WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Elm Capital Corp. (“we”, “us”, “our” or “GECC”), (NASDAQ:GECC), today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 and filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Net investment income (“NII”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was approximately $3.5 million, or $0.29 per share, which was in excess of our declared distribution of $0.083 per share per month for the same period (approximately 1.16x distribution coverage).
  • In August, the Board of Directors declared a monthly distribution of $0.083 per share for the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Net assets on June 30, 2017 were approximately $153.7 million. Net asset value (“NAV”) per share on June 30, 2017 was $13.29, as compared to $13.59 per share on March 31, 2017. The decrease in NAV per share is primarily driven by unrealized, mark-to-market depreciation in our investment portfolio, partially offset by realized gains and accretion from our stock buy-back and tender activity to-date.
  • We had approximately $1.4 million of net realized gains on portfolio investments that were monetized during the quarter ended June 30, 2017, or approximately $0.11 per share, and net unrealized depreciation of investments of approximately ($7.3) million, or approximately ($0.60) per share.
  • During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we purchased an aggregate of 107,031 shares through our stock buy-back program at an average price of $10.81, utilizing approximately $1.2 million of our $15.0 million 10b5-1 program and our overall $50 million stock repurchase program. In addition to our stock buy-back program, we completed a tender offer for $10 million of stock at $11.50 per share, purchasing an additional 869,565 shares.
  • From the commencement of the stock buy-back program through August 11, 2017, we have purchased an aggregate of 513,183 shares at a weighted average price of $11.12 per share, resulting in $5.7 million of cumulative cash paid to repurchase shares. Including the tender offer, we have purchased an aggregate of 1,382,748 shares to-date.
  • During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we invested approximately $21.4 million across four portfolio companies (1), including one new portfolio investment. During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we monetized approximately $37.6 million across 13 portfolio companies (in part or in full). (2)

“We are pleased with the pace and success of realizations, both from the legacy Full Circle portfolio and the overall GECC portfolio. We continue to prudently deploy capital into what we view as a borrower-friendly market, evidenced by the record covenant-lite issuance and other market trends,” said Peter A. Reed, Chief Executive Officer of GECC. “We maintain a healthy amount of dry powder as we anticipate both more volatility in the leveraged credit market and a more attractive environment to execute on our special situations, total return approach to investing in middle market credit.”

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

As of June 30, 2017, we held 20 debt investments across 17 companies, totaling approximately $131.2 million and representing 99.7% of invested capital. First lien and / or senior secured debt investments comprised 99.7% of invested capital as of the same date.

As of June 30, 2017, the weighted average current yield on our debt portfolio was approximately 13.17% with approximately 48.6% of invested debt capital in floating rate instruments.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we deployed approximately $21.4 million (1) into new and existing investments across four companies (one new, three existing). The weighted average price of the new debt investments was $0.99, carrying a weighted average current yield of 11.05%. All of these investments are first lien and / or senior secured investments.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we monetized 13 investments, in part or in full, for approximately $37.6 million(2), at a weighted average current yield of 10.19%, including the complete exit of one investment acquired from Full Circle, at a slight gain. Our weighted average realization price was $1.02.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Total investment income for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was approximately $6.2 million, or $0.52 per share. Net expenses for the period ended June 30, 2017 were approximately $2.8 million, or $0.24 per share.

Net realized gains for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 were approximately $1.4 million, or $0.11 per share. Net unrealized depreciation from investments for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 was approximately ($7.3) million, or ($0.60) per share.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of June 30, 2017, available liquidity from cash and money market investments was approximately $58.9 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents, including investments in money market mutual funds.

Total debt outstanding as of June 30, 2017 was approximately $33.7 million, comprised entirely of the 8.25% notes due June 30, 2020 (NASDAQ:FULLL).

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Distributions:

Our board of directors declared the monthly distributions for the fourth quarter of 2017 at $0.083 per share. The schedule of distribution payments is as follows:

MonthRateRecord DatePayable Date
October$0.083  October 31, 2017November 15, 2017  
November  $0.083  November 30, 2017  December 15, 2017
December$0.083  December 29, 2017January 16, 2018


Our distribution policy has been designed to set a base distribution rate that is well-covered by NII that will be supplemented by special distributions from NII in excess of the declared distribution and as catalyst-driven investments are realized.(3)

Portfolio Investments:

In July 2017, we purchased $5.0 million par value of Tru Taj, LLC bonds at a price of approximately 97% of par value. Such debt security bears interest at a rate of 12.00% and matures August 15, 2021.

In July and August, we purchased an additional $5.0 million par value of the loan to Commercial Barge Line Company at an average price of approximately 88% of par value.  Such debt security bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 8.75%, which was 9.79% as of June 30, 2017, and matures on November 12, 2020.  Including these additional acquisitions, we now have a position size of approximately $6.9 million par value of the loan.

Capitalization:

On July 31, 2017, we filed a registration statement with the SEC for a baby bond offering to commence as early as September. The intended use of proceeds is to pay off the currently callable 8.25% notes of 2020 (NASDAQ:FULLL) that were assumed in the merger with Full Circle and to make new investments consistent with our investment objectives.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Great Elm Capital Corp. will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. New York City time to discuss its second quarter financial results. All interested parties are invited to participate in the conference call by dialing +1 (844) 820-8297; international callers should dial +1 (661) 378-9758. Participants should enter the Conference ID 65120927 when asked. For a copy of the slide presentation that will be referenced during the course of our conference call, please visit http://www.investor.greatelmcc.com/events-and-presentations/presentations. Additionally, the conference call will be webcast simultaneously at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/y3rkhz84.

About Great Elm Capital Corp.

Great Elm Capital Corp. is an externally managed, specialty finance company focused on investing in debt instruments of middle market companies. GECC elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. GECC’s investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation, while seeking to protect against risk of permanent capital loss. GECC focuses on special situations and catalyst-driven investments as it seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this communication that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “designed,” “seek,” “potential,” “continue,” “upside,” and “potential,” and similar expressions. All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in the statements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are the following: conditions in the credit markets, the price of GECC common stock, performance of GECC’s portfolio and investment manager. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in GECC’s Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC. GECC assumes no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any duty to, update any forward-looking statements contained in this communication or to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.

Endnotes:

(1) This includes new deals, additional fundings (inclusive of those on revolving credit facilities), refinancings and PIK interest. Amounts included herein are exclusive of transactions in short-term securities, including United States Treasury Bills and money market mutual funds.

(2) This includes scheduled principal payments, prepayments, sales and repayments (inclusive of those on revolving credit facilities). Amounts included herein are exclusive of transactions in short-term securities, including United States Treasury Bills and money market mutual funds.

(3) There can be no assurance that any such supplemental amounts will be received or realized, or even if received and realized, distributed or available for distribution. Past distributions are not indicative of future distributions. Distributions are declared by the Board out of the funds legally available therefor. Though GECC intends to pay distributions monthly, it is not obligated to do so.

       
  June 30, 2017  December 31,
2016		 
Assets (unaudited)     
Non-affiliated, non-control investments, at fair value
  (amortized cost of $131,294 and $163,809, respectively)		 $111,852  $150,323 
Non-affiliated, non-control short term investments, at fair value
  (amortized cost of $73,943 and $0, respectively)		  73,941   — 
Affiliated investments, at fair value
  (amortized cost of $4,240 and $4,255, respectively)		  2,220   4,286 
Control investments, at fair value
  (amortized cost of $19,571 and $68, respectively)		  17,558   68 
       Total investments  205,571   154,677 
         
Cash and cash equivalents*  4,869   66,782 
Receivable for investments sold  —   9,406 
Interest receivable  2,952   4,338 
Dividends receivable  36   — 
Principal receivable  —   786 
Due from portfolio company  82   312 
Deposit at broker  103   56 
Due from affiliates  —   80 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  134   107 
Total assets $213,747  $236,544 
         
Liabilities        
Notes payable 8.25% due June 30, 2020 (including unamortized premium
  of $763 and $888 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)    		 $34,408  $34,534 
Payable for investments purchased  19,953   21,817 
Distributions payable  960   2,123 
Due to affiliates  3,881   3,423 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  843   1,663 
Total liabilities $60,045  $63,560 
         
Commitments and contingencies (Refer to Note 6 in Form 10-Q) $—  $— 
         
Net Assets        
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (100,000,000 shares authorized,
  11,568,555 and 12,790,880 shares issued and outstanding at
  June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)		 $116  $128 
Additional paid-in capital  205,233   219,317 
Accumulated net realized losses  (30,980)  (34,341)
Undistributed net investment income  2,809   1,335 
Net unrealized depreciation on investments  (23,476)  (13,455)
Total net assets $153,702  $172,984 
Total liabilities and net assets $213,747  $236,544 
Net asset value per share $13.29  $13.52 


       
  For the Three
Months Ended
June 30,		  For the Six
Months Ended
June 30,		 
  2017  2017 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Investment Income:        
Interest income from:        
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments $5,761  $12,042 
Affiliated investments  (90)  48 
Controlled investments  667   874 
Total interest income  6,138   12,964 
Dividend income from non-affiliated, non-controlled investments  85   131 
Other income  14   457 
Total investment income  6,237   13,552 
         
Expenses:        
Management fees  546   1,139 
Incentive fees  871   1,894 
Administration fees  272   767 
Custody fees  11   24 
Directors’ fees  21   48 
Professional services  176   507 
Interest expense  631   1,262 
Other expenses  156   269 
Total expenses  2,684   5,910 
Accrued administration fee waiver  75   70 
Net expenses  2,759   5,980 
Net investment income  3,478   7,572 
         
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment transactions:            
Net realized gain/(loss) from:        
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments  1,381   3,361 
Affiliated investments  —   — 
Controlled investments  —   — 
Total net realized gain/(loss)  1,381   3,361 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from:        
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments  (5,247)  (5,990)
Affiliated investments  (429)  (2,020)
Controlled investments  (1,650)  (2,011)
Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)  (7,326)  (10,021)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)  (5,945)  (6,660)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $(2,467) $912 
         
Net investment income per share (basic and diluted): $0.29  $0.61 
Earnings per share (basic and diluted): $(0.20) $0.07 
Weighted average shares outstanding:  12,000,180   12,313,508 
         


  For the Three Months
Ended June 30,		 
  2017 
Per Share Data:(1)    
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.59 
Net investment income  0.29 
Net realized gains  0.11 
Net unrealized losses  (0.60)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  (0.20)
Accretion from share buybacks  0.15 
Distributions declared from net investment income(2)  (0.25)
Distributions declared from net realized gains(2)  0.00 
Net decrease resulting from distributions to common stockholders      (0.25)
Net asset value, end of period $13.29 


  For the Six Months Ended
June 30,		 
  2017 
Per Share Data:(1)    
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.52 
Net investment income  0.61 
Net realized gains  0.27 
Net unrealized losses  (0.81)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  0.07 
Accretion from share buybacks  0.20 
Distributions declared from net investment income(2)  (0.50)
Distributions declared from net realized gains(2)  0.00 
Net decrease resulting from distributions to common stockholders      (0.50)
Net asset value, end of period $13.29 
  

* The June 30, 2017 cash and cash equivalents figure does not include investments held in money market funds. Including money market funds, there was approximately $58.9 million in available liquidity as of June 30, 2017.

(1) The per share data was derived by using the weighted average shares outstanding during the period.

(2) The per share data for distributions declared reflects the actual amount of distributions of record per share for the period.

Media & Investor Contact: 

Meaghan K. Mahoney 
Senior Vice President 
+1 (617) 375-3006 
investorrelations@greatelmcap.com

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