Solar Capital Ltd. Announces Quarter Ended June 30, 2015 Financial Results; Declares Quarterly Distribution of $0.40 per Share for Q3, 2015


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Aug 4, 2015) -  Solar Capital Ltd. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: SLRC) today reported net investment income of $16.0 million, or $0.38 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. Earnings were $17.3 million, or $0.41 per share, for the second fiscal quarter. At June 30, 2015, net asset value (NAV) per share was $21.92, and as a result of strong net originations, the fair value of the Company's investment portfolio was $1.172 billion, a 12% increase from the prior quarter.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a third quarter distribution of $0.40 per share payable on October 2, 2015 to stockholders of record on September 24, 2015. The specific tax characteristics will be reported to stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year.

HIGHLIGHTS:

At June 30, 2015:
Investment portfolio fair value: $1.172 billion
Number of portfolio companies: 50
Net assets: $930.8 million
Net asset value per share: $21.92

Portfolio Activity for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015:
Investments made during the quarter: $202.8 million
Investments prepaid and sold during the quarter: $78.5 million

Operating Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015:
Net investment income: $16.0 million
Net realized and unrealized gain: $1.3 million
Net increase in net assets from operations: $17.3 million
Net investment income per share: $0.38

"During the second quarter of 2015, we originated over $200 million in senior secured floating rate loans, resulting in net portfolio growth of 12%," said Michael Gross, Chairman and CEO of Solar Capital Ltd. "Over the past three years, we've enhanced our origination platform to expand our access to proprietary investment opportunities. We are now seeing the benefits of our patient approach. Between our core middle market lending business, life science senior secured lending platform, and asset-based lender, Crystal Financial, we are well-positioned to deploy our available capital."

Conference Call and Webcast

The company will host an earnings conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.

All interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (866) 543-6403 approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call. International callers should dial (617) 213-8896. Participants should reference Solar Capital Ltd. and the participant passcode of 84225370 when prompted. This conference call also can be accessed by all interested parties through Solar Capital's website, www.solarcapltd.com. Additionally, a replay dial-in will be available until August 19, 2015 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 and using the passcode 39947925. International callers should dial (617) 801-6888 to listen to the replay.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

During the three months ended June 30, 2015, we invested approximately $202.8 million across twelve portfolio companies. Investments sold or prepaid during the quarter ended June 30, 2015 totaled approximately $78.5 million.

At June 30, 2015, our portfolio consisted of 50 portfolio companies, with senior secured assets representing 90.2% of the total fair value, consisting of 64.2% in senior secured loans and 26.0% in Crystal Financial, whose portfolio is 100% senior secured loans. The remaining 9.8% of the portfolio's fair value was comprised of 6.3% in subordinated debt, 1.6% in preferred equity, and 1.9% in common equity and warrants excluding Crystal Financial.

Crystal Financial's $455.3 million funded portfolio consists of senior secured loans from 24 issuers with an average exposure of $19.0 million. All of the commitments from Crystal Financial are floating-rate, senior-secured loans. During the quarter ended June 30, 2015, Crystal Financial funded new loans totaling $67.6 million and had $103.9 million of funded loans repaid.

The fair value weighted average yield on our portfolio of income-producing investments was 9.9% at June 30, 2015.

At June 30, 2015, 88.9% of our income-producing investment portfolio* is floating rate and 11.1% of our income producing-portfolio is fixed rate, measured at fair value. 

From inception in 2006 through June 30, 2015, Solar Capital Ltd. (and its predecessor companies) has invested approximately $4.1 billion in 133 portfolio companies. Over the same period, the Company completed transactions with more than 95 different financial sponsors.

* We have included Crystal Financial as 100% floating rate.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2014.

Investment Income

For the three months ended June 30, 2015 and for the three months ended June 30, 2014, gross investment income totaled $28.0 million and $28.0 million, respectively.

Expenses

Expenses totaled $12.0 million and $11.9 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

Net Investment Income

The Company's net investment income totaled $16.0 million and $16.1 million, or $0.38 and $0.38, respectively, per average share, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

Net realized and unrealized gain for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled approximately $1.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

For the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $17.3 million and $17.1 million, respectively. For the same periods, earnings per average share were $0.41 and $0.40, respectively. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2015, the Company had a total of $490 million of unused borrowing capacity under its credit facility, subject to borrowing base limitations. 

Financial Statements and Tables

   
SOLAR CAPITAL LTD.  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES  
(in thousands, except share amounts)  
   
             
    June 30, 2015 (unaudited)
    December 31,
2014

 
Assets                
Investments at fair value:                
  Companies less than 5% owned (cost: $812,673 and $659,552, respectively)   $ 807,833     $ 652,288  
  Companies 5% to 25% owned (cost: $8,511 and $8,511, respectively)     1,860       4,646  
  Companies more than 25% owned (cost: $333,205 and $339,380, respectively)     362,422       363,804  
                 
      Total investments (cost: $1,154,389 and $1,007,443, respectively)     1,172,115       1,020,738  
Cash     6,236       145,075  
Cash equivalents     490,003       490,000  
Foreign currency (cost: $612 and $275, respectively)     580       265  
Receivable for investments sold     41,070       13,138  
Interest receivable     5,933       4,549  
Dividends receivable     8,246       8,258  
Deferred financing costs     3,244       3,263  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     1,251       1,048  
                 
  Total assets   $ 1,728,678     $ 1,686,334  
                 
Liabilities                
Revolving credit facilities   $ --     $ --  
Unsecured senior notes     100,000       100,000  
Senior secured notes     75,000       75,000  
Term loan     50,000       50,000  
Distributions payable     16,986       16,986  
Payable for investments and cash equivalents purchased     546,073       492,475  
Management fee payable     6,036       6,109  
Performance-based incentive fee payable     --       4,198  
Administrative services expense payable     1,197       2,427  
Interest payable     1,493       1,504  
Other liabilities and accrued expenses     1,122       1,067  
                 
  Total liabilities   $ 797,907     $ 749,766  
                 
                 
                 
Net Assets                
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 200,000,000 and 200,000,000 common shares authorized, respectively, and 42,465,162 and 42,465,162 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   $ 425     $ 425  
Paid-in capital in excess of par     991,963       991,963  
Distributions in excess of net investment income     (12,190 )     (8,599 )
Accumulated net realized loss     (67,120 )     (60,506 )
Net unrealized appreciation     17,693       13,285  
                 
  Total net assets   $ 930,771     $ 936,568  
                 
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 21.92     $ 22.05  
                 
   
   
SOLAR CAPITAL LTD.  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)  
(in thousands, except share amounts)  
   
             
    Three months ended  
    June 30, 2015
    June 30, 2014
 
INVESTMENT INCOME:                
Interest:                
  Companies less than 5% owned   $ 18,830     $ 19,020  
  Companies 5% to 25% owned     --       245  
  Companies more than 25% owned     683       845  
Dividends:                
  Companies less than 5% owned     2       --  
  Companies more than 25% owned     8,459       7,889  
Other income:                
  Companies less than 5% owned     --       --  
  Companies more than 25% owned     4       5  
                 
    Total investment income     27,978       28,004  
                 
EXPENSES:                
Management fees   $ 6,036     $ 6,173  
Performance-based incentive fees     --       --  
Interest and other credit facility expenses     3,629       3,621  
Administrative services expense     1,560       1,442  
Other general and administrative expenses     762       636  
                 
    Total expenses     11,987       11,872  
                 
    Net investment income   $ 15,991     $ 16,132  
                 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS, CASH EQUIVALENTS, FOREIGN CURRENCIES AND DERIVATIVES:                
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and cash equivalents:                
  Companies less than 5% owned   $ (452 )   $ (2 )
  Companies 5% to 25% owned     (350 )     248  
  Companies more than 25% owned     20       26  
                 
    Net realized gain (loss) on investments and cash equivalents     (782 )     272  
Net realized loss on foreign currencies and derivatives:     --       (1,015 )
                 
    Net realized loss     (782 )     (743 )
                 
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments and cash equivalents     2,063       637  
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currencies and derivatives     4       1,058  
                 
    Net change in unrealized gain (loss)     2,067       1,695  
                 
      Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, cash equivalents, foreign currencies and derivatives     1,285       952  
                 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS   $ 17,276     $ 17,084  
                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE   $ 0.41     $ 0.40  
                 

About Solar Capital Ltd.
Solar Capital Ltd. is a closed-end investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company invests primarily in leveraged, middle market companies in the form of senior secured loans, unitranche loans, mezzanine loans, and equity securities.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements," which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. 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 our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Solar Capital Ltd. undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

Contact Information:

Contact
Solar Capital Ltd.
Investor Relations
(646) 308-8770