Great Elm Capital Corp. (“we,” “our,” the “Company” or “GECC,”)
(NASDAQ: GECC), a business development company, today announced its
financial results for the third quarter ended September 30,
2023.
Third Quarter and Other Recent
Highlights:
- Net investment income (“NII”) for
the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was $3.1 million, or $0.40 per
share, as compared to $3.4 million, or $0.44 per share, for the
quarter ended June 30, 2023.
- NII was impacted by $0.05 per share
of net expenses in the quarter related to the refinancing of the
Company’s 6.50% Notes due 2024.
- Third consecutive quarter of NII
more than covering the dividend, even after refinancing
items.
- Highest cash income quarter in the
Company’s history, with only 12% of GECC’s $9.3 million Total
Investment Income attributable to PIK and accretion income.
- Net assets increased to $97.9
million, or $12.88 per share, on September 30, 2023, as compared to
$92.9 million, or $12.21 per share, on June 30,
2023.
- GECC’s asset coverage ratio
improved to 168.4% as of September 30, 2023, as compared to 161.5%
as of June 30, 2023, and 165.5% as of September 30, 2022.
- Successfully refinanced all $42.8
million of the Company’s 6.50% Notes due June 30, 2024 with $40.0
million of new 8.75% Notes due September 30, 2028 and cash on
hand.
- The Board of Directors approved a
quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share for the fourth quarter of
2023, equating to a 15.8% annualized yield on the Company’s closing
market price on November 1, 2023 of $8.88.
Management
Commentary “We generated yet another quarter
of very strong total investment income, with our NII exceeding the
quarterly dividend for the third straight quarter. Our NAV
continued to grow through harvesting of lower-yielding investments
and redeploying the capital into higher-yielding, higher-quality
investments,” said Matt Kaplan, GECC’s Chief Executive Officer.
“The strategic initiatives taken over the last 18 months,
spearheaded by our new management team, have truly transformed
Great Elm and strengthened our portfolio. In addition, during the
quarter, we contributed our core specialty finance investments into
a single, streamlined operating company – Great Elm Specialty
Finance – which we believe will further propel the Company’s growth
over the long term, creating additional value for our shareholders.
In connection with the transaction, Great Elm Specialty Finance
welcomed a strategic investor who contributed fresh capital,
increasing the platform’s flexibility to scale its operations.”
Financial Highlights – Per Share
Data
|
Q3/2022 |
Q4/2022 |
Q1/2023 |
Q2/2023 |
Q3/2023 |
|
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) |
$0.18 |
($0.96) |
$1.07 |
$0.68 |
$1.02 |
|
Net Investment Income (“NII”) Per Share |
$0.14 |
$0.30 |
$0.37 |
$0.44 |
$0.40 |
|
Pre-Incentive Net Investment Income Per Share |
$0.14 |
$0.37 |
$0.47 |
$0.56 |
$0.50 |
|
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains / (Losses) Per Share |
$0.04 |
($1.26) |
$0.70 |
$0.24 |
$0.62 |
|
Net Asset Value Per Share at Period End |
$12.56 |
$11.16 |
$11.88 |
$12.21 |
$12.88 |
|
Distributions Paid / Declared Per Share |
$0.45 |
$0.45 |
$0.35 |
$0.35 |
$0.35 |
|
|
Portfolio and Investment
Activity
As of September 30, 2023, GECC held total
investments of $235.4 million at fair value, as follows:
- 40 debt
investments in corporate credit, totaling approximately $168.5
million and representing 71.6% of the fair market value of the
Company’s total investments. Secured debt investments comprised a
substantial majority of the fair market value of the Company’s debt
investments.
- 2 debt investments in specialty
finance, totaling approximately $34.6 million and representing
14.7% of the fair market value of the Company’s total
investments.
- 1 equity investment in a specialty
finance company, totaling approximately $17.5 million, representing
7.4% of the fair market value of the Company’s total
investments.
- 2 dividend paying equity
investments, totaling approximately $7.2 million, representing 3.1%
of the fair market value of the Company’s total investments.
- Other equity investments, totaling
approximately $7.6 million, representing 3.2% of the fair market
value of the Company’s total investments.
As of September 30, 2023, the weighted average
current yield on the Company’s debt portfolio was 13.4%. Floating
rate instruments comprised approximately 63% of the fair market
value of debt investments (comparable to the prior quarter) and the
Company’s fixed rate debt investments had a weighted average
maturity of 2.8 years.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, we
deployed approximately $32.6 million into 20 investments(1) at a
weighted average current yield of 11.4%.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, we
monetized, in part or in full, 37 investments for approximately
$37.0 million(2), at a weighted average current yield of 11.0%.
Monetizations include $23.8 million of mandatory debt paydowns and
redemptions at a weighted average current yield of 11.7%. Sales
aggregated to $13.2 million at a weighted average current yield of
9.7%.
Financial Review Total
investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was $9.3
million, or $1.22 per share. Net expenses for the quarter ended
September 30, 2023 were approximately $6.2 million, or $0.82 per
share.
Net realized and unrealized gains for the
quarter ended September 30, 2023 were approximately $4.7 million,
or $0.62 per share.
Liquidity and Capital
ResourcesAs of September 30, 2023, cash and money market
securities totaled approximately $2.8 million, and availability on
the Company’s undrawn revolving line of credit totaled $25.0
million.
As of September 30, 2023, total debt outstanding
(par value) was $143.1 million, comprised of 6.75% senior notes due
January 2025 (NASDAQ: GECCM), 5.875% senior notes due June 2026
(NASDAQ: GECCO), and 8.75% senior notes due September 2028 (NASDAQ:
GECCZ).
DistributionsThe Company’s
Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash distribution of
$0.35 per share for the quarter ending December 31, 2023. The
fourth quarter distribution will be payable on December 29, 2023 to
stockholders of record as of December 15, 2023.
The distribution equates to a 15.8% annualized
dividend yield on the Company’s closing market price on November 1,
2023 of $8.88 and a 10.9% annualized dividend yield on the
Company’s September 30, 2023 NAV of $12.88 per share.
Conference Call and WebcastGECC
will discuss these results in a conference call today at 8:30 a.m.
ET.
Conference Call Details |
|
Date/Time: |
Thursday, November 2, 2023 – 8:30 a.m. ET |
|
Participant Dial-In Numbers: |
|
(United States): |
877-407-0789 |
(International): |
201-689-8562 |
|
To access the call, please dial-in approximately
five minutes before the start time and, when asked, provide the
operator with passcode “GECC”. An accompanying slide presentation
will be available in pdf format via the “Investor Relations”
section of Great Elm Capital Corp.’s website here after the
issuance of the earnings release.
Webcast
The call and presentation will also be
simultaneously webcast over the internet via the “News &
Events” section of GECC’s website or by clicking on the conference
call link here.
About Great Elm Capital
Corp.
GECC is an externally managed business
development company that seeks to generate current income and
capital appreciation by investing in debt and income generating
equity securities, including investments in specialty finance
businesses.
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,” “continue,” “upside,” “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: conditions in the credit markets, rising interest rates,
inflationary pressure, the price of GECC common stock and the
performance of GECC’s portfolio and investment manager. Information
concerning these and other factors can be found in GECC’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. 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 capitalized PIK income.
Amounts included herein do not include investments in
short-term securities, including United States Treasury Bills.(2)
This includes scheduled principal payments, prepayments, sales and
repayments (inclusive of those on revolving credit
facilities). Amounts included herein do not
include investments in short-term securities, including United
States Treasury Bills.
Media & Investor Contact:
Investor
Relations investorrelations@greatelmcap.com
GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP.CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(unaudited)Dollar amounts in thousands (except per
share amounts)
|
September 30, 2023 |
|
December 31, 2022 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments, at fair value
(amortized cost of $190,584 and $183,061, respectively) |
$ |
187,670 |
|
|
$ |
171,743 |
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled short-term investments, at fair
value (amortized cost of $1,035 and $76,140, respectively) |
|
1,035 |
|
|
|
76,127 |
|
|
Affiliated investments, at fair value (amortized cost of $13,425
and $13,433, respectively) |
|
1,472 |
|
|
|
1,304 |
|
|
Controlled investments, at fair value (amortized cost of $46,300
and $54,684, respectively) |
|
46,233 |
|
|
|
51,910 |
|
|
Total investments |
|
236,410 |
|
|
|
301,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
1,780 |
|
|
|
587 |
|
|
Receivable for investments sold |
|
3,984 |
|
|
|
396 |
|
|
Interest receivable |
|
2,698 |
|
|
|
3,090 |
|
|
Dividends receivable |
|
1,099 |
|
|
|
1,440 |
|
|
Due from portfolio company |
|
47 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Deferred financing costs |
|
106 |
|
|
|
226 |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
207 |
|
|
|
3,288 |
|
|
Total assets |
$ |
246,331 |
|
|
$ |
310,112 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable (including unamortized discount of $3,145 and $2,781,
respectively) |
$ |
139,965 |
|
|
$ |
143,152 |
|
|
Revolving credit facility |
|
- |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
Payable for investments purchased |
|
4,391 |
|
|
|
70,022 |
|
|
Interest payable |
|
56 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
Accrued incentive fees payable |
|
1,879 |
|
|
|
565 |
|
|
Due to affiliates |
|
1,206 |
|
|
|
1,042 |
|
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
885 |
|
|
|
480 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
$ |
148,382 |
|
|
$ |
225,303 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (100,000,000 shares
authorized, 7,601,958 shares issued and outstanding and 7,601,958
shares issued and outstanding, respectively) |
$ |
76 |
|
|
$ |
76 |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
284,107 |
|
|
|
284,107 |
|
|
Accumulated losses |
|
(186,234 |
) |
|
|
(199,374 |
) |
|
Total net assets |
$ |
97,949 |
|
|
$ |
84,809 |
|
|
Total liabilities and net assets |
$ |
246,331 |
|
|
$ |
310,112 |
|
|
Net asset value per share |
$ |
12.88 |
|
|
$ |
11.16 |
|
|
|
GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) Dollar
amounts in thousands (except per share
amounts)
|
|
For the Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
Investment Income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments |
|
$ |
6,357 |
|
|
$ |
4,221 |
|
|
$ |
17,669 |
|
|
$ |
10,496 |
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments (PIK) |
|
|
552 |
|
|
|
259 |
|
|
|
1,591 |
|
|
|
728 |
|
|
Affiliated investments |
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
Affiliated investments (PIK) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
Controlled investments |
|
|
650 |
|
|
|
485 |
|
|
|
1,715 |
|
|
|
1,415 |
|
|
Controlled investments (PIK) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Total interest income |
|
|
7,592 |
|
|
|
4,990 |
|
|
|
21,303 |
|
|
|
12,765 |
|
|
Dividend income from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments |
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
340 |
|
|
|
899 |
|
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
Controlled investments |
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
1,841 |
|
|
|
2,099 |
|
|
Total dividend income |
|
|
779 |
|
|
|
740 |
|
|
|
2,740 |
|
|
|
3,396 |
|
|
Other income from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments |
|
|
905 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
2,620 |
|
|
|
943 |
|
|
Total other income |
|
|
905 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
2,620 |
|
|
|
943 |
|
|
Total investment income |
|
$ |
9,276 |
|
|
$ |
6,033 |
|
|
$ |
26,663 |
|
|
$ |
17,104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fees |
|
$ |
899 |
|
|
$ |
804 |
|
|
$ |
2,652 |
|
|
$ |
2,355 |
|
|
Incentive fees |
|
|
763 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,315 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Administration fees |
|
|
420 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
1,056 |
|
|
|
704 |
|
|
Custody fees |
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
Directors’ fees |
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
156 |
|
|
|
156 |
|
|
Professional services |
|
|
422 |
|
|
|
878 |
|
|
|
1,392 |
|
|
|
1,669 |
|
|
Interest expense |
|
|
3,344 |
|
|
|
2,671 |
|
|
|
8,934 |
|
|
|
8,008 |
|
|
Other expenses |
|
|
267 |
|
|
|
313 |
|
|
|
770 |
|
|
|
698 |
|
|
Total expenses |
|
$ |
6,185 |
|
|
$ |
4,949 |
|
|
$ |
17,337 |
|
|
$ |
13,631 |
|
|
Incentive fee waiver |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4,854 |
) |
|
Net expenses |
|
|
6,185 |
|
|
|
4,949 |
|
|
$ |
17,337 |
|
|
$ |
8,777 |
|
|
Net investment income before taxes |
|
$ |
3,091 |
|
|
$ |
1,084 |
|
|
$ |
9,326 |
|
|
$ |
8,327 |
|
|
Excise tax |
|
$ |
39 |
|
|
$ |
22 |
|
|
$ |
67 |
|
|
$ |
123 |
|
|
Net investment income |
|
$ |
3,052 |
|
|
$ |
1,062 |
|
|
$ |
9,259 |
|
|
$ |
8,204 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments |
|
$ |
1,637 |
|
|
$ |
1,171 |
|
|
$ |
4,024 |
|
|
$ |
(17,729 |
) |
|
Affiliated investments |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(110,784 |
) |
|
Controlled investments |
|
|
(3,461 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(3,461 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
Total net realized gain (loss) |
|
|
(1,824 |
) |
|
|
1,171 |
|
|
|
563 |
|
|
|
(128,513 |
) |
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment
transactions from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments |
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
8,416 |
|
|
|
5,274 |
|
|
Affiliated investments |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
177 |
|
|
|
108,325 |
|
|
Controlled investments |
|
|
3,926 |
|
|
|
(1,070 |
) |
|
|
2,707 |
|
|
|
(1,586 |
) |
|
Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
|
|
6,532 |
|
|
|
(902 |
) |
|
|
11,300 |
|
|
|
112,013 |
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
|
$ |
4,708 |
|
|
$ |
269 |
|
|
$ |
11,863 |
|
|
$ |
(16,500 |
) |
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from
operations |
|
$ |
7,760 |
|
|
$ |
1,331 |
|
|
$ |
21,122 |
|
|
$ |
(8,296 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income per share (basic and diluted): |
(1) |
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
1.22 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
Earnings per share (basic and diluted): |
(1) |
$ |
1.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
2.77 |
|
|
$ |
(1.43 |
) |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted): |
(1) |
|
7,601,958 |
|
|
|
7,601,958 |
|
|
|
7,601,958 |
|
|
|
5,796,255 |
|
|
|
(1) Weighted average shares outstanding and per share
amounts have been adjusted for the periods shown to reflect the
six-for-one reverse stock split
effected on February 28, 2022 on a retroactive basis. |
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