Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund Reports Strong Q1 and Declares Dividend

Published 11 hours agoMS

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund Reports Strong Q1 and Declares Dividend

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) reported robust financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2024, with significant activity in investment commitments. MSDL secured $232.1 million in new investment commitments, while actual fundings reached $168.4 million. Sales and repayments were $71.7 million, leading to a net funded portfolio increase of $96.7 million, according to a recent report on BusinessWire.

In terms of financial performance, MSDL revealed a net investment income of $54.7 million, translating to $0.63 per share, with the net asset value per share stable at $20.67. The fund also improved its debt-to-equity ratio to 0.81x from 0.87x the previous quarter. Furthermore, the board declared a $0.50 per share dividend, which was distributed on April 25, 2024, as announced earlier by BusinessWire.

Meanwhile, in broader market news, the global M&A scene saw a drastic drop, hitting a 20-year low in April 2025. Reuters reported that market uncertainty was exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war announcement, leading to delayed IPOs and deals. These developments have prompted Morgan Stanley analysts to adjust their forecast for the investment banking sector in 2025, highlighting ongoing volatility and its impacts on market activities.

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