Apollo Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: AINV), (the “Company” or the
“BDC”) today announced several transformative changes which
reinforce the Company’s position as a senior secured middle market
business development company creating an institutional-quality
offering with an attractive dividend yield available to a broad
universe of investors. These announcements illustrate the broader
strategic commitment of Apollo Global Management (“Apollo”) (NYSE:
APO) to investor alignment, product innovation, and playing a
leading role in the democratization of finance.
- To support the
BDC’s senior secured investment strategy and allow participation in
more senior secured assets that are expected to produce attractive
risk-adjusted returns for shareholders, the Company established a
new industry-leading fee structure among listed BDCs, with
substantial permanent reductions to management and incentive
fees. MidCap Financial originates a significant amount
of lower yielding senior secured loans that previously have been
accessible largely only to institutional investors. Historically,
MidCap Financial1 and Apollo as its manager3 have predominantly
originated assets on behalf of U.S. pensions and other global
institutional investors. With the reduced fee structure, the BDC
will be able to participate in a broader universe of MidCap
Financial-originated senior secured loans, while producing similar
to enhanced expected shareholder economics.
- MidCap
Financial has made a $30 million primary equity investment in the
BDC at net asset value, representing a significant premium to the
current market price. This investment serves to i) validate the
value of the BDC’s senior investment strategy, ii) provide the BDC
with dry powder to invest in loans originated by MidCap Financial,
and iii) create a strong alignment of interests with the BDC’s
performance.
- MidCap
Financial, which is managed by Apollo, is one of the world’s
leading middle market origination businesses, with over $21 billion
of annual originations.4 The business is led by an experienced
management team that has worked together over 20 years and has,
what the Company considers to be, an exceptionally strong track
record.
- Rebrands to
MidCap Financial Investment Corporation reflecting the BDC’s
investment strategy of primarily investing in loans originated by
MidCap Financial; ticker will change to “MFIC”.5
- Appointed
Howard T. Widra, Apollo’s Head of Direct Origination, to Executive
Chairman of the Board of Directors.
- Promoted Tanner
Powell to Chief Executive Officer, Ted McNulty to President, and
Kristin Hester to Chief Legal Officer.
Mr. Howard Widra, the Company’s Executive
Chairman commented, “Over the last several years, we have
repositioned the BDC’s portfolio to have a senior secured
orientation. Today’s announcements reinforce and support the BDC’s
position as a pure play senior secured middle market BDC. The new
fee structure significantly reduces our cost of capital which will
allow us to invest across a larger universe of MidCap
Financial-originated loans, which are available to us through
Apollo’s management of MidCap Financial, while delivering an
attractive dividend yield to our shareholders. MidCap Financial is
also making an aligning primary equity investment in the BDC at
NAV. We believe today’s announcements have all the
hallmarks of what we consider to be best-in-class investor
alignment and illustrate how Apollo is positioning itself at the
forefront of the democratization of finance, allowing greater
individual access to alternatives.”
Mr. Howard Widra continued, “Today’s promotions
are well-deserved and a recognition of the contributions that
Tanner, Ted, and Kristin have each made to the BDC over the years.
Tanner and Ted are both proven leaders with considerable expertise
and experience in private credit investing and have been integral
to the BDC’s repositioning efforts. Kristin has been a senior
member of our legal team since 2015 and has provided valuable legal
support for the Company’s strategic initiatives and operations over
the years. I’d also like to thank Joe Glatt for his great work on
behalf the Company over the years and congratulate him on his own
promotion. As Executive Chairman, I look forward to continuing to
work closely with Tanner, Ted, and Kristin as the BDC takes this
next step.”
Mr. Tanner Powell, the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer, commented, “Apollo’s unique relationship with MidCap
Financial enables the BDC to have access to MidCap Financial's
high-quality origination volume, which we believe is a distinct
competitive advantage over many other BDCs. MidCap Financial is a
well-established provider of senior debt solutions to middle market
companies and has what we believe to be an exceptionally strong
track record. The change in the company name reflects our go
forward strategy.” Mr. Tanner Powell continued, “We are pleased to
increase our quarterly base distribution to $0.32 per share which
reflects what we believe is a conservative estimate of the earnings
power of the portfolio once fully deployed in our go forward
strategy.”
Public Shareholder Access to
Institutional-Quality Private Credit at New Industry-Leading Fee
Structure
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the
Company’s investment adviser have established a new
industry-leading fee structure among listed BDCs to support the
Company’s senior secured investment strategy and make
institutional-quality senior secured assets available to public
shareholders. MidCap Financial originates a significant amount of
senior secured first lien loans that were previously below the
BDC’s target asset spread. With a reduced fee structure, the BDC
will be able to participate in a broader universe of MidCap
Financial-originated senior secured loans. Apollo6 will continue to
serve as the investment adviser of the BDC and will select and
underwrite investments on behalf of the Company under the same
investment process and standards.
The Company’s base management fee has been
permanently reduced to 1.75% on net assets (i.e., equity) from the
equivalent of approximately 3.4% on net assets. In other words, the
base management fee rate, expressed in terms of gross assets, has
been reduced from approximately 1.40% on gross assets, to the
equivalent of approximately 0.75% on gross assets.7 Beyond the
nearly halving of management fees in the aggregate, the shift to
basing management fees on net assets, rather than gross assets,
provides greater alignment and focus on net asset value versus
leverage.
The incentive fee on income has also been
permanently reduced from 20% to 17.5%. The performance threshold
remains 7% and there is no change to the total return requirement
or catch-up provision. The changes to the fee structure will be
effective for the period beginning January 1, 2023.
MidCap Financial Makes Aligning Primary
Equity Investment in the BDC at Net Asset Value
MidCap Financial has invested $30 million in
equity in the BDC at net asset value, representing a significant
premium to the current market price. The Company’s net asset value
per share was $15.528 as of June 30, 2022. Accordingly, the Company
will issue approximately 1.93 million new shares in connection with
this transaction which is expected to close in the next week. Pro
forma for this investment, MidCap Financial will own approximately
3.0% of the BDC’s common stock. All shares issued in connection
with this transaction will be subject to a minimum two-year hold
period.
MidCap Financial is One of the World’s
Leading Middle Market Origination Businesses
Founded in 2008, MidCap Financial is an
established leader in middle market lending. MidCap Financial is a
privately held leading middle market-focused specialty finance firm
that provides senior debt solutions to companies across all
industries through first lien secured loans and asset-based loans.
Over the last twelve months through June 30, 2022, MidCap Financial
has originated over $21 billion of commitments. MidCap Financial
has, what we believe to be an exceptionally strong track record and
has successfully managed through multiple economic cycles. MidCap
Financial's years of experience, strong balance sheet, and
flexibility make it the lender of choice for companies across all
stages of growth and complexity. An affiliate of Apollo serves as
discretionary investment manager of MidCap Financial.9
Company Will Trade as ‘MidCap Financial
Investment Corporation’
The Company has announced that it will change
its name from Apollo Investment Corporation to MidCap Financial
Investment Corporation effective on or around August 12, 2022. The
new name reflects the Company’s investment strategy of primarily
investing in loans originated by MidCap Financial, as well as
MidCap Financial's prominent role in Apollo’s Direct Origination
and broader Yield businesses. Apollo will continue to serve as the
investment adviser of the Company. The Company’s common stock will
begin to trade under the ticker “MFIC” on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market on or around August 12, 2022. In connection with the name
change, the Company will be changing its website to
www.midcapfinancialic.com on or around August 12,
2022.
Senior Leadership Promotions to Align
with Enhanced Strategy
The Company has also announced the following
senior management promotions and Board changes which are effective
immediately.
Howard T. Widra, who served as Chief Executive
Officer since May 2018 and as President from June 2016 to May 2018,
has been named Executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Widra will
continue to serve as Apollo’s Head of Direct Origination.
Tanner Powell, who served as President of the
Company since May 2018 and Chief Investment Officer for Apollo
Investment Management, L.P. (“AIM”), the Company’s investment
adviser since June 2016, has been promoted to Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.
Ted McNulty, who is a Managing Director in
Apollo’s Direct Origination business, has been promoted to
President of the Company and Chief Investment Officer for AIM.
Kristin Hester, who has served as the General
Counsel of the Company since May 2020, has been promoted to Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary of the Company. Joseph Glatt, who
served as the Company’s Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since
2011, was promoted to a new role as Partner in Apollo’s U.S.
Financial Institutions Group.
John Hannan, who has served as Chairman of the
Board since 2006, will now serve as Vice Chairman of the Board.
Howard T. Widra
Mr. Widra has been with Apollo and/or its
affiliates since 2013 and serves as Apollo’s Head of Direct
Origination. He was appointed Executive Chairman in August 2022. He
served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from May 2018 to
August 2022 and as President from June 2016 to May 2018. He has
also been a Director since May 2018. Mr. Widra was a co-founder of
MidCap Financial, a middle-market specialty finance firm with $21.4
billion of annual originations10 and was formerly its Chief
Executive Officer. Prior to MidCap Financial, Mr. Widra was the
founder and President of Merrill Lynch Capital Healthcare Finance.
Prior to Merrill Lynch, Mr. Widra was President of GE Capital
Healthcare Commercial Finance and held senior roles in its
predecessor entities including President of Heller Healthcare
Finance, and COO of Healthcare Financial Partners. Mr. Widra holds
a J.D., Cum Laude, from the Harvard Law School and a BA from the
University of Michigan.
Tanner Powell
Mr. Powell joined Apollo in 2006. Mr. Powell was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company in August 2022. He
served as President of the Company from May 2018 to August 2022 and
served as Chief Investment Officer for the Company’s investment
adviser from June 2016 to August 2022. Mr. Powell is a Partner and
Portfolio Manager in Apollo’s Direct Origination business. He holds
leadership roles in Apollo’s Credit Business, including its
aircraft leasing and lending businesses. From 2004 to 2006, he
served as an analyst in Goldman Sachs' Principal Investment Area
(PIA). From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Powell was an Analyst in the
Industrials group at Deutsche Bank. He graduated from Princeton
University with a BA in political economy.
Ted McNulty
Mr. McNulty joined Apollo in 2014. He is a is
Managing Director in Apollo’s Credit business. He was appointed
President of the Company and Chief Investment Officer for the
Company’s investment adviser in August 2022. Prior to joining
Apollo, Mr. McNulty ran the mezzanine and later merchant banking
business for a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ and was a director at
Haland before that. Previously, he held various roles at JPMorgan
and its predecessor institutions, primarily in leveraged finance.
Mr. McNulty received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management
and a BA in Government from Harvard University.
Kristin Hester
Ms. Hester joined Apollo in 2015 and currently
serves as Senior Counsel for Apollo. She was promoted to Chief
Legal Officer for the Company in August 2022 and served as General
Counsel for the Company from May 2020 to August 2022. Ms. Hester
also serves as General Counsel for Apollo Debt Solutions BDC,
Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund Inc., and Apollo Tactical Income
Fund Inc. Prior to joining Apollo, Ms. Hester was associated with
the law firms of Dechert LLP from 2009-2015 and Clifford Chance US
LLP from 2006-2009. In each case she primarily advised U.S.
registered investment companies, their investment advisers, and
boards of directors on various matters under the Investment Company
Act of 1940. Ms. Hester received her JD from Duke University School
of Law and graduated cum laude from Bucknell University with a BS
in Business Administration.
CONFERENCE CALL / WEBCAST AT 8:00 AM EDT
ON AUGUST 2, 2022
The Company will host a conference call on
Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. All interested
parties are welcome to participate in the conference call by
dialing (866) 342-8591 approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the
call; international callers should dial (203) 518-9713.
Participants should reference either Apollo Investment Corporation
Q1 2023 Earnings or Conference ID: AINVQ123 when prompted. A
simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to
the public on a listen-only basis and can be accessed through the
Events Calendar in the Shareholders section of our website at
www.apolloic.com. Following the call, you may access a replay of
the event either telephonically or via audio webcast. The
telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after
the live call and through August 23, 2022, by dialing (800)
839-8292; international callers should dial (402) 220-6069. A
replay of the audio webcast will also be available later that same
day. To access the audio webcast please visit the Events Calendar
in the Shareholders section of our website at www.apolloic.com.
_________________________________
1 MidCap Financial refers to MidCap FinCo
Designated Activity Company, a designated activity company limited
by shares incorporated under the laws of Ireland, and its
subsidiaries, including MidCap Financial Services, LLC. MidCap
Financial is not an investment adviser, subadviser or fiduciary to
the Company or to the Company's Investment Adviser. MidCap
Financial is not obligated to take into account the Company's
interests (or those of other potential participants in its
originations) when originating loans across its platform.2 On
August 1, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the base
distribution to $0.32 per share for the quarter ending June 30,
2022. The distribution is payable on October 11, 2022 to
stockholders of record as of September 20, 2022. There can be no
assurances that the Board will continue to declare a base
distribution of $0.32 per share.3 MidCap Financial is managed by
Apollo Capital Management, L.P., a subsidiary of Apollo Global
Management, Inc., pursuant to an investment management agreement
between Apollo Capital Management, L.P. and MidCap FinCo Designated
Activity Company. 4 Based on last twelve months as of
June 30, 2022. 5 Name and ticker change will be effective on or
around August 12, 2022. 6 Apollo Investment Management, L.P., an
affiliate of Apollo will continue to serve as the Company’s
investment adviser. 7 Prior to this reduction, the base management
fee was 1.5% on gross assets financed using leverage up to 1.0x
debt-to-equity and 1.0% on gross assets financed using leverage
over 1.0x debt-to-equity. For the comparisons presented, a
debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40x is assumed. 8 The NAV per share
figure is rounded for presentation purposes. 9 MidCap
Financial is managed by Apollo Capital Management, L.P., a
subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc., pursuant to an
investment management agreement between Apollo Capital Management,
L.P. and MidCap FinCo Designated Activity Company.10 Based on the
last twelve months as of June 30, 2022.
Important Information
Investors are advised to carefully consider the
investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Company
before investing. The preliminary prospectus dated July 14, 2020,
which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), contains this and other information about the Company and
should be read carefully before investing. A shelf
registration statement relating to certain securities of the
Company is on file with and has been declared effective by the SEC.
Any offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and any
accompanying prospectus supplement. Before you invest, you should
read the base prospectus in that registration statement, the
preliminary prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference
therein, which the issuer has filed with the SEC, for more complete
information about the Company and an offering. You may obtain these
documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at
www.sec.gov.
The information in the preliminary prospectus and in this
announcement is not complete and may be changed. This communication
shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any
state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
Past performance is not indicative of, or a guarantee
of, future performance. The performance and certain other
portfolio information quoted herein represents information as of
dates noted herein. Nothing herein shall be relied upon as a
representation as to the future performance or portfolio holdings
of the Company. Investment return and principal value of an
investment will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more
or less than their original cost. The Company’s performance is
subject to change since the end of the period noted in this report
and may be lower or higher than the performance data shown
herein.
About Apollo Investment
Corporation
Apollo Investment Corporation is a closed-end
investment company incorporated in Maryland. The Company has
elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”)
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”). The Company is externally managed by Apollo Investment
Management, L.P. The investment adviser is an affiliate of Apollo
Global Management, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiaries. The
Company has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company
(“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Company’s investment objective is to
generate current income and capital appreciation. The Company
invests primarily in directly originated first lien senior secured
loans in private middle-market companies. To a lesser extent, the
Company may invest in other types of securities including second
lien senior secured loans, unitranche loans, unsecured loans, and
equities in both private middle market companies and public
companies.
For more information, please visit
www.apolloic.com. The Company will be changing its website to
www.midcapfinancialic.com on or around August 12, 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements as to our
future operating results; our business prospects and the prospects
of our portfolio companies; the impact of investments that we
expect to make; our contractual arrangements and relationships with
third parties; the dependence of our future success on the general
economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest; the
ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives; our
expected financings and investments; the adequacy of our cash
resources and working capital; and the timing of cash flows, if
any, from the operations of our portfolio companies.
We may use words such as “anticipates,”
“believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may” and
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements are based on currently available operating, financial
and competitive information and are subject to various risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from our historical experience and our present expectations.
Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be
forward-looking: the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
and steps taken by governmental and other authorities to contain,
mitigate, and combat the pandemic or treat its impact on our
financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and capital
resources; changes in general economic conditions, including the
impact of supply chain disruptions, or changes in financial
markets, and the risk of recession; changes in the interest rate
environment and levels of general interest rates and the impact of
inflation; the return on equity; the yield on investments; the
ability to borrow to finance assets; new strategic initiatives; the
ability to reposition the investment portfolio; the market outlook;
future investment activity; and risks associated with changes in
business conditions and the general economy. Undue reliance should
not be placed on such forward-looking statements as such statements
speak only as of the date on which they are made. We do not
undertake to update our forward-looking statements unless required
by law.
Media ContactJoanna Rose Global
Head of Corporate Communications Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491 Communications@apollo.com
Investor ContactElizabeth
BesenInvestor Relations ManagerApollo Investment Corporation(212)
822-0625ebesen@apollo.com
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