WALTHAM, Mass., May 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Elm Capital Corp. (“we,” “us,” “our” or “GECC”), (NASDAQ: GECC), today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, remarkable volatility in the leveraged credit markets meaningfully impacted the fair value of our investments
  • Net realized losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were approximately $11.3 million, or $1.12 per share. Net unrealized depreciation from investments for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $24.9 million, or $2.47 per share
• During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we maintained a liquid balance sheet with approximately $22.8 million of cash and no secured credit facility
• As of March 31, 2020, our asset coverage ratio was approximately 141.1% vs. a minimum asset coverage ratio of 150.0% (the “Minimum ACR”)
  • As a result of falling below the Minimum ACR, we will be subject to certain limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities
• In May 2020, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) set monthly distributions of $0.083 per share for the third quarter of 2020
  • The distributions will be paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of shareholders, although the total amount of cash to be distributed to all shareholders will be limited to approximately 10% of the total distributions to be paid to all shareholders; the remainder of the distributions (approximately 90%) will be paid in the form of shares of our common stock
• Net investment income (“NII”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $2.7 million, or $0.26 per share, equating to greater than 1x distribution coverage
• Net assets on March 31, 2020 were approximately $50.8 million. NAV per share on March 31, 2020 was $5.05, as compared to NAV per share of $8.63 on December 31, 2019, largely driven by unrealized losses in certain of our investments

“The fair value of our portfolio was significantly impacted by volatility in the credit markets associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” remarked Peter A. Reed, GECC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that most of our portfolio companies are well positioned for a difficult economic environment, but they are also grappling with meaningful uncertainty. Consequently, we remain focused on maintaining significant liquidity and strengthening our balance sheet. Paying a substantial portion of our base distributions in shares helps build our equity capital. This increased equity capital will strengthen our balance sheet and help increase our asset coverage ratio.”

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

As of March 31, 2020, we held 28 debt investments, totaling approximately $146.7 million and representing 88.6% of the fair market value of our total investments. First lien and/or secured debt investments comprised 100.0% of the fair market value of our debt investments. As of the same date, we held seven equity investments, totaling approximately $18.8 million and representing 11.4% of the fair market value of our total investments.

As of March 31, 2020, the weighted average current yield on our debt portfolio was 10.0%. Floating rate instruments comprised approximately 72.1% of the fair market value of debt investments.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we deployed approximately $31.9 million into 11 investments⁽¹⁾. The weighted average price of the debt deployment activity was 99% of par, carrying a weighted average current yield of 7.1%.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we monetized, in part or in full, 12 investments for approximately $29.4 million⁽²⁾, at a weighted average current yield of 13.7%. Our weighted average realized price was 82% of par.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Total investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $6.4 million, or $0.64 per share. Total expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were approximately $3.8 million, or $0.38 per share. 

Net realized losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were approximately $11.3 million, or $1.12 per share. Net unrealized depreciation from investments for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $24.9 million, or $2.47 per share.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of March 31, 2020, available liquidity from cash was approximately $22.8 million, exclusive of our holdings of United States Treasury Bills. Total debt outstanding as of March 31, 2020 was $123.8 million, comprised of our 6.50% senior notes due September 2022 (NASDAQ: GECCL), our 6.50% senior notes due June 2024 (NASDAQ: GECCN) and our 6.75% senior notes due January 2025 (NASDAQ: GECCM). Importantly, as of March 31, 2020, we had no secured credit facility, which allows for greater flexibility in the use of our cash and other assets.

As of March 31, 2020, our asset coverage ratio was approximately 141.1%. We are subject to a Minimum ACR of 150.0%, per the proposal that was approved at our 2018 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting. As a result of falling below the Minimum ACR, we will be subject to certain limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities, in each case, in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the indentures governing our outstanding notes, until such time we are above the Minimum ACR.

SELECT SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITY

Distributions

As previously announced, in March 2020, our Board declared monthly distributions through the month ending June 30, 2020 of $0.083 per share. Such distributions shall be paid in cash or in shares of our common stock at the election of shareholders, although the total amount of cash to be distributed to all shareholders will be limited to approximately 20% of the total distributions paid to all shareholders. The remainder of the distributions (approximately 80%) will be paid in the form of shares of our common stock.

In May 2020, our Board set monthly distributions of $0.083 per share for the third quarter of 2020, through the month ending September 30, 2020. The distributions will be paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of shareholders, although the total amount of cash to be distributed to all shareholders will be limited to approximately 10% of the total distributions to be paid to all shareholders. The remainder of the distributions (approximately 90%) will be paid in the form of shares of our common stock, in accordance with applicable law and the indentures governing our outstanding notes.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Great Elm Capital Corp. will host a conference call and webcast on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first 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 7099005 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

The conference call will be webcast simultaneously at:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/2seyne5g

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 targets catalyst-driven investments as it seeks to generate attractive, risk-adjusted returns through both current income and capital appreciation.

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, the price of GECC common stock, the performance of GECC’s portfolio and investment manager and risks associated with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on GECC and its portfolio companies. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in GECC’s Annual Report on 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 capitalized PIK income. Amounts included herein do not include investments 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 do not include investments in short-term securities, including United States Treasury Bills and money market mutual funds.

Media & Investor Contact:

Investor Relations
+1 (617) 375-3006
investorrelations@greatelmcap.com 

Source: Great Elm Capital Corp.