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Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund Announces December 31, 2025 Financial Results and Declares First Quarter 2026 Regular Dividend of $0.45 per Share

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2026-- 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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Net investment income of $42.4 million, or $0.49 per share, as compared to $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025;
  • Net asset value of $20.26 per share, as compared to $20.41 as of September 30, 2025;
  • Debt-to-equity was 1.20x as of December 31, 2025, as compared to 1.17x as of September 30, 2025;
  • New investment commitments of $146.5 million (net of any syndications), fundings of $163.8 million and sales and repayments of $162.6 million, resulting in net funded deployment of $1.2 million;
  • The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a regular dividend of $0.50 per share to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2025; and
  • Subsequent to quarter end, the Company launched Capstone Lending LLC, a joint venture (“JV”) with an institutional partner (the “JV Partner”) with a substantially similar investment strategy as the Company. The Company and the JV Partner each agreed to contribute up to $200.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively, to the JV. Following the initial contribution in February 2026, approximately 47% of the Company’s and JV Partner’s respective total capital commitments were called.

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For the Quarter Ended

($ in thousands, except per share information)

December 31, 2025

September 30, 2025

Net investment income per share

$0.49

$0.50

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) per share1

($0.16)

($0.18)

Earnings per share

$0.33

$0.32

Regular dividend per share

$0.50

$0.50

1 Amount shown may not correspond for the period as it may include the effect of the timing of the distribution, shares repurchased and the issuance of common stock.

As of

($ in thousands, except per share information)

December 31, 2025

September 30, 2025

Investments, at fair value

$3,771,546

$3,775,797

Total debt outstanding, at principal

$2,093,153

$2,078,120

Net assets

$1,748,089

$1,771,611

Net asset value per share

$20.26

$20.41

Debt to equity

1.20x

1.17x

Net debt to equity

1.14x

1.13x

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Total investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was $96.6 million, compared to $99.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by lower base rates partially offset by repayment related income.

Total net expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 were $54.2 million, compared to $56.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in our incentive fee earned due to our incentive fee cap.

Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was $42.4 million, or $0.49 per share, compared to $43.7 million, or $0.50 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, net change in unrealized depreciation was $5.6 million and net realized losses were $8.1 million.

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s investment portfolio had a fair value of approximately $3.8 billion, comprised of 227 portfolio companies across 35 industries, with an average investment size of $16.6 million, or 0.4% of our total portfolio on a fair value basis. The composition of the Company’s investments was the following:

 

December 31, 2025

September 30, 2025

($ in thousands)

 

Cost

 

Fair Value

 

% of Total Investments at Fair Value

 

Cost

 

Fair Value

 

% of Total Investments at Fair Value

First Lien Debt

 

$3,686,118

 

$3,631,498

 

96.2%

 

$3,686,876

 

$3,638,914

 

96.3%

Second Lien Debt

 

83,428

 

75,210

 

2.0

 

82,757

 

72,101

 

1.9

Other Debt Investments

 

11,857

 

10,114

 

0.3

 

11,566

 

9,954

 

0.3

Equity

 

57,636

 

54,724

 

1.5

 

56,523

 

54,828

 

1.5

Total

 

$3,839,039

 

$3,771,546

 

100.0%

 

$3,837,722

 

$3,775,797

 

100.0%

 

Investment activity was as follows:

Investment Activity:

Year Ended December 31, 2025

Three Months Ended December 31, 2025

Three Months Ended September 30, 2025

New investment commitments, at par

$711,948

$146,477

$183,049

Investment fundings

$771,395

$163,792

$197,953

Number of new investment commitments in portfolio companies

44

17

9

Number of portfolio companies exited or fully repaid

25

8

5

Total weighted average yield of investments in debt securities at amortized cost and fair value was 9.3% and 9.5%, respectively, as of December 31, 2025, compared to 9.7% and 9.9%, respectively, as of September 30, 2025. Floating rate debt investments as a percentage of total portfolio on a fair value basis was 99.6% as of December 31, 2025, unchanged compared to September 30, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, certain investments in four portfolio companies were on non-accrual status, representing approximately 1.6% of total investments at amortized cost.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had total principal debt outstanding of $2,093.2 million, including $351.0 million outstanding in the Company’s BNP funding facility, $308.2 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.

The combined weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding was 5.61% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. As of December, 31, 2025, the Company had $1,381.1 million of availability under its credit facilities and $90.6 million in unrestricted cash and short term, liquid investments. Debt to equity was 1.20x and 1.17x as of December 31, 2025 and September 30, 2025, respectively.

SHARE REPURCHASES

On February 27, 2025, the Board authorized an amended and restated share repurchase program (“2025 Share Repurchase Program”), which had a maximum size of $100.0 million, exclusive of the utilization of prior programs. For the three months ended December 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 534,908 shares at an average price of $17.03 per share.

On February 26, 2026, the Board authorized the Company’s new share repurchase program under which the Company can repurchase up to $100 million in the aggregate of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, exclusive of the utilization of prior programs, at prices below the net asset value per share over a 24-month period. This new share repurchase program replaces in its entirety the Company’s 2025 Share Repurchase Program.

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 and year ended December 31, 2025, there were no shares issued through the ATM offering.

JOINT VENTURE

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company launched Capstone Lending LLC, a JV with the JV Partner with a substantially similar investment strategy as the Company. The Company and the JV Partner each agreed to contribute up to $200.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively, to the JV. Following the initial contribution in February 2026, approximately 47% of the Company's and JV Partner's respective total capital commitments were called.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

On February 26, 2026, the Board declared a regular distribution of $0.45 per share, which is payable on or around April 24, 2026 to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2026.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund will host a conference call on Friday, February 27, 2026 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:

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

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

(Audited)

 

(Audited)

Assets

 

 

 

 

Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments, at fair value (amortized cost of $3,833,800 and $3,813,127)

 

$

3,766,757

 

 

$

3,791,494

Non-controlled/affiliated investments, at fair value (amortized cost of $5,239 and $0)

 

 

4,789

 

 

 

—

Total investments, at fair value (cost of $3,839,039 and $3,813,127)

 

 

3,771,546

 

 

 

3,791,494

Cash and cash equivalents (restricted cash of $3,820 and $2,000)

 

 

81,434

 

 

 

63,396

Investments in unaffiliated money market fund (cost of $12,976 and $8,976)

 

 

12,976

 

 

 

8,976

Deferred financing costs

 

 

16,874

 

 

 

16,498

Interest and dividend receivable from non-controlled/non-affiliated investments

 

 

26,332

 

 

 

30,554

Interest receivable from non-controlled/affiliated investments

 

 

89

 

 

 

—

Receivable for investments sold/repaid

 

 

455

 

 

 

470

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

10,390

 

 

 

630

Total assets

 

 

3,920,096

 

 

 

3,912,018

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

Debt (net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $10,545 and $6,527)

 

 

2,086,672

 

 

 

1,973,479

Payable for investment purchased

 

 

—

 

 

 

192

Payable to affiliates (Note 3)

 

 

91

 

 

 

29

Dividends payable

 

 

43,222

 

 

 

53,229

Management fees payable

 

 

9,596

 

 

 

7,042

Income based incentive fees payable

 

 

7,281

 

 

 

8,956

Interest payable

 

 

20,945

 

 

 

21,205

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

4,200

 

 

 

5,730

Total liabilities

 

 

2,172,007

 

 

 

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; 86,276,305 and 88,511,089 shares issued and outstanding)

 

 

86

 

 

 

89

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

 

 

1,767,623

 

 

 

1,812,443

Total distributable earnings (loss)

 

 

(19,620

)

 

 

29,624

Total net assets

 

$

1,748,089

 

 

$

1,842,156

Total liabilities and net assets

 

$

3,920,096

 

 

$

3,912,018

Net asset value per share

 

$

20.26

 

 

$

20.81

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Audited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

For the Year Ended

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

December 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Investment Income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

From non-controlled/non-affiliated investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

$

371,811

 

 

$

396,421

 

 

$

355,530

 

Payment-in-kind

 

 

15,623

 

 

 

10,709

 

 

 

4,276

 

Dividend income

 

 

2,849

 

 

 

2,591

 

 

 

2,124

 

Other income

 

 

6,558

 

 

 

6,354

 

 

 

5,808

 

From non-controlled/affiliated investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

150

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Payment-in-kind

 

 

250

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Dividend income

 

 

46

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total investment income

 

 

397,287

 

 

 

416,075

 

 

 

367,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other financing expenses

 

 

136,132

 

 

 

122,928

 

 

 

112,883

 

Management fees

 

 

38,466

 

 

 

35,415

 

 

 

30,550

 

Income based incentive fees

 

 

35,685

 

 

 

43,467

 

 

 

42,012

 

Professional fees

 

 

8,017

 

 

 

6,718

 

 

 

4,470

 

Directors’ fees

 

 

517

 

 

 

533

 

 

 

345

 

Administrative service fees

 

 

287

 

 

 

216

 

 

 

178

 

General and other expenses

 

 

359

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

633

 

Total expenses

 

 

219,463

 

 

 

209,374

 

 

 

191,071

 

Management fees waiver (Note 3)

 

 

(641

)

 

 

(9,936

)

 

 

(22,913

)

Incentive fees waiver (Note 3)

 

 

(375

)

 

 

(6,035

)

 

 

-

 

Net expenses

 

 

218,447

 

 

 

193,403

 

 

 

168,158

 

Net investment income (loss) before taxes

 

 

178,840

 

 

 

222,672

 

 

 

199,580

 

Excise tax expense

 

 

2,814

 

 

 

2,437

 

 

 

1,519

 

Net investment income (loss) after taxes

 

 

176,026

 

 

 

220,235

 

 

 

198,061

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on non-controlled/non-affiliated investments

 

 

(7,480

)

 

 

(16,480

)

 

 

118

 

Foreign currency and other transactions

 

 

58

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

-

 

Net realized gain (loss)

 

 

(7,422

)

 

 

(16,467

)

 

 

118

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on non-controlled/non-affiliated investments

 

 

(46,138

)

 

 

11,904

 

 

 

32,835

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on non-controlled/affiliated investments

 

 

(450

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

 

 

78

 

 

 

(108

)

 

 

-

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 

 

(46,510

)

 

 

11,796

 

 

 

32,835

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

(53,932

)

 

 

(4,671

)

 

 

32,953

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

 

$

122,094

 

 

$

215,564

 

 

$

231,014

 

Earnings per share (basic and diluted)

 

$

1.40

 

 

$

2.43

 

 

$

3.11

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

87,270,081

 

 

 

88,649,149

 

 

 

74,239,743

 

 

Investors
Sanna Johnson, Head of Investor Relations
msdl@morganstanley.com

Media
Alyson Barnes
212-762-0514
alyson.barnes@morganstanley.com

Source: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund