Capitala Finance Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

Mar 8, 2021
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capitala Finance Corp. (Nasdaq:CPTA) ("Capitala", the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter Highlights  

  • Net asset value per share of $40.19 at December 31, 2020, compared to $39.99 at September 30, 2020
  • Closed $25.0 million senior secured credit facility with KeyBank, N.A.
  • Cash balances of $49.9 million at December 31, 2020 will allow for further reductions in the Company’s debt-to-equity ratio and will allow us to evaluate investment opportunities

Full Year Highlights

  • Increase of approximately 7% in net asset value per share since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 31, 2020)
  • Total debt-to-equity ratio decreased to 1.98:1 at December 31, 2020, compared to 2.72:1 at March 31, 2020

Management Commentary

In describing the Company’s fourth quarter and full year activities, Joseph B. Alala, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Entering 2020, the Company was well positioned, with no non-accrual investments and a robust pipeline of active investment opportunities. Due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on lower middle market small businesses, we were forced to focus on liquidity, reducing the debt-to-equity ratio of the Company, and stabilizing our net asset value.”  

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Total investment income was $5.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $9.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The decline was attributable to lower interest and fee income, resulting primarily from a decrease in our debt portfolio.      

Total expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $5.7 million, compared to $7.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Interest and financing expenses declined by $1.4 million, resulting from the $59.0 million repayment of SBA-guaranteed debentures and $2.2 million of bond repurchases of our 2022 Notes during the third quarter of 2020. Management fees decreased by $0.5 million due to a decline in total assets.   

Net realized gains totaled $0.6 million, or $0.23 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to net realized gains of $1.2 million, for the same period in 2019.

There was net unrealized depreciation of $12 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to net unrealized depreciation of $3.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.         

The net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $0.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, or $0.20 per share, compared to a net decrease of $0.1 million, or $0.03 per share, for the same period in 2019.    

Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Total investment income was $26.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $44.0 million for the same period in 2019. Interest and fee income collectively declined $13.1 million, driven by a decrease in debt balances outstanding during the year. Dividend income declined by $3.3 million due to $1.0 million in dividends received from Capitala Senior Loan Fund II, LLC, which was wound down during 2020, and several other one-time dividends received from portfolio companies during 2019. PIK income decreased by $1.0 million year-over-year due to a decline in investments with a contractual PIK rate.         

Total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $26.4 million, a decrease of $4.6 million from the comparable period in 2019. Significant variances included (1) $2.0 million decrease in interest and financing expenses, (2) a $1.5 million decrease in base management fees, and (3) a $1.2 million decrease in incentive fees, net of the waiver.         

Net realized losses totaled $24.0 million, or $8.88 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net realized losses of $19.8 million, or $7.35 per share, for the same period in 2019.  

Net unrealized depreciation totaled $11.6 million, or $4.29 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net unrealized depreciation of $20.3 million, or $7.56 per share, for the same period in 2019.

The net decrease in net assets resulting from operations was $35.4 million, or $13.08 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of $27.6 million, or $10.29 per share, for the same period in 2019.   

Net assets at December 31, 2020 were $108.9 million, or $40.19 per share, compared to $148.1 million, or $54.84 per share, at December 31, 2019.

Investment Portfolio

As of December 31, 2020, our portfolio consisted of 36 companies with a fair market value of $274.7 million and a cost basis of $277.7 million. First lien debt investments represented 60.9% of the portfolio, second lien debt investments represented 14.3% of the portfolio, and equity/warrant investments represented 24.8% of the portfolio, based on fair values at December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2020, the Company had four debt investments on non-accrual status, with a cost basis and fair market value of $37.5 million and $20.8 million, respectively. There were no non-accrual debt investments at December 31, 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2020, the Company had $49.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the Company had SBA-guaranteed debentures outstanding totaling $91.0 million with an annual weighted average interest rate of 2.74%, $72.8 million of fixed rate notes bearing an interest rate of 6.00%, and $52.1 million of convertible notes bearing an interest rate of 5.75%. At December 31, 2020, the Company had $0 drawn and $25.0 million available under its senior secured revolving credit facility with KeyBank, N.A.

Recent Developments

On January 28 ,2021, the Company’s first lien debt investment in Burgaflex Holdings, LLC was repaid at par.

On February 24, 2021, the Company repaid $20.0 million in outstanding SBA-guaranteed debentures, of which $6.0 million was scheduled to mature on March 1, 2021, and of which $14.0 million was scheduled to mature on March 1, 2022.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to discuss the operating and financial results at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. The call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.capitalagroup.com. To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 312-5507 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call.

About Capitala Finance Corp.

Capitala Finance Corp. is a business development company that invests primarily in first lien loans and, to a lesser extent, second lien loans and equity securities issued by lower and traditional middle market companies. The Company is managed by Capitala Investment Advisors, LLC. For more information on Capitala, or to automatically receive email notifications of Company financial information, press releases, stock alerts, or other corporate filings, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

About Capitala Group

Capitala Group is an asset management firm that has been providing capital to lower middle market companies throughout North America for over twenty years. Since our inception in 1998, Capitala Group has invested over $2.0 billion in approximately 171 companies and seeks to partner with strong management teams to create value and aims to generate superior returns for our individual and institutional investors. For more information, definition and details visit our website at www.CapitalaGroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the impact of COVID-19 and related changes in base interest rates and significant volatility on our business, our portfolio companies, our industry and the global economy.   Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE: Capitala Finance Corp.

Capitala Finance Corp.
Stephen Arnall
CFO|COO
sarnall@capitalagroup.com

 
 
Capitala Finance Corp.
     
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
     
  As of
  December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
         
ASSETS
       
Investments at fair value:       
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments (amortized cost of $187,744 and $250,433, respectively)$172,848  $241,046 
 Affiliate investments (amortized cost of $80,961 and $80,756, respectively) 93,425   98,763 
 Control investments (amortized cost of $8,947 and $22,692, respectively) 8,419   22,723 
 Total investments at fair value (amortized cost of $277,652 and $353,881, respectively) 274,692   362,532 
Cash and cash equivalents 49,942   62,321 
Interest and dividend receivable 2,286   1,745 
Prepaid expenses 1,077   624 
Other assets -   115 
 Total assets$327,997  $427,337 
         
LIABILITIES       
SBA Debentures (net of deferred financing costs of $485 and $1,006, respectively)$90,515  $148,994 
2022 Notes (net of deferred financing costs of $846 and $1,447, respectively) 71,987   73,553 
2022 Convertible Notes (net of deferred financing costs of $552 and $916, respectively) 51,536   51,172 
ING Credit Facility (net of deferred financing costs of $0 and $1,165, respectively) -   (1,165)
KeyBank Credit Facility (net of deferred financing costs of $546 and $0, respectively) (546)  - 
Management and incentive fees payable 3,842   3,713 
Interest and financing fees payable 1,688   2,439 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 28   518 
 Total liabilities$219,050  $279,224 
         
         
NET ASSETS       
Common stock, par value $0.01, 100,000,000 common shares authorized, 2,711,068 and 2,700,628 common shares       
 issued and outstanding, respectively (1)$27  $27 
Additional paid in capital 229,481   238,021 
Total distributable loss (120,561)  (89,935)
 Total net assets$108,947  $148,113 
Total liabilities and net assets$327,997  $427,337 
     
Net asset value per share (1)$40.19  $54.84 
     
(1) Authorized, issued and outstanding shares of Capitala Finance Corp.'s (the "Company") common stock and net asset value per share have been adjusted for the periods shown to reflect the one-for-six reverse stock split effected on August 21, 2020 on a retroactive basis.
 


Capitala Finance Corp.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
  For the three months ended December 31 For the years ended December 31
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
         
INVESTMENT INCOME       
Interest and fee income:       
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments$3,581  $6,563  $17,387  $27,659 
 Affiliate investments 1,618   1,773   6,650   8,351 
 Control investments 101   145   410   1,566 
 Total interest and fee income 5,300   8,481   24,447   37,576 
Payment-in-kind interest and dividend income:      
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments 170   438   1,105   1,721 
 Affiliate investments 208   258   818   869 
 Control investments -   -   -   372 
 Total payment-in-kind interest and dividend income 378   696   1,923   2,962 
Dividend income:               
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments -   64   -   1,345 
 Affiliate investments -   25   25   50 
 Control investments -   320   -   1,904 
 Total dividend income -   409   25   3,299 
Interest income from cash and cash equivalents 1   48   51   198 
 Total investment income 5,679   9,634   26,446   44,035 
                 
EXPENSES               
Interest and financing expenses 3,009   4,371   15,144   17,121 
Base management fee 1,440   1,904   6,428   7,967 
Incentive fees -   -   -   1,497 
Administrative service fees 350   350   1,400   1,400 
General and administrative expenses 942   1,107   3,416   3,295 
 Expenses before incentive fee waiver 5,741   7,732   26,388   31,280 
 Incentive fee waiver -   -   -   (288)
 Total expenses 5,741   7,732   26,388   30,992 
         
 NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) (62)  1,902   58   13,043 
         
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS    
Net realized gain (loss) on investments:      
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments 502   20,073   (25,016)  16,529 
 Affiliate investments 110   -   1,451   2,288 
 Control investments -   (18,917)  (484)  (38,573)
 Net realized gain (loss) on investments 612   1,156   (24,049)  (19,756)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments:    
 Non-control/non-affiliate investments (9,195)  (20,655)  (5,509)  (16,116)
 Affiliate investments 9,344   1,087   (5,543)  (2,632)
 Control investments (161)  16,441   (559)  (1,558)
 Net unrealized depreciation on investments (12)  (3,127)  (11,611)  (20,306)
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 600   (1,971)  (35,660)  (40,062)
Tax provision -   -   -   (628)
 Total net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of taxes 600   (1,971)  (35,660)  (40,690)
         
Net realized gain on extinguishment of debt -   -   155   - 
         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS$538  $(69) $(35,447) $(27,647)
         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS PER SHARE RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS – BASIC AND DILUTED (1)$0.20  $(0.03) $(13.08) $(10.29)
         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING – BASIC AND DILUTED (1) 2,711,068   2,679,418   2,709,169   2,686,287 
         
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER SHARE (2)$-  $1.50  $1.50  $6.00 
         
(1) Basic and diluted shares of the Company's common stock have been adjusted for the periods shown to reflect the one-for-six reverse stock split effected on August 21, 2020 on a retroactive basis.
(2) Dividends paid per share of the Company's common stock have been adjusted for the periods shown to reflect the one-for-six reverse stock split effected on August 21, 2020 on a retroactive basis.