ARLINGTON, Va., April 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MCG Capital Corporation (Nasdaq:MCGC) ("MCG," "we," "our," "us" or the "Company") announced today its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

HIGHLIGHTS

As outlined in further detail in this earnings release and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the following highlights occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014:

• Net operating income, or NOI, was $4.3 million, or $0.06 per share;
• Net loss was $18.9 million, or $0.27 per share;
• We made $6.7 million of advances to existing portfolio companies;
• We monetized $26.4 million of our portfolio;
• At March 31, 2014, we had $83.4 million in unrestricted cash and $30.4 million in restricted cash from our small business investment company, or SBIC. In addition, we had $2.4 million in other restricted cash accounts;
• We repurchased 2,759,267 shares of our common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $3.84;
• We repaid and terminated our MCG Commercial Loan Trust 2006-1, or 2006-1 Trust, and;
• Effective April 21, 2014, Keith Kennedy, MCG's President, was elected as Chief Executive Officer, as a member of our board of directors as a Class I director and as a member of the investment and valuation committee.

DISTRIBUTION

On April 25, 2014, the MCG board of directors declared a distribution of $0.07 per share. The distribution is payable as follows:

Record date: May 9, 2014
Payable date: May 30, 2014

We determine the tax attributes of our distributions as of the end of our fiscal year based upon our taxable income for the full year and distributions paid during the full year. Therefore, a determination of tax attributes made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes of distributions for a full year. If we determined the tax attributes of our distributions as of March 31, 2014, 60% would be from ordinary income and 40% would be a return of capital.

Additionally, on April 25, 2014, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $50.0 million effective as of May 5, 2014. Under the program, MCG management is authorized to repurchase shares in open market transactions, including through block purchases, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors. We intend to fund the repurchases through our available liquidity. The previous MCG stock repurchase program, which was authorized on October 25, 2013 and increased on February 28, 2014 for up to $35.0 million, will be terminated effective as of May 2, 2014. From January 1, 2014 through April 24, 2014, we repurchased 6,641,888 shares of our common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $3.78.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

• Originations and Advances — We made $6.7 million in advances to existing portfolio companies.
• Loan Monetizations — We received $21.9 million in loan payoffs and amortization payments, including $19.6 million from the monetization, at par, of our loan to G&L Investment Holdings, LLC.
• Equity Monetizations and Realizations — We received $4.5 million in proceeds from the sale of equity investments, principally the sale of securities in G&L Investment Holdings, LLC. We recognized a realized loss of $4.5 million on the sale of G&L Investment Holdings, which was offset by a reversal of previously recorded unrealized depreciation of $4.5 million.
• Loans on Non-Accrual — Loans on non-accrual were $41.0 million at cost (12.2% of the total loan portfolio), and $9.4 million at fair value (3.1% of the total loan portfolio). We put Education Management, Inc. on non-accrual this quarter.
• Unrealized Depreciation — We recorded $23.3 million of unrealized depreciation on our loan and equity portfolio, principally from two investments. We recorded $15.2 million of unrealized depreciation on our investment in Education Management, Inc. to reflect operational, financial and business challenges facing the company. Furthermore, we reduced our valuation multiple for RadioPharmacy Investors, LLC and recorded $6.3 million of unrealized depreciation based on volume, pricing and supply-cost challenges facing the company's core business.
• Open-Market Purchases of Our Stock — We repurchased 2,759,267 shares of our common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $3.84. We acquired these shares from sellers in open market transactions. We retire these shares upon settlement, thereby reducing the number of shares issued and outstanding. From January 1, 2014 through April 24, 2014, we repurchased 6,641,888 shares of our common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $3.78. On April 25, 2014, our board of directors terminated our existing stock repurchase program effective as of May 2, 2014 and authorized a new stock repurchase program of up to $50.0 million effective as of May 5, 2014.
• Operating Costs — Our total operating costs, excluding interest expense, were $3.0 million, or 0.67% of total assets of $448.6 million. We incurred $0.5 million in general and administrative costs related to the Color Star Growers of Colorado, Inc. litigation and severance, which we included in total operating costs.
• Reduced Leverage — On January 21, 2014, we terminated our 2006-1 Trust and accelerated $0.1 million of deferred financing costs that we included in interest expense. On April 21, 2014, based on our assessment of our excess liquidity, we terminated our undrawn Bank of America unsecured revolver that was set to expire in November 2014. We expect the termination of the revolver to result in the acceleration of $0.1 million of deferred financing costs in the quarter ending June 30, 2014.
• Effective April 21, 2014, Keith Kennedy, MCG's President, was elected as Chief Executive Officer, as a member of our board of directors as a Class I director and as a member of the investment and valuation committee. Mr. Kennedy succeeded B. Hagen Saville who retired after 16 years of leadership at MCG, including as the Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors.

OUTLOOK

We continue to evaluate market conditions. We expect monetizations to continue to accelerate as several of our borrowers are accessing the senior loan market at very attractive rates and with favorable returns.

We intend to make investments in support of our portfolio companies. For new investments, we intend to evaluate the risk-reward relative to buying our stock, particularly given current market conditions. To that end, on April 25, 2014 our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program of up to $50.0 million which will commence on May 5, 2014.

During the second quarter of 2014, we expect to record $3.6 million, or approximately $0.06 per share, related to employee terminations, including $2.5 million of severance costs included in general and administrative expense and $1.1 million of accelerated amortization of restricted stock included in employee compensation expense. In addition during the second quarter of 2014, we expect to record $0.3 million of additional general and administrative expense related to the Color Star Growers of Colorado, Inc. litigation.

Based on our assessment of current market conditions, the unpredictable nature of portfolio monetizations and the near-term recommendation of our new leadership team to primarily focus on stabilizing the investment portfolio and repurchasing the Company's stock in the open market, we do not anticipate providing forward looking guidance relative to our net operating income, origination volumes, expense levels or other operating metrics. Any previous guidance should no longer be relied upon. We believe this change allows management to concentrate on our portfolio and our long-term strategies.

On April 25, 2014, our board of directors declared a $0.07 per share dividend payable May 30, 2014 to shareholders of record as of May 9, 2014.

ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY

At March 31, 2014, we had $83.4 million of cash and cash equivalents available for general corporate purposes, as well as $30.4 million of cash in restricted accounts related to our SBIC that we may use to fund new investments in the SBIC and $2.4 million of restricted cash held in escrow.

At March 31, 2014, $150.0 million of SBA borrowings were outstanding, the maximum available under our current SBIC license.

On January 21, 2014, we repaid and terminated our 2006-1 Trust. As of December 31, 2013, we had $25.2 million of securitized Class D Notes outstanding under the 2006-1 Trust, which was secured by $76.3 million of loans and equity investments and $13.9 million of cash. Upon termination, the assets of the 2006-1 Trust were transferred to MCG, the parent.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table summarizes the components of our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013: 

TOTAL REVENUE

Total revenue includes interest and dividend income, loan fees, advisory fees and other income. The following sections describe the reasons for the variances in each major component of our revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2014 from the three months ended March 31, 2013.

INTEREST INCOME

The level of interest income that we earn depends upon the level of interest-bearing investments outstanding during the period, as well as the weighted-average yield on these investments. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the total yield on our average debt portfolio at fair value was 11.4% compared to 12.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2013. The weighted-average yield varies each period because of changes in the composition of our portfolio of debt investments, changes in stated interest rates, fee accelerations of unearned fees on paid-off/restructured loans and the balance of loans on non-accrual status for which we are not accruing interest. 

The following table shows the various components of the total yield on our average debt portfolio at fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, interest income was $8.8 million, compared to $11.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013, which represented a $2.3 million, or 21.0%, decrease. This decrease reflected a $2.0 million decrease in interest income resulting from a 18.7% decrease in our average loan balance, a decrease of $0.8 million resulting from loans that were on non-accrual status during the three months ended March 31, 2014, but that had been accruing interest during the three months ended March 31, 2013, and a $0.1 million decrease related to the decrease in LIBOR, partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in interest income attributable to a 0.4% increase in our spread to LIBOR.

PIK Income

Interest income includes certain amounts that we have not received in cash, such as paid-in-kind interest, or PIK. PIK interest represents contractually deferred interest that is added to the principal balance of the loan and compounded if not paid on a current basis. Borrowers may, in some instances, be required to prepay PIK because of certain contractual provisions or they may choose to prepay; however, more typically, PIK is paid at the end of the loan term. The following table shows the PIK-related activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, at cost: 

As of March 31, 2014, we were not accruing interest on $1.0 million of the PIK loans, at cost, shown in the preceding table and as of March 31, 2013, all of our PIK loans were accruing interest. During three months ended March 31, 2014, we received $2.1 million in PIK loan repayment related to the repayment in full of our loan to G&L Investment Holdings, LLC. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the payments received from PIK loans included $1.0 million collected in conjunction with the partial repayment of our investment in Education Management, Inc., as well as $0.8 million collected in conjunction with the repayment in full of our investment in NDSSI Holdings, LLC.

DIVIDEND INCOME

We accrete dividends on equity investments with stated dividend rates as they are earned, to the extent that we believe the dividends will be paid ultimately and the associated portfolio company has sufficient value to support the accretion. We recognize dividends on other equity investments when we receive the dividend payment. Our dividend income varies from period to period because of changes in the size and composition of our equity investments, the yield from the investments in our equity portfolio and the ability of the portfolio companies to declare and pay dividends. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized dividend income of $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively. In addition, during each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we received payments on accrued dividends of $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2014, the balance of accrued dividends was $7.7 million.

ADVISORY FEES AND OTHER INCOME

Advisory fees and other income primarily include fees related to prepayment, advisory and management services, equity structuring, syndication, bank interest and other income. Generally, advisory fees and other income relate to specific transactions or services and, therefore, may vary from period to period depending on the level and types of services provided. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we earned $0.1 million of advisory fees and other income, which represented a $0.4 million, or 80.6%, decrease from the three months ended March 31, 2013. This decrease resulted principally from a decrease in prepayment fees related to a loan prepayment in the first quarter of 2013.

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

Total operating expenses include interest, employee compensation and general and administrative expenses. The reasons for these variances are discussed in more detail below.

INTEREST EXPENSE

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we incurred $2.0 million of interest expense, which represented a $0.4 million, or 16.5%, decrease from the same period in 2013. Interest expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 includes $0.2 million of interest and deferred financing costs associated with our 2006-1 Trust, which we terminated in January 2014. During these respective periods, our average cost to borrow increased to 5.2% from 4.0%, principally due to the repayment of securitized debt in our 2006-1 Trust which carried interest rates ranging from L+0.33% to L+2.25%.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, our average borrowings declined to approximately $154.3 million from an average of approximately $235.6 million for the same period in 2013, which accounted for a $0.9 million reduction in our interest expense. In addition, interest expense decreased by $0.1 million related to decreased amortization of debt issuance costs. These decreases were offset by $0.6 million attributable to the spread to LIBOR increasing from approximately 3.17% to 4.19%.

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

Employee compensation expense includes base salaries and benefits, variable annual incentive compensation and amortization of employee stock awards. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, our employee compensation expense was $1.4 million, which represented a $0.4 million, or 21.8%, decrease from the same period in March 31, 2013. Our salaries and benefits decreased by $0.3 million, or 22.7%, due to a $0.2 million decrease in salaries and benefits and a $0.1 million decrease in incentive compensation. As of March 31, 2014, we had 15 employees compared to 20 employees as of March 31, 2013.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, general and administrative expense was $1.6 million, which represented a $0.6 million, or 58.8%, increase compared to the same period in 2013. General and administrative expense increase resulted primarily from a $0.3 million increase in legal fees related to portfolio litigation and a $0.2 million increase in severance costs related to employee terminations in the first quarter of 2014.

NET INVESTMENT LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded $23.3 million of net investment loss before income tax provision, compared to $0.2 million of net investment loss during the same period in 2013. These amounts represent the total of net realized gains and losses, net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), and reversals of unrealized (appreciation) depreciation. We reverse unrealized (appreciation) depreciation at the time that we realize the gain or loss. The following table summarizes our realized and unrealized gain and (loss) on investments and changes in our unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2014: 

• In the first quarter of 2014, we recorded $15.2 million of unrealized depreciation on our investment in Education Management, Inc. to reflect operational, financial and business challenges facing the company.
• Furthermore, we reduced our valuation multiple for RadioPharmacy Investors, LLC and recorded $6.3 million of unrealized depreciation based on volume, pricing and supply-cost challenges facing the company's core business.
• In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2014, we sold our preferred and common equity investments in G&L Investment Holdings, LLC resulting in a realized loss of $4.5 million and a reversal of previously recorded unrealized depreciation of $4.5 million.

The remaining unrealized depreciation and appreciation shown in the above table resulted predominantly from the change in the performance of certain of our portfolio companies and the multiples used to value certain of our investments.

The following table summarizes our realized and unrealized (loss) and gain on investments and changes in our unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2013: 

• In the first quarter of 2013, we recorded $2.5 million of unrealized depreciation on our investment in Virtual Radiologic Corporation to reflect a decrease in the indicated market price for that security.
• We also recorded $1.2 million of unrealized appreciation on our investment in Miles Media Group, LLC to reflect an improvement in that portfolio company's operating performance.
• In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2013, we wrote off our preferred and common equity investments in Advanced Sleep Concepts, Inc., resulting in a realized loss of $3.4 million and a reversal of previously recorded unrealized depreciation of $3.2 million.

INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) PROVISION

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we incurred a $4,000 income tax provision compared to a $58,000 income tax provision during the three months ended March 31, 2013. The income tax provision for both periods was primarily attributable to flow-through taxable income on certain investments held by our subsidiaries.

^(a) The following table summarizes the distributions that were declared during the past five quarters: 

ABOUT MCG CAPITAL CORPORATION

We are a solutions-focused commercial finance company providing capital and advisory services to lower middle-market companies throughout the United States. Our investment objective is to achieve attractive returns by generating current income and capital gains on our investments. Our capital is generally used by our portfolio companies to finance acquisitions, recapitalizations, buyouts, organic growth, working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Forward-looking Statements:

Statements in this press release regarding management's future expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, plans or prospects, including statements relating to: MCG's results of operations, including revenues, net operating income, net investment gains and losses and general and administrative expenses and the factors that may affect such results; intentions to repurchase shares of common stock under MCG's stock repurchase program through available liquidity or otherwise; expectations regarding future monetizations; expectations regarding future compensation costs associated with severance arrangements, deferred financing costs and litigation expenses; expectations with regard to projected originations and investment decisions in relation to MCG's stock repurchase program; the performance of current or former MCG portfolio companies; the cause of net investment losses; market conditions generally and specifically regarding the leveraged loan market; the state of the economy and other factors may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor protection under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "could increase the likelihood," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is planned," "may," "should," "will," "will enable," "would be expected," "look forward," "may provide," "would" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including those risks, uncertainties and factors referred to in MCG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the section "Risk Factors," as well as other documents that may be filed by MCG from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. MCG is providing the information in this press release as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this press release or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.