BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation Declares Regular Quarterly Distribution of $0.21 per Share, Announces September 30, 2014 Quarterly Financial Results
BlackRock Advisors, LLC to Acquire Certain Assets of
HIGHLIGHTS:
Operating Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2014: |
Net investment income per share: $0.26 |
Distributions declared per share: $0.21 |
Earnings per share: $0.39 |
Net asset value per share: $9.97 |
Net investment income: $19.3 million |
Net realized and unrealized gains: $9.6 million |
Net increase in net assets from operations: $29.0 million |
Net investment income per share, as adjusted1: $0.23 |
Net investment income, as adjusted1: $17.3 million |
Earnings per share, as adjusted1: $0.36 |
Net increase in net assets from operations, as adjusted1: $26.9 million |
Certain transactions completed during the quarter:
- We funded
$60.0 million of our$85.0 million commitment in theGSE Environmental, Inc. (“GSE”) first lien term loan during the quarter. We subsequently sold$17.6 million of our investment to a third party, netting an upfront fee of$1.3 million on both transactions. GSE manufactures geo-synthetic products utilized in industrial and civil projects to support environmental protection. - We helped structure a new second lien credit facility to
Hunter Defense Technologies, Inc. (“HDT”), and provided$45.0 million of the$80.0 million tranche, earning a 2.5% capital structuring fee, or$1.1 million . Subsequently, we earned another$1.1 million amendment fee for consenting to an acquisition of HDT. HDT is a designer and manufacturer of tactical shelters, heating and cooling units, and air filtration systems for military and commercial end markets. - We invested
$20.0 million in theMD America Holdings, LLC (“MD America”) senior secured first lien term loan. MD America is an upstream oil and gas exploration and production company with 14,818 net acres of leasehold in the Woodbine play inEast Texas .
Recent Developments
- On
November 5, 2014 ,BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BlackRock Advisors”), a wholly-owned subsidiary ofBlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), andBlackRock Kelso Capital Advisors LLC (“BKCA”), the advisor to the Company, entered into a definitive agreement whereinBlackRock Advisors will acquire certain assets of BKCA (the “Transaction”). Contingent upon BKCC stockholder approval and subject to other closing conditions,BlackRock Advisors will enter into an investment management agreement with the Company and serve as BKCC’s investment manager following the completion of the Transaction.BlackRock has substantial investment and portfolio management experience, which we believe will be beneficial to the Company and our stockholders. As part of theBlackRock platform, we will continue to seek to enhance the risk-return profile of the Company, strengthen its distribution paying capacity and optimize the valuation for our shareholders.
Upon completion of the Transaction,James R. Maher andMichael B. Lazar will be stepping down from their roles with the Company. Mr. Maher, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain on the Board of Directors and will become a senior advisor toBlackRock to assist in the transition of the business. Mr. Lazar, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, has also agreed to serve as an advisor toBlackRock in transitioning the business, including portfolio responsibility and business operations. Mr. Lazar will step down from the Board at closing.Steve Sterling , Managing Director and head of BlackRock’sGlobal Capital Markets group, will assume the role of CEO of the Company at closing, subject to Board approval.
Completion of the Transaction is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2015 and remains subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms are not disclosed. - On
October 31, 2014 , we completed a transaction withGordon Brothers Group to launchGordon Brothers Finance Company (“GBFC”) which will be a majority owned portfolio company comprised of twenty-three loans at close. We invested approximately$94.6 million , which consisted of$71.0 million of newly issued LIBOR + 11.0% (1.0% Floor) senior notes,$13.0 million of newly issued 13.5% coupon preferred stock, and$10.6 million of common equity. - On
October 1, 2014 , aU.K. based media company announced its intention to buyAdvanstar Communications, Inc. with a targeted close ofJanuary 2015 . Anticipated proceeds of$26.4 million on our combined preferred and LLC interests are expected to result in realized gains of approximately$14.4 million . As anticipated, this would further reduce our portfolio’s equity composition while generating additional proceeds to redeploy into income producing assets.
Portfolio and Investment Activity (dollar amounts in millions) | ||||||
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||
September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | |||||
Gross commitments | $ | 142.6 | $ | 133.1 | ||
Exits of commitments | 117.3 | 16.0 | ||||
Number of portfolio company investments at the end of period | 42 | 47 | ||||
Weighted average (“WA”) yield of debt and income producing equity securities, at cost | 11.8% | 11.7% | ||||
WA yield of senior secured loans, at cost | 11.4% | 10.9% | ||||
WA yield of other debt securities, at cost | 13.0% | 13.2% | ||||
Average investment by portfolio company, at amortized cost (excluding those below $5.0 million) | $ | 28.1 | $ | 21.6 | ||
- The composition of our portfolio invested in senior secured loans increased 6% to 54% during the quarter. Unsecured or subordinated debt securities and cash equivalents decreased a respective 4% and 3%, while the composition of our portfolio invested in senior secured notes and equity securities remained relatively unchanged at 9% and 18%, respectively. With the anticipated sale of our investments in
Advanstar Communications, Inc. in the coming months, we expect the composition of our equity investments to further decline. - Net unrealized appreciation increased
$9.2 million during the current quarter bringing total balance sheet unrealized appreciation to$83.1 million . Taken in conjunction with$0.5 million of realized gains during the period, our net realized and unrealized gains of$9.6 million helped to drive our net asset value per share up another$0.18 for the quarter to$9.97 per share atSeptember 30, 2014 . This was a further increase over our$9.38 net asset value per share at this time last year. - Fee income earned due to capital structuring, commitment, administration and amendments, as well as prepayment penalties totaled
$4.8 million , or$0.06 per share, as compared to$2.4 million , or$0.03 per share for the same period last year. Removing fee income, our remaining investment income increased from$27.9 million to $28.3 million from the second to the third quarter of 2014. - There was an additional
$0.6 million accrual for incentive management fees based on gains during the quarter. This accrual was primarily the result of a$9.2 million increase in unrealized appreciation for the period. Partially offsetting this accrual is the impact of a$0.6 million accrual relating to incentive management fees earned, and gross unrealized depreciation in the last period, which reduced the amount of fees to be paid, although amounts had already been accrued. A hypothetical liquidation is performed each quarter end resulting in an additional accrual if the amount is positive; however, the resulting fee accrual is not due and payable untilJune 30 , if at all. Furthermore, while no incentive management fees based on income were earned and payable during the quarter, pro-forma incentive management fees earned were$2.6 million , had they been accrued ratably throughout the year. - Our leverage, net of available cash and receivables for investments sold, stood at 0.39 times at quarter end, providing us with available debt capacity under our asset coverage requirements of
$379.5 million and$349.0 million available under our senior secured, revolving credit facility. - As compared to last year, our weighted average cost of debt decreased 30 basis points to 5.20% due to securing more favorable pricing with the amendment of our credit facility earlier this year. Average debt outstanding increased from
$359.5 million last year to$414.6 million this year, resulting in a 1.1% increase in total borrowing costs during the quarter as compared to last year’s quarterly average. - Our net investment income, as adjusted, was
$0.23 per share, relative to distributions declared of$0.21 per share, resulting in net investment income dividend coverage of 111%. Year to date, our net investment income, as adjusted, was$0.65 per share, relative to distributions declared of$0.68 per share. Realized gains during the year provided another$1.12 per share of earnings with no accompanying distribution requirement, resulting in$1.77 per share of combined net investment income and realized gains, for dividend coverage of 260%. - Tax characteristics of all 2013 distributions were reported to stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year. Our 2013 distributions of
$1.04 per share were comprised of ordinary income of$0.60 and a$0.44 return of capital, bringing our return of capital distributions since inception to$1.70 per share. As part of our strategic tax planning, from time to time we are able to reduce our investment company taxable income by losses taken on ordinary assets, thus minimizing the amount of taxable income to be reported by our shareholders. For more information on our GAAP distributions, please refer to the Section 19 Notice that will be posted within the Distribution History section of our website. - We intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements to maintain our qualification as a RIC. We also intend to make distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. We may, at our discretion, carry forward taxable income in excess of calendar year distributions and pay a 4% excise tax on this income. We will accrue excise tax on estimated undistributed taxable income as required. There was no undistributed taxable income carried forward from 2013.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At
Conference Call
Prior to the webcast/teleconference, an investor presentation that complements the earnings conference call will be posted to
1 Non-GAAP basis financial measure. See Supplemental Information on page 7.
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation | |||||||
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities | |||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Investments at fair value: | |||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments (cost of $737,468,122 and $854,947,802) |
$ |
743,840,944
|
$ | 881,305,181 | |||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments (cost of $96,801,768 and $75,514,208) | 187,377,344 | 134,096,291 | |||||
Controlled investments (cost of $133,765,471 and $154,038,211) | 122,603,340 | 202,570,992 | |||||
Total investments at fair value (cost of $968,035,361 and $1,084,500,221) | 1,053,821,628 | 1,217,972,464 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 42,452,397 | 18,474,784 | |||||
Receivable for investments sold | 29,048,791 | 22,756,286 | |||||
Interest receivable | 15,147,334 | 11,033,061 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 10,314,226 | 11,410,320 | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 1,150,784,376 | $ | 1,281,646,915 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Payable for investments purchased | $ |
- |
$ | 21,000,000 | |||
Debt | 360,165,635 | 477,981,494 | |||||
Interest payable | 3,260,713 | 7,896,016 | |||||
Distributions payable | 15,657,129 | 19,344,682 | |||||
Base management fees payable | 5,621,443 | 5,803,497 | |||||
Incentive management fees payable | 17,247,288 | 34,725,204 | |||||
Accrued administrative services | 120,750 | 270,000 | |||||
Other accrued expenses and payables | 5,482,107 | 4,921,681 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 407,555,065 | 571,942,574 | |||||
Net Assets | |||||||
Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 200,000,000 common shares authorized, 76,193,338 and 75,827,692 issued and 74,557,583 and 74,402,185 outstanding | 76,193 | 75,828 | |||||
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 897,867,522 | 894,649,992 | |||||
Distributions in excess of taxable net investment income | (23,182,167) | (19,373,748) | |||||
Accumulated net realized loss | (203,419,163) | (286,693,363) | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 83,143,221 | 130,522,308 | |||||
Treasury stock at cost, 1,635,755 and 1,425,507 shares held | (11,256,295) | (9,476,676) | |||||
Total Net Assets | 743,229,311 | 709,704,341 | |||||
Total Liabilities and Net Assets | $ | 1,150,784,376 | $ | 1,281,646,915 | |||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 9.97 | $ | 9.54 | |||
Three months | Three months | Nine months | Nine months | ||||||||||
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation | ended | ended | ended | ended | |||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) | September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | |||||||||
Investment Income: | |||||||||||||
Interest income: | |||||||||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments |
$ |
23,400,184
|
$ | 21,370,250 | $ | 70,712,028 | $ | 73,117,037 | |||||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments | 1,223,632 | 3,876,098 | 3,433,189 | 5,958,969 | |||||||||
Controlled investments | 3,075,657 | 2,702,931 | 8,955,752 | 7,641,475 | |||||||||
Total interest income | 27,699,473 | 27,949,279 | 83,100,969 | 86,717,481 | |||||||||
Fee income: | |||||||||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments | 4,821,002 | 29,875 | 11,418,307 | 7,578,694 | |||||||||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||||||||
Controlled investments | 25,000 | 2,350,000 | 225,000 | 2,638,680 | |||||||||
Total fee income | 4,846,002 | 2,379,875 | 11,643,307 | 10,217,374 | |||||||||
Dividend income: | |||||||||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments | 37,366 | 640,163 | 109,224 | 1,226,348 | |||||||||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments | 579,827 | 413,302 | 1,637,805 | 487,141 | |||||||||
Controlled investments |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||||||||
Total dividend income | 617,193 | 1,053,465 | 1,747,029 | 1,713,489 | |||||||||
Total investment income | 33,162,668 | 31,382,619 | 96,491,305 | 98,648,344 | |||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||||
Base management fees | 5,621,443 | 5,286,986 | 17,892,011 | 15,826,168 | |||||||||
Interest and credit facility fees | 5,283,546 | 5,455,017 | 16,899,287 | 15,128,057 | |||||||||
Incentive management fees | 593,837 | 9,358,529 | 7,022,626 | 16,692,244 | |||||||||
Investment advisor expenses | 574,964 | 479,871 | 1,684,238 | 1,520,714 | |||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 524,766 | 568,678 | 1,588,436 | 1,431,226 | |||||||||
Professional fees | 450,052 | 541,180 | 1,550,416 | 1,647,600 | |||||||||
Director fees | 194,500 | 194,500 | 531,000 | 474,000 | |||||||||
Administrative services | 108,840 | 174,288 | 395,967 | 607,429 | |||||||||
Other | 478,262 | 449,909 | 2,069,346 | 2,263,313 | |||||||||
Total expenses | 13,830,210 | 22,508,958 | 49,633,327 | 55,590,751 | |||||||||
Net Investment Income | 19,332,458 | 8,873,661 | 46,857,978 | 43,057,593 | |||||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss): | |||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss): | |||||||||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments | 26,856 | 307,321 | 34,419,907 | (25,980,491) | |||||||||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments | 423,373 |
- |
423,373 | 21 | |||||||||
Controlled investments |
- |
769,604 | 48,430,920 | (31,890,556) | |||||||||
Foreign currency |
- |
(933,861) |
- |
(166,934) | |||||||||
Net realized loss | 450,229 | 143,064 | 83,274,200 | (58,037,960) | |||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on: | |||||||||||||
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments | 4,031,126 | (408,094) | (19,267,935) | 21,595,785 | |||||||||
Non-controlled, affiliated investments | 17,734,541 | 4,602,853 | 31,993,493 | 28,621,996 | |||||||||
Controlled investments | (12,201,674) | 6,507,911 | (59,694,912) | 26,688,350 | |||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (377,158) | 124,348 | (409,733) | (261,485) | |||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation | 9,186,835 | 10,827,018 | (47,379,087) | 76,644,646 | |||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 9,637,064 | 10,970,082 | 35,895,113 | 18,606,686 | |||||||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 28,969,522 | $ | 19,843,743 | $ | 82,753,091 | $ | 61,664,279 | |||||
Net Investment Income Per Share – basic | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 0.58 | |||||
Earnings Per Share - basic | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 1.11 | $ | 0.83 | |||||
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - basic | 74,556,389 | 74,239,932 | 74,536,270 | 74,099,028 | |||||||||
Net Investment Income Per Share - diluted | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.57 | |||||
Earnings Per Share - diluted | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 1.04 | $ | 0.80 | |||||
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - diluted | 84,453,116 | 84,136,659 | 84,432,998 | 82,183,168 | |||||||||
Dividends Declared Per Share | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.78 | |||||
The Company reports its financial results on a GAAP basis; however, management believes that evaluating the Company’s ongoing operating results may be enhanced if investors have additional non-GAAP basis financial measures. Management reviews non-GAAP financial measures to assess ongoing operations and, for the reasons described below, considers them to be effective indicators, for both management and investors, of the Company’s financial performance over time. The Company’s management does not advocate that investors consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The Company records its liability for incentive management fees based on income as it becomes legally obligated to pay them, based on a hypothetical liquidation at the end of each reporting period. The Company’s obligation to pay incentive management fees with respect to any fiscal quarter is based on a formula that reflects the Company’s results over a trailing four-fiscal quarter period ending with the current fiscal quarter. The Company is legally obligated to pay the amount resulting from the formula less any cash payments of incentive management fees during the prior three quarters. The formula’s requirement to reduce the incentive management fee by amounts paid with respect to such fees in the prior three quarters has caused the Company’s incentive management fee expense to become, and currently is expected to be, concentrated in the fourth quarter of each year. Management believes that reflecting incentive management fees throughout the year, as the related investment income is earned, is an effective measure of the Company’s profitability and financial performance that facilitates comparison of current results with historical results and with those of the Company’s peers. The Company’s “as adjusted” results reflect incentive management fees based on the formula the Company utilizes for each trailing four-fiscal quarter period, with the formula applied to the current quarter’s incremental earnings and without any reduction for incentive management fees paid during the prior three quarters. The resulting amount represents an upper limit of each quarter’s incremental incentive management fees that the Company may become legally obligated to pay at the end of the year. Prior year amounts are estimated in the same manner. These estimates represent upper limits because, in any calendar year, subsequent quarters’ investment underperformance could reduce the incentive management fees payable by the Company with respect to prior quarters’ operating results. Similarly, the Company records its liability for incentive management fees based on capital gains by performing a hypothetical liquidation at the end of each reporting period. The accrual of this hypothetical capital gains incentive management fee is required by GAAP, but it should be noted that a fee so calculated and accrued is not due and payable until the end of the measurement period, or every
Computations for the periods below are derived from the Company's financial statements as follows:
Three months | Three months | Nine months | Nine months | ||||||||||
ended | ended | ended | ended | ||||||||||
September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | ||||||||||
GAAP Basis: | |||||||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 19,332,458 | $ | 8,873,661 | $ | 46,857,978 | $ | 43,057,593 | |||||
Net Investment Income per share | 0.26 | 0.12 | 0.63 | 0.58 | |||||||||
Addback: GAAP incentive management fee expense based on Gains | 593,837 | 9,358,529 | 7,022,626 | 14,774,276 | |||||||||
Addback: GAAP incentive management fee expense based on Income |
- |
- |
- |
1,917,968 | |||||||||
Pre-Incentive Fee2: | |||||||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 19,926,295 | $ | 18,232,190 | $ | 53,880,604 | $ | 59,749,837 | |||||
Net Investment Income per share | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.72 | 0.81 | |||||||||
Less: Incremental incentive management fee expense based on Income | 2,613,638 | 2,114,510 | 5,467,636 | 8,390,983 | |||||||||
As Adjusted1: | |||||||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 17,312,657 | $ | 16,117,680 | $ | 48,412,968 | $ | 51,358,854 | |||||
Net Investment Income per share | 0.23 | 0.22 | 0.65 | 0.69 | |||||||||
As Adjusted1: Amounts are adjusted to remove the incentive management fee expense based on Gains, as required by GAAP, and to include only the incremental incentive management fee expense based on Income. The incremental incentive management fee is based on each trailing four-fiscal quarter period, applied to the current quarter's incremental earnings, and without any reduction for incentive management fees paid during the prior three quarters. Amounts reflect the Company's ongoing operating results and reflect the Company's financial performance over time.
Pre-Incentive Fee2: Amounts are adjusted to remove all incentive management fees. Such fees are calculated but not necessarily due and payable at this time.
About
The Company's investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The Company invests primarily in middle-market companies in the form of senior and junior secured and unsecured debt securities and loans, each of which may include an equity component, and by making direct preferred, common and other equity investments in such companies.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the Transaction, the Company intends to file relevant materials with the
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders with respect to the Transaction. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Company’s common stock is set forth in the proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the
Forward-looking statements
This press release, and other statements that
In addition to factors previously disclosed in BlackRock Kelso Capital’s
BlackRock Kelso Capital’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
Available Information
BlackRock Kelso Capital’s filings with the
Source:
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation
Investors:
Corinne Pankovcin, 212-810-5798
or
Press:
Brian Beades, 212-810-5596