Eagle Point Credit Company Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE:ECC, ECCA,
ECCB, ECCX, ECCY, ECCZ) today announced financial results for the
quarter ended March 31, 2018, net asset value (“NAV”) as of March
31, 2018 and certain portfolio activity through May 11, 2018.
FIRST QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS
- Net investment income (“NII”) and
realized capital gains of $0.50 per weighted average common
share1.
- NAV per common share of $16.65 as of
March 31, 2018.
- First quarter 2018 GAAP net income
(inclusive of unrealized mark-to-market losses) of $8.1 million, or
$0.39 per weighted average common share.
- Weighted average effective yield of the
Company’s collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) equity portfolio
was 14.54% as of March 31, 2018.
- Deployed $41.1 million in net capital
and received $22.7 million in cash distributions from the Company’s
investment portfolio in the first quarter of 2018.
- 4 of the Company’s CLO investments were
reset during the first quarter of 2018.
- Completed an underwritten public
offering of 2,242,500 shares of common stock (including full
exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option) at a premium to
NAV resulting in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $38.8
million.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
- NAV per common share estimated to be
between $16.71 and $16.81 as of April 30, 2018.
- Deployed $15.8 million in net capital
from April 1, 2018 through May 11, 2018; received cash
distributions from the Company’s investment portfolio of $28.8
million over the same period.
- The Company completed an underwritten
public offering of $67.3 million in aggregate principal amount of
6.6875% notes due 2028 (ECCX), including a partial exercise of the
underwriters’ overallotment option, resulting in net proceeds to
the Company of approximately $64.9 million.
- In April 2018, the Company announced it
will redeem 100% of its 7.00% notes due 2020 (ECCZ), or $60.0
million aggregate principal amount, on May 24, 2018.
“We continued to actively manage the Company’s portfolio,
prudently deploying capital while also opportunistically selling
certain investments and realizing gains,” said Thomas Majewski,
Chief Executive Officer. “During the quarter, we deployed $91.6
million into new investments and reset 4 of the Company’s CLO
investments, lengthening the reinvestment periods in each
transaction. Our focus remains on the long term and seeking to lock
in lower cost CLO debt for a longer duration.”
“Our NII and realized capital gains per share increased slightly
from the prior quarter to $0.50 per common share and our CLO equity
portfolio’s weighted average effective yield increased versus the
prior quarter,” noted Mr. Majewski. “We have also been active in
managing the Company’s balance sheet. In January, we completed a
common stock offering with net proceeds of $38.8 million. That
stock was sold at a premium to NAV, which increases NAV for all
shareholders, and much of that capital has already been deployed
into new investments.”
“Subsequent to quarter end, we took advantage of strong market
conditions and looked to effectively refinance our 7% ECCZ
unsecured notes by completing a new notes offering,” added Mr.
Majewski. “The new unsecured notes (ECCX) have a fixed coupon of
6.6875%, 31.25 basis points lower than the ECCZ notes they are
replacing and represent our lowest cost of debt at the Company to
date. Importantly, the ECCX notes have a ten-year maturity compared
to the less than three years remaining on the life of the ECCZ
notes. As a result of the issuance and announced redemption of the
ECCZ notes, the pro-forma weighted average maturity on the
Company’s outstanding notes and preferred stock is now just over
eight years, with the nearest maturity being a little over four
years away. Importantly, all of the Company’s financing is fixed
rate, providing us added certainty in a rising rate
environment.”
FIRST QUARTER 2018 RESULTS
The Company’s NII and realized capital gains for the quarter
ended March 31, 2018 was $0.50 per weighted average common share.
This compared to $0.49 per weighted average common share for the
quarter ended December 31, 2017, and $0.60 per weighted average
common share for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded GAAP
net income of $8.1 million, or $0.39 per weighted average common
share. Net income was comprised of total investment income of $17.0
million and net realized capital gains on investments of $1.8
million, offset by total expenses of $8.5 million and net
unrealized depreciation (or unrealized mark-to-market loss on
investments) of $2.2 million.
NAV as of March 31, 2018 was $355.2 million, or $16.65 per
common share, which is $0.12 per common share lower than the
Company’s NAV as of December 31, 2017, and $0.48 per common share
lower than the Company’s NAV as of March 31, 2017.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company deployed
$91.6 million in gross capital and $41.1 million in net capital.
The weighted average effective yield of new CLO equity investments
made by the Company during the quarter, which includes a provision
for credit losses, was 17.37% as measured at the time of
investment. Additionally, during the quarter, the Company received
$50.5 million of proceeds from the sale of investments and
converted 1 of its existing loan accumulation facilities into a new
CLO.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company received
$22.7 million of cash distributions from its investment portfolio,
or $1.10 per weighted average common share, including amounts
received from called investments. Excluding proceeds from called
investments, the Company received cash distributions of $1.04 per
weighted average common share during the quarter.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, 4 of the Company’s CLO
investments were reset, bringing the total number of such CLO
equity positions that were refinanced or reset since January 1,
2017 to 26 and 10, respectively.
As of March 31, 2018, the weighted average effective yield on
the Company’s CLO equity portfolio was 14.54%, an increase from
14.42% as of December 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, that measure
stood at 16.21%.
Pursuant to the Company’s “at-the-market” offering program under
which the Company may issue shares of common stock and 7.75% Series
B Term Preferred Stock due 2026 (“Series B Term Preferred Stock”),
the Company sold 295,969 shares of common stock at a premium to NAV
during the first quarter for total net proceeds to the Company of
approximately $5.2 million.
PORTFOLIO STATUS
As of March 31, 2018 on a look-through basis, and based on the
most recent CLO trustee reports received by such date, the Company
had indirect exposure to approximately 1,295 unique corporate
obligors. The largest look-through obligor represented 0.98% of the
Company’s CLO equity and loan accumulation facility portfolio. The
top-ten largest look-through obligors together represented 6.28% of
the Company’s CLO equity and loan accumulation facility portfolio.
The look-through weighted average spread of the loans underlying
the Company’s CLO equity and related investments was 3.59% as of
March 2018.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company had debt and preferred
securities outstanding which totaled approximately 35% of its total
assets (less current liabilities). Over the long term, management
expects the Company to operate under current market conditions
generally with leverage within a range of 25% to 35% of total
assets. Based on applicable market conditions at any given time, or
should significant opportunities present themselves, the Company
may incur leverage outside of this range, subject to applicable
regulatory limits.
SECOND QUARTER 2018 PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY THROUGH MAY 11, 2018
AND OTHER UPDATES
From April 1, 2018 through May 11, 2018, the Company received
$28.8 million of cash distributions from its investment portfolio,
or $1.35 per weighted average common share, including amounts
received from called investments. Excluding proceeds from called
investments, the Company received cash distributions of $0.99 per
weighted average common share for the same period. As of May 11,
2018, some of the Company’s investments had not yet reached their
payment date for the quarter. Also from April 1, 2018 through May
11, 2018, the Company deployed $15.8 million in net capital. From
April 1, 2018 through May 11, 2018, 1 of the Company’s CLO
investments was reset.
As of May 11, 2018, the Company has approximately $16.7 million
of cash available for investment.
As previously published on the Company’s website, management’s
estimate of the Company’s range of NAV per common share as of April
30, 2018 was $16.71 to $16.81.
PREVIOUSLY DECLARED DISTRIBUTIONS AND ADDITIONAL
UPDATES
The Company paid a monthly distribution of $0.20 per common
share on April 30, 2018 to stockholders of record as of April 12,
2018. Additionally, and as previously announced, the Company
declared distributions of $0.20 per share of common stock payable
on May 31, 2018 and June 29, 2018, to stockholders of record as of
May 11, 2018 and June 12, 2018, respectively.
The Company paid distributions of $0.161459 per share of the
Company’s 7.75% Series A Term Preferred Stock (NYSE: ECCA) and
Series B Term Preferred Stock (NYSE: ECCB) on April 30, 2018, to
stockholders of record as of April 12, 2018. The distributions
represented a 7.75% annualized rate, based on the $25 liquidation
preference per share for each series of preferred stock.
Additionally, and as previously announced, the Company declared
distributions of $0.161459 per share on each series of preferred
stock, payable on each of May 31, 2018 and June 29, 2018, to
stockholders of record as of May 11, 2018 and June 12, 2018,
respectively.
As one of the requirements for the Company to maintain its
ability to be taxed as a “regulated investment company” (which it
has elected to be), the Company is generally required to pay
distributions to holders of its common stock in an amount equal to
substantially all of the Company’s taxable income within one year
of the end of its tax year, which is November 30. The Company
currently estimates its taxable income for the tax year ended
November 30, 2017 to be slightly below the Company’s overall
distributions on its shares of common stock for the applicable
year, in large part due to the impact of accelerating certain tax
deductions within the Company’s CLOs in conjunction with
refinancing and resetting certain CLOs in the Company’s investment
portfolio during such period. As such, the Company does not
currently expect to pay a special distribution for the tax year
ended November 30, 2017.
For periods subsequent to the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the
Company is changing its accounting policy related to newly issued
debt securities and preferred stock by electing to recognize debt
issuance costs in the period in which such costs are incurred. For
prior periods, when issuing debt securities or preferred stock, the
Company amortized such expenses over the stated maturity of the
security. For securities issued beginning in the quarter ending
June 30, 2018, the Company will now take a one-time upfront charge
of such expenses. For the quarter ending June 30, 2018, management
estimates the non-recurring cost relating to the issuance of the
ECCX notes and the acceleration of unamortized issuance costs
associated with the redemption of the ECCZ notes during the quarter
will impact NII and realized gains/losses for the quarter by
approximately $0.20 per common share.
CONFERENCE CALL
The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time) today to discuss the Company’s financial results for the
quarter ended March 31, 2018, as well as a portfolio update.
All interested parties may participate in the conference call by
dialing (833) 231-8253 (domestic) or (647) 689-4099
(international), and entering Conference ID 2160819 approximately
10 to 15 minutes prior to the call. A live webcast will also be
available on the Company’s website
(www.eaglepointcreditcompany.com) – please go to the Investor
Relations section at least 15 minutes prior to the call to
register, download and install any necessary audio software.
An archived replay of the call will be available shortly
afterwards until June 18, 2018. To hear the replay, please dial
(800) 585-8367 (domestic) or (416) 621-4642 (international). For
the replay, enter conference ID 2160819.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company has made available on its website,
www.eaglepointcreditcompany.com (in the financial statements and
reports section) its unaudited consolidated financial statements as
of and for the period ended March 31, 2018. The Company has also
filed this report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company also published on its website (in the investor
presentations and portfolio information section) an investor
presentation which contains additional information about the
Company and its portfolio as of and for the quarter ended March 31,
2018.
ABOUT EAGLE POINT CREDIT COMPANY
The Company is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company. The Company’s investment objectives are to
generate high current income and capital appreciation primarily
through investment in equity and junior debt tranches of
collateralized loan obligations. The Company is externally managed
and advised by Eagle Point Credit Management LLC.
The Company makes certain unaudited portfolio information
available each month on its website in addition to making certain
other unaudited financial information available on its website
(www.eaglepointcreditcompany.com). This information includes (1) an
estimated range of the Company’s net investment income (“NII”) and
realized capital gains or losses per weighted average share of
common stock for each calendar quarter end, generally made
available within the first fifteen days after the applicable
calendar month end, (2) an estimated range of the Company’s NAV per
share of common stock for the prior month end and certain
additional portfolio-level information, generally made available
within the first fifteen days after the applicable calendar month
end, and (3) during the latter part of each month, an updated
estimate of NAV, if applicable, and, with respect to each calendar
quarter end, an updated estimate of the Company’s NII and realized
capital gains or losses for the applicable quarter, if
available.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts
included in this press release may constitute forward-looking
statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results
and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a
result of a number of factors, including those described in the
Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). The Company undertakes no duty to update any
forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release.
FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING ESTIMATED TAX AND PROSPECTIVE
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The (1) estimates of the Company’s taxable income and
distributions for the tax year ended November 30,
2017 and (2) projection of the estimated impact of the
Company’s recognition of debt securities and preferred stock
issuance costs reflects management’s judgment as of the date of
this press release of conditions currently existing and that it
expects to exist with respect to the tax year ended November
30, 2017 and the redemption of the ECCZ notes, as applicable. The
estimates regarding taxable income are based on taxable income
reported to date and assumptions relating to the underlying tax
characteristics of income and other items as reported to the
Company. Although the Company considers its assumptions to be
reasonable as of the date of this press release, such assumptions
are subject to a wide variety of significant uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in the estimates, including risks and uncertainties
relating to the completeness and accuracy of information reported
or received by the Company from underlying investments, and those
described in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2017 and the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that actual results will not
differ materially from those presented in the estimates.
The projection of the estimated impact of the Company’s
recognition of debt securities and preferred stock issuance costs
was not prepared with a view toward complying with the guidelines
established by the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and Financial Accounting Standards Board, as modified
by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
with respect to prospective financial information. Rather such
estimate, and the estimate of the Company’s taxable income for the
tax year ended November 30, 2017, was prepared on a reasonable
basis and reflects the best currently available estimates and
judgment of Company management. However, this estimate is not fact
and readers of this press release should not rely upon this
information or place undue reliance on such estimate.
Neither the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm nor any other independent accountants has compiled, examined
or performed any procedures with respect to estimated information
contained herein, or expressed any opinion or assurance with
respect to the estimated information or its achievability, and
accordingly each assumes no responsibility for, and disclaims any
association with, the estimates.
1 “Per weighted average common share” data are on a weighted
average basis based on the average daily number of shares of common
stock outstanding for the period and “per common share” refers to
per share of the Company’s common stock.
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