UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For The Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2019
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number: 814-00702
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Maryland
74-3113410
(State or Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
400 Hamilton Ave., Suite 310
Palo Alto, California
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
94301
(Zip Code)
(650) 289-3060
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares, par value $0.001 per share
HTGC
New York Stock Exchange
5.25% Notes due 2025
HCXZ
6.25% Notes due 2033
HCXY
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this Chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☐ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with a new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
On October 25, 2019, there were 104,633,262 shares outstanding of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value.
FORM 10-Q TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3
Item 1.
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)
5
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)
6
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)
8
Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of September 30, 2019 (unaudited)
10
Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2018 (unaudited)
20
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
36
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
68
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
84
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
85
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
86
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
89
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
90
SIGNATURES
93
2
PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In this Quarterly Report, the “Company,” “Hercules,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Hercules Capital, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and its affiliated securitization trusts on or after February 25, 2016 and “Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.” and its wholly owned subsidiaries and its affiliated securitization trusts prior to February 25, 2016, unless the context otherwise requires.
ITEM 1.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
September 30, 2019
December 31, 2018
Assets
Investments:
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (cost of $2,182,777 and $1,830,725, respectively)
$
2,167,682
1,801,258
Control investments (cost of $65,319 and $64,799, respectively)
58,560
57,619
Affiliate investments (cost of $88,238 and $85,000, respectively)
20,964
21,496
Total investments in securities, at value (cost of $2,336,334 and $1,980,524, respectively)
2,247,206
1,880,373
Cash and cash equivalents
21,045
34,212
Restricted cash
14,886
11,645
Interest receivable
19,847
16,959
Right of use asset (1)
12,218
—
Other assets
1,727
2,002
Total assets
2,316,929
1,945,191
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
25,451
25,961
Operating lease liability (1)
11,922
SBA Debentures, net (principal of $149,000 and $149,000, respectively) (2)
148,038
147,655
2022 Notes, net (principal of $150,000 and $150,000, respectively) (2)
148,383
147,990
2024 Notes, net (principal of $0 and $83,510, respectively) (2)
81,852
July 2024 Notes, net (principal of $105,000 and $0, respectively) (2)
103,723
2025 Notes, net (principal of $75,000 and $75,000, respectively) (2)
72,875
72,590
2033 Notes, net (principal of $40,000 and $40,000, respectively) (2)
38,474
38,427
2027 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $200,000 and $200,000, respectively) (2)
197,241
197,265
2028 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $250,000 and $0, respectively) (2)
247,333
2022 Convertible Notes, net (principal of $230,000 and $230,000, respectively) (2)
226,223
225,051
Credit Facilities
11,585
52,956
Total liabilities
1,231,248
989,747
Net assets consist of:
Common stock, par value
105
96
Capital in excess of par value
1,147,054
1,052,269
Total distributable earnings (loss) (3)
(61,478
)
(92,859
Treasury Stock, at cost, no shares as of September 30, 2019 and 376,466 shares as of December 31, 2018
(4,062
Total net assets
1,085,681
955,444
Total liabilities and net assets
Shares of common stock outstanding ($0.001 par value and 200,000,000 authorized)
104,636
96,501
Net asset value per share
10.38
9.90
(1)
See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for a description of Right of use asset and Operating lease liability.
(2)
The Company’s SBA debentures, 2022 Notes, 2024 Notes, July 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2022 Convertible Notes, as each term is defined herein, are presented net of the associated debt issuance costs for each instrument. See “Note 4 – Borrowings”.
(3)
Certain prior year numbers have been adjusted to conform with the SEC final rules on disclosure updates and simplification effective November 5, 2018. See Note 11.
See notes to consolidated financial statements
The following table presents the assets and liabilities of our consolidated securitization trusts for the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes (see Note 4), which are variable interest entities, or VIEs. The assets of our securitization VIEs can only be used to settle obligations of our consolidated securitization VIEs, these liabilities are only the obligations of our consolidated securitization VIEs, and the creditors (or beneficial interest holders) do not have recourse to our general credit. These assets and liabilities are included in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities above.
(Dollars in thousands)
Restricted Cash
2027 Asset-Backed Notes, investments in securities, at value (cost of $296,240 and $279,373, respectively)
288,524
277,781
2028 Asset-Backed Notes, investments in securities, at value (cost of $365,607 and $0, respectively)
366,033
669,443
289,426
2027 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $200,000 and $200,000, respectively) (1)
2028 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $250,000 and $0, respectively) (1)
444,574
The Company’s 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes are presented net of the associated debt issuance costs. See “Note 4 – Borrowings”.
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2019
2018
Investment income:
Interest income
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments
62,696
47,662
176,568
134,031
Control investments
1,055
921
3,119
2,348
Affiliate investments
493
509
1,740
1,570
Total interest income
64,244
49,092
181,427
137,949
Fee income
Commitment, facility and loan fee income
3,591
1,858
11,069
6,228
1
13
26
71
186
263
Total commitment, facility and loan fee income
3,622
1,930
11,268
6,492
One-time fee income
1,372
1,580
4,602
6,423
Total one-time fee income
Total fee income
4,994
3,510
15,870
12,915
Total investment income
69,238
52,602
197,297
150,864
Operating expenses:
Interest
13,857
9,451
39,927
28,715
Loan fees
1,138
1,502
5,793
6,039
General and administrative
Legal expenses
1,586
677
4,212
1,889
Tax expenses
815
117
1,706
689
Other expenses
3,967
2,927
10,398
8,826
Total general and administrative
6,368
3,721
16,316
11,404
Employee compensation
Compensation and benefits
7,559
5,294
23,372
18,069
Stock-based compensation
1,443
3,332
8,716
8,498
Total employee compensation
9,002
8,626
32,088
26,567
Total operating expenses
30,365
23,300
94,124
72,725
Net investment income
38,873
29,302
103,173
78,139
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
4,807
3,350
13,633
(4,115
(4,308
(2,058
Total net realized gain (loss) on investments
(10,481
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
(26,351
15,533
22,327
2,489
378
421
3,715
(547
(1,368
(3,773
(66
Total net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
(24,409
2,977
12,181
25,976
Total net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
(19,602
6,327
25,814
15,495
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
19,271
35,629
128,987
93,634
Net investment income before investment gains and losses per common share:
Basic
0.37
0.31
1.03
0.87
Change in net assets resulting from operations per common share:
0.18
1.29
1.04
Diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding
104,314
95,460
99,615
89,100
104,655
95,671
100,043
89,212
Distributions paid per common share:
0.34
0.98
0.93
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
(dollars and shares in thousands)
Capital in
Distributable
Common Stock
excess
Earnings
Treasury
Net
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Shares
Par Value
of par value
(loss) (2)
Stock
Balance at June 30, 2019
104,282
104
1,149,774
(45,194
1,104,684
Public offering, net of offering expenses
(331
Issuance of common stock due to stock option exercises
23
300
Retired shares from net issuance
Issuance of common stock under restricted stock plan
770
(1
Retired shares for restricted stock vesting
(482
(4,471
Distributions reinvested in common stock
43
544
Distributions
(35,555
Stock-based compensation (1)
1,239
Balance at September 30, 2019
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Balance at December 31, 2018
7,700
95,084
95,092
37
461
(12
(166
828
Retirement of common stock under repurchase plan
4,062
(550
(5,358
132
1,733
(97,606
7,094
Stock-based compensation includes $25 and $56 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
(loss)(2)
Balance at June 30, 2018
94,260
94
1,026,313
(62,710
963,697
2,467
31,170
31,172
25
271
(21
(271
(19
(249
39
518
(29,710
3,123
Balance at September 30, 2018
96,751
1,060,875
(56,791
1,004,180
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Balance at December 31, 2017
84,424
908,501
(67,619
840,967
11,953
11
143,787
143,798
63
704
(57
(718
336
(76
(937
108
(82,806
8,166
Stock-based compensation includes $13 and $33 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from
operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchase of investments
(784,858
(706,113
Principal and fee payments received on investments
424,479
503,971
Proceeds from the sale of investments
31,664
17,521
Net unrealized depreciation (appreciation) on investments
(12,181
(25,976
Net realized loss (gain) on investments
(13,633
10,481
Accretion of paid-in-kind principal
(6,571
(7,040
Accretion of loan discounts
(2,435
(2,961
Accretion of loan discount on convertible notes
504
Accretion of loan exit fees
(17,598
(12,482
Change in deferred loan origination revenue
13,617
3,472
Unearned fees related to unfunded commitments
1,896
1,908
Amortization of debt fees and issuance costs
4,714
5,197
Depreciation
175
147
Stock-based compensation and amortization of restricted stock grants (1)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest and fees receivable
(2,887
(3,460
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(12,286
2,141
Accounts payable
(196
(187
Accrued liabilities
12,763
(4,282
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(226,752
(115,359
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of capital equipment
(484
(325
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net
95,091
143,498
Retirement of employee shares
(5,063
(651
Distributions paid
(95,873
(81,434
Issuance of July 2024 Notes
105,000
Issuance of 2025 Notes
75,000
Issuance of 2033 Notes
40,000
Issuance of 2028 Asset-Backed Notes
250,000
Repayments of 2024 Notes
(83,510
(100,000
Repayments of 2021 Asset-Backed Notes
(45,637
Repayments of Long-Term SBA Debentures
(41,200
Borrowings of credit facilities
480,834
216,109
Repayments of credit facilities
(522,205
(135,216
Cash paid for debt issuance costs
(4,131
(3,978
Fees paid for credit facilities and debentures
(2,833
(161
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
217,310
66,330
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(9,926
(49,354
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
45,857
94,995
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
35,931
45,641
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:
Distributions reinvested
Stock-based compensation includes $56 and $33 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities that sum to the total of the same such amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:
43,212
2,429
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for a description of restricted cash and cash equivalents.
9
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Portfolio Company
Sub-Industry
Type of
Investment (1)
Maturity Date
Interest Rate and Floor (2)
Principal
Amount
Cost (3)
Value (4)
Debt Investments
Biotechnology Tools
Under 1 Year Maturity
Exicure, Inc. (11)
Senior Secured
March 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 6.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 5.52% Exit Fee
4,999
5,020
Subtotal: Under 1 Year Maturity
Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (0.46%)*
Consumer & Business Products
1-5 Years Maturity
Whoop, Inc. (12)
July 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 6.95% Exit Fee
6,000
6,187
6,184
Subtotal: 1-5 Years Maturity
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.57%)*
Diversified Financial Services
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC (7)
Unsecured
March 2023
Interest rate FIXED 14.50%
15,000
14,766
14,805
Pico Quantitative Trading LLC (18)
June 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 7.60% or Floor rate of 10.80%
30,000
29,537
44,303
44,342
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (4.08%)*
Drug Delivery
Antares Pharma Inc. (10)(11)(15)
July 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 4.50%, 4.14% Exit Fee
40,514
40,405
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (3.72%)*
Drug Discovery & Development
Acacia Pharma Inc. (5)(10)(11)
January 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 3.95% Exit Fee
10,000
10,050
9,979
Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc
October 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 3.10% or Floor rate of 9.10%, 6.95% Exit Fee
14,881
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.70% or Floor rate of 9.45%, 5.40% Exit Fee
9,247
9,520
9,472
Interest rate PRIME + 4.70% or Floor rate of 9.45%, 3.00% Exit Fee
9,679
Total Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
18,494
19,199
19,151
Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. (p.k.a. Axovant Sciences Ltd.) (5)(10)(11)
March 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.80% or Floor rate of 10.55%
35,037
34,726
34,621
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (13)(16)
January 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 3.85% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 6.35% Exit Fee
35,000
35,536
35,435
Interest rate PRIME + 2.85% or Floor rate of 8.60%, 5.75% Exit Fee
20,000
20,180
20,349
Interest rate PRIME + 3.10% or Floor rate of 9.10%, 5.75% Exit Fee
19,958
20,121
Total BridgeBio Pharma LLC
75,674
75,905
Chemocentryx, Inc. (10)(15)
December 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.30% or Floor rate of 8.05%, 6.25% Exit Fee
20,213
20,456
Codiak Biosciences, Inc (17)
September 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 9.00%, 5.50% Exit Fee
9,921
Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (12)
April 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 2.55% or Floor rate of 8.55%, 6.35% Exit Fee
29,965
30,233
Dermavant Sciences Ltd. (5)(10)(13)
June 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 6.95% Exit Fee
19,905
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (11)
May 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 7.75%, 10.12% Exit Fee
12,922
13,406
13,343
Mesoblast (5)(10)(11)
March 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.95% or Floor rate of 9.45%, 6.95% Exit Fee
50,000
51,193
51,286
Metuchen Pharmaceuticals LLC (14)
October 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 7.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%, PIK Interest 1.35%, 2.25% Exit Fee
14,300
15,196
15,143
Motif BioSciences Inc. (5)(8)(10)(11)
September 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 10.00%, 2.87% Exit Fee
6,738
6,732
Myovant Sciences, Ltd. (5)(10)(11)
November 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.25%, 6.55% Exit Fee
41,137
41,086
Nabriva Therapeutics (5)(10)
June 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 4.30% or Floor rate of 9.80%, 6.95% Exit Fee
35,072
35,231
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)(15)(16)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 4.13% Exit Fee
62,700
61,733
61,661
August 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 7.85%, 6.95% Exit Fee
7,300
10,184
10,168
Total Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
70,000
71,917
71,829
Replimune Group, Inc. (5)(10)(11)
August 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 4.95% Exit Fee
9,936
Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp. (5)(10)(11)
January 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 9.50%, 6.68% Exit Fee
17,220
18,065
18,016
TG Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 3.25% Exit Fee
29,535
29,601
Tricida, Inc. (11)(15)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.35% or Floor rate of 8.35%, 14.10% Exit Fee
40,473
40,715
uniQure B.V. (5)(10)(11)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%
35,963
36,127
Urovant Sciences, Ltd. (5)(10)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.65% or Floor rate of 10.15%, 4.25% Exit Fee
45,000
44,371
44,605
Verastem, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 9.75%, 5.25% Exit Fee
5,000
5,004
5,036
5,026
5,058
5,029
5,047
10,018
10,083
9,984
10,048
Total Verastem, Inc.
35,061
35,272
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)(17)
July 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 7.98% Exit Fee
19,977
19,953
702,568
697,195
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (64.22%)*
Electronics & Computer Hardware
Glo AB (5)(10)(13)(14)
February 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 10.45%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 5.03% Exit Fee
9,682
10,045
7,143
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.66%)*
Healthcare Services, Other
PH Group Holdings (13)
September 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 7.45% or Floor rate of 10.95%
19,959
9,977
Total PH Group Holdings
29,936
Oak Street Health (11)(16)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 9.75%, 5.95% Exit Fee
60,000
60,969
60,683
The CM Group LLC (17)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.35% or Floor rate of 9.35%
9,453
9,284
70,253
69,967
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (9.20%)*
100,189
99,903
Information Services
MDX Medical, Inc. (14)(15)(19)
June 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.70%, 2.80% Exit Fee
15,487
15,479
15,519
Planet Labs, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 11.00%, 3.00% Exit Fee
19,434
YIPIT, LLC (17)(18)
May 2024
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.99% or Floor rate of 8.99%
10,625
10,405
45,318
45,358
Subtotal: Information Services (4.18%)*
Internet Consumer & Business Services
Snagajob.com, Inc. (13)(14)
August 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 5.15% or Floor rate of 9.15%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 2.55% Exit Fee
42,466
42,989
Interest rate PRIME + 5.65% or Floor rate of 10.65%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 2.55% Exit Fee
5,108
5,038
Total Snagajob.com, Inc.
47,574
48,027
AppDirect, Inc. (11)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.70% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 3.45% Exit Fee
20,227
20,245
Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. (13)(19)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.75% or Floor rate of 10.10%, 7.55% Exit Fee
30,017
29,951
Cloudpay, Inc. (5)(10)(11)
April 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, 6.95% Exit Fee
15,200
15,104
Contentful, Inc. (5)(10)(11)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.95% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.25%, 3.55% Exit Fee
3,782
3,766
3,756
Convercent, Inc. (14)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.55% or Floor rate of 8.05%, PIK Interest 2.95%, 1.00% Exit Fee
13,706
13,611
13,610
EverFi, Inc. (11)(14)(16)
May 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.90% or Floor rate of 9.15%, PIK Interest 2.30%
71,801
71,470
71,787
First Insight, Inc. (15)
Interest rate PRIME + 6.25% or Floor rate of 11.25%
9,877
9,859
Greenphire, Inc. (17)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%
1,729
Intent (p.k.a. Intent Media, Inc.) (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.13% or Floor rate of 10.13%
15,117
14,986
Lendio, Inc. (11)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 5.25% Exit Fee
4,956
4,970
Nextroll, Inc (14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.85% or Floor rate of 9.35%, PIK Interest 2.95%, 3.50% Exit Fee
20,153
20,036
Patron Technology (18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.30% or Floor rate of 9.30%
35,750
34,731
34,730
650
Total Patron Technology
36,400
35,381
35,380
Postmates, Inc. (19)
September 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.85% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 8.05% Exit Fee
20,141
20,106
SeatGeek, Inc. (14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 10.50%, PIK Interest 0.50%
23,017
22,309
Skyword, Inc (14)
September 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 3.88% or Floor rate of 9.38%, PIK Interest 1.25%, 2.75% Exit Fee
12,000
11,797
Tectura Corporation (7)(8)(9)(14)
Interest rate FIXED 6.00%, PIK Interest 3.00%
21,407
9,605
PIK Interest 8.00%
10,680
240
Total Tectura Corporation
32,087
21,647
Wheels Up Partners LLC (11)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.55% or Floor rate of 9.55%
17,933
17,815
Xometry, Inc. (13)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.45%, 7.09% Exit Fee
11,000
11,253
11,317
346,349
334,362
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (35.22%)*
394,376
382,389
Media/Content/Info
Bustle (14)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.10% or Floor rate of 8.35%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 3.12% Exit Fee
15,544
15,608
15,806
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (1.46%)*
Medical Devices & Equipment
Quanta Fluid Solutions (5)(10)
April 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 8.05% or Floor rate of 11.55%, 5.00% Exit Fee
2,446
3,049
Flowonix Medical Incorporated (11)
October 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%, 7.95% Exit Fee
15,059
15,308
15,236
12
Intuity Medical, Inc. (11)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 6.95% Exit Fee
16,345
16,892
16,818
Quanterix Corporation (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.00%, 0.96% Exit Fee
7,688
7,664
7,638
Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc. (11)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.15% or Floor rate of 9.65%, 7.25% Exit Fee
18,000
18,479
18,380
Sebacia, Inc. (11)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 6.05% Exit Fee
11,426
11,380
Transenterix, Inc. (10)(11)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.55% or Floor rate of 9.55%, 6.95% Exit Fee
15,344
15,209
85,113
84,661
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (8.08%)*
88,162
87,710
Semiconductors
Elenion Technologies Corporation (13)(14)
February 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 9.75%, PIK Interest 2.25%, 5.00% Exit Fee
10,129
10,183
10,226
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.94%)*
Software
Lightbend, Inc. (14)(15)
December 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 9.95% Exit Fee
2,016
2,149
Abrigo (18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.88% or Floor rate of 8.88%
39,402
38,702
39,053
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 5.92% or Floor rate of 6.92%
909
885
Total Abrigo
40,311
39,587
39,938
Businessolver.com, Inc. (11)(16)(17)
May 2023
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.50% or Floor rate of 8.50%
56,483
55,599
55,830
1,403
Total Businessolver.com, Inc.
57,886
57,002
57,233
Clarabridge, Inc. (12)(14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.80% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 2.25%
48,003
47,600
47,899
Cloud 9 Software (13)(17)
April 2024
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.20% or Floor rate of 9.20%
9,500
9,324
Cloudian, Inc. (11)
November 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.25% or Floor rate of 8.25%, 9.75% Exit Fee
15,188
15,069
Couchbase, Inc. (11)(15)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%, 3.75% Exit Fee
39,624
39,801
Dashlane, Inc. (11)(14)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 8.50% Exit Fee
10,152
10,373
10,395
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 4.95% Exit Fee
10,053
9,841
9,819
Total Dashlane, Inc.
20,205
20,214
Evernote Corporation (11)(14)(15)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.45% or Floor rate of 8.95%
5,549
5,461
5,446
Interest rate PRIME + 6.00% or Floor rate of 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.25%
4,113
4,021
4,008
5,061
4,987
5,065
Total Evernote Corporation
14,723
14,469
14,519
FPX, LLC (13)(17)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.65% or Floor rate of 9.65%
5,888
Insurance Technologies Corporation (11)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.90% or Floor rate of 8.90%
13,750
13,510
13,507
Jolt Software, Inc (14)
October 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.00% or Floor rate of 8.50%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 4.50% Exit Fee
4,969
Kazoo, Inc. (p.k.a. YouEarnedIt, Inc.) (11)(18)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.66% or Floor rate of 9.66%
8,910
8,701
8,760
Lastline, Inc. (19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.45% or Floor rate of 10.95%
5,816
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, PIK Interest 2.00%
16,426
16,213
16,181
Lithium Technologies, Inc. (11)(16)
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 8.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%
11,822
43,000
42,175
42,158
725
Total Lithium Technologies, Inc.
55,725
54,722
54,705
Nuvolo Technologies Corporation (17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 6.25% or Floor rate of 11.75%
9,853
9,878
OrthoFi, Inc (13)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.28% or Floor rate of 9.28%
17,853
17,396
Pollen, Inc. (15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 5.95% Exit Fee
7,000
7,315
7,250
Quid, Inc. (11)(14)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, PIK Interest 2.25%, 3.61% Exit Fee
13,175
13,372
13,441
Regent Education (14)
Interest rate FIXED 10.00%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 7.94% Exit Fee
3,139
3,189
2,117
Salsa Labs, Inc. (11)(17)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.15% or Floor rate of 9.15%
5,909
5,969
150
151
Total Salsa Labs, Inc.
6,150
6,059
6,120
ThreatConnect, Inc. (13)(17)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.26% or Floor rate of 9.26%
4,500
4,436
Varsity Tutors LLC (14)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%, PIK Interest 0.55%, 3.00% Exit Fee
35,006
34,683
Vela Trading Technologies (11)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 10.50% or Floor rate of 11.50%
19,500
19,090
ZeroFox, Inc.
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 3.00% Exit Fee
14,878
ZocDoc (11)(19)
August 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 10.95%, 2.00% Exit Fee
30,177
30,018
513,275
513,130
Greater than 5 Years Maturity
Campaign Monitor Limited (11)(17)(19)
November 2025
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.50% or Floor rate of 9.50%
29,333
28,656
688
671
Total Campaign Monitor Limited
30,021
29,327
Imperva, Inc. (19)
January 2027
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.75% or Floor rate of 8.75%
19,801
Subtotal: Greater than 5 Years Maturity
49,128
Subtotal: Software (51.99%)*
564,552
564,407
Sustainable and Renewable Technology
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (6)(8)(14)(19)
October 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 8.70% or Floor rate of 12.95%, 6.67% Exit Fee
10,775
10,696
PIK Interest 10.00%
683
679
Interest rate PRIME + 10.70% or Floor rate of 15.70%, PIK Interest 2.00%
1,555
1,529
Total Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.)
12,238
13,013
12,904
Impossible Foods, Inc. (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.95%, 9.00% Exit Fee
51,238
50,880
Proterra, Inc. (11)(14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.05% or Floor rate of 10.55%, PIK Interest 1.75%
10,057
10,008
10,031
61,246
60,911
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (6.80%)*
74,259
73,815
Total: Debt Investments (191.58%)*
2,101,284
2,079,903
14
Series
Equity Investments
Communications & Networking
Peerless Network Holdings, Inc.
Equity
Preferred Series A
1,135,000
1,230
3,778
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.35%)*
830,000
1,884
2,298
10,602,752
26,122
31,852
Total Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC
11,432,752
28,006
34,150
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (3.15%)*
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
176,730
1,329
389
BioQ Pharma Incorporated (15)
Preferred Series D
165,000
500
720
Kaleo, Inc.
Preferred Series B
82,500
1,007
3,388
Neos Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(15)
125,000
1,500
185
PDS Biotechnology Corporation (p.k.a. Edge Therapeutics, Inc.) (4)
2,498
309
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.43%)*
4,645
4,690
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(15)
1,901,791
1,715
1,607
Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. (p.k.a. Axovant Sciences Ltd.) (4)(5)(10)
16,228
1,269
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (4)(16)
203,579
2,000
4,371
Cerecor, Inc. (4)
119,087
1,000
392
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(10)
70,796
1,367
416
Dare Biosciences, Inc. (4)
13,550
Dynavax Technologies (4)(10)
550
72
Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
255
540
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (4)
27,932
81
Insmed, Incorporated (4)
50,771
717
896
Melinta Therapeutics (4)
10,364
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(16)
76,362
2,744
328
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (4)
944
Savara, Inc. (4)(15)
11,119
203
29
uniQure B.V. (4)(5)(10)
37,175
718
1,463
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.95%)*
19,038
10,361
23andMe, Inc.
360,000
5,094
4,508
Chromadex Corporation (4)
44,264
157
174
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.43%)*
5,251
4,682
DocuSign, Inc. (4)
251,000
3,871
12,994
Subtotal: Information Services (1.20%)*
Blurb, Inc.
220,653
50
Contentful, Inc. (5)(10)
217
457
Countable Corporation (p.k.a. Brigade Group, Inc.)
9,023
DoorDash, Inc.
6,051
14,422
Lyft, Inc. (4)
200,738
10,487
8,198
Nextdoor.com, Inc.
328,190
4,854
6,692
OfferUp, Inc.
286,080
1,663
2,054
Preferred Series A-1
108,710
632
780
Total OfferUp, Inc.
394,790
2,295
2,834
Oportun (4)
37,393
607
Tectura Corporation (7)
414,994,863
900
Preferred Series BB
1,000,000
415,994,863
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (3.06%)*
25,855
33,260
Pinterest, Inc. (4)
206,666
4,085
5,466
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.50%)*
Flowonix Medical Incorporated
Preferred Series AA
221,893
Gelesis, Inc.
199,649
191,210
425
1,044
Preferred Series A-2
191,626
1,003
Total Gelesis, Inc.
582,485
925
3,054
Medrobotics Corporation (15)
Preferred Series E
136,798
250
15
Preferred Series F
73,971
155
Preferred Series G
163,934
Total Medrobotics Corporation
374,703
905
Optiscan Biomedical, Corp. (6)
61,855
3,000
393
Preferred Series C
19,273
655
111
551,038
5,257
3,282
507,103
4,239
4,061
Total Optiscan Biomedical, Corp.
1,139,269
13,151
7,847
Outset Medical, Inc.
232,061
527
538
Quanterix Corporation (4)
45,690
205
1,004
ViewRay, Inc. (4)(15)
36,457
333
106
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (1.16%)*
17,546
12,549
CapLinked, Inc.
Preferred Series A-3
53,614
51
Docker, Inc.
200,000
4,284
3,890
Druva Holdings, Inc. (p.k.a. Druva, Inc.)
Preferred Series 2
458,841
1,703
Preferred Series 3
93,620
405
Total Druva Holdings, Inc. (p.k.a. Druva, Inc.)
552,461
1,300
2,108
HighRoads, Inc.
190
307
Palantir Technologies
9,535
47
1,749,089
10,489
7,958
326,797
2,211
1,488
Total Palantir Technologies
2,085,421
12,747
9,489
Sprinklr, Inc.
700,000
3,749
3,910
Subtotal: Software (1.80%)*
22,438
19,491
Surgical Devices
Gynesonics, Inc. (15)
219,298
656,538
282
1,991,157
712
2,786,367
429
131
1,523,693
118
139
Preferred Series F-1
2,418,125
193
Total Gynesonics, Inc.
9,595,178
1,941
579
TransMedics Group, Inc. (p.k.a Transmedics, Inc.) (4)
162,617
2,550
3,861
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.41%)*
4,491
4,440
Impossible Foods, Inc.
Preferred Series E-1
188,611
Modumetal, Inc.
103,584
Proterra, Inc.
Preferred Series 5
99,280
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (6)
380
61,502
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.23%)*
64,502
2,528
Total: Equity Investments (13.67%)*
200,958
148,389
Warrant Investments
Warrant
3,328
Spring Mobile Solutions, Inc.
2,834,375
418
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.00%)*
Gadget Guard (15)
1,662,441
228
Intelligent Beauty, Inc.
190,234
230
384
The Neat Company
54,054
365
Whoop, Inc.
68,627
18
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.04%)*
841
Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (4)
180,274
730
BioQ Pharma Incorporated
459,183
Dance Biopharm, Inc. (15)
110,882
74
70,833
285
3,929
390
Pulmatrix Inc. (4)
2,515
116
ZP Opco, Inc. (4)
3,618
265
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.08%)*
1,861
914
Acacia Pharma Inc. (4)(5)(10)
201,330
304
75
16
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (4)
89,750
295
54
Brickell Biotech, Inc. (4)
9,005
119
22,328
70
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(10)(15)
61,273
178
CTI BioPharma Corp. (4)
29,239
165
CytRx Corporation (4)(15)
105,694
160
17,190
369
Dermavant Sciences Ltd. (5)(10)
223,642
101
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
200
28
Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (4)(15)
7,806
266
50,391
431
31
Immune Pharmaceuticals (4)
10,742
164
8,109
625
Motif BioSciences Inc. (4)(5)(10)(15)
73,452
Myovant Sciences, Ltd. (4)(5)(10)
73,710
460
32
Neuralstem, Inc. (4)(15)
289
77
Ology Bioservices, Inc. (15)
171,389
838
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(15)(16)
94,841
204
19
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
306,748
889
137
Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp. (4)(5)(10)
American Depositary Shares
41,667
158
TG Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
147,058
563
377
Tricida, Inc. (4)(15)
123,637
979
1,965
Urovant Sciences, Ltd. (4)(5)(10)
99,777
383
363
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
25,000
314
Xoma Corporation (4)(10)(15)
9,063
279
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.30%)*
3,306
908 DEVICES INC. (15)
79,856
45
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.00%)*
INMOBI Inc. (5)(10)
65,587
82
MDX Medical, Inc. (15)
2,812,500
283
125
Netbase Solutions, Inc.
Preferred Series 1
356
395
Planet Labs, Inc.
274,160
565
388
RichRelevance, Inc.
112,612
98
Subtotal: Information Services (0.08%)*
1,384
908
Aria Systems, Inc.
231,535
73
Blurb, Inc. (15)
234,280
636
21
Cloudpay, Inc. (5)(10)
6,763
Fastly, Inc. (4)
76,098
836
75,917
123
Intent (p.k.a. Intent Media, Inc.)
140,077
168
130
Interactions Corporation
Preferred Series G-3
68,187
446
Just Fabulous, Inc.
206,184
1,102
2,581
Lendio, Inc.
127,032
22
LogicSource
79,625
30
23,514
78
Postmates, Inc.
189,865
317
RumbleON, Inc. (4)
102,768
87
SeatGeek, Inc.
137,976
662
ShareThis, Inc.
493,502
547
Skyword, Inc
444,444
83
88
Snagajob.com, Inc.
1,800,000
782
66
1,211,537
62
27
TotalSnagajob.com, Inc.
3,011,537
844
Tapjoy, Inc.
748,670
316
The Faction Group LLC
8,076
234
347
Thumbtack, Inc.
190,953
553
881
Xometry, Inc.
87,784
159
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (0.63%)*
6,242
6,861
Machine Zone, Inc.
1,552,710
1,961
Napster
715,755
WP Technology, Inc. (Wattpad, Inc.) (5)(10)
255,818
Zoom Media Group, Inc.
1,204
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.05%)*
2,695
17
Aspire Bariatrics, Inc. (15)
Preferred Series B-1
112,858
455
155,325
362
725,806
351
Total Flowonix Medical Incorporated
881,131
713
74,784
253
InspireMD, Inc. (4)(5)(10)
1,105
Intuity Medical, Inc. (15)
1,819,078
294
302
455,539
370
NinePoint Medical, Inc.
587,840
170
74,424
572
213
500,000
402
293
Sebacia, Inc.
778,301
133
SonaCare Medical, LLC
6,464
188
Tela Bio, Inc.
387,930
61
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.10%)*
3,436
1,119
Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
Preferred Series D-2
750,000
99
350
Total Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
1,110,000
259
Elenion Technologies Corporation
225
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.04%)*
267
381
Actifio, Inc.
73,584
249
31,673
343
65
Total Actifio, Inc.
105,257
592
127
CareCloud Corporation (15)
13,499
257
Clickfox, Inc. (15)
492,877
152
592,019
Preferred Series C-A
2,218,214
231
Total Clickfox, Inc.
3,303,110
1,113
Cloudian, Inc.
477,454
Couchbase, Inc.
188,127
344
248
Dashlane, Inc.
239,852
219
386
DNAnexus, Inc.
909,091
97
95
Evernote Corporation
62,500
64
Fuze, Inc. (15)
256,158
Lastline, Inc.
363,636
Lightbend, Inc. (15)
Preferred Series C-1
854,787
Message Systems, Inc. (15)
503,718
334
612
Nuvolo Technologies Corporation
OneLogin, Inc. (15)
381,620
305
635
Poplicus, Inc.
132,168
Quid, Inc. (15)
71,576
40,261
Total Quid, Inc.
111,837
RapidMiner, Inc.
4,982
24
RedSeal Inc. (15)
Preferred Series C-Prime
640,603
Signpost, Inc.
Series Junior 1 Preferred
474,019
486,263
57
Subtotal: Software (0.24%)*
4,297
2,611
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Alimera Sciences, Inc. (4)
1,717,709
861
Subtotal: Specialty Pharmaceuticals (0.00%)*
180,480
1,575,965
321
1,756,445
64,441
138
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.06%)*
533
680
Agrivida, Inc.
471,327
120
Calera, Inc.
44,529
513
Fluidic, Inc.
61,804
102
Fulcrum Bioenergy, Inc.
280,897
275
GreatPoint Energy, Inc. (15)
Preferred Series D-1
393,212
548
Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
325,000
131,883
Total Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
456,883
218
197
Polyera Corporation (15)
311,609
338
36,630
Preferred Series 4
477,517
41
462
Total Proterra, Inc.
514,147
42
474
0.69
TAS Energy, Inc.
428,571
299
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.11%)*
2,455
1,175
Total: Warrant Investments (1.74%)*
34,092
18,914
Total Investments in Securities (206.99%)*
2,336,334
*
Value as a percent of net assets
Preferred and common stock, warrants, and equity interests are generally non-income producing.
Interest rate PRIME represents 5.00% at September 30, 2019. 1-month LIBOR, 3-month LIBOR and 12-month LIBOR represent 2.02%, 2.09% and 2.03%, respectively, at September 30, 2019.
Gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized depreciation for federal income tax purposes totaled $64.8 million, $166.2 million and $101.4 million, respectively. The tax cost of investments is $2.3 billion.
(4)
Except for warrants in 35 publicly traded companies and common stock in 26 publicly traded companies, all investments are restricted at September 30, 2019 and were valued at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs as determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”). No unrestricted securities of the same issuer are outstanding. The Company uses the Standard Industrial Code for classifying the industry grouping of its portfolio companies.
(5)
Non-U.S. company or the company’s principal place of business is outside the United States.
(6)
Affiliate investment as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) in which Hercules owns at least 5% but generally less than 25% of the company’s voting securities.
(7)
Control investment as defined under the 1940 Act in which Hercules owns at least 25% of the company’s voting securities or has greater than 50% representation on its board.
(8)
Debt is on non-accrual status at September 30, 2019, and is therefore considered non-income producing. Note that at September 30, 2019, only the $10.7 million PIK, or payment-in-kind, loan is on non-accrual for the Company’s debt investment in Tectura Corporation. At September 30, 2019, only the $1.6 million and $683,000 loans are on non-accrual for the Company’s debt investment in Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.).
(9)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is convertible debt.
(10)
Indicates assets that the Company deems not “qualifying assets” under section 55(a) of 1940 Act. Qualifying assets must represent at least 70% of the Company’s total assets at the time of acquisition of any additional non-qualifying assets.
(11)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment secures the notes offered in the Debt Securitization (as defined in Note 4).
(12)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Wells Facility (as defined in Note 4).
(13)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Union Bank Facility (as defined in Note 4).
(14)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment principal includes accumulated PIK interest and is net of repayments.
(15)
Denotes that all or a portion of the investment in this portfolio company is held by Hercules Technology III, L.P., or HT III, the Company’s wholly owned small business investment company, or SBIC, subsidiary.
(16)
Denotes that the fair value of the Company’s total investments in this portfolio company represent greater than 5% of the Company’s total assets at September 30, 2019.
(17)
Denotes that there is an unfunded contractual commitment available at the request of this portfolio company at September 30, 2019. Refer to Note 10.
(18)
Denotes unitranche debt with first lien “last-out” senior secured position and security interest in all assets of the portfolio company whereby the “last-out” portion will be subordinated to the “first-out” portion in a liquidation, sale or other disposition.
(19)
Denotes second lien senior secured debt.
Principal Amount
September 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 6.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 3.85% Exit Fee
5,165
Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (0.54%)*
WHOOP, INC. (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 6.95% Exit Fee
6,026
5,983
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.63%)*
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC. (7)
14,729
14,401
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (1.51%)*
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 6.05% or Floor rate of 9.55%, 11.69% Exit Fee
10,936
11,926
11,842
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 4.25% Exit Fee
25,313
25,081
37,239
36,923
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (3.86%)*
Auris Medical Holding, AG (5)(10)
February 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 6.05% or Floor rate of 9.55%, 5.75% Exit Fee
757
1,471
Brickell Biotech, Inc. (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.70% or Floor rate of 9.20%, 7.82% Exit Fee
4,808
5,281
Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (8)
June 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 4.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, 3.00% Exit Fee
2,203
2,487
9,239
6,752
Acacia Pharma Inc. (10)(11)
9,871
10,111
10,042
10,220
10,157
20,331
20,199
Axovant Sciences Ltd. (5)(10)(11)(16)
50,219
49,485
49,286
Interest rate PRIME + 4.35% or Floor rate of 9.35%, 6.35% Exit Fee
35,054
35,263
Interest rate PRIME + 3.35% or Floor rate of 9.10%, 5.75% Exit Fee
19,904
55,000
54,958
55,167
19,957
20,104
14,000
14,937
14,788
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 5.55% Exit Fee
15,024
35,346
35,190
18,569
19,256
19,122
Motif BioSciences Inc. (5)(10)(11)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 10.00%, 2.15% Exit Fee
14,907
14,786
40,320
40,151
24,750
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (p.k.a. Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) (10)(11)(15)(16)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 4.50% Exit Fee
40,882
40,472
10,240
10,137
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 2.25% Exit Fee
10,084
9,925
Interest rate PRIME + 2.10% or Floor rate of 7.85%, 6.95% Exit Fee
10,014
Total Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (p.k.a. Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
71,220
70,548
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 9.50%, 6.25% Exit Fee
19,313
19,740
19,597
Tricida, Inc. (11)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 8.19% Exit Fee
39,622
39,794
Interest rate PRIME + 3.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 7.72% Exit Fee
35,538
35,386
December 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 6.00%
or Floor rate of 10.50%, 4.50% Exit Fee
5,059
5,082
5,083
Interest rate PRIME + 6.00% or Floor rate of 10.50%, 4.50% Exit Fee
5,057
10,033
9,976
25,230
25,175
X4 Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 9.50%, 7.95% Exit Fee
9,746
520,238
518,632
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (54.99%)*
529,477
525,384
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.25%, 4.25% Exit Fee
10,145
10,155
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 10.45%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 2.95% Exit Fee
12,192
12,265
5,556
22,410
15,711
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (1.64%)*
Oak Street Health (12)
30,486
30,338
PH Group Holdings (13)(17)
19,889
19,806
9,938
9,896
29,827
29,702
60,313
60,040
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (6.28%)*
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.25%, PIK Interest 1.70%
15,288
15,037
14,987
Subtotal: Information Services (1.57%)*
Interest rate PRIME + 6.25% or Floor rate of 9.75%, 5.00% Exit Fee
3,099
3,486
The Faction Group LLC (11)
January 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 8.25%
5,486
20,006
19,941
Art.com, Inc. (12)(14)(15)
April 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 5.40% or Floor rate of 10.15%, PIK Interest 1.70%, 1.50% Exit Fee
10,117
10,020
10,028
11,017
11,020
Contentful, Inc. (5)(10)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.95% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.25%
3,750
3,692
Convercent, Inc. (14)(15)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.55% or Floor rate of 7.80%, PIK Interest 2.95%, 1.00% Exit Fee
7,500
7,419
Interest rate PRIME + 3.90% or Floor rate of 8.65%, PIK Interest 2.30%
60,729
60,687
60,408
Fastly, Inc. (17)(19)
December 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25%, 1.50% Exit Fee
6,667
6,563
7,368
7,375
2,776
2,785
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 7.00%
1,498
Total Greenphire, Inc.
4,276
4,283
Intent Media, Inc. (12)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.13% or Floor rate of 10.125%, 2.00% Exit Fee
12,200
12,210
12,147
Interactions Corporation (11)(19)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.60% or Floor rate of 9.85%, 1.75% Exit Fee
25,092
24,987
Postmates, Inc. (17)(19)
19,666
RumbleON, Inc.
Interest rate PRIME + 5.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 4.55% Exit Fee
5,018
4,984
Interest rate PRIME + 5.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 2.95% Exit Fee
4,941
Total RumbleON, Inc.
9,959
July 2020
41,841
42,139
42,075
5,033
4,867
46,874
47,006
46,942
20,924
18,128
31,604
21,164
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.25% or Floor rate of 10.25%
6,653
20,241
20,076
19,921
Xometry, Inc. (13)(17)(19)
10,997
10,995
303,885
300,093
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (31.98%)*
309,371
305,579
15,315
15,336
15,453
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (1.62%)*
Micell Technologies, Inc. (11)
August 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 7.25% or Floor rate of 10.50%, 5.00% Exit Fee
2,323
2,724
2,405
Flowonix Medical, Inc. (11)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%, PIK Interest 0.5%, 7.95% Exit Fee
15,007
14,673
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 5.95% Exit Fee
17,500
17,504
17,417
5,806
6,324
6,344
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.00%, 0.58% Exit Fee
7,656
7,577
18,143
18,013
11,151
11,071
29,972
29,852
105,423
104,947
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (11.24%)*
108,147
107,352
April 2019
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 4.00% Exit Fee
7,214
Abrigo (p.k.a. Banker's Toolbox, Inc.) (13)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.88% or Floor rate of 7.88%
39,701
38,871
38,617
Businessolver.com, Inc. (16)(17)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.50% or Floor rate of 7.50%
52,913
51,958
51,417
2,551
55,463
54,509
53,967
42,300
41,843
41,921
14,814
Couchbase, Inc. (15)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%
14,921
Credible Behavioral Health, Inc. (14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.20% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 3.30%
7,573
7,493
Dashlane, Inc. (14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 9.25% Exit Fee
10,067
10,107
DocuTAP, Inc. (17)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.00% or Floor rate of 8.00%
13,609
Emma, Inc. (17)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.39% or Floor rate of 8.39%
37,037
35,858
35,251
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.18% or Floor rate of 8.18%
5,827
5,826
Total Emma, Inc.
43,037
41,685
41,077
Evernote Corporation (14)(15)(17)(19)
5,537
5,592
4,074
4,058
5,015
4,993
14,638
14,577
14,659
Fuze, Inc. (13)(14)(15)(16)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.55%, 3.55% Exit Fee
51,129
51,284
51,943
Impact Radius Holdings, Inc. (11)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.75%, PIK Interest 1.55%, 1.75% Exit Fee
10,191
10,271
10,237
Interest rate PRIME + 4.25% or Floor rate of 8.75%, PIK Interest 1.55%
2,014
2,008
Total Impact Radius Holdings, Inc.
12,205
12,285
12,245
Insurance Technologies Corporation (17)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.82% or Floor rate of 8.75%
12,500
12,258
12,071
16,179
15,850
15,741
Lithium Technologies, Inc. (11)(16)(17)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%
11,785
11,659
42,047
53,832
53,706
Microsystems Holding Company, LLC (13)(19)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.25% or Floor rate of 9.25%
11,854
Quid, Inc. (14)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 8.25%, PIK Interest 2.25%, 3.00% Exit Fee
8,494
8,632
8,619
RapidMiner, Inc. (12)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 9.75%, PIK Interest 1.65%
7,119
7,018
6,965
Interest rate FIXED 10.00%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 6.35% Exit Fee
3,092
3,115
1,579
5,894
5,823
Signpost, Inc. (11)(14)
February 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 4.15% or Floor rate of 8.15%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 5.75% Exit Fee
15,787
16,293
16,267
ThreatConnect, Inc. (14)(15)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.95% or Floor rate of 9.95%, PIK Interest 1.05%, 2.20% Exit Fee
7,519
7,443
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.50% or Floor rate of 10.50%
19,750
19,345
19,309
YouEarnedIt, Inc. (18)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.66%
8,978
8,735
30,003
29,875
516,270
513,378
Subtotal: Software (54.49%)*
523,484
520,592
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (6)(14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 8.70% or Floor rate of 12.95%, 5.00% Exit Fee
10,151
649
603
Total Solar Spectrum LLC
11,252
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (12)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.40% or Floor rate of 9.90%, 6.68% Exit Fee
13,091
13,362
13,330
Interest rate PRIME + 5.40% or Floor rate of 9.90%, 8.50% Exit Fee
11,909
11,908
11,874
Total FuelCell Energy, Inc.
25,270
25,204
Impossible Foods, Inc. (12)(17)
29,981
29,680
Metalysis Limited (5)(10)(11)
7,254
7,400
7,360
Proterra, Inc. (11)(14)
November 2020
Interest rate PRIME + 3.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 5.95% Exit Fee
25,484
26,775
26,888
Interest rate PRIME + 3.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 7.00% Exit Fee
5,097
5,381
5,386
30,581
32,156
32,274
94,807
94,518
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (11.09%)*
106,211
105,922
Total: Debt Investments (181.43%)*
1,752,945
1,733,492
GlowPoint, Inc. (4)
114,192
1,229
4,847
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.51%)*
1,331
4,861
Diagnostic
Singulex, Inc.
937,998
750
348
Subtotal: Diagnostic (0.04%)*
1,688
23,402
25,090
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (2.63%)*
318
599
Edge Therapeutics, Inc. (4)
49,965
206
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.12%)*
3,638
1,139
3,112
Axovant Sciences Ltd. (4)(5)(10)(16)
129,827
129
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (16)
1,008,929
1,819
385
Dare Biosciences, Inc. (p.k.a. Cerulean Pharma, Inc.) (4)
142,858
1,527
183
223,463
70,771
929
51,821
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (p.k.a. Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) (4)(10)(16)
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Ltd (p.k.a. Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation) (4)
Tricida, Inc. (4)
105,260
2,481
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (1.18%)*
20,033
11,293
Identiv, Inc. (4)
6,700
34
385,000
6,081
15,431
Subtotal: Information Services (1.62%)*
44
Brigade Group, Inc. (p.k.a. Philotic, Inc.)
Lightspeed POS, Inc. (5)(10)
230,030
198,677
326
Total Lightspeed POS, Inc.
428,707
Lyft, Inc.
91,648
4,819
1,565
595
2,160
Oportun (p.k.a. Progress Financial)
218,351
537
Preferred Series H
87,802
Total Oportun (p.k.a. Progress Financial)
306,153
816
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (2.09%)*
20,687
19,937
Pinterest, Inc.
Preferred Series Seed
620,000
3,787
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.40%)*
AtriCure, Inc. (4)(15)
10,119
310
198,202
729
691
581,038
2,097
3,524
311,989
2,609
2,771
944,155
11,521
6,799
Outset Medical, Inc. (p.k.a. Home Dialysis Plus, Inc.)
473
84,778
1,553
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (1.19%)*
16,644
11,396
Druva, Inc.
1,972
433
Total Druva, Inc.
8,662
1,618
10,327
3,226
WildTangent, Inc.
100,000
176
Subtotal: Software (2.15%)*
22,840
20,505
79
167
521
Transmedics, Inc.
88,961
1,100
119,999
479
260,000
1,040
100,200
401
Total Transmedics, Inc.
569,160
2,276
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.29%)*
2,797
Flywheel Building Intelligence, Inc. (p.k.a. SCIEnergy, Inc.)
192
761
3,107,520
40
449
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.38%)*
63,263
3,604
Total: Equity Investments (12.58%)*
191,883
120,212
Labcyte, Inc.
1,127,624
323
1,114
Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (0.12%)*
Gadget Guard (p.k.a Antenna79) (15)
191
540,540
WHOOP, INC.
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.02%)*
196
525
78,595
Kaleo, Inc. (p.k.a. Intelliject, Inc.)
593
1,923
25,150
ZP Opco, Inc. (p.k.a. Zosano Pharma) (4)
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.26%)*
2,457
Acacia Pharma Inc. (4)(10)
52
Auris Medical Holding, AG (4)(5)(10)
15,672
Brickell Biotech, Inc.
26,086
48
Chroma Therapeutics, Ltd. (5)(10)
325,261
490
132,069
545
CTI BioPharma Corp. (p.k.a. Cell Therapeutics, Inc.) (4)
Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (p.k.a Neothetics, Inc.) (4)(15)
Fortress Biotech, Inc. (p.k.a. Coronado Biosciences, Inc.) (4)
73,009
142
403,136
40,545
626
502
5,783
Ology Bioservices, Inc. (p.k.a. Nanotherapeutics, Inc.) (15)
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (p.k.a. Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) (4)(10)(15)(16)
Savara Inc. (p.k.a. Mast Therapeutics, Inc.) (4)(15)
32,467
Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp. (5)(10)
216,666
55
106,916
863
1,268
37,174
468
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
210,638
270
XOMA Corporation (4)(10)(15)
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.35%)*
9,164
3,300
139,673
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.01%)*
144
Subtotal: Information Services (0.05%)*
819
522
Art.com, Inc. (15)
311,005
ClearObject, Inc. (p.k.a. CloudOne, Inc.)
968,992
4,960
Fastly, Inc.
152,195
56,938
Intent Media, Inc.
1,101
1,877
245,610
174,562
247
239
121
173,076
1,973,076
790
128
8,703
260
102,821
124
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (0.42%)*
5,044
3,996
1,960
2,361
Napster (p.k.a. Rhapsody International, Inc.)
38
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.25%)*
2,426
SINTX Technologies, Inc. (p.k.a. Amedica Corporation) (4)(15)
8,603
459
Avedro, Inc. (15)
300,000
367
508
Micell Technologies, Inc.
84,955
262
573
184
66,039
394
SonaCare Medical, LLC (p.k.a. US HIFU, LLC)
128,231
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.28%)*
5,096
2,672
354
543
897
Aquantia Corp. (4)
19,683
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.09%)*
899
33
413,433
539,818
3,350,051
1,128
126
100
Fuze, Inc. (15)(16)
712,323
109
49
499
Neos, Inc.
221,150
324,005
187
ThreatConnect, Inc. (15)
134,086
Wrike, Inc.
698,760
6,024
Subtotal: Software (0.82%)*
4,002
7,855
175,000
50,544
225,544
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.03%)*
291
American Superconductor Corporation (4)
58,823
208
5,310
181
Preferred Series 2-A
Total Flywheel Building Intelligence, Inc. (p.k.a. SCIEnergy, Inc.)
5,373
274
58
Rive Technology, Inc. (15)
234,477
Class A Units
Tendril Networks
Preferred Series 3-A
1,019,793
189
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.08%)*
2,924
777
Total: Warrant Investments (2.79%)*
35,696
26,669
Total Investments in Securities (196.81%)*
1,980,524
Interest rate PRIME represents 5.50% at December 31, 2018. Daily LIBOR, 1-month LIBOR, 3-month LIBOR and 12-month LIBOR represent 2.39%, 2.52%, 2.80% and 3.01%, respectively, at December 31, 2018.
Gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized depreciation for federal income tax purposes totaled $39.6 million, $158.7 million and $119.1 million, respectively. The tax cost of investments is $2.0 billion.
Except for warrants in 37 publicly traded companies and common stock in 21 publicly traded companies, all investments are restricted at December 31, 2018 and were valued at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. No unrestricted securities of the same issuer are outstanding. The Company uses the Standard Industrial Code for classifying the industry grouping of its portfolio companies.
Affiliate investment as defined under the 1940 Act in which Hercules owns at least 5% but generally less than 25% of the company’s voting securities.
Debt is on non-accrual status at December 31, 2018, and is therefore considered non-income producing. Note that at December 31, 2018, only the $11.0 million PIK loan is on non-accrual for the Company’s debt investment in Tectura Corporation.
Denotes that all or a portion of the investment in this portfolio company is held by HT III, the Company’s wholly owned SBIC subsidiary.
Denotes that the fair value of the Company’s total investments in this portfolio company represent greater than 5% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2018.
Denotes that there is an unfunded contractual commitment available at the request of this portfolio company at December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 10.
35
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Hercules Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) is a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a variety of technology, life sciences, and sustainable and renewable technology industries. The Company sources its investments through its principal office located in Palo Alto, CA, as well as through its additional offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, Bethesda, MD, Hartford, CT, and San Diego, CA. The Company was incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland in December 2003.
The Company is an internally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). From incorporation through December 31, 2005, the Company was subject to tax as a corporation under Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Effective January 1, 2006, the Company elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Code (see Note 5). As an investment company, the Company follows accounting and reporting guidance as set forth in Topic 946 (“Financial Services – Investment Companies”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification, as amended (“ASC”).
Hercules Technology II, L.P. (“HT II”), Hercules Technology III, L.P. (“HT III”), and Hercules Technology IV, L.P. (“HT IV”), are Delaware limited partnerships that were formed in January 2005, September 2009 and December 2010, respectively. HT II and HT III were licensed to operate as small business investment companies (“SBICs”) under the authority of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) on September 27, 2006 and May 26, 2010, respectively. On July 13, 2018, the Company completed repayment of the remaining outstanding HT II debentures and subsequently surrendered the SBA license with respect to HT II.
As an SBIC, HT III is subject to a variety of regulations concerning, among other things, the size and nature of the companies in which it may invest and the structure of those investments. HT IV was formed in anticipation of receiving an additional SBIC license; however, the Company has not received such license, and HT IV currently has no material assets or liabilities. The Company also formed Hercules Technology SBIC Management, LLC (“HTM”), a limited liability company, in November 2003. HTM is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and serves as the limited partner and general partner of HT II and HT III (see Note 4 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements).
The Company also established wholly owned subsidiaries, all of which are structured as Delaware corporations or limited liability companies, to hold portfolio companies organized as limited liability companies, or LLCs (or other forms of pass-through entities). These subsidiaries are consolidated for financial reporting purposes and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), and the portfolio investments held by these subsidiaries are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and recorded at fair value. These taxable subsidiaries are not consolidated with Hercules for income tax purposes and may generate income tax expense, or benefit, and tax assets and liabilities as a result of their ownership of certain portfolio investments.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries and its consolidated securitization VIE. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. As provided under Regulation S-X and ASC 946, the Company will not consolidate its investment in a portfolio company other than an investment company subsidiary or a controlled operating company whose business consists of providing services to the Company. Rather, an investment company’s interest in portfolio companies that are not investment companies should be measured at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 946.
The accompanying consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information, and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Articles 6 and 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP are omitted. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting solely of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for the fair presentation of consolidated financial statements for the interim periods have been included. The current period’s results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results that ultimately may be achieved for the full fiscal year. Therefore, the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the period ended December 31, 2018. The year-end Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
Financial statements prepared on a U.S. GAAP basis require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed herein.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries and all VIEs of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
A VIE is an entity that either (i) has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party with both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE.
To assess whether the Company has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, the Company considers all the facts and circumstances including its role in establishing the VIE and its ongoing rights and responsibilities. This assessment includes identifying the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and identifying which party, if any, has power over those activities. In general, the party that makes the most significant decisions affecting the VIE is determined to have the power to direct the activities of a VIE. To assess whether the Company has the obligation to absorb the losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers all of its economic interests, including debt and equity interests, servicing rights and fee arrangements, and any other variable interests in the VIE. If the Company determines that it is the party with the power to make the most significant decisions affecting the VIE, and the Company has a potentially significant interest in the VIE, then it consolidates the VIE.
The Company performs periodic reassessments, usually quarterly, of whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The reassessment process considers whether the Company has acquired or divested the power to direct the activities of the VIE through changes in governing documents or other circumstances. The Company also reconsiders whether entities previously determined not to be VIEs have become VIEs, based on certain events, and therefore are subject to the VIE consolidation framework.
As of the date of this report, the VIEs consolidated by the Company are its securitization VIEs formed in conjunction with the issuance of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes (as defined herein). See “Note 4 – Borrowings”.
Valuation of Investments
The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements is the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded.
At September 30, 2019, approximately 97.0% of the Company’s total assets represented investments in portfolio companies whose fair value is determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Value, as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, is (i) the market price for those securities for which a market quotation is readily available and (ii) for all other securities and assets, fair value is as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. The Company’s investments are carried at fair value in accordance with the 1940 Act and ASC Topic 946 and measured in accordance with ASC Topic 820 (“Fair Value Measurements”). The Company’s debt securities are primarily invested in venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, and sustainable and renewable technology at all stages of development. Given the nature of lending to these types of businesses, substantially all of the Company’s investments in these portfolio companies are considered Level 3 assets under ASC Topic 820 because there is no known or accessible market or market indexes for these investment securities to be traded or exchanged. As such, the Company values substantially all of its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to a consistent valuation policy by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 820 and the 1940 Act. Due to the inherent uncertainty in determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company’s investments determined in good faith by its Board of Directors may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a readily available market existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.
The Company may from time to time engage an independent valuation firm to provide the Company with valuation assistance with respect to certain portfolio investments. The Company engages independent valuation firms on a discretionary basis. Specifically, on a quarterly basis, the Company will identify portfolio investments with respect to which an independent valuation firm will assist in valuing. The Company selects these portfolio investments based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the potential for material fluctuations in valuation results, size, credit quality and the time lapse since the last valuation of the portfolio investment by an independent valuation firm.
The Company intends to continue to engage an independent valuation firm to provide management with assistance regarding the Company’s determination of the fair value of selected portfolio investments each quarter unless directed by the Board of Directors to cancel such valuation services. The scope of services rendered by an independent valuation firm is at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are ultimately, and solely, responsible for determining the fair value of the Company’s investments in good faith.
With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or when such market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value, the Board of Directors have approved a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:
(1) the Company’s quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company being initially valued by the investment professionals responsible for the portfolio investment;
(2) preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and business-based assumptions are discussed with the Company’s investment committee;
(3) the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the preliminary valuation of the investments in the portfolio as provided by the investment committee, which incorporates the results of the independent valuation firm as appropriate; and
(4) the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, discusses valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in the Company’s portfolio in good faith based on the input of, where applicable, the respective independent valuation firm and the investment committee.
ASC Topic 820 establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities and outlines a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measures on earnings. ASC Topic 820 also requires disclosure for fair value measurements based on the level within the hierarchy of the information used in the valuation. ASC Topic 820 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
The Company has categorized all investments recorded at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 820 based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, defined by ASC Topic 820 and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:
Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets at the measurement date. The types of assets carried at Level 1 fair value generally are equities listed in active markets.
Level 2—Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset in connection with market data at the measurement date and for the extent of the instrument’s anticipated life. Fair valued assets that are generally included in this category are publicly held debt investments and warrants held in a public company.
Level 3—Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset at the measurement date. It includes prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. Generally, assets carried at fair value and included in this category are the debt investments and warrants and equities held in a private company.
Investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the tables below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations as of September 30, 2019 and as of December 31, 2018.
(in thousands)
Balance
September 30,
Quoted Prices In
Active Markets For
Identical Assets
Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
Unobservable
Description
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Senior Secured Debt
2,065,097
Unsecured Debt
14,806
Preferred Stock
68,310
80,079
43,354
36,725
Warrants
4,961
13,953
Escrow Receivable
959
Total
2,248,165
2,199,850
December 31,
1,719,091
68,625
51,587
27,346
24,241
22,673
970
1,881,343
1,850,001
The table below presents a reconciliation for all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, excluding accrued interest components, using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018.
January 1, 2019
Net Realized
Gains (Losses) (1)
Net Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation) (2)
Purchases (5)
Sales
Repayments (6)
Gross
Transfers
into
Level 3 (3)
out of
Senior Debt
(5,513
(2,297
784,445
(430,629
368
(1,146
11,159
4,638
(16
(14,950
(750
8,140
6,270
(6,975
2,794
(8,981
(1,828
(875
(32
(2,014
797,904
(9,029
(16,778
January 1, 2018
Level 3 (4)
1,415,984
(14,066
4,947
896,831
(584,605
(328
20,583
(5,671
(183
40,683
2,540
(11,068
39,993
(3,706
25,853
(3,299
(7,583
17,950
(301
(8,379
31,205
(982
(2,982
2,050
(6,402
(216
752
(143
892
(532
1,514,477
(15,806
(17,157
978,299
(10,941
(590,276
(8,778
Included in net realized gains or losses in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Transfers out of Level 3 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 relate to the initial public offerings of Lightspeed POS, Inc., Lyft, Inc., Avedro, Inc., Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp., X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BridgeBio Pharma LLC, Pinterest, Inc., TransMedics Group, Inc., Fastly, Inc., Brickell Biotech, Inc., and Oportun.
Transfers out of Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2018 relate to the initial public offerings of DocuSign, Inc. and Tricida, Inc. and the conversion of our debt investment in Gynesonics, Inc. to preferred stock. Transfers into Level 3 for the year ended December 31, 2018 relate to the conversion of our debt investment in Gynesonics, Inc. to preferred stock.
Amounts listed above are inclusive of loan origination fees received at the inception of the loan which are deferred and amortized into fee income as well as the accretion of existing loan discounts and fees during the period. Escrow receivable purchases may include additions due to proceeds held in escrow from the liquidation of level 3 investments.
Amounts listed above include the acceleration and payment of loan discounts and loan fees due to early payoffs or restructures along with regularly scheduled amortization.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, approximately $10.2 million and $7.7 million in net unrealized appreciation was recorded for preferred stock and common stock Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date. For the same period, approximately $5.3 million and $568,000 in net unrealized depreciation was recorded for debt and warrant Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, approximately $10.5 million and $10.9 million in net unrealized depreciation was recorded for preferred stock and common stock Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date. For the same period, approximately $14.5 million and $294,000 in net unrealized depreciation was recorded for debt and warrant Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date.
The following tables provide quantitative information about the Company’s Level 3 fair value measurements as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. In addition to the techniques and inputs noted in the tables below, according to the Company’s valuation policy the Company may also use other valuation techniques and methodologies when determining the Company’s fair value measurements. The tables below are not intended to be all-inclusive, but rather provide information on the significant Level 3 inputs as they relate to the Company’s fair value measurements.
The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s escrow receivables is the amount recoverable at the contractual maturity date of the escrow receivable.
Investment Type - Level
Three Debt Investments
Fair Value at
Valuation
Techniques/Methodologies
Unobservable Input (1)
Range
Weighted
Average (2)
Pharmaceuticals
Originated Within 4-6 Months
Origination Yield
14.28%
642,552
Market Comparable Companies
Hypothetical Market Yield
9.72% - 15.76%
11.94%
Premium/(Discount)
(0.50%) - 0.50%
Liquidation (3)
Probability weighting of alternative outcomes
0.00% - 100.00%
Technology
222,845
11.99% - 14.94%
12.96%
658,835
10.41% - 16.17%
12.42%
(0.25%) - 0.50%
40.00% - 60.00%
34,251
11.87% - 25.98%
14.36%
(0.25%) - 3.00%
20.00% - 50.00%
Medical Devices
125,067
9.76% - 15.26%
12.81%
0.00% - 0.50%
Lower Middle Market
12.02%
158,115
10.02% - 16.10%
13.54%
0.00%
9,604
10.00% - 80.00%
Debt Investments Where Fair Value Approximates Cost
88,393
Debt Investments originated within 3 months
13,612
Imminent Payoffs (4)
88,180
Debt Investments Maturing in Less than One Year
Total Level Three Debt Investments
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s debt securities are hypothetical market yields and premiums/(discounts). The hypothetical market yield is defined as the exit price of an investment in a hypothetical market to hypothetical market participants where buyers and sellers are willing participants. The premiums/(discounts) relate to company specific characteristics such as underlying investment performance, security liens, and other characteristics of the investment. Significant increases (decreases) in the inputs in isolation may result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement, depending on the materiality of the investment. Debt investments in the industries noted in the Company’s Consolidated Schedule of Investments are included in the industries noted above as follows:
•
Pharmaceuticals, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Healthcare Services, Other, Biotechnology Tools, and Drug Discovery & Development industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Technology, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Software, Media/Content/Info, Internet Consumer & Business Services, Consumer & Business Products, Semiconductors, Diversified Financial Services, and Information Services industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Sustainable and Renewable Technology, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Sustainable and Renewable Technology, Internet Consumer & Business Services, and Electronics & Computer Hardware industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Medical Devices, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Drug Delivery, and Medical Devices & Equipment industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Lower Middle Market, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Healthcare Services - Other, Internet Consumer & Business Services, Diversified Financial Services, Sustainable and Renewable Technology, and Software industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
The weighted averages are calculated based on the fair market value of each investment.
The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of impaired debt securities is the probability weighting of alternative outcomes.
Imminent payoffs represent debt investments that the Company expects to be fully repaid within the next three months, prior to their scheduled maturity date.
Valuation Techniques/Methodologies
25,039
10.50% - 12.47%
11.68%
480,737
10.25% - 16.86%
13.33%
63,125
11.71% - 19.94%
13.02%
618,141
10.73% - 16.13%
13.08%
0.00% - 0.75%
75,834
11.90% - 17.48%
13.47%
(0.25%) - 0.25%
15.15%
115,355
10.99% - 22.38%
13.77%
50.00%
123,589
9.74% - 17.25%
14.24%
(0.25%) - 0.00%
30.00% - 70.00%
153,312
36,019
Pharmaceuticals, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Healthcare Services - Other, Drug Discovery & Development, Drug Delivery and Biotechnology Tools industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Technology, above, is comprised of debt investments in the Software, Electronics & Computer Hardware, Media/Content/Info, Internet Consumer & Business Services, Consumer & Business Products, and Information Services industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Investment Type - Level Three
Equity and Warrant Investments
Valuation Techniques/
Methodologies
Weighted Average (6)
41,823
EBITDA Multiple (2)
5.4x - 6.6x
6.0x
Revenue Multiple (2)
0.5x - 4.9x
3.5x
Discount for Lack of Marketability (3)
16.18% - 28.57%
20.90%
Average Industry Volatility (4)
57.94% - 104.95%
79.33%
Risk-Free Interest Rate
1.57% - 1.77%
1.76%
Estimated Time to Exit (in months)
11 - 35
15,468
Market Adjusted OPM Backsolve
Market Equity Adjustment (5)
(22.50%) - 18.90%
(1.97%)
33.84% - 97.75%
91.05%
1.50% - 2.66%
2.05%
11 - 15
Liquidation
1.9x - 3.4x
2.7x
47,744
Other (7)
8,381
4.7x - 13.9x
13.8x
0.4x - 7.0x
4.6x
12.31% - 35.57%
18.61%
43.00% - 99.06%
54.94%
1.56% - 1.81%
1.71%
7 - 47
5,572
(54.12%) - 21.60%
2.38%
27.50% - 99.69%
65.01%
1.61% - 2.73%
1.89%
5 - 42
Total Level Three
Warrant and Equity Investments
118,988
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s warrant and equity-related securities are revenue and/or EBITDA multiples, market equity adjustment factors, and discounts for lack of marketability. Additional inputs used in the Black Scholes option pricing model (“OPM”) include industry volatility, risk free interest rate and estimated time to exit. Significant increases (decreases) in the inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement, depending on the materiality of the investment. For some investments, additional consideration may be given to data from the last round of financing or merger/acquisition events near the measurement date. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of impaired equity securities is the probability weighting of alternative outcomes.
Represents amounts used when the Company has determined that market participants would use such multiples when pricing the investments.
Represents amounts used when the Company has determined market participants would take into account these discounts when pricing the investments.
Represents the range of industry volatility used by market participants when pricing the investment.
Represents the range of changes in industry valuations since the portfolio company's last external valuation event.
Weighted averages are calculated based on the fair market value of each investment.
The fair market value of these investments is derived based on recent private market and merger and acquisition transaction prices.
34,204
6.3x - 14.7x
8.4x
0.4x - 11.8x
3.9x
12.53% - 22.68%
15.79%
40.19% - 88.21%
60.37%
2.61%
10 - 14
16,040
(95.22%) - 12.81%
(3.45%)
34.1% - 100.56%
76.79%
1.00% - 2.84%
2.16%
10 - 43
11.3x
1.5x - 1.7x
1.6x
39,507
11,267
6.3x - 13.8x
9.3x
0.2x - 7.7x
4.0x
12.53% - 32.20%
17.14%
33.76% - 100.71%
63.71%
2.46% - 2.63%
2.59%
10 - 48
4,243
(69.28%) - 22.02%
(7.75%)
34.10% - 109.24%
74.15%
1.04% - 2.97%
2.27%
4 - 47
7,163
Total Level Three Warrant and Equity Investments
115,539
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s warrant and equity-related securities are revenue and/or EBITDA multiples, market equity adjustment factors, and discounts for lack of marketability. Additional inputs used in the Black Scholes OPM include industry volatility, risk free interest rate and estimated time to exit. Significant increases (decreases) in the inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement, depending on the materiality of the investment. For some investments, additional consideration may be given to data from the last round of financing or merger/acquisition events near the measurement date.
The Company follows the guidance set forth in ASC Topic 820 which establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities and outlines a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measures on earnings. The Company’s debt securities are primarily invested in venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, and sustainable and renewable technology at all stages of development. Given the nature of lending to these types of businesses, substantially all of the Company’s investments in these portfolio companies are considered Level 3 assets under ASC Topic 820 because there is no known or accessible market or market indexes for debt instruments for these investment securities to be traded or exchanged. In addition, the Company may, from time to time, invest in public debt of companies that meet the Company’s investment objectives. These investments are considered Level 2 assets.
In making a good faith determination of the value of the Company’s investments, the Company generally starts with the cost basis of the investment, which includes the value attributed to the original issue discount (“OID”), if any, and payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest or other receivables which have been accrued as earned. The Company then applies the valuation methods as set forth below.
The Company applies a procedure for debt investments that assumes the sale of each investment in a hypothetical market to a hypothetical market participant where buyers and sellers are willing participants. The hypothetical market does not include scenarios where the underlying security was simply repaid or extinguished, but includes an exit concept. The Company determines the yield at inception for each debt investment. The Company then uses senior secured, leveraged loan yields provided by third party providers to determine the change in market yields between inception of the debt investment and the measurement date. Industry specific indices and other relevant market data are used to benchmark and assess market-based movements.
Under this process, the Company also evaluates the collateral for recoverability of the debt investments. The Company considers each portfolio company’s credit rating, security liens and other characteristics of the investment to adjust the baseline yield to derive a credit adjusted hypothetical yield for each investment as of the measurement date. The anticipated future cash flows from each investment are then discounted at the hypothetical yield to estimate each investment’s fair value as of the measurement date.
The Company’s process includes an analysis of, among other things, the underlying investment performance, the current portfolio company’s financial condition and market changing events that impact valuation, estimated remaining life, current market yield and interest rate spreads of similar securities as of the measurement date. The Company values its syndicated debt investments using broker quotes and bond indices amongst other factors. If there is a significant deterioration of the credit quality of a debt investment, the Company may consider other factors to estimate fair value, including the proceeds that would be received in a liquidation analysis.
The Company records unrealized depreciation on investments when it believes that an investment has decreased in value, including where collection of a debt investment is doubtful or, if under the in-exchange premise, when the value of a debt investment is less than amortized cost of the investment. Conversely, where appropriate, the Company records unrealized appreciation if it believes that the underlying portfolio company has appreciated in value and, therefore, that its investment has also appreciated in value or, if under the in-exchange premise, the value of a debt investment is greater than amortized cost.
When originating a debt instrument, the Company generally receives warrants or other equity-related securities from the borrower. The Company determines the cost basis of the warrants or other equity-related securities received based upon their respective fair values on the date of receipt in proportion to the total fair value of the debt and warrants or other equity-related securities received. Any resulting discount on the debt investments from recordation of the warrant or other equity instruments is accreted into interest income over the life of the debt investment.
Debt investments that are traded on a public exchange are valued at the prevailing market price as of the valuation date.
Equity-Related Securities and Warrants
Securities that are traded in the over-the-counter markets or on a stock exchange will be valued at the prevailing bid price at period end. The Company has a limited amount of equity securities in public companies. In accordance with the 1940 Act, unrestricted publicly traded securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the closing market quote on the measurement date.
The Company estimates the fair value of warrants using a Black Scholes OPM. At each reporting date, privately held warrant and equity-related securities are valued based on an analysis of various factors including, but not limited to, the portfolio company’s operating performance and financial condition and general market conditions, price to enterprise value or price to equity ratios, discounted cash flow, valuation comparisons to comparable public companies or other industry benchmarks. When an external event occurs, such as a purchase transaction, public offering, or subsequent equity sale, the pricing indicated by that external event is utilized to corroborate the Company’s valuation of the warrant and equity-related securities. The Company periodically reviews the valuation of its portfolio companies that have not been involved in a qualifying external event to determine if the enterprise value of the portfolio company may have increased or decreased since the last valuation measurement date.
Cash, Restricted Cash, and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist solely of funds deposited with financial institutions and short-term liquid investments in money market deposit accounts. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Restricted cash and cash equivalents include amounts that are collected and are held by trustees who have been appointed as custodians of the assets securing certain of the Company’s financing transactions.
Other Assets
Other assets generally consist of prepaid expenses, deferred financing costs net of accumulated amortization, fixed assets net of accumulated depreciation, deferred revenues and deposits and other assets, including escrow receivable. The escrow receivable balance as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was approximately $959,000 and $972,000, respectively, and was fair valued and held in accordance with ASC Topic 820.
Escrow Receivables
Escrow receivables are collected in accordance with the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement. Escrow balances are typically distributed over a period greater than one year and may accrue interest during the escrow period. Escrow balances are measured for collectability on at least a quarterly basis and fair value is determined based on the amount of the estimated recoverable balances and the contractual maturity date. As of both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there were no material past due escrow receivables.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, and operating lease liability obligations in our Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Company recognizes a ROU asset and an operating lease liability for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases which have a term of 12 months or less. ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liability obligations represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components and has separated these components when determining the ROU assets and the related lease liabilities. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimated its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company uses the implicit rate when readily determinable. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and lease direct costs. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See “Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies” and “Note 11 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements”.
Portfolio Composition
As required by the 1940 Act, the Company classifies its investments by level of control. “Control investments” are defined in the 1940 Act as investments in those companies that the Company is deemed to “control”. Under the 1940 Act, the Company is generally deemed to “control” a company in which it has invested if it owns 25% or more of the voting securities of such company or has greater than 50% representation on its board. “Affiliate investments” are investments in those companies that are “affiliated companies” of the Company, as defined in the 1940 Act, which are not control investments. The Company is deemed to be an “affiliate” of a company in which it has invested if it owns 5% or more, but generally less than 25%, of the voting securities of such company. “Non-control/non-affiliate investments” are investments that are neither control investments nor affiliate investments.
The following table summarizes the Company’s realized gains and losses and changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on control and affiliate investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
Type
Interest Income
Fee Income
Net Change in Unrealized (Depreciation)/ Appreciation
Realized Gain/(Loss)
Control Investments
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC
Control
48,955
564
2,719
1,673
9,427
Tectura Corporation
491
(230
1,446
(9,006
Total Control Investments
Affiliate Investments
Optiscan BioMedical, Corp.
Affiliate
8,060
(312
(548
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.)
(235
(3,225
Total Affiliate Investments
Total Control & Affiliate Investments
79,524
1,548
1,942
4,859
199
(3,352
September 30, 2018
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
Achilles Technology Management Co II, Inc.
2,858
(2,900
42,715
445
(9
945
Second Time Around (Simplify Holdings, LLC)
1,781
(1,743
19,672
476
387
(915
335
62,387
8,165
837
1,252
(680
19,930
(2,205
(2,696
Stion Corporation
1,378
(1,378
28,095
90,482
1,430
(990
3,918
264
3,649
(6,366
The following table shows the fair value of the Company’s portfolio of investments by asset class as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
Investments at
Fair Value
Percentage of
Total Portfolio
Senior Secured Debt with Warrants
749,161
33.3
%
716,505
38.1
1,334,850
59.4
1,029,255
54.8
0.7
0.8
3.0
3.6
2.7
100.0
The increase in senior secured debt and the decrease in senior secured debt with warrants during the period is primarily due to an increase in new debt investments that do not include detachable equity enhancement features.
A summary of the Company’s investment portfolio, at value, by geographic location as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is shown as follows:
United States
1,914,701
85.1
1,668,027
88.8
United Kingdom
178,985
8.0
89,016
4.7
Australia
2.3
1.9
Netherlands
37,590
1.7
35,854
Ireland
1.6
1.3
Cayman Islands
18,032
19,650
1.0
Sweden
0.3
Germany
4,238
0.2
0.0
Canada
859
Switzerland
0.1
The following table shows the fair value of the Company’s portfolio by industry sector at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
710,862
31.7
539,977
28.7
586,509
26.1
548,952
29.2
422,510
18.8
329,512
17.5
104,585
60,142
3.2
101,378
4.5
121,420
6.5
78,492
3.5
39,491
2.1
77,518
3.4
110,303
5.9
59,260
2.6
30,940
46,009
2.0
40,519
2.2
21,765
21,666
1.2
10,607
0.5
7,188
15,763
6,573
6,179
5,120
3,088
6,279
3,785
4,871
No single portfolio investment represents more than 10% of the fair value of the Company’s total investments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
46
Investment Collateral
In the majority of cases, the Company collateralizes its investments by obtaining a first priority security interest in a portfolio company’s assets, which may include its intellectual property. In other cases, the Company may obtain a negative pledge covering a company’s intellectual property. At September 30, 2019, approximately 84.8% of the Company’s debt investments were in a senior secured first lien position, with 46.2% secured by a first priority security in all of the assets of the portfolio company, including its intellectual property, 29.1% secured by a first priority security in all of the assets of the portfolio company and the portfolio company was prohibited from pledging or encumbering its intellectual property, 0.9% of the Company’s debt investments were senior secured by the equipment of the portfolio company and 8.6% of the Company’s debt investments were in a first lien “last-out” senior secured position with security interest in all of the assets of the portfolio company, whereby the “last-out” loans will be subordinated to the “first-out” portion of the unitranche loan in a liquidation, sale or other disposition. Another 14.5% of the Company’s debt investments were secured by a second priority security interest in the portfolio company’s assets, and 0.7% were unsecured.
Income Recognition
The Company records interest income on an accrual basis and recognizes it as earned in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement, to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. OID initially represents the value of detachable equity warrants obtained in conjunction with the acquisition of debt securities and is accreted into interest income over the term of the loan as a yield enhancement. When a loan becomes 90 days or more past due, or if management otherwise does not expect that principal, interest, and other obligations due will be collected in full, the Company will generally place the loan on non-accrual status and cease recognizing interest income on that loan until all principal and interest due has been paid or the Company believes the portfolio company has demonstrated the ability to repay the Company’s current and future contractual obligations. Any uncollected interest related to prior periods is reversed from income in the period that collection of the interest receivable is determined to be doubtful. However, the Company may make exceptions to this policy if the investment has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.
At September 30, 2019, the Company had three debt investments on non-accrual with a cumulative investment cost and approximate fair value of $9.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively. At December 31, 2018, the Company had two debt investments on non-accrual with cumulative investment cost of approximately $2.7 million and fair value of zero. The increase in the cost of debt investments on non-accrual between December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2019 is the result of the addition of two debt investments, partially offset by the removal of one debt investment that was on non-accrual at December 31, 2018 which resulted in a realized loss of approximately $2.5 million.
Fee income, generally collected in advance, includes loan commitment and facility fees for due diligence and structuring, as well as fees for transaction services and management services rendered by the Company to portfolio companies and other third parties. Loan commitment and facility fees are amortized into income over the contractual life of the loan. Management fees are generally recognized as income when the services are rendered. Loan origination fees are capitalized and then amortized into interest income using the effective interest rate method. In certain loan arrangements, warrants or other equity interests are received from the borrower as additional origination fees. The Company had approximately $42.1 million of unamortized fees at September 30, 2019, of which approximately $34.6 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of the Company’s current debt investments and approximately $7.5 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone. At December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $36.3 million of unamortized fees, of which approximately $31.1 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of the Company’s current debt investments and approximately $5.2 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone.
The Company recognizes nonrecurring fees amortized over the remaining term of the loan commencing in the quarter relating to specific loan modifications. Certain fees may still be recognized as one-time fee income, including prepayment penalties, fees related to select covenant default, waiver fees and acceleration of previously deferred loan fees and OID related to early loan pay-off or material modification of the specific debt outstanding. The Company recorded approximately $1.4 million and $1.6 million in one-time fee income during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company recorded approximately $4.6 million and $6.4 million in one-time fee income during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In addition, the Company may also be entitled to an exit fee that is amortized into income over the life of the loan. Loan exit fees to be paid at the termination of the loan are accreted into interest income over the contractual life of the loan. At September 30, 2019, the Company had approximately $32.0 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $29.2 million was included as a component of the cost basis of the Company’s current debt investments and approximately $2.8 million was a deferred receivable related to expired commitments. At December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $25.6 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $23.3 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of the Company’s current debt investments and approximately $2.3 million was deferred related to expired commitments.
The Company has debt investments in its portfolio that contain a PIK provision. Contractual PIK interest, which represents contractually deferred interest added to the loan balance that is generally due at the end of the loan term, is generally recorded on an accrual basis to the extent such amounts are expected to be collected. The Company will generally cease accruing PIK interest if there is insufficient value to support the accrual or management does not expect the portfolio company to be able to pay all principal and interest due. The Company recorded approximately $2.2 million and $2.4 million in PIK income during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company recorded approximately $6.6 million and $7.0 million in PIK income during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
To maintain the Company’s ability to be subject to tax as a RIC, PIK and exit fee income generally must be accrued and distributed to stockholders in the form of dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes even though the cash has not yet been collected. Amounts necessary to pay these distributions may come from available cash or the liquidation of certain investments.
In certain investment transactions, the Company may provide advisory services. For services that are separately identifiable and external evidence exists to substantiate fair value, income is recognized as earned, which is generally when the investment transaction closes. The Company had no income from advisory services in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value estimates are made at discrete points in time based on relevant information. These estimates may be subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. The Company believes that the carrying amounts of its financial instruments, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, receivables including escrow receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate the fair values of such items due to the short maturity of such instruments. The borrowings of the Company are recorded at amortized cost and not at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding borrowings is based on observable market trading prices or quotations and unobservable market rates as applicable for each instrument.
Based on market quotations on or around September 30, 2019, the 2022 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2022 Convertible Notes were quoted for 1.000, 1.010, 1.012, and 1.024 per dollar at par value, respectively. At September 30, 2019, the 2025 Notes and 2033 Notes were trading on the NYSE for $25.23 and $26.65 per unit at par value, respectively. The par value at underwriting for the 2025 Notes and 2033 Notes was $25.00 per unit. Calculated based on the net present value of payments over the term of the notes using estimated market rates for similar notes and remaining terms, the fair values of the SBA debentures, and July 2024 Notes were approximately $153.5 million, and $106.2 million, respectively, compared to the principal amounts of $149.0 million, and $105.0 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2019. The fair value of the outstanding borrowings under the Union Bank Facility and the Wells Facility is equal to their principal outstanding balances as of September 30, 2019.
See the accompanying Consolidated Schedule of Investments for the fair value of the Company’s investments. The methodology for the determination of the fair value of the Company’s investments is discussed in Note 2.
The following tables provide additional information about the fair value and level in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
Observable Inputs
Unobservable Inputs
SBA Debentures
153,524
2022 Notes
150,030
July 2024 Notes
106,220
2025 Notes
75,690
2033 Notes
42,640
2027 Asset-Backed Notes
201,914
2028 Asset-Backed Notes
252,920
2022 Convertible Notes
235,451
Wells Facility
Union Facility
1,229,974
958,645
271,329
150,387
146,385
2024 Notes
84,445
72,150
37,360
201,188
217,672
13,107
39,849
962,543
759,200
203,343
4. Borrowings
Outstanding Borrowings
At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had the following available and outstanding borrowings:
Total Available
Carrying Value (1)
SBA Debentures (2)
149,000
150,000
2024 Notes (3)
83,510
230,000
Wells Facility (4)
Union Bank Facility (4)
1,474,000
1,210,585
1,193,875
1,102,510
980,466
963,786
Except for the Wells Facility and Union Bank Facility, all carrying values represent the principal amount outstanding less the remaining unamortized debt issuance costs and unaccreted premium or discount, if any, associated with the loan as of the balance sheet date.
At both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total available borrowings under the SBA debentures were $149.0 million.
The 2024 Notes were fully repaid on January 14, 2019 and February 4, 2019.
Availability subject to the Company meeting the borrowing base requirements.
Debt issuance costs are fees and other direct incremental costs incurred by the Company in obtaining debt financing and are recognized as prepaid expenses and amortized over the life of the related debt instrument using the effective yield method or the straight-line method, which closely approximates the effective yield method. In accordance with ASC Subtopic 835-30 (“Interest – Imputation of Interest”), debt issuance costs are presented as a reduction to the associated liability balance on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities, except for debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements. Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization, were as follows as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
962
1,345
1,110
1,379
2024 Notes (2)
1,686
1,277
2,125
2,410
1,526
1,573
2,759
2,735
2,667
2,155
2,823
Wells Facility (1)
417
Union Bank Facility (1)
1,637
16,635
14,216
As the Wells Facility and Union Bank Facility are line-of-credit arrangements, the debt issuance costs associated with these instruments are included within Other assets on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with ASC Subtopic 835-30.
The 2024 Notes were fully redeemed on January 14, 2019 and February 4, 2019.
Long-Term SBA Debentures
On May 26, 2010, HT III received a license to operate as a SBIC under the SBIC program in which HT III can borrow funds from the SBA against eligible investments and additional contributions to regulatory capital. With the Company’s net investment of $74.5 million in HT III as of September 30, 2019, HT III has the capacity to issue a total of $149.0 million of SBA guaranteed debentures, subject to SBA approval, of which $149.0 million was outstanding as of September 30, 2019. As the Company is past its investment period for HT III, it will no longer make any future commitments to new portfolio companies. The Company will only satisfy contractually agreed follow-on fundings to existing portfolio companies and may seek to early pay-off a portion or all of the outstanding debentures as per the available liquidity in HT III.
As of September 30, 2019, HT III has paid the SBA commitment fees and facility fees of approximately $1.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, the Company held investments in HT III in 43 companies with a fair value of approximately $213.3 million, accounting for approximately 9.5% of the Company’s total investment portfolio at September 30, 2019. HT III held approximately $223.7 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 9.7% of the Company’s total assets at September 30, 2019.
SBICs are designed to stimulate the flow of private equity capital to eligible small businesses. SBICs are subject to a variety of regulations and oversight by the SBA concerning the size and nature of the companies in which they may invest as well as the structures of those investments. Through the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary HT III, the Company plans to provide long-term loans to qualifying small businesses, and in connection therewith, make equity investments. HT III is periodically examined and audited by the SBA’s staff to determine its compliance with SBA regulations. HT III was in compliance with the terms of the SBIC’s leverage as of September 30, 2019 as a result of having sufficient capital as defined under the SBA regulations.
The average amount of debentures outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 for HT III were approximately $149.0 million with an average interest rate of approximately 3.46% and 3.42%, respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the SBA debentures are as follows:
Interest expense
1,287
1,658
3,820
5,113
Amortization of debt issuance cost (loan fees)
586
Total interest expense and fees
1,415
1,928
4,203
5,699
Cash paid for interest expense
2,561
3,499
5,080
6,942
The Company reported the following SBA debentures outstanding principal balances as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
Issuance/Pooling Date
Interest Rate (1)
September 22, 2010
September 1, 2020
3.50%
March 29, 2011
March 1, 2021
4.37%
28,750
September 21, 2011
September 1, 2021
3.16%
March 21, 2012
March 1, 2022
3.28%
3.05%
11,250
September 19, 2012
September 1, 2022
24,250
March 27, 2013
March 1, 2023
Total SBA Debentures
Interest rate includes annual charge.
On October 23, 2017, the Company issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The 2022 Notes were issued pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture, dated October 23, 2017 (the “2022 Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2022 Trustee”). The sale of the 2022 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $147.4 million, including a public offering discount of $826,500. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discounts and commissions of approximately $975,000, were approximately $1.8 million.
The 2022 Notes mature on October 23, 2022, unless previously repurchased in accordance with their terms. The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.625% per year payable semiannually in arrears on April 23 and October 23 of each year, commencing on April 23, 2018.
The 2022 Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated, or junior, in right of payment to the 2022 Notes. The 2022 Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s current or future subsidiaries. The 2022 Notes rank pari passu, or equally, in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated, or junior. The 2022 Notes effectively rank subordinated, or junior, to any of the Company’s secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that the Company later secures) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The 2022 Notes rank structurally subordinated, or junior, to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities of the Company.
The Company may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes at any time, or from time to time, at the redemption price set forth under the terms of the indenture after September 23, 2022. No sinking fund is provided for the 2022 Notes. The 2022 Notes were issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereof. As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the 2022 Notes Indenture.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the 2022 Notes were as follows:
Principal amount of debt
Unamortized debt issuance cost
(1,110
(1,379
Original issue discount, net of accretion
(507
(631
Carrying value of 2022 Notes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2022 Notes are as follows:
1,734
5,202
5,203
261
Accretion of original issue discount
1,865
5,595
5,587
3,469
On July 14, 2014, the Company and U.S. Bank, N.A. (the “2024 Trustee”), entered into the Third Supplemental Indenture (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”) to the Base Indenture between the Company and the 2024 Trustee, dated July 14, 2014, relating to the Company’s issuance, offer and sale of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25% unsecured notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”). On August 6, 2014, the underwriters issued notification to exercise their over-allotment option for an additional $3.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes.
On May 2, 2016, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of an additional $72.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes. The $72.9 million in aggregate principal amount includes $65.4 million from the initial offering on April 21, 2016 and $7.5 million as a result of underwriters exercising a portion of their option to purchase up to an additional $9.8 million in aggregate principal to cover overallotments on April 29, 2016.
On June 27, 2016, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of an additional $60.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes. On June 30, 2016, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase up to an additional $9.0 million in aggregate principal to cover overallotments, resulting in total aggregate principal of $69.0 million from the offering.
On October 11, 2016, the Company entered into a debt distribution agreement, pursuant to which it may offer for sale, from time to time, up to $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes through FBR Capital Markets & Co. acting as its sales agent (the “2024 Notes Agent”). Sales of the 2024 Notes may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on the NYSE, or similar securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
On October 24, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a redemption of $75.0 million of outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes, which were redeemed on November 23, 2017. On February 9, 2018, the Board of Directors approved a redemption of $100.0 million of outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes, which were redeemed on April 2, 2018. Further, on December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors approved a full redemption, in two equal transactions, of $83.5 million of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes. The 2024 Notes were fully redeemed on January 14, 2019 and February 4, 2019.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the 2024 Notes were as follows:
(1,686
Original issue premium, net of amortization
Carrying value of 2024 Notes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2024 Notes are as follows:
1,305
210
5,525
110
2,831
Amortization of original issue premium
(13
(40
1,402
2,006
8,316
6,553
On July 16, 2019, the Company issued $105.0 million in aggregate principal amount (the “July 2024 Notes”) to qualified institutional investors in a private placement. The sale of the July 2024 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $103.7 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions, were approximately $1.3 million.
The July 2024 Notes have a fixed interest rate of 4.77% and are due on July 16, 2024, unless redeemed, purchased or prepaid prior to such date by the Company or its affiliates in accordance with their terms. Interest on the July 2024 Notes will be due semiannually and the July 2024 Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the July 2024 Notes were as follows:
(1,277
Carrying value of July 2024 Notes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the July 2024 Notes are as follows:
1,050
1,099
As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the note purchase agreement governing the July 2024 Notes.
On April 26, 2018, the Company issued $75.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.25% notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). The 2025 Notes were issued pursuant to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture, dated April 26, 2018 (the “2025 Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee. The sale of the 2025 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $72.4 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions, were approximately $2.6 million.
The 2025 Notes will mature on April 30, 2025, unless previously repurchased in accordance with their terms. The 2025 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.25% per year payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on July 30, 2018 and trade on the NYSE under the symbol “HCXZ”. The 2025 Notes are the Company’s direct unsecured obligations and rank pari passu, or equally in right of payment, with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
The Company may redeem some or all of the 2025 Notes at any time, or from time to time, at the redemption price set forth under the terms of the indenture after April 30, 2021. No sinking fund is provided for the 2025 Notes. The 2025 Notes were issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 thereof. As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the 2025 Notes Indenture.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the 2025 Notes were as follows:
(2,125
(2,410
Carrying value of 2025 Notes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2025 Notes are as follows:
984
983
2,953
1,695
69
1,079
1,052
3,238
1,821
1,028
On September 24, 2018, the Company issued $40.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.25% notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”). The 2033 Notes were issued pursuant to the Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture, dated September 24, 2018 (the “2033 Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee. The sale of the 2033 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $38.4 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions were approximately $1.6 million.
The 2033 Notes will mature on October 30, 2033, unless previously repurchased in accordance with their terms. The 2033 Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per year payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 2018 and trade on the NYSE under the symbol “HCXY.”
The 2033 Notes are the Company’s direct unsecured obligations and rank pari passu, or equally in right of payment, with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
The Company may redeem some or all of the 2033 Notes at any time, or from time to time, at the redemption price set forth under the terms of the indenture after October 30, 2023. No sinking fund is provided for the 2033 Notes. The 2033 Notes were issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 thereof. As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the 2033 Notes Indenture.
53
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the 2033 Notes were as follows:
(1,526
(1,573
Carrying value of 2033 Notes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2033 Notes are as follows:
1,875
652
1,956
2021 Asset-Backed Notes
On November 13, 2014, the Company completed a $237.4 million term debt securitization in connection with which an affiliate of the Company made an offer of $129.3 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate asset-backed notes (the “2021 Asset-Backed Notes”). The 2021 Asset-Backed Notes were sold by Hercules Capital Funding Trust 2014-1 (the “2014 Securitization Issuer”) pursuant to a note purchase agreement, dated as of November 13, 2014, by and among the Company, Hercules Capital Funding 2014-1 LLC, as trust depositor, the 2014 Securitization Issuer, and Guggenheim Securities, LLC, as initial purchaser, and are backed by a pool of senior loans made to certain of the Company’s portfolio companies and secured by certain assets of those portfolio companies and are to be serviced by the Company. The securitization has an 18-month reinvestment period during which time principal collections may be reinvested into additional eligible loans. Interest on the 2021 Asset-Backed Notes is paid, to the extent of funds available, at a fixed rate of 3.524% per annum. The 2021 Asset-Backed Notes have a stated maturity of April 16, 2021.
In July 2018, changes in the payment schedule of obligors in the 2021 Asset-Backed Notes collateral pool triggered a rapid amortization event in accordance with the sale and servicing agreement for the 2021 Asset-Backed Notes. Due to this event, the 2021 Asset-Backed Notes were fully repaid as of October 16, 2018.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2021 Asset-Backed Notes are as follows:
297
410
146
823
On November 1, 2018, the Company completed a term debt securitization in connection with which an affiliate of the Company made an offering of $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate asset-backed notes (the “2027 Asset-Backed Notes”).
The 2027 Asset-Backed Notes were issued by Hercules Capital Funding Trust 2018-1 (the “2018 Securitization Issuer”) pursuant to a note purchase agreement, dated as of October 25, 2018, by and among the Company, Hercules Capital Funding 2018-1 LLC, as trust depositor, the 2018 Securitization Issuer, and Guggenheim Securities, LLC, as initial purchaser, and are backed by a pool of senior loans made to certain portfolio companies of the Company and secured by certain assets of those portfolio companies and are to be serviced by the Company. The securitization has a reinvestment period with a scheduled termination date of October 20, 2020 during which time principal collections may be reinvested into additional eligible loans. Interest on the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes will be paid, to the extent of funds available, at a fixed rate of 4.605% per annum. The 2027 Asset-Backed Notes have a stated maturity of November 22, 2027.
At both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes had an outstanding principal balance of $200.0 million.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes are as follows:
2,303
6,908
2,373
7,116
Under the terms of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, the Company is required to maintain a reserve cash balance, funded through proceeds from the sale of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and through interest and principal collections from the underlying securitized debt portfolio, which may be used to pay monthly interest and principal payments on the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes. The Company has segregated these funds and classified them as restricted cash. At September 30, 2019, there was approximately $6.5 million of restricted cash. There was approximately $11.6 million of restricted cash as of December 31, 2018.
As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the note purchase agreement governing the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes.
On January 22, 2019, the Company completed a term debt securitization in connection with which an affiliate of the Company made an offering of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate asset-backed notes (the “2028 Asset-Backed Notes”).
The 2028 Asset-Backed Notes were issued by Hercules Capital Funding Trust 2019-1 (the “2019 Securitization Issuer”) pursuant to a note purchase agreement, dated as of January 14, 2019, by and among the Company, Hercules Capital Funding 2019-1 LLC, as trust depositor, the 2019 Securitization Issuer, and Guggenheim Securities, LLC, as initial purchaser, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., as a co-manager, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC., as a co-manager, and are backed by a pool of senior loans made to certain portfolio companies of the Company and secured by certain assets of those portfolio companies and are to be serviced by the Company. Interest on the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes will be paid, to the extent of funds available, at a fixed rate of 4.703% per annum. The 2028 Asset-Backed Notes have a stated maturity of February 22, 2028.
At September 30, 2019, the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes had an outstanding principal balance of $250.0 million. There was no outstanding principal balance for the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes at December 31, 2018.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes are as follows:
2,939
8,132
67
3,006
8,317
7,805
Under the terms of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, the Company is required to maintain a reserve cash balance, funded through proceeds from the sale of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes and through interest and principal collections from the underlying securitized debt portfolio, which may be used to pay monthly interest and principal payments on the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes. The Company has segregated these funds and classified them as restricted cash. At September 30, 2019, there was approximately $8.4 million of restricted cash. There were no funds segregated as restricted cash related to the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes at December 31, 2018.
As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the note purchase agreement governing the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes.
Convertible Notes
On January 25, 2017, the Company issued $230.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.375% Convertible Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Convertible Notes”), which amount includes the additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2022 Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the initial purchaser’s exercise in full of its overallotment option. The 2022 Convertible Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated January 25, 2017 (the “2022 Convertible Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2022 Trustee”). The sale of the 2022 Convertible Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $225.5 million, including $4.5 million of debt issuance costs.
The 2022 Convertible Notes mature on February 1, 2022, unless previously converted or repurchased in accordance with their terms. The 2022 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.375% per year payable semiannually in arrears on February 1, and August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1, 2017.
The 2022 Convertible Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and rank senior in right of payment to the Company’s future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 2022 Convertible Notes; equal in right of payment to the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to any of the Company’s secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that the Company later secures) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by the Company’s subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.
Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding August 1, 2021, holders may convert their 2022 Convertible Notes only under certain circumstances set forth in the 2022 Convertible Notes Indenture. On or after August 1, 2021 until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their 2022 Convertible Notes at any time. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, at its election, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock. The conversion rate is initially 60.9366 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2022 Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $16.41 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, if certain corporate events occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its 2022 Convertible Notes in connection with such a corporate event in certain circumstances. As of September 30, 2019, the conversion rate was 60.9366 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes (equivalent to an adjusted conversion price of approximately $16.41 per share of common stock).
The Company may not redeem the 2022 Convertible Notes at its option prior to maturity. No sinking fund is provided for the 2022 Convertible Notes. In addition, if certain corporate events occur, holders of the 2022 Convertible Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their 2022 Convertible Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest through, but excluding, the required repurchase date.
The 2022 Convertible Notes are accounted for in accordance with ASC Subtopic 470-20 (“Debt Instruments with Conversion and Other Options”). In accounting for the 2022 Convertible Notes, the Company estimated at the time of issuance that the values of the debt and the embedded conversion feature of the 2022 Convertible Notes were approximately 98.5% and 1.5%, respectively. The original issue discount of 1.5% or $3.4 million, attributable to the conversion feature of the 2022 Convertible Notes was recorded in “capital in excess of par value” in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As a result, the Company records interest expense comprised of both stated interest expense as well as accretion of the original issue discount resulting in an estimated effective interest rate of approximately 4.77%.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the components of the carrying value of the 2022 Convertible Notes were as follows:
(2,155
(2,823
(1,622
(2,126
Carrying value of 2022 Convertible Notes
56
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense, fees and cash paid for interest expense for the 2022 Convertible Notes were as follows:
2,516
7,547
223
669
2,907
8,720
5,031
10,062
10,063
As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the indentures governing the 2022 Convertible Notes.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company has two available credit facilities, the Wells Facility and the Union Bank Facility (together, the “Credit Facilities”).
On June 29, 2015, the Company, through a special purpose wholly owned subsidiary, Hercules Funding II LLC (“Hercules Funding II”), entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Wells Facility”) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as a lender and as the arranger and the administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time.
On January 11, 2019, Hercules Funding II entered into the Seventh Amendment, to the Wells Facility, or the Wells Facility Seventh Amendment. The Wells Facility Seventh Amendment, among other things, amends certain key provisions of the Wells Facility to reduce the current interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.00% with a natural floor of 3.00%. The Wells Facility Seventh Amendment also extends the maturity date to January 2023, unless terminated sooner in accordance with its terms. In addition, the Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC has committed $75.0 million in credit capacity with an accordion feature, in which the Company can increase the credit line up to an aggregate of $125.0 million, funded by additional lenders and with the agreement of Wells Fargo and subject to other customary conditions. The Wells Facility has an advance rate of 55% against eligible debt investments, and it is secured by all of the assets of Hercules Funding II. The Wells Facility requires payment of a non-use fee on a scale of 0.00% to 0.375% depending on the average monthly outstanding balance under the facility relative to the maximum amount of commitments at such time.
The Wells Facility also includes various financial and other covenants applicable to the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, in addition to those applicable to Hercules Funding II, including covenants relating to certain changes of control of the Company and Hercules Funding II. Among other things, these covenants also require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum debt to worth ratio, minimum interest coverage ratio, and a minimum tangible net worth ratio.
On July 2, 2019, Hercules Funding II entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Wells Facility, or the Wells Facility Eighth Amendment. The Wells Facility Eighth Amendment amends certain provisions of the Wells Facility to, among other things, revise certain provisions thereof to further permit a third party special servicer to act as servicer after an event of default instead of the Company with respect to split-funded notes receivable owned by Hercules Funding II and an affiliate thereof (including Hercules Funding IV LLC).
As of September 30, 2019, the Company has no borrowings outstanding on the facility. The Company had borrowings outstanding of $13.1 million on the facility at December 31, 2018.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the Wells Facility are as follows:
244
990
288
1,123
345
430
Union Bank Facility
On February 20, 2019, the Company, through a special purpose wholly owned subsidiary, Hercules Funding IV LLC (“Hercules Funding IV”), as borrower, entered into the credit facility (the “Union Bank Facility”) with MUFG Union Bank, as the arranger and administrative agent, and the lenders party to the Union Bank Facility from time to time. The Union Bank Facility replaced the company’s credit facility (the “Prior Union Bank Facility”) entered into on May 5, 2016 (as amended and restated from time to time) with MUFG Union Bank, as the arranger and administrative agent, and the lenders party to the Prior Union Bank Facility from time to time. Any references to amounts related to the Union Bank Facility prior to February 20, 2019 were incurred and relate to the Prior Union Bank Facility.
Under the Union Bank Credit Facility, the lenders have made commitments of $200.0 million. Borrowings under the Union Bank Credit Facility will generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.70%, and the facility matures on February 20, 2023. The Union Bank Facility contains an accordion feature, in which the Company can increase the credit line up to an aggregate of $300.0 million, funded by additional lenders and with the agreement of MUFG Union Bank and subject to other customary conditions. There can be no assurances that additional lenders will join the Union Bank Facility to increase available borrowings. The Union Bank Facility generally has an advance rate of 55% against eligible debt investments. The Union Bank Facility is secured by all of the assets of Hercules Funding IV.
The Union Bank Facility requires payment of a non-use fee during the revolving credit availability period of 0.50% depending on the average monthly outstanding balance under the facility relative to the maximum amount of commitments at such time.
The Union Bank Facility also includes various financial and other covenants applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, in addition to those applicable to Hercules Funding IV, including covenants relating to certain changes of control of the Company and Hercules Funding IV. Among other things, these covenants also require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum debt to worth ratio, minimum interest coverage ratio, minimum portfolio funding liquidity, and a minimum tangible net worth in an amount that is in excess of $700.0 million plus 90% of the cumulative amount of equity raised after December 31, 2018. As of September 30, 2019, the minimum tangible net worth covenant increased to $785.9 million as a result of the equity raised after December 31, 2018. See “Note 6 - Stockholder’s Equity.”
On June 28, 2019, Hercules Funding IV entered into the First Amendment, or the Union Bank Facility Amendment, to the Union Bank Facility. The Union Bank Facility Amendment amends certain provisions of the Union Bank Facility to, among other things, (i) delete the financial covenant with respect to maintaining minimum portfolio funding liquidity, (ii) add a covenant prohibiting Hercules Funding IV from acquiring or owning unfunded commitments to makers of certain notes receivable, and (iii) revise certain provisions thereof to further permit a third party special servicer to act as servicer after an event of default instead of the Company with respect to split-funded notes receivable owned by Hercules Funding IV and an affiliate thereof (including Hercules Funding II).
As of September 30, 2019, the Company has borrowings outstanding of $11.6 million on the facility. The Company had borrowings outstanding of $39.8 million on the facility at December 31, 2018.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for the previous and current Union Bank Facility are as follows:
700
1,077
1,265
92
606
243
792
1,683
1,508
793
1,096
1,074
5. Income Taxes
The Company intends to operate so as to qualify to be subject to tax as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and, as such, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of taxable income (including gains) distributed as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to stockholders. Taxable income includes the Company’s taxable interest, dividend and fee income, reduced by certain deductions, as well as taxable net realized securities gains. Taxable income generally differs from net income for financial reporting purposes due to temporary and permanent differences in the recognition of income and expenses, and generally excludes net unrealized appreciation or depreciation, as such gains or losses are not included in taxable income until they are realized.
To qualify and be subject to tax as a RIC, the Company is required to meet certain income and asset diversification tests in addition to distributing dividends of an amount generally at least equal to 90% of its investment company taxable income, as defined by the Code and determined without regard to any deduction for distributions paid, to its stockholders. The amount to be paid out as a distribution is determined by the Board of Directors each quarter and is based upon the annual earnings estimated by the management of the Company. To the extent that the Company’s earnings fall below the amount of dividend distributions declared, however, a portion of the total amount of the Company’s distributions for the fiscal year may be deemed a return of capital for tax purposes to the Company’s stockholders.
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company declared and paid a distribution of $0.34 per share. The determination of the tax attributes of the Company’s distributions is made annually as of the end of the Company’s taxable year generally based upon its taxable income for the full taxable year and distributions paid for the full taxable year. As a result, a determination made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes of the Company’s distributions for a full taxable year. If the Company had determined the tax attributes of our distributions taxable year-to-date as of September 30, 2019, 100% would be from our current and accumulated earnings and profits. However, there can be no certainty to stockholders that this determination is representative of what the actual tax attributes of the Company’s 2019 distributions to stockholders will be.
As a RIC, the Company will be subject to a 4% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain undistributed income unless the Company makes distributions treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a timely manner to its stockholders in respect of each calendar year of an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of the Company’s ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of the Company’s capital gain net income (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the 1-year period ending October 31 of each such calendar year and (3) any ordinary income and capital gain net income realized, but not distributed, in preceding calendar years (the “Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement”). The Company will not be subject to this excise tax on any amount on which the Company incurred U.S. federal corporate income tax (such as the tax imposed on a RIC’s retained net capital gains).
Depending on the level of taxable income earned in a taxable year, the Company may choose to carry over taxable income in excess of current taxable year distributions from such taxable income into the next taxable year and incur a 4% excise tax on such taxable income, as required. The maximum amount of excess taxable income that may be carried over for distribution in the next taxable year under the Code is the total amount of distributions paid in the following taxable year, subject to certain declaration and payment guidelines. To the extent the Company chooses to carry over taxable income into the next taxable year, distributions declared and paid by the Company in a taxable year may differ from the Company’s taxable income for that taxable year as such distributions may include the distribution of current taxable year taxable income, the distribution of prior taxable year taxable income carried over into and distributed in the current taxable year, or returns of capital.
The Company has taxable subsidiaries which hold certain portfolio investments in an effort to limit potential legal liability and/or comply with source-income type requirements contained in the RIC tax provisions of the Code. These taxable subsidiaries are consolidated for U.S. GAAP and the portfolio investments held by the taxable subsidiaries are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and are recorded at fair value. These taxable subsidiaries are not consolidated with the Company for income tax purposes and may generate income tax expense, or benefit, and tax assets and liabilities as a result of their ownership of certain portfolio investments. Any income generated by these taxable subsidiaries generally would be subject to tax at normal corporate tax rates based on its taxable income.
Taxable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $110.0 million or $1.11 per share. Taxable net realized gains for the same period were $15.6 million or approximately $0.16 per share. Taxable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was approximately $83.1 million or $0.93 per share. Taxable net realized gains for the same period were $7.2 million or approximately $0.08 per share.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company paid approximately $1.4 million of tax expense and had $835,000 accrued but unpaid tax expense as of the balance sheet date. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company paid approximately $676,000 of tax expense and had $100,000 accrued but unpaid tax expense as of the balance sheet date.
The Company intends to timely distribute to its stockholders substantially all of our annual taxable income for each year, except that it may retain certain net capital gains for reinvestment and, depending upon the level of taxable income earned in a year, may choose to carry forward taxable income for distribution in the following year and pay any applicable U.S. federal excise tax.
6. Stockholders’ Equity
On September 7, 2017, the Company entered into an At-The-Market, or ATM equity distribution agreement, or the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement, with JMP Securities LLC, or JMP. The Prior Equity Distribution Agreement, provided that the Company may offer and sell up to 12.0 million shares of its common stock from time to time through JMP, as its sales agent.
59
On May 6, 2019, the Company terminated the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement and entered into a new ATM equity distribution agreement, or the Equity Distribution Agreement. As a result, the remaining shares that were available under the Prior Equity Distribution agreement are no longer available for issuance. The Equity Distribution Agreement provides that the Company may offer and sell up to 12.0 million shares of its common stock from time to time through JMP, as its sales agent. Sales of the Company’s common stock, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE or similar securities exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
There were no shares of common stock sold under the Equity Distribution Agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2019. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company sold approximately 2.0 million shares of common stock, of which 679,000 shares and 1.3 million shares were issued under the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement and the Equity Distribution Agreement, respectively. For the same period, the Company received total accumulated net proceeds of approximately $25.1 million, including $311,000 of offering expenses, from these sales, of which $8.5 million, including offering expense of $146,000, was received under the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement and $16.6 million, including offering expense of $165,000, was received under the Equity Distribution Agreement.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company sold 2.4 million and 5.0 million shares of common stock for total accumulated net proceeds of approximately $30.9 million and $62.3 million, respectively, including $540,000 and $1.4 million of offering expenses, respectively, under the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement.
The Company generally uses net proceeds from these offerings to make investments, to repurchase or pay down liabilities and for general corporate purposes. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 10.7 million shares remain available for issuance and sale under the Equity Distribution Agreement.
On June 14, 2018, the Company closed its underwritten public offering of 6.9 million shares of common stock, including an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 900,000 shares of common stock (“June 2018 Equity Offering”). The offering generated net proceeds, before expenses, of $81.3 million, including the underwriting discount and commissions of $2.6 million.
On December 17, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan permitting the Company to repurchase up to $25.0 million of its common stock until June 18, 2019, after which the plan expired. The Company had no common stock repurchases during 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 376,466 shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $10.77 and a total cost of approximately $4.1 million.
On June 17, 2019, the Company closed its underwritten public offering of 5.8 million shares of common stock, including an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 750,000 shares of common stock (“June 2019 Equity Offering”). The offering generated net proceeds, before expenses, of $70.5 million, including the underwriting discount and commissions of $2.2 million.
The Company has issued stock options for common stock subject to future issuance, of which 519,418 and 481,032 were outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
7. Equity Incentive Plans
The Company and its stockholders authorized and adopted the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) for purposes of attracting and retaining the services of its executive officers and key employees. The Company and its stockholders have authorized and adopted the 2006 Non-Employee Director Plan (the “2006 Plan”) for purposes of attracting and retaining the services of its Board of Directors. On June 21, 2017, the 2006 Plan expired in accordance with its terms and no additional awards may be granted under the 2006 Plan.
On May 13, 2018, the Board of Directors further amended and restated the 2004 Plan and renamed it the Hercules Capital, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Equity Incentive Plan”). Under the 2004 Plan, prior to the amendment and restatement, the Company was authorized to issue 12.0 million shares of common stock. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, among other things, increased the number of shares available for issuance to eligible participants by an additional 6.7 million shares. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan will terminate on the day before the tenth anniversary of the date the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan was initially adopted in 2018 by the Board. On May 13, 2018, the Board of Directors adopted the Hercules Capital, Inc. 2018 Non-employee Director Plan (the “Director Plan”). The Director Plan provides equity compensation in the form of restricted stock to the Company’s non-employee directors. Subject to certain adjustments, the maximum aggregate number of shares of stock that may be authorized for issuance as restricted stock awards granted under the Director Plan is 300,000 shares. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Director Plan will terminate on the day before the tenth anniversary of the date the Director Plan was initially adopted in 2018 by the Board. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan were each approved by stockholders on June 28, 2018. These shares generally vest 33% one year after the date of grant and ratably over the succeeding 24 months.
60
On May 29, 2018, the Company filed an exemptive application with the SEC and an amendment to the application on September 27, 2018, with respect to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan for exemptive relief from certain provisions of the 1940 Act. On January 30, 2019, the Company received approval from the SEC on its request for exemptive relief that permits it to issue restricted stock to non-employee directors under the Director Plan and restricted stock and restricted stock units to certain of its employees, officers, and directors (excluding non-employee directors) under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The exemptive order also allows participants in the Director Plan and the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to (i) elect to have the Company withhold shares of its common stock to pay for the exercise price and applicable taxes with respect to an option exercise (“net issuance exercise”) and/or (ii) permit the holders of restricted stock to elect to have the Company withhold shares of its stock to pay the applicable taxes due on restricted stock at the time of vesting. Each individual employee would be able to make a cash payment to satisfy applicable tax withholding at the time of option exercise or vesting on restricted stock.
The following table summarizes the common stock options activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Common
Options
Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31,
481,032
13.40
590,525
13.60
Granted
111,000
12.91
94,000
12.65
Exercised
(14,113
11.39
(63,769
11.05
Forfeited
(5,836
12.79
(51,437
13.22
Expired
(52,665
14.82
(34,650
14.34
Outstanding at September 30,
519,418
13.21
534,669
13.72
Shares Expected to Vest at September 30,
195,404
13.43
163,654
13.58
All options may be exercised for a period ending seven to ten years after the date of grant. At September 30, 2019, options for approximately 519,418 shares were outstanding at a weighted average exercise price of approximately $13.21 per share with weighted average of remaining contractual term of 4.91 years and an aggregate intrinsic value of $275,000. At September 30, 2019, options for approximately 324,014 shares were exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of approximately $13.43 per share with weighted average of remaining contractual term of 4.09 years and an aggregate intrinsic value of $193,000.
The Company determined that the fair value of options granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $40,000 and $44,000, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, approximately $35,000 and $42,000 of share-based cost due to stock option grants was expensed, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, there was approximately $76,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.10 years.
The Company follows ASC Topic 718 to account for stock options granted. Under ASC Topic 718, compensation expense associated with stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the vesting period. Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rate and expected option life. The fair value of options granted is based upon a Black Scholes option pricing model using the assumptions in the following table for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
Expected Volatility
18.40%
21.19%
Expected Dividends
10%
Expected term (in years)
Risk-free rate
1.33% - 2.62%
2.19% - 2.97%
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted 134,247 shares and 334,995 shares, respectively, of restricted stock awards pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan. The Company determined that the fair values, based on grant date close price, of restricted stock awards granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $1.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, there were approximately $2.1 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock awards. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.24 years.
The following table summarizes the activities for the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Restricted
Stock Awards
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Unvested at December 31,
380,870
12.95
261,245
12.43
134,247
334,995
13.04
Vested
(193,176
12.84
(170,264
12.55
(134,247
(3,085
11.70
Unvested at September 30,
187,694
12.88
422,891
12.87
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted approximately 1,029,836 shares and 411,689 shares, respectively, of restricted stock units pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The Company also granted approximately 124,708 shares and 75,184 shares, respectively, of distribution equivalent units pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The Company determined that the fair values, based on grant date close price, of restricted stock units granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, were approximately $15.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, there were approximately $6.0 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock units. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.13 years.
The following table summarizes the activities for the Company’s unvested restricted stock units for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Stock Units
732,533
13.50
594,322
12.99
1,029,836
13.11
411,689
Distribution Equivalent Unit Granted
124,708
75,184
12.69
Vested (1)
(615,045
13.35
(318,240
14.10
(624,349
13.34
(14,085
647,683
13.16
748,870
13.48
With respect to restricted stock units granted prior to January 1, 2019, receipt of the shares of the Company’s common stock underlying vested restricted stock units will be deferred for four years from grant date unless certain conditions are met. Accordingly, such vested restricted stock units will not be issued as common stock upon vesting until the completion of the deferral period.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company expensed approximately $7.7 million of compensation expense related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. The Company had approximately $6.2 million in compensation expense related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
On May 2, 2018, the Company granted long-term Retention Performance Stock Unit awards (the “Retention PSUs”) under the 2004 Plan and separate cash bonus awards with similar terms (the “Cash Awards”) to senior personnel. The awards are designed to provide incentives that increase along with the total shareholder return (“TSR”). On May 2, 2018, the target number of Retention PSUs granted to senior personnel was 1,299,757 in the aggregate and the target amount of the Cash Awards granted to senior personnel was $4.0 million in the aggregate. As of September 30, 2019, there were 487,409 Retention PSUs outstanding at target and the target amount of the Cash Awards was $3.0 million in the aggregate. The Retention PSUs and Cash Awards do not vest until the fourth anniversary “cliff vest” of the grant date (or a change in control of the Company, if earlier) and the Retention PSUs must generally be held and not disposed of until the fifth anniversary of the grant date, except in the event of death, disability or a change in control (the “Performance Period”). Dividend equivalents will accrue in respect only of the Retention PSUs in the form of additional Retention PSUs, but will not be paid unless the Retention PSUs to which such dividend equivalents relate actually vest. The Cash Awards are not eligible to accrue dividend equivalents.
The Company follows ASC Topic 718 (“Compensation – Stock Compensation”) to account for the Retention PSUs and Cash Awards granted. Under ASC Topic 718, compensation cost associated with Retention PSUs is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the Performance Period. As the Cash Awards are settled in cash, the award is expensed as a liability, and will be re-measured at each reporting period until the Performance Period is complete. The compensation expense for these awards is based on the per unit grant date valuation using a Monte-Carlo simulation multiplied by the target payout level. The payout level is calculated based the Company’s TSR relative to specified BDCs during the performance period.
As of September 30, 2019, all of Retention PSUs and Cash Awards were unvested and there were approximately $4.4 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the Retention PSUs. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining vesting period of 2.59 years. As of September 30, 2019, there was approximately $1.0 million of accumulated compensation expense related to the Cash Awards. The accumulated expense related to the Cash Awards is included within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
8. Earnings Per Share
Shares used in the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
Numerator
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
Less: Distributions declared-common and restricted shares
Undistributed earnings
(16,284
5,919
31,381
10,828
Undistributed earnings-common shares
31,313
10,770
Add: Distributions declared-common shares
35,490
29,577
97,388
82,356
Numerator for basic and diluted change in net assets per common share
19,206
35,471
128,701
93,126
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
Common shares issuable
341
211
428
112
Weighted average common shares outstanding assuming dilution
Change in net assets per common share
In the table above, unvested share-based payment awards that have non-forfeitable rights to distributions or distribution equivalents are treated as participating securities for calculating earnings per share. Unvested common stock options and restricted stock units are also considered for the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes under the treasury stock method was anti-dilutive and, accordingly, was excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.
The calculation of change in net assets resulting from operations per common share—assuming dilution, excludes all anti-dilutive shares. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the number of anti-dilutive shares, as calculated based on the weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the periods, consisted of 3.6 million shares of 2022 Convertible Notes, 25,396 shares of unvested common stock options, no shares of unvested restricted stock units, and no shares of unvested Retention PSUs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the number of anti-dilutive shares, as calculated based on the weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the periods, consisted of 3.8 million shares of 2022 Convertible Notes, 30,110 shares of unvested common stock options, no shares of unvested restricted stock units, and no shares of unvested Retention PSUs.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the number of anti-dilutive shares, as calculated based on the weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the periods, consisted of 3.2 million and 4.0 million shares related to 2022 Convertible Notes, 37,015 shares and 60,756 shares of unvested common stock options, no shares of unvested restricted stock units, and no shares and 18,952 shares of unvested Retention PSUs, respectively.
At both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company was authorized to issue 200.0 million shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001. Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote.
9. Financial Highlights
Following is a schedule of financial highlights for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Per share data (1):
Net asset value at beginning of period
9.96
0.88
0.14
(0.12
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
0.12
0.29
Total from investment operations
1.05
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (1)
0.11
0.21
Distributions of net investment income (6)
(0.95
(0.93
Distributions of capital gains (6)
(0.03
Stock-based compensation expense included in investment income (2)
0.06
0.09
Net asset value at end of period
Ratios and supplemental data:
Per share market value at end of period
13.37
Total return (3)
29.94
7.59
Shares outstanding at end of period
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Net assets at end of period
Ratio of total expense to average net assets (4)
12.25
10.82
Ratio of net investment income before investment gains and losses to average net assets (4)
11.62
Portfolio turnover rate (5)
22.82
33.97
Weighted average debt outstanding
1,145,027
801,712
Weighted average debt per common share
11.49
9.00
All per share activity is calculated based on the weighted average shares outstanding for the relevant period, except net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions, which is based on the common shares outstanding as of the relevant balance sheet date.
Stock option expense is a non-cash expense that has no effect on net asset value. Pursuant to ASC Topic 718, net investment income includes the expense associated with the granting of stock options which is offset by a corresponding increase in paid-in capital.
The total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 equals the change in the ending market value over the beginning of the period price per share plus distributions paid per share during the period, divided by the beginning price assuming the distribution is reinvested on the date of the distribution. As such, the total return is not annualized. The total return does not reflect any sales load that must be paid by investors.
The ratios are calculated based on weighted average net assets for the relevant period and are annualized.
The portfolio turnover rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 equals the lesser of investment portfolio purchases or sales during the period, divided by the average investment portfolio value during the period. As such, portfolio turnover rate is not annualized.
Includes distributions on unvested restricted stock awards.
10. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company’s commitments and contingencies consist primarily of unused commitments to extend credit in the form of loans to the Company’s portfolio companies. A portion of these unfunded contractual commitments as of September 30, 2019 are dependent upon the portfolio company reaching certain milestones before the debt commitment becomes available. Furthermore, the Company’s credit agreements contain customary lending provisions which allow the Company relief from funding obligations for previously made commitments in instances where the underlying company experiences materially adverse events that affect the financial condition or business outlook for the Company. Since a portion of these commitments may expire without being drawn, unfunded contractual commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. As such, the Company’s disclosure of unfunded contractual commitments includes only those which are available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by milestones.
At September 30, 2019, the Company had approximately $167.5 million of unfunded commitments, including undrawn revolving facilities, which were available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by milestones.
The Company also had approximately $213.5 million of non-binding term sheets outstanding at September 30, 2019. Non-binding outstanding term sheets are subject to completion of the Company’s due diligence and final investment committee approval process, as well as the negotiation of definitive documentation with the prospective portfolio companies. These non-binding term sheets generally convert to contractual commitments in approximately 90 days from signing. Not all non-binding term sheets are expected to close and do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
The fair value of the Company’s unfunded commitments is considered to be immaterial as the yield determined at the time of underwriting is expected to be materially consistent with the yield upon funding, given that interest rates are generally pegged to market indices and given the existence of milestones, conditions and/or obligations imbedded in the borrowing agreements.
As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s unfunded contractual commitments available at the request of the portfolio company, including undrawn revolving facilities, and unencumbered by milestones are as follows:
Unfunded
Commitments (1)
37,000
Tricida, Inc.
The Wing
Oak Street Health
Codiak Biosciences, Inc
Clarabridge, Inc.
Campaign Monitor Limited
2,979
2,500
Businessolver.com, Inc.
2,168
Greenphire, Inc.
ThreatConnect, Inc.
1,800
The CM Group LLC
1,750
FPX, LLC
Cloud 9 Software
Yipit, LLC
Salsa Labs, Inc.
167,472
Amount represents unfunded commitments, including undrawn revolving facilities, which are available at the request of the portfolio company. Amount excludes unfunded commitments which are unavailable due to the borrower having not met certain milestones.
The Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2019 include:
Payments due by period (in thousands)
Contractual Obligations (1)
Less than 1 year
1 - 3 years
3 - 5 years
After 5 years
Borrowings (2)(3)
344,250
291,335
565,000
Lease and License Obligations (4)
14,197
3,174
5,872
3,639
1,512
1,224,782
13,174
350,122
294,974
566,512
Excludes commitments to extend credit to the Company’s portfolio companies.
Includes $149.0 million in principal outstanding under the SBA debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $75.0 million of the 2025 Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $200.0 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $250.0 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes, and $11.6 million outstanding under the Union Bank Credit Facility as of September 30, 2019. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Wells Facility as of September 30, 2019.
Amounts represent future principal repayments and not the carrying value of each liability. See Note 4 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Facility leases and licenses including short-term leases.
Certain premises are leased or licensed under agreements which expire at various dates through June 2027. Total rent expense, including short-term leases, amounted to approximately $764,000 and $2.0 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Total rent expense amounted to approximately $522,000 and $1.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company recognizes an operating lease liability and a ROU asset for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The lease payments on short-term leases are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis. The discount rate applied to measure each ROU asset and lease liability is based on the Company’s weighted average cost of debt. The Company considers the general economic environment and its credit rating and factors in various financing and asset specific adjustments to ensure the discount rate applied is appropriate to the intended use of the underlying lease. While some of the leases contained options to extend and terminate, it is not reasonably certain that either option will be utilized and therefore, only the payments in the initial term of the leases were included in the lease liability and ROU asset.
The following table sets forth information related to the measurement of the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019:
Total operating lease cost
719
1,869
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
536
2,126
As of September 30, 2019
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
5.10
Weighted-average discount rate
5.48
The following table shows future minimum lease payments under the Company’s operating leases and a reconciliation to the operating lease liability as of September 30, 2019:
Remainder of 2019
2020
2,795
2021
2,903
2022
3,001
2023
2,342
Thereafter
2,205
Total lease payments
13,791
Less: imputed interest
(1,869
Total operating lease liability
The Company may, from time to time, be involved in litigation arising out of its operations in the normal course of business or otherwise. Furthermore, third parties may try to seek to impose liability on the Company in connection with the activities of its portfolio companies. While the outcome of any current legal proceedings cannot at this time be predicted with certainty, the Company does not expect any current matters will materially affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance whether any pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in any future reporting period.
11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under prior GAAP. ASU 2016-02 requires that a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2019. No adjustment was necessary at January 1, 2019. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients, which allows the Company not to reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts as of the adoption date are or contain a lease, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases as of the adoption date. The Company elected to apply the transition provisions as of January 1, 2019, the date of adoption, and recorded lease right-of-use assets and related liabilities on its Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities of $9.4 million related to its operating leases. The Company has no finance leases. There was no change to the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations or Cash Flows.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. This amendment expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU 2018-07 supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees and is effective for annual reporting periods, and the interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019, which did not have a material impact, on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures for the periods presented.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of fair value measurement disclosures. The amendment, among other things, affects certain disclosure requirements related to transfers between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, and level 3 fair value measurements as they relate to valuation process, unrealized gains and losses, measurement uncertainty, and significant unobservable inputs. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. As permitted, the Company partially adopted the standard effective July 1, 2019, which did not have a
material impact, on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures for the periods presented. The Company intends to adopt ASU 2018-13 in full for the interim period beginning after December 15, 2019 and does not believe that it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10532 - “Disclosure Update and Simplification.” This rule amends various SEC disclosure requirements that have been determined to be redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded. The changes are generally expected to reduce or eliminate certain disclosures; however, the amendments did expand interim period disclosure requirements related to changes in stockholders' equity. This final rule is effective on November 5, 2018. The Company has adopted these amendments as currently required and these are reflected in its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Certain prior year information has been adjusted to conform with these amendments.
12. Subsequent Events
On October 23, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a cash distribution of $0.32 per share to be paid on November 18, 2019 to stockholders of record as of November 11, 2019.
In addition to the cash distribution, on October 23, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a supplemental cash distribution of $0.03 per share to be paid on November 18, 2019 to stockholders of record as of November 11, 2019.
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
The matters discussed in this report, as well as in future oral and written statements by management of Hercules Capital, Inc., that are forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We generally identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Important assumptions include our ability to originate new investments, achieve certain margins and levels of profitability, the availability of additional capital, and the ability to maintain certain debt to asset ratios. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this report should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans or objectives will be achieved. The forward-looking statements contained in this report include statements as to:
our current and future management structure;
our future operating results;
our business prospects and the prospects of our prospective portfolio companies;
the impact of investments that we expect to make;
our informal relationships with third parties including in the venture capital industry;
the expected market for venture capital investments and our addressable market;
the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;
our ability to access debt markets and equity markets;
the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
our expected financings and investments;
our regulatory structure and tax status;
our ability to operate as a BDC, a SBIC and a RIC;
the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital;
the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies;
the timing, form and amount of any distributions;
the impact of fluctuations in interest rates on our business;
the valuation of any investments in portfolio companies, particularly those having no liquid trading market; and
our ability to recover unrealized losses.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and other parts of this report contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking information due to the factors discussed under Item 1A— “Risk Factors” of Part II of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, Item 1A— “Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 21, 2019 and under “Forward-Looking Statements” of this Item 2.
Overview
We are a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a variety of technology, life sciences, and sustainable and renewable technology industries. We source our investments through our principal office located in Palo Alto, CA, as well as through our additional offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, Bethesda, MD, Hartford, CT, and San Diego, CA.
Our goal is to be the leading structured debt financing provider for venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries requiring sophisticated and customized financing solutions. Our strategy is to evaluate and invest in a broad range of technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, and sustainable and renewable technology and to offer a full suite of growth capital products. We invest primarily in structured debt with warrants and, to a lesser extent, in senior debt and equity investments. We invest primarily in private companies but also have investments in public companies.
We use the term “structured debt with warrants” to refer to any debt investment, such as a senior or subordinated secured loan, that is coupled with an equity component, including warrants, options or other rights to purchase common or preferred stock. Our structured debt with warrants investments typically are secured by some or all of the assets of the portfolio company. We also provide “unitranche” loans, which are loans that combine both senior and mezzanine debt, generally in a first lien position.
Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio total return by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity-related investments. Our primary business objectives are to increase our net income, net operating income and NAV by investing in structured debt with warrants and equity of venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries with attractive current yields and the potential for equity appreciation and realized gains. Our equity ownership in our portfolio companies may exceed 25% of the voting securities of such companies, which represents a controlling interest under the 1940 Act. In some cases, we receive the right to make additional equity investments in our portfolio companies in connection with future equity financing rounds. Capital that we provide directly to venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries is generally used for growth and general working capital purposes as well as in select cases for acquisitions or recapitalizations.
We also make investments in qualifying small businesses through HT III, which is our wholly owned SBIC. HT III holds approximately $223.7 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 9.7% of our total assets at September 30, 2019.
We have qualified as and have elected to be treated for tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. Pursuant to this election, we generally will not be subject to corporate-level taxes on any income and gains that we distribute as dividends for federal income tax purposes to our stockholders. However, our qualification and election to be treated as a RIC requires that we comply with provisions contained in Subchapter M of the Code. For example, as a RIC we must earn 90% or more of our gross income during each taxable year from qualified sources, typically referred to as “good income,” as well as satisfy certain quarterly asset diversification and annual income distribution requirements.
We are an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For instance, we generally have to invest at least 70% of our total assets in “qualifying assets,” which includes securities of private U.S. companies, cash, cash equivalents and high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less.
Our portfolio is comprised of, and we anticipate that our portfolio will continue to be comprised of, investments primarily in technology related companies at various stages of their development. Consistent with requirements under the 1940 Act, we invest primarily in United-States based companies and to a lesser extent in foreign companies.
We regularly engage in discussions with third parties with respect to various potential transactions. We may acquire an investment or a portfolio of investments or an entire company or sell a portion of our portfolio on an opportunistic basis. We, our subsidiaries or our affiliates may also agree to manage certain other funds that invest in debt, equity or provide other financing or services to companies in a variety of industries for which we may earn management or other fees for our services. We may also invest in the equity of these funds, along with other third parties, from which we would seek to earn a return and/or future incentive allocations. Some of these transactions could be material to our business. Consummation of any such transaction will be subject to completion of due diligence, finalization of key business and financial terms (including price) and negotiation of final definitive documentation as well as a number of other factors and conditions including, without limitation, the approval of our board of directors and required regulatory or third party consents and, in certain cases, the approval of our stockholders. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that any such transaction would be consummated. Any of these transactions or funds may require significant management resources either during the transaction phase or on an ongoing basis depending on the terms of the transaction.
Portfolio and Investment Activity
The total fair value of our investment portfolio was approximately $2.2 billion at September 30, 2019 and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2018. The fair value of our debt investment portfolio at September 30, 2019 was approximately $2.1 billion, compared to a fair value of approximately $1.7 billion at December 31, 2018. The fair value of the equity portfolio at September 30, 2019 was approximately $148.4 million, compared to a fair value of approximately $120.2 million at December 31, 2018. The fair value of the warrant portfolio at September 30, 2019 was approximately $18.9 million, compared to a fair value of approximately $26.7 million at December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Activity
Our investments in portfolio companies take a variety of forms, including unfunded contractual commitments and funded investments. From time to time, unfunded contractual commitments depend upon a portfolio company reaching certain milestones before the debt commitment is available to the portfolio company, which is expected to affect our funding levels. These commitments are subject to the same underwriting and ongoing portfolio maintenance as the on-balance sheet financial instruments that we hold. Debt commitments generally fund over the two succeeding quarters from close. Not all debt commitments represent future cash requirements. Similarly, unfunded contractual commitments may expire without being drawn and thus do not represent future cash requirements.
Prior to entering into a contractual commitment, we generally issue a non-binding term sheet to a prospective portfolio company. Non-binding term sheets are subject to completion of our due diligence and final investment committee approval process, as well as the negotiation of definitive documentation with the prospective portfolio companies. These non-binding term sheets generally convert to contractual commitments in approximately 90 days from signing. Not all non-binding term sheets are expected to close and do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Our portfolio activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018 was comprised of the following:
(in millions)
Debt Commitments (1)
New portfolio company
823.4
969.2
Existing portfolio company
350.8
184.0
1,174.2
1,153.2
Funded and Restructured Debt Investments (2)
468.4
641.6
299.7
258.2
768.1
899.8
Funded Equity Investments
5.1
53.4
11.7
7.6
16.8
61.0
Unfunded Contractual Commitments (3)
167.5
139.0
Non-Binding Term Sheets
186.0
55.5
27.5
213.5
Includes restructured loans and renewals in addition to new commitments.
Funded amounts include borrowings on revolving facilities.
We receive principal payments on our debt investment portfolio based on scheduled amortization of the outstanding balances. In addition, we receive principal repayments for some of our loans prior to their scheduled maturity date. The frequency or volume of these early principal repayments may fluctuate significantly from period to period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we received approximately $424.5 million in aggregate principal repayments. Of the approximately $424.5 million of aggregate principal repayments, approximately $58.5 million were scheduled principal payments and approximately $366.0 million were early principal repayments related to 28 portfolio companies. Of the approximately $366.0 million early principal repayments, approximately $22.2 million were early repayments due to merger and acquisition transactions for two portfolio companies, that are no longer portfolio companies.
Total portfolio investment activity (inclusive of unearned income and excluding activity related to taxes payable, and escrow receivables) as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows:
Beginning portfolio
1,880.4
1,542.2
New fundings and restructures
784.9
960.7
Warrants not related to current period fundings
Principal payments received on investments
(58.5
(90.1
Early payoffs
(366.0
(486.6
Accretion of loan discounts and paid-in-kind principal
32.0
34.9
Net acceleration of loan discounts and loan fees due to
early payoff or restructure
(6.9
(13.5
New loan fees
(12.2
(13.8
Sale of investments
(21.1
(5.9
Loss on investments due to write offs
3.1
(25.1
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
11.0
(22.5
Ending portfolio
2,247.2
As of September 30, 2019, we held warrants or equity positions in four companies that have filed registration statements on Form S-1 with the SEC in contemplation of potential initial public offerings. All four companies filed confidentially under the JOBS Act. There can be no assurance that companies that have yet to complete their initial public offerings will do so in a timely manner or at all.
Changes in Portfolio
We generate revenue in the form of interest income, primarily from our investments in debt securities, and commitment and facility fees. Interest income is recognized in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. Fees generated in connection with our debt investments are recognized over the life of the loan or, in some cases, recognized as earned. In addition, we generate revenue in the form of capital gains, if any, on warrants or other equity-related securities that we acquire from our portfolio companies. Our investments generally range from $12.0 million to $50.0 million, although we may make investments in amounts above or below that range. As of September 30, 2019, our debt investments have a term of between two and seven years and typically bear interest at a rate ranging from approximately 7.8% to approximately 15.7%. In addition to the cash yields received on our debt investments, in some instances, our debt investments may also include any of the following: exit fees, balloon payment fees, commitment fees, success fees, PIK provisions or prepayment fees which may be required to be included in income prior to receipt.
Interest on debt securities is generally payable monthly, with amortization of principal typically occurring over the term of the investment. In addition, our loans may include an interest-only period ranging from three to eighteen months or longer. In limited instances in which we choose to defer amortization of the loan for a period of time from the date of the initial investment, the principal amount of the debt securities and any accrued but unpaid interest become due at the maturity date.
Loan origination and commitment fees received in full at the inception of a loan are deferred and amortized into fee income as an enhancement to the related loan’s yield over the contractual life of the loan. We recognize nonrecurring fees amortized over the remaining term of the loan commencing in the quarter relating to specific loan modifications. We had approximately $42.1 million of unamortized fees at September 30, 2019, of which approximately $34.6 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $7.5 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone. At December 31, 2018, we had approximately $36.3 million of unamortized fees, of which approximately $31.1 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $5.2 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone.
Loan exit fees to be paid at the termination of the loan are accreted into interest income over the contractual life of the loan. At September 30, 2019, we had approximately $32.0 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $29.2 million was included as a component of the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $2.8 million was a deferred receivable related to expired commitments. At December 31, 2018, we had approximately $25.6 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $23.3 million was included as a component of the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $2.3 million was a deferred receivable related to expired commitments.
We have debt investments in our portfolio that contain a PIK provision. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified in each loan agreement, is recorded as interest income and added to the principal balance of the loan on specified capitalization dates. To maintain our ability to be subject to tax as a RIC, this non-cash source of income must be distributed to stockholders with other sources of income in the form of dividend distributions even though we have not yet collected the cash.
Amounts necessary to pay these distributions may come from available cash or the liquidation of certain investments. We recorded approximately $2.2 million and $2.4 million in PIK income during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We recorded approximately $6.6 million and $7.0 million in PIK income in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 respectively.
The core yield on our debt investments, which excludes the effects of fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications and other one-time events and includes income from expired commitments, was 12.4% and 12.7% during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective yield on our debt investments, which includes the effects of fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications and other one-time events, was 13.4% and 13.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The effective yield is derived by dividing total investment income by the weighted average earning investment portfolio assets outstanding during the quarter, excluding non-interest earning assets such as warrants and equity investments. Both the core yield and effective yield may be higher than what our common stockholders may realize as the core yield and effective yield do not reflect our expenses and any sales load paid by our common stockholders. The total yield on our investment portfolio was 12.1% and 12.3% during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The total yield is derived by dividing total investment income by the weighted average investment portfolio assets outstanding during the quarter, including non-interest earning assets such as warrants and equity investments at amortized cost.
The total return for our investors was approximately 29.9% and 7.6% during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The total return equals the change in the ending market value over the beginning of the period price per share plus distributions paid per share during the period, divided by the beginning price assuming the distribution is reinvested on the date of the distribution. The total return does not reflect any sales load that must be paid by investors. See “Note 9 – Financial Highlights” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
Our portfolio companies are primarily privately held companies and public companies which are active in sectors characterized by high margins, high growth rates, consolidation and product and market extension opportunities. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 85.8% of the fair value of our portfolio was composed of investments in five industries: 31.7% was composed of investments in the drug discovery & development industry, 26.1% was composed of investments in the software industry, 18.8% was composed of investments in the internet consumer & business services industry, 4.7% was composed of investments in the healthcare services, other industry, and 4.5% was composed of investments in the medical devices & equipment industry. Value for companies in these sectors is often vested in intangible assets and intellectual property.
Industry and sector concentrations vary as new loans are recorded and loans pay off. Loan revenue, consisting of interest, fees, and recognition of gains on equity and warrants or other equity-related interests, can fluctuate materially when a loan is paid off or a warrant or equity interest is sold. Revenue recognition in any given year can be highly concentrated in several portfolio companies.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018, our ten largest portfolio companies represented approximately 26.6% and 28.2% of the total fair value of our investments in portfolio companies, respectively. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had six and seven investments, respectively, that represented 5% or more of our net assets. At September 30, 2019, we had six equity investments representing approximately 58.7% of the total fair value of our equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of our equity investments. At December 31, 2018, we had five equity investments which represented approximately 53.0% of the total fair value of our equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of our equity investments. No single portfolio investment represents more than 10% of the fair value of our total investments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
As of September 30, 2019, approximately 97.6% of the debt investment portfolio was priced at floating interest rates or floating interest rates with a Prime or LIBOR-based interest rate floor. Changes in interest rates, including Prime and LIBOR rates, may affect the interest income and the value of our investment portfolio for portfolio investments with floating rates.
Our investments in senior secured debt with warrants have detachable equity enhancement features, typically in the form of warrants or other equity-related securities designed to provide us with an opportunity for capital appreciation. These features are treated as OID and are accreted into interest income over the term of the loan as a yield enhancement. Our warrant coverage generally ranges from 3% to 20% of the principal amount invested in a portfolio company, with a strike price generally equal to the most recent equity financing round. As of September 30, 2019, we held warrants in 118 portfolio companies, with a fair value of approximately $18.9 million. The fair value of our warrant portfolio decreased by approximately $7.8 million, as compared to a fair value of $26.7 million at December 31, 2018 primarily related to the decrease in portfolio companies.
Our existing warrant holdings would require us to invest approximately $74.7 million to exercise such warrants as of September 30, 2019. Warrants may appreciate or depreciate in value depending largely upon the underlying portfolio company’s performance and overall market conditions. Of the warrants that we have monetized since inception, we have realized multiples in the range of approximately 1.02x to 29.14x based on the historical rate of return on our investments. However, our warrants may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may experience losses from our warrant portfolio.
Portfolio Grading
We use an investment grading system, which grades each debt investment on a scale of 1 to 5 to characterize and monitor our expected level of risk on the debt investments in our portfolio with 1 being the highest quality. The following table shows the distribution of our outstanding debt investments on the 1 to 5 investment grading scale at fair value as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively:
Investment Grading
Number of Companies
at Fair Value
237,875
11.4
311,597
18.0
1,331,227
64.0
885,123
51.1
479,034
23.1
474,926
27.3
29,650
1.4
60,267
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our debt investments had a weighted average investment grading of 2.17 and 2.18 on a cost basis, respectively. Our policy is to lower the grading on our portfolio companies as they approach the point in time when they will require additional equity capital. Additionally, we may downgrade our portfolio companies if they are not meeting our financing criteria or are underperforming relative to their respective business plans. Various companies in our portfolio will require additional funding in the near term or have not met their business plans and therefore have been downgraded until their funding is complete or their operations improve.
At September 30, 2019, we had three debt investments on non-accrual with a cumulative investment cost and fair value of approximately $9.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively. At December 31, 2018, we had two debt investments on non-accrual with cumulative investment cost of approximately $2.7 million and zero fair value. The increase in the cost of debt investments on non-accrual between September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is the result of the addition of two debt investments, partially offset by the removal of one debt investment that was on non-accrual at December 31, 2018 which resulted in a realized loss of approximately $2.5 million.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
Investment Income
Total investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $69.2 million as compared to approximately $52.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Total investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $197.3 million as compared to approximately $150.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $64.2 million as compared to approximately $49.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $181.4 million as compared to approximately $137.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same periods ended September 30, 2018 is primarily attributable to an increase in recurring interest income caused by an increase in the weighted average principal outstanding of loans.
Of the $64.2 million in interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2019, approximately $61.4 million represents recurring income from the contractual servicing of our loan portfolio and approximately $2.8 million represents income related to the acceleration of income due to early loan repayments and other one-time events during the period. Income from recurring interest and the acceleration of interest income due to early loan repayments represented $47.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of the $49.1 million interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2018.
Of the $181.4 million in interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, approximately $175.3 million represents recurring income from the contractual servicing of our loan portfolio and approximately $6.1 million represents income related to the acceleration of income due to early loan repayments and other one-time events during the period. Income from recurring interest and the acceleration of interest income due to early loan repayments represented $131.9 million and $6.0 million, respectively, of the $137.9 million interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The following table shows the PIK-related activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, at cost:
Beginning PIK interest receivable balance
12,717
PIK interest income during the period
6,558
6,992
PIK accrued (capitalized) to principal but not
recorded as income during the period
(1,472
Payments received from PIK loans
(4,482
(9,473
Realized gain (loss)
Ending PIK interest receivable balance
14,793
11,534
The slight decrease in PIK interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is due to a decrease in the weighted average principal outstanding of loans which bear PIK interest.
Fee income from commitment, facility and loan related fees for the three months ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $5.0 million as compared to approximately $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Fee income from commitment, facility and loan related fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $15.9 million as compared to approximately $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in fee income for both of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 is primarily due to an increase in the acceleration of unamortized fees, one-time fees due to early repayments, and a higher loan balance which generates more fee income.
Of the $5.0 million in fee income for the three months ended September 30, 2019, approximately $2.3 million represents income from recurring fee amortization and approximately $2.7 million represents income related to the acceleration of unamortized fees due to early repayments, including one-time fees of $1.4 million for the period. Income from recurring fee amortization and the acceleration of unamortized fees due to early loan repayments represented $1.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of the $3.5 million in income for the three months ended September 30, 2018.
Of the $15.9 million in fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, approximately $7.0 million represents income from recurring fee amortization and approximately $8.9 million represents income related to the acceleration of unamortized fees due to early repayments, including one-time fees of $4.6 million for the period. Income from recurring fee amortization and the acceleration of unamortized fees due to early loan repayments represented $4.7 million and $8.2 million, respectively, of the $12.9 million in income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
In certain investment transactions, we may earn income from advisory services; however, we had no income from advisory services in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 or 2018.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses are comprised of interest and fees on our borrowings, general and administrative expenses and employee compensation and benefits. Our operating expenses totaled approximately $30.4 million and $23.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our operating expenses totaled approximately $94.1 million and $72.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Interest and Fees on our Borrowings
Interest and fees on our borrowings totaled approximately $15.0 million and $11.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and approximately $45.7 million and $34.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest and fee expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to the same periods ended September 30, 2018, increased due to the issuance of 2027 Asset-Backed Notes in November 2018 and the issuance of our 2028 Asset-Backed Notes in January 2019, as well as interest related to our 2033 Notes and 2025 Notes.
We had a weighted average cost of debt, comprised of interest and fees, of approximately 5.1% and 5.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and a weighted average cost of debt of approximately 5.4% and 5.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in the weighted average cost of debt for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to the same period ended September 30, 2018, is primarily driven by a reduction in the weighted average principal outstanding on our higher yielding debt instruments compared to the prior period.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include legal fees, consulting fees, accounting fees, printer fees, insurance premiums, taxes, rent, expenses associated with the workout of underperforming investments and various other expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased to $6.4 million from $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our general and administrative expenses increased to $16.3 million from $11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Subsequent to the events of March 12, 2019, we received broad document requests from the SEC and are fully cooperating with them. The increase in general and administrative expenses for both of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 is partially due to an increase in legal fees and related expenses associated with such cooperation, as well as the negotiation and settlement with our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. An increase in tax and rent expense are other drivers contributing to the increase in general and administrative expenses for both of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Employee Compensation
Employee compensation and benefits totaled $7.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and $23.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $18.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase between both of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was primarily due to increased variable compensation and payroll related expenses.
Employee stock-based compensation totaled $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $8.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease between the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was primarily due to a settlement with our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and elimination of associated stock-based compensation expense. The slight increase between the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was primarily related to increased stock-based compensation awards and retention rewards.
Net Investment Realized Gains and Losses and Net Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation
Realized gains or losses are measured by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the cost basis of an investment without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, and includes investments written off during the period, net of recoveries. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation primarily reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized.
A summary of realized gains and losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
Realized gains
9,015
4,618
23,957
12,607
Realized losses
(4,208
(1,268
(10,324
(23,088
Net realized gains (losses)
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized net realized gains of $4.8 million and $13.6 million, respectively, on the portfolio. During the three months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded gross realized gains of $9.0 million primarily from the sale our public equity holdings. These gains were partially offset by gross realized losses of $4.2 million primarily from the liquidation or write-off of our debt, equity, or warrant positions during the period.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded gross realized gains of $23.9 million primarily from the sale of public equity positions and sale of our holdings due to merger and acquisition transactions. These gains were offset by gross realized losses of $10.3 million primarily from the liquidation or write-off of our debt, equity, or warrant positions during the period.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized net realized gains of $3.3 million and net realized losses of $10.5 million, respectively, on the portfolio. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded gross realized gains of $4.6 million primarily from the sale or acquisition of our holdings. These gains were offset by gross realized losses of $1.3 million primarily from the liquidation or write-off of our equity and warrant positions during the period.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded gross realized gains of $12.6 million primarily from the sale or acquisition of our holdings. These gains were offset by gross realized losses of $23.1 million primarily from the liquidation or write-off of our debt, equity and warrant positions during the period.
The net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of our investments is based on the fair value of each investment determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. The following table summarizes the change in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Gross unrealized appreciation on portfolio investments
12,341
14,366
100,827
53,133
Gross unrealized depreciation on portfolio investments
(33,595
(9,317
(79,526
(53,684
Reversal of prior period net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) upon a realization event
(4,211
(2,018
(10,278
25,573
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on debt, equity, and warrant investments
(25,465
3,031
11,023
25,022
Other net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
1,056
(54
1,158
954
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded $24.4 million of net unrealized depreciation, of which $25.5 million was net unrealized depreciation from our debt, equity and warrant investments. We recorded $5.8 million of net unrealized depreciation on our debt investments which was primarily related to $9.9 million of net unrealized depreciation on the debt portfolio partially offset by $4.1 million of unrealized appreciation due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon pay-off or write-off of our portfolio companies.
We recorded $13.9 million of net unrealized depreciation on our equity investments and $5.8 million of net unrealized depreciation on our warrant investments during the three months ended September 30, 2019. This net unrealized depreciation of $19.7 million was primarily attributable to $11.5 million of unrealized depreciation on the equity and warrant portfolio and $8.4 million of unrealized depreciation due to the reversal of unrealized appreciation upon acquisition or liquidation of our equity and warrant investments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded $12.2 million of net unrealized appreciation, of which $11.0 million was net unrealized appreciation from our debt, equity and warrant investments. We recorded $1.9 million of net unrealized depreciation on our debt investments which was primarily related to $8.3 million of unrealized depreciation on the debt portfolio and partially offset by $6.4 million of unrealized appreciation primarily due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon pay-off or write-off of our portfolio companies.
We recorded $19.1 million of net unrealized appreciation on our equity investments and $6.2 million of net unrealized depreciation on our warrant investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This net unrealized appreciation of $12.9 million was primarily attributable to $29.6 million of unrealized appreciation on the equity and warrant portfolio partially offset by the $16.7 million of unrealized depreciation due to the reversal of unrealized appreciation upon acquisition or liquidation of our equity and warrant investments.
During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $3.0 million of net unrealized appreciation which was mainly from our debt, equity and warrant investments. We recorded $3.5 million of net unrealized appreciation on our debt investments which was attributable to $4.2 million of unrealized appreciation on the debt portfolio, partially offset by $0.7 million of unrealized depreciation primarily due to the reversal of unrealized appreciation upon pay-off or write-off of our portfolio companies.
We recorded $1.5 million of net unrealized appreciation on our equity investments and $1.9 million of net unrealized depreciation on our warrant investments during the three months ended September 30, 2018. This net unrealized depreciation of $0.4 million was primarily attributable to $1.3 million of unrealized depreciation due to the reversal of unrealized appreciation upon
76
acquisition or liquidation of our equity and warrant investments. This is partially offset by $0.9 million of unrealized appreciation on the equity and warrant portfolio investments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $26.0 million of net unrealized appreciation, of which $25.0 million was net unrealized appreciation from our debt, equity and warrant investments. We recorded $19.3 million of net unrealized appreciation on our debt investments which was primarily related to $24.7 million of unrealized appreciation primarily due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon pay-off or write-off of our portfolio companies. This unrealized appreciation was partially offset by $5.3 million of unrealized depreciation on the debt portfolio.
We recorded $5.6 million of net unrealized appreciation on our equity investments and $0.1 million of net unrealized appreciation on our warrant investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. This net unrealized appreciation of $5.7 million was due to $4.8 million of unrealized appreciation on the equity and warrant portfolio and $0.9 million of unrealized appreciation primarily due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon being realized as a gain or loss due to the acquisition or liquidation of our equity and warrant investments.
Income and Excise Taxes
We account for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes, under which income taxes are provided for amounts currently payable and for amounts deferred based upon the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities given the provisions of the enacted tax law. Valuation allowances may be used to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount likely to be realized. Based upon our previous election and anticipated continued qualification to be subject to taxation as a RIC, we are typically not subject to a material level of federal income taxes. We intend to timely distribute to our stockholders substantially all of our annual taxable income for each year, except that we may retain certain net capital gains for reinvestment and, depending upon the level of taxable income earned in a year, we may choose to carry forward taxable income for distribution in the following year and pay any applicable U.S. federal excise tax.
Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations and Earnings Per Share
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, we had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $19.3 million and for the three months ended September 30, 2018, we had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $35.6 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $129.0 million and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $93.6 million.
Both the basic and fully diluted net change in net assets per common share were $0.18 per share and $1.29 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. Both the basic and fully diluted net change in net assets per common share were $0.37 per share and $1.04 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share for three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes, outstanding options, and restricted stock units under the treasury stock method was considered. The effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes was excluded from these calculations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 as our share price was less than the conversion price in effect which results in anti-dilution.
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
Our liquidity and capital resources are derived from our SBA debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, 2022 Convertible Notes, Credit Facilities 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 borrowings and the proceeds from the turnover of our portfolio and from public and private offerings of securities to finance our investment objectives. We may also raise additional equity or debt capital through registered offerings off a shelf registration, ATM, and private offerings of securities, by securitizing a portion of our investments, or by borrowing from the SBA through our SBIC subsidiaries.
On January 25, 2017, we issued $230.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2022 Convertible Notes, which amount includes the additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount issued pursuant to the initial purchaser’s exercise in full of its overallotment option. The sale generated net proceeds of approximately $225.5 million, including $4.5 million of debt issuance costs. Aggregate issuances costs include the initial purchaser’s discount of approximately $5.2 million, offset by the reimbursement of $1.2 million by the initial purchaser.
On February 24, 2017, we redeemed the $110.4 million remaining outstanding balance of our 2019 Notes in full.
On September 7, 2017, we entered into the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement. The Prior Equity Distribution Agreement, provided that we may offer and sell up to 12.0 million shares of our common stock from time to time through JMP, as our sales agent.
On October 23, 2017, we issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes pursuant to the 2022 Notes Indenture. The sale of the 2022 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $147.4 million, including a public offering discount of $826,500. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions of approximately $975,000, were approximately $1.8 million.
On November 23, 2017, we redeemed $75.0 million of the $258.5 million issued and outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 2024 Notes. On April 2, 2018, we redeemed an additional $100.0 million of the remaining outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes.
On April 26, 2018, we issued $75.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes pursuant to the 2025 Notes Indenture. The sale of the 2025 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $72.4 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions were approximately $2.6 million.
On May 25, 2018, we entered into the amendment to the Union Bank Facility. The amendment amends certain provisions of the Union Bank Facility to increase the commitments thereunder from $75.0 million to $100.0 million.
On June 14, 2018, we closed the June 2018 Equity Offering. The offering generated net proceeds, before expenses, of $81.3 million, including the underwriting discount and commissions of $2.6 million.
On July 13, 2018, we completed repayment of the remaining outstanding HT II debentures and subsequently surrendered the SBA license with respect to HT II.
On July 31, 2018, we entered into a further amendment to the Wells Facility to extend the maturity date and fully repay the pro-rata portion of outstanding balances of Alostar Bank of Commerce and Everbank Commercial Finance Inc., thereby resigning both as lenders and terminating their commitments thereunder.
On September 20, 2018, we issued $40.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2033 Notes pursuant to the 2033 Notes Indenture. The sale of the 2033 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $38.4 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions were approximately $1.6 million.
On November 1, 2018, we issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes. The sale of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $197.0 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions were approximately $3.0 million.
On December 7, 2018, our Board of Directors approved a full redemption, in two equal transactions, of $83.5 million of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes. The 2024 Notes were fully redeemed on January 14, 2019 and February 4, 2019.
On December 17, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan permitting us to repurchase up to $25.0 million of our common stock until June 18, 2019, after which the plan expired. We had no common stock repurchases during 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we repurchased 376,466 shares of our common stock at an average price per share of $10.77 and a total cost of approximately $4.1 million.
On January 11, 2019, Hercules Funding II entered into the Wells Facility Seventh Amendment. The Wells Facility Seventh Amendment, among other things, amends certain key provisions of the Wells Facility to reduce the current interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.00% with a natural floor of 3.00% and extends the maturity date to January 2023. In addition, the Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC has committed $75.0 million in credit capacity under a $125.0 million accordion credit facility, subject to borrowing base, leverage and other restrictions.
On January 22, 2019, we issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes. The sale of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $247.1 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions were approximately $2.9 million.
On February 20, 2019, we, through a special purpose wholly owned subsidiary, Hercules Funding IV, as borrower, entered the Union Bank Facility. The Union Bank Facility replaced the Prior Union Bank Facility. Any references to amounts related to the Union Bank Facility prior to February 20, 2019 were incurred and relate to the Prior Union Bank Facility. Under the Union Bank Credit Facility, the lenders have made commitments of $200.0 million.
On May 6, 2019, we terminated the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement and entered into the Equity Distribution Agreement. As a result, the remaining shares that were available under the Prior Equity Distribution agreement are no longer available for issuance. The Equity Distribution Agreement provides that we may offer and sell up to 12.0 million shares of our common stock from time to time through JMP, as our sales agent. Sales of our common stock, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE or similar securities exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we sold 679,000 shares of common stock under the Prior Equity Distribution Agreement and 1.3 million shares of common stock under the Equity Distribution Agreement. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 10.7 million shares remain available for issuance and sale under the Equity Distribution Agreement.
On June 17, 2019, we closed the June 2019 Equity Offering. The offering generated net proceeds, before expenses, of $70.5 million, including the underwriting discount and commissions of $2.2 million.
On June 28, 2019, Hercules Funding IV entered into the Union Bank Facility Amendment to the Union Bank Facility. The Union Bank Facility Amendment amends certain provisions of the Union Bank Facility to, among other things, (i) delete the financial covenant with respect to maintaining minimum portfolio funding liquidity, (ii) add a covenant prohibiting Hercules Funding IV from acquiring or owning unfunded commitments to makers of certain notes receivable, and (iii) revise certain provisions thereof to further permit a third party special servicer to act as servicer after an event of default instead of us with respect to split-funded notes receivable owned by Hercules Funding IV and an affiliate thereof (including Hercules Funding II).
On July 2, 2019, Hercules Funding II entered into the Wells Facility Eighth Amendment. The Wells Facility Eighth Amendment amends certain provisions of the Wells Facility to, among other things, revise certain provisions thereof to further permit a third party special servicer to act as servicer after an event of default instead of us with respect to split-funded notes receivable owned by Hercules Funding II and an affiliate thereof (including Hercules Funding IV).
On July 16, 2019, we issued $105.0 million in aggregate principal amount of July 2024 Notes. The sale of the July 2024 Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $103.7 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions, were approximately $1.3 million.
At September 30, 2019, we had $149.0 million of SBA debentures, $150.0 million of 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of July 2024 Notes, $75.0 million of 2025 Notes, $40.0 million of 2033 Notes, $200.0 million of 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $250.0 million of 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of 2022 Convertible Notes payable, along with no outstanding borrowings on the Wells Facility, and $11.6 million of borrowings outstanding on the Union Bank Facility.
At September 30, 2019, we had $284.4 million in available liquidity, including $21.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. We had available borrowing capacity of $75.0 million under the Wells Facility and $188.4 million under the Union Bank Facility, both subject to existing terms, borrowing base, advance rates and regulatory requirements. We primarily invest cash on hand in interest bearing deposit accounts.
At September 30, 2019, we had $74.5 million of capital outstanding in restricted accounts related to our SBIC. With our net investment of $74.5 million in HT III, we have the capacity to issue a total of $149.0 million of SBA guaranteed debentures, subject to SBA approval. At September 30, 2019, we have issued $149.0 million in SBA guaranteed debentures in our SBIC subsidiaries. As we are past our investment period for HT III, we will no longer make any future commitments to new portfolio companies. We will only satisfy contractually agreed follow-on fundings to existing portfolio companies and may seek to early pay-off a portion or all of the outstanding debentures as per the available liquidity in HT III.
At September 30, 2019, we had approximately $14.9 million of restricted cash, which consists of collections of interest and principal payments on assets that are securitized. In accordance with the terms of the related securitized 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, based on current characteristics of the securitized debt investment portfolios, the restricted funds may be used to pay monthly interest and principal on the securitized debt with any excess distributed to us or available for our general operations.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we principally funded our operations from (i) cash receipts from interest, dividend and fee income from our investment portfolio and (ii) cash proceeds from the realization of portfolio investments through the repayments of debt investments and the sale of debt and equity investments, (iii) debt offerings along with borrowings on our credit facilities, and (iv) equity offerings.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our operating activities used $226.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared to $115.4 million used during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. This $111.4 million increase in cash used in operating activities is primarily related to an increase of $78.7 million investment purchases and decrease of $79.5 million in principal and fee payments received on investments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our investing activities used approximately $484,000 of cash, compared to $325,000 used during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The $159,000 increase in cash used in investing activities was due to an increase in purchase of capital equipment.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our financing activities provided $217.3 million of cash, compared to $66.3 million provided during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The net change of $151.0 million increase in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to the issuance of 2028 Asset-backed notes of $250.0 million, and issuance of the July 2024 Notes of $105.0 million, partially offset by $122.3 million increase in repayment of the credit facilities.
As of September 30, 2019, net assets totaled $1.1 billion, with a NAV per share of $10.38. We intend to continue to operate in order to generate cash flows from operations, including income earned from investments in our portfolio companies. Our primary use of funds will be investments in portfolio companies and cash distributions to holders of our common stock.
The SBCAA, which was signed into law in March 2018, decreased the minimum asset coverage ratio in Section 61(a) of the 1940 Act for business development companies from 200% to 150% (subject to either stockholder approval or approval of both a majority of the board of directors and a majority of directors who are not interested persons). On September 4, 2018 and December 6, 2018, our Board of Directors, including a “required majority” (as such term is defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act) and our stockholders, respectively, approved the application to us of the 150% minimum asset coverage ratio set forth in Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act. As a result, effective December 7, 2018, the asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act applicable to us decreased from 200% to 150%, permitting us to incur additional leverage. As of September 30, 2019, our asset coverage ratio under our regulatory requirements as a BDC was 202.1% excluding our SBA debentures as a result of our exemptive order from the SEC that allows us to exclude all SBA leverage from our asset coverage ratio. As a result of the SEC exemptive order, our ratio of total assets on a consolidated basis to outstanding indebtedness may be less than 150%, which while providing increased investment flexibility, also may increase our exposure to risks associated with leverage. Total asset coverage when including our SBA debentures was 189.5% at September 30, 2019.
Refer to “Note 4 – Borrowings” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report for a discussion of our borrowings.
Commitments
In the normal course of business, we are party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. These consist primarily of unfunded contractual commitments to extend credit, in the form of loans, to our portfolio companies. Unfunded contractual commitments to provide funds to portfolio companies are not reflected on our balance sheet. Our unfunded contractual commitments may be significant from time to time. A portion of these unfunded contractual commitments are dependent upon the portfolio company reaching certain milestones before the debt commitment becomes available. Furthermore, our credit agreements contain customary lending provisions which allow us relief from funding obligations for previously made commitments in instances where the underlying company experiences materially adverse events that affect the financial condition or business outlook for the company. These commitments will be subject to the same underwriting and ongoing portfolio maintenance as are the on-balance sheet financial instruments that we hold. Since these commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. As such, our disclosure of unfunded contractual commitments includes only those which are available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by milestones.
At September 30, 2019, we had approximately $167.5 million of unfunded commitments, including undrawn revolving facilities, which were available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by milestones. We intend to use cash flow from normal and early principal repayments, and proceeds from borrowings and notes to fund these commitments.
We also had approximately $213.5 million of non-binding term sheets outstanding to five new companies and one existing company, which generally convert to contractual commitments within approximately 90 days of signing. Non-binding outstanding term sheets are subject to completion of our due diligence and final investment committee approval process, as well as the negotiation
80
of definitive documentation with the prospective portfolio companies. Not all non-binding term sheets are expected to close and do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
The fair value of our unfunded commitments is considered to be immaterial as the yield determined at the time of underwriting is expected to be materially consistent with the yield upon funding, given that interest rates are generally pegged to market indices and given the existence of milestones, conditions and/or obligations imbedded in the borrowing agreements.
Contractual Obligations
The following table shows our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2019:
Excludes commitments to extend credit to our portfolio companies.
Includes $149.0 million principal outstanding under the SBA debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $75.0 million of the 2025 Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $200.0 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $250.0 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes, and $11.6 million under the Union Bank Credit Facility as of September 30, 2019. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Wells Facility as of September 30, 2019.
Certain premises are leased or licensed under agreements which expire at various dates through June 2027. Total rent expense, including short-term leases, amounted to approximately $764,000 and $2.0 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and approximately $522,000 and $1.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements are intended to provide our directors and executive officers the maximum indemnification permitted under Maryland law and the 1940 Act. Each indemnification agreement provides that we shall indemnify the director or executive officer who is a party to the agreement, or an “Indemnitee,” including the advancement of legal expenses, if, by reason of his or her corporate status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to or a witness in any threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and the 1940 Act.
We and our executives and directors are covered by Directors and Officers Insurance, with the directors and officers being indemnified by us to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law subject to the restrictions in the 1940 Act.
Our Board of Directors maintains a variable distribution policy with the objective of distributing four quarterly distributions in an amount that approximates 90% - 100% of our taxable quarterly income or potential annual income for a particular taxable year. In addition, at the end of our taxable year, our Board of Directors may choose to pay an additional special distribution, or fifth distribution, so that we may distribute approximately all of our annual taxable income in the taxable year in which it was earned, or may elect to maintain the option to spill over our excess taxable income into the following taxable year as part of any future distribution payments.
Distributions from our taxable income (including gains) to a stockholder generally will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of such stockholder’s allocable share of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would generally be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of a stockholder’s tax basis in our shares, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. The determination of the tax attributes of our distributions is made annually as of the end of our taxable year based upon our taxable income for the full taxable year and distributions paid for the full taxable year. As a result, any determination of the tax attributes of our distributions made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes of our distributions for a full taxable year. Of the distributions declared during the year ended December 31, 2018, 100% were distributions derived from our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, we declared and paid a distribution of $0.34 per share. If we had determined the tax attributes of our distributions year-to-date as of September 30, 2019, 100% would be from our current and accumulated earnings and profits. However, there can be no certainty to stockholders that this determination is representative of what the tax attributes of our 2019 distributions to stockholders will actually be.
We maintain an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of our distribution on behalf of our stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. As a result, if our Board of Directors authorizes, and we declare a cash distribution, then our stockholders who have not “opted out” of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distribution automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash distributions.
Shortly after the close of each calendar year information identifying the source of the distribution (i.e., paid from ordinary income, paid from net capital gains on the sale of securities, and/or a return of paid-in-capital surplus which is a nontaxable distribution, if any) will be provided to our stockholders subject to information reporting. To the extent our taxable earnings fall below the total amount of our distributions for any taxable year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a tax return of capital to our stockholders.
We expect to qualify to be subject to tax as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to be subject to tax as a RIC, we are required to satisfy certain annual gross income and quarterly asset composition tests, as well as make distributions to our stockholders each taxable year treated as dividends for federal income tax purposes of an amount at least equal to 90% of the sum of our investment company taxable income, determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid, plus our net tax-exempt income, if any. Upon being eligible to be subject to tax as a RIC, we would be entitled to deduct such distributions we pay to our stockholders in determining the overall components of our “taxable income.” Components of our taxable income include our taxable interest, dividend and fee income, reduced by certain deductions, as well as taxable net realized securities gains. Taxable income generally differs from net income for financial reporting purposes due to temporary and permanent differences in the recognition of income and expenses and generally excludes net unrealized appreciation or depreciation as such gains or losses are not included in taxable income until they are realized. In connection with maintaining our ability to be subject to tax as a RIC, among other things, we have made and intend to continue to make the requisite distributions to our stockholders each taxable year, which generally should relieve us from corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes.
As a RIC, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain undistributed income and gains unless we make distributions treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a timely manner to our stockholders in respect of each calendar year of an amount at least equal to the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement. We will not be subject to this excise tax on any amount on which we incurred U.S. federal corporate income tax (such as the tax imposed on a RIC’s retained net capital gains).
Depending on the level of taxable income earned in a taxable year, we may choose to carry over taxable income in excess of current taxable year distributions treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes from such taxable income into the next taxable year and incur a 4% excise tax on such taxable income, as required. The maximum amount of excess taxable income that may be carried over for distribution in the next taxable year under the Code is the total amount of distributions treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes paid in the following taxable year, subject to certain declaration and payment guidelines. To the extent we choose to carry over taxable income into the next taxable year, distributions declared and paid by us in a taxable year may differ from our taxable income for that taxable year as such distributions may include the distribution of current taxable year taxable income, the distribution of prior taxable year taxable income carried over into and distributed in the current taxable year, or returns of capital.
We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings. Our ability to make distributions will be limited by the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act.
We intend to timely distribute to our stockholders substantially all of our annual taxable income for each year, except that we may retain certain net capital gains for reinvestment and, depending upon the level of taxable income earned in a year, we may choose to carry forward taxable income for distribution in the following year and pay any applicable U.S. federal excise tax.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the period reported. On an ongoing basis, our management evaluates its estimates and assumptions, which are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in our estimates and assumptions could materially impact our results of operations and financial condition.
The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements is the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded.
At September 30, 2019, approximately 97.0% of our total assets represented investments in portfolio companies whose fair value is determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Value, as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, is (i) the market price for those securities for which a market quotation is readily available and (ii) for all other securities and assets, fair value is as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Our investments are carried at fair value in accordance with the 1940 Act and ASC Topic 946 and measured in accordance with ASC Topic 820. Our debt securities are primarily invested in venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare and sustainable and renewable technology at all stages of development. Given the nature of lending to these types of businesses, substantially all of our investments in these portfolio companies are considered Level 3 assets under ASC Topic 820 because there is no known or accessible market or market indexes for these investment securities to be traded or exchanged. As such, we value substantially all of our investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to a consistent valuation policy by our Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 820 and the 1940 Act. Due to the inherent uncertainty in determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments determined in good faith by our Board of Directors may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a readily available market existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.
We intend to continue to engage an independent valuation firm to provide us with valuation assistance regarding our determination of the fair value of selected portfolio investments each quarter unless directed by the Board of Directors to cancel such valuation services. Specifically, on a quarterly basis, we will identify portfolio investments with respect to which an independent valuation firm will assist in valuing. We select these portfolio investments based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the potential for material fluctuations in valuation results, credit quality and the time lapse since the last valuation of the portfolio investment by an independent valuation firm. The scope of the services rendered by an independent valuation firm is at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is ultimately, and solely, responsible for determining the fair value of our investments in good faith.
Refer to “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report for a discussion of our valuation policies for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.
See “— Changes in Portfolio” for a discussion of our income recognition policies and results during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. See “— Results of Operations” for a comparison of investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
Stock Based Compensation
We have issued and may, from time to time, issue stock options and restricted stock to employees under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan. We follow the guidelines set forth under ASC Topic 718 to account for stock options granted. Under ASC Topic 718, compensation expense associated with stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the vesting period. Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rate and expected option life.
Subsequent Events
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is defined as the sensitivity of our current and future earnings to interest rate volatility, variability of spread relationships, the difference in re-pricing intervals between our assets and liabilities and the effect that interest rates may have on our cash flows. Changes in interest rates may affect both our cost of funding and our interest income from portfolio investments, cash and cash equivalents and idle fund investments. Our investment income will be affected by changes in various interest rates, including LIBOR and Prime rates, to the extent our debt investments include variable interest rates. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 97.6% of the loans in our portfolio had variable rates based on floating Prime or LIBOR rates with a floor. Our borrowings under the Credit Facilities bear interest at a floating rate and the borrowings under our SBA debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2022 Convertible Notes bear interest at a fixed rate. Changes in interest rates can also affect, among other things, our ability to acquire and originate loans and securities and the value of our investment portfolio.
Based on our Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of September 30, 2019, the following table shows the approximate annualized increase (decrease) in components of net assets resulting from operations of hypothetical base rate changes in interest rates, assuming no changes in our investments and borrowings.
Basis Point Change
Income
Expense
EPS
(75)
(6,790
(7
(6,783
(0.07
(50)
(4,867
(5
(4,862
(0.05
(25)
(2,615
(2
(2,613
3,051
0.03
6,346
6,341
10,896
10,889
0.10
15,646
15,636
0.15
35,797
35,778
We do not currently engage in any hedging activities. However, we may, in the future, hedge against interest rate fluctuations (and foreign currency) by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options, and forward contracts. While hedging activities may insulate us against changes in interest rates (and foreign currency), they may also limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our borrowed funds and higher interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we did not engage in interest rate (or foreign currency) hedging activities.
Although we believe that the foregoing analysis is indicative of our sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for potential changes in the credit market, credit quality, size and composition of the assets in our portfolio. It also does not adjust for other business developments, including borrowings under our SBA debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, 2022 Convertible Notes and Credit Facilities that could affect the net increase in net assets resulting from operations, or net income. It also does not assume any repayments from borrowers. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above.
Because we currently borrow, and plan to borrow in the future, money to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest the funds borrowed. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which could reduce our net investment income if there is not a corresponding increase in interest income generated by variable rate assets in our investment portfolio.
For additional information regarding the interest rate associated with each of our, SBA debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, 2022 Convertible Notes, and Credit Facilities, refer to Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Outstanding Borrowings” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and “Note 4 – Borrowings” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our chief executive and chief financial officers, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our chief executive and chief financial officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive and chief financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financing reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We may, from time to time, be involved in litigation arising out of our operations in the normal course of business or otherwise. Furthermore, third parties may try to seek to impose liability on us in connection with the activities of our portfolio companies. While the outcome of any current legal proceedings cannot at this time be predicted with certainty, we do not expect any current matters will materially affect our financial condition or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance whether any pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations in any future reporting period.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the risks discussed below, important risk factors that could cause results or events to differ from current expectations are described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2019 (the “Annual Report”).
If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could fail to qualify as a business development company or be precluded from investing according to our current business strategy.
As a business development company, we may not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” as defined under the 1940 Act, unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets. See “Item 1. Business –Regulation” of our Annual Report.
We believe that most of the senior loans we make will constitute qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could lose our status as a business development company, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a rise in the equity markets may result in increased market valuations of certain of our existing and prospective portfolio companies, which may lead to new investments with such companies being qualified as non-eligible portfolio company assets and would require that we invest in qualified assets going forward. Similarly, these rules could prevent us from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position) or could require us to dispose of investments at inopportune times in order to comply with the 1940 Act. If we need to dispose of such investments quickly, it would be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. For example, we may have difficulty in finding a buyer and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss. Although we are exploring alternatives, such as entering into joint venture arrangements, to increase our flexibility to make investments in assets that are not qualifying assets, there can be no assurance that we will ultimately pursue such alternatives or that such alternatives will achieve this goal.
As an internally managed business development company, we are dependent upon key management personnel for their time availability and for our future success, particularly Scott Bluestein, and if we are not able to hire and retain qualified personnel, or if we lose any member of our senior management team, our ability to implement our business strategy could be significantly harmed.
As an internally managed business development company, our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to make distributions to our stockholders depends upon the performance of our senior management. We depend upon the members of our senior management, particularly Mr. Bluestein, as well as other key personnel for the identification, final selection, structuring, closing and monitoring of our investments. These employees have critical industry experience and relationships on which we rely to implement our business plan. If we lose the services of Mr. Bluestein or any senior management members, we may not be able to operate the business as we expect, and our ability to compete could be harmed, which could cause our operating results to suffer. Furthermore, we do not have an employment agreement with Mr. Bluestein or our senior management that restricts them from creating new investment vehicles subject to compliance with applicable law. We believe our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to identify, attract and retain sufficient numbers of highly skilled employees. If we do not succeed in identifying, attracting and retaining such personnel, we may not be able to operate our business as we expect. In connection with our recruiting, branding and marketing efforts, we may, among other things, make charitable contributions in amounts we believe to be immaterial and that do not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate in any year. We believe that many of these contributions help us raise our profile in the communities and benefit us in attracting and retaining talent and investment opportunities.
As an internally managed business development company, our compensation structure is determined and set by our Board of Directors. This structure currently includes salary and bonus and incentive compensation, which is issued through grants and subsequent vesting of restricted stock. We are not generally permitted by the 1940 Act to employ an incentive compensation structure
that directly ties performance of our investment portfolio and results of operations to compensation owing to our granting of restricted stock as incentive compensation.
Members of our senior management may receive offers of more flexible and attractive compensation arrangements from other companies, particularly from investment advisers to externally managed business development companies that are not subject to the same limitations on incentive-based compensation that we, as an internally managed business development company are subject to. We do not currently have agreements with certain members of our senior management that prohibit them from leaving and competing with our business and certain States limit our ability to have such agreements. A departure by one or more members of our senior management could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates which could adversely affect our profitability or the value of our portfolio.
General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on our investments and investment opportunities, and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our investment objective and rate of return on investment capital. A portion of our income will depend upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the interest rate on the debt securities in which we invest. Because we will borrow money to make investments and may issue debt securities, preferred stock or other securities, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities, preferred stock or other securities and the rate at which we invest these funds. Typically, we anticipate that our interest-earning investments will accrue and pay interest at both variable and fixed rates, and that our interest-bearing liabilities will generally accrue interest at fixed rates.
A significant increase in market interest rates could harm our ability to attract new portfolio companies and originate new loans and investments. In addition to potentially increasing the cost of our debt, increasing interest rates may also have a negative impact on our portfolio companies’ ability to repay or service their loans, which could enhance the risk of loan defaults. We expect that most of our current initial investments in debt securities will be at floating rate with a floor. However, in the event that we make investments in debt securities at variable rates, a significant increase in market interest rates could also result in an increase in our non-performing assets and a decrease in the value of our portfolio because our floating-rate loan portfolio companies may be unable to meet higher payment obligations. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 97.6% of our loans were at floating rates or floating rates with a floor and 2.4% of the loans were at fixed rates.
In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, resulting in a decrease in our net investment income. In addition, a decrease in interest rates may reduce net income, because new investments may be made at lower rates despite the increased demand for our capital that the decrease in interest rates may produce. We may, but will not be required to, hedge against the risk of adverse movement in interest rates in our short-term and long-term borrowings relative to our portfolio of assets. If we engage in hedging activities, it may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged portfolio. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Additionally, in July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of this announcement as there is no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate. In addition, any further changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market value for or value of any LIBOR-linked securities, loans, and other financial obligations or extensions of credit held by or due to us and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to renegotiate the credit agreements extending beyond 2021 with our portfolio companies that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate and our existing Credit Facilities to replace LIBOR with the new standard that is established.
Our financial results could be negatively affected if a significant portfolio investment fails to perform as expected.
Our total investment in companies may be significant individually or in the aggregate. As a result, if a significant investment in one or more companies fails to perform as expected, our financial results could be more negatively affected and the magnitude of the loss could be more significant than if we had made smaller investments in more companies. The following table shows the fair value of the totals of investments held in portfolio companies at September 30, 2019 that represent greater than 5% of our net assets:
Percentage of Net Assets
BridgeBio Pharma LLC
80,276
7.4
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
72,176
6.6
EverFi, Inc.
5.6
5.3
Lithium Technologies, Inc.
5.0
BridgeBio Pharma LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops drugs for patients with genetic diseases.
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies based upon its expertise in novel tetracycline chemistry.
EverFi, Inc. is a technology company that offers a web-based media platform to teach and certify students in the core concepts of financial literacy, from student loan defaults and sub-prime mortgages to credit card debt and rising bankruptcy rates.
Oak Street Health operates primary care clinics and healthcare centers that provides healthcare facilities for Medicare eligible beneficiaries, and it serves patients in the United States.
Businessolver.com, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based SaaS platform for employee benefit administration designed to manage and monitor enrollment and payroll dashboards with real-time data.
Lithium Technologies, Inc. is technology company that develops a software platform that helps customers to connect, engage, and understand their total community.
Our financial results could be materially adversely affected if these portfolio companies or any of our other significant portfolio companies encounter financial difficulty and fail to repay their obligations or to perform as expected.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we issued 132,040 shares of common stock to stockholders in connection with the dividend reinvestment plan. These issuances were not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The aggregate value of the shares of our common stock issued under our dividend reinvestment plan was approximately $1.7 million.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not Applicable
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
ExhibitNumber
10.1
Eighth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2019, by and among Hercules Funding II LLC, as borrower, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (f/k/a Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC), as the arranger and the administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time. (1)
10.2
Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2019, by and among Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as arranger and administrative agent, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as arranger and administrative agent, Hercules Funding II LLC, Hercules Funding IV LLC, Hercules Capital, Inc., and U.S. Bank National Association, as special servicer. (1)
10.3
Separation Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2019, by and between Hercules Capital, Inc. and Manuel Henriquez.(2)
10.4
Note Purchase Agreement, dated July 16, 2019, by and among Hercules Capital, Inc. and the Purchasers party thereto.(3)
10.5*
Form of Amended and Restated Global Custody Agreement, by and between Hercules Capital, Inc. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
31.1*
Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Filed herewith.
Previously filed as part of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, as filed on July 3, 2019.
Previously filed as part of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, as filed on August 1, 2019.
Previously filed as part of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, as filed on July 16, 2019.
Schedule 12 – 14
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES
Amount of Interest Credited to Income (2)
Realized Gain (Loss)
As of December 31, 2018 Fair Value
Gross Additions (3)
Gross Reductions (4)
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
As of September 30, 2019 Fair Value
Majority Owned Control Investments
8,450
610
Total Majority Owned Control Investments
Other Control Investments
Tectura Corporation(5)
483
Total Other Control Investments
520
Preferred Warrants
1,631
(583
1,610
(110
(3,115
3,241
Total Control and Affiliate Investments
79,115
3,761
Stock and warrants are generally non-income producing and restricted.
Represents the total amount of interest or dividends credited to income for the period an investment was an affiliate or control investment.
Gross additions include increases in the cost basis of investments resulting from new portfolio investments, paid-in-kind interest or dividends, the amortization of discounts and closing fees and the exchange of one or more existing securities for one or more new securities.
Gross reductions include decreases in the cost basis of investments resulting from principal repayments or sales and the exchange of one or more existing securities for one or more new securities. Gross reductions also include previously recognized depreciation on investments that become control or affiliate investments during the period.
As of March 31, 2017, the Company's investment in Tectura Corporation became classified as a control investment as of result of obtaining more than 50% representation on the portfolio company's board. In May 2018, the Company purchased common shares, thereby obtaining greater than 25% of voting securities of Tectura as of June 30, 2018.
As of September 30, 2017, the Company's investment in Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) became classified as an affiliate investment due to a reduction in equity ownership. Note that this investment was classified as a control investment as of June 30, 2017 after the Company obtained a controlling financial interest.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company's investment in Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC became classified as a control investment as a result of obtaining a controlling financial interest.
91
Industry
Type of Investment (1)
Interest Rate and Floor
or Shares
Cost
Value (2)
Preferred Series A Equity
42,772
Total Majority Owned Control Investments (4.51%)*
Interest rate FIXED 6.00%,
PIK Interest 3.00%
Preferred Series BB Equity
22,547
Total Other Control Investments (0.88%)*
Total Control Investments (5.39%)*
65,319
Preferred Series B Equity
Preferred Series C Equity
Preferred Series D Equity
Preferred Series E Equity
Preferred Series E Warrants
Total Optiscan BioMedical, Corp.
13,723
Common Warrants
74,515
Total Affiliate Investments (1.93%)*
88,238
Total Control and Affiliate Investments (7.32%)*
153,557
All of the Company’s control and affiliate investments are Level 3 investments valued using significant unobservable inputs.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. (Registrant)
Dated: October 30, 2019
/S/ SCOTT BLUESTEIN
Scott Bluestein
President, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chief Investment Officer
/S/ SETH H. MEYER
Seth H. Meyer
Chief Financial Officer, and
Chief Accounting Officer