LEAWOOD, Kan. -- (Business Wire)

Tortoise Capital Resources Corp. (NYSE: TTO) today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2011, in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed Feb. 13, 2012.

Recent Highlights

• First quarter distribution of $0.11 with guidance of no less than $0.44 for 2012
• Retained Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC as primary manager
• Financials have transitioned to focus on book value rather than net asset value

Business and Investment Outlook

Our objective is to provide stockholders with an attractive risk-adjusted total return, with an emphasis on distributions and distribution growth. We invest primarily in the U.S. energy infrastructure sector. We historically were limited primarily to investing in securities of privately-held companies operating in the U.S. energy infrastructure sector. We believe the U.S. energy infrastructure sector offers significant opportunities for investment in real property assets. We believe that we can acquire these assets while also satisfying the income requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). We believe that becoming qualified and electing REIT status is in the best interests of our stockholders because a REIT can provide tax-efficient exposure to the energy infrastructure sector.

If we find sufficient suitable REIT-qualifying investments during 2012 and satisfy the REIT requirements throughout 2012, we expect to make an election to be treated as a REIT for tax purposes for 2012.

Annual Performance Review

Our stock price increased approximately 7.1 percent this year, closing at $7.80 on Nov. 30, 2011 compared to $7.28 on Nov. 30, 2010. This contributed to a total investment return based on market value and assuming reinvestment of distributions of approximately 12.6 percent for the year ended Nov. 30, 2011. The fair value of our investment securities, excluding cash equivalents, was approximately $68.9 million at Nov. 30, 2011, with approximately $41.9 million in private securities and approximately $27.0 million in publicly-traded securities.

Changes in Financial Reporting

As a result of the withdrawal of our prior election to be regulated as a BDC, we are no longer regulated by the 1940 Act. Our prospective reporting will conform to the format more commonly used by REITs. The most visible resulting change in our reporting will be the decreased emphasis on fair value based NAV to traditional historical cost based accounting of book value. This reporting does not change the strategy of holding our private investments until an attractive liquidity opportunity is presented.

In line with our intent and the change in our business during the fourth quarter 2011, book value per share is shown in place of NAV, and reflects the impact of consolidating the operations of Mowood as opposed to reporting it at fair value as in the prior periods presented. Net asset value and book value per share is generally determined as of the last day in the relevant period and therefore may not reflect the net asset value or book value per share on the date of the high and low sales prices. The net asset values and book value shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.

Amounts previously reported as revenue in prior periods is now reflected below Income (Loss) from Operations. Investment income as presented in our 2010 10-K is now reflected in the line items “Distributions and income from investments, net” and “other Income.” As we do not plan to make additional investments in securities (other than short term, highly liquid investments to be held pending acquisition of real property assets) and intend to liquidate our securities portfolio in an orderly manner, this presentation is consistent with our intentions to invest in real property assets which can be leased.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We entered into a 180-day rolling evergreen margin loan facility with Bank of America, N.A. on Nov. 30, 2011. The terms of the agreement provide for a $10,000,000 facility that is secured by certain of our assets. Outstanding balances generally will accrue interest at a variable rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 0.75 percent and unused portions of the facility will accrue a fee equal to an annual rate of 0.25 percent.

On Jan. 25, 2012, we filed an amendment to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. When effective, the universal shelf registration will allow us to prudently raise additional capital. We expect to have greater flexibility in issuing securities with common equity participation features (such as warrants and convertible notes) and/or additional classes of stock (such as convertible preferred) in order to facilitate capital formation now that we are no longer subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act.

We also hold publicly listed MLPs, which can be liquidated in order to fund future acquisitions. We expect to hold our private investments until a natural liquidity event is presented to each company.

Private Company Update

High Sierra Energy, LP and High Sierra Energy, GP’s (High Sierra) fair value increased approximately $4.2 million since Nov. 30, 2010. High Sierra did not make cash distributions to its LP and GP unit holders during our first two fiscal quarters of the year. In the third quarter, High Sierra returned to paying cash distributions at $0.15 per unit and increased the per unit payout to $0.30 in our fourth quarter. In the coming year, we expect High Sierra to maintain its current level of cash distributions with modest room for growth.

In June 2011, we purchased an 8.2 percent ownership interest in Magnetar MLP Investment, LP (Magnetar MLP) for net consideration of $9.9 million. The Magnetar MLP investment represented an indirect investment into Lightfoot Capital Partners, LP (Lightfoot). In October 2011, Magnetar MLP sold a substantial portion of its interest in Lightfoot to provide liquidity to certain original investors in the fund. As part of their transaction we received direct ownership interests in Lightfoot (6.72 percent) and Lightfoot Capital Partners GP LLC (1.52 percent). The decrease in value since Aug. 31, 2011 (approximately $500,000) was due in large part to the anticipated expenses of potential acquisitions and capital market events in the coming year. The addition of the LNG facility and Lightfoot’s existing refined product storage assets should provide for growing distributions in the future.

VantaCore Partners LP’s (VantaCore) fair value decreased approximately $7.2 million since Nov. 30, 2010. VantaCore was unable to meet its minimum quarterly cash distribution (MQD) throughout this past year. Common and preferred unit holders elected to receive a small percentage of the MQD in cash with the remainder paid in newly issued preferred units. Although VantaCore has done a better job of meeting expectations, we continue to lower our EBITDA expectations for 2012 due to the economic outlook in the territories, which contributed to the reduction in fair value for VantaCore, particularly in the fourth quarter. We do believe that the fair value of VantaCore will ultimately increase as the construction and housing markets improve. Until that time, VantaCore continues to look for small acquisitions and operational improvements at its existing facilities.

Our independent valuation firm prepared a positive assurance valuation of our Mowood equity investment as of Nov. 30, 2011 even though the valuation is unaudited and not used as the carrying value in the consolidated financial statements. The valuation increased slightly from that which was reported last quarter. In 2012 we expect Mowood to meet and slightly exceed 2011 EBITDA. Mowood has a revolving note payable with a financial institution with a maximum borrowing base of $1,250,000. Borrowings on the note are secured by all of Mowood’s assets. Interest accrues at LIBOR, plus a 400 percent margin (4.25 percent at Nov. 30, 2011), is payable monthly, with all outstanding principal and accrued interest payable on October 29, 2012. There are no outstanding borrowings under this agreement at Nov. 30, 2011. The agreement contains various restrictive covenants, with the most significant relating to minimum consolidated fixed charge ratio, the incidence of additional indebtedness, member distributions, extension of guaranties, future investments in other subsidiaries and change in ownership.

Our Manager

We are externally managed by Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC (formerly Corridor Energy, LLC) (“Corridor”). Corridor is an asset manager specializing in financing the acquisition or development of infrastructure real property assets. Corridor assists us in identifying infrastructure real property asset investments that can be leased to businesses that make goods, provide services or own assets other than securities, and is generally responsible for our day-to-day operations.

Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., a registered investment adviser (“TCA”), provides us certain securities focused investment services necessary to evaluate, monitor and liquidate our remaining securities portfolio and also provides us with certain operational (i.e. non-investment) services. Corridor compensates TCA for the securities focused investments and services TCA provides to us.

Earnings Call

Tortoise Capital Resources Corp. will host a conference call at 1:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 to discuss its financial results for the fiscal year. Please dial-in to the call at 877-407-9210 approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format. A link to the webcast will be accessible at www.tortoiseadvisors.com.

A replay of the call will be available until 11:59 p.m. CST Feb. 29, 2012, by dialing 877-660-6853. The ID # for playback is 286 and the Conference ID # is 388587. A replay of the webcast will also be available on Tortoise’s website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com through Feb. 14, 2013.

About Tortoise Capital Resources Corp.

Tortoise Capital Resources Corp. (NYSE: TTO) is an energy infrastructure asset financing company that provides capital to pipeline, storage and power transmission operators. TTO’s portfolio includes companies and real assets with long-term, stable cash flows, limited commodity price sensitivity, and growth opportunities. TTO is managed by Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC.

About Corridor InfraTrust Management

Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC is an asset manager specializing in financing the acquisition or development of real property infrastructure assets. Corridor is Manager of Tortoise Capital Resources Corp, (NYSE: TTO). Corridor is an affiliate of Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., an investment manager specializing in listed energy infrastructure investments with approximately $7.8 billion of assets under management as of Jan. 31, 2012. For more information, visit Corridor’s website at www.corridortrust.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Although the company and Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the company's reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by law, the company and Corridor InfraTrust Management, LLC do not assume a duty to update this forward-looking statement. Any distribution paid in the future to our stockholders will depend on the actual performance of the company, its costs of leverage and other operating expenses and will be subject to the approval of the company's Board and compliance with leverage covenants.

Contacts:

Tortoise Capital Advisors, LLC
Pam Kearney, 866-362-9331
Investor Relations
info@tortoiseadvisors.com

Source: Tortoise Capital Resources Corporation