NEW YORK--()--New Mountain Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: NMFC) (“New Mountain,” “New Mountain Finance” or the “Company”) today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter and Recent Highlights1

  • Net investment income of $34.5 million, or $0.32 per weighted average share
  • Net asset value of $12.55 per share compared to $12.62 per share as of September 30, 2024
  • Sustained strong credit performance with approximately 97% of the portfolio rated green
  • Reduced statutory debt/equity3 to 1.15x (or 1.11x net of available cash)
  • Declared a first quarter 2025 distribution of $0.32 per share, payable on March 31, 2025 to holders of record as of March 17, 2025
  • On February 25, 2025, NMFC partially exited its investment in UniTek Global Services, Inc. ("UniTek"). NMFC was repaid $42 million, primarily from full redemption of UniTek's PIK Second Lien Term Loan and PIK Senior Preferred II investment.
($ in millions, except per share data)

 

Q4 2024

 

Q4 2023

Net Investment Income per Weighted Average Share

 

$

0.32

 

 

$

0.40

 

Regular & Supplemental Dividends Paid per Share in Quarter

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.36

 

Annualized Dividend Yield4

 

 

10.7

%

 

 

11.3

%

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

September 30, 2024

Investment Portfolio5

 

$

3,104.5

 

$

3,278.8

NAV per Share

 

$

12.55

 

$

12.62

Statutory Debt/Equity3

 

1.15x

 

1.26x

Statutory Debt/Equity (Net of Available Cash)3

 

1.11x

 

1.23x

Management Comments on Fourth Quarter Performance

"NMFC is off to a strong start in 2025," said Steven B. Klinsky, NMFC Chairman. "The partial sale of UniTek is an important milestone for NMFC. The transaction values UniTek at $370 million, above our current mark. NMFC and affiliates will retain 31% ownership in the company which we believe has very good future prospects related to fiber deployment and AI infrastructure."

John R. Kline, CEO, commented: "NMFC delivered steady results while preserving excellent credit performance in the fourth quarter of 2024. Over the course of 2024, we made meaningful progress on increasing our senior-oriented asset mix. Building on that momentum, the recently announced UniTek transaction highlighted the New Mountain team’s business building capabilities and deal execution skills. In 2025, we will remain focused on our strategic priorities which include diversifying NMFC’s top positions, optimizing the fund’s liabilities, and exiting PIK positions."

Portfolio and Investment Activity5

As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s NAV1 was $1,353.3 million and its portfolio had a fair value of $3,104.5 million of investments in 121 portfolio companies, with a weighted average YTM at Cost6 of approximately 11.0%. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, the Company generated $33.1 million of originations2, $158.9 million of cash repayments2 and realized $58.9 million of asset sales.

Portfolio and Asset Quality

NMFC’s mandate is to primarily target businesses in the middle market that, consistent with New Mountain’s private equity platform, are high quality, defensive growth companies in industries that are well-researched by New Mountain. The Company’s focus is on defensive growth businesses that generally exhibit the following characteristics: (i) acyclicality, (ii) sustainable secular growth drivers, (iii) niche market dominance and high barriers to competitive entry, (iv) recurring revenue and strong free cash flow, (v) flexible cost structures and (vi) seasoned management teams.

Portfolio Industry Composition based on Fair Value8

Software

 

Business Services

 

ERP

7.2

%

 

 

Engineering & Consulting Services

5.8

%

 

IT Infrastructure & Security

5.7

%

 

 

Real Estate Services

4.4

%

 

Human Capital Management

5.5

%

 

 

Misc Services

3.7

%

 

Ecommerce & Logistics

4.2

%

 

 

Digital Transformation

2.1

%

 

Governance, Risk & Compliance

3.7

%

 

 

Insurance & Benefits Services

1.8

%

 

Finance & Accounting

3.2

%

 

 

Utility Services

1.0

%

 

Integrated Payments

1.7

%

 

 

Data & Information Services

0.2

%

Total Software

31.2

%

 

Total Business Services

19.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare

 

Other Industries

 

 

Healthcare Services

10.5

%

 

 

Consumer Services

7.1

%

 

Healthcare Software

5.9

%

 

 

Education

6.9

%

 

Pharma Services

1.1

%

 

 

Financial Services

4.6

%

 

Tech-Enabled Healthcare

0.8

%

 

 

Distribution & Logistics

4.4

%

 

Healthcare Products

0.2

%

 

 

Packaging

2.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

Other

5.8

%

Total Healthcare

18.5

%

 

Total Other Industries

31.3

%

 

The Company monitors the performance and financial trends of its portfolio companies on at least a quarterly basis. The Company attempts to identify any developments within the portfolio company, the industry, or the macroeconomic environment that may alter any material element of the Company’s original investment strategy. As described more fully in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the portfolio monitoring procedures are designed to provide a simple, yet comprehensive analysis of the Company’s portfolio companies based on their operating performance and underlying business characteristics, which in turn forms the basis of its Risk Rating. The Risk Rating is expressed in categories of Green, Yellow, Orange and Red with Green reflecting an investment that is in-line with or above expectations and Red reflecting an investment performing materially below expectations.

The following table shows the Risk Rating of the Company’s portfolio companies as of December 31, 2024:

(in millions)

As of December 31, 2024

Risk Rating

 

Cost

 

Percent

 

Fair Value

 

Percent

 

Weighted Average Mark

Green7

 

$

2,951.6

 

94.3

%

 

$

2,996.7

 

96.5

%

 

98.5

%

Yellow5

 

 

107.2

 

3.4

%

 

 

70.3

 

2.3

%

 

65.5

%

Orange

 

 

73.1

 

2.3

%

 

 

37.5

 

1.2

%

 

65.1

%

Red

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

3,131.9

 

100.0

%

 

$

3,104.5

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2024, all investments in the Company’s portfolio had a Green Risk Rating, with the exception of five portfolio companies that had a Yellow Risk Rating and six portfolio companies that had an Orange Risk Rating. As of December 31, 2024, there were no portfolio companies that had a Red Risk Rating.

The following table shows the Company’s investment portfolio composition as of December 31, 2024:

(in millions)

 

 

 

 

Investment Portfolio Composition

 

December 31, 2024

 

Percent of Total

First Lien

 

$

1,956.6

 

62.9

%

Senior Loan Funds (SLP III & SLP IV) & NMNLC

 

 

387.2

 

12.5

%

Second Lien5

 

 

210.6

 

6.8

%

Subordinated

 

 

102.0

 

3.3

%

Preferred Equity

 

 

247.3

 

8.0

%

Common Equity and Other9

 

 

200.8

 

6.5

%

Total

 

$

3,104.5

 

100.0

%

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $80.3 million and total statutory debt outstanding of $1,560.9 million3. The Company's statutory debt to equity was 1.15x (or 1.11x net of available cash) as of December 31, 2024. Additionally, the Company had $300.0 million of SBA-guaranteed debentures outstanding as of December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $1,146.2 million of available capacity on its Holdings Credit Facility, NMFC Credit Facility and Unsecured Management Company Revolver.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Conference Call

New Mountain Finance Corporation will host an earnings conference call and webcast at 10:00 am Eastern Time on Thursday, February 27, 2025. To participate in the live earning conference call, please use the following dial-in numbers or visit the audio webcast link. To avoid any delays, please join at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call.

  • United States: +1 (877) 443-9109
  • International: +1 (412) 317-1082
  • Live Audio Webcast

A replay of the conference call can be accessed one hour after the end of the conference call through May 27, 2025. The full webcast replay will be available through February 27, 2026. To access the earnings webcast replay please visit the New Mountain Investor Relations website.

  • United States: +1 (877) 344-7529
  • International: +1 (412) 317-0088
  • Access Code: 1746429

For additional details related to the quarter ended December 31, 2024, please refer to the New Mountain Finance Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and the supplemental investor presentation which can be found on the Company's website at http://www.newmountainfinance.com.

_______________________________________________________________
(1)

Excludes non-controlling interest in New Mountain Net Lease Corporation (“NMNLC”).

(2)

Originations exclude payment-in-kind (“PIK”); originations, repayments, and sales excludes revolvers, unfunded commitments, bridges, return of capital, and realized gains / losses.

(3)

Excludes the Company’s United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) guaranteed debentures.

(4)

Dividend yield calculation uses the closing stock price of $11.94 on February 24, 2025 and $12.71 on February 24, 2024 and includes regular and supplemental dividends.

(5)

Includes collateral for securities purchased under collateralized agreements to resell.

(6)

References to “YTM at Cost” assume the accruing investments, including secured collateralized agreements, in the Company's portfolio as of a certain date, the ‘‘Portfolio Date’’, are purchased at cost on that date and held until their respective maturities with no prepayments or losses and are exited at par at maturity. This calculation excludes the impact of existing leverage. YTM at Cost uses the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate ("SONIA”), Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR") and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) curves at each quarter’s respective end date. The actual yield to maturity may be higher or lower due to the future selection of SONIA, EURIBOR and SOFR contracts by the individual companies in the Company’s portfolio or other factors.

(7)

Includes investments held in NMNLC.

(8)

Excludes NMFC Senior Loan Program III LLC ("SLP III"), NMFC Senior Loan Program IV LLC ("SLP IV") and NMNLC.

(9)

Includes investments classified as structured finance obligations.

New Mountain Finance Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities

(in thousands, except shares and per share data)

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Assets

 

 

 

Investments at fair value

 

 

 

Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments (cost of $2,298,083 and $2,283,490, respectively)

$

2,277,352

 

 

$

2,209,867

 

Non-controlled/affiliated investments (cost of $124,254 and $107,895, respectively)

 

112,776

 

 

 

133,659

 

Controlled investments (cost of $679,587 and $646,823, respectively)

 

700,896

 

 

 

667,796

 

Total investments at fair value (cost of $3,101,924 and $3,038,208, respectively)

 

3,091,024

 

 

 

3,011,322

 

Securities purchased under collateralized agreements to resell (cost of $30,000 and $30,000, respectively)

 

13,500

 

 

 

16,500

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

80,320

 

 

 

70,090

 

Interest and dividend receivable

 

42,379

 

 

 

44,107

 

Receivable from affiliates

 

213

 

 

 

82

 

Deferred tax asset

 

 

 

 

594

 

Other assets

 

19,265

 

 

 

16,519

 

Total assets

$

3,246,701

 

 

$

3,159,214

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

 

 

Unsecured Notes

$

978,503

 

 

$

506,500

 

SBA-guaranteed debentures

 

300,000

 

 

 

300,000

 

Holdings Credit Facility

 

294,363

 

 

 

515,063

 

Convertible Notes

 

260,091

 

 

 

260,207

 

NMFC Credit Facility

 

27,944

 

 

 

36,813

 

DB Credit Facility

 

 

 

 

186,400

 

NMNLC Credit Facility II

 

 

 

 

2,853

 

Deferred financing costs (net of accumulated amortization of $63,971 and $54,263, respectively)

 

(24,191

)

 

 

(22,387

)

Net borrowings

 

1,836,710

 

 

 

1,785,449

 

Interest payable

 

17,109

 

 

 

20,440

 

Management fee payable

 

10,467

 

 

 

10,116

 

Incentive fee payable

 

8,625

 

 

 

8,555

 

Derivative liability at fair value

 

7,423

 

 

 

 

Payable to broker

 

3,230

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liability

 

1,410

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

2,436

 

 

 

2,931

 

Total liabilities

 

1,887,410

 

 

 

1,827,491

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

Net assets

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized, and 107,851,415 and 102,558,859 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

1,079

 

 

 

1,026

 

Paid in capital in excess of par

 

1,365,852

 

 

 

1,331,269

 

Accumulated undistributed earnings

 

(13,592

)

 

 

(12,344

)

Total net assets of New Mountain Finance Corporation

$

1,353,339

 

 

$

1,319,951

 

Non-controlling interest in New Mountain Net Lease Corporation

 

5,952

 

 

 

11,772

 

Total net assets

$

1,359,291

 

 

$

1,331,723

 

Total liabilities and net assets

$

3,246,701

 

 

$

3,159,214

 

Number of shares outstanding

 

107,851,415

 

 

 

102,558,859

 

Net asset value per share of New Mountain Finance Corporation

$

12.55

 

 

$

12.87

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except shares and per share data)

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

2022

 

Investment income

 

 

 

 

 

 

From non-controlled/non-affiliated investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (excluding Payment-in-kind ("PIK") interest income)

$

232,023

 

 

$

249,851

 

 

$

184,367

 

 

PIK interest income

 

17,573

 

 

 

15,968

 

 

 

11,767

 

 

Dividend income

 

3,987

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

193

 

 

Non-cash dividend income

 

19,286

 

 

 

17,481

 

 

 

14,071

 

 

Other income

 

7,686

 

 

 

4,981

 

 

 

9,156

 

 

From non-controlled/affiliated investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (excluding PIK interest income)

 

1,443

 

 

 

1,951

 

 

 

1,062

 

 

PIK interest income

 

3,648

 

 

 

2,183

 

 

 

1,043

 

 

Non-cash dividend income

 

5,843

 

 

 

4,625

 

 

 

4,109

 

 

Other income

 

250

 

 

 

251

 

 

 

250

 

 

From controlled investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (excluding PIK interest income)

 

5,800

 

 

 

5,386

 

 

 

9,438

 

 

PIK interest income

 

15,649

 

 

 

15,443

 

 

 

4,516

 

 

Dividend income

 

48,640

 

 

 

45,905

 

 

 

43,149

 

 

Non-cash dividend income

 

6,446

 

 

 

5,303

 

 

 

4,363

 

 

Other income

 

3,392

 

 

 

5,315

 

 

 

7,146

 

 

Total investment income

 

371,666

 

 

 

374,836

 

 

 

294,630

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other financing expenses

 

136,636

 

 

 

124,784

 

 

 

92,421

 

 

Management fee

 

45,522

 

 

 

45,610

 

 

 

46,617

 

 

Incentive fee

 

36,385

 

 

 

38,303

 

 

 

29,901

 

 

Administrative expenses

 

4,222

 

 

 

4,101

 

 

 

4,131

 

 

Professional fees

 

4,379

 

 

 

3,771

 

 

 

3,433

 

 

Other general and administrative expenses

 

2,039

 

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

2,338

 

 

Total expenses

 

229,183

 

 

 

218,637

 

 

 

178,841

 

 

Less: management fee waived

 

(3,739

)

 

 

(4,117

)

 

 

(4,402

)

 

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(238

)

 

Net expenses

 

225,444

 

 

 

214,520

 

 

 

174,201

 

 

Net investment income before income taxes

 

146,222

 

 

 

160,316

 

 

 

120,429

 

 

Income tax expense

 

262

 

 

 

418

 

 

 

825

 

 

Net investment income

 

145,960

 

 

 

159,898

 

 

 

119,604

 

 

Net realized (losses) gains:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments

 

(45,365

)

 

 

(49,267

)

 

 

(737

)

 

Controlled investments

 

2,000

 

 

 

16,413

 

 

 

53,440

 

 

New Mountain Net Lease Corporation

 

1,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency

 

420

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

827

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments

 

52,581

 

 

 

47,956

 

 

 

(81,197

)

 

Non-controlled/affiliated investments

 

(37,242

)

 

 

(19,052

)

 

 

(9,156

)

 

Controlled investments

 

336

 

 

 

(18,588

)

 

 

6,219

 

 

Securities purchased under collateralized agreements to resell

 

(3,000

)

 

 

(39

)

 

 

(4,883

)

 

Foreign currency

 

(606

)

 

 

100

 

 

 

(1,115

)

 

Provision for taxes

 

(2,114

)

 

 

(1,344

)

 

 

(8,474

)

 

Net realized and unrealized losses

 

(31,457

)

 

 

(23,808

)

 

 

(45,076

)

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

 

114,503

 

 

 

136,090

 

 

 

74,528

 

 

Less: Net (increase) decrease in net assets resulting from operations related to non-controlling interest in New Mountain Net Lease Corporation

 

(1,060

)

 

 

(747

)

 

 

204

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations related to New Mountain Finance Corporation

$

113,443

 

 

$

135,343

 

 

$

74,732

 

 

Basic earnings per share

$

1.06

 

 

$

1.34

 

 

$

0.75

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - basic

 

106,570,782

 

 

 

101,118,302

 

 

 

100,202,847

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

1.03

 

 

$

1.24

 

 

$

0.74

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted

 

125,463,389

 

 

 

123,488,882

 

 

 

115,426,198

 

 

Distributions declared and paid per share

$

1.37

 

 

$

1.49

 

 

$

1.22

 

 

ABOUT NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

New Mountain Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: NMFC) is a leading business development company (BDC) focused on providing direct lending solutions to U.S. middle market companies backed by top private equity sponsors. Our portfolio consists primarily of senior secured loans, and select junior capital positions, to growing businesses in defensive industries that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns. Our differentiated investment approach leverages the deep sector knowledge and operating resources of New Mountain Capital, a global investment firm with over $55 billion of assets under management.

ABOUT NEW MOUNTAIN CAPITAL

New Mountain Capital ("NMC") is a New York-based investment firm that emphasizes business building and growth, rather than debt, as it pursues long-term capital appreciation. The firm currently manages private equity, credit and net lease investment strategies with over $55 billion in assets under management. New Mountain seeks out what it believes to be the highest quality growth leaders in carefully selected industry sectors and then works intensively with management to build the value of these companies. For more information on New Mountain Capital, please visit http://www.newmountaincapital.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included herein may contain “forward-looking statements”, which relate to our future operations, future performance or our financial condition. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in base interest rates and significant volatility on our business, portfolio companies, our industry and the global economy. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or factors that are beyond our control. New Mountain Finance Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein, except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the time of this press release.