PennantPark Investment Corporation Announces Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2020

NEW YORK, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PennantPark Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: PNNT) announced today financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS
Quarter ended December 31, 2020
($ in millions, except per share amounts)

Assets and Liabilities:
Investment portfolio (1)		$	1,127.1
PSLF investment portfolio		$	351.9
Net assets		$	588.8
GAAP net asset value per share		$	8.78
Increase in GAAP net asset value per share			12.0	%
Adjusted net asset value per share (2)		$	8.69
Increase in adjusted net asset value per share (2)			14.5	%
Credit Facility		$	349.1
2024 Notes		$	84.0
SBA Debentures		$	115.9
Regulatory Debt to Equity			0.76x
Regulatory Net Debt to Equity (3)			0.72x
GAAP Net Debt to Equity (4)			0.90x
Yield on debt investments at quarter-end			9.3	%

Operating Results:
Net investment income		$	8.3
Net investment income per share		$	0.12
Distributions declared per share		$	0.12
Portfolio Activity:
Purchases of investments		$	68.2
Sales and repayments of investments		$	102.6
Number of new portfolio companies invested			4
Number of existing portfolio companies invested			15
Number of ending portfolio companies			81

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(1)		Includes investments in PennantPark Senior Loan Fund, LLC, or PSLF, an unconsolidated joint venture, totaling $103.2 million, at fair value.
(2)		This is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that this number provides useful information to investors and management because it reflects the Company’s financial performance excluding the impact of the $6.0 million unrealized loss on our multi-currency, senior secured revolving credit facility with Truist Bank, as amended, or the Credit Facility, and, together with our credit facility with BNP Paribas, as amended, the Credit Facilities. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(3)		This is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that this number provides useful information to investors and management because it reflects the Company’s financial performance net of $20.2 million of cash and cash equivalents. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(4)		This is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that this number provides useful information to investors and management because it reflects the Company’s financial performance including the impact of the $6.0 million unrealized loss on the Credit Facility, Small Business Act, or SBA, Debentures and net of $20.2 million of cash and cash equivalents. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

CONFERENCE CALL AT 1:00 P.M. ET ON FEBRUARY 10, 2021

PennantPark Investment Corporation (“we,” “our,” “us” or the “Company”) will host a conference call at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 to discuss its financial results. All interested parties are welcome to participate. You can access the conference call by dialing toll-free [phone] approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call. International callers should dial [phone]. All callers should reference conference ID #6696271 PennantPark Investment Corporation. An archived replay of the call will be available through February 24, 2021 by calling toll-free [phone]. International callers please dial [phone]. For all phone replays, please reference conference ID #6696271.

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

“We are pleased with the substantial increase in net asset value this past quarter due to material appreciation in the value of several equity co-investments,” said Arthur Penn, Chairman and CEO. “We believe that we can generate increased income over time by rotating those equity positions into yield generating debt instruments. Additionally, we have the ability to grow the PNNT balance sheet and our PSLF JV which should also generate additional income for the Company.”

As of December 31, 2020, our portfolio totaled $1,127.1 million, which consisted of $425.2 million of first lien secured debt, $195.4 million of second lien secured debt, $116.8 million of subordinated debt (including $64.2 million in PSLF) and $389.7 million of preferred and common equity (including $39.0 million in PSLF). Our debt portfolio consisted of 92% variable-rate investments and 8% fixed-rate investments. As of December 31, 2020, we had no portfolio companies on non-accrual. Overall, the portfolio had net unrealized appreciation of $9.7 million as of December 31, 2020. Our overall portfolio consisted of 81 companies with an average investment size of $13.9 million, had a weighted average yield on interest bearing debt investments of 9.3% and was invested 38% in first lien secured debt, 17% in second lien secured debt, 10% in subordinated debt (including 6% in PSLF) and 35% in preferred and common equity (including 3% in PSLF). As of December 31, 2020, all of the investments held by PSLF were first lien secured debt.

As of September 30, 2020, our portfolio totaled $1,081.8 million, which consisted of $439.0 million of first lien secured debt, $220.8 million of second lien secured debt, $113.6 million of subordinated debt (including $63.0 million in PSLF) and $308.3 million of preferred and common equity (including $36.3 million in PSLF). Our debt portfolio consisted of 93% variable-rate investments and 7% fixed-rate investments. As of September 30, 2020, we had two portfolio companies on non-accrual, representing 4.9% and 3.4% of our overall portfolio on a cost and fair value basis, respectively. Overall, the portfolio had net unrealized depreciation of $83.8 million as of September 30, 2020. Our overall portfolio consisted of 80 companies with an average investment size of $13.5 million, had a weighted average yield on interest bearing debt investments of 8.9% and was invested 41% in first lien secured debt, 20% in second lien secured debt, 10% in subordinated debt (including 6% in PSLF) and 29% in preferred and common equity (including 3% in PSLF). As of September 30, 2020, all of the investments held by PSLF were first lien secured debt.

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, we invested $68.2 million in four new and 15 existing portfolio companies with a weighted average yield on debt investments of 9.9%. Sales and repayments of investments for the three months ended December 31, 2020 totaled $102.6 million.

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, we invested $173.7 million in 13 new and 15 existing portfolio companies with a weighted average yield on debt investments of 8.8%. Sales and repayments of investments for the three months ended December 31, 2019 totaled $31.2 million.

PennantPark Senior Loan Fund, LLC

As of December 31, 2020, PSLF’s portfolio totaled $351.9 million, consisted of 36 companies with an average investment size of $9.8 million and had a weighted average yield on debt investments of 7.3%.

As of September 30, 2020, PSLF’s portfolio totaled $353.4 million, consisted of 37 companies with an average investment size of $9.6 million and had a weighted average yield on debt investments of 7.3%.

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, PSLF invested $30.8 million (of which $22.3 million was purchased from the Company) in two new and four existing portfolio companies with a weighted average yield on debt investments of 7.0%. PSLF’s sales and repayments of investments for the same period totaled $35.8 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Set forth below are the results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Investment Income

Investment income for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $18.7 million and was attributable to $11.2 million from first lien secured debt, $4.8 million from second lien secured debt, $1.7 million from subordinated debt and $1.0 million from preferred and common equity. This compares to investment income for the three months ended December 31, 2019 of $26.0 million and was attributable to $16.0 million from first lien secured debt, $7.7 million from second lien secured debt and $2.3 million from subordinated debt. The decrease in investment income compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to decreases in the size of our debt portfolio and the London Inter-bank Offered Rate, or LIBOR.

Expenses

Expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2020 totaled $10.4 million. Base management fee for the same period totaled $4.1 million, debt related interest and expenses totaled $5.0 million, general and administrative expenses totaled $1.1 million and provision for taxes totaled $0.2 million. This compares to net expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2019, which totaled $15.8 million. Base management fee for the same period totaled $4.7 million, incentive fee totaled $0.7 million, debt related interest and expenses totaled $8.9 million, general and administrative expenses totaled $1.2 million and provision for taxes totaled $0.3 million. The decrease in expenses compared to the three-month period ended in the prior year was primarily due to a decrease in LIBOR and lower leverage.

Net Investment Income

Net investment income totaled $8.3 million, or $0.12 per share, and $10.2 million, or $0.15 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in net investment income compared to the three-month period ended in the prior year was primarily due to lower investment income, partially offset by lower expenses.

Net Realized Gains or Losses

Sales and repayments of investments for the three months ended December 31, 2020 totaled $102.6 million and net realized losses totaled $17.6 million. Sales and repayments of investments for the three months ended December 31, 2019 totaled $31.2 million and net realized losses totaled $12.0 million. The change in realized losses was primarily due to changes in the market conditions of our investments and the values at which they were realized.

Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation on Investments and the Credit Facilities

For the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we reported net change in unrealized appreciation on investments of $93.5 million and $23.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, our net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments totaled $9.7 million and ($83.8) million, respectively. The net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on our investments compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to unrealized gains in our equity co-investment program, including ITC Rumba, LLC (Cano Health, LLC), as well as the financial performance of certain portfolio companies primarily driven by the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding its continued adverse economic impact. For more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our business and results of operations, see our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, including “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – COVID-19 Developments”.

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Credit Facility had a net change in unrealized appreciation of $13.1 million. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, our Credit Facilities had a net change in unrealized depreciation of $2.6 million. As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, the net unrealized depreciation on the Credit Facility totaled $6.4 million and $19.6 million, respectively. The net change in net unrealized depreciation compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to changes in the capital markets.

Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

Net change in net assets resulting from operations totaled $71.1 million, or $1.06 per share, and $19.2 million, or $0.29 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in net assets from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to unrealized gains in our equity co-investment program, including ITC Rumba, LLC (Cano Health, LLC), as well as the financial performance of certain portfolio companies primarily driven by the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding its continued adverse economic impact. For more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our business and results of operations, see our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, including “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – COVID-19 Developments”.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our liquidity and capital resources are derived primarily from proceeds of securities offerings, debt capital and cash flows from operations, including investment sales and repayments, and income earned. Our primary use of funds from operations includes investments in portfolio companies and payments of fees and other operating expenses we incur. We have used, and expect to continue to use, our debt capital, proceeds from the rotation of our portfolio and proceeds from public and private offerings of securities to finance our investment objectives. For more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact our ability to comply with the covenants of the Credit Facility, see our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, including “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – COVID-19 Developments”.

The annualized weighted average cost of debt for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, inclusive of the fee on the undrawn commitment under the Credit Facilities and amortized upfront fees on SBA debentures, was 3.4% and 5.0%, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, we had $119.5 million and $86.7 million of unused borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, respectively, subject to leverage and borrowing base restrictions.

As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, we had $355.5 million and $388.3 million, respectively, in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility had a weighted average interest rate of 2.4% and 2.5%, respectively, exclusive of the fee on undrawn commitments, as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020.

As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $20.2 million and $25.8 million, respectively, available for investing and general corporate purposes. We believe our liquidity and capital resources are sufficient to take advantage of market opportunities.

Our operating activities provided cash of $35.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, and our financing activities used cash of $40.8 million for the same period. Our operating activities provided cash primarily for our investment activities and our financing activities used cash primarily to pay down the Credit Facility.

Our operating activities used cash of $71.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and our financing activities provided cash of $43.8 million for the same period. Our operating activities used cash primarily for our investment activities and our financing activities provided cash primarily from net borrowings under our Credit Facilities.

DISTRIBUTIONS

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, we declared distributions of $0.12 per share, for total distributions of $8.0 million. For the same period in the prior year, we declared distributions of $0.18 per share, respectively, for total distributions of $12.1 million. We monitor available net investment income to determine if a return of capital for tax purposes may occur for the fiscal year. To the extent our taxable earnings fall below the total amount of our distributions for any given fiscal year, stockholders will be notified of the portion of those distributions deemed to be a tax return of capital. Tax characteristics of all distributions will be reported to stockholders subject to information reporting on Form 1099-DIV after the end of each calendar year and in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company makes available on its website its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and stockholders may find such report on its website at www.pennantpark.com.

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

		December 31, 2020				September 30, 2020
		(unaudited)
Assets
Investments at fair value
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments (cost—$634,147,235 and $713,683,209, respectively)		$	749,948,744			$	735,674,666
Non-controlled, affiliated investments (cost—$104,375,033 and $77,628,920, respectively)			62,002,633				27,753,893
Controlled, affiliated investments (cost—$378,901,433 and $374,260,162, respectively)			315,139,688				318,342,859
Total of investments (cost—$1,117,423,701 and $1,165,572,291, respectively)			1,127,091,065				1,081,771,418
Cash and cash equivalents (cost—$20,114,225 and $25,801,087, respectively)			20,157,299				25,806,002
Interest receivable			5,121,432				5,005,715
Distribution receivable			1,089,000				1,393,716
Prepaid expenses and other assets			376,573				376,030
Total assets			1,153,835,369				1,114,352,881
Liabilities
Distributions payable			8,045,413				8,045,413
Payable for investments purchased			139,220				5,461,508
Truist Credit Facility payable, at fair value (cost—$355,544,900 and $388,252,000, respectively)			349,104,144				368,701,972
2024 Notes payable, net (par—$86,250,000 and $86,250,000, respectively)			84,003,935				83,837,560
SBA debentures payable, net (par—$118,500,000 and $118,500,000, respectively)			115,862,617				115,772,677
Base management fee payable, net			4,114,428				4,369,637
Interest payable on debt			2,971,453				2,022,614
Accrued other expenses			796,969				432,648
Total liabilities			565,038,179				588,644,029
Commitments and contingencies
Net assets
Common stock, 67,045,105 and 67,045,105 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
Par value $0.001 per share and 100,000,000 shares authorized			67,045				67,045
Paid-in capital in excess of par value			787,625,031				787,625,031
Accumulated distributable net loss			(198,894,886	)			(261,983,224	)
Total net assets		$	588,797,190			$	525,708,852
Total liabilities and net assets		$	1,153,835,369			$	1,114,352,881
Net asset value per share		$	8.78			$	7.84

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2020				2019
Investment income:
From non-controlled, non-affiliated investments:
Interest		$	11,432,511			$	20,384,914
Payment-in-kind			1,458,798				1,884,506
Other income			481,125				189,918
From non-controlled, affiliated investments:
Payment-in-kind			76,727				—
From controlled, affiliated investments:
Interest			2,276,776				635,615
Payment-in-kind			1,485,523				2,908,812
Dividend income			1,521,000				—
Total investment income			18,732,460				26,003,765
Expenses:
Base management fee			4,114,428				4,742,430
Performance-based incentive fee			—				744,626
Interest and expenses on debt			5,004,131				8,866,549
Administrative services expenses			505,020				521,520
Other general and administrative expenses			643,483				643,480
Expenses before performance-based incentive fee waiver and provision for taxes			10,267,062				15,518,605
Performance-based incentive fee waiver			—				—
Provision for taxes			150,000				300,000
Net expenses			10,417,062				15,818,605
Net investment income			8,315,398				10,185,160
Realized and unrealized gain on investments and debt:
Net realized loss on investments on:
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments			2,130,958				(12,034,153	)
Non-controlled and controlled, affiliated investments			(19,708,359	)			—
Net realized loss on investments			(17,577,401	)			(12,034,153	)
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:
Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments			76,405,417				17,052,596
Non-controlled and controlled, affiliated investments			17,099,609				6,570,228
Debt appreciation			(13,109,272	)			(2,571,321	)
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and debt			80,395,754				21,051,503
Net realized and unrealized gain from investments and debt			62,818,353				9,017,350
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations		$	71,133,751			$	19,202,510
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations per common share		$	1.06			$	0.29
Net investment income per common share		$	0.12			$	0.15

ABOUT PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

PennantPark Investment Corporation is a business development company which invests primarily in U.S. middle-market companies in the form of first lien secured debt, second lien secured debt, subordinated debt and equity investments. PennantPark Investment Corporation is managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC.

ABOUT PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC is a leading middle market credit platform, which today has $3.5 billion of assets under management. Since its inception in 2007, PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC has provided investors access to middle market credit by offering private equity firms and their portfolio companies as well as other middle-market borrowers a comprehensive range of creative and flexible financing solutions. PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC is headquartered in New York and has offices in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should understand that under Section 27A(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 do not apply to forward-looking statements made in periodic reports we file under the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance 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 filings with the SEC as well as changes in the economy and risks associated with possible disruption in the Company’s operations or the economy generally due to terrorism, natural disasters or pandemics such as COVID-19. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. You should not place undue influence on such forward-looking statements as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.

We may use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “seeks,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations.

CONTACT:

Aviv Efrat PennantPark Investment Corporation [phone] www.pennantpark.com