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 March 31, 2021
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 April 22, 2021, there were 115,743,245 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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)
5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)
7
Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of March 31, 2021 (unaudited)
8
Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2020
19
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
30
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
64
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
81
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
82
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
83
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
85
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
86
SIGNATURES
89
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, unless the context otherwise requires.
ITEM 1.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(in thousands, except per share data)
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
(unaudited)
Assets
Investments, at fair value:
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments (cost of $2,253,503 and $2,175,651, respectively)
$
2,385,998
2,288,338
Control investments (cost of $74,849 and $65,257, respectively)
68,693
57,400
Affiliate investments (cost of $75,450 and $74,450, respectively)
9,664
8,340
Total investments, at fair value (cost of $2,403,802 and $2,315,358, respectively)
2,464,355
2,354,078
Cash and cash equivalents
74,987
198,282
Restricted cash
11,829
39,340
Interest receivable
20,597
19,077
Right of use asset
8,666
9,278
Other assets
3,417
3,942
Total assets
2,583,851
2,623,997
Liabilities
Debt (net of debt issuance costs - Note 5)
1,231,298
1,286,638
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
28,300
36,343
Operating lease liability
8,859
9,312
Total liabilities
1,268,457
1,332,293
Net assets consist of:
Common stock, par value
116
115
Capital in excess of par value
1,160,519
1,158,198
Total distributable earnings
154,759
133,391
Total net assets
1,315,394
1,291,704
Total liabilities and net assets
Shares of common stock outstanding ($0.001 par value and 200,000,000 authorized)
115,768
114,726
Net asset value per share
11.36
11.26
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 5 - Debt”), 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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities above.
(Dollars in thousands)
Restricted Cash
2027 Asset-Backed Notes, investments in securities, at value (cost of $233,864 and $267,657, respectively)
235,476
269,551
2028 Asset-Backed Notes, investments in securities, at value (cost of $340,592 and $355,236, respectively)
340,620
356,097
587,925
664,988
2027 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $131,545 and $180,988, respectively) (1)
130,016
178,812
2028 Asset-Backed Notes, net (principal of $221,434 and $250,000, respectively) (1)
219,413
247,647
349,429
426,459
(1)
The Company’s 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes are presented net of the associated debt issuance costs. See “Note 5 – Debt”.
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31,
2021
2020
Investment income:
Interest income
Non-control/Non-affiliate investments
62,982
65,338
Control investments
799
646
Affiliate investments
1
220
Total interest income
63,782
66,204
Fee income
Commitment, facility and loan fee income
3,403
4,196
—
Total commitment, facility and loan fee income
3,411
4,201
One-time fee income
1,566
3,214
Total one-time fee income
Total fee income
4,977
7,415
Total investment income
68,759
73,619
Operating expenses:
Interest
14,750
14,532
Loan fees
2,800
1,794
General and administrative
Legal expenses
428
899
Tax expenses
1,438
1,135
Other expenses
3,168
4,025
Total general and administrative
5,034
6,059
Employee compensation
Compensation and benefits
9,804
8,214
Stock-based compensation
2,744
2,440
Total employee compensation
12,548
10,654
Total gross operating expenses
35,132
33,039
Expenses allocated to the Adviser Subsidiary
(933
)
Total net operating expenses
34,199
Net investment income
34,560
40,580
Net realized and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments:
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
7,770
6,967
Total net realized gain (loss) on investments
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
18,022
(58,430
1,702
(7,851
2,109
(9,989
Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
21,833
(76,270
Total net realized and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments:
29,603
(69,303
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
64,163
(28,723
Net investment income before investment gains and losses per common share:
Basic
0.30
0.37
Change in net assets resulting from operations per common share:
0.56
(0.27
Diluted
0.55
Weighted average shares outstanding
114,304
108,955
114,803
Distributions paid per common share:
0.40
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
(dollars and shares in thousands)
Capital in
Distributable
Common Stock
excess
Earnings
Net
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Shares
Par Value
of par value
(loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2020
Public offering, net of offering expenses
(195
Issuance of common stock due to stock option exercises
222
2,745
Retired shares from net issuance
(50
(603
Issuance of common stock under restricted stock plan
924
(1
Retired shares for restricted stock vesting
(121
(3,181
Distributions reinvested in common stock
67
1,040
Distributions
(42,795
Stock-based compensation (1)
2,516
Balance as of March 31, 2021
Stock-based compensation includes $25 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Balance as of December 31, 2019
107,364
108
1,145,106
(12,165
1,133,049
2,441
34,960
34,962
29
362
(24
(376
749
(17
(880
59
827
(44,223
2,082
Balance as of March 31, 2020
110,601
111
1,182,080
(85,111
1,097,080
Stock-based compensation includes $21 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from
operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchases of investments
(355,333
(233,612
Purchases assigned to External Funds
48,353
Principal and fee payments received on investments
209,747
167,511
Proceeds from the sale of investments
12,973
17,076
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments
(21,833
76,270
Net realized (gain) loss on investments
(7,770
(6,967
Accretion of paid-in-kind principal
(2,475
(2,130
Accretion of loan discounts
(1,176
(1,147
Accretion of loan discount on convertible notes
168
Accretion of loan exit fees
(5,744
(6,265
Change in deferred loan origination revenue
13,414
1,319
Unearned fees related to unfunded commitments
(1,505
(463
Amortization of debt fees and issuance costs
2,156
1,332
Depreciation
94
126
Stock-based compensation and amortization of restricted stock grants (1)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
(1,520
1,070
1,849
(4,100
Accounts payable
(16
Accrued liabilities
(8,496
(8,233
Net cash used in operating activities
(50,419
(24,702
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of capital equipment
(12
(29
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net
Retirement of employee shares
(1,039
(895
Distributions paid
(41,755
(43,396
Issuance of debt
342,218
292,026
Repayments of debt
(397,727
(313,569
Debt issuance costs
(1,842
(618
Fees paid for credit facilities and debentures
(35
(2,433
Net cash used in financing activities
(100,375
(33,923
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(150,806
(58,654
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
237,622
114,996
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
86,816
56,342
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities:
Interest paid
17,359
17,491
Income tax, including excise tax, paid
3,488
2,309
Distributions reinvested
Stock-based compensation includes $25 and $21 of restricted stock and option expense related to director compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities that sum to the total of the same such amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
34,282
22,060
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.
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
Communications & Networking
1-5 Years Maturity
Cytracom Holdings LLC (11)(17)(18)
Senior Secured
February 2025
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.25% or Floor rate of 10.25%
7,000
6,828
Subtotal: 1-5 Years Maturity
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.53%)*
Diversified Financial Services
Greater than 5 Years Maturity
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC (7)
Unsecured
September 2026
Interest rate FIXED 14.50%
15,000
14,628
14,112
Interest rate FIXED 11.50%
10,000
9,802
Total Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC
25,000
24,430
23,914
Subtotal: Greater than 5 Years Maturity
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (1.82%)*
Drug Delivery
Antares Pharma Inc. (10)(11)(15)
July 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 4.14% Exit Fee
40,000
41,229
41,522
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (3.16%)*
Drug Discovery & Development
Under 1 Year Maturity
Acacia Pharma Inc. (5)(10)(11)
January 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 3.95% Exit Fee
4,245
4,597
Mesoblast (5)(10)(11)(13)
March 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.95% or Floor rate of 9.70%, 9.30% Exit Fee
50,000
53,541
Petros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (p.k.a. Metuchen Pharmaceuticals LLC)
December 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 7.25% or Floor rate of 11.50%, 3.05% Exit Fee
5,061
5,054
Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp. (10)(11)
July 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 9.50%, 7.69% Exit Fee
7,245
7,416
TG Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 3.25% Exit Fee
30,000
30,609
Subtotal: Under 1 Year Maturity
101,217
Albireo Pharma, Inc. (10)(11)(17)
July 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 5.90% or Floor rate of 9.15%, 6.95% Exit Fee
10,054
10,291
Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. (11)
October 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 3.10% or Floor rate of 9.10%, 6.95% Exit Fee
15,450
15,852
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (11)
December 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 6.50% or Floor rate of 9.75%, 6.95% Exit Fee
10,100
10,325
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)(15)
September 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 6.40% or Floor rate of 9.65%, 6.95% Exit Fee
35,000
35,056
35,119
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(17)
October 2025
Interest rate PRIME + 5.90% or Floor rate of 9.15%, 4.85% Exit Fee
49,216
51,355
Bicycle Therapeutics PLC (5)(10)(11)
October 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 5.60% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 5.00% Exit Fee
24,000
24,003
23,907
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (12)(13)(16)
November 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 3.85% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 6.35% Exit Fee
36,271
37,408
Interest rate PRIME + 2.85% or Floor rate of 8.60%, 5.75% Exit Fee
20,000
20,603
21,248
Interest rate PRIME + 3.10% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 5.75% Exit Fee
20,476
21,107
Total BridgeBio Pharma LLC
75,000
77,350
79,763
Century Therapeutics (11)
April 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 6.30% or Floor rate of 9.55%, 3.95% Exit Fee
9,939
10,328
Chemocentryx, Inc. (10)(11)(15)
December 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.30% or Floor rate of 8.05%, 6.25% Exit Fee
20,809
21,198
February 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 3.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 7.15% Exit Fee
5,000
5,068
5,406
Total Chemocentryx, Inc.
25,877
26,604
Codiak Biosciences, Inc. (11)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 9.00%, 5.50% Exit Fee
25,204
25,213
Dermavant Sciences Ltd. (10)(13)
June 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 4.45% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 6.95% Exit Fee
20,717
20,644
Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.25% or Floor rate of 8.50%, 5.95% Exit Fee
8,750
8,952
G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(11)
June 2025
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 9.45%, 6.95% Exit Fee
26,000
26,096
26,211
Geron Corporation (10)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.75% or Floor rate of 9.00%, 6.55% Exit Fee
16,250
16,245
16,893
Humanigen, Inc. (9)(10)
March 2025
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 6.75% Exit Fee
19,917
Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. (13)
January 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 6.10% or Floor rate of 9.35%, 7.55% Exit Fee
22,500
23,074
23,476
Nabriva Therapeutics (5)(10)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.30% or Floor rate of 9.80%, 9.95% Exit Fee
5,326
5,350
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.40% or Floor rate of 9.65%, 4.85% Exit Fee
25,354
26,277
Syndax Pharmaceutics Inc. (13)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.10% or Floor rate of 9.85%, 4.99% Exit Fee
20,322
20,818
uniQure B.V. (5)(10)(11)(16)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 4.95% Exit Fee
35,771
35,830
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 8.25%, 4.85% Exit Fee
34,995
Total uniQure B.V.
70,000
70,766
70,825
Unity Biotechnology, Inc. (10)(11)
August 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 6.10% or Floor rate of 9.35%, 6.25% Exit Fee
25,068
25,866
Valo Health, LLC (p.k.a. Integral Health Holdings, LLC) (11)
May 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 6.45% or Floor rate of 9.70%, 3.85% Exit Fee
11,500
11,354
11,412
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.75% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 8.80% Exit Fee
32,500
33,340
33,800
Yumanity Therapeutics, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 5.92% Exit Fee
15,247
15,583
604,027
614,781
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (54.43%)*
705,244
715,998
Healthcare Services, Other
Carbon Health Technologies, Inc. (17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.60% or Floor rate of 8.85%, 3.95% Exit Fee
11,250
11,162
Equality Health, LLC (14)(17)
February 2026
Interest rate PRIME + 6.25% or Floor rate of 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.55%
35,018
34,659
The CM Group LLC (11)(17)
June 2024
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 9.35% or Floor rate of 10.35%
9,310
9,189
9,240
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.35% or Floor rate of 10.35%
1,000
Total The CM Group LLC
10,310
10,189
10,240
Velocity Clinical Research, Inc. (13)(17)(18)
November 2024
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 9.08% or Floor rate of 10.08%
9,823
9,529
9,921
65,539
65,982
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (5.02%)*
Information Services
Planet Labs, Inc. (11)
June 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 11.00%, 3.00% Exit Fee
25,034
25,174
Yipit, LLC (11)(17)(18)
Interest rate 1-month LIBOR + 8.88% or Floor rate of 9.88%
12,000
11,796
36,830
37,174
Subtotal: Information Services (2.83%)*
Internet Consumer & Business Services
Intent (p.k.a. Intent Media, Inc.) (8)(14)
September 2021
PIK Interest 10.13%, 1.20% Exit Fee
2,637
2,662
192
Snagajob.com, Inc. (13)
October 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.90% or Floor rate of 10.15%, 3.05% Exit Fee
43,005
43,934
43,483
Interest rate PRIME + 7.80% or Floor rate of 11.05%, 3.05% Exit Fee
5,173
5,288
5,232
Total Snagajob.com, Inc.
48,178
49,222
48,715
Tectura Corporation (7)(8)(14)
May 2021
PIK Interest 5.00%
10,680
240
Interest rate FIXED 8.25%
8,250
13,023
273
Total Tectura Corporation
21,273
8,523
73,397
57,430
9
AppDirect, Inc. (11)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.90% or Floor rate of 9.15%, 7.95% Exit Fee
30,790
30,877
31,890
ePayPolicy Holdings, LLC (11)(17)
December 2024
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.00% or Floor rate of 10.00%
7,980
7,790
8,060
EverFi, Inc. (13)(14)(16)
May 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.90% or Floor rate of 9.15%, PIK Interest 2.30%
84,565
83,921
85,615
Houzz, Inc. (13)(14)
November 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 3.20% or Floor rate of 8.45%, PIK Interest 2.50%, 4.50% Exit Fee
51,725
52,399
52,959
Landing Holdings Inc. (15)
March 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 6.00% or Floor rate of 9.25%, PIK Interest 2.55%
9,799
Nextroll, Inc. (14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.85% or Floor rate of 9.35%, PIK Interest 2.95%, 3.50% Exit Fee
21,076
21,488
21,802
Rhino Labs, Inc. (15)(17)
March 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 8.75%, PIK Interest 2.25%
8,000
7,784
SeatGeek, Inc. (14)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 10.50%, PIK Interest 0.50%
60,376
59,458
57,800
Skyword, Inc. (14)
September 2024
Interest rate PRIME + 3.88% or Floor rate of 9.38%, PIK Interest 1.90%, 4.00% Exit Fee
12,247
12,378
11,916
Thumbtack, Inc. (13)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.45% or Floor rate of 8.95%, PIK Interest 1.50%, 3.95% Exit Fee
25,326
25,305
25,700
Varsity Tutors LLC (13)(14)
August 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 5.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%, PIK Interest 0.55%, 3.00% Exit Fee
39,318
39,611
40,905
Wheels Up Partners LLC (11)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.55% or Floor rate of 9.55%
12,572
12,534
12,554
Worldremit Group Limited (5)(10)(16)(19)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.25% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 3.00% Exit Fee
96,750
94,747
Xometry, Inc. (13)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.70%, 6.18% Exit Fee
11,000
11,475
11,635
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.70%, 6.45% Exit Fee
4,000
4,175
4,247
Total Xometry, Inc.
15,650
15,882
473,741
477,413
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (40.66%)*
547,138
534,843
Media/Content/Info
Bustle (14)(15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.35% or Floor rate of 9.35%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 4.45% Exit Fee
21,147
21,440
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (1.63%)*
Medical Devices & Equipment
Intuity Medical, Inc. (11)(15)
June 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 5.00% or Floor rate of 9.25%, 6.95% Exit Fee
11,217
12,416
Quanterix Corporation (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 2.75% or Floor rate of 8.00%, 0.96% Exit Fee
7,688
7,775
20,191
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (1.53%)*
Software
Regent Education (14)
Interest rate FIXED 10.00%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 7.94% Exit Fee
3,236
3,340
3,378
3GTMS, LLC. (11)(18)
Interest rate 3-Month LIBOR + 9.28% or Floor rate of 10.28%
11,667
11,441
11,547
Abrigo (18)
May 2023
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.88% or Floor rate of 8.88%
38,457
38,040
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 5.96% or Floor rate of 6.96%
2,312
2,278
Total Abrigo
40,769
40,318
Bitsight Technologies, Inc. (17)(19)
November 2025
Interest rate PRIME + 6.75% or Floor rate of 10.00%, 3.50% Exit Fee
12,500
12,290
Businessolver.com, Inc. (11)(17)
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 7.50% or Floor rate of 8.50%
41,300
40,827
41,151
10
Campaign Monitor Limited (11)(19)
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 8.90% or Floor rate of 9.90%
33,000
32,374
33,330
Clarabridge, Inc. (12)(13)(14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.30% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 2.25%
56,138
55,704
57,261
Cloud 9 Software (13)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.20% or Floor rate of 9.20%
9,875
10,095
CloudBolt Software Inc. (11)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 6.70% or Floor rate of 9.95%, 2.95% Exit Fee
4,888
5,029
Dashlane, Inc. (11)(14)(17)(19)
April 2022
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 8.50% Exit Fee
10,323
10,899
10,964
Interest rate PRIME + 4.05% or Floor rate of 8.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 4.95% Exit Fee
10,223
10,337
10,470
Total Dashlane, Inc.
20,546
21,236
21,434
Delphix Corp. (13)(19)
February 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 5.00% Exit Fee
60,000
60,354
61,698
Envisage Technologies, LLC (13)(18)
12,025
11,751
11,772
ExtraHop Networks, Inc. (13)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 7.00% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 2.50% Exit Fee
14,818
15,433
FreedomPay, Inc. (13)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 7.70% or Floor rate of 10.95%, 3.55% Exit Fee
10,015
10,210
Gryphon Networks Corp. (17)
January 2026
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 9.69% or Floor rate of 10.69%
5,086
Ikon Science Limited (5)(10)(11)(17)(18)
6,759
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
7,672
7,791
7,913
Kazoo, Inc. (p.k.a. YouEarnedIt, Inc.) (11)(18)
July 2023
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 10.14% or Floor rate of 11.14%
8,673
8,474
8,566
Khoros (p.k.a Lithium Technologies) (11)
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 8.00% or Floor rate of 9.00%
55,000
54,277
Logicworks (17)
Interest rate PRIME + 7.50% or Floor rate of 10.75%
9,816
Mixpanel, Inc. (14)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.80%, 3.00% Exit Fee
20,152
19,861
20,567
Mobile Solutions Services (11)(17)(18)
December 2025
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 9.87% or Floor rate of 10.87%
18,650
18,077
18,312
Nuvolo Technologies Corporation (13)(19)
January 2025
Interest rate PRIME + 7.70% or Floor rate of 10.95%, 1.75% Exit Fee
14,893
14,981
Optimizely Mergerco, Inc. (17)(18)
Interest rate 6-month LIBOR + 10.00% or Floor rate of 11.00%
49,875
48,511
48,510
Pollen, Inc. (14)(15)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 8.00%, PIK Interest 0.50%, 4.50% Exit Fee
7,429
7,405
Pymetrics, Inc (14)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.50% or Floor rate of 8.75%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 4.00% Exit Fee
9,538
9,513
9,448
Reltio, Inc. (13)(14)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.70% or Floor rate of 8.95%, PIK Interest 1.70%, 4.95% Exit Fee
10,116
10,026
10,341
SingleStore, Inc. (p.k.a. memsql, Inc.) (11)(14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.70% or Floor rate of 7.95%, PIK Interest 0.75%, 3.95% Exit Fee
5,030
5,041
5,192
Tact.ai Technologies, Inc. (11)(14)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.75%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 5.50% Exit Fee
5,107
5,080
5,050
ThreatConnect, Inc. (13)(17)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 8.26% or Floor rate of 9.26%
4,500
4,398
Udacity, Inc. (14)(17)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 7.75%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 3.00% Exit Fee
35,306
34,961
36,383
Vela Trading Technologies (11)(14)(18)
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 11.00% or Floor rate of 12.00%, PIK Interest 2.50%
18,244
17,902
11,859
613,762
617,948
11
Imperva, Inc. (19)
January 2027
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 7.75% or Floor rate of 8.75%
19,833
19,857
Subtotal: Software (48.74%)*
636,935
641,183
Sustainable and Renewable Technology
Pineapple Energy LLC (6)(8)(9)(17)
Interest rate FIXED 10.00%
40
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (6)(8)(14)
April 2021
PIK Interest 10.00%
641
681
Impossible Foods, Inc. (12)(13)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.95%, 9.00% Exit Fee
33,097
36,819
37,092
Convertible Debt
7,500
Pivot Bio, Inc. (15)
Interest rate PRIME + 4.90% or Floor rate of 8.15%, PIK Interest 1.25%, 3.25% Exit Fee
31,500
31,183
75,502
75,775
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (5.76%)*
76,183
75,815
Total: Debt Investments (166.11%)*
2,181,987
2,185,062
12
Series
Equity Investments
Peerless Network Holdings, Inc.
Equity
3,328
Preferred Series A
1,135,000
1,230
Total Peerless Network Holdings, Inc.
1,138,328
5,051
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.38%)*
Consumer & Business Products
TechStyle, Inc. (p.k.a. Just Fabulous, Inc.)
42,989
128
360
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.03%)*
830,000
1,884
1,775
10,602,752
26,122
24,612
11,432,752
28,006
26,387
Hercules Adviser LLC (7)
Member Units
9,869
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (2.76%)*
36,256
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
176,730
1,329
300
Aytu BioScience, Inc. (p.k.a. Neos Therapeutics, Inc.) (4)(15)
13,600
1,500
103
BioQ Pharma Incorporated (15)
Preferred Series D
165,000
500
202
Kaleo, Inc.
Preferred Series B
82,500
1,007
2,396
PDS Biotechnology Corporation (p.k.a. Edge Therapeutics, Inc.) (4)
2,498
309
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.23%)*
4,645
3,013
Albireo Pharma, Inc. (4)(10)
881
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(15)
190,179
1,715
1,393
Bicycle Therapeutics PLC (4)(5)(10)
98,100
1,871
2,930
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (4)(16)
231,329
2,255
14,250
Cerecor, Inc. (4)
119,087
Chemocentryx, Inc. (4)(10)(15)
17,241
883
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(10)
70,796
1,367
353
Dare Biosciences, Inc. (4)
13,550
23
Dynavax Technologies (4)(10)
550
197
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (4)
27,933
2,000
76
Humanigen, Inc. (4)(10)
43,243
800
826
Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. (4)
86,585
701
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
76,362
538
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (4)
944
42
Savara, Inc. (4)(15)
11,119
203
Sio Gene Therapies, Inc. (p.k.a. Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd.) (4)(10)
16,228
1,269
Tricida, Inc. (4)(15)
68,816
863
364
uniQure B.V. (4)(5)(10)(16)
17,175
332
579
Valo Health, LLC (p.k.a. Integral Health Holdings, LLC)
510,308
3,000
2,847
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(20)
198,277
1,641
1,482
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (2.19%)*
27,110
28,790
23andMe, Inc.
360,000
5,094
8,744
Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.
Preferred Series C
217,880
1,687
1,688
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.79%)*
6,781
10,432
Black Crow AI, Inc. (6)
Preferred Series Seed
872,797
1,255
Black Crow AI, Inc. affiliates(21)
Preferred Note
N/A
Brigade Group, Inc.
9,023
93
Contentful Global, Inc. (p.k.a. Contentful, Inc.) (5)(10)
41,000
138
238
108,500
Total Contentful Global, Inc. (p.k.a. Contentful, Inc.)
149,500
638
939
DoorDash, Inc. (4)(20)
475,000
5,475
58,443
13
Lyft, Inc. (4)
200,738
10,487
12,683
Nextdoor.com, Inc.
328,190
4,854
9,296
OfferUp, Inc.
286,080
1,663
1,948
Preferred Series A-1
108,710
632
740
Total OfferUp, Inc.
394,790
2,295
2,688
Oportun (4)
48,365
577
1,002
Reischling Press, Inc. (p.k.a. Blurb, Inc.)
1,163
15
Savage X Holding, LLC
Class A Units
42137
38
Tectura Corporation (7)
414,994,863
900
Preferred Series BB
1,000,000
415,994,863
TFG Holding, Inc.
325
Uber Technologies, Inc. (p.k.a. Postmates, Inc.) (4)
32,991
317
1,798
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (6.95%)*
29,753
91,467
WP Technology, Inc. (Wattpad, Inc.) (5)(10)
255,820
614
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.05%)*
Flowonix Medical Incorporated
Preferred Series AA
221,893
Gelesis, Inc.
227,013
908
191,210
425
Preferred Series A-2
191,626
781
Total Gelesis, Inc.
609,849
925
2,488
Medrobotics Corporation (15)
Preferred Series E
136,798
250
Preferred Series F
73,971
155
Preferred Series G
163,934
Total Medrobotics Corporation
374,703
905
Outset Medical, Inc. (4)
38,243
527
2,080
ViewRay, Inc. (4)(15)
36,457
333
159
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.36%)*
4,190
4,727
CapLinked, Inc.
Preferred Series A-3
53,614
51
84
Docker, Inc.
4,284
18
Druva Holdings, Inc. (p.k.a. Druva, Inc.)
Preferred Series 2
458,841
1,227
Preferred Series 3
93,620
301
Total Druva Holdings, Inc. (p.k.a. Druva, Inc.)
552,461
1,300
1,528
HighRoads, Inc.
190
307
Lightbend, Inc.
384,616
265
105
Palantir Technologies (4)
1,668,337
10,198
38,856
SingleStore, Inc. (p.k.a. memsql, Inc.)
580,983
Sprinklr, Inc.
700,000
3,749
7,280
Subtotal: Software (3.79%)*
22,154
49,871
Surgical Devices
Gynesonics, Inc. (15)
219,298
17
14
656,538
282
50
1,991,157
712
157
2,786,367
429
245
1,523,693
118
Preferred Series F-1
2,418,125
150
277
Total Gynesonics, Inc.
9,595,178
1,941
938
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.07%)*
Impossible Foods, Inc.
Preferred Series E-1
188,611
2,515
Modumetal, Inc.
103,584
501
NantEnergy LLC (p.k.a. NantEnergy, Inc.)
Common Units
59,665
102
Pineapple Energy LLC (6)
17,647
4,767
869
Proterra, Inc.
Preferred Series 5
99,280
1,268
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (6)
488
61,502
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.35%)*
69,372
4,652
Total: Equity Investments (17.95%)*
195,313
236,171
Warrant Investments
Spring Mobile Solutions, Inc.
Warrant
2,834,375
418
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.00%)*
Gadget Guard (15)
1,662,441
228
206,185
1,101
1,770
The Neat Company
54,054
365
Whoop, Inc.
68,627
1,162
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.22%)*
1,712
2,932
Aerami Therapeutics (p.k.a. Dance Biopharm, Inc.) (15)
110,882
74
BioQ Pharma Incorporated
459,183
75
3,929
390
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.01%)*
465
Acacia Pharma Inc. (4)(5)(10)
201,330
304
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (4)
89,750
295
5,311
61
87
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
15,541
321
Brickell Biotech, Inc. (4)
9,005
119
Century Therapeutics
40,540
37
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(10)(15)
61,273
178
21
Dermavant Sciences Ltd. (10)
223,642
101
326
Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (4)(15)
7,806
266
41,176
165
Motif Bio PLC (4)(10)
121,337,041
Myovant Sciences, Ltd. (4)(10)
73,710
460
653
Ology Bioservices, Inc. (15)
171,389
838
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(15)
469,388
644
1,165
Stealth Bio Therapeutics Corp. (4)(10)
500,000
158
TG Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
147,058
563
4,880
31,352
280
102,216
256
298
108,334
673
201
Yumanity Therapeutics, Inc. (4)
15,414
110
107
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.63%)*
6,471
8,315
Electronics & Computer Hardware
908 Devices, Inc. (4)(15)(20)
49,078
1,242
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.09%)*
InMobi Inc. (10)
65,587
Netbase Solutions, Inc.
Preferred Series 1
356
512
Planet Labs, Inc.
357,752
615
414
Sapphire Digital, Inc. (p.k.a. MDX Medical, Inc.) (15)
2,812,500
283
896
Subtotal: Information Services (0.14%)*
1,336
1,822
Aria Systems, Inc.
231,535
Cloudpay, Inc. (5)(10)
6,763
54
95
First Insight, Inc. (15)
75,917
96
78
Houzz, Inc.
529,661
20
Intent (p.k.a. Intent Media, Inc.)
140,077
Interactions Corporation
Preferred Series G-3
68,187
204
502
11,806
99
Lendio, Inc.
127,032
39
LogicSource
79,625
120
Rhino Labs, Inc. (15)
13,106
470
442
RumbleON, Inc. (4)
5,139
55
SeatGeek, Inc.
1,379,761
842
902
ShareThis, Inc.
493,502
547
Skyword, Inc.
444,444
148
Snagajob.com, Inc.
600,000
16
1,800,000
782
56
1,211,537
62
26
3,611,537
860
137
Tapjoy, Inc.
748,670
316
28
The Faction Group LLC
8,076
234
812
Thumbtack, Inc.
190,953
553
Worldremit Group Limited (5)(10)(16)
77,215
129
112
Xometry, Inc.
87,784
47
915
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (0.37%)*
4,969
4,841
Zoom Media Group, Inc.
1,204
348
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.00%)*
Aspire Bariatrics, Inc. (15)
22,572
455
155,325
725,806
351
Total Flowonix Medical Incorporated
881,131
713
74,784
226
InspireMD, Inc. (4)(5)(10)
Intuity Medical, Inc. (15)
Preferred Series B-1
3,076,323
294
438
455,539
370
62,794
401
2,187
SonaCare Medical, LLC
6,464
188
Tela Bio, Inc. (4)
15,712
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.22%)*
2,560
2,860
Semiconductors
Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
160
1,234
Preferred Series D-2
750,000
3,182
Total Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
1,110,000
259
4,416
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.34%)*
Bitsight Technologies, Inc.
29,691
284
359
CloudBolt Software, Inc.
158,506
91
Cloudian, Inc.
477,454
72
71
Couchbase, Inc.
263,377
462
851
Dashlane, Inc.
346,747
303
235
Delphix Corp.
718,898
1,594
1,797
DNAnexus, Inc.
909,091
97
123
Evernote Corporation
62,500
106
63
ExtraHop Networks, Inc.
154,784
191
233
Fuze, Inc. (15)
256,158
Lightbend, Inc. (15)
Preferred Series C-1
854,787
130
Mixpanel, Inc.
82,362
252
Nuvolo Technologies Corporation
88
415
OneLogin, Inc. (15)
381,620
305
710
Poplicus, Inc.
132,168
Pymetrics, Inc.
150,943
77
RapidMiner, Inc.
4,982
24
31
Reltio, Inc.
69,120
215
211
Signpost, Inc.
Series Junior 1 Preferred
474,019
314
312,596
652
Tact.ai Technologies, Inc.
1,041,667
206
Udacity, Inc.
486,359
218
335
ZeroFox, Inc.
648,350
100
292
Subtotal: Software (0.57%)*
5,321
7,525
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Alimera Sciences, Inc. (4)
30,581
132
Subtotal: Specialty Pharmaceuticals (0.00%)*
151,123
TransMedics Group, Inc. (p.k.a Transmedics, Inc.) (4)
64,440
139
1,493
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.11%)*
1,505
Agrivida, Inc.
471,327
Fulcrum Bioenergy, Inc.
280,897
274
882
Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
325,000
345
131,883
122
Total Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
456,883
467
Polyera Corporation (15)
311,609
338
36,630
308
Preferred Series 4
477,519
41
4,776
Total Proterra, Inc.
514,149
5,084
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.49%)*
992
6,433
Total: Warrant Investments (3.19%)*
25,290
42,016
Total: Investments in Securities (187.26%)*
2,402,590
2,463,249
Investment Funds & Vehicles
Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund I C.V. (5)(10)(17)
1,212
1,106
Total: Investments in Investment Funds & Vehicles (0.08%)*
Total: Investments (187.35%)*
2,403,802
*
Value as a percent of net assets
Preferred and common stock, warrants, and equity interests are generally non-income producing.
(2)
Interest rate PRIME represents 3.25% as of March 31, 2021. 1-month LIBOR, 3-month LIBOR and 6-month LIBOR represent 0.11%, 0.19% and 0.21%, respectively, as of March 31, 2021.
(3)
Gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized appreciation for federal income tax purposes totaled $190.4 million, $128.1 million and $62.3 million, respectively. The tax cost of investments is $2.4 billion.
(4)
Except for warrants in 24 publicly traded companies and common stock in 29 publicly traded companies, all investments are restricted as of March 31, 2021 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”). 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 as of March 31, 2021, and is therefore considered non-income producing. Note that as of March 31, 2021, only the PIK, or payment-in-kind, portion is on non-accrual for the Company’s debt investment in Tectura Corporation.
(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 2027 Asset-Backed Notes or 2028 Asset-Backed Notes (as defined in Note 5).
(12)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Wells Facility (as defined in Note 5).
(13)
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Union Bank Facility (as defined in Note 5).
(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 Hercules Capital IV, L.P., the Company’s wholly owned small business investment companies.
(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 as of March 31, 2021.
(17)
Denotes that there is an unfunded contractual commitment available at the request of this portfolio company as of March 31, 2021. Refer to “Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies”.
(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.
(20)
Denotes all or a portion of the public equity or warrant investment was acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and may be deemed to be “restricted securities” under the Securities Act. As of March 31, 2021 the aggregate fair value of these securities is $61,367, or 4.67% of the Company’s net assets.
(21) Denotes investment in a non-voting security in the form of a promissory note. The terms of the notes provide the Company with a lien on the issuers' shares of Common Stock in portfolio company Black Crow AI, Inc., subject to release upon repayment of the outstanding balance of the notes. As of March 31, 2021, the Black Crow AI, Inc. affiliates promissory notes had an outstanding balance of $3.0 million.
Maturity
Date
6,819
6,955
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.59%)*
14,838
14,970
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (1.28%)*
Interest rate PRIME + 4.50% or Floor rate of 4.50%, 4.14% Exit Fee
41,104
41,242
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (3.52%)*
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.00% or Floor rate of 8.00%, 5.90% Exit Fee
12,922
13,892
6,653
7,167
7,156
9,027
10,463
31,522
31,511
5,452
5,775
5,754
Albireo Pharma, Inc. (10)(11)
9,995
10,106
15,349
15,623
10,025
10,163
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)
15,069
49,023
Bicycle Therapeutics PLC (5)(10)(11)(17)
14,984
36,163
36,930
20,541
20,977
20,400
20,822
77,104
78,729
9,897
20,704
21,031
5,039
5,332
25,743
26,363
25,099
25,223
20,615
20,553
8,905
9,182
G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (10)(11)(17)
20,053
20,404
16,158
22,916
23,135
Interest rate PRIME + 4.95% or Floor rate of 9.70%, 8.70% Exit Fee
53,043
53,086
Interest rate PRIME + 4.30% or Floor rate of 9.80%, 7.01% Exit Fee
5,259
5,251
25,238
25,990
20,221
20,582
30,423
30,820
Tricida, Inc. (11)(13)(15)(16)
April 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 2.35% or Floor rate of 8.35%, 11.04% Exit Fee
78,266
79,452
uniQure B.V. (5)(10)(11)
35,660
36,849
Unity Biotechnology, Inc. (10)
24,938
11,279
11,394
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (11)
33,082
Interest rate PRIME + 4.00% or Floor rate of 8.75%, 7.25% Exit Fee
15,129
15,350
679,248
687,175
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (61.26%)*
710,770
718,686
Glo AB (8)(10)(14)
February 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 10.45%, PIK Interest 1.75%, 5.03% Exit Fee
1,631
2,145
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.18%)*
The CM Group LLC (17)
10,358
10,229
10,086
9,511
9,887
19,740
19,973
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (1.70%)*
Sapphire Digital, Inc. (p.k.a. MDX Medical, Inc.) (14)(15)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 6.25% or Floor rate of 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.70%, 5.30% Exit Fee
15,825
16,216
24,902
24,957
11,782
36,684
36,957
Subtotal: Information Services (4.53%)*
52,900
53,173
Black Crow AI, Inc. (8)(9)
PIK Interest 1.00%
2,993
1,565
643
Total Black Crow AI, Inc.
3,993
2,208
4,125
4,150
1,413
43,917
43,754
5,281
5,255
49,198
49,009
March 2021
350
31,953
21,513
8,600
78,854
61,230
AppDirect, Inc. (11)
30,712
7,799
8,080
84,081
83,900
84,987
51,403
51,854
52,151
20,921
21,240
21,526
60,301
59,292
57,561
12,196
12,291
12,021
25,231
25,096
25,348
Varsity Tutors LLC (13)(14)(17)
39,264
39,438
40,272
13,436
13,387
13,337
11,431
11,556
Senior Subordinate
Interest rate PRIME + 3.95% or Floor rate of 8.70%, 6.25% Exit Fee
4,157
4,219
15,588
15,775
360,597
361,770
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (36.06%)*
439,451
423,000
21,045
21,279
21,555
Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (1.84%)*
12,365
7,752
Sebacia, Inc. (8)
January 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 4.35% or Floor rate of 8.85%
21,117
20,117
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (1.71%)*
ZocDoc (11)(19)
August 2021
Interest rate PRIME + 6.20% or Floor rate of 10.95%, 2.00% Exit Fee
30,509
3GTMS, LLC. (11)(17)(18)
9,762
9,754
37,993
38,264
2,273
2,296
40,266
40,560
Bitsight Technologies, Inc. (19)
12,289
33,650
33,248
33,640
7,650
7,532
7,579
Total Businessolver.com, Inc.
40,780
41,219
32,348
33,304
55,823
55,359
56,940
9,867
10,030
CloudBolt Software Inc. (17)(19)
4,867
Cloudian, Inc. (11)
Interest rate PRIME + 3.25% or Floor rate of 8.25%, 9.75% Exit Fee
15,883
Couchbase, Inc. (11)(15)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 5.25% or Floor rate of 10.75%, 3.75% Exit Fee
25,167
25,761
10,294
10,808
10,838
10,195
10,312
10,343
20,489
21,120
21,181
59,932
61,159
9,750
9,525
ExtraHop Networks, Inc. (19)
14,745
9,972
10,126
6,744
6,724
7,639
7,725
7,828
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 10.15% or Floor rate of 11.15%
8,695
8,477
8,509
56,208
55,585
56,207
9,801
20,062
19,703
Mobile Solutions Services (17)(18)
5,500
5,323
5,400
13,150
12,731
12,672
Total Mobile Solutions Services
18,054
18,072
Nuvolo Technologies Corporation (13)(17)(19)
Interest rate PRIME + 7.25% or Floor rate of 11.50%
14,867
14,993
48,561
48,559
7,420
7,366
Pymetrics, Inc. (14)
9,497
9,409
3,220
3,315
3,316
10,073
9,928
10,136
22
5,021
5,012
5,137
5,081
4,995
4,970
4,391
4,441
35,130
34,700
Interest rate 3-month LIBOR + 12.00% or Floor rate of 11.50%, PIK Interest 2.50%
18,131
17,826
14,505
ZeroFox, Inc. (13)
January 2023
Interest rate PRIME + 4.75% or Floor rate of 10.25%, 3.00% Exit Fee
20,118
668,459
672,062
19,828
Subtotal: Software (61.60%)*
718,796
722,571
38,868
42,285
42,548
Pineapple Energy LLC (6)(8)(9)
49,785
50,048
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (4.27%)*
50,466
Total: Debt Investments (178.54%)*
2,099,425
2,094,435
3,800
3,808
Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.29%)*
Intelligent Beauty, Inc.
111,156
230
743
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.06%)*
2,276
31,554
33,830
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (2.62%)*
219
504
4,117
Neos Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(15)
125,000
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.38%)*
4,923
190,175
1,097
1,761
203,579
14,476
1,068
895
Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(10)
255
1,974
27,932
478
52
45
Tricida, Inc. (4)(15)(16)
485
uniQure B.V. (4)(5)(10)
621
X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)
83,334
536
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (2.16%)*
24,310
27,927
7,546
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.58%)*
Contentful, Inc. (5)(10)
270
217
785
Total Contentful, Inc.
299
1,055
Countable Corporation (p.k.a. Brigade Group, Inc.)
DoorDash, Inc. (4)
525,000
6,051
58,706
Fastly, Inc. (4)
6,238
545
9,862
8,994
1,867
709
2,576
937
1,683
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (6.53%)*
26,235
84,358
626
554
540
1,720
1,947
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.29%)*
3,806
3,644
777
4,421
36,015
2,153
7,088
Subtotal: Software (3.87%)*
49,944
44
213
181
848
162,617
2,550
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.32%)*
4,491
4,084
25
2,540
840
329
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.29%)*
69,269
3,710
Total: Equity Investments (17.39%)*
189,854
224,679
1,152
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.09%)*
611
70,833
285
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.04%)*
750
184
5,310
682
43
183
CytRx Corporation (15)
105,694
Motif BioSciences Inc. (10)
1,031
960
5,307
31,353
Urovant Sciences, Ltd. (4)(10)
99,777
383
744
257
296
98
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.79%)*
7,015
10,208
908 Devices, Inc. (4)(15)
1,215
NetBase Solutions, Inc.
498
566
Subtotal: Information Services (0.10%)*
1,337
73
549
Just Fabulous, Inc.
206,184
1,102
2,791
32
104
1,548
53
58
27
736
262
Subtotal: Internet Consumer & Business Services (0.56%)*
5,355
7,180
255,818
112,858
156
0
394
NinePoint Medical, Inc.
587,840
170
402
1,982
Sebacia, Inc.
778,301
133
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.20%)*
2,864
2,541
175
717
892
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.07%)*
208
CloudBolt Software Inc.
1,023
297
1,857
153
70
169
516
610
182
46
216
SignPost, Inc.
714
363
Subtotal: Software (0.58%)*
5,245
7,530
64,441
487
Subtotal: Surgical Devices (0.04%)*
497
261
352
NantEnergy, Inc. (p.k.a. Fluidic, Inc.)
61,804
477,517
376
514,147
Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.12%)*
1,094
1,486
Total: Warrant Investments (2.68%)*
25,737
34,622
Total: Investments in Securities (182.22%)*
2,315,016
2,353,736
342
Total: Investments in Investment Funds & Vehicles (0.03%)*
Total: Investments before Cash and Cash Equivalents (182.25%)*
2,315,358
Cash & Cash Equivalents
GS Financial Square Government Fund
96,000
Total: Investments in Cash & Cash Equivalents (7.43%)*
Total: Investments after Cash and Cash Equivalents (189.68%)*
2,411,358
2,450,078
Interest rate PRIME represents 3.25% as of December 31, 2020. 1-month LIBOR, 3-month LIBOR, and 6-month LIBOR represent, 0.14%, 0.24%, and 0.36%, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.
Gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized depreciation for federal income tax purposes totaled $166.2 million, $126.1 million, and $40.1 million, respectively. The tax cost of investments is $2.3 billion.
Except for warrants in 27 publicly traded companies and common stock in 30 publicly traded companies, all investments are restricted as of December 31, 2020 and were valued at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board. 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.
Debt is on non-accrual status as of December 31, 2020 and is therefore considered non-income producing. Note that only the PIK portion is on non-accrual for the Company’s debt investments in Glo AB and Tectura Corporation.
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment secures the notes offered in the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes or 2028 Asset-Backed Notes (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Wells Facility (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).
Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the Union Bank Facility (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).
Denotes that all or a portion of the investment in this portfolio company is held by HT III, the Company’s wholly owned small business investment company, or 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 net assets as of December 31, 2020.
Denotes that there is an unfunded contractual commitment available at the request of this portfolio company as of December 31, 2020. Refer to “Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies”.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of Business
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, 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 (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code (see “Note 6 - Income Taxes”).
The Company does not currently use Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) derivatives, however, to the extent that it uses CFTC derivatives in the future, it intends to do so below prescribed levels and will not market itself as a “commodity pool” or a vehicle for trading such instruments. The Company has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Company is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA.
Hercules Technology III, L.P. (“HT III”) and Hercules Capital IV, L.P. (“HC IV”) are our wholly owned Delaware limited partnerships that were formed in September 2009 and December 2010, respectively. HT III, and HC IV were licensed to operate as Small Business Investment Companies (“SBICs”) under the authority of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) on May 26, 2010, and October 27, 2020, respectively.
As SBICs, HT III and HC IV are subject to a variety of regulations concerning, among other things, the size and nature of the companies in which they may invest and the structure of those investments.
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 III and HC IV (see “Note 5 - Debt”).
The Company also established certain wholly owned subsidiaries, all of which are structured as Delaware corporations or Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”), to hold portfolio companies organized as LLCs (or other forms of pass-through entities). These subsidiaries are consolidated for financial reporting purposes and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). 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.
In May 2020, Hercules Adviser LLC (the "Adviser Subsidiary") was formed as a wholly owned Delaware limited liability subsidiary of the Company to provide investment advisory and related services to investment vehicles (“External Funds” or “External Fund”) owned by one or more unrelated third-party investors ("External Parties"). The Adviser Subsidiary will receive fee income for the services provided to External Funds. The Company was granted no-action relief by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to allow the Adviser Subsidiary to register as a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”).
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
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, 10 and 12 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 statement 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 year ended December 31, 2020. The year-end Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The Company’s functional currency is U.S. dollars (“USD”) and these consolidated financial statements have been prepared in that currency.
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”). As provided under Regulation S-X and ASC Topic 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 Adviser Subsidiary is not an investment company as defined in ASC Topic 946 and further, the Adviser Subsidiary provides investment advisory services exclusively to External Funds which are owned by External Parties. As such pursuant to ASC Topic 946, the Adviser Subsidiary is accounted for as a portfolio investment of the Company held at fair value and is not consolidated.
Financial statements prepared on a U.S. GAAP basis require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income, expenses, gains and losses during the reported periods. Changes in the economic and regulatory environment, financial markets, the credit worthiness of our portfolio companies, the continued development and impact of the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), and any other parameters used in determining these estimates and assumptions could cause actual results to differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its consolidated 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 March 31, 2021, 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 5 – Debt”.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company follows guidance in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC Topic 820”), where fair value is defined 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. ASC Topic 820 establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities and outlines a three-tier hierarchy which maximizes the use of observable market data input and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. 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.
The Company categorizes 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.
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.
As of March 31, 2021, approximately 95.4% of the Company’s total assets represented investments in portfolio companies whose fair value is determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). 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. 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. 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 generally is no known or accessible market or market indices 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 by the Board pursuant to a consistent valuation policy 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 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 intends to continue to engage one or more independent valuation firm(s) 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 to cancel such valuation services. 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 scope of services rendered by the independent valuation firm is at the discretion of the Board. The Board are ultimately, and solely, responsible for determining the fair value of the Company’s investments in good faith. In addition, changes in the market environment, portfolio company performance and other events that may occur over the lives of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be materially different than the valuations currently assigned. The Company determines the fair value of each individual investment and records changes in fair value as unrealized appreciation or depreciation.
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 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 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(s) as appropriate; and
(4) the Board, 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.
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 generally 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
33
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 securities from the borrower. The Company determines the cost basis of the warrants or other equity 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 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 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.
At each reporting date, privately held warrant and equity securities are valued based on an analysis of various factors including, but not limited to, the portfolio company’s operating performance and financial condition, 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 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. Absent a qualifying external event, the Company estimates the fair value of warrants using a Black Scholes OPM. For certain privately held equity securities, the income approach is used, in which the Company converts future amounts (for example, cash flows or earnings) to a net present value. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. In following these approaches, the types of factors that the Company may take into account include, as relevant: applicable market yields and multiples, the portfolio company’s capital structure, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, its earnings and discounted cash flows, and enterprise value among other factors.
The Company applies the practical expedient provided by the ASC Topic 820 relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). ASC Topic 820 permits an entity holding investments in certain entities that either are investment companies, or have attributes similar to an investment company, and calculate NAV per share or its equivalent for which the fair value is not readily determinable, to measure the fair value of such investments on the basis of that NAV per share, or its equivalent, without adjustment. Investments which are valued using NAV per share as a practical expedient are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy as per ASC Topic 820: Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (Or its Equivalent).
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.
34
Other Assets
Other assets generally consist of prepaid expenses, debt issuance costs on lines-of-credit, net, fixed assets net of accumulated depreciation, deferred revenues and deposits and other assets, including escrow receivables.
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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no material past due escrow receivables. The escrow receivable balance as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was approximately $65,000 and $65,000, respectively, and was fair valued and held in accordance with ASC Topic 820.
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 Statements 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 11 – Commitments and Contingencies”.
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. Debt investments are placed on non-accrual status when it is probable that principal, interest or fees will not be collected according to contractual terms. When a debt investment is placed on non-accrual status, the Company ceases to recognize interest and fee income until the portfolio company has paid all principal and interest due or demonstrated the ability to repay its current and future contractual obligations to the Company. The Company may not apply the non-accrual status to a loan where the investment has sufficient collateral value to collect all of the contractual amount due and is in the process of collection. Interest collected on non-accrual investments are generally applied to principal.
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 $39.7 million of unamortized fees at March 31, 2021, of which approximately $33.7 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of its current debt investments and approximately $6.0 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone. At December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $39.2 million of unamortized fees, of which approximately $32.2 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of the Company’s current debt investments and approximately $7.0 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 $1.6 million and $3.2 million in one-time fee income during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
35
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 March 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $35.4 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $32.2 million was included as a component of the cost basis of its current debt investments and approximately $3.2 million was a deferred receivable related to expired commitments. At December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $40.9 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $37.6 million was included as a component of the cost basis of its current debt investments and approximately $3.3 million was a deferred receivable 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 $2.6 million and $2.0 million in PIK income during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
To maintain the Company’s RIC status for taxation purposes, 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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
Equity Offering Expenses
The Company’s offering costs are charged against the proceeds from equity offerings when received as a reduction of capital upon completion of an offering of registered securities.
Debt
The debt of the Company is carried at amortized cost which is comprised of the principal amount borrowed net of any unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. Discounts and issuance costs are accreted to interest expense and loan fees, respectively, using the straight-line method, which closely approximates the effective yield method, over the remaining life of the underlying debt obligations (see “Note 5 - Debt”). Accrued but unpaid interest is included within Accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
Debt Issuance Cost
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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities, except for debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements.
Stock Based Compensation
The Company has 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. Management follows the guidelines set forth under ASC Topic 718, to account for stock options and restricted stock 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.
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 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.
36
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 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 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 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 intends to timely distribute to its stockholders substantially all of its 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, the Company may choose to carry forward taxable income for distribution in the following year and pay any applicable U.S. federal excise tax.
Because federal income tax regulations differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and net realized securities gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their appropriate tax character. Permanent differences may also result from the change in the classification of certain items, such as the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future. Also, tax legislation requires that income be recognized for tax purposes no later than when recognized for financial reporting purposes.
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)
Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net earnings applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Common shares outstanding includes common stock and restricted stock for which no future service is required as a condition to the delivery of the underlying common stock. Diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of the common stock deliverable pursuant to stock options and to restricted stock for which future service is required as a condition to the delivery of the underlying common stock. In accordance with ASC 260-10-45-60A, the Company uses the two-class method in the computation of basic EPS and diluted EPS, if applicable.
Comprehensive Income
The Company reports all changes in comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company did not have other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 or 2020. The Company’s comprehensive income is equal to its net increase in net assets resulting from operations.
Distributions to common stockholders are approved by the Board on a quarterly basis and the distribution payable is recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Company maintains an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of the Company’s distribution on behalf of the Company’s stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. As a result, if the Company declares a distribution, cash distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of its common stock unless the stockholder specifically “opts out” of the dividend reinvestment plan and chooses to receive cash distributions. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, and 2020 the Company issued 66,997 and 58,713 shares, respectively, of common stock to shareholders in connection with the dividend reinvestment plan.
Segments
The Company lends to and invests in portfolio companies in various technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, and sustainable and renewable technology. The Company separately evaluates the performance of each of its lending and investment relationships. However, because each of these loan and investment relationships has similar business and economic characteristics, they have been aggregated into a single reportable segment.
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.
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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
(in thousands)
Balance
March 31,
Quoted Prices In
Active Markets For
Identical Assets
Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
Unobservable
Description
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Money Market Fund (1)
65
Investments
Senior Secured Debt
2,161,148
Unsecured Debt
Preferred Stock
51,687
184,484
82,171
59,207
43,106
Warrants
12,621
29,395
71,828
2,309,250
Investment Funds & Vehicles measured at Net Asset Value (2)
Total Investments before cash and cash equivalents
Total Investments after cash and cash equivalents
December 31,
2,079,465
58,981
165,698
138,300
27,398
13,139
21,483
2,202,297
This investment is included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy as per ASC 820. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The table below presents a reconciliation of changes 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
January 1, 2021
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
(986
8,712
293,287
(219,330
(647
9,591
(9,751
2,687
(230
12,372
3,336
(410
7,690
791
(159
Escrow Receivable
567
(567
Total
2,202,362
(829
18,376
309,692
(956
2,309,315
January 1, 2020
Level 3 (4)
March 31, 2020
2,133,812
(25,762
239,783
(167,445
2,180,388
14,780
422
15,202
69,717
(18,511
51,206
33,547
1,240
(8,832
(1,240
24,715
13,722
(1,053
(5,728
1,855
(581
8,215
955
1,376
(42
2,320
2,266,533
(58,833
243,436
(1,863
2,282,046
Included in net realized gains or losses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
There was no activity related to transfers into or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
There was no activity related to transfers into or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
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 are net of purchases assigned to External Funds.
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 three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately $9.2 million in net unrealized depreciation and $12.4 million in net unrealized appreciation were recorded for preferred stock and common stock Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately $7.1 million and $7.1 million in net unrealized appreciation was recorded for debt and warrant Level 3 investments, respectively, relating to assets still held at the reporting date.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, approximately $18.5 million and $8.8 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 three months ended March 31, 2020, approximately $26.4 million and $7.4 million 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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. 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. 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 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”. 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 as of
Valuation
Techniques/Methodologies
Unobservable Input (1)
Range
Weighted
Average (2)
Pharmaceuticals
540,970
Market Comparable Companies
Hypothetical Market Yield
7.70% - 17.53%
10.32%
Premium/(Discount)
(0.50)% - 1.75%
Technology
78,021
Originated Within 4-6 Months
Origination Yield
10.78% - 12.72%
12.39%
943,020
7.19% - 17.29%
11.23%
(0.25)% - 2.75%
12,051
Liquidation (3)
Probability weighting of alternative outcomes
25.00% - 75.00%
7,540
10.53% - 10.63%
10.53%
9.13% - 9.55%
9.24%
0.00% - 0.00%
-
0.00% - 100.00%
Medical Devices
8.85% - 8.85%
8.85%
Lower Middle Market
101,351
9.58% - 15.59%
11.10%
(1.00)% - 1.00%
20.00% - 80.00%
Debt Investments Where Fair Value Approximates Cost
281,218
Debt Investments originated within 3 months
30,392
Imminent Payoffs (4)
124,572
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 “Drug Discovery & Development” and “Healthcare Services, Other” industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Technology, above, is comprised of debt investments in the “Communications & Networking”, “Information Services”, “Internet Consumer & Business Services”, “Media/Content/Info” and “Software” 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
130,068
10.94% - 13.56%
11.84%
574,149
8.43% - 14.66%
10.87%
(0.50%) - 1.50%
114,136
11.49% - 13.78%
12.05%
867,892
7.61% - 17.71%
11.67%
(0.25%) - 2.50%
18,126
10.00% - 75.00%
9.61% - 10.04%
9.72%
0.00%
9.52% - 9.52%
9.52%
(0.25%)
106,877
10.26% - 15.86%
11.81%
(1.00%) - 1.00%
78,016
38,148
93,906
Medical Devices, above, is comprised of debt investments in the “Drug Delivery”, and “Medical Devices & Equipment” industries in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
Investment Type - Level Three
Equity and Warrant Investments
Valuation Techniques/
Methodologies
Weighted Average (5)
35,242
EBITDA Multiple (2)
5.7x - 20.0x
10.3x
Revenue Multiple (2)
1.4x - 5.0x
2.2x
EBT Multiple (2)
10.0x - 10.0x
10.0x
Tangible Book Value Multiple (2)
2.2x - 2.2x
Discount for Lack of Marketability (3)
22.61% - 27.20%
24.25%
12,981
Market Adjusted OPM Backsolve
Market Equity Adjustment (4)
(83.68%) - 74.55%
14.07%
Discounted Cash Flow
Discount Rate (7)
14.38% - 21.60%
16.74%
Liquidation
1.4x - 1.4x
1.4x
75.00% - 75.00%
75.00%
36,701
Other (6)
11,284
8.3x - 8.3x
8.3x
0.8x - 9.1x
4.9x
19.74% - 33.80%
28.18%
8,611
17.37%
9,500
Other(6)
Total Level Three
Warrant and Equity Investments
124,188
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s warrant and equity securities are revenue and/or earnings multiples (e.g. EBITDA, EBT, ARR), market equity adjustment factors, and discounts for lack of marketability. 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 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.
(7) The discount rate used is based on current portfolio yield adjusted for uncertainty of actual performance and timing in capital deployments.
Weighted Average (6)
Level Three Equity Investments
46,669
5.0x - 9.8x
7.5x
2.0x - 19.5x
4.5x
4.1x
22.59% - 27.53%
24.56%
Average Industry Volatility (4)
66.14% - 116.71%
102.66%
Risk-Free Interest Rate
0.10%
Estimated Time to Exit (in months)
10 - 13
12,666
Market Equity Adjustment (5)
(79.34%) - 53.87%
(12.70%)
39.29% - 152.09%
98.23%
0.14% - 2.64%
0.42%
10 - 40
75%
27,044
Other (7)
Level Three Warrant Investments
10,284
4.1x - 19.2x
16.4x
0.6x - 10.7x
6.0x
21.56% - 34.61%
28.02%
59.33% - 95.76%
82.21%
0.10% - 0.31%
0.14%
10 - 48
11,199
(45.5%) - 57.42%
(12.27%)
38.87% - 152.09%
85.53%
0.13% - 2.64%
0.32%
10 - 43
Total Level Three Warrant and Equity Investments
107,862
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s warrant and equity securities are revenue and/or EBITDA multiples, market equity adjustment factors, and discounts for lack of marketability. Additional inputs used in the 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 the range of industry volatility used by market participants when pricing the investment.
The Company believes that the carrying amounts of its financial instruments, other than investments and debt, which consist 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 debt of the Company is recorded at amortized cost and not at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt 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 March 31, 2021, the 2022 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2022 Convertible Notes were quoted for 1.018, 1.001, 1.001, and 1.023 per dollar at par value, respectively. At March 31, 2021, the April 2025 Notes and 2033 Notes were trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) at $25.34 and $26.65 per unit at par value, respectively. The par value at underwriting for the April 2025 Notes and 2033 Notes was $25.00 per unit. The fair values of the SBA debentures, July 2024 Notes, February 2025 Notes, June 2025 Notes, March 2026 A Notes, and March 2026 B Notes are 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 outstanding debt under the Union Bank Facility and the Wells Facility are equal to their outstanding principal balances as of March 31, 2021.
The following tables provide additional information about the approximate fair value and level in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Carrying
Approximate
Observable Inputs
Unobservable Inputs
Value
Fair Value
SBA Debentures
70,143
73,030
2022 Notes
149,170
152,703
April 2025 Notes
73,446
76,020
2033 Notes
38,637
42,640
July 2024 Notes
104,016
102,886
February 2025 Notes
49,551
47,992
June 2025 Notes
69,312
67,060
March 2026 A Notes
49,534
47,991
March 2026 B Notes
49,493
48,098
2027 Asset-Backed Notes
131,627
2028 Asset-Backed Notes
221,641
2022 Convertible Notes
228,567
235,175
Wells Facility
Union Bank Facility
1,246,863
859,806
387,057
98,716
102,815
149,039
152,490
73,351
76,500
38,610
42,880
103,942
106,061
49,522
49,664
69,272
69,592
49,550
50,092
181,087
250,469
228,177
236,164
1,317,814
939,590
378,224
4. Investments
Control and Affiliate Investments
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. For purposes of determining the classification of its investments, the Company has included consideration of any voting securities or board appointment rights held by External Funds advised by the Adviser Subsidiary.
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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
Type
Interest Income
Fee Income
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
Realized Gain/ (Loss)
Control Investments
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC
Control
50,301
629
(8,090
Hercules Adviser LLC
Tectura Corporation
(77
Total Control Investments
Affiliate Investments
Black Crow AI, Inc.
Affiliate
2,040
Pineapple Energy LLC
8,409
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.)
Total Affiliate Investments
Total Control & Affiliate Investments
78,357
3,811
43,244
559
(6,930
8,531
(921
51,775
Optiscan BioMedical, Corp.
2,225
(7,375
10,001
(2,614
12,226
64,001
866
(17,840
Portfolio Composition
The following table shows the fair value of the Company’s portfolio of investments by asset class as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Investments at
Percentage of
Total Portfolio
87.7
%
88.4
1.0
0.6
2.1
2.5
7.5
7.0
1.7
1.5
0.0
100.0
A summary of the Company’s investment portfolio, at value, by geographic location as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is shown as follows:
United States
2,197,887
89.2
2,227,341
94.6
United Kingdom
133,515
5.4
29,533
1.3
Netherlands
72,509
3.0
37,812
1.6
Australia
2.2
2.3
Ireland
0.2
Germany
Canada
The following table shows the fair value of the Company’s portfolio by industry sector as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
754,209
30.6
757,163
32.2
698,579
28.4
780,045
33.1
631,151
25.6
514,538
21.9
86,900
3.5
55,244
2.4
76,414
3.1
27,519
1.2
60,170
48,800
44,610
1.8
46,744
2.0
38,996
54,510
27,778
1.1
26,464
22,054
0.9
0.5
10,763
0.4
3,292
0.1
1,895
2,443
4,581
3,360
No single portfolio investment represents more than 10% of the fair value of the Company’s total investments as of March 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
In accordance with Rules 3-09, 4-08(g), and Rule 10-01(b)(1) of Regulation S-X, (“Rule 3-09”, “Rule 4-08(g)”, and “Rule 10-01(b)(1)”, respectively), the Company must determine if its unconsolidated subsidiaries are considered “significant subsidiaries”. As of March 31, 2021, there were no unconsolidated subsidiaries that are considered “significant subsidiaries”.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, in accordance with Rule 10-01(b)(1), there were two tests utilized to determine if its subsidiaries were considered significant subsidiaries: the income test and the investment test. The Company was required to provide summarized income statement information of an unconsolidated subsidiary in an interim report if either of the two tests exceed 20%. After performing the income analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company’s investment in Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC exceeded the 20% threshold under Rule 10-01(b)(1) of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the following table shows summarized unaudited financial information for Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC:
Three months ended
Revenue
3,706
Net operating income
Net profit
Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Company’s customers are primarily privately held companies and public companies which are active in the “Software”, “Drug Discovery & Development”, “Internet Consumer & Business Services”, “Sustainable and Renewable Technology”, and “Healthcare Services, Other” sectors. These sectors are characterized by high margins, high growth rates, consolidation and product and market extension opportunities. 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 are paid off. Loan revenue, consisting of interest, fees, and recognition of gains on equity and warrant or other equity interests, can fluctuate materially when a loan is paid off or a related warrant or equity interest is sold. Revenue recognition in any given year can be highly concentrated among several portfolio companies.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company’s ten largest portfolio companies represented approximately 28.1% and 27.9% of the total fair value of the Company’s investments in portfolio companies, respectively. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had four and three investments, respectively, that represented 5% or more of the Company’s net assets. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had five equity investments representing approximately 63.8% of the total fair value of the Company’s equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of the Company’s equity investments. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had four equity investments which represented approximately 63.7% of the total fair value of the Company’s equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of such investments.
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. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 82.7% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were in a senior secured first lien position, with 44.4% secured by a first priority security in all of the assets of the portfolio company, including its intellectual property, 29.0% 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, 0.5% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were senior secured by the equipment of the portfolio company and 8.8% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were in a first lien “last-out” senior secured position with a 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 16.2% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were secured by a second priority security interest in the portfolio company’s assets, and 1.1% were unsecured.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 84.2% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were in a senior secured first lien position, with 43.5% secured by a first priority security in all of the assets of the portfolio company, including its intellectual property, 31.0% 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, 0.6% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were senior secured by the equipment of the portfolio company, and 9.1% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value 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 15.1% of the Company’s debt investments at fair value were secured by a second priority security interest in the portfolio company’s assets, and 0.7% were unsecured.
5. Debt
Outstanding Debt
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had the following available and outstanding debt:
Total Available
Carrying Value (1)
SBA Debentures (2)
71,500
99,000
150,000
105,000
131,545
180,988
221,434
250,000
230,000
Wells Facility (3)
Union Bank Facility (3)
400,000
1,719,479
1,244,479
1,774,988
1,299,988
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 debt as of the balance sheet date.
As of March 31, 2021, the total available debt under the SBA Debentures was $71.5 million, of which $34.0 million was available in HT III and $37.5 million was available in HC IV. As of December 31, 2020, the total available debt under the SBA debentures was $99.0 million, all of which was available in HT III.
Availability subject to the Company meeting the borrowing base requirements.
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization, were as follows as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
1,357
570
660
984
1,058
449
1,554
1,649
688
728
466
450
507
1,363
1,390
1,529
2,176
2,021
2,353
817
Wells Facility (1)
154
198
Union Bank Facility (1)
2,195
2,485
14,654
14,949
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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with ASC Subtopic 835-30.
48
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the components of interest expense and related fees and cash paid for interest expense for debt were as follows:
Interest expense
14,541
14,323
Amortization of debt issuance cost (loan fees)
2,172
1,283
Accretion of original issue discount
209
Unused facility and other fees (loan fees)
628
511
Total interest expense and fees
17,550
16,326
Cash paid for interest expense
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with the terms of all borrowing arrangements. There are no sinking fund requirements for any of the Company’s debt.
Long-Term SBA Debentures
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.
The Company reported the following SBA debentures outstanding principal balances as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Issuance/Pooling Date
Interest Rate (1)
September 21, 2011
September 1, 2021
3.16%
March 21, 2012
March 1, 2022
3.28%
September 19, 2012
September 1, 2022
3.05%
9,250
24,250
March 27, 2013
March 1, 2023
24,750
March 26, 2021
September 1, 2031
0.77%
37,500
Total SBA Debentures
Interest rate includes annual charge.
HT III and HC IV are periodically examined and audited by the SBA’s staff to determine its compliance with SBA regulations. HT III and HC IV were in compliance with the terms of the SBIC’s leverage as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, as a result of having sufficient capital as defined under the SBA regulations.
HT III
On May 26, 2010, HT III received a license to operate as an SBIC under the SBIC program in which HT III can borrow funds from the SBA against eligible investments and additional contributions to regulatory capital. The Company paid down $65.0 million on March 1, 2021, and $50.0 million of SBA debentures during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021, HT III had a total of $34.0 million of SBA guaranteed debentures outstanding. As of December 31, 2020, HT III had a total of $99.0 million of SBA guaranteed debentures outstanding. 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 upon follow-on fundings to existing portfolio companies and may seek to pay-off a portion or all of the outstanding debentures early as per the available liquidity in HT III.
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, HT III had paid the SBA commitment fees and facility fees of approximately $1.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, the Company held investments in HT III in 27 companies with a fair value of approximately $77.7 million, accounting for approximately 3.2% of the Company’s total investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2020, the Company held investments in HT III in 29 companies with a fair value of approximately 137.4 million, accounting for approximately 5.8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio. HT III held approximately $119.2 million and $201.2 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 4.6% and 7.7% of the Company’s total assets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
49
HC IV
On October 27, 2020, HC IV was licensed to operate as an SBIC under the SBA. This additional license has a 10-year term. With the additional license, HC IV gained access to $175.0 million of capital through the SBA debenture program, in addition to the Company’s regulatory capital commitment of $87.5 million to HC IV which will be used for investment purposes. As of March 31, 2021, HC IV has the capacity to issue a total of $67.5 million in SBA guaranteed debentures, subject to SBA approval, of which $37.5 million was outstanding as of March 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, HC IV had no outstanding SBA debentures.
As of March 31, 2021, HC IV has paid the SBA commitment fees and facility fees of approximately $0.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, the Company held investments in HC IV in 4 companies with a fair value of approximately $64.0 million, accounting for approximately 2.6% of the Company’s total investment portfolio. HC IV held approximately $70.1 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 2.7% of the Company’s total assets as of March 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, HC IV had no material assets other than $19.1 million of cash from the regulatory capital committed.
On October 23, 2017, the Company issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% interest-bearing unsecured notes that mature on October 23, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms. Interest on the 2022 Notes is due semiannually in arrears on April 23 and October 23 of each year, commencing on April 23, 2018. 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 2022 Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s current or future subsidiaries. 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.
On July 16, 2019, the Company issued $105.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.77% interest-bearing unsecured notes due on July 16, 2024 (the “July 2024 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms, to qualified institutional investors in a private placement notes offering. Interest on the July 2024 Notes is due semiannually. 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.
On February 5, 2020, the Company issued $50.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.28% interest-bearing unsecured notes due February 5, 2025 (the “February 2025 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms, to qualified institutional investors in a private placement notes offering. Interest on the February 2025 Notes is due semiannually. The February 2025 Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
On April 26, 2018, the Company issued $75.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.25% interest-bearing unsecured notes due April 30, 2025 (the “April 2025 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with the terms of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture, dated April 26, 2018 (the “April 2025 Notes Indenture”). Interest on the April 2025 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30 of each year. The April 2025 Notes trade on the NYSE under the symbol “HCXZ”. The April 2025 Notes are general 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 April 2025 Notes at any time, or from time to time, at the redemption price set forth under the terms of the April 2025 Notes Indenture after April 30, 2021.
On June 3, 2020, the Company issued $70.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.31% interest-bearing unsecured notes due June 3, 2025 (the “June 2025 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms, to qualified institutional investors in a
private placement notes offering pursuant to the 2025 Note Purchase Agreement. Interest on the June 2025 Notes is due semiannually. The June 2025 Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
On November 4, 2020, the Company issued $50.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.5% interest-bearing unsecured notes due March 4, 2026 (the “March 2026 A Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms, to qualified institutional investors in a private placement notes offering. Interest on the March 2026 A Notes is due semiannually. The March 2026 A Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
On March 4, 2021, the Company issued $50.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.55% interest-bearing unsecured notes due March 4, 2026 (the “March 2026 B Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with their terms, to qualified institutional investors in a private placement pursuant note offering. The sale of the March 2026 B Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $49.5 million. Aggregate offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including fees and commissions, were approximately $0.5 million. Interest on the March 2026 B Notes is due semiannually. The March 2026 B Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
On September 24, 2018, the Company issued $40.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.25% interest-bearing unsecured notes due October 30, 2033 (the “2033 Notes”), unless repurchased in accordance with the terms of the Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture, dated September 24, 2018 (the “2033 Notes Indenture”). Interest on the 2033 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30 of each year. The 2033 Notes trade on the NYSE under the symbol “HCXY.” The 2033 Notes are general 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 2033 Notes Indenture after October 30, 2023.
On November 1, 2018, the Company completed a term debt securitization in connection with which an affiliate of the Company issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.605% interest-bearing asset-backed notes due on November 22, 2027 (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. As of October 21, 2020, the securitization is past its reinvestment period, and it may no longer reinvest principal collections into additional eligible loans. Accordingly, available funds from principal collections were used to pay $49.5 million and $19.0 million of the outstanding principal balance on the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. Interest on the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes will be paid, to the extent of funds available.
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. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was approximately $4.0 million and $19.1 million, respectively, of funds segregated as restricted cash related to 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 issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.703% interest-bearing asset-backed notes due on February 22, 2028 (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, and 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. As of January 21, 2021, the securitization is past its reinvestment period, and it may no longer reinvest principal collections into additional eligible loans. Accordingly, available funds from principal collections were used to pay $28.6 million of the outstanding principal balance on the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes during the three months ended March 31, 2021. There were no payments on the outstanding principal balance for the year ended December 31, 2020. Interest on the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes will be paid, to the extent of funds available.
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. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was approximately $7.8 million and $20.2 million, respectively, of funds segregated as restricted cash related to the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes.
On January 25, 2017, the Company issued $230.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.375% interest-bearing unsecured notes due on February 1, 2022 (the “2022 Convertible Notes”), unless previously converted or caused to repurchase the notes in accordance with their terms by the holders of the 2022 Convertible Notes. The Company may not redeem the 2022 Convertible Notes at its option prior to maturity. The $230.0 million issued aggregate principal of the 2022 Convertible Notes includes an additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount issued pursuant to the initial purchaser’s exercise in full of its overallotment option. Interest on the 2022 Convertible Notes is due semiannually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year. The 2022 Convertible Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu, or equally in right of payment, with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.
Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding August 1, 2021, holders may convert their 2022 Convertible Notes under certain circumstances set forth in the terms of the 2022 Convertible Notes. 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 March 31, 2021, 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). 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 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 Statements 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 4.76%.
Credit Facilities
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company has two available credit facilities, the Wells Facility and the Union Bank Facility (together, the “Credit Facilities”). For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and year ended December 31, 2020, the weighted average interest rate was 2.46% and 3.15%, respectively, and the average debt outstanding under the Credit Facilities was $24.1 million and $55.4 million, respectively.
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 (the “Wells Facility Seventh Amendment”). Among other changes, the Wells Facility Seventh Amendment amends certain key provisions of the Wells Facility to reduce the current interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.00% with an interest rate floor of 3.00% and extends the maturity date to January 2023, unless terminated earlier 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 of up to 0.375% depending on the average monthly outstanding balance under the facility relative to the maximum amount of commitments at such time.
On July 2, 2019, Hercules Funding II entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Wells Facility (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).
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.
The Wells Facility provides for customary events of default, including, without limitation, with respect to payment defaults, breach of representations and covenants, certain key person provisions, cross acceleration provisions to certain other debt, lien, and judgment limitations, and bankruptcy.
On February 20, 2020, 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 “2019 Union Bank Facility”) entered into on February 20, 2019 with MUFG Union Bank, as the arranger and administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. The 2019 Union Bank Facility replaced the Company’s credit facility (the “Prior Union Bank Facility”) entered into on May 5, 2016 with MUFG Union Bank, as the arranger and administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. Any references to amounts related to the Union Bank Facility prior to February 20, 2020 were incurred and relate to the Prior Union Bank Facility or the 2019 Union Bank Facility, as applicable.
Under the Union Bank Facility, the lenders have made commitments of $400.0 million. The Union Bank Facility contains an accordion feature, in which the Company can increase the credit line up to an aggregate of $200.0 million, funded by existing or 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. Debt under the Union Bank Facility generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.50%. The Union Bank Facility matures on February 22, 2024, unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms. 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 as follows: (i) 0.50% if less than or equal to 50% utilization; (ii) 0.375% if more than 50% utilization but less than or equal to 80% utilization; and (iii) 0.20% if more than 80% is utilized.
The Union Bank Facility also includes financial and other covenants applicable to the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, in addition to those applicable to Hercules Funding IV, including covenants relating to certain changes of control of Hercules Funding IV. Among other things, these covenants also require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a minimum interest coverage ratio with respect to Hercules Funding IV and a minimum tangible net worth in an amount that is in excess of $723.0 million.
The Union Bank Facility provides for customary events of default, including with respect to payment defaults, breach of representations and covenants, servicer defaults, certain key person provisions, cross default provisions to certain other debt, lien and judgment limitations, and bankruptcy.
6. 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 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.
Because federal income tax regulations differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary in nature. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their appropriate tax character. Permanent differences may also result from the change in the classification of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future. Also, tax legislation requires that income be recognized for tax purposes no later than when recognized for financial reporting purposes.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company declared and paid distributions of $0.37 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 its distributions taxable year-to-date as of March 31, 2021, 100% would be from its 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 fiscal year of 2021 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 its ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of its 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, or 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 was approximately $34.9 million or $0.31 per share. Taxable net realized gains for the same period were $8.8 million or approximately $0.08 per share. Taxable income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $40.4 million or $0.37 per share. Taxable net realized gains for the same period were $9.0 million or approximately $0.08 per share.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paid approximately $3.5 million of income tax, including excise tax, and had $1.0 million of accrued but unpaid tax expense as of March 31, 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company paid approximately $2.3 million of income tax, including excise tax, and had $765 accrued but unpaid tax expense as of March 31, 2020.
The Company intends to timely distribute to its stockholders substantially all of its 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.
7. Stockholders’ Equity
On May 6, 2019, the Company entered into an At-The-Market (“ATM”) equity distribution agreement with JMP Securities LLC (“JMP”) (the “2019 Equity Distribution Agreement”). The 2019 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.
On July 2, 2020, the Company terminated the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement and entered into a new ATM equity distribution agreement with JMP (the “2020 Equity Distribution Agreement”). As a result, the remaining shares that were available under the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement are no longer available for issuance. The 2020 Equity Distribution Agreement provides that the Company may offer and sell up to 16.5 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 of 1933, as amended (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 2020 Equity Distribution Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold approximately 2.4 million shares of common stock under the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement. For the same period, the Company received total accumulated net proceeds of approximately $35.1 million, including $0.4 million of offering expenses, from these sales.
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 March 31, 2021, approximately 16.2 million shares remain available for issuance and sale under the 2020 Equity Distribution Agreement.
The Company has issued stock options for common stock subject to future issuance, of which 220,005 and 438,809 were outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
8. 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. In addition, the Company and its stockholders authorized and adopted the 2006 Non-Employee Director Plan (the “2006 Plan”) for purposes of attracting and retaining the services of its Board. 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 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 earlier terminated by the Board, the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan will terminate on May 12, 2028. On May 13, 2018, the Board 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 May 12, 2028. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the Director Plan were each approved by stockholders on June 28, 2018. Except for the Retention PSUs (as described below), these employee awards generally vest 33% one year after the date of grant and ratably over the succeeding 24 months.
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 Company determined that the fair value of options granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was approximately $6,000 and $6,000, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, approximately $7,000 and $9,000 of share-based cost due to stock option grants was expensed, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company granted 729,387 shares and 677,887 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $10.8 million and $9.5 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, there were approximately $15.9 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock awards. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.38 years.
The following table summarizes the activities for the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Restricted
Stock Awards
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Unvested as of December 31,
750,801
13.89
178,509
12.88
Granted
729,387
14.77
677,887
14.00
Vested
(237,381
14.05
(23,035
12.73
Forfeited
(33,390
14.65
(8,627
14.15
Unvested as of March 31,
1,209,417
14.42
824,734
13.79
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not grant restricted stock units pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The Company granted approximately 2,275 shares and 25,382 shares, respectively, of distribution equivalent units pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $35,000 and $340,000, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, there were approximately $1.5 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock units. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.90 years.
The following table summarizes the activities for the Company’s unvested restricted stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Stock Units
238,299
13.06
603,837
13.13
Distribution Equivalent Unit Granted
2,275
25,382
Vested (1)
(63,672
13.07
(182,595
13.36
(6,451
12.87
(6,873
12.97
170,451
439,751
13.05
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 three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company expensed approximately $2.1 million of compensation expense related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. The Company had approximately $1.6 million in compensation expense related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
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 March 31, 2021, there were 487,409 Retention PSUs outstanding at target and the target amount of the Cash Awards was $3.0 million in the aggregate. During each of the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, no Retention PSUs at target were forfeited. 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”). Distribution equivalent units will accrue in respect only of the Retention PSUs in the form of additional Retention PSUs, however will not be paid unless the Retention PSUs to which such distribution equivalent units relate actually vest. The Cash Awards are not eligible to accrue distribution equivalent units.
The Company follows ASC Topic 718 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 March 31, 2021, all outstanding Retention PSUs and Cash Awards were unvested and there were approximately $1.9 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 1.08 years. As of March 31, 2021, there was approximately $4.2 million of accumulated compensation expense related to the Cash Awards. The accumulated expense related to the Cash Awards is included within Accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. As of March 31, 2020, all outstanding Retention PSUs and Cash Awards were unvested and there were approximately $3.6 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 2.09 years. As of March 31, 2020, there was approximately $1.7 million of accumulated compensation expense related to the Cash Awards. The accumulated expense related to the Cash Awards is included within the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
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9. Earnings Per Share
Shares used in the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
Numerator
Less: Distributions declared-common and restricted shares
Undistributed earnings (loss)
21,368
(72,946
Undistributed earnings (loss)-common shares
21,145
Add: Distributions declared-common shares
42,349
43,884
Numerator for basic and diluted change in net assets per common share
63,494
(29,062
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
Common shares issuable
499
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 months ended March 31, 2021, 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. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, as the Company had a net loss, the effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes, outstanding common stock options, restricted stock units and awards, and Retention PSUs under the treasury stock method was anti-dilutive and, accordingly, was excluded from the calculation of diluted loss 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 March 31, 2021 and 2020, the number of anti-dilutive shares, as calculated based on the weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the periods, are as follows:
Anti-dilutive Securities
816,703
3,601,709
Unvested common stock options
177
42,066
Unvested restricted stock units
139,660
Unvested restricted stock awards
1,449
35,208
Unvested Retention PSUs
197,274
At both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 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.
10. Financial Highlights
Following is a schedule of financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Per share data (1):
Net asset value at beginning of period
10.55
0.07
0.06
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
0.19
(0.70
Total from investment operations
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (1)
(0.11
0.01
Distributions of net investment income (6)
(0.37
(0.40
Stock-based compensation expense included in investment income (2)
0.02
0.03
Net asset value at end of period
9.92
Ratios and supplemental data:
Per share market value at end of period
16.03
7.64
Total return (3)
13.64
(44.48
%)
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)
10.57
11.38
Ratio of net investment income before investment gains and losses to average net assets (4)
10.69
13.98
Portfolio turnover rate (5)
9.09
8.65
Weighted average debt outstanding
1,287,712
1,262,452
Weighted average debt per common share
11.27
11.59
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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 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.
11. 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 March 31, 2021 are dependent upon the portfolio company reaching certain milestones before the debt commitment becomes available. Furthermore, the Company’s credit agreements with its portfolio companies generally contain customary lending provisions which allow the Company relief from funding obligations for previously made unfunded 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 future or unachieved milestones.
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $257.9 million and $179.8 million, respectively, of unfunded commitments, including undrawn revolving facilities, which were available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by future or unachieved milestones. This excludes $4.4 million of unfunded commitments to extend credit in the form of loans to the External Fund’s portion of the co-investments as described in Note -12 Related Party Transactions as of March 31, 2021. There were no unfunded commitments related to External Funds as of December 31, 2020.
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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company’s unfunded contractual commitments available at the request of the portfolio company, including undrawn revolving facilities, and unencumbered by milestones were as follows:
Unfunded Commitments (1) as of
Debt Investments:
uniQure B.V.
65,000
Albireo Pharma, Inc.
Pollen, Inc.
13,000
14,000
Codiak Biosciences, Inc.
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
AppDirect, Inc.
Rhino Labs, Inc.
Clarabridge, Inc.
Geron Corporation
6,500
Businessolver.com, Inc.
6,375
5,625
Varsity Tutors LLC
5,210
Equality Health, LLC
3,500
3GTMS, LLC.
5,036
Optimizely Mergerco, Inc.
2,500
Logicworks
ThreatConnect, Inc.
1,800
Ikon Science Limited
1,050
Mobile Solutions Services
Velocity Clinical Research, Inc.
The CM Group LLC
Yipit, LLC
400
Gryphon Networks Corp.
268
ePayPolicy Holdings, LLC
Cytracom Holdings LLC
Bicycle Therapeutics PLC
G1 Therapeutics, Inc.
Total Unfunded Debt Commitments:
253,226
174,244
Investment Funds & Vehicles:
Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund I C.V.
4,658
5,527
Total Unfunded Commitments in Investment Funds & Vehicles:
Total Unfunded Commitments
257,884
179,771
For debt investments, amounts represent 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. This excludes $4.4 million of unfunded commitments to extend credit in the form of loans to the External Fund’s portion of the co-investments as described in Note -12 Related Party Transactions as of March 31, 2021. There were no unfunded commitments related to External Funds as of December 31, 2020. For investment funds and vehicles, amount represents uncalled capital commitments in a private equity fund.
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The following table provides additional information on the Company’s unfunded commitments regarding milestones, expirations and type:
Unfunded Debt Commitments:
Expiring during:
209,625
129,710
2022
18,860
2023
2024
14,892
2025
3,231
8,267
2026
Total Unfunded Debt Commitments
Unfunded Commitments in Investment Funds & Vehicles:
2030
Total Unfunded Commitments in Investment Funds & Vehicles
The following tables provide the Company’s contractual obligations as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
As of March 31, 2021:
Payments due by period (in thousands)
Contractual Obligations (1)
Less than 1 year
1 - 3 years
3 - 5 years
After 5 years
Debt (2)(3)
184,000
430,479
Lease and License Obligations (4)
3,109
4,772
1,427
778
1,254,565
233,109
188,772
401,427
431,257
As of December 31, 2020:
Debt (2)(5)
454,000
300,000
520,988
10,581
3,031
5,345
1,310,569
28,031
459,345
301,427
521,766
Excludes commitments to extend credit to the Company’s portfolio companies and uncalled capital commitments in a private equity fund.
Includes $71.5 million in principal outstanding under the SBA Debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $50.0 million of the February 2025 Notes, $75.0 million of the April 2025 Notes, $70.0 million of the June 2025 Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 A Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 B Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $131.5 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $221.4 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes as of March 31, 2021. There was no outstanding debt under the Wells Facility and no outstanding debt under the Union Bank Credit Facility as of March 31, 2021.
Amounts represent future principal repayments and not the carrying value of each liability. See “Note 5 - Debt”.
Facility leases and licenses including short-term leases.
Includes $99.0 million in principal outstanding under the SBA Debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $50.0 million of the February 2025 Notes, $75.0 million of the April 2025 Notes, $70.0 million of the June 2025 Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 A Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $181.0 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $250.0 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2020. There was no outstanding debt under the Wells Facility and Union Bank Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020.
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 $0.8 million and $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 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 and supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases as of March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Total operating lease cost
738
735
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
578
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities
As of March 31, 2021
As of March 31, 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
3.94
4.76
Weighted-average discount rate
5.43
5.45
The following table shows future minimum lease payments under the Company’s operating leases and a reconciliation to the operating lease liability as of March 31, 2021:
Remainder of 2021
2,325
3,002
2,342
693
734
Thereafter
Total lease payments
9,874
Less: imputed interest
(1,015
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.
12. Related Party Transactions
As disclosed in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Adviser Subsidiary is accounted for as a portfolio investment of the Company held at fair value. Refer to Note 4 – Investments for information related to income, gains and losses recognized related to the Company’s investment.
In March 2021, the Adviser Subsidiary entered into an investment management agreement with a privately-offered External Fund (the “Initial Fund”), and it expects to receive management fees based on the assets under management of the Initial Fund and may receive incentive fees based on the performance of the Initial Fund. Additionally, the Company entered into a shared services agreement (“Sharing Agreement”) with the Adviser Subsidiary, through which the Adviser Subsidiary will utilize human capital resources (including administrative functions) and other resources and infrastructure (including office space and technology) of the Company. Under the terms of the Sharing Agreement, the Company allocates the related expenses of shared services to the Adviser Subsidiary based on direct time spent, investment activity, and proportion of assets under management depending on the nature of the expense. The Company’s total expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are net of expenses allocated to the Adviser Subsidiary of $0.9 million. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the receivable from Adviser Subsidiary was $1.0 million and none, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company did not allocate any expenses to the Adviser Subsidiary.
In addition, the Company may from time-to-time make investments alongside the External Funds managed by the Adviser Subsidiary or assign a portion of investments to the External Funds in accordance with the Company’s allocation policy. In connection with the establishment of the Initial Fund during the three months ended March 31, 2021, $48.4 million of investments were assigned to the Initial Fund managed by the Adviser Subsidiary. $48.0 million was received by the Company from the External Funds related to co-investment assignments. No investments were co-invested or assigned to the External Funds as of December 31, 2020.
13. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-6, “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)”, which is intended to address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying U.S. GAAP for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The amendment, among other things, reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock and enhances information transparency by making targeted improvements to the disclosures for convertible instruments and earnings-per-share. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company does not intend to early adopt the standard and is in the process of assessing the impact, if any, on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
The Company adopted ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40).” This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing certain implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance provides flexibility in adoption, allowing for either retrospective adjustment or prospective adjustment for all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
SEC Disclosures Update and Simplification
In May 2020, the SEC revised its measure of “significant subsidiary” set forth in Rule 1-02(w)(2) for investment companies. The new definition includes an alternative income measure to determine a “significant subsidiary”. The final rule became effective on January 1, 2021, and voluntary compliance was permitted in advance of the effective date. The Company early adopted the rule effective June 30, 2020. Adoption of the rule did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In November 2020, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10890, which amended certain SEC disclosure requirements to primarily enhance and simplify Management’s Discussion and Analysis and supplementary financial information. The final rule is effective for all filings on or after February 10, 2021. Adoption of the rule did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
14. Subsequent Events
On April 21, 2021, the Board declared a cash distribution of $0.32 per share to be paid on May 19, 2021 to stockholders of record as of May 12, 2021. In addition to the cash distribution, on April 21, 2021, the Board declared a supplemental cash distribution of $0.28 per share for the fiscal 2021 year. The supplemental cash distribution will be paid equally over four quarters beginning with the first quarter distribution of $0.07 per share to be paid on May 19, 2021 to stockholders of record as of May 12, 2021.
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 current and future effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on us and our portfolio companies;
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 depreciation on investments.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this report relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.
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 SEC on February 23, 2021 and under “Forward-Looking Statements” of this Item 2.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Throughout this MD&A, we present our financial condition and results of operations in the way we believe will be most meaningful and representative of our business results. Some of the measurements we use are “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules and regulations. GAAP is the acronym for “generally accepted accounting principles” in the United States. The non-GAAP financial measures we present may not be comparable to similarly-named measures reported by other companies.
COVID-19 Developments
We are continuing to closely monitor the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 on all aspects of our business, including how it impacts our portfolio companies, employees, due diligence and underwriting processes, and financial markets. The U.S. capital markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption following the COVID-19 pandemic, which appear to have subsided and returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. Nonetheless, certain economists and major investment banks have expressed concern that the continued spread of the virus globally could lead to a prolonged period of world-wide economic downturn.
On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act, which contains provisions intended to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. On December 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the December 2020 COVID Relief Package. Additionally, on March 11, 2021 the U.S. government enacted the American Rescue Plan, which included additional funding to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. It is uncertain whether, or to what extent, our portfolio companies will be able to benefit from the CARES Act, the December 2020 COVID Relief Package, the American Rescue Plan, or any other subsequent legislation intended to provide financial relief or assistance. As a result of this disruption and the pressures on their liquidity, certain of our portfolio companies have been, or may continue to be, incentivized to draw on most, if not all, of the unfunded portion of any revolving or delayed draw term loans made by us, subject to availability under the terms of such loans.
The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operational and financial performance, including our ability to execute our business strategies and initiatives in the expected time frame, will depend to a large extent on future developments regarding the duration and severity of the coronavirus, effectiveness of vaccination deployment and the actions taken by governments (including stimulus measures or the lack thereof) and their citizens to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, all of which are beyond our control. An extended period of global supply chain and economic disruption could materially affect our business, results of operations, access to sources of liquidity and financial condition. Given the fluidity of the situation, we cannot estimate the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business, future results of operations, financial position, or cash flows at this time.
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, 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 or convert into 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 investments. Our primary business objectives are to increase our net income, net investment income, and net asset value (“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 and HC IV, which are our wholly owned SBICs. HT III holds approximately $119.2 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 4.6% of our total assets as of March 31, 2021. HC IV holds approximately $70.1 million in tangible assets which accounted for approximately 2.7% of our total assets as of March 31, 2021.
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.
In May 2020, Hercules Adviser LLC (the "Adviser Subsidiary") was formed as our wholly owned Delaware limited liability subsidiary to provide investment advisory and related services to investment vehicles (“External Funds” or “External Fund”) owned by one or more unrelated third-party investors ("External Parties"). The Adviser Subsidiary will receive fee income for the services provided to External Funds. We have been granted no-action relief by the staff of the SEC to allow the Adviser Subsidiary to register as a registered investment adviser under the 1940 Act, as amended.
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 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 $2.5 billion and $2.4 billion as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The fair value of our debt investment portfolio as of March 31, 2021 was approximately $2.2 billion, compared to a fair value of approximately $2.1 billion at December 31, 2020. The fair value of the equity portfolio as of March 31, 2021 was approximately $236.2 million, compared to a fair value of approximately $224.7 million as of December 31, 2020. The fair value of the warrant portfolio as of March 31, 2021 was approximately $42.0 million, compared to a fair value of approximately $34.6 million as of December 31, 2020.
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
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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.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, $63.0 million of debt investment commitments made and $48.3 million of debt, equity, and warrant fundings were assigned to the External Funds managed by the Adviser Subsidiary.
Our portfolio activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 was comprised of the following:
(in millions)
Gross Debt Commitments (1)
New portfolio company
398.0
82.0
Existing portfolio company
127.7
174.8
Sub-total
525.7
256.8
Less: Debt commitments assigned to External Funds
(63.0
$ —
Net Debt Commitments
462.7
Gross Funded and Restructured Debt Investments (2)
255.2
76.7
94.0
156.9
349.2
233.6
Less: Debt fundings assigned to External Funds
(47.5
Net Debt Fundings
301.7
Funded Equity Investments and Investment Funds and Vehicles
3.2
2.9
6.1
Less: Equity fundings assigned to External Funds
(0.8
5.3
Unfunded Contractual Commitments (3)
257.9
134.7
Non-Binding Term Sheets
101.1
50.0
126.3
28.8
227.4
78.8
Includes restructured loans and renewals in addition to new commitments.
Funded amounts include debt on revolving facilities.
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. Additionally, amount includes uncalled capital commitments in a private equity fund. This excludes $4.4 million of unfunded commitments to extend credit in the form of loans to the External Fund’s portion of the co-investments.
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 three months ended March 31, 2021, we received approximately $209.8 million in aggregate principal repayments. Of the approximately $209.8 million of aggregate principal repayments, approximately $18.3 million were scheduled principal payments and approximately $191.5 million were early principal repayments related to 11 portfolio companies. None of the early principal repayments were early repayments due to merger and acquisition transactions.
Total portfolio investment activity (inclusive of unearned income and excluding activity related to taxes payable and escrow receivables) as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 was as follows:
Beginning portfolio
2,354.1
2,314.5
New fundings and restructures
355.3
Fundings assigned to External Funds
(48.4
Warrants not related to current period fundings
Principal payments received on investments
(18.3
(17.0
Early payoffs
(191.5
(150.5
Accretion of loan discounts and paid-in-kind principal
10.6
10.9
Net acceleration of loan discounts and loan fees due to early payoff or restructure
(9.5
New loan fees
(5.0
(2.7
Sale of investments
(12.5
Gain (loss) on investments due to sales or write offs
7.2
6.9
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
21.8
(76.3
Ending portfolio
2,464.4
2,302.5
As of March 31, 2021, we held debt, warrants, or equity positions in one company that has filed confidentially under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act and three companies that have filed definitive agreements for reverse merger initial public offerings with special purpose acquisition companies. 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.
The following table presents certain selected information regarding our debt investment portfolio as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Number of portfolio companies with debt outstanding
Percentage of debt bearing a floating rate
96.8
96.9
Percentage of debt bearing a fixed rate
Weighted average core yield (1)
11.6
Weighted average effective yield (2)
13.2
12.9
Prime rate at the end of the period
3.3
The core yield on our debt investments excludes the effects of fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications, other one-time events, and includes income from expired commitments.
The effective yield on our debt investments includes the effects of fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications, and other one-time events. The effective yield is derived by dividing total investment income by the weighted average earning investment portfolio assets outstanding during the year, excluding non-interest earning assets such as warrants and equity investments.
Income from Portfolio
We generate revenue in the form of interest income, primarily from our investments in debt securities, and fee income primarily comprising of 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 securities that we acquire from our portfolio companies. Our investments generally range from $15.0 million to $40.0 million, although we may make investments in amounts above or below that range. As of March 31, 2021, our debt investments generally have a term of between two and seven years and typically bear interest at a rate ranging from approximately 7.8% to approximately 11.5%. 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 $39.7 million of unamortized fees as of March 31, 2021, of which approximately $33.7 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of our current
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debt investments and approximately $6.0 million was deferred contingent upon the occurrence of a funding or milestone. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $39.2 million of unamortized fees, of which approximately $32.2 million was included as an offset to the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $7.0 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. As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $35.4 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $32.2 million was included as a component of the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $3.2 million was a deferred receivable related to expired commitments. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $40.9 million in exit fees receivable, of which approximately $37.6 million was included as a component of the cost basis of our current debt investments and approximately $3.3 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 any cash from the borrower. Amounts necessary to pay these distributions may come from available cash or the liquidation of certain investments. We recorded approximately $2.6 million and $2.0 million in PIK income during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The core yield on our debt investments, a non-GAAP measure, which excludes the effects of fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications, other one-time events, and includes income from expired commitments, was 11.6% and 11.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The core yield is derived by dividing total GAAP investment income by the weighted average earning investment portfolio assets at amortized cost outstanding during the year, excluding fee and income accelerations attributed to early payoffs, restructuring, loan modifications, and other one-time events, but including income from expired commitments. We believe this measure is useful for our investors as it provides the yield at which our debt investments are originated and eliminates one-off items that can fluctuate significantly from period to period, thereby allowing for a more meaningful comparison with our peer companies. 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 13.2% and 13.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The effective yield is derived by dividing total GAAP investment income by the weighted average earning investment portfolio assets at amortized cost outstanding during the quarter, excluding non-interest earning assets such as warrants and equity investments. We believe this measure is useful for our investors as it provides the yield for our entire debt portfolio, which investors can compare with that of our peer companies. 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, a non-GAAP measure, on our investment portfolio was 11.9% and 12.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The total yield is derived by dividing total GAAP 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. We believe this measure is useful for our investors as it provides the total yield for our investments comprising of debt, equity, and warrants at origination to allow a more meaningful comparison with our peer companies. The comparable total yield calculated on a GAAP basis on our investment portfolio was 11.7% and 12.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The comparable GAAP measure is calculated by dividing total GAAP investment income by our total investment portfolio assets at fair value outstanding at the beginning of the year.
The total return for our investors was approximately 13.6% and (44.5%) during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 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 10 – 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.
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The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s portfolio by industry sector as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
All other industries (1)
380,416
15.4
302,332
12.8
(1) See “Note 4 – Investments” for complete list of industry sectors and corresponding amounts of investments at fair value as a percentage of the total portfolio. As of March 31, 2021, the fair value as a percentage of total portfolio does not exceed 3.5% for any individual industry sector other than “Drug Discovery & Development”, “Software”, or “Internet Consumer & Business Services”.
Industry and sector concentrations vary as new loans are recorded and loans are paid off. Loan revenue, consisting of interest, fees, and recognition of gains on equity and warrants or other equity 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 three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, our ten largest portfolio companies represented approximately 28.1% and 27.9% of the total fair value of our investments in portfolio companies, respectively. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had four and three investments, respectively, that represented 5% or more of our net assets. As of March 31, 2021, we had five equity investments representing approximately 63.8% of the total fair value of our equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of our equity investments. As of December 31, 2020, we had four equity investments which represented approximately 63.7% of the total fair value of our equity investments, and each represented 5% or more of the total fair value of our equity investments. No single portfolio investment represented more than 10% of the fair value of our total investments as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
As of March 31, 2021, approximately 96.8% 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 rate and LIBOR, may affect the interest income and the value of our investment portfolio for portfolio investments with floating rates. We believe we are well positioned to benefit should market interest rates rise in the future.
Our investments in senior secured debt may also have detachable equity enhancement features, typically in the form of warrants or other equity 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 March 31, 2021, we held warrants in 96 portfolio companies, with a fair value of approximately $42.0 million. The fair value of our warrant portfolio increased by approximately $7.4 million, as compared to a fair value of $34.6 million as of December 31, 2020 primarily related to the increase in fair value of portfolio companies.
Our existing warrant holdings would require us to invest approximately $62.9 million to exercise such warrants as of March 31, 2021. Warrants may appreciate or depreciate in value depending largely upon the underlying portfolio company’s performance and overall market conditions. As attractive investment opportunities arise, we may exercise certain of our warrants to purchase stock, and could ultimately monetize our investments. Of the warrants that we have monetized since inception, we have realized multiples in the range of approximately 1.02x to 42.71x based on the historical rate of return on our investments. 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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively:
Investment Grading
Number of Companies
at Fair Value
497,492
22.8
410,955
19.6
1,240,747
56.8
1,027,931
49.1
426,249
19.5
621,323
29.7
20,382
25,313
8,913
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, our debt investments had a weighted average investment grading of 2.01 and 2.16 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.
As the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruption to markets and businesses continues, we are continuing to maintain close communications with our portfolio companies in order to proactively assess and manage potential risks across our debt investment portfolio. We have also increased oversight and analysis of credits in vulnerable industries in an attempt to improve loan performance and reduce credit risk.
Non-accrual Investments
The following table shows the amortized cost of our performing and non-accrual investments as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Amortized Cost
Percentage of Total Portfolio at Amortized Cost
Performing
2,158
98.9
2,284
98.7
Non-accrual
Total Investments
2,182
2,315
Debt investments are placed on non-accrual status when it is probable that principal, interest or fees will not be collected according to contractual terms. When a debt investment is placed on non-accrual status, we cease to recognize interest and fee income until the portfolio company has paid all principal and interest due or demonstrated the ability to repay our current and future contractual obligations. We may not apply the non-accrual status to a loan where the investment has sufficient collateral value to collect all of the contractual amount due and is in the process of collection. Interest collected on non-accrual investments are generally applied to principal.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
Investment Income
Total investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was approximately $68.8 million as compared to approximately $73.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the components of interest income were as follows:
Contractual interest income
49,220
51,224
Exit fee interest income
10,817
11,257
PIK interest income
2,561
2,047
Other interest income (1)
1,184
1,676
Other interest income includes OID interest income and interest recorded on other assets.
Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 totaled approximately $63.8 million as compared to approximately $66.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the same period ended March 31, 2020 is primarily attributable to lower weighted average effective yield and a decrease in the weighted average principal outstanding of loans.
Of the $63.8 million in interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately $58.1 million represents recurring income from the contractual servicing of our loan portfolio and approximately $5.7 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 approximately $60.8 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of the $66.2 million interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
The following table shows the PIK-related activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, at cost:
Beginning PIK interest receivable balance
14,817
14,498
PIK interest income during the period
Payments received from PIK loans
(1,394
(1,059
Ending PIK interest receivable balance
15,984
15,486
The increase in PIK interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 is due to an increase in the weighted average principal outstanding for loans on accrual which bear PIK interest. Payments on PIK loans are normally received only in the event of payoffs. PIK receivable at both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 represents approximately 1% of total debt investments.
Fee income from commitment, facility and loan related fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021 totaled approximately $5.0 million as compared to approximately $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily due to a decrease in the facilities fees and one-time fees due to early repayments.
Of the $5.0 million in fee income from commitment, facility, and loan related fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately $1.9 million represents income from recurring fee amortization, approximately $0.6 million represents the acceleration of unamortized fees from expired commitments, and approximately $2.5 million represents income related to the acceleration of unamortized fees during the period. Income from recurring fee amortization and the acceleration of unamortized fees due to early loan repayments represented $2.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, of the $7.4 million in income for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
In certain investment transactions, we may earn income from advisory services; however, we had no income from advisory services in the three months ended March 31, 2021 or 2020.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses are comprised of interest and fees on our debt, general and administrative expenses and employee compensation and benefits. Our net operating expenses totaled approximately $34.2 million and $33.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Interest and Fees on our Debt
Interest and fees on our debt totaled approximately $17.6 million and $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Interest and fee expense during the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, increased due to the issuance of our February 2025 Notes in February 2020, the issuance of our June 2025 Notes in June 2020, the issuance of our March 2026 A Notes in November 2020 and the issuance of our March 2026 B Notes in March 2021. The was slightly offset by lower amounts outstanding related to our SBA Debentures, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2028 Asset-Backed Notes.
We had a weighted average cost of debt, comprised of interest and fees, of approximately 5.5% and 5.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in the weighted average cost of debt for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, is primarily driven by one-time fee acceleration related to prepayments of our SBA Debentures, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, and 2028 Asset-Backed Notes.
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 decreased to $5.0 million from $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily attributable to a decrease in legal expenses.
Employee Compensation
Employee compensation and benefits totaled $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase between the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was primarily due to increased variable compensation and payroll related expenses.
Employee stock-based compensation totaled $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in employee stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to the issuance of additional stock-based compensation awards and higher weighted average grant date fair value.
In March 2021, we entered into a shared services agreement with the Adviser Subsidiary (“Sharing Agreement”), through which the Adviser Subsidiary will utilize our human capital resources (including administrative functions) and other resources and infrastructure (including office space and technology). Under the terms of the Sharing Agreement, we allocate the related expenses of shared services to the Adviser Subsidiary. Our total net operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are net of expenses allocated to the Adviser Subsidiary of $0.9 million. As of March 31, 2021, the receivable from the Adviser Subsidiary was $1.0 million.
Net Realized Gains and Losses and Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation on Investments
Realized gains or losses on investments 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 on investments 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 net realized gains and losses on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
Realized gains
9,504
12,188
Realized losses
(1,734
(5,221
Net realized gains (losses)
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we recognized net realized gains of $7.8 million on the portfolio. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we recorded gross realized gains of $9.5 million primarily from the sale of DoorDash, Inc. and TransMedics Group, Inc. Our gains were partially offset by gross realized losses of $1.7 million primarily from the write-off of our investment in Sebacia, Inc. during the period.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recognized net realized gains of $7.0 million on the portfolio. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded gross realized gains of $12.2 million primarily from the sale of public equity holdings. These gains were offset by gross realized losses of $5.2 million primarily from the liquidation or write-off of our equity and warrant positions during the period.
The net change in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments is based on the fair value of each investment determined in good faith by our Board. The following table summarizes the change in net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Gross unrealized appreciation on portfolio investments
57,255
14,320
Gross unrealized depreciation on portfolio investments
(28,451
(86,523
Reversal of prior period net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) upon a realization event
(6,971
(4,067
Total net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we recorded $21.8 million of net unrealized appreciation, all of which was net unrealized appreciation from our debt, equity, warrant, and investment funds and vehicles investments. We recorded $8.1 million of net unrealized appreciation on our debt investments which was primarily related to $7.1 million of net unrealized appreciation on the debt portfolio and $1.0 million of unrealized appreciation due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon write-off of our debt investments and pay-off of our portfolio companies during the period.
We recorded $6.0 million of net unrealized appreciation on our equity investments, $7.8 million of net unrealized appreciation on our warrant investments, and $(0.1) million of net unrealized depreciation on our investment funds and vehicles investments during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The total net unrealized appreciation of $13.7 million was primarily attributable to $21.7 million of unrealized appreciation on the equity, warrant portfolio, and investment fund portfolio and $8.0 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 March 31, 2020, we recorded $76.3 million of net unrealized depreciation, all of which was net unrealized depreciation from our debt, equity, and warrant investments. We recorded $25.8 million of net unrealized depreciation on our debt investments which was primarily related to $26.5 million of net unrealized depreciation on the debt portfolio partially offset by $0.7 million of unrealized appreciation due to the reversal of unrealized depreciation upon pay-off of our portfolio companies.
We recorded $43.9 million of net unrealized depreciation on our equity investments and $6.6 million of net unrealized depreciation on our warrant investments during the three months ended March 31, 2020. This net unrealized depreciation of $50.5 million was primarily attributable to $45.8 million of unrealized depreciation on the equity and warrant portfolio and $4.7 million of unrealized depreciation due to the reversal of unrealized appreciation upon 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. 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.
Because federal income tax regulations differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their appropriate tax character. Permanent differences may also result from the classification of certain items, such as the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future.
Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations and Earnings Per Share
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we had a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $64.2 million and for the three months ended March 31, 2020, we had a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $28.7 million.
The basic and fully diluted net change in net assets per common share were $0.56 and $0.55 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Both the basic and fully diluted net change in net assets per common share were $(0.27) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2021, the dilutive effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes, outstanding options, restricted stock units and awards and Retention PSUs under the treasury stock method was considered. The effect of the 2022 Convertible Notes was excluded from these calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as our share price was less than the conversion price in effect which results in anti-dilution. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, as we had a net loss, the effect of all adjustments was anti-dilutive and accordingly, is excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share.
Hercules Adviser LLC, the Adviser Subsidiary, receives fee income for the services provided to External Funds. The Adviser Subsidiary’s contribution to our net investment income is derived from dividend income declared by the Adviser Subsidiary. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, no dividends were declared by the Adviser Subsidiary.
During the first quarter of 2021, the Adviser Subsidiary entered into an investment management agreement (the “IMA”) with the initial External Fund (the “Initial Fund”). Pursuant to the IMA, the Adviser Subsidiary provides investment advisory and management services to the Initial Fund in exchange for an asset-based fee and certain incentive fees. The Initial Fund is a privately offered investment fund exempt from registration under the 1940 Act that invests in debt and equity investments in venture- or institutionally backed technology related and life sciences companies.
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
Our liquidity and capital resources are derived from our debt borrowings 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 debt 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. This “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” section should be read in conjunction with the “COVID-19 Developments” section above.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, 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, and (iii) debt offerings along with borrowings on our credit facilities.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our operating activities used $50.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared to $24.7 million used during the three months ended March 31, 2020. This $25.7 million increase in cash used in operating activities was primarily driven by an increase of $73.4 million in purchases of investments (net of assignments to External Funds), which was partially offset by a $42.2 million increase in principal and fee payments received on investments.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our investing activities used approximately $12 thousand of cash, compared to $29 thousand used during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The $17 thousand decrease in cash used in investing activities was due to a decrease in purchases of capital equipment.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our financing activities used $100.4 million of cash, compared to $33.9 million used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The $66.5 million increase in cash flows used in financing activities was primarily due to repayments of $65.0 million SBA Debentures during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020.
As of March 31, 2021, our net assets totaled $1.3 billion, with a NAV per share of $11.36. 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.
As described above, our diverse and well-structured balance sheet is designed to provide a long-term focused and sustainable investment platform. Currently, we believe we have ample liquidity to support our near-term capital requirements. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruption to markets and businesses continues to impact the economy, we will continue to evaluate our overall liquidity position and take proactive steps to maintain the appropriate liquidity position based upon the current circumstances.
Available liquidity and capital resources as of March 31, 2021
As of March 31, 2021, we had $550.0 million in available liquidity, including $75.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. We had available borrowing capacity of $75.0 million under the Wells Facility and $400.0 million under the Union Bank Facility, both subject to existing terms, borrowing base, advance rates and regulatory requirements. The Wells Facility has an accordion provision through which the available borrowing capacity could be increased up to $125.0 million.
The 1940 Act as amended, permits BDCs to incur borrowings, issue debt securities, or issue preferred stock unless immediately after the borrowings or issuance the ratio of total assets (less total liabilities other than indebtedness) to total indebtedness plus preferred stock is less than 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met). On September 4, 2018 and December 6, 2018, our Board, 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 of March 31, 2021, our asset coverage ratio under our regulatory requirements as a BDC was 212.1% excluding our SBA debentures. Our exemptive order from the SEC 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 205.6% as of March 31, 2021.
As of March 31, 2021, we had $71.5 million of SBA debentures, $150.0 million of 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of July 2024 Notes, $50.0 million of February 2025 Notes, $75.0 million of April 2025 Notes, $70.0 million of June 2025 Notes, $50.0 million of March 2026 A Notes, $50.0 million of March 2026 B Notes, $40.0 million of 2033 Notes, $131.5 million of 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $221.4 million of 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of 2022 Convertible Notes payable, along with no amounts outstanding on the Union Facility and Wells Facility.
On March 4, 2021, we issued $50.0 million in aggregate principal amount of March 2026 B Notes pursuant to the First Supplement to the 2025 Note Purchase Agreement. The sale of the March 2026 B Notes generated net proceeds of approximately $49.5 million. Aggregate estimated offering expenses in connection with the transaction, including the underwriter’s discount and commissions, were approximately $0.5 million.
Additionally, we have gained access to $175.0 million of capital through the SBA debenture program. This is in addition to our regulatory capital commitment of $87.5 million to HC IV which will be used for investment purposes. As of March 31, 2021, we have contributed $33.7 million of regulatory capital to HC IV, and on March 26, 2021, we drew down $37.5 million of SBA debentures available to us through HC IV.
We are past our investment period for HT III, and as such we will no longer make any future commitments to new portfolio companies. We will only satisfy contractually agreed upon follow-on fundings to existing portfolio companies and may seek to pay-off a portion or all of the outstanding debentures early as per the available liquidity in HT III. On March 1, 2021, we paid down $65.0 million of HT III SBA Debentures.
As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $11.8 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 three months ended March 31, 2021, $49.5 million and $28.6 million was paid down on the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes and 2028 Asset-Based Notes, respectively.
Refer to “Note 5 – Debt” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report for a further discussion of our debt.
Equity Distribution Agreement
On May 6, 2019, we entered into the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement. The 2019 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 July 2, 2020, we terminated the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement and entered into a new ATM equity distribution agreement with JMP (the “2020 Equity Distribution Agreement”). As a result, the remaining shares that were available under the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement are no longer available for issuance.
The 2020 Equity Distribution Agreement provides that we may offer and sell up to 16.5 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.
There were no shares of common stock sold under the 2020 Equity Distribution Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2021. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we sold 2.4 million shares of common stock under the 2019 Equity Distribution Agreement. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 16.2 million shares remain available for issuance and sale under the Equity 2020 Distribution Agreement.
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 unfunded 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 future and unachieved milestones. See “Note 11 – Commitments and Contingencies” included as part of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $257.9 million of unfunded commitments, including undrawn revolving facilities, which were available at the request of the portfolio company and unencumbered by future or unachieved milestones. This excludes $4.4 million of unfunded commitments to extend credit in the form of loans to the External Fund’s portion of the co-investments. We intend to use cash flow from normal and early principal repayments, and proceeds from debt to fund these commitments.
We also had approximately $227.4 million of non-binding term sheets outstanding to three 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 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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Excludes commitments to extend credit to our portfolio companies and uncalled capital commitments.
Includes $71.5 million principal outstanding under the SBA Debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $50.0 million of February 2025 Notes, $75.0 million of the April 2025 Notes, $70.0 million of the June 2025 Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 A Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 B Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $131.5 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $221.4 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes. There was no outstanding debt under the Union Bank Credit Facility and no outstanding debt under the Wells Facility as of March 31, 2021.
Amounts represent future principal repayments and not the carrying value of each liability. See “Note 5 - Debt” to our consolidated financial statements.
Includes $99.0 million in principal outstanding under the SBA debentures, $150.0 million of the 2022 Notes, $105.0 million of the July 2024 Notes, $50.0 million of the February 2025 Notes, $75.0 million of the April 2025 Notes, $70.0 million of the June 2025 Notes, $50.0 million of the March 2026 A Notes, $40.0 million of the 2033 Notes, $181.0 million of the 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, $250.0 million of the 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, and $230.0 million of the 2022 Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2020. There was no outstanding debt under the Wells Facility and Union Bank Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020.
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 $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and approximately $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
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 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, our Board may choose to pay additional supplemental distributions, 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, 2020, 100% were distributions derived from our current and accumulated earnings and profits. There can be no certainty to stockholders that this determination is representative of what the tax attributes of our 2021 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 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 debt. 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 and Estimates
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 March 31, 2021, approximately 95.4% of our total assets represented investments in portfolio companies whose fair value is determined in good faith by the Board. 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. 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 generally is no known or accessible market or market indices 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 by our Board pursuant to a consistent valuation policy 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 may differ
79
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 one or more independent valuation firm(s) to provide management with assistance regarding our determination of the fair value of selected portfolio investments each quarter unless directed by the Board 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, size, credit quality and the time lapse since the last valuation of the portfolio investment by an independent valuation firm. The scope of services rendered by the independent valuation firm is at the discretion of the Board. The Board is ultimately, and solely, responsible for determining the fair value of our investments in good faith. In addition, changes in the market environment, portfolio company performance and other events that may occur over the lives of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be materially different than the valuations currently assigned. We determine the fair value of each individual investment and record changes in fair value as unrealized appreciation or depreciation.
Refer to “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report for an additional discussion of our valuation policies for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
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 income recognition policy for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
Refer to “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and “Note 6 – Income Taxes” included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report, and also “Distributions” for a discussion of our income tax policy.
Subsequent Events
80
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 March 31, 2021, approximately 96.8% of the loans in our portfolio had variable rates based on floating Prime or LIBOR rates with a floor. Our debt under the Credit Facilities bear interest at a floating rate and the debt under our SBA Debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, February 2025 Notes, April 2025 Notes, June 2025 Notes, March 2026 A Notes, March 2026 B 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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 2021, 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 debt:
Basis Point Change
Income
Expense
EPS
(75)
(8
(28
0.00
(50)
(25
(25)
(18
2,941
2,923
5,883
5,848
0.05
8,824
8,771
0.08
11,884
11,814
0.10
200
25,719
140
25,579
0.22
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 three months ended March 31, 2021, 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 debt under our SBA Debentures, 2022 Notes, July 2024 Notes, February 2025 Notes, April 2025 Notes, June 2025 Notes, March 2026 A Notes, March 2026 B 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, February 2025 Notes, April 2025 Notes, June 2025 Notes, March 2026 A Notes, March 2026 B Notes, 2033 Notes, 2027 Asset-Backed Notes, 2028 Asset-Backed Notes, 2022 Convertible Notes, and Credit Facilities, refer to Item 2 - “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and “Note 5 – Debt” 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 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, 2020 filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021 (the “Annual Report”).
Our executive officers and employees, through the Adviser Subsidiary, are expected to manage other investment funds or accounts, including External Parties, that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, which may result in significant conflicts of interest.
Our executive officers and employees, through the Adviser Subsidiary, are expected to manage other investment funds that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, and which funds may be invested in by us and/or our executive officers and employees. Accordingly, they may have obligations to such other entities, the fulfillment of which obligations may not be in the interests of us or our stockholders. Our relationship with External Parties may require us to commit resources to achieving the External Parties’ investment objectives, while such resources were previously solely devoted to achieving our investment objective. This includes opportunities to gain larger exposure to investments where we will now be obligated to allocate investments in accordance with its allocation policy which could result in lower fundings and investment income for the Company. Our investment objective and investment strategies may be very similar to those of External Parties, and it is likely that an investment appropriate for us or External Parties would be appropriate for the other entity. Because the Adviser Subsidiary may receive performance-based fee compensation from External Parties, this may provide an incentive to allocate opportunities to External Parties instead of us. Accordingly, we and the Adviser Subsidiary will establish policies and procedures governing the allocation investment opportunities between us and External Parties. We may be limited in or unable to participate in certain investments based upon such allocation policy. Although we will endeavor to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, we may face conflicts in allocating investment opportunities between us and External Parties managed by the Adviser Subsidiary.
Our investments in External Funds managed by our Adviser Subsidiary may create conflicts of interests.
In connection with the Initial Fund’s initial closing in March 2021, we committed to make contributions as a limited partner and will be entitled to distributions on such interest. Our officers and employees may dedicate more time or resources to the Initial Fund or allocate more favorable investment opportunities to the External Funds instead of us. External Funds will, at times, acquire, hold, or sell investments that are suitable for us. Investments allocated to External Funds may reduce the amount of investments available to us. Our officers and employees may make investment decisions or recommendations for External Funds that differ from the investment decisions that are made for us. The Adviser Subsidiary could determine to sell a loan for one or more External Funds while all or a portion of such loan is retained by us, or vice-versa. The Adviser Subsidiary makes its decisions as to whether External Funds should invest pursuant to its duties under the applicable governing documents for External Funds. Conflicts of interest can arise if the Adviser Subsidiary seeks to acquire or sell portions of one or more loans for one or more External Funds while we also seek to acquire or sell portions of such loans. We and the Adviser Subsidiary have implemented an investment allocation policy to ensure that investment opportunities are allocated among us and the External Funds, including the Initial Fund, fairly and equitably over time, however, there can be no assurance that the application of our allocation policy will result in our participation in every investment opportunity that may be suitable for both us and the External Funds.
In addition, we may make investments in External Funds in the form of loans. For example, prior to the receipt by the Initial Fund of capital contributions from its investors for which a capital call notice has or will be given, we expect to provide loan financing to the Initial Fund to fund such amounts on a temporary basis in order to permit the Initial Fund to invest in a target portfolio company within the applicable time constraints prior to the receipt the Initial Fund of a capital call in respect of such investment. In addition, we may provide loan financing to External Funds to cover start-up and initial operating costs prior to the receipt by the External Fund of a capital call in respect of such expenses. The provision of debt financing to External Funds may cause conflicts of interest, including in situations where our interest as a lender to External Funds conflicts with the interest of holders of third-party equity interests.
Our revenues and results of operations relating to our Adviser Subsidiary’s business depend on the management fees and performance fees received from External Funds.
We will derive our revenues related to the Adviser Subsidiary primarily from dividend income, which the Adviser Subsidiary will pay from net profits generated from advisory fees charged to the External Funds. The External Funds may be established with different fee structures, including management fees payable at varying rates and performance fess that are payable at varying hurdle rates. Investment advisory and performance fee revenues can be adversely affected by several factors, including market factors, third-party investor preferences, and our Adviser Subsidiary’s performance and track record. A reduction in revenues of our Adviser Subsidiary, without a commensurate reduction in expenses, would adversely affect our Adviser Subsidiary’s business and our revenues and results of operations derived from the Adviser Subsidiary.
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 March 31, 2021 that represent greater than 5% of our net assets:
Percentage of Net Assets
WorldRemit Group Limited
94,859
BridgeBio Pharma LLC
94,014
7.1
EverFi, Inc.
6.5
71,404
WorldRemit Group Limited is a global online money transfer business.
BridgeBio Pharma LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops drugs for patients with genetic diseases.
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.
uniQure B.V. is a leader in the field of gene therapy and had developed the first and currently only gene therapy product to receive regulatory approval in the European Union.
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 three months ended March 31, 2021, we issued 66,997 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 $1.0 million.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not Applicable
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
ExhibitNumber
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.
Schedule 12 – 14
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 (unaudited)
Amount of Interest Credited to Income (2)
Realized Gain (Loss)
As of December 31, 2020 Fair Value
Gross Additions (3)
Gross Reductions (4)
As of March 31, 2021 Fair Value
Majority Owned Control Investments
Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC (5)
(6,942
(501
Hercules Adviser LLC (6)
Total Majority Owned Control Investments
1,779
Other Control Investments
Tectura Corporation(7)
Senior Debt
Total Other Control Investments
Black Crow (8)
(3,993
1,785
Pineapple Energy LLC (9)
Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.) (10)
(40
3,248
(4,033
Total Control and Affiliate Investments
65,740
12,839
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, 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.
Hercules Adviser LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary providing investment management and other services to External Parties.
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 March 23, 2021, the Company's investment in Black Crow AI, Inc. became classified as an affiliate investment as a result of obtaining more than 5% but less than 25% of the voting securities of the portfolio company.
As of December 11, 2020, the Company’s investment in Pineapple Energy LLC became classified as an affiliate investment as a result of obtaining more than 5% but less than 25% of the voting securities of the portfolio company.
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.
As of March 31, 2021 (unaudited)
Industry
Type of Investment (1)
Interest Rate and Floor
Principal or Shares
Cost
Value (2)
Preferred Series A Equity
52,436
Total Majority Owned Control Investments (4.57%)*
Preferred Series BB Equity
22,413
Total Other Control Investments (0.65%)*
Total Control Investments (5.22%)*
74,849
Black Crow
Total Pineapple Energy LLC
12,307
Class A Warrants
Total Solar Spectrum Holdings LLC (p.k.a. Sungevity, Inc.)
62,143
Total Affiliate Investments (0.74%)*
75,450
Total Control and Affiliate Investments (5.96%)*
150,299
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: April 29, 2021
/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