StoneCastle Financial Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Results
DENVER, Feb. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneCastle Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: BANX) (“StoneCastle Financial” or the “Company”), an investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), today announced results for the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019.
Fourth Quarter 2019 Investment Highlights:
- Invested $700,000 in F.N.B.C. of La Grange, Inc., Subordinated Debt, 6.38%, due 1/1/2030 with an effective yield of 9.08%
- Realized a capital gain of $425,000 from the partial call of $1.8 million of MMCaps Funding I, Ltd, Fixed Rate Senior Notes, 6.34%, due 6/8/2031
- Realized a capital gain of $366,000 on the sale of Howard Bancorp common stock
A complete listing of investments as of the end of the quarter can be found on the Company’s website at www.stonecastle-financial.com.
The estimated annualized yield generated by the invested portfolio as of December 31, 2019 (excluding cash and cash equivalents) was approximately 9.58%.
Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Total earnings for the fourth quarter were $3,453,993 or $0.53 per share. Net investment income was $2,663,178 or $0.41 per share, comprised of $4,114,601 gross income and $1,451,423 of expenses. For the quarter, net realized capital gains were $790,815 or $0.12 per share. Net Assets at quarter end were $143,199,234. The unrealized appreciation of the portfolio decreased by $442,960 or $0.07 per share. The Company’s Net Asset Value was $21.83 per share, up $0.08 from the prior quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Company paid a cash distribution of $0.38 per share. The distribution was paid on January 3, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2019.
The Company had $17.7 million outstanding on its $62.0 million credit facility at the quarter end, which represents approximately 11.0% of total assets. According to regulated investment company rules, the Company may borrow only up to 33.3% of its total assets.
Portfolio and Investment Summary
As of the close of business on December 31, 2019, the Company had total assets of $164,703,377 consisting of total investments of $162,264,915, cash of $35,328, and other assets of $2,403,134. Other assets include interest and dividends receivable of $1,784,784 and prepaid assets of $618,350.
During the quarter, the Company purchased $700,000 F.N.B.C. of La Grange, Inc. Subordinated Debt, 6.38%, due 1/1/2030 with an effective yield of 9.08%. The Company received partial call proceeds of $1,837,622 from MMCaps Funding I, Ltd, Fixed Rate Senior Notes 6.34%, 6/8/2031. Additionally, the Company also received $1,369,640 from the sale of Howard Bancorp common stock.
Quarterly Conference Call
StoneCastle Financial will host a webcast and conference call on February 27, 2020 at 5:00 pm Eastern time.
The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-407-9039 for domestic callers or 1-201-689-8470 for international callers. Participants may also access the call via live webcast by visiting StoneCastle Financial's investor relations website at www.stonecastle-financial.com. To listen to a live broadcast, go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay will be available shortly after the call and be available through midnight (Eastern Time) on March 12, 2020. The replay can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 for domestic callers or 1-412-317-6671 for international callers. The passcode for the replay is 13698624. The archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for a limited time.
About StoneCastle Financial Corp.
StoneCastle Financial is an SEC registered non-diversified, closed-end management investment company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BANX." Its investment objective is to provide stockholders with current income and, to a lesser extent, capital appreciation. StoneCastle Financial is managed by StoneCastle-ArrowMark Asset Management LLC. To learn more, visit www.stonecastle-financial.com.
Disclaimer and Risk Factors:
There is no assurance that StoneCastle Financial will achieve its investment objective. StoneCastle Financial is subject to numerous risks, including investment and market risks, management risk, income and interest rate risks, banking industry risks, preferred stock risk, convertible securities risk, debt securities risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, leverage risk, non-diversification risk, credit and counterparty risks, market at a discount from net asset value risk and market disruption risk. Shares of closed-end investment companies may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) their net asset value. Shares of StoneCastle Financial may not be appropriate for all investors. Investors should review and consider carefully StoneCastle Financial's investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other regulatory filings of the Company with the SEC are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.stonecastle-financial.com.
CONTACT:
Investor Contact:
Julie Muraco
212-468-5441
| STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP. | |||||||||||
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Investments in securities, at fair value (cost: $163,178,428 and $167,368,577 respectively) | $ | 162,264,915 | $ | 166,898,025 | |||||||
| Cash | 35,328 | 118,193 | |||||||||
| Interest and dividends receivable | 1,784,784 | 1,533,447 | |||||||||
| Prepaid assets | 618,350 | 653,468 | |||||||||
| Total assets | 164,703,377 | 169,203,133 | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Loan payable | 17,700,000 | 25,200,000 | |||||||||
| Dividends payable | 2,492,424 | - | |||||||||
| Investment advisory fee payable | 726,500 | 746,924 | |||||||||
| Loan interest payable | 38,976 | 38,541 | |||||||||
| Directors fee payable | 20,325 | 825 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses payable | 525,918 | 536,219 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 21,504,143 | 26,522,509 | |||||||||
| Net Assets | $ | 143,199,234 | $ | 142,680,624 | |||||||
| Net Assets consist of: | |||||||||||
| Common stock at par ($0.001 per share) | $ | 6,559 | $ | 6,559 | |||||||
| Paid-in-Capital | 144,875,823 | 143,864,020 | |||||||||
| Total distributable earnings / (loss) | (1,683,148 | ) | (1,189,955 | ) | |||||||
| Net Assets | $ | 143,199,234 | $ | 142,680,624 | |||||||
| Net Asset Value Per Share: | |||||||||||
| Common Stock Shares Outstanding | 6,559,010 | 6,559,010 | |||||||||
| Net asset value per common share | $ | 21.83 | $ | 21.75 | |||||||
| Market price per share | $ | 22.30 | $ | 22.16 | |||||||
| Market price premium to net asset value per share | 2.15% | 1.89% | |||||||||
| STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||
| For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 |
For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||
| Investment Income | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest | $ | 3,023,153 | $ | 3,053,901 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends | 909,992 | 774,108 | ||||||||||||||||
| Origination fee income | 27,553 | 13,828 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other Income (service fees and due diligence fees) | 153,903 | 119,326 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 4,114,601 | 3,961,163 | ||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
| Investment advisory fees | 726,500 | 746,924 | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 263,564 | 258,348 | ||||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 40,760 | 66,760 | ||||||||||||||||
| Transfer agent, custodian fees and administrator fees | 73,159 | 73,159 | ||||||||||||||||
| Directors' fees | 77,879 | 66,827 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bank administration fees | 40,457 | 40,457 | ||||||||||||||||
| ABA marketing and licensing fees | 37,846 | 37,845 | ||||||||||||||||
| Investor relations fees | 31,204 | 31,205 | ||||||||||||||||
| Delaware franchise tax | 22,943 | 22,943 | ||||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | 18,148 | 18,148 | ||||||||||||||||
| Valuation fees | 15,153 | 15,152 | ||||||||||||||||
| Printing | 14,671 | 14,670 | ||||||||||||||||
| Due diligence expense | 45,400 | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous fees (proxy, rating agency, etc.) | 43,739 | 69,225 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses | 1,451,423 | 1,461,663 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 2,663,178 | $ | 2,499,500 | ||||||||||||||
| Realized and Unrealized Gain / (Loss) on Investments | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gain on investments | $ | 790,815 | $ | 922,827 | ||||||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments | (442,960 | ) | (1,224,760 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain / (loss) on investments | 347,855 | (301,933 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations | $ | 3,011,033 | $ | 2,197,567 | ||||||||||||||
| STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP. | ||||||||
| Financial Highlights | ||||||||
| For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 |
||||||||
| Per Share Operating Performance | ||||||||
| Net Asset Value, beginning of period | $ | 21.75 | ||||||
| Net investment income(1) | $ | 0.41 | ||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain / (loss) on investments(1) | $ | 0.05 | ||||||
| Total from investment operations | $ | 0.46 | ||||||
| Less distributions to shareholders | ||||||||
| From net investment income | $ | (0.38 | ) | |||||
| Total distributions | $ | (0.38 | ) | |||||
| Net asset value, end of period | $ | 21.83 | ||||||
| Per share market value, end of period | $ | 22.30 | ||||||
| Total Investment Return (2) | ||||||||
| Based on market value | 2.35% | |||||||
| Based on net asset value | 2.08% | |||||||
| Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||
| Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $ | 143.2 | ||||||
| Ratios (as a percentage to average net assets): | ||||||||
| Expenses before waivers(3)(4)* | 4.03% | |||||||
| Expenses after waivers(5)* | 4.03% | |||||||
| Net investment income(6)* | 7.39% | |||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate ** | 2% | |||||||
| Revolving Credit Agreement | ||||||||
| Total revolving credit agreement outstanding (000's) | $ | 17,700 | ||||||
| Asset coverage per $1,000 for revolving credit agreement(7) | 9,090 | |||||||
|
_______________________________________ | |
| (1) | Based on the average shares outstanding during quarter. |
| (2) | Reflects reinvestment of distributions at the price obtained under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Total return does not include sales load and offering expenses and are not annualized. |
| (3) | Excluding interest expense, the ratio would have been 3.30%. |
| (4) | Ratio of expenses before waivers to average managed assets equals 3.45%. |
| (5) | Ratio of expenses after waivers to average managed assets equals 3.45%. |
| (6) | Ratio of net investment income to average managed assets equals 6.33%. |
| (7) | Calculated by subtracting the Company's total liabilities (excluding the loan) from the Company's total assets and dividing the amount by the loan outstanding in 000's. |
| * | Annualized |
| ** | Not-annualized |
