Main Street Announces Preliminary Estimate of Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

HOUSTON, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce its preliminary operating results for the fourth quarter of 2017, the tax treatment of its 2017 dividends and its fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings release and conference call schedule. 

Preliminary Estimates of Fourth Quarter 2017 Results
Main Street's preliminary estimate of fourth quarter 2017 distributable net investment income ("DNII"), which is net investment income before non-cash, share-based compensation expense, is $0.68 to $0.69 per share.⁽¹⁾  Main Street's preliminary estimate of net investment income is $0.63 to $0.64 per share.  The preliminary estimate of DNII significantly exceeds both the regular monthly dividends paid per share for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $0.57 per share and the previously provided DNII guidance range for the fourth quarter of 2017 of between $0.61 and $0.63 per share. 

Main Street's preliminary estimate of net asset value ("NAV") per share as of December 31, 2017 is $23.48 to $23.58.  After adjustment for the semi-annual supplemental dividend paid in December 2017 of $0.275 per share, this represents an increase of approximately $0.74 to $0.84 per share, or 3.2% to 3.6%, from the reported NAV per share of $23.02 as of September 30, 2017.  Main Street estimates that the increase in NAV per share is primarily due to net unrealized appreciation relating to its Lower Middle Market portfolio investments and the accretive impact from equity issued under its at-the-market equity program.  Furthermore, Main Street estimates that approximately 40% to 50% of the net unrealized appreciation relating to its Lower Middle Market portfolio investments is due to the favorable impact from the recently passed U.S. tax reform on the valuations of its equity investments in Lower Middle Market portfolio companies. 

Federal Tax Treatment of 2017 Dividends
Main Street has posted information regarding the U.S. federal income tax characteristics of its dividends that are attributable to 2017 on its website under "2017 Form 1099 Information" (http://ir.mainstcapital.com/tax-information).  Main Street paid dividends totaling $2.79 per share that are attributable to 2017 for tax purposes, with approximately 17.6% of such dividends taxed as long-term capital gains, approximately 3.0% taxed as qualified dividends and approximately 79.4% taxed as ordinary income.  Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends paid to non-corporate taxpayers (including individuals) qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") and, for 2017, will generally be subject to a maximum 20% U.S. federal income tax rate (plus a 3.8% Medicare surtax, if applicable). 

Federal Tax Treatment of 2017 Dividends – Non-U.S. Shareholders
Non-U.S. resident and foreign corporation shareholders ("Non-U.S. Shareholders") in a Regulated Investment Company ("RIC") such as Main Street are exempt from U.S. withholding tax on both "interest-related" dividends and short-term capital gains in accordance with the IRC sections 871(k) and 881(e).  In addition, Non-U.S. Shareholders in a RIC are also exempt from U.S. withholding tax on long-term capital gains.  Main Street paid dividends totaling $2.79 per share that are attributable to 2017 for tax purposes, with approximately 75.8% of such dividends relating to "interest-related" dividends, short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. See the "Tax Treatment of 2017 Dividends for Non-U.S. Shareholders" posted on Main Street's website for more details (http://ir.mainstcapital.com/tax-information).

To the extent Non-U.S. Shareholder taxes were withheld on dividends distributed, this information may be considered in connection with any claims for refund of taxes made with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.  Non-U.S. Shareholders should contact their tax advisor with any questions regarding this information.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Earnings Release and Conference Call Scheduled 
Main Street's fourth quarter and full year 2017 results will be released on Thursday, February 22, 2018, after the financial markets close.  In conjunction with the release, Main Street has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live via phone and over the Internet, on Friday, February 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.  Investors may participate either by phone or audio webcast.

ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION

Main Street (www.mainstcapital.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies.  Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors.  Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides "one stop" financing alternatives within its lower middle market portfolio.  Main Street's lower middle market companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million.  Main Street's middle market debt investments are made in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies.

Main Street's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "MAIN."  In addition, Main Street has outstanding 6.125% Notes due 2023, which trade on the NYSE under the symbol "MSCA."

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS

Main Street cautions that statements in this press release which are forward‑looking and provide other than historical information, including but not limited to the preliminary estimates of fourth quarter 2017 results, involve risks and uncertainties that may impact its future results of operations.  The forward‑looking statements in this press release are based on current conditions and include statements regarding Main Street's goals, beliefs, strategies and future operating results and cash flows.  Although its management believes that the expectations reflected in those forward‑looking statements are reasonable, Main Street can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct.  Those statements are made based on various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks, including, without limitation: Main Street's continued effectiveness in raising, investing and managing capital; adverse changes in the economy generally or in the industries in which its portfolio companies operate; changes in laws and regulations that may adversely impact its operations or the operations of one or more of its portfolio companies; the operating and financial performance of its portfolio companies; retention of key investment personnel; competitive factors; and such other factors described under the captions "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov).  Main Street undertakes no obligation to update the information contained herein to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances, except as required by applicable securities laws and regulations.

The preliminary estimates of fourth quarter 2017 results furnished above are based on Main Street management's preliminary determinations and current expectations, and such information is inherently uncertain.  The preliminary estimates are subject to completion of Main Street's customary year-end closing and review procedures and third party audit, including the determination of the fair value of Main Street's portfolio investments by the Main Street Board of Directors, and have not yet been approved by the Main Street Board of Directors.  As a result, actual results could differ materially from the current preliminary estimates based on adjustments made during Main Street's year-end closing and review procedures and third party audit, and Main Street's reported information in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 may differ from this information, and any such differences may be material.  In addition, the information furnished above does not include all of the information regarding Main Street's financial condition and results of operations for the quarter and full year periods ended December 31, 2017 that may be important to readers.  As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the information furnished in this press release and should view this information in the context of Main Street's full fourth quarter and full year 2017 results when such results are disclosed by Main Street in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  The information furnished in this press release is based on current Main Street management expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such information.

Neither this press release, the 2017 Form 1099 Information nor the Tax Treatment of 2017 Dividends for Non-U.S. Shareholders, is intended to constitute tax, legal, investment, or other professional advice. This is general information and reference should be made to your 2017 Form 1099-DIV for tax reporting purposes. Shareholders should receive their 2017 Form 1099-DIVs by mid-February (generally from their brokers) and should consult a tax advisor for tax guidance pertinent to their specific facts and circumstances. If you did not hold Main Street stock for all of calendar year 2017, your 1099-DIV will only reflect the tax characteristics for the portion of the year you owned Main Street stock. 

Main Street has an existing effective shelf registration statement on Form N-2 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the offer and sale from time to time of its securities.  Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objective, risks and charges and expenses of Main Street before investing.  The prospectus included in the shelf registration statement, together with any related prospectus supplement, contain this and other information about Main Street and should be read carefully before investing.  A copy of the prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement may be obtained by contacting Main Street.

Contacts:
Main Street Capital Corporation
Dwayne L. Hyzak, President & COO, dhyzak@mainstcapital.com  
Brent D. Smith, CFO, bsmith@mainstcapital.com  
713-350-6000

Dennard Lascar Investor Relations
Ken Dennard / ken@dennardlascar.com  
Mark Roberson / mroberson@dennardlascar.com  
713-529-6600

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SOURCE Main Street Capital Corporation