Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation Announces First Fiscal Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Declares Quarterly Distribution of $0.55 Per Share

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (NASDAQ: OCSL) (“Oaktree Specialty Lending” or the “Company”), a specialty finance company, today announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023

  • Total investment income was $98.0 million ($1.26 per share) for the first fiscal quarter of 2024, as compared with $101.9 million ($1.32 per share) for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023. Adjusted total investment income was $98.0 million ($1.26 per share) for the first fiscal quarter, as compared with $102.2 million ($1.32 per share) for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023. The decrease for the quarter was primarily driven by lower interest income, mainly due to an increase in non-accrual investments, partially offset by higher fee income and higher dividend income.
  • GAAP net investment income was $44.2 million ($0.57 per share) for the first fiscal quarter of 2024, as compared with $47.5 million ($0.62 per share) for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023. The decrease for the quarter was primarily driven by lower total investment income, partially offset by lower part I incentive fees.
  • Adjusted net investment income was $44.2 million ($0.57 per share) for the first fiscal quarter of 2024, as compared with $47.8 million ($0.62 per share) for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023. The decrease for the quarter was primarily driven by lower adjusted total investment income, partially offset by lower part I incentive fees.
  • Net asset value (“NAV”) per share was $19.14 as of December 31, 2023, down as compared with $19.63 as of September 30, 2023. The decline from September 30, 2023 primarily reflected realized and unrealized losses on certain debt and equity investments and the impact of the December 2023 special distribution.
  • Originated $370.3 million of new investment commitments and received $213.5 million of proceeds from prepayments, exits, other paydowns and sales during the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The weighted average yield on new debt investments was 11.6%.
  • Total debt outstanding was $1,660.0 million as of December 31, 2023. The total debt to equity ratio was 1.10x, and the net debt to equity ratio was 1.02x, after adjusting for cash and cash equivalents.
  • Liquidity as of December 31, 2023 was composed of $112.4 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $907.5 million of undrawn capacity under the Company’s credit facilities (subject to borrowing base and other limitations). Unfunded investment commitments were $226.6 million, or $199.5 million excluding unfunded commitments to the Company’s joint ventures. Of the $199.5 million, approximately $165.9 million can be drawn immediately with the remaining amount subject to certain milestones that must be met by portfolio companies or other restrictions.
  • A quarterly cash distribution was declared of $0.55 per share. The distribution is payable in cash on March 29, 2024 to stockholders of record on March 15, 2024.

Armen Panossian, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, said, “Our first quarter results were highlighted by strong origination activity and adjusted net investment income that supports our cash distribution. We leveraged the breadth of the Oaktree platform to invest $370 million across sponsor, non-sponsor and discounted publicly traded credit investments, generating net portfolio growth with a diverse set of attractive opportunities.”

“During the quarter, however, we experienced idiosyncratic performance challenges at four portfolio investments, resulting in a decline in NAV and an increase in non-accruals,” Panossian added. “We are drawing upon Oaktree’s deep resources and expertise in navigating turnarounds, and we believe we are well-positioned to manage these specific situations and maintain strong overall credit quality.”

Distribution Declaration

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.55 per share. The distribution is payable in cash on March 29, 2024 to stockholders of record on March 15, 2024.

Distributions are paid primarily from distributable (taxable) income. To the extent taxable earnings for a fiscal taxable year fall below the total amount of distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a return of capital to the Company’s stockholders.

Results of Operations

    For the three months ended
($ in thousands, except per share data)   December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
GAAP operating results:            
Interest income   $ 91,414     $ 94,732     $ 69,978  
PIK interest income     3,849       5,544       6,130  
Fee income     1,307       572       2,021  
Dividend income     1,415       1,057       1,050  
Total investment income     97,985       101,905       79,179  
Net expenses     53,796       54,407       40,293  
Excise tax                 (78 )
Net investment income     44,189       47,498       38,808  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes     (33,654 )     (1,546 )     (25,636 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   $ 10,535     $ 45,952     $ 13,172  
Total investment income per common share   $ 1.26     $ 1.32     $ 1.30  
Net investment income per common share   $ 0.57     $ 0.62     $ 0.63  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes per common share   $ (0.43 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.42 )
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic and diluted   $ 0.14     $ 0.60     $ 0.22  
Non-GAAP Financial Measures1:            
Adjusted total investment income   $ 98,014     $ 102,157     $ 77,433  
Adjusted net investment income   $ 44,218     $ 47,750     $ 37,062  
Adjusted net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes   $ (32,858 )   $ (1,668 )   $ (23,890 )
Adjusted earnings (loss)   $ 11,360     $ 46,082     $ 13,172  
Adjusted total investment income per share   $ 1.26     $ 1.32     $ 1.27  
Adjusted net investment income per share   $ 0.57     $ 0.62     $ 0.61  
Adjusted net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes per share   $ (0.42 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.39 )
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share   $ 0.15     $ 0.60     $ 0.22  

______________________
1See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for a description of the non-GAAP measures and the reconciliations from the most comparable GAAP financial measures to the Company’s non-GAAP measures, including on a per share basis. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to analyze and evaluate financial results and performance and believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing results and trends for the Company and to review the Company’s performance without giving effect to non-cash income/gain/loss resulting from the merger of Oaktree Strategic Income Corporation (“OCSI”) with and into the Company in March 2021 (the “OCSI Merger”) and the merger of Oaktree Strategic Income II, Inc. (“OSI2”) with and into the Company in January 2023 (the “OSI2 Merger”) and, in the case of adjusted net investment income, without giving effect to capital gains incentive fees. The presentation of non-GAAP measures is not intended to be a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation.

    As of
($ in thousands, except per share data and ratios)   December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023   December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
Select balance sheet and other data:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 112,369   $ 136,450   $ 17,382
Investment portfolio at fair value     3,018,552     2,892,420     2,642,870
Total debt outstanding (net of unamortized financing costs)     1,622,717     1,600,731     1,463,624
Net assets     1,511,651     1,515,764     1,201,989
Net asset value per share     19.14     19.63     19.63
Total debt to equity ratio   1.10x   1.10x   1.26x
Net debt to equity ratio   1.02x   1.01x   1.24x

Adjusted total investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was $98.0 million and included $91.4 million of interest income from portfolio investments, $3.8 million of payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest income, $1.3 million of fee income and $1.4 million of dividend income. The $4.1 million decline in adjusted total investment income was attributable to $5.2 million of lower interest income, mainly due to an increase in non-accrual investments during the quarter, partially offset by a $0.7 million increase in fee income mainly driven by prepayment and exit fees and a $0.4 million increase in dividend income from the Company’s investment in Senior Loan Fund JV I, LLC (“SLF JV I”).

Net expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 totaled $53.8 million, down $0.6 million from the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in net expenses was primarily driven by lower part I incentive fees during the quarter.

Adjusted net investment income was $44.2 million ($0.57 per share) for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, down from $47.8 million ($0.62 per share) for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The decline of $3.5 million primarily reflected $4.1 million of lower adjusted total investment income, partially offset by $0.6 million of lower net expenses.

Adjusted net realized and unrealized losses, net of taxes, was $32.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, primarily reflecting realized and unrealized losses on certain debt and equity investments.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

    As of
($ in thousands)   December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
Investments at fair value   $ 3,018,552     $ 2,892,420     $ 2,642,870  
Number of portfolio companies     146       143       156  
Average portfolio company debt size   $ 20,200     $ 19,800     $ 16,500  
             
Asset class:            
Senior secured debt     86.3 %     86.5 %     86.3 %
Unsecured debt     2.5 %     1.9 %     2.4 %
Equity     4.8 %     5.0 %     4.3 %
JV interests     6.4 %     6.6 %     7.0 %
             
Non-accrual debt investments:            
Non-accrual investments at fair value   $ 120,713     $ 48,743     $  
Non-accrual investments as a percentage of debt investments at fair value     4.2 %     1.8 %     %
Non-accrual investments as a percentage of debt investments at cost     5.9 %     2.4 %     %
Number of investments on non-accrual     7       4        
             
Interest rate type:            
Percentage floating-rate     84.3 %     86.2 %     87.3 %
Percentage fixed-rate     15.7 %     13.8 %     12.7 %
             
Yields:            
Weighted average yield on debt investments1     12.2 %     12.7 %     11.6 %
Cash component of weighted average yield on debt investments     11.1 %     11.2 %     10.3 %
Weighted average yield on total portfolio investments2     11.7 %     12.0 %     11.2 %
             
Investment activity:            
New investment commitments   $ 370,300     $ 87,500     $ 250,300  
New funded investment activity3   $ 367,600     $ 117,100     $ 274,400  
Proceeds from prepayments, exits, other paydowns and sales   $ 213,500     $ 364,400     $ 104,400  
Net new investments4   $ 154,100     $ (247,300 )   $ 170,000  
Number of new investment commitments in new portfolio companies     14       3       18  
Number of new investment commitments in existing portfolio companies     10       3       7  
Number of portfolio company exits     10       16       11  

______________________
1Annual stated yield earned plus net annual amortization of OID or premium earned on accruing investments, including the Company’s share of the return on debt investments in SLF JV I and Glick JV, and excluding any amortization or accretion of interest income resulting solely from the cost basis established by ASC 805 (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below) for the assets acquired in connection with the OCSI Merger and OSI2 Merger.
2Annual stated yield earned plus net annual amortization of OID or premium earned on accruing investments and dividend income, including the Company’s share of the return on debt investments in SLF JV I and Glick JV, and excluding any amortization or accretion of interest income resulting solely from the cost basis established by ASC 805 for the assets acquired in connection with the OCSI Merger and OSI2 Merger.
3New funded investment activity includes drawdowns on existing revolver and delayed draw term loan commitments.
4Net new investments consists of new funded investment activity less proceeds from prepayments, exits, other paydowns and sales.

As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the investment portfolio was $3.0 billion and was composed of investments in 146 companies. These included debt investments in 133 companies, equity investments in 40 companies, and the Company’s joint venture investments in SLF JV I and OCSI Glick JV LLC (“Glick JV”). 29 of the equity investments were in companies in which the Company also had a debt investment.

As of December 31, 2023, 94.2% of the Company’s portfolio at fair value consisted of debt investments, including 77.9% of first lien loans, 8.4% of second lien loans and 7.9% of unsecured debt investments, including the debt investments in SLF JV I and Glick JV. This compared to 76.4% of first lien loans, 10.1% of second lien loans and 7.5% of unsecured debt investments, including the debt investments in SLF JV I and Glick JV, as of September 30, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023, there were seven investments on non-accrual status, which represented 5.9% and 4.2% of the debt portfolio at cost and fair value, respectively. This is up from four investments on non-accrual status in the prior quarter, which represented 2.4% and 1.8% of the debt portfolio at cost and fair value, respectively.

SLF JV I

The Company’s investments in SLF JV I totaled $142.2 million at fair value as of December 31, 2023, up 0.5% from $141.5 million as of September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by SLF JV I’s use of leverage and unrealized appreciation in the underlying investment portfolio.

As of December 31, 2023, SLF JV I had $372.8 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 52 portfolio companies. This compared to $376.1 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 48 portfolio companies, as of September 30, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, no investments held by SLF JV I were on non-accrual status. SLF JV I generated cash interest income of $3.6 million for the Company during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, up from $3.5 million in the prior quarter. In addition, SLF JV I generated dividend income of $1.4 million for the Company during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, up from $1.1 million in the prior quarter. As of December 31, 2023, SLF JV I had $121.0 million of undrawn capacity (subject to borrowing base and other limitations) on its $270 million senior revolving credit facility, and its debt to equity ratio was 1.1x.

Glick JV

The Company’s investments in Glick JV totaled $51.0 million at fair value as of December 31, 2023, up 1.9% from $50.0 million as of September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by Glick JV I’s use of leverage and unrealized appreciation in the underlying investment portfolio.

As of December 31, 2023, Glick JV had $139.2 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 42 portfolio companies. This compared to $141.2 million in assets, including senior secured loans to 38 portfolio companies, as of September 30, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, no investments held by Glick JV were on non-accrual status. Glick JV generated cash interest income of $1.5 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, flat as compared to the prior quarter. As of December 31, 2023, Glick JV had $27.0 million of undrawn capacity (subject to borrowing base and other limitations) on its $80 million senior revolving credit facility, and its debt to equity ratio was 1.1x.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had total principal value of debt outstanding of $1,660.0 million, including $710.0 million of outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facilities, $300.0 million of the 3.500% Notes due 2025, $350.0 million of the 2.700% Notes due 2027 and $300.0 million of the 7.100% Notes due 2029. The funding mix was composed of 43% secured and 57% unsecured borrowings as of December 31, 2023. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under its credit facilities as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $112.4 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $907.5 million of undrawn capacity on its credit facilities (subject to borrowing base and other limitations). As of December 31, 2023, unfunded investment commitments were $226.6 million, or $199.5 million excluding unfunded commitments to the Company’s joint ventures. Of the $199.5 million, approximately $165.9 million could be drawn immediately with the remaining amount subject to certain milestones that must be met by portfolio companies. The Company has analyzed cash and cash equivalents, availability under its credit facilities, the ability to rotate out of certain assets and amounts of unfunded commitments that could be drawn and believes its liquidity and capital resources are sufficient to invest in market opportunities as they arise.

As of December 31, 2023, the weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding, including the effect of the interest rate swap agreements, was 7.0%, unchanged from the prior quarter.

The Company’s total debt to equity ratio was 1.10x as of each of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023. The Company’s net debt to equity ratio was 1.02x and 1.01x as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

On a supplemental basis, the Company is disclosing certain adjusted financial measures, each of which is calculated and presented on a basis of methodology other than in accordance with GAAP (“non-GAAP”). The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to analyze and evaluate financial results and performance and believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing results and trends for the Company and to review the Company’s performance without giving effect to non-cash income/gain/loss resulting from the OCSI Merger and the OSI2 Merger and in the case of adjusted net investment income, without giving effect to capital gains incentive fees. The presentation of the below non-GAAP measures is not intended to be a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation.

  • “Adjusted Total Investment Income” and “Adjusted Total Investment Income Per Share” – represents total investment income excluding any amortization or accretion of interest income resulting solely from the cost basis established by ASC 805 (see below) for the assets acquired in connection with the OCSI Merger and the OSI2 Merger.
  • “Adjusted Net Investment Income” and “Adjusted Net Investment Income Per Share” – represents net investment income, excluding (i) any amortization or accretion of interest income resulting solely from the cost basis established by ASC 805 (see below) for the assets acquired in connection with the OCSI Merger and the OSI2 Merger and (ii) capital gains incentive fees (“Part II incentive fees”).
  • “Adjusted Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses), Net of Taxes” and “Adjusted Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses), Net of Taxes Per Share” – represents net realized and unrealized gains (losses) net of taxes excluding any net realized and unrealized gains (losses) resulting solely from the cost basis established by ASC 805 (see below) for the assets acquired in connection with the OCSI Merger and the OSI2 Merger.
  • “Adjusted Earnings (Loss)” and “Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share” – represents the sum of (i) Adjusted Net Investment Income and (ii) Adjusted Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses), Net of Taxes and includes the impact of Part II incentive fees1, if any.

The OCSI Merger and the OSI2 Merger (the “Mergers”) were accounted for as asset acquisitions in accordance with the asset acquisition method of accounting as detailed in ASC 805-50, Business Combinations—Related Issues (“ASC 805”). The consideration paid to each of the stockholders of OCSI and OSI2 were allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the relative fair values of the net identifiable assets acquired other than “non-qualifying” assets, which established a new cost basis for the acquired investments under ASC 805 that, in aggregate, was different than the historical cost basis of the acquired investments prior to the OCSI Merger or the OSI2 Merger, as applicable. Additionally, immediately following the completion of the Mergers, the acquired investments were marked to their respective fair values under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, which resulted in unrealized appreciation/depreciation. The new cost basis established by ASC 805 on debt investments acquired will accrete/amortize over the life of each respective debt investment through interest income, with a corresponding adjustment recorded to unrealized appreciation/depreciation on such investment acquired through its ultimate disposition. The new cost basis established by ASC 805 on equity investments acquired will not accrete/amortize over the life of such investments through interest income and, assuming no subsequent change to the fair value of the equity investments acquired and disposition of such equity investments at fair value, the Company will recognize a realized gain/loss with a corresponding reversal of the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on disposition of such equity investments acquired.

The Company’s management uses the non-GAAP financial measures described above internally to analyze and evaluate financial results and performance and to compare its financial results with those of other business development companies that have not adjusted the cost basis of certain investments pursuant to ASC 805. The Company’s management believes “Adjusted Total Investment Income”, “Adjusted Total Investment Income Per Share”, “Adjusted Net Investment Income” and “Adjusted Net Investment Income Per Share” are useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing results and trends for the Company without giving effect to the income resulting from the new cost basis of the investments acquired in the Mergers because these amounts do not impact the fees payable to Oaktree Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) under its second amended and restated advisory agreement (the “A&R Advisory Agreement”), and specifically as its relates to “Adjusted Net Investment Income” and “Adjusted Net Investment Income Per Share”, without giving effect to Part II incentive fees. In addition, the Company’s management believes that “Adjusted Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses), Net of Taxes”, “Adjusted Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses), Net of Taxes Per Share”, “Adjusted Earnings (Loss)” and “Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share” are useful to investors as they exclude the non-cash income and gain/loss resulting from the Mergers and are used by management to evaluate the economic earnings of its investment portfolio. Moreover, these metrics more closely align the Company’s key financial measures with the calculation of incentive fees payable to the Adviser under with the A&R Advisory Agreement (i.e., excluding amounts resulting solely from the lower cost basis of the acquired investments established by ASC 805 that would have been to the benefit of the Adviser absent such exclusion).

____________________
1Adjusted earnings (loss) includes accrued Part II incentive fees. As of and for the three months ended December 31, 2023, there was no accrued Part II incentive fee liability. Part II incentive fees are contractually calculated and paid at the end of the fiscal year in accordance with the A&R Advisory Agreement, which differs from Part II incentive fees accrued under GAAP. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, no amounts were payable under the A&R Advisory Agreement.

The following table provides a reconciliation of total investment income (the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure) to adjusted total investment income for the periods presented:

    For the three months ended
    December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
($ in thousands, except per share data)   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share
GAAP total investment income   $ 97,985   $ 1.26   $ 101,905   $ 1.32   $ 79,179     $ 1.30  
Interest income amortization (accretion) related to merger accounting adjustments     29         252         (1,746 )     (0.03 )
Adjusted total investment income   $ 98,014   $ 1.26   $ 102,157   $ 1.32   $ 77,433     $ 1.27  

The following table provides a reconciliation of net investment income (the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure) to adjusted net investment income for the periods presented:

    For the three months ended
    December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
($ in thousands, except per share data)   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share
GAAP net investment income   $ 44,189   $ 0.57   $ 47,498   $ 0.62   $ 38,808     $ 0.63  
Interest income amortization (accretion) related to merger accounting adjustments     29         252         (1,746 )     (0.03 )
Part II incentive fee                            
Adjusted net investment income   $ 44,218   $ 0.57   $ 47,750   $ 0.62   $ 37,062     $ 0.61  

The following table provides a reconciliation of net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure) to adjusted net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes for the periods presented:

    For the three months ended
    December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
($ in thousands, except per share data)   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share
GAAP net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes   $ (33,654 )   $ (0.43 )   $ (1,546 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (25,636 )   $ (0.42 )
Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) related to merger accounting adjustments     796       0.01       (122 )           1,746       0.03  
Adjusted net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes   $ (32,858 )   $ (0.42 )   $ (1,668 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (23,890 )   $ (0.39 )

The following table provides a reconciliation of net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure) to adjusted earnings (loss) for the periods presented:

    For the three months ended
    December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2022
(unaudited)
($ in thousands, except per share data)   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   $ 10,535   $ 0.14   $ 45,952     $ 0.60   $ 13,172     $ 0.22  
Interest income amortization (accretion) related to merger accounting adjustments     29         252           (1,746 )     (0.03 )
Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) related to merger accounting adjustments     796     0.01     (122 )         1,746       0.03  
Adjusted earnings (loss)   $ 11,360   $ 0.15   $ 46,082     $ 0.60   $ 13,172     $ 0.22  

Conference Call Information

Oaktree Specialty Lending will host a conference call to discuss its first fiscal quarter 2024 results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 1, 2024. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (877) 507-3275 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 317-5238 (non-U.S. callers). All callers will need to reference “Oaktree Specialty Lending” once connected with the operator. Alternatively, a live webcast of the conference call can be accessed through the Investors section of Oaktree Specialty Lending’s website, www.oaktreespecialtylending.com. During the conference call, the Company intends to refer to an investor presentation that will be available on the Investors section of its website.

For those individuals unable to listen to the live broadcast of the conference call, a replay will be available on Oaktree Specialty Lending’s website, or by dialing (877) 344-7529 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 317-0088 (non-U.S. callers), access code 2845273, beginning approximately one hour after the broadcast.

About Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (NASDAQ:OCSL) is a specialty finance company dedicated to providing customized one-stop credit solutions to companies with limited access to public or syndicated capital markets. The Company’s investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by providing companies with flexible and innovative financing solutions including first and second lien loans, unsecured and mezzanine loans, and preferred equity. The Company is regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is externally managed by Oaktree Fund Advisors, LLC, an affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. For additional information, please visit Oaktree Specialty Lending’s website at www.oaktreespecialtylending.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events, future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements may include statements as to: future operating results of the Company and distribution projections; business prospects of the Company and the prospects of its portfolio companies; and the impact of the investments that the Company expects to make. In addition, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “plan,” “should,” “estimate,” “project” and “intend” indicate forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected, including the uncertainties associated with (i) changes in the economy, financial markets and political environment, including the impacts of inflation and rising interest rates; (ii) risks associated with possible disruption in the operations of the Company or the economy generally due to terrorism, war or other geopolitical conflict (including the current conflicts in Ukraine and Israel), natural disasters, pandemics or cybersecurity incidents; (iii) future changes in laws or regulations (including the interpretation of these laws and regulations by regulatory authorities); (iv) conditions in the Company’s operating areas, particularly with respect to business development companies or regulated investment companies; and (v) other considerations that may be disclosed from time to time in the Company’s publicly disseminated documents and filings. The Company has based the forward-looking statements included in this press release on information available to it on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that it may make directly to you or through reports that the Company in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation
Michael Mosticchio
(212) 284-1900
[email protected]

Media Relations:
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Moira Conlon
(310) 478-2700
[email protected]

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

  December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
  September 30,
2023
ASSETS      
Investments at fair value:      
Control investments (cost December 31, 2023: $363,124; cost September 30, 2023: $345,245) $ 316,309     $ 297,091  
Affiliate investments (cost December 31, 2023: $26,916; cost September 30, 2023: $24,898)   24,442       23,349  
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (cost December 31, 2023: $2,797,710; cost September 30, 2023: $2,673,976)   2,677,801       2,571,980  
Total investments at fair value (cost December 31, 2023: $3,187,750; cost September 30, 2023: $3,044,119)   3,018,552       2,892,420  
Cash and cash equivalents   112,369       136,450  
Restricted cash   19,328       9,089  
Interest, dividends and fees receivable   43,038       44,570  
Due from portfolio companies   7,912       6,317  
Receivables from unsettled transactions   23,931       55,441  
Due from broker   26,520       54,260  
Deferred financing costs   11,827       12,541  
Deferred offering costs   131       160  
Derivative assets at fair value         4,910  
Other assets   2,587       1,681  
Total assets $ 3,266,195     $ 3,217,839  
       
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS      
Liabilities:      
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 3,273     $ 2,950  
Base management fee and incentive fee payable   19,004       19,547  
Due to affiliate   3,815       4,310  
Interest payable   18,980       16,007  
Director fees payable   160        
Payables from unsettled transactions   57,279       11,006  
Derivative liability at fair value   29,316       47,519  
Deferred tax liability         5  
Credit facilities payable   710,000       710,000  
Unsecured notes payable (net of $6,534 and $7,076 of unamortized financing costs as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively)   912,717       890,731  
Total liabilities   1,754,544       1,702,075  
Commitments and contingencies      
Net assets:      
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 250,000 shares authorized; 78,965 and 77,225 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively   790       772  
Additional paid-in-capital   2,200,561       2,166,330  
Accumulated overdistributed earnings   (689,700 )     (651,338 )
Total net assets (equivalent to $19.14 and $19.63 per common share as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively)   1,511,651       1,515,764  
Total liabilities and net assets $ 3,266,195     $ 3,217,839  

Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

  Three months ended
December 31, 2023 (unaudited)
  Three months ended
September 30, 2023 (unaudited)
  Three months ended
December 31, 2022 (unaudited)
Interest income:          
Control investments $ 6,005     $ 5,877     $ 4,567  
Affiliate investments   324       650       641  
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   82,721       86,346       64,298  
Interest on cash and cash equivalents   2,364       1,859       472  
Total interest income   91,414       94,732       69,978  
PIK interest income:          
Control investments   544       309        
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   3,305       5,235       6,130  
Total PIK interest income   3,849       5,544       6,130  
Fee income:          
Control investments   13       13       13  
Affiliate investments   5       5       5  
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   1,289       554       2,003  
Total fee income   1,307       572       2,021  
Dividend income:          
Control investments   1,400       1,050       1,050  
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   15       7        
Total dividend income   1,415       1,057       1,050  
Total investment income   97,985       101,905       79,179  
Expenses:          
Base management fee   11,477       11,516       9,917  
Part I incentive fee   9,028       9,531       7,703  
Professional fees   1,504       1,282       1,500  
Directors fees   160       160       160  
Interest expense   32,170       32,326       20,719  
Administrator expense   366       317       298  
General and administrative expenses   591       775       746  
Total expenses   55,296       55,907       41,043  
Fees waived   (1,500 )     (1,500 )     (750 )
Net expenses   53,796       54,407       40,293  
Net investment income before taxes   44,189       47,498       38,886  
Excise tax               (78 )
Net investment income   44,189       47,498       38,808  
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation):          
Control investments   1,339       (1,114 )     (3,309 )
Affiliate investments   (925 )     (90 )     3  
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   (17,615 )     10,088       (8,675 )
Foreign currency forward contracts   (7,824 )     4,861       (11,001 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   (25,025 )     13,745       (22,982 )
Realized gains (losses):          
Control investments   786              
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments   (13,340 )     (12,986 )     (7,651 )
Foreign currency forward contracts   4,101       (252 )     4,448  
Net realized gains (losses)   (8,453 )     (13,238 )     (3,203 )
(Provision) benefit for taxes on realized and unrealized gains (losses)   (176 )     (2,053 )     549  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes   (33,654 )     (1,546 )     (25,636 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 10,535     $ 45,952     $ 13,172  
Net investment income per common share — basic and diluted $ 0.57     $ 0.62     $ 0.63  
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic and diluted $ 0.14     $ 0.60     $ 0.22  
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted   77,840       77,130       61,142  


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