Great Elm Capital Corp. Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Great Elm Capital Corp. announced its first quarter 2024 financial results, with NII of $3.2 million, NAV at $118.8 million, and asset coverage ratio at 180.2%. They raised $24 million in equity, issued $34.5 million in notes, and approved a $0.35 dividend per share. GECC aims to cover the dividend with NII and deploy capital for new investments.
GECC raised $24 million in equity at Net Asset Value and issued $34.5 million in notes to bolster liquidity and provide balance sheet flexibility.
Net assets were $118.8 million on March 31, 2024, with an asset coverage ratio of 180.2%, an improvement from the previous quarters.
The company approved a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share for the second quarter of 2024, ensuring a 13.5% annualized yield for shareholders.
NAV was negatively impacted by $0.55 per share from write-downs on certain illiquid investments inherited from prior management.
The company reported a net loss of $0.05 per share for the first quarter of 2024, a decline from previous quarters.
Net realized and unrealized losses for the quarter were approximately $3.7 million, or $0.42 per share.
Company to Host Conference Call and Webcast at 5:00 PM ET Today
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., May 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Elm Capital Corp. (“we,” “our,” the “Company” or “GECC”) (NASDAQ: GECC), a business development company, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
First Quarter and Other Recent Highlights:
- In February 2024, the Company raised
$24 million of equity at Net Asset Value from a special purchase vehicle (“SPV”), supported by a$6 million investment by Great Elm Group (“GEG”) into the SPV. - In April 2024, the Company issued
$34.5 million of8.50% notes due 2029 (the “GECCI Notes”) to further bolster liquidity and provide balance sheet flexibility. - Net investment income (“NII”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was
$3.2 million , or$0.37 per share, as compared to$3.3 million , or$0.43 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.- Fifth consecutive quarter of NII per share covering the base dividend.
- Net assets were
$118.8 million , or$12.57 per share, on March 31, 2024, as compared to$98.7 million , or$12.99 per share, on December 31, 2023.- NAV adversely impacted by
$0.55 per share in the quarter from write-downs on certain investments in illiquid assets originated by prior management.
- NAV adversely impacted by
- GECC’s asset coverage ratio improved to
180.2% as of March 31, 2024, as compared to169.0% as of December 31, 2023, and159.8% as of March 31, 2023.- Asset coverage ratio pro forma for April bond issuance of approximately
166.9% .
- Asset coverage ratio pro forma for April bond issuance of approximately
- The Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of
$0.35 per share for the second quarter of 2024, equating to a13.5% annualized yield on the Company’s closing market price on May 1, 2024 of$10.36 .
Management Commentary
“With 2024 underway, we were pleased to generate NII that covered the dividend for the fifth consecutive quarter,” said Matt Kaplan, GECC’s Chief Executive Officer. “NAV in the quarter was negatively impacted by 55 cents per share from illiquid investments in two portfolio companies which we inherited from prior management. We also successfully completed a Notes offering shortly after quarter-end, which provides us with additional capital to deploy into quality investments that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders. Additionally, we recently announced a JV to invest in CLO entities and related warehouse facilities. We expect the CLO JV will start receiving quarterly distributions in the third quarter and are targeting mid-teens to low
Financial Highlights – Per Share Data
| Q1/2023 | Q2/2023 | Q3/2023 | Q4/2023 | Q1/2024 | ||||||
| Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) | ( | |||||||||
| Net Investment Income (“NII”) Per Share | ||||||||||
| Pre-Incentive Net Investment Income Per Share | ||||||||||
| Net Realized and Unrealized Gains / (Losses) Per Share | ( | |||||||||
| Net Asset Value Per Share at Period End | ||||||||||
| Distributions Paid / Declared Per Share | ||||||||||
Portfolio and Investment Activity
As of March 31, 2024, GECC held total investments of
- 44 debt investments in corporate credit, totaling approximately
$184.5 million and representing70.2% 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. - An investment in Great Elm Specialty Finance comprised of 1 debt investment totaling approximately
$28.7 million and 1 equity investment totaling approximately$15.9 million and representing10.9% and8.1% , respectively, of the fair market value of the Company’s total investments. - 3 dividend paying equity investments, including our CLO investment, totaling approximately
$21.2 million , representing8.1% of the fair market value of the Company’s total investments. - Other equity investments, totaling approximately
$12.5 million , representing4.8% of the fair market value of the Company’s total investments.
As of March 31, 2024, the weighted average current yield on the Company’s debt portfolio was
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we deployed approximately
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we monetized, in part or in full, 33 investments for approximately
Financial Review
Total investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was
Net realized and unrealized losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 were approximately
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2024, cash and money market securities totaled approximately
As of March 31, 2024, total debt outstanding (par value) was
Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company issued
Distributions
The Company’s Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash distribution of
The distribution equates to a
Conference Call and Webcast
GECC will discuss these results in a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET.
| Conference Call Details | ||
| Date/Time: | Thursday, May 2, 2024 – 5:00 p.m. ET | |
| Participant Dial-In Numbers: | ||
| (United States): | 800-717-1738 | |
| (International): | 646-307-1865 | |
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 “Events and Presentations” 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 Events and Presentations 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. http://www.greatelmcc.com
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 Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share amounts) | ||||||||
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Investments | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments, at fair value (amortized cost of | $ | 218,060 | $ | 183,335 | ||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost of | 8,335 | 10,807 | ||||||
| Affiliated investments, at fair value (amortized cost of | 214 | 1,067 | ||||||
| Controlled investments, at fair value (amortized cost of | 44,586 | 46,210 | ||||||
| Total investments | 271,195 | 241,419 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 334 | 953 | ||||||
| Receivable for investments sold | 2,595 | 840 | ||||||
| Interest receivable | 3,827 | 2,105 | ||||||
| Dividends receivable | 763 | 1,001 | ||||||
| Due from portfolio company | 38 | 37 | ||||||
| Deferred financing costs | 311 | 335 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 64 | 135 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 279,127 | $ | 246,825 | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Notes payable (including unamortized discount of | $ | 140,469 | $ | 140,214 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility | 5,000 | - | ||||||
| Payable for investments purchased | 10,411 | 3,327 | ||||||
| Interest payable | 37 | 32 | ||||||
| Accrued incentive fees payable | 1,466 | 1,431 | ||||||
| Distributions payable | - | 760 | ||||||
| Due to affiliates | 1,560 | 1,195 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 1,389 | 1,127 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 160,332 | $ | 148,086 | ||||
| Commitments and contingencies | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
| Net Assets | ||||||||
| Common stock, par value | $ | 94 | $ | 76 | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 307,599 | 283,795 | ||||||
| Accumulated losses | (188,898 | ) | (185,132 | ) | ||||
| Total net assets | $ | 118,795 | $ | 98,739 | ||||
| Total liabilities and net assets | $ | 279,127 | $ | 246,825 | ||||
| Net asset value per share | $ | 12.57 | $ | 12.99 | ||||
| GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share amounts) | ||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Investment Income: | ||||||||
| Interest income from: | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | $ | 5,987 | $ | 5,476 | ||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments (PIK) | 630 | 449 | ||||||
| Affiliated investments | 33 | 30 | ||||||
| Controlled investments | 931 | 442 | ||||||
| Controlled investments (PIK) | - | 233 | ||||||
| Total interest income | 7,581 | 6,630 | ||||||
| Dividend income from: | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | 386 | 318 | ||||||
| Controlled investments | 385 | 616 | ||||||
| Total dividend income | 771 | 934 | ||||||
| Other commitment fees from non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | 525 | 802 | ||||||
| Other income from: | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | 32 | 44 | ||||||
| Total other income | 32 | 44 | ||||||
| Total investment income | $ | 8,909 | $ | 8,410 | ||||
| Expenses: | ||||||||
| Management fees | $ | 940 | $ | 869 | ||||
| Incentive fees | 798 | 710 | ||||||
| Administration fees | 385 | 295 | ||||||
| Custody fees | 36 | 22 | ||||||
| Directors’ fees | 54 | 52 | ||||||
| Professional services | 388 | 536 | ||||||
| Interest expense | 2,807 | 2,821 | ||||||
| Other expenses | 303 | 238 | ||||||
| Total expenses | $ | 5,711 | $ | 5,543 | ||||
| Net investment income before taxes | $ | 3,198 | $ | 2,867 | ||||
| Excise tax | $ | 5 | $ | 28 | ||||
| Net investment income | $ | 3,193 | $ | 2,839 | ||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains (losses): | ||||||||
| Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions from: | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | $ | 2,356 | $ | 1,845 | ||||
| Total net realized gain (loss) | 2,356 | 1,845 | ||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment transactions from: | ||||||||
| Non-affiliated, non-controlled investments | (3,533 | ) | 2,781 | |||||
| Affiliated investments | (850 | ) | 163 | |||||
| Controlled investments | (1,624 | ) | 532 | |||||
| Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (6,007 | ) | 3,476 | |||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | $ | (3,651 | ) | $ | 5,321 | |||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ | (458 | ) | $ | 8,160 | |||
| Net investment income per share (basic and diluted): | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.37 | ||||
| Earnings per share (basic and diluted): | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | 1.07 | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted): | 8,659,344 | 7,601,958 | ||||||
FAQ
What was GECC's net investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024?
What was the asset coverage ratio for GECC as of March 31, 2024?
What was the quarterly dividend approved by GECC for the second quarter of 2024?
