of their respective affiliates, subject to the limitations included in the July 2014 investment advisory agreement and the administration agreement.
In addition, we have contracted with State Street Bank and Trust Company to provide various accounting and administrative services, including, but not limited to, preparing preliminary financial information for review by FB Advisor, preparing and monitoring expense budgets, maintaining accounting and corporate books and records, processing trade information provided by us and performing testing with respect to RIC compliance.
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Portfolio Investment Activity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and for the Year Ended December 31, 2014
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we made investments in portfolio companies totaling $191,510. During the same period, we sold investments for proceeds of $94,334 and received principal repayments of $143,021. As of March 31, 2015, our investment portfolio, with a total fair value of $4,161,683 (53% in first lien senior secured loans, 17% in second lien senior secured loans, 8% in senior secured bonds, 11% in subordinated debt, 3% in collateralized securities and 8% in equity/other), consisted of interests in 110 portfolio companies. The portfolio companies that comprised our portfolio as of such date had an average annual EBITDA of approximately $151.4 million. As of March 31, 2015, the investments in our portfolio were purchased at a weighted average price of 97.8% of par or stated value, as applicable, and our estimated gross portfolio yield (which represents the expected annualized yield to be generated by us on our investment portfolio based on the composition of our portfolio as of such date), prior to leverage, was 10.0% based upon the amortized cost of our investments.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, we made investments in portfolio companies totaling $2,178,075. During the same period, we sold investments for proceeds of $1,246,624 and received principal repayments of $875,315. As of December 31, 2014, our investment portfolio, with a total fair value of $4,183,447 (53% in first lien senior secured loans, 17% in second lien senior secured loans, 8% in senior secured bonds, 11% in subordinated debt, 3% in collateralized securities and 8% in equity/other), consisted of interests in 118 portfolio companies. The portfolio companies that comprised our portfolio as of such date had an average annual EBITDA of approximately $155.2 million. As of December 31, 2014, the investments in our portfolio were purchased at a weighted average price of 97.4% of par or stated value, as applicable, and our estimated gross portfolio yield, prior to leverage, was 10.0% based upon the amortized cost of our investments.
Total Portfolio Activity
The following tables present certain selected information regarding our portfolio investment activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and year ended December 31, 2014:
Net Investment Activity
Sales and Redemptions
Net Portfolio Activity
New Investment Activity by Asset Class
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The following table summarizes the composition of our investment portfolio at cost and fair value as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
The following table presents certain selected information regarding the composition of our investment portfolio as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Number of Portfolio Companies
% Variable Rate (based on fair value)
% Fixed Rate (based on fair value)
% Income Producing Equity/Other Investments (based on fair value)
% Non-Income Producing Equity/Other Investments (based on fair value)
Average Annual EBITDA of Portfolio Companies
Weighted Average Purchase Price of Investments (as a % of par or stated value)
% of Investments on Non-Accrual (based on fair value)
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost)
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost)—Excluding Non-Income Producing Assets
Direct Originations
The following tables present certain selected information regarding our direct originations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and year ended December 31, 2014:
New Direct Originations
Total Commitments (including unfunded commitments)
Exited Investments (including partial paydowns)
Net Direct Originations
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New Direct Originations by Asset Class (including unfundedcommitments)
Average New Direct Origination Commitment Amount
Weighted Average Maturity for New Direct Originations
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost) of New Direct Originations funded during Period
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost) of New Direct Originations funded during Period—Excluding Non-Income Producing Assets
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost) of Direct Originations Exited during Period
The following table presents certain selected information regarding our direct originations as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Characteristics of All Direct Originations held in Portfolio
Average Leverage Through Tranche of Portfolio Companies—Excluding Equity/Other and Collateralized Securities
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost) of Funded Direct Originations
Gross Portfolio Yield Prior to Leverage (based on amortized cost) of Funded Direct Originations—Excluding Non-Income Producing Assets
Portfolio Composition by Strategy and Industry
The table below summarizes the composition of our investment portfolio by strategy and enumerates the percentage, by fair value, of the total portfolio assets in such strategies as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Portfolio Composition by Strategy
Opportunistic
Broadly Syndicated/Other
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As of March 31, 2015, except for one equity/other investment, Fronton Investor Holdings, LLC, we were not an “affiliated person” of any of our portfolio companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. As of March 31, 2015, we did not “control” any of our portfolio companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, we would be presumed to “control” a portfolio company if we owned 25% or more of its voting securities or we had the power to exercise control over the management or policies of such portfolio company, and would be an “affiliated person” of a portfolio company if we owned 5% or more of its voting securities.
Our investment portfolio may contain loans that are in the form of lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, delayed draw credit facilities or other investments, which require us to provide funding when requested by portfolio companies in accordance with the terms of the underlying loan agreements. As of March 31, 2015, we had eleven such investments with aggregate unfunded commitments of $116,193 and one equity/other investment with an unfunded commitment of $746. As of December 31, 2014, we had ten such investments with aggregate unfunded commitments of $101,099 and one equity/other investment with an unfunded commitment of $788. We maintain sufficient cash on hand and available borrowings to fund such unfunded commitments should the need arise.
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Portfolio Asset Quality
In addition to various risk management and monitoring tools, FB Advisor uses an investment rating system to characterize and monitor the expected level of returns on each investment in our portfolio. FB Advisor uses an investment rating scale of 1 to 5. The following is a description of the conditions associated with each investment rating:
InvestmentRating
Summary Description
The following table shows the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 5 investment rating scale at fair value as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Investment Rating
The amount of the portfolio in each grading category may vary substantially from period to period resulting primarily from changes in the composition of the portfolio as a result of new investment, repayment and exit activities. In addition, changes in the grade of investments may be made to reflect our expectation of performance and changes in investment values.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014
We generated investment income of $108,635 and $114,796 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in the form of interest and fees earned on senior secured loans (first and second lien), senior secured bonds, subordinated debt and collateralized securities in our portfolio and dividends and other distributions earned on equity/other investments. Such revenues represent $99,773 and $104,283 of cash income earned as well as $8,862 and $10,513 in non-cash portions relating to accretion of discount and PIK interest for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash flows related to such non-cash revenues may not occur for a number of reporting periods or years after such revenues are recognized. The decrease in investment income is due primarily to the reduction in fee income earned during the current quarter compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014. The level of investment income we receive is directly related to the balance of income-producing investments multiplied by the weighted average yield of our investments.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we generated $4,696 and $10,085, respectively, of fee income, which represented 4.3% and 8.8%, respectively of total investment income. Such fee income is transaction based, and typically consists of amendment and consent fees, prepayment fees, structuring fees and other non-recurring fees. As such, future fee income is generally dependent on new direct origination investments and the occurrence of events at existing portfolio companies resulting in such fees.
Our expenses were $56,986 and $58,919 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our operating expenses include base management fees attributed to FB Advisor of $19,038 and $22,371 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our expenses also include administrative services expenses attributed to FB Advisor of $991 and $1,200 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
FB Advisor is eligible to receive incentive fees based on our performance. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we accrued a subordinated incentive fee on income of $13,905 and paid FB Advisor $13,089 in respect of such fee. As of March 31, 2015, a subordinated incentive fee on income of $13,905 was payable to FB Advisor. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we accrued a subordinated incentive fee on income of $15,178 and paid FB Advisor $14,303 in respect of such fee. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we accrued capital gains incentive fees of $3,748 and $4,836, respectively, based on the performance of our portfolio. No capital gains incentive fees are actually payable by us with respect to unrealized gains unless and until those gains are actually realized. See “—Critical Accounting Policies—Capital Gains Incentive Fee” for additional information about how the incentive fees are calculated.
We recorded interest expense of $17,299 and $12,700 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in connection with our credit facilities, the JPM Facility, the 4.000% notes and the 4.250% notes. The fees incurred with our fund administrator, which provides various accounting and administrative services to us, totaled $276 and $332 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We incurred fees and expenses with our stock transfer agent of $80 and $451 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Fees for our board of directors were $227 and $265 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Our other general and administrative expenses totaled $1,422 and $1,586 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and consisted of the following:
Expenses associated with our independent audit and related fees
Compensation of our chief compliance officer(1)
Legal fees
Printing fees
Other
During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the ratio of our expenses to our average net assets was 2.41% and 2.20%, respectively. Our ratio of expenses to our average net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 includes $17,299 and $12,700, respectively, related to interest expense and
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$17,653 and $20,014, respectively, related to accruals for incentive fees. Without such expenses, our ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 0.93% and 0.97% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Incentive fees and interest expense, among other things, may increase or decrease our expense ratios relative to comparative periods depending on portfolio performance and changes in benchmark interest rates such as LIBOR, among other factors. The lower ratio of expenses to average net assets, excluding incentive fees and interest expense, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014 can primarily be attributed to a permanent reduction in management fees pursuant to the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, as well as a reduction in administrative services expenses and stock transfer agent fees charged to us.
Net Investment Income
Our net investment income totaled $51,649 ($0.21 per share) and $55,877 ($0.21 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease in net investment income can be attributed to, among other things, a reduction in revenues from fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2015, which were largely offset by the expense reductions noted above. Net investment income on a per share basis remained unchanged, as the reduction in net investment income was in proportion to the quarter over quarter decline in average shares outstanding as a result of our listing tender offer.
Net Realized Gains or Losses
We sold investments and received principal repayments of $94,334 and $143,021, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2015, from which we realized a net gain of $3,285. We also realized a net gain of $110 from settlements on foreign currency during the three months ended March 31, 2015. We sold investments and received principal repayments of $306,983 and $259,132, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2014, from which we realized a net gain of $13,822. We also realized a net loss of $19 from settlements on foreign currency during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments totaled $11,934 and the net change in unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency totaled $3,448. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments totaled $10,335 and the net change in unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency totaled $45. The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on our investments during the three months ended March 31, 2015 was primarily driven by increased valuations of our subordinated debt and equity/other positions.
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $70,426 ($0.29 per share) compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $80,060 ($0.31 per share) during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2015, we had $88,880 in cash and foreign currency, which we held in a custodial account, and $250,995 in borrowings available under our financing arrangements. As of March 31, 2015, we had eleven debt investments with aggregate unfunded commitments of $116,193 and one equity investment with an unfunded commitment of $746. We maintain sufficient cash on hand and available borrowings to fund such unfunded commitments should the need arise.
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Financing Arrangements
The following table presents a summary of information with respect to our outstanding financing arrangements as of March 31, 2015:
Our average borrowings and weighted average interest rate, including the effect of non-usage fees, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were $1,877,622 and 3.50%, respectively. As of March 31, 2015, our weighted average effective interest rate on borrowings, including the effect of non-usage fees was 3.61%.
For additional information regarding our financing arrangements, see Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein.
Subsequent Events
On April 30, 2015, we and U.S. Bank entered into a third supplemental indenture to the base indenture relating to our issuance of $275,000 aggregate principal amount of our 4.750% notes.
The net proceeds to us were approximately $271,656 before expenses, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions of $2,475. We used the net proceeds received from the issuance of the 4.750% notes to repay borrowings under existing indebtedness.
For additional information regarding the 4.750% notes, see Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein.
RIC Status and Distributions
We have elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, make distributions of an amount at least equal to 90% of our investment company taxable income, determined without regard to any deduction for distributions paid, each tax year. As long as the distributions are declared by the later of the fifteenth day of the ninth month following the close of the tax year or the due date of the tax return, including extensions, distributions paid up to one year after the current taxable year can be carried back to the prior taxable year for determining the distributions paid in such taxable year. We intend to make sufficient distributions to our stockholders to qualify for and maintain our RIC status each year. We are also subject to nondeductible federal excise taxes if we do not distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our net ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses), or capital gain net income, for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year and (3) any net ordinary income and capital gain net income for preceding years that were not distributed during such years and on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax. Any distribution declared by us in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to
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stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following calendar year, will be treated as if it had been received by our U.S. stockholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which the distribution was declared. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit us to pay any cash distributions. If we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.
Following commencement of our investment operations, we declared our first distribution on January 29, 2009. Effective January 1, 2015 and subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of our board of directors, we intend to authorize, declare and pay regular cash distributions on a quarterly basis. We will calculate each stockholder’s specific distribution amount for the period using record and declaration dates and each stockholder’s distributions will begin to accrue on the date that shares of our common stock are issued to such stockholder. From time to time, we may also pay special interim distributions in the form of cash or shares of our common stock at the discretion of our board of directors. The timing and amount of any future distributions to stockholders are subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of our board of directors.
During certain periods, our distributions may exceed our earnings. As a result, it is possible that a portion of the distributions we make may represent a return of capital. A return of capital generally is a return of a stockholder’s investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from our investment activities. Each year a statement on Form 1099-DIV identifying the sources of the distributions will be mailed to our stockholders. No portion of the distributions paid during the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014 represented a return of capital.
We intend to continue to make our regular distributions in the form of cash, out of assets legally available for distribution, except for those stockholders who receive their distributions in the form of shares of our common stock under the new DRP. Any distributions reinvested under the plan will nevertheless remain taxable to a U.S. stockholder.
The following table reflects the cash distributions per share that we have declared on our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
For the Three Months Ended,
On April 29, 2015, our board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash distribution of $0.22275 per share, which will be paid on or about July 2, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 24, 2015. The timing and amount of any future distributions to stockholders are subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of our board of directors.
Historically, we had an “opt in” distribution reinvestment plan for our stockholders, which terminated upon the listing of our shares of common stock on the NYSE. The final distribution reinvestment under the old DRP was made in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2014. Under the old DRP, if we made a cash distribution, our stockholders received distributions in cash unless they specifically “opted in” to the distribution reinvestment plan so as to have their cash distributions reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. On May 23, 2014, we adopted an “opt out” distribution reinvestment plan, which was effective June 2, 2014. The new DRP was
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first implemented in connection with the regular monthly cash distribution paid on July 2, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 24, 2014. Pursuant to the new DRP, we will reinvest all cash dividends or distributions declared by our board of directors on behalf of stockholders who do not elect to receive their distributions in cash. As a result, if our board of directors declares a distribution, then stockholders who have not elected to “opt out” of the new DRP will have their distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock.
With respect to each distribution pursuant to the new DRP, we reserve the right to either issue new shares of common stock or purchase shares of common stock in the open market in connection with implementation of the new DRP. Unless in our sole discretion, we otherwise direct the plan administrator, (A) if the per share market price (as defined in the new DRP) is equal to or greater than the estimated net asset value per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) of our common stock on the payment date for the distribution, then we will issue shares of common stock at the greater of (i) net asset value per share of common stock or (ii) 95% of the market price; or (B) if the market price is less than the net asset value per share, then, in our sole discretion, (i) shares of common stock will be purchased in open market transactions for the accounts of participants to the extent practicable, or (ii) we will issue shares of common stock at net asset value per share. Pursuant to the terms of the new DRP, the number of shares of common stock to be issued to a participant will be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by the price per share at which we issue such shares; provided, however, that shares purchased in open market transactions by the plan administrator will be allocated to a participant based on the average purchase price, excluding any brokerage charges or other charges, of all shares of common stock purchased in the open market.
If a stockholder receives distributions in the form of common stock pursuant to the new DRP, such stockholder generally will be subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as if it elected to receive distributions in cash. If our common stock is trading at or below net asset value, a stockholder receiving distributions in the form of additional common stock will be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of cash that they would have received if they had elected to receive the distribution in cash. If our common stock is trading above net asset value, a stockholder receiving distributions in the form of additional common stock will be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of the fair market value of our common stock. The stockholder’s basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of common stock received in a distribution will be equal to the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to the stockholder. Any stock received in a distribution will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares of common stock are credited to the stockholder’s account.
We may fund our cash distributions to stockholders from any sources of funds legally available to us, including proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets and dividends or other distributions paid to us on account of preferred and common equity investments in portfolio companies. We have not established limits on the amount of funds we may use from available sources to make distributions. There can be no assurance that we will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.
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The following table reflects the sources of the cash distributions on a tax basis that we have paid on our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
Our net investment income on a tax basis for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, was $56,501 and $51,851, respectively. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $159,756 and $152,743, respectively, of undistributed net investment income and realized gains on a tax basis.
See Note 5 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein for additional information regarding our distributions, including a reconciliation of our GAAP-basis net investment income to our tax-basis net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Critical accounting policies are those that require the application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. In preparing the financial statements, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. In preparing the financial statements, management has utilized available information, including our past history, industry standards and the current economic environment, among other factors, in forming its estimates and judgments, giving due consideration to materiality. Actual results may differ from these estimates. In addition, other companies may utilize different estimates, which may impact the comparability of our results of operations to those of companies in similar businesses. As we execute our operating plans, we will describe additional critical accounting policies in the notes to our future financial statements in addition to those discussed below.
Valuation of Portfolio Investments
We determine the net asset value of our investment portfolio each quarter. Securities that are publicly-traded are valued at the reported closing price on the valuation date. Securities that are not publicly-traded are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. In connection with that determination, FB Advisor provides our board of directors with portfolio company valuations which are based on relevant inputs, including, but not limited to, indicative dealer quotes, values of like securities, recent portfolio company financial statements and forecasts, and valuations prepared by third-party valuation services.
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Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure, or ASC Topic 820, issued by the FASB, clarifies the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 also establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, which includes inputs such as quoted prices for similar securities in active markets and quoted prices for identical securities where there is little or no activity in the market; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, we undertake a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:
our quarterly valuation process begins with FB Advisor’s management team providing a preliminary valuation of each portfolio company or investment to our valuation committee, which valuation may be obtained from an independent valuation firm, if applicable;
preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with our valuation committee;
our valuation committee reviews the preliminary valuation and FB Advisor’s management team, together with our independent valuation firm, if applicable, responds and supplements the preliminary valuation to reflect any comments provided by the valuation committee; and
our board of directors discusses valuations and determines the fair value of each such investment in our portfolio in good faith based on various statistical and other factors, including the input and recommendation of FB Advisor, the valuation committee and any third-party valuation firm, if applicable.
Determination of fair value involves subjective judgments and estimates. Accordingly, the notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to the uncertainty with respect to the possible effect of such valuations and any change in such valuations on our consolidated financial statements. In making its determination of fair value, our board of directors may use independent third-party pricing or valuation services. However, our board of directors is not required to determine fair value in accordance with the valuation provided by any single source, and may use any relevant data, including information obtained from FB Advisor or any independent third-party valuation or pricing service that our board of directors deems to be reliable in determining fair value under the circumstances. Below is a description of factors that our board of directors may consider when valuing our debt and equity investments.
Valuation of fixed income investments, such as loans and debt securities, depends upon a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates for like securities, expected volatility in future interest rates, call features, put features and other relevant terms of the debt. For investments without readily available market prices, we may incorporate these factors into discounted cash flow models to arrive at fair value. Other factors that our board of directors may consider include the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, the fair market value of the portfolio company in relation to the face amount of its outstanding debt and the quality of collateral securing our debt investments.
For convertible debt securities, fair value generally approximates the fair value of the debt plus the fair value of an option to purchase the underlying security (the security into which the debt may convert) at the conversion price. To value such an option, a standard option pricing model may be used.
Our equity interests in portfolio companies for which there is no liquid public market are valued at fair value. Our board of directors, in its analysis of fair value, may consider various factors, such as multiples of EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues or, in limited instances, book value or liquidation value. All of these
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factors may be subject to adjustments based upon the particular circumstances of a portfolio company or our actual investment position. For example, adjustments to EBITDA may take into account compensation to previous owners or acquisition, recapitalization, restructuring or other related items.
Our board of directors may also look to private merger and acquisition statistics, public trading multiples discounted for illiquidity and other factors, valuations implied by third-party investments in the portfolio companies or industry practices in determining fair value. Our board of directors may also consider the size and scope of a portfolio company and its specific strengths and weaknesses, and may apply discounts or premiums, where and as appropriate, due to the higher (or lower) financial risk and/or the size of portfolio companies relative to comparable firms, as well as such other factors as our board of directors, in consultation with any third-party valuation firm, if applicable, may consider relevant in assessing fair value. Generally, the value of our equity interests in public companies for which market quotations are readily available is based upon the most recent closing public market price. Portfolio securities that carry certain restrictions on sale are typically valued at a discount from the public market value of the security.
When we receive warrants or other equity securities at nominal or no additional cost in connection with an investment in a debt security, the cost basis in the investment will be allocated between the debt securities and any such warrants or other equity securities received at the time of origination. Our board of directors subsequently values these warrants or other equity securities received at fair value.
The fair values of our investments are determined in good faith by our board of directors. Our board of directors is solely responsible for the valuation of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to our valuation policy and consistently applied valuation process.
Our investments as of March 31, 2015 consisted primarily of debt securities that were acquired directly from the issuer. Forty-four senior secured loan investments, one senior secured bond investment, eleven subordinated debt investments and one collateralized security, for which broker quotes were not available, were valued by independent valuation firms, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, prevailing interest rates for like investments, expected cash flows, call features and other relevant terms of the debt. Except as described below, all of our equity/other investments were valued by the same independent valuation firms, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, contractual rights ascribed to such investments, as well as various income scenarios and multiples of EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues or, in limited instances, book value or liquidation value. One equity investment which is traded on an active public market was valued at its closing price as of March 31, 2015. One senior secured loan investment, which was newly issued and purchased near March 31, 2015, was valued at cost as our board of directors determined that the cost of such investment was the best indication of its fair value. Except as described above, we valued our other investments, including one equity/other investments by using the midpoint of the prevailing bid and ask prices from dealers on the date of the relevant period end, which were provided by independent third-party pricing services and screened for validity by such services.
Our investments as of December 31, 2014 consisted primarily of debt investments that were acquired directly from the issuer. Forty-one senior secured loan investments, one senior secured bond investment, eleven subordinated debt investments and one collateralized security, for which broker quotes were not available, were valued by an independent valuation firm, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, prevailing interest rates for like investments, expected cash flows, call features and other relevant terms of the debt. Except as described below, all of our equity/other investments were valued by the same independent valuation firm, which determined the fair value of such investments by considering, among other factors, contractual rights ascribed to such investments, as well as various income scenarios and multiples of EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues or, in limited instances, book value or liquidation value. One equity investment which is traded on an active public market was valued at its closing price as of December 31, 2014. One senior secured loan investment and two collateralized loan securities, which were newly issued and purchased near December 31, 2014, were valued at
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cost as our board of directors determined that the cost of each such investment was the best indication of its fair value. Except as described above, we valued our other investments, including three equity/other investments, by using the midpoint of the prevailing bid and ask prices from dealers on the date of the relevant period end, which were provided by independent third-party pricing services and screened for validity by such services.
We periodically benchmark the bid and ask prices we receive from the third-party pricing services and/or dealers, as applicable, against the actual prices at which we purchase and sell our investments. Based on the results of the benchmark analysis and the experience of our management in purchasing and selling these investments, we believe that these prices are reliable indicators of fair value. However, because of the private nature of this marketplace (meaning actual transactions are not publicly reported), we believe that these valuation inputs are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. We may also use other methods, including the use of an independent valuation firm, to determine fair value for securities for which we cannot obtain prevailing bid and ask prices through third-party pricing services or independent dealers, or where our board of directors otherwise determines that the use of other methods is appropriate. We periodically benchmark the valuations provided by the independent valuation firm against the actual prices at which we purchase and sell our investments. Our valuation committee and board of directors reviewed and approved the valuation determinations made with respect to these investments in a manner consistent with our valuation process.
Revenue Recognition
Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. We record interest income on an accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. We record dividend income on the ex-dividend date. We do not accrue as a receivable interest or dividends on loans and securities if we have reason to doubt our ability to collect such income. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount are capitalized and we amortize such amounts as interest income over the respective term of the loan or security. Upon the prepayment of a loan or security, any unamortized loan origination fees and original issue discount are recorded as interest income. Structuring and other non-recurring upfront fees are recorded as fee income when earned. We record prepayment premiums on loans and securities as fee income when we receive such amounts.
Net Realized Gains or Losses, Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation and Net Change in Unrealized Gains or Losses on Foreign Currency
Gains or losses on the sale of investments are calculated by using the specific identification method. We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized fees. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including any reversal of previously recorded unrealized gains or losses when gains or losses are realized. Net change in unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency reflects the change in the value of receivables or accruals during the reporting period due to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
Capital Gains Incentive Fee
Pursuant to the terms of each of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the incentive fee on capital gains is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of such agreement). Such fee will equal 20.0% of our incentive fee capital gains (i.e., our realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated as of the end of the applicable period, net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis), less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees. On a quarterly basis, we accrue for the capital gains incentive fee by calculating such fee as if it were due and payable as of the end of such period.
While none of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement or the July 2014 investment advisory agreement include or contemplate the
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inclusion of unrealized gains in the calculation of the capital gains incentive fee, pursuant to an interpretation of an AICPA Technical Practice Aid for investment companies, commencing during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, we changed our methodology for accruing for this incentive fee to include unrealized gains in the calculation of the capital gains incentive fee expense and related accrued capital gains incentive fee. This accrual reflects the incentive fees that would be payable to FB Advisor if our entire portfolio was liquidated at its fair value as of the balance sheet date even though FB Advisor is not entitled to an incentive fee with respect to unrealized gains unless and until such gains are actually realized.
Subordinated Income Incentive Fee
Pursuant to the terms of each of the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, FB Advisor may also be entitled to receive a subordinated incentive fee on income. The subordinated incentive fee on income under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, which was calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, equaled 20.0% of our “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter and was subject to a hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on adjusted capital, as defined in the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, equal to 2.0% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0%. As a result, FB Advisor did not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeded the hurdle rate of 2.0%. Once our pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeded the hurdle rate, FB Advisor was entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equaled 2.5%, or 10.0% annually, of adjusted capital. Thereafter, FB Advisor received 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income. Under the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income was calculated in the same manner, except that the hurdle rate used to compute the subordinated incentive fee on income was based on the value of our net assets rather than adjusted capital.
Under the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets, was reduced from 2.0% to 1.875% per quarter, or an annualized hurdle rate of 7.5%. As a result, FB Advisor will not earn this incentive fee for any quarter until our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter exceeds the hurdle rate of 1.875%. Once our pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeds the hurdle rate, FB Advisor will be entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equals 2.34375%, or 9.375% annually, of net assets. Thereafter, FB Advisor will be entitled to receive 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income.
Under both the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, the subordinated incentive fee on income is subject to a total return requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of our pre-incentive fee net investment income will be payable except to the extent that 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. Accordingly, any subordinated incentive fee on income that is payable in a calendar quarter will be limited to the lesser of (i) 20.0% of the amount by which our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter exceeds the applicable quarterly hurdle rate, subject to the “catch-up” provision, and (ii) (x) 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters minus (y) the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the eleven preceding calendar quarters. For the foregoing purpose, the “cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations” is the sum of our pre-incentive fee net investment income, base management fees, realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation for the then-current and eleven preceding calendar quarters.
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There will be no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter and, accordingly, there will be no clawback of amounts previously paid if subsequent quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate and there will be no delay of payment if prior quarters are below the applicable quarterly hurdle rate.
Uncertainty in Income Taxes
We evaluate our tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax benefits or liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. Recognition of a tax benefit or liability with respect to an uncertain tax position is required only when the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. We recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax liabilities as income tax expense in our consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not incur any interest or penalties.
Contractual Obligations
We have entered into agreements with FB Advisor to provide us with investment advisory and administrative services. Payments for investment advisory services under the July 2014 investment advisory agreement are equal to (a) an annual base management fee based on the average value of our gross assets and (b) an incentive fee based on our performance. FB Advisor, and to the extent it is required to provide such services, GDFM, are reimbursed for administrative expenses incurred on our behalf. See Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein and “—Related Party Transactions—Compensation of the Investment Adviser” for a discussion of these agreements and for the amount of fees and expenses accrued under these agreements during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
A summary of our significant contractual payment obligations for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness at March 31, 2015 is as follows:
Broad Street Credit Facility(1)
ING Credit Facility(2)
JPM Facility(3)
4.000% Notes due 2019(4)
4.250% Notes due 2020(5)
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On April 30, 2015 we issued $275,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.750% notes. For additional information regarding the 4.750% notes, see Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently have no off-balance sheet arrangements, including any risk management of commodity pricing or other hedging practices.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. Under existing guidance, debt issuance costs are recognized as a deferred charge and presented as an asset on the balance sheet. The amendments to the guidance require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs is not affected by the amendments in this guidance. The amendments to the FASB codification in this guidance are to be applied retrospectively with applicable disclosures for a change in accounting principle upon transition. For public entities, the amendments are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early application by public entities is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement and the July 2014 investment advisory agreement, FB Advisor is entitled to an annual base management fee based on the average value of our gross assets and an incentive fee based on our performance. Pursuant to the administration agreement, we also reimburse FB Advisor and GDFM for expenses necessary to perform services related to our administration and operations, including FB Advisor’s allocable portion of the compensation and related expenses of certain personnel of Franklin Square Holdings providing administrative services to us on behalf of FB Advisor.
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The following table describes the fees and expenses we accrued under the 2008 investment advisory and administrative services agreement, the April 2014 investment advisory agreement, the July 2014 investment advisory agreement and the administration agreement, as applicable, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
See Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein for additional information regarding our agreements with FB Advisor and our other related party transactions and relationships, including our exemptive relief order, our terminated expense reimbursement agreement and our trademark license agreement with Franklin Square Holdings.
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FB Advisor’s senior management team is comprised of substantially the same personnel as the senior management teams of FS Investment Advisor, LLC, FSIC II Advisor, LLC, FSIC III Advisor, LLC and FS Global Advisor, LLC, the investment advisers to certain other BDCs and a closed-end management investment company affiliated with Franklin Square Holdings. As a result, such personnel provide investment advisory services to us and each of FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III and FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund. While none of FB Advisor, FS Investment Advisor, LLC, FSIC II Advisor, LLC, FSIC III Advisor, LLC or FS Global Advisor, LLC, is currently making private corporate debt investments for clients other than us, FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III or FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund, respectively, any, or all, may do so in the future. In the event that FB Advisor undertakes to provide investment advisory services to other clients in the future, it intends to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner consistent with our investment objectives and strategies, if necessary, so that we will not be disadvantaged in relation to any other client of FB Advisor or its management team. In addition, even in the absence of FB Advisor retaining additional clients, it is possible that some investment opportunities may be provided to FS Energy and Power Fund, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III and/or FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund rather than to us.
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We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2015, 68.7% of our portfolio investments (based on fair value) paid variable interest rates, 23.1% paid fixed interest rates, 3.1% were income producing equity or other investments, and the remaining 5.1% consisted of non-income producing equity or other investments. A rise in the general level of interest rates can be expected to lead to higher interest rates applicable to any variable rate investments we hold and to declines in the value of any fixed rate investments we hold. However, many of our variable rate investments provide for an interest rate floor, which may prevent our interest income from increasing until benchmark interest rates increase beyond a threshold amount. To the extent that a substantial portion of our investments may be in variable rate investments, an increase in interest rates beyond this threshold would make it easier for us to meet or exceed the hurdle rate applicable to the subordinated incentive fee on income, and may result in a substantial increase in our net investment income and to the amount of incentive fees payable to FB Advisor with respect to our increased pre-incentive fee net investment income.
Pursuant to the terms of the Broad Street credit facility and the ING credit facility, Broad Street and the Company, respectively, borrow at a floating rate based on a benchmark interest rate. Under the terms of the agreements governing the terms of the JPM Facility, Race Street pays interest to JPM at a fixed rate. Under the indenture governing the 4.000% notes and the 4.250% notes, the Company pays interest to the holders of such notes at a fixed rate. To the extent that any present or future credit facilities or other financing arrangements that we or any of our subsidiaries enter into are based on a floating interest rate, we will be subject to risks relating to changes in market interest rates. In periods of rising interest rates when we or our subsidiaries have such debt outstanding, or financing arrangements in effect, our interest expense would increase, which could reduce our net investment income, especially to the extent we hold fixed rate investments.
The following table shows the effect over a twelve month period of changes in interest rates on our interest income, interest expense and net interest income, assuming no changes in the composition of our investment portfolio, including the accrual status of our investments, and our financing arrangements in effect as of March 31, 2015 (dollar amounts are presented in thousands):
Basis Point Change in Interest Rates
Down 25 basis points
No change
Up 100 basis points
Up 300 basis points
Up 500 basis points
We expect that our long-term investments will be financed primarily with equity and debt. If deemed prudent, we may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to minimize our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not engage in interest rate hedging activities.
In addition, we may have risk regarding portfolio valuation. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Valuation of Portfolio Investments.”
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Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2015.
Based on the foregoing, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that we would meet our disclosure obligations.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three month period ended March 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, is any material legal proceeding threatened against us. From time to time, we may be party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. While the outcome of any legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that these proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
The table below provides information concerning purchases of our shares of common stock by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined by Rule 10b-18(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act during the period ended March 31, 2015. Dollar amounts in the table below and the related notes are presented in thousands, except for share and per share amounts.
Period
March 16 to March 31, 2015
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Item 5. Other Information.
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Item 6. Exhibits
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on May 11, 2015.
/s/ Michael C. Forman
Michael C. Forman
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ William Goebel
William Goebel
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
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