Feb 1, 2012 - LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. (NYSE: TYY) today announced that as of Jan. 31, 2012, the company's unaudited total assets were approximately $872.8 million and its unaudited net asset value was $537.0 million, or $27.39 per share.

As of Jan. 31, 2012, the company was in compliance with its asset coverage ratios under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) and basic maintenance covenants. The company's asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness was 561 percent, and its coverage ratio for preferred shares was 403 percent. For more information on calculation of coverage ratios, please refer to our most recent applicable prospectus.

The company issued 3,900 shares of common stock under its at-the-market equity offering program for gross proceeds of approximately $0.1 million during the month of January 2012.

Set forth below is a summary of the company's unaudited balance sheet at Jan. 31, 2012, and a summary of its top 10 holdings.

Unaudited Balance Sheet

		(in Millions)				Per Share
Investments		$865.9				$44.17
Cash and Cash Equivalents		0.1				0.00
Receivable for Investments Sold		2.0				0.10
Other Assets		4.8				0.25
Total Assets		872.8				44.52
Short-Term Borrowings		23.3				1.19
Senior Notes		104.1				5.31
MRP Shares		50.0				2.55
Total Leverage		177.4				9.05
Payable for Investments Purchased		0.6				0.03
Other Liabilities		2.0				0.10
Deferred Tax Liability		155.8				7.95
Net Assets		$537.0				$27.39

19.60 million common shares currently outstanding.

Top 10 Holdings (as of Jan. 31, 2012)

Name		Market Value (in Millions)				% of Investment Securities(1)
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.		$ 61.4				7.1%
Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.		59.7				6.9%
Williams Partners L.P.		51.3				5.9%
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.		50.5				5.8%
Kinder Morgan Management, LLC		46.3				5.3%
Buckeye Partners, L.P.		44.6				5.1%
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.		44.5				5.1%
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.		44.0				5.1%
ONEOK Partners, L.P.		43.6				5.0%
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.		43.6				5.0%
Total		$ 489.5				56.3%

⁽¹⁾ Percent of Investments and Cash Equivalents.

About Tortoise Energy Capital Corp.

Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. provides financing for master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the energy infrastructure sector, focusing on crude oil and refined petroleum products MLPs and natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines MLPs. Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. seeks to provide its stockholders a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions.

About Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C.

Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. is an investment manager specializing in listed energy infrastructure investments. As of Dec. 31, 2011, the adviser had approximately $7.6 billion of assets under management in NYSE-listed closed-end investment companies, an open-end fund and other accounts. For more information, visit www.tortoiseadvisors.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 Tortoise Capital Advisors 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 Tortoise Capital Advisors do not assume a duty to update this forward-looking statement.

Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C.
Pam Kearney, 866-362-9331
Investor Relations
pkearney@tortoiseadvisors.com

Source: Tortoise Energy Capital Corp.