Barings Participation Investors Reports Preliminary First Quarter 2025 Results and Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend Of $0.37 Per Share

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Trustees of Barings Participation Investors (NYSE: MPV) (the "Trust") met on May 15, 2025, and would like to report its preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

Financial Highlights^(1)	Three Months Ended March 31, 2025		Three Months Ended December 31, 2024
	Total Amount	Per Share^(5)	Total Amount	Per Share^(4)
Net investment income^(2)	$ 3,351,767	$ 0.31	$ 5,077,390	$ 0.48
Net realized (losses) / gains^(3)	$(2,063,056)	$(0.19)	$ 327,989	$ 0.03
Net unrealized depreciation / appreciation	$ 822,363	$ 0.08	$ (295,452)	$(0.03)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations	$ 2,058,829	$ 0.19	$ 5,390,925	$ 0.50
Total net assets (equity)	$167,580,570	$ 15.65	$165,121,426	$ 15.46

(1) All figures for 2025 are unaudited

(2) December 31, 2024 figures net of less than $0.01 per share of taxes

(3) December 31, 2024 figures net of less than $0.01 per share of taxes

(4) Based on shares outstanding at the end of the period of 10,680,267

(5) Based on shares outstanding at the end of the period of 10,704,909

Key Highlights:

Commenting on the quarter, Christina Emery, President, stated, "The Trust earned $0.31 per share of net investment income, net of taxes, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $0.48 per share in the previous quarter The decrease in net investment income was predominantly related to non-recurring dividend income related to an equity investment in the portfolio coupled with decreasing base rates in the quarter. The Trust has maintained its dividend this quarter, which is further confirmation of our credit philosophy, where we focus on leading businesses backed by strong sponsor ownership and conservative capital structures. This approach has historically generated stable returns and relative stability during economic stress. During the quarter, Barings continued to drive origination flow into quality, 1st lien senior secured middle-market investments as well as capitalizing on public fixed income investments where applicable. When constructing portfolios, we focus on investing in high-quality businesses that are leaders in their space and offer defensive characteristics that will allow them to perform through economic cycles.”

The Board of Trustees declared a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share, payable on June 13, 2025, to shareholders of record on May 30, 2025.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Trust reported total investment income of $4.4 million, net investment income of $3.4 million, or $0.31 per share, and a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $2.1 million, or $0.19 per share.

Net asset value ("NAV") per share as of March 31, 2025, was $15.65, as compared to $15.46 as of December 31, 2024. The increase in NAV per share was primarily attributable to net investment income of $0.31 per share, net unrealized appreciation on the Trust’s investment portfolio of $0.08 per share, partially offset by realized losses on investments of $0.19 per share and tax expense of $0.01 per share.

Recent Portfolio Activity

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Trust made nine new investments totaling $4.5 million and 30 add-on investments in existing portfolio companies totaling $2.2 million. The Trust made four new public investments totaling $29 million.

Liquidity and Capitalization

As of March 31, 2025, the Trust had cash and short-term investments of $3.2 million and $23.5 million of borrowings outstanding. The Trust had unfunded commitments of $17.6 million as of March 31, 2025.

Net Capital Gains

The Trust realized net capital losses of $2,063,056 or $0.19 per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. By comparison, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the Trust realized net capital gains of $313,535 or $0.03 per share.

Annual Meeting

At the Annual meeting, which was held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, shareholders elected Susan B. Sweeney as an independent trustee and David M. Mihalick as an interested trustee each for three-year terms.

About Barings Participation Investors

Barings Participation Investors is a closed-end management investment company advised by Barings LLC. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ("MPV").

About Barings LLC

Barings is a $442+ billion* global asset management firm that partners with institutional, insurance, and intermediary clients, and supports leading businesses with flexible financing solutions. The firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, seeks to deliver excess returns by leveraging its global scale and capabilities across public and private markets in fixed income, real assets and capital solutions. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*Assets under management as of March 31, 2025

Per share amounts are rounded to the nearest cent.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

Cautionary Notice: Certain statements contained in this press release may be "forward looking" statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and which reflect management’s current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs, and which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and may not be relied upon as investment advice or an indication of the fund's trading intent. References to specific securities are not recommendations of such securities, and may not be representative of the fund's current or future investments. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.