First Fiscal Quarter 2022 Results:
Total investment income during the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 was $16.2 million and $14.4 million, respectively. The quarter over quarter increase was primarily due to a $1.6 million increase in success fees received associated with the exit of Lignetics, Inc. Interest income declined by $0.4 million quarter over quarter as the average interest-bearing investment portfolio increase of 1.4% did not offset the $0.6 million of past due interest received during the prior quarter.
Total expenses decreased by $0.5 million, quarter over quarter, primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in the net base management fee due to the Adviser as a result of higher fee credits associated with the elevated level of originations, partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in the net incentive fee due to the Adviser.
Net investment income for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 was $9.2 million, an increase of 33.9%, as compared to the prior quarter, or $0.27 per share and covered the dividends paid of $0.195 by 137%.
The net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $12.1 million, or $0.35 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to $32.7 million, or $0.98 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The current quarter increase was driven by the increase in net investment income and $2.9 million in net realized and unrealized gains.
Subsequent Events: Subsequent to December 31, 2021, the following significant events occurred:
| • | | In January 2022, our investment in Belnick, Inc. paid off at par for net cash proceeds of $10.0 million. |
| • | | In January 2022, our investment in Keystone Acquisition Corp. paid off at par for net cash proceeds of $4.0 million. |
| • | | Distributions Declared: In January 2022, our Board of Directors declared the following monthly distributions to common stockholders for January, February, and March 2022: |
| | | | | | |
Record Date | | Payment Date | | Distribution per Common Share | |
January 21, 2022 | | January 31, 2022 | | $ | 0.065 | |
February 18, 2022 | | February 28, 2022 | | | 0.065 | |
March 23, 2022 | | March 31, 2022 | | | 0.065 | |
| | | | | | |
| | Total for the Quarter | | $ | 0.195 | |
| | | | | | |
Comments from Gladstone Capital’s President, Bob Marcotte: “We are pleased to report that we were able to capitalize on the heightened level of deal activity last quarter and increase our first lien loans while generating a significant realized gain and maintaining our weighted average yield. The elevated deal activity also boosted fee income, which in addition to our portfolio appreciation, helped lift the Company’s ROE to 15.1% for the quarter and 27.9% for all of 2021. While 2021 ended on a high note, we expect our core lower middle market portfolio strategy and conservative balance sheet leverage to position us well to continue to grow our earnings over the balance of 2022.”
Conference Call for Stockholders: The Company will hold its earnings release conference call on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. EST. Please call (866) 424-3437 to enter the conference call. An operator will monitor the call and set a queue for any questions. A replay of the conference call will be available through February 10, 2022. To hear the replay, please dial (877) 660-6853 and use playback conference number 13725347. The replay of the conference call will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call concludes. The live audio broadcast of the Company’s quarterly conference call will also be available online at www.GladstoneCapital.com. The event will be archived and available for replay on the investors section of the Company’s website.
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