Press Release: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund Announces September 30, 2025 Financial Results and Declares Fourth Quarter 2025 Regular Dividend of $0.50 per Share

Dow Jones11-07
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 06, 2025-- 

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE: MSDL) ("MSDL" or the "Company"), a business development company externally managed by MS Capital Partners Adviser Inc. (the "Adviser"), today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025.

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

   -- Net investment income of $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, as compared 
      to $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 
      2025; 
 
   -- Net asset value of $20.41 per share, as compared to $20.59 as of June 30, 
      2025; 
 
   -- Debt-to-equity was 1.17x as of September 30, 2025, as compared to 1.15x 
      as of June 30, 2025; 
 
   -- New investment commitments of $183.0 million (net of any syndications), 
      fundings of $198.0 million and sales and repayments of $199.9 million, 
      resulting in net funded deployment of ($1.9) million; 
 
   -- The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") declared a regular 
      dividend of $0.50 per share to shareholders of record as of September 30, 
      2025; and 
 
   -- The Company successfully priced and closed its inaugural CLO with 
      approximately $401mm of aggregate principal at a blended cost to the 
      Company of approximately S+ 1.70%. 

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 
                                                   For the Quarter Ended 
                                             --------------------------------- 
($ in thousands, except per share 
information)                                 September 30, 2025  June 30, 2025 
Net investment income per share                           $0.50          $0.50 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) 
 per share(1)                                           ($0.18)        ($0.09) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Earnings per share                                        $0.32          $0.41 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Regular dividend per share                                $0.50          $0.50 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
(1) Amount shown may not correspond for the period as it includes the effect 
of the timing of the distribution, shares repurchased and the issuance of 
common stock. 
 
 
                                                           As of 
                                             --------------------------------- 
($ in thousands, except per share 
information)                                 September 30, 2025  June 30, 2025 
Investments, at fair value                           $3,775,797     $3,785,496 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Total debt outstanding, at principal                 $2,078,120     $2,054,188 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Net assets                                           $1,771,611     $1,790,299 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Net asset value per share                                $20.41         $20.59 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Debt to equity                                            1.17x          1.15x 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
Net debt to equity                                        1.13x          1.10x 
-------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------- 
 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Total investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was $99.7 million, compared to $99.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Total net expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 were $56.0 million, compared to $55.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2025, net change in unrealized depreciation was $16.2 million.

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

As of September 30, 2025, the Company's investment portfolio had a fair value of approximately $3.8 billion, comprised of 218 portfolio companies across 33 industries, with an average investment size of $17.3 million, or 0.5% of our total portfolio on a fair value basis. The composition of the Company's investments was the following:

 
                            September 30, 2025                      June 30, 2025 
                    -----------------------------------  ----------------------------------- 
                                            % of Total                           % of Total 
                                            Investments                          Investments 
                                              at Fair                              at Fair 
($ in thousands)       Cost     Fair Value     Value        Cost     Fair Value     Value 
                    ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------- 
First Lien Debt     $3,686,876  $3,638,914        96.3%  $3,682,846  $3,650,847        96.4% 
Second Lien Debt        82,757      72,101          1.9      82,435      71,721          1.9 
Other Debt 
 Investments            11,566       9,954          0.3      11,280       9,773          0.3 
Equity                  56,523      54,828          1.5      54,646      53,155          1.4 
                    ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------- 
Total               $3,837,722  $3,775,797       100.0%  $3,831,207  $3,785,496       100.0% 
                    ==========  ==========  ===========  ==========  ==========  =========== 
 

Investment activity was as follows:

 
                              Three Months Ended      Three Months Ended June 
Investment Activity:          September 30, 2025             30, 2025 
                           ------------------------  ------------------------- 
New investment 
 commitments, at par (net 
 of syndications)                          $183,049                   $149,054 
-------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------- 
Investment fundings                        $197,953                   $204,003 
-------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------- 
Number of new investment 
 commitments in portfolio 
 companies                                        9                          9 
-------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------- 
Number of portfolio 
 companies exited or 
 fully repaid                                     5                          5 
-------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------- 
 

Total weighted average yield of investments in debt securities at amortized cost and fair value was 9.7% and 9.9%, respectively, as of September 30, 2025, compared to 10.1% and 10.2%, respectively, as of June 30, 2025. Floating rate debt investments as a percentage of total portfolio on a fair value basis was 99.6% as of September 30, 2025, unchanged compared to June 30, 2025. As of September 30, 2025, certain investments in four portfolio companies were on non-accrual status, representing approximately 1.2% of total investments at amortized cost.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY

As of September 30, 2025, the Company had total principal debt outstanding of $2,078.1 million, including $351.0 million outstanding in the Company's BNP funding facility, $293.1 million outstanding in the Company's Truist credit facility, $425.0 million outstanding in the Company's senior unsecured notes due February 2027, $350.0 million outstanding in the Company's senior unsecured notes due May 2029, $350.0 million outstanding in the Company's senior unsecured notes due May 2030 and $309.0 million outstanding in the Company's inaugural CLO that closed in September 2025. Additionally, on September 24, 2025, the Company executed an amendment to the BNP funding facility, which reduced the applicable margin on borrowings from 2.25% to 1.95%.

The combined weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding was 5.85% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. As of September, 30, 2025, the Company had $1,396.1 million of availability under its credit facilities and $71.7 million in unrestricted cash and short term, liquid investments. Debt to equity was 1.17x and 1.15x as of September 30, 2025 and June 30, 2025, respectively.

SHARE REPURCHASES

On February 27, 2025, the Board authorized an amended and restated share repurchase program, which has a maximum size of $100.0 million, exclusive of prior repurchases. For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the Company repurchased 151,417 shares at an average price of $18.78 per share.

ATM OFFERING

On March 28, 2025, the Company entered into equity distribution agreements pursuant to which the Company may sell shares of the Company's common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $300.0 million. For the quarter ended September 30, 2025 there were no shares issued through the ATM offering.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

On November 4, 2025, the Board declared a regular distribution of $0.50 per share, which is payable on or around January 23, 2026 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2025.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund will host a conference call on Friday, November 7, 2025 at 10:00 am ET to review its financial results and conduct a question-and-answer session. All interested parties are invited to participate in the live earnings conference call by using the following dial-in numbers or audio webcast link available on the MSDL Investor Relations website:

   -- Audio Webcast 
 
   -- Conference Call 
 
   -- Domestic: 323-701-0225 
 
   -- International: 888-256-1007 
 
   -- Passcode: 1992384 

To avoid potential delays, please join at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the earnings call. An archived replay will also be available on the MSDL Investor Relations website.

About Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE: MSDL) is a non-diversified, externally managed specialty finance company focused on lending to middle-market companies. MSDL has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. MSDL is externally managed by MS Capital Partners Adviser Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. MSDL is not a subsidiary of or consolidated with Morgan Stanley. For more information about Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund, please visit www.msdl.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein or on the webcast/conference call may constitute "forward-looking statements," which relate to future events or MSDL's future performance or financial condition. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and conditions may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in MSDL's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. MSDL undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein or on the webcast/conference call.

 
            Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities 
            (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) 
 
                                                      As of 
                                       ----------------------------------- 
                                        September 30, 
                                            2025        December 31, 2024 
                                       ---------------  ------------------ 
                                         (Unaudited)        (Audited) 
                                       ---------------  ------------------ 
Assets 
      Non-controlled/non-affiliated 
       investments, at fair value 
       (amortized cost of $3,832,561 
       and $3,813,127)                 $     3,770,818  $        3,791,494 
      Non-controlled/affiliated 
      investments, at fair value 
      (amortized cost of $5,161 and 
      $0)                                        4,979                  -- 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
      Total investments, at fair 
       value (amortized cost of 
       $3,837,722 and $3,813,127)            3,775,797           3,791,494 
      Cash and cash equivalents 
       (restricted cash of $3,820 and 
       $2,000)                                  65,472              63,396 
      Investments in unaffiliated 
       money market fund (cost of 
       $10,051 and $8,976)                      10,051               8,976 
      Deferred financing costs                  17,892              16,498 
      Interest and dividend 
       receivable from 
       non-controlled/non-affiliated 
       investments                              29,848              30,554 
      Interest and dividend 
      receivable from 
      non-controlled/affiliated 
      investments                                   46                  -- 
      Receivable for investments 
       sold/repaid                              14,836                 470 
      Prepaid expenses and other 
       assets                                   18,341                 630 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
Total assets                                 3,932,283           3,912,018 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
 
Liabilities 
      Debt (net of unamortized debt 
       issuance costs of $11,180 and 
       $6,527)                               2,072,400           1,973,479 
      Payable for investment 
       purchased                                    --                 192 
      Payable to affiliates (Note 3)               176                  29 
      Dividends payable                         43,499              53,229 
      Management fees payable                    9,628               7,042 
      Income based incentive fees 
       payable                                   9,281               8,956 
      Interest payable                          22,157              21,205 
      Accrued expenses and other 
       liabilities                               3,531               5,730 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
Total liabilities                            2,160,672           2,069,862 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 
7) 
 
Net assets 
      Preferred stock, $0.001 par 
      value (1,000,000 shares 
      authorized; no shares issued 
      and outstanding)                              --                  -- 
      Common stock, par value $0.001 
       (500,000,000 shares 
       authorized; 86,811,212 and 
       88,511,089 shares issued and 
       outstanding)                                 87                  89 
      Paid-in capital in excess of 
       par value                             1,779,430           1,812,443 
      Total distributable earnings 
       (loss)                                  (7,906)              29,624 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
Total net assets                       $     1,771,611  $        1,842,156 
                                           -----------      -------------- 
Total liabilities and net assets       $     3,932,283  $        3,912,018 
                                           ===========      ============== 
Net asset value per share              $         20.41  $            20.81 
 
 
                     Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) 
                            (In thousands, except share amounts) 
 
                                  For the Three Months Ended     For the Nine Months Ended 
                                 -----------------------------  ---------------------------- 
                                  September     September 30,    September    September 30, 
                                   30, 2025         2024          30, 2025         2024 
                                 ------------  ---------------  ------------  -------------- 
 
Investment Income: 
From 
non-controlled/non-affiliated 
investments: 
      Interest income            $    93,477   $   105,129      $   282,171   $   298,832 
      Payment-in-kind                  3,969         2,150           11,973         7,644 
      Dividend income                    685           670            1,929         1,881 
      Other income                     1,467         1,803            4,337         4,684 
From non-controlled/affiliated 
investments: 
      Interest income                     36            --              106            -- 
      Payment-in-kind                     88            --              174            -- 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Total investment income               99,722       109,752          300,690       313,041 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
 
Expenses: 
      Interest and other 
       financing expenses             33,903        33,153          102,788        89,715 
      Management fees                  9,628         9,100           28,870        25,969 
      Income based incentive 
       fees                            9,281        10,128           28,404        33,018 
      Professional fees                2,530         1,708            5,836         4,612 
      Directors' fees                    129           130              388           404 
      Administrative service 
       fees                               81           138              228           180 
      General and other 
       expenses                           38           120              348           279 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Total expenses                        55,590        54,477          166,862       154,177 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
      Management fees waiver 
       (Note 3)                        -- --        (2,275)            (641)       (7,532) 
      Incentive fees waiver 
       (Note 3)                           --        (1,680)            (375)       (4,542) 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net expenses                          55,590        50,522          165,846       142,103 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net investment income (loss) 
 before taxes                         44,132        59,230          134,844       170,938 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
      Excise tax expense                 402           501            1,229         1,437 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net investment income (loss) 
 after taxes                          43,730        58,729          133,615       169,501 
                                  ==========    ==========       ==========    ========== 
 
Net realized and unrealized 
gain (loss): 
Realized gain (loss): 
Net realized gain (loss) on 
 non-controlled/non-affiliated 
 investments                              22       (10,965)             609       (16,482) 
Foreign currency and other 
 transactions                              4            --               57            -- 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net realized gain (loss)                  26       (10,965)             666       (16,482) 
Net change in unrealized 
appreciation (depreciation): 
Net change in unrealized 
 appreciation (depreciation) on 
 non-controlled/non-affiliated 
 investments                         (15,909)        5,442          (40,808)       10,916 
Net change in unrealized 
 appreciation (depreciation) on 
 non-controlled/affiliated 
 investments                            (222)           --             (182)           -- 
Translation of assets and 
 liabilities in foreign 
 currencies                              (24)           --               76            -- 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net unrealized appreciation 
 (depreciation)                      (16,155)        5,442          (40,914)       10,916 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net realized and unrealized 
 gain (loss)                         (16,129)       (5,523   )      (40,248)       (5,566) 
                                  ----------    ----------       ----------    ---------- 
Net increase (decrease) in net 
 assets resulting from 
 operations                      $    27,601   $    53,206      $    93,367   $   163,935 
                                  ==========    ==========       ==========    ========== 
 
Net investment income (loss) 
 per share (basic and diluted)   $      0.50   $      0.66      $      1.53   $      1.91 
Earnings per share (basic and 
 diluted)                        $      0.32   $      0.60      $      1.07   $      1.85 
Weighted average shares 
 outstanding                      86,844,648    89,264,686       87,476,954    88,633,994 
 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105677291/en/

 
    CONTACT:    Investors 

Sanna Johnson

msdl@morganstanley.com

Media

Alyson Barnes

212-762-0514

alyson.barnes@morganstanley.com

 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 06, 2025 16:15 ET (21:15 GMT)

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