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Great Elm Group Reports Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Financial Results

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Great Elm Group, Inc. (“we,” “our,” “GEG,” “Great Elm,” or “the Company”), (NASDAQ: GEG), an alternative asset manager, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 and Other Recent Highlights

Management Commentary

Jason Reese, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “We continue to make solid progress in the quarter with respect to our long-term growth strategy. Completing successful capital raises of nearly $60 million at GECC, we are positioned to significantly grow our overall assets under management and related fee revenue. Additionally, GECC’s continued performance allowed Great Elm to earn incentive fees for the fourth consecutive quarter. At Monomoy, I’m increasingly encouraged by our growing backlog of build-to-suit projects, as well as the launch of a new construction management consulting business supported by our seasoned team and anchored by a key tenant contract. Upon the anticipated sale of our first build-to-suit property in fiscal fourth quarter, we will have created value for shareholders and believe we will be able to generate additional shareholder value over time by executing on our considerable BTS pipeline.”

“Furthermore, we are committed to utilizing our strong and liquid balance sheet to grow and diversify our businesses and revenue streams. Overall, we remain focused on scaling our core credit and real estate businesses, launching new investment funds and deploying capital into attractive platform opportunities that offer compelling risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders.”   

Capital Raises to Scale the Credit Platform

In February 2024, GECC raised $24 million of equity capital from a special purchase vehicle (“SPV”) that acquired GECC common stock at net asset value. GEG supported the capital raise by making a $6 million investment into the SPV with a large institutional investor that invested $18 million.

In April 2024, GECC completed an underwritten public offering of $34.5 million 8.50% notes due 2029 (“GECCI”).

Discussion of Financial Results for the Fiscal Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2024

GEG reported total revenue of $2.8 million, a 47% increase from $1.9 million in the prior-year period, primarily driven by the collection of incentive fees from GECC of $0.7 million.

GEG recorded net loss from continuing operations of ($2.9) million, compared to a net loss of ($0.5) million in the prior-year period. Net loss in the quarter was driven by an approximately ($2.9) million unrealized loss on our investment in Great Elm Strategic Partnership I, LLC during the quarter.

GEG recorded Adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 million, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of ($0.3) million in the prior-year period.

Stock Repurchase Program

In the fiscal second quarter, GEG’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program under which GEG is authorized to repurchase up to $10 million in the aggregate of its outstanding common stock in the open market. To date, the Company has repurchased a modest number of shares.

Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Conference Call & Webcast Information

When: Thursday, May 9, 2024, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
   
Call: All interested parties are invited to participate in the conference call by dialing +1 (888) 440-4537; international callers should dial +1 (646) 960-0669. Participants should enter the Conference ID 2595129 when asked.
   
Webcast: The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed here. A copy of the slide presentation accompanying the conference call, can be found here.
   

About Great Elm Group, Inc.

Great Elm Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEG) is a publicly-traded, alternative asset manager focused on growing a scalable and diversified portfolio of long-duration and permanent capital vehicles across credit, real estate, specialty finance, and other alternative strategies. Great Elm Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries currently manage Great Elm Capital Corp., a publicly-traded business development company, and Monomoy Properties REIT, LLC, an industrial-focused real estate investment trust, in addition to other investments. Great Elm Group, Inc.’s website can be found at www.greatelmgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements in this press release that are “forward-looking” statements, including statements regarding expected growth, profitability, acquisition opportunities and outlook involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or collectively impact the matters described herein. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made and represent Great Elm’s assumptions and expectations in light of currently available information. These statements involve risks, variables and uncertainties, and Great Elm’s actual performance results may differ from those projected, and any such differences may be material. For information on certain factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from Great Elm’s expectations, please see Great Elm’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Additional information relating to Great Elm’s financial position and results of operations is also contained in Great Elm’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC and available for download at its website www.greatelmgroup.com or at the SEC website www.sec.gov.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The SEC has adopted rules to regulate the use in filings with the SEC, and in public disclosures, of financial measures that are not in accordance with US GAAP, such as adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA is derived from methodologies other than in accordance with US GAAP. Great Elm believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure for investors to use in evaluating Great Elm’s businesses. In addition, Great Elm’s management reviews Adjusted EBITDA as they evaluate acquisition opportunities.

Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it either in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analyzing Great Elm’s results as reported under US GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures reported by Great Elm may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.

Included in the financial tables below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure, net income from continuing operations.

Endnotes
1 Pro forma FPAUM assumes full investment of incremental capital.

Media & Investor Contact:
Investor Relations
geginvestorrelations@greatelmcap.com

Great Elm Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

ASSETS March 31, 2024     June 30, 2023    
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents $ 44,085     $ 60,165    
Receivables from managed funds   4,400       3,308    
Investments in marketable securities   24,789       24,595    
Investments, at fair value (cost $46,199 and $40,387, respectively)   38,244       32,611    
Prepaid and other current assets   2,843       717    
Real estate under development   8,104       1,742    
Assets of Consolidated Funds:            
Cash and cash equivalents   5,414          
Investments, at fair value (cost $8,353)   8,561          
Other assets   233          
Total current assets   136,673       123,138    
Identifiable intangible assets, net   11,300       12,115    
Right-of-use assets   230       497    
Other assets   150       143    
Total assets $ 148,353     $ 135,893    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
Current liabilities            
Accounts payable $ 608     $ 191    
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   4,276       5,418    
Payable for securities purchased   4,914          
Current portion of related party payables   618       1,409    
Current portion of lease liabilities   183       359    
Liabilities of Consolidated Funds:            
Payable for securities purchased   267          
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   124          
Total current liabilities   10,990       7,377    
Lease liabilities, net of current portion   26       142    
Long-term debt (face value $26,945)   26,019       25,808    
Related party payables, net of current portion         926    
Convertible notes (face value $38,859 and $37,912, including $15,780 and $15,395 held by related parties, respectively)   38,164       37,129    
Other liabilities   683       669    
Total liabilities   75,882       72,051    
Commitments and contingencies            
Stockholders’ equity            
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 authorized and zero outstanding            
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized and 31,881,695 shares issued and 30,164,142 outstanding at March 31, 2024; and 30,651,047 shares issued and 29,546,655 outstanding at June 30, 2023   30       30    
Additional paid-in-capital   3,317,212       3,315,378    
Accumulated deficit   (3,252,242 )     (3,251,566 )  
Total Great Elm Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity   65,000       63,842    
Non-controlling interests   7,471          
Total stockholders’ equity   72,471       63,842    
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 148,353     $ 135,893    
   


Great Elm Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands (except per share data)

  For the three months ended
March 31,
    For the nine months ended
March 31,
 
  2024     2023     2024     2023  
Revenues $ 2,787     $ 1,898     $ 8,916     $ 5,637  
Operating costs and expenses:                      
Investment management expenses   2,733       2,593       8,334       6,893  
Depreciation and amortization   271       281       837       870  
Selling, general and administrative   1,630       1,893       5,738       5,441  
Expenses of Consolidated Funds   22             22       46  
Total operating costs and expenses   4,656       4,767       14,931       13,250  
Operating loss   (1,869 )     (2,869 )     (6,015 )     (7,613 )
Dividends and interest income   2,359       1,520       6,417       4,432  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments   (2,753 )     1,989       1,735       17,434  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments of Consolidated Funds   131             245       (16 )
Interest and other income of Consolidated Funds   323             451        
Gain on sale of controlling interest in subsidiary                     10,524  
Interest expense   (1,074 )     (1,095 )     (3,197 )     (5,024 )
(Loss) income before income taxes from continuing operations   (2,883 )     (455 )     (364 )     19,737  
Income tax benefit (expense)                     (2 )
Net (loss) income from continuing operations   (2,883 )     (455 )     (364 )     19,735  
Discontinued operations:                      
Net income from discontinued operations         12,203       16       13,202  
Net (loss) income $ (2,883 )   $ 11,748     $ (348 )   $ 32,937  
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest, continuing operations   217             328       (1,554 )
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest, discontinued operations                     1,504  
Net (loss) income attributable to Great Elm Group, Inc. $ (3,100 )   $ 11,748     $ (676 )   $ 32,987  
Basic net income (loss) per share from:                      
Continuing operations $ (0.10 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.74  
Discontinued operations         0.42             0.41  
Basic net income (loss) per share $ (0.10 )   $ 0.40     $ (0.02 )   $ 1.15  
Diluted net income (loss) per share from:                      
Continuing operations $ (0.10 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.56  
Discontinued operations         0.42             0.29  
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ (0.10 )   $ 0.40     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.85  
Weighted average shares outstanding                      
Basic   30,066       28,997       29,844       28,779  
Diluted   30,066       28,997       29,844       40,673  
                               


Great Elm Group, Inc.

Reconciliation from Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBITDA
Dollar amounts in thousands

  For the three months ended
March 31,

  For the nine months ended
March 31,
 
  2024
  2023
    2024     2023  
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations – GAAP $ (2,883 )   $ (455 )   $ (364 )   $ 19,735  
Interest expense   1,074       1,095       3,197       5,024  
Income tax expense (benefit)                       2  
Depreciation and amortization   271       281       837       870  
Non-cash compensation   698       660       2,426       2,246  
(Gain) loss on investments   2,622       (1,964 )     (1,980 )     6,980  
Gains related to sale of Forest         (25 )           (34,922 )
Transaction and integration related costs(1)                     471  
Change in contingent consideration   (554 )     120       (518 )     180  
Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ 1,228     $ (288 )   $ 3,598     $ 586  
 
(1) Transaction and integration-related costs include costs to sell, acquire and integrate acquired businesses.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA for prior periods has been adjusted to include dividend income earned during such periods consistent with the methodology for March 31, 2024.
 


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