FS Investments’ business development company (BDC) direct lending platform committed over USD830 million to middle market companies in the second quarter of 2016, bringing its year-to-date total commitments to more than USD1.2 billion.
New directly originated investments during the quarter were made in support of 12 portfolio companies headquartered in seven different US states.
“Our market-leading scale serves as a great deal sourcing advantage,” says Michael C Forman, chairman and chief executive officer of FS Investments. “Our ability to underwrite larger investments provides access to a broad set of investment opportunities for our investors and a flexible source of financing for our portfolio companies and their private equity sponsors.”
Newly committed capital was provided by five BDCs managed by affiliates of FS Investments and sub-advised by GSO Capital Partners or its affiliate: FS Investment Corporation (NYSE: FSIC), FS Investment Corporation II (FSIC II), FS Investment Corporation III (FSIC III), FS Investment Corporation IV (FSIC IV) and FS Energy and Power Fund (FSEP). FS Investments is the largest manager of BDCs.
FS Investments’ directly originated transactions, which are unique to its BDCs and not typically accessible elsewhere, included investments in the following companies in the second quarter:
FourPoint Energy – FSIC, FSIC II and FSEP provided an upsized equity commitment to FourPoint Energy, a Denver, Colorado-headquartered private oil and gas exploration and production company. The new equity investment served to recapitalise and solidify FourPoint’s balance sheet and provided financing for its acquisition of new acreage. With over 875,000 net acres and over 3,000 potential drilling locations, FourPoint is the largest operator in the Western Anadarko Basin. FourPoint is a portfolio company of EIG Partners, a Washington D.C.-headquartered global energy investment firm.
Polymer Additives Holdings (dba: Valtris Specialty Chemicals) – FSIC, FSIC II and FSIC III provided a new senior secured unitranche commitment to Valtris Specialty Chemicals, an Independence, OH-headquartered manufacturer of specialty chemicals, including lubricants, stabilizers and polymer modifiers. The new term loan refinanced FS Investments’ previous investment in the company and provided incremental capital to help fund the acquisition of Akcros Holdings, a manufacturer of additives for the processing and manufacturing of polymers. The acquisition of Akcros further diversifies Valtris’s product line and creates new avenues of growth for the combined entity. Valtris is a portfolio company of HIG Capital, a Miami, FL-headquartered private equity investment firm.
AP Plasman – FSIC provided a new senior secured commitment to AP Plasman, a designer and manufacturer of exterior trim products to a variety of industries. FSIC’s new commitment refinanced its previous investment in AP Plasman and provided additional capital to support its acquisition of Plastal Industri, a supplier of exterior painted trim products for the European automotive industry. The acquisition expands the company’s product line, customer base and geographic reach. AP Plasman is a portfolio company of Insight Equity, a New York-based middle market private equity investment firm.
In addition to new investments made during the quarter, FSIC, FSIC II and FSIC III’s senior secured first lien loan to Pittsburgh Glass Works was repaid in connection with the sale of the company. Pittsburgh Glass Works, a Pittsburgh, PA-headquartered leader in the automotive glass industry, was acquired by LKQ Corp, a Chicago-headquartered provider of automotive parts and components. Prior to the acquisition, Pittsburgh Glass Works was a portfolio company of Kohlberg & Company, a Mount Kisco, NY-headquartered private equity investment firm.
