UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 30, 2019

 

StoneCastle Financial Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   333-189307   90-0934878
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

152 West 57th Street, 35th floor, New York, NY   10019  
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)  

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 354-6500

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common BANX NASDAQ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On October 30, 2019 the registrant issued a press release announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

The information disclosed under this item 2.02 is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit Number Description  
     
99.1 Press Release, dated October 30, 2019  
     

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP.
   
Date: October 30, 2019  
   
  By: /s/ Patrick J. Farrell
  Name: Patrick J. Farrell
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number Description  
     
99.1 Press Release, Dated October 30, 2019  
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

StoneCastle Financial Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

 

NEW YORK, October 30, 2019 – 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 third fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2019.

 

Third Quarter 2019 Investment Highlights:

 

  · Invested $15.0 million in two investments with a current average weighted coupon rate of 12.30%
     
  · Received full call proceeds of $14.5 million from two investments with a current average weighted coupon rate of 9.06%
     
  · Realized a capital gain on the sale of Happy Bancshares common stock of $1,001,000 or $0.15 per share

 

Investment Activity in the Third Quarter 2019 Included:

 

  · Purchased $10.0 million of Deutsche Bank AG, Senior Unsecured Debt Obligation, with a current coupon rate of 12.28%
     
  · Purchased $5.0 million of Marshall Holdings Limited, Variable Rate Perpetual Preferred Shares with a current coupon rate of 12.34%

 

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 September 30, 2019 (excluding cash and cash equivalents) was approximately 9.55%.

 

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

 

Total earnings for the third quarter were $3,422,327 or $0.52 per share. Net investment income was $2,499,500 or $0.38 per share, comprised of $3,961,163 gross income and $1,461,663 of expenses. For the quarter, net realized capital gains were $922,827 or $0.14 per share. Net Assets at quarter end were $142,680,624. The Company’s Net Asset Value was $21.75 per share, down $0.05 from the prior quarter.

 

In the third quarter, the Company paid a cash distribution of $0.38 per share. The distribution was paid on September 27, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2019.

 

The Company had $25.2 million outstanding on its $62.0 million credit facility at the quarter end, which represents approximately 14.9% 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 September 30, 2019, the Company had total assets of $169,203,133 consisting of total investments of $166,898,025, cash of $118,193, and other assets of $2,186,915.  Other assets include interest and dividends receivable of $1,533,447 and prepaid assets of $653,468.

 

During the quarter, the Company purchased $10,000,000 face value of Deutsche Bank AG Senior Unsecured Debt Obligation, with a current coupon rate of 12.28%, maturing on 1/20/2026 and $5,000,000 face value of Marshall Holdings, Ltd. Variable Rate Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a current coupon rate of 12.34%. The Company received full call proceeds of $10,000,000 from Katahdin Bankshares, Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D, 8.75% and $4,490,669 from Mercantil TPS LLC Trust Preferred Securities 2015-1, 9.74% Note, 9/30/2030, 144A and received principal amortization payments of $1,560,209. Additionally, the Company also received $2,002,000 from the sale of Happy Bancshares common stock.

 

Quarterly Conference Call

 

StoneCastle Financial will host a webcast and conference call on October 30, 2019 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 November 13, 2019. 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 13694592. 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 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

 

347-887-0324

 

STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

 

   September 30, 2019  June 30, 2019
Assets          
Investments in securities, at fair value (cost: $167,368,577 and $164,361,636 respectively)  $166,898,025   $165,115,844 
Cash   118,193    159,250 
Interest and dividends receivable   1,533,447    2,226,763 
Prepaid assets   653,468    651,965 
Total assets   169,203,133    168,153,822 
 
Liabilities          
Loan payable   25,200,000    24,000,000 
Investment advisory fee payable   746,924    733,082 
Loan interest payable   38,541    3,672 
Directors fee payable   825    5,876 
Accrued expenses payable   536,219    473,855 
Total liabilities   26,522,509    25,216,485 
Net Assets  $142,680,624   $142,937,337 
 
Net Assets consist of:          
Common stock at par ($0.001 per share)  $6,559   $6,557 
Paid-in-Capital   143,864,020    143,826,543 
Total distributable earnings / (loss)   (1,189,955)   (895,763)
Net Assets  $142,680,624   $142,937,337 
 
Net Asset Value Per Share:          
Common Stock Shares Outstanding   6,559,010    6,557,261 
Net asset value per common share  $21.75   $21.80 
Market price per share  $22.16   $21.81 
Market price premium to net asset value per share   1.89%   0.05%
 

STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP.

Statement of Operations (unaudited)

 

   For The Three
Months Ended
September 30, 2019
  For the Three
Months Ended
June 30, 2019
Investment Income          
Interest  $3,053,901   $2,826,558 
Dividends   774,108    1,091,134 
Origination fee income   13,828    41,127 
Other Income (service fees and due diligence fees)   119,326    84,618 
Total Investment Income   3,961,163    4,043,437 
 
Expenses          
Investment advisory fees   746,924    733,081 
Interest expense   258,348    361,786 
Professional fees   66,760    88,773 
Transfer agent, custodian fees and administrator fees   73,159    72,364 
Directors’ fees   66,827    58,835 
Bank administration fees   40,457    40,017 
ABA marketing and licensing fees   37,845    37,434 
Investor relations fees   31,205    30,865 
Delaware franchise tax   22,943    22,694 
Insurance expense   18,148    17,951 
Valuation fees   15,152    14,988 
Printing   14,670    14,511 
Miscellaneous fees (proxy, rating agency, etc.)   69,225    83,894 
Total expenses   1,461,663    1,577,193 
Net Investment Income  $2,499,500   $2,466,244 
 
Realized and Unrealized Gain / (Loss) on Investments          
Net realized gain / (loss) on investments  $922,827   $(109,845)
Net change in unrealized appreciation / (depreciation) on investments   (1,224,760)   1,235,125 
Net realized and unrealized gain / (loss) on investments   (301,933)   1,125,280 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations  $2,197,567   $3,591,524 
 

STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP.

Financial Highlights (unaudited)

 

   For The Three
Months Ended
September 30, 2019
Per Share Operating Performance   
Net Asset Value, beginning of period  $21.80 
 
Net investment income(1)  $0.38 
Net realized and unrealized gain / (loss) on investments(1)  $(0.05)
Total from investment operations  $0.33 
 
Less distributions to shareholders     
From net investment income  $(0.38)
Total distributions  $(0.38)
 
Net asset value, end of period  $21.75 
 
Per share market value, end of period  $22.16 
      
Total Investment Return(2)     
Based on market value   3.41%
Based on net asset value   1.54%
 
Ratios and Supplemental Data     
Net assets, end of period (in millions)  $142.7 
      
Ratios (as a percentage to average net assets):     
Expenses before waivers(3)(4)*   4.06%
Expenses after waivers(5)*   4.06%
Net investment income(6)*   6.94%
Portfolio turnover rate**   11%
 
Revolving Credit Agreement     
Total revolving credit agreement outstanding (000’s)  $25,200 
Asset coverage per $1,000 for revolving credit agreement(7)   6,662 
     
(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 3.34%.
(4) Ratio of expenses before waivers to average managed assets equals 3.44%.
(5) Ratio of expenses after waivers to average managed assets equals 3.44%.
(6) Ratio of net investment income to average managed assets equals 5.88%.
(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