UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________
FORM 10-K
____________________________
(Mark One)
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED December 31, 2021
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 814-00852
__________________________
SuRo Capital Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________
| Maryland | 27-4443543 | ||||
| (State of incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
| 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY | 10019 | ||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | ||||
| (212) 931-6331 | |||||
| (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) | |||||
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | SSSS | Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||||||||
| 6.00% Notes due 2026 | SSSSL | Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||||||||
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
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 as the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x 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 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, 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 o | Accelerated filer o | ||||
Non-accelerated filer x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o | ||||
Emerging growth company o | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES ¨ NO x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. o
The aggregate market value of common stock beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the Registrant on June 30, 2021, based on the closing price on that date of $13.49 on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the Nasdaq securities exchange tier the common stock was trading on at such time), was $412,266,271. For the purposes of calculating this amount only, all interested directors and executive officers of the Registrant have been treated as affiliates. There were 31,322,127 shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2022.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2022 Proxy Statement”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within 120 days following the end of the Registrant’s fiscal year, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this annual report on Form 10-K as indicated herein.
SURO CAPITAL CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||||||||
| PART I. | ||||||||
| Item 1. | ||||||||
| Item 1A. | ||||||||
| Item 1B. | ||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||
| Item 3. | ||||||||
| Item 4. | ||||||||
| PART II. | ||||||||
| Item 5. | ||||||||
| Item 6. | ||||||||
| Item 7. | ||||||||
| Item 7A. | ||||||||
| Item 8. | ||||||||
| Item 9. | ||||||||
| Item 9A. | ||||||||
| Item 9B. | ||||||||
| Item 9C. | ||||||||
| PART III. | ||||||||
| Item 10. | ||||||||
| Item 11. | ||||||||
| Item 12. | ||||||||
| Item 13. | ||||||||
| Item 14. | ||||||||
| PART IV. | ||||||||
| Item 15. | ||||||||
| Item 16. | ||||||||
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PART I
Item 1.Business
SuRo Capital
SuRo Capital Corp. ("we", "us", "our", “Company” or “SuRo Capital”), formerly known as Sutter Rock Capital Corp. and as GSV Capital Corp. and formed in September 2010 as a Maryland corporation, is an internally-managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. The Company has elected to be regulated as a business development company ("BDC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
On and effective June 22, 2020, we changed our name to “SuRo Capital Corp.” from “Sutter Rock Capital Corp.” On and effective March 12, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), our board of directors ("Board of Directors") approved internalizing our operating structure (“Internalization”) and we began operating as an internally-managed non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. Our Board of Directors approved the Internalization in order to better align the interests of the Company’s stockholders with its management. As an internally managed BDC, the Company is managed by its employees, rather than the employees of an external investment adviser, thereby allowing for greater transparency to stockholders through robust disclosure regarding the Company’s compensation structure. Prior to the Effective Date, we were externally managed by our former investment adviser, GSV Asset Management, LLC (“GSV Asset Management”), pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), and our former administrator, GSV Capital Service Company, LLC ("GSV Capital Service Company"), provided the administrative services necessary for our operations pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”). In connection with our Internalization, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement were terminated as of the Effective Date in accordance with their respective terms. As a result, we no longer pay any fees or expenses under an investment advisory agreement or administration agreement, and instead pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals including, without limitation, compensation expenses related to salaries, discretionary bonuses and restricted stock grants. See “Part II, Item 8—Note 3—Related-Party Arrangements” in this Form 10-K for more information.
The Company’s date of inception was January 6, 2011, which is the date it commenced its development stage activities. The Company commenced operations as a BDC upon completion of its initial public offering (“IPO”) in May 2011 and began its investment operations during the second quarter of 2011. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio’s total return, principally by seeking capital gains on our equity and equity-related investments, and to a lesser extent, income from debt investments. We invest principally in the equity securities of what we believe to be rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies. We acquire our investments through direct investments in prospective portfolio companies, secondary marketplaces for private companies, and negotiations with selling stockholders. In addition, we may invest in private credit and in the founders equity, founders warrants, forward purchase agreements, and private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) transactions of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”). We may also invest on an opportunistic basis in select publicly traded equity securities or certain non-U.S. companies that otherwise meet our investment criteria, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. To the extent we make investments in private equity funds and hedge funds that are excluded from the definition of “investment company” under the 1940 Act by Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, we will limit such investments to no more than 15% of our net assets.
Our investment philosophy is based on a disciplined approach of identifying promising investments in high-growth, venture-backed companies across several key industry themes which may include, among others, social mobile, cloud computing and big data, internet commerce, financial technology, mobility, and enterprise software. Our investment decisions are based on a disciplined analysis of available information regarding each potential portfolio company’s business operations, focusing on the portfolio company’s growth potential, the quality of recurring revenues, and path to profitability, as well as an understanding of key market fundamentals. Venture capital funds or other institutional investors have invested in the vast majority of companies that we evaluate.
We seek to deploy capital primarily in the form of non-controlling equity and equity-related investments, including common stock, warrants, preferred stock and similar forms of senior equity, which may or may not be convertible into a
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portfolio company’s common equity, and convertible debt securities with a significant equity component. Typically, our preferred stock investments are non-income producing, have different voting rights than our common stock investments and are generally convertible into common stock at our discretion. As our investment strategy is primarily focused on equity positions, our investments generally do not produce current income and therefore we may be dependent on future capital raising to meet our operating needs if no other source of liquidity is available.
We seek to create a low-turnover portfolio that includes investments in companies representing a broad range of investment themes.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SSSS”. The net asset value per share of our common stock on December 31, 2021 was $11.72. On March 10, 2022, the last reported sale price of a share of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $8.92.
Operating and Regulatory Structure
We formed in 2010 as a Maryland corporation and operate as an internally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. Our investment activities are supervised by our Board of Directors and managed by our executive officers and investments professionals, all of which are our employees.
As a BDC, we are subject to certain regulatory requirements. See “—Regulation as a Business Development Company.” Also, while we are permitted to finance investments using debt, our ability to use debt is limited in certain significant aspects.
With certain limited exceptions, we may issue “senior securities,” including borrowing money from banks or other financial institutions only in amounts such that the ratio of our total assets (less total liabilities other than indebtedness represented by senior securities) to our total indebtedness represented by senior securities plus preferred stock, if any, is at least 200% (or 150% if certain conditions are met) after such incurrence or issuance. This means that generally, we can borrow up to $1 for every $1 of investor equity (or, if certain conditions are met, we can borrow up to $2 for every $1 of investor equity). In March 2018, the Small Business Credit Availability Act modified the 1940 Act by allowing a BDC to increase the maximum amount of leverage it may incur by decreasing the asset coverage percentage from 200% to 150%, if certain requirements under the 1940 Act are met. Under the 1940 Act, we are allowed to increase our leverage capacity if stockholders representing at least a majority of the votes cast, when a quorum is present, approve a proposal to do so. If we receive stockholder approval, we would be allowed to increase our leverage capacity on the first day after such approval. Alternatively, the 1940 Act allows the majority of our independent directors to approve an increase in our leverage capacity, and such approval would become effective after the one-year anniversary of such approval. In either case, we would be required to make certain disclosures on our website and in SEC filings regarding, among other things, the receipt of approval to increase our leverage, our leverage capacity and usage, and risks related to leverage. The Company currently does not intend to seek stockholder approval or board approval to increase its leverage capacity as set forth above. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A for more information.
We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and expect to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to RICs. See “—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—U.S. Federal and State Income Taxes” and “Note 9—Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for more information.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2021, we had nine employees, each of whom was directly employed by us. These employees include our executive officers, investment and finance professionals, and administrative staff. All of our employees are located in the United States at our principal executive office and headquarters located at 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019 and our additional office located at One Sansome Street, Suite 730, San Francisco, CA 94104. Our telephone number is (212) 931-6331.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted a temporary work-from-home policy in March 2020, pursuant to which our employees primarily worked remotely without disruption to our operations. This policy was amended in February 2022 when it was deemed safe to return to our offices.
As an internally managed BDC, the success of our business and investment strategy, including achieving our investment objective, depends in material part on our employees. We depend upon the members of our management team and our investment professionals for the identification, final selection, structuring, closing and monitoring of our investments. These
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employees have critical industry experience and relationships on which we rely to implement our business plan. We expect that the members of our management team and our investment professionals will maintain key informal relationships, which we will use to help identify and gain access to investment opportunities. If we do not attract, develop and retain highly skilled employees, we may not be able to operate our business as we expect and our operating results could be adversely affected. See “Item 1A, Risk Factors.”
We strive to attract, develop and retain our employees by offering unique employment opportunities, advancement and promotion opportunities, training programs and opportunities, and competitive compensation and benefit structures, as well as a safe, harassment-free work environment.
Investment Opportunity
We believe that society is experiencing a convergence of numerous disruptive trends, producing new high-growth markets.
At the same time, we believe that the IPO markets have experienced substantial structural changes which have made it significantly more challenging for private companies to go public. Volatile equity markets, a lack of investment research coverage for private and smaller companies and investor demand for a longer history of revenue and earnings growth have resulted in companies staying private significantly longer than in the past. In addition, increased public company compliance obligations such as those imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) have made it more costly and less attractive to become a public company. As a result, there are significantly fewer IPOs today than there were during the 1990s, with prospective public companies taking longer to come to market.
Investment Strategy
We seek to maintain our portfolio of potentially high-growth emerging private companies via a repeatable and disciplined investment approach, as well as to provide investors with access to such companies through our publicly traded common stock.
Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio’s total return, principally by seeking capital gains on our equity and equity-related investments, and to a lesser extent, income from debt investments. We have adopted the following business strategies to achieve our investment objective:
•Identify high quality growth companies. Based on our extensive experience in analyzing technology trends and markets, we have identified several technology sub-sectors, including social mobile, big data and cloud, marketplaces, and education technology, as opportunities where we believe companies are capable of producing substantial growth. We rely on our collective industry knowledge as well as an understanding of where leading venture capitalists and other institutional investors are investing.
We leverage a combination of our relationships throughout Silicon Valley and our independent research to identify leaders in our targeted sub-sectors that we believe are differentiated and best positioned for sustained growth. Our team continues to expand our sourcing network in order to evaluate a wide range of investment opportunities in companies that demonstrate strong operating fundamentals. We are targeting businesses that have been shown to provide scaled valuation growth before a potential IPO or strategic exit.
•Acquire positions in targeted investments. We seek to selectively add to our portfolio by sourcing investments at an acceptable price through our disciplined investing strategy. To this end, we utilize multiple methods to acquire equity stakes in private companies that are not available to many individual investors.
Direct equity investments. We seek direct investments in private companies. There is a large market among emerging private companies for equity capital investments. Many of these companies, particularly within the technology sector, lack the necessary cash flows to sustain substantial amounts of debt, and therefore have viewed equity capital as a more attractive long-term financing tool. We seek to be a source of such equity capital as a means of investing in these companies and look for opportunities to invest alongside other venture capital and private equity investors with whom we have established relationships.
Private secondary marketplaces and direct share purchases. We also utilize private secondary marketplaces as a means to acquire equity and equity-related interests in privately held companies that meet our investment criteria and that we believe are attractive candidates for investment. We believe that such markets offer new channels for access to equity
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investments in private companies and provide a potential source of liquidity should we decide to exit an investment. In addition, we also purchase shares directly from stockholders, including current or former employees. As certain companies grow and experience significant increased value while remaining private, employees and other stockholders may seek liquidity by selling shares directly to a third party or to a third party via a secondary marketplace. Sales of shares in private companies are typically restricted by contractual transfer restrictions and may be further restricted by provisions in company charter documents, investor rights of first refusal and co-sale and company employment and trading policies, which may impose strict limits on transfer. We believe that the reputation of our investment professionals within the industry and established history of investing affords us a favorable position when seeking approval for a purchase of shares subject to such limitations.
•Create access to a varied investment portfolio. We seek to hold a varied portfolio of non-controlling equity investments, which we believe will minimize the impact on our portfolio of a negative downturn at any one specific company. We believe that our relatively varied portfolio will provide a convenient means for accredited and non-accredited individual investors to obtain access to an asset class that has generally been limited to venture capital, private equity and similar large institutional investors.
Starting in 2017, we began to focus our investment strategy to increase the size of our investments in individual portfolio companies. While this will likely have the effect of reducing the number of companies in which we hold investments, we believe that the shift towards larger positions will better allow our investment professionals to focus our investments in companies and industries that are more likely to result in beneficial returns to our stockholders.
Competitive Advantages
We believe that we benefit from the following competitive advantages in executing our investment strategy:
•Capable team of investment professionals. Our executive officers, investment professionals, and Board of Directors have significant experience researching and investing in the types of high-growth venture-capital-backed companies we are targeting for investment. Through our proprietary company-evaluation process, including our identification of technology trends and themes and company research, we believe we have developed important insight into identifying and valuing emerging private companies.
•Disciplined and repeatable investment process. We have established a disciplined and repeatable process to locate and acquire available shares at attractive valuations by utilizing multiple sources. In contrast to industry “aggregators” that accumulate stock at market prices, we conduct valuation analysis and make acquisitions only when we can invest at valuations that we believe are attractive to our investors.
•Deep relationships with significant credibility to source and complete transactions. Our executive officers and investment professionals are strategically located in New York, New York and at our additional office in San Francisco, California, allowing us to fully engage in the technology and innovation ecosystem. Our wide network of venture capital and technology professionals supports our sourcing efforts and helps provide access to promising investment opportunities. Our executive officers and investment professionals have also developed strong relationships in the financial, investing and technology-related sectors.
•Source of permanent investing capital. As a publicly traded corporation, we have access to a source of permanent equity capital that we can use to invest in portfolio companies. This permanent equity capital is a significant differentiator from other potential investors that may be required to return capital to stockholders on a defined schedule. We believe that our ability to invest on a long-term time horizon makes us attractive to companies looking for strong, stable owners of their equity.
•Early mover advantage. We believe we are one of the few publicly traded BDCs with a specific focus on investing in high-growth venture-backed companies. The transactions that we have executed to date since our IPO have helped to establish our reputation with the types of secondary sellers and emerging companies that we target for investment. We have leveraged a number of relationships and channels to acquire the equity of private companies. As we continue to grow our portfolio with attractive investments, we believe that our reputation as a committed partner will be further enhanced, allowing us to source and close investments that would otherwise be unavailable. We believe that these factors collectively differentiate us from other potential investors in private company securities and will serve our goal to complete equity transactions in compelling private companies at attractive valuations.
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Our primary competitors include specialty finance companies including late-stage venture capital funds, private equity funds, other crossover funds, public funds investing in private companies and public and private BDCs. Many of these entities have greater financial and managerial resources than we will have. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider more investments and establish more relationships than we do. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
Investment Process
Concentrated Technology-Related Focus
Our executive officers and investment professionals have identified five key investment themes from which we have seen significant numbers of high-growth companies emerge: social and mobile, financial technology and services, big data and cloud, marketplaces, and education. However, the opportunity set of high-growth venture-backed technology companies extends beyond these key investment themes into much broader markets. These broad markets have the potential to produce disruptive technologies, reach a large addressable market, and provide significant commercial opportunities. Within these areas, we have identified trends that could create significant positive effects on growth such as globalization, consolidation, branding, convergence and network effects. Thus, while we remain focused on selecting market leaders within the key investment themes identified, our executive officers and investment professionals actively seek out promising investments across a diverse selection of new technology subsectors.
Investment Targeting and Screening
We identify prospective portfolio companies through an extensive network of relationships developed by our executive officers and investment professionals, supplemented by the knowledge and relationships of our Board of Directors. Investment opportunities that fall within our identified themes are validated against the observed behavior of leading venture capitalists and institutional investors, as well as through our own internal and external research. We evaluate potential portfolio companies across a spectrum of criteria, including industry positioning and leadership, stage of growth, path to profitability, the uniqueness and defensibility of the portfolio company's strategy, investor sponsorship, and the portfolio company's potential access to capital to continue to fund its growth that collectively characterize our proprietary investment process. We typically seek to invest our assets under management in the equity of well-established and growth stage companies, and debt investments of emerging companies that fit within our targeted areas. Based on our initial screening, we identify a select set of companies that we evaluate in greater depth.
Research and Due Diligence Process
Once we identify those companies that we believe warrant more in-depth analysis, we focus on their total addressable market, revenue growth and sustainability, and earnings growth, as well as other metrics that may be strongly correlated with higher valuations. We also focus on the company’s management team and any significant financial sponsor, their current business model, competitive positioning, regulatory and legal issues, the quality of any intellectual property and other investment-specific due diligence. Each prospective portfolio company that passes our initial due diligence review is given a qualitative ranking to allow us to evaluate it against others in our pipeline, and we review and update these companies on a regular basis.
Our due diligence process will vary depending on whether we are investing through a private secondary transaction on a marketplace or with a selling stockholder or by direct equity investment. We access information on our potential investments through a variety of sources, including information made available on secondary marketplaces, publications by private company research firms, industry publications, commissioned analysis by third-party research firms, and, to a limited extent, directly from the company or financial sponsor. We utilize a combination of each of these sources to help us set a target value for the companies we ultimately select for investment.
Portfolio Construction and Sourcing
Upon completion of our research and due diligence process, we select investments for inclusion in our portfolio based on their value proposition, addressable market, fundamentals and valuation. We seek to create a relatively varied portfolio that we expect will include investments in companies representing a broad range of investment themes. We generally choose to pursue specific investments based on the availability of shares and valuation expectations. We utilize a combination of secondary marketplaces, direct purchases from stockholders and direct equity investments in order to make investments in our portfolio
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companies. Once we have established an initial position in a portfolio company, we may choose to increase our stake through subsequent purchases. Maintaining a balanced portfolio is a key to our success, and as a result we constantly evaluate the composition of our investments and our pipeline to ensure we are exposed to a diverse set of companies within our target segments.
Transaction Execution
We enter into purchase agreements for substantially all of our private company portfolio investments. Private company securities are typically subject to contractual transfer limitations, which may, among other things, give the issuer, its assignees and/or its stockholders a particular period of time, often 30 days or more, in which to exercise a veto right, or a right of first refusal over, the sale of such securities. Accordingly, the purchase agreements we enter into for secondary transactions typically require the lapse or satisfaction of these rights as a condition to closing. Under these circumstances, we may be required to deposit the purchase price into escrow upon signing, with the funds released to the seller at closing or returned to us if the closing conditions are not met.
Risk Management and Monitoring
We monitor the financial trends of each portfolio company to assess our exposure to individual companies as well as to evaluate overall portfolio quality. We establish valuation targets at the portfolio level and for gross and net exposures with respect to specific companies and industries within our overall portfolio. In cases where we make a direct investment in a portfolio company, we may also obtain board positions, board observation rights and/or information rights from that portfolio company in connection with our equity investment. We regularly monitor our portfolio for compliance with the diversification requirements for purposes of maintaining our status as a BDC and a RIC for tax purposes.
Managerial Assistance
As a BDC we are required to offer, and in some cases may provide and be paid for, significant managerial assistance to portfolio companies. This assistance typically involves monitoring the operations of portfolio companies, participating in their board and management meetings, consulting with and advising their officers and providing other organizational and financial guidance. We will provide such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request assistance. We may receive fees for these services, subject to review by our Board of Directors, including our independent directors.
Portfolio Overview
The following table shows the fair value of our portfolio of investments by asset class as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value | Percentage of Portfolio | Fair Value | Percentage of Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Portfolio Companies: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | $ | 163,801,798 | 63.0 | % | $ | 141,235,987 | 32.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | 42,860,156 | 16.5 | % | 34,190,839 | 7.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt Investments | 3,011,438 | 1.1 | % | 4,845,340 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Options | 4,959,112 | 1.9 | % | 5,872,210 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Private Portfolio Companies | 214,632,504 | 82.5 | % | 186,144,376 | 43.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Publicly Traded Portfolio Companies: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | 44,573,225 | 17.1 | % | 94,635,398 | 22.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Options | 930,524 | 0.4 | % | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Publicly Traded Portfolio Companies | 45,503,749 | 17.5 | % | 94,635,398 | 22.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Portfolio Investments | 260,136,253 | 100.0 | % | 280,779,774 | 65.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-Portfolio Investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Bills | — | — | % | 150,000,000 | 34.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 260,136,253 | 100.0 | % | $ | 430,779,774 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Determination of Net Asset Value
We determine the net asset value of our investment portfolio after the conclusion of each fiscal quarter in connection with the preparation of our annual and quarterly reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or more frequently if required under the 1940 Act.
Securities that are publicly traded are generally valued at the close price on the valuation date; however, if they remain subject to lock-up restrictions they are discounted accordingly. Securities that are not publicly traded or for which there are no readily available market quotations, including securities that trade on secondary markets for private securities, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. In connection with that determination, our executive officers and investment professionals will prepare portfolio company valuations using, when available, the most recent portfolio company financial statements and forecasts. We also engage an independent valuation firm to perform independent valuations of our investments that are not publicly traded or for which there are no readily available market quotations. We may also engage an independent valuation firm to perform independent valuations of any securities that trade on private secondary markets, but are not otherwise publicly traded, where there is a lack of appreciable trading or a wide disparity in recently reported trades.
For those securities that are not publicly traded or for which there are no readily available market quotations, our Board of Directors, with the assistance of its valuation committee (the “Valuation Committee”), will use the recommended valuations as prepared by our executive officers and investment professionals and the independent valuation firm, respectively, as a component of the foundation for its final fair value determination. Due to the uncertainty inherent in the valuation process, such estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the values that would have resulted had others made the determination using the same or different procedures or had a readily available market for the securities existed, and the differences could be material. Additionally, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the gains or losses implied by the valuation currently assigned to such investments. For those investments that are publicly traded, we generally record unrealized appreciation or depreciation based on changes in the market value of the securities as of the valuation date. Publicly traded securities that remain subject to lock-up restrictions are discounted accordingly. For those investments that are not publicly traded and for which there are no readily available market quotations, we record unrealized depreciation on such investments when we believe that an investment has become impaired and record unrealized appreciation if we believe that the underlying portfolio company has appreciated in value and our equity security has also appreciated in value. Changes in fair value are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as the net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.
We generally determine the fair value of our investments by considering a number of factors. The following represent factors that, among others, could impact our fair value determinations:
1.Public trading of our portfolio securities, taking into consideration lock-up requirements and liquidity;
2.Active trading of our portfolio securities on a private secondary market, where we have determined that there is meaningful volume and the transactions are considered arm’s length by sophisticated investors;
3.Qualified funding rounds in the companies in which we invested, where there is meaningful and reputable information available on size, valuation and investors; and
4.Additional investments by us in current portfolio companies, where the price of the new investment differs materially from prior investments.
There is inherent subjectivity in determining the fair value of our investments. We expect that most of our portfolio investments, other than those for which market quotations are readily available and that may be sold without restriction, will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors, with the assistance of our Valuation Committee. Furthermore, when calculating net asset value, we also consider our recognition of a deferred tax liability for unrealized gains on investments for those investments held in our taxable subsidiaries. See “Note 1—Nature of Operations” to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a list of our taxable subsidiaries.
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Regulation as a Business Development Company
General
A BDC is regulated by the 1940 Act. A BDC must be organized in the United States for the purpose of investing in, or lending to, primarily private companies and making significant managerial assistance available to them. A BDC may use capital provided by public stockholders and from other sources to make long-term, private investments in businesses. A BDC provides stockholders the ability to retain the liquidity of a publicly traded stock while sharing in the possible benefits, if any, of investing in primarily privately owned companies.
We may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC unless authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as required by the 1940 Act. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (a) 67% or more of such company’s voting securities present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company. We do not anticipate any substantial change in the nature of our business.
As with other companies regulated by the 1940 Act, a BDC must adhere to certain substantive regulatory requirements. A majority of our directors must be persons who are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Additionally, we are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the BDC. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.
As a BDC, we are generally required to meet an asset coverage ratio, defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities, of at least 200% after each issuance of senior securities. We may also be prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our directors who are not interested persons and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC.
The Small Business Credit Availability Act (the “SBCAA”) modified the asset coverage percentage for BDCs, reducing the required coverage percentage for senior securities from 200% to 150%, subject to certain conditions. Under the SBCAA, we are allowed to increase our leverage capacity if stockholders representing at least a majority of the votes cast, when a quorum is present, approve a proposal to do so. If we receive stockholder approval, we would be allowed to increase our leverage capacity on the first day after such approval. Alternatively, the SBCAA allows the majority of our independent directors to approve an increase in our leverage capacity, and such approval would become effective on the one-year anniversary of such approval. In either case, we would be required to make certain disclosures on our website and in SEC filings regarding, among other things, the receipt of approval to increase our leverage, our leverage capacity and usage, and risks related to leverage.
Pursuant to the SBCAA, the SEC issued rules or amendments to rules allowing BDCs to use the same securities offering and proxy rules that are available to operating companies, including, among other things, allowing BDCs to incorporate by reference in registration statements filed with the SEC and allowing certain BDCs to file shelf registration statements that are automatically effective and take advantage of other benefits available to Well-Known Seasoned Issuers.
We do not intend to acquire securities issued by any investment company that exceed the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. Under these limits, except for registered money market funds, we generally cannot acquire more than 3% of the voting stock of any investment company, invest more than 5% of the value of our total assets in the securities of one investment company or invest more than 10% of the value of our total assets in the securities of investment companies in the aggregate. The portion of our portfolio invested in securities issued by investment companies ordinarily will subject our stockholders to additional indirect expenses. Our investment portfolio is also subject to diversification requirements by virtue of our election to be treated as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes and our intention to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to RICs. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K for more information.
In addition, investment companies registered under the 1940 Act and private funds that are excluded from the definition of “investment company” pursuant to either Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act may not acquire directly or through a controlled entity more than 3% of our total outstanding voting stock (measured at the time of the acquisition), unless the funds comply with an exemption under the 1940 Act. As a result, certain of our investors may hold a smaller position in our shares than if they were not subject to these restrictions.
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We are generally not able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure—Regulations governing our operation as a business development company affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital, which may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value of our common stock if our Board of Directors determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In addition, we may generally issue new shares of our common stock at a price below net asset value in rights offerings to existing stockholders, in payment of dividends and in certain other limited circumstances.
As a BDC, we are also prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our Board of Directors who are not interested persons and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC. The affiliates with which we may be prohibited from transacting include our directors, officers and employees and any person controlling or under common control with us, subject to certain exceptions. For example, under the 1940 Act, absent receipt of exemptive relief from the SEC, we and certain of our affiliates are generally precluded from co-investing in negotiated private placements of securities. We, GSV Asset Management and certain of our affiliates submitted an exemptive application to the SEC to permit us to co-invest with other funds managed by GSV Asset Management or its affiliates in a manner consistent with our investment objective and the conditions to the application. As a result of our Internalization, we and GSV Asset Management withdrew such exemptive application on April 2, 2019 because the relief sought was no longer necessary.
We are subject to periodic examination by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.
As a BDC, we are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
Qualifying Assets
Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as “qualifying assets”, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the BDC’s gross assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are the following:
1.Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an eligible portfolio company, or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an eligible portfolio company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An eligible portfolio company is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which:
a.is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States;
b.is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and
c.satisfies any of the following:
i.does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange;
ii.has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250.0 million;
iii.is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the eligible portfolio company;
iv.is a small and solvent company having gross assets of not more than $4.0 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2.0 million; or
v.meets such other criteria as may be established by the SEC.
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2.Securities of any eligible portfolio company which we control.
3.Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities, was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements.
4.Securities of an eligible portfolio company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and we already own 60% of the outstanding equity of the eligible portfolio company.
5.Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in 1 through 4 above, or pursuant to the exercise of options, warrants or rights relating to such securities.
6.Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment.
In addition, a BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in (1), (2) or (3) above.
If at any time less than 70% of our gross assets are comprised of qualifying assets, including as a result of an increase in the value of any non-qualifying assets or decrease in the value of any qualifying assets, we would generally not be permitted to acquire any additional non-qualifying assets, other than office furniture and equipment, interests in real estate and leasehold improvements and facilities maintained to conduct the business operations of the BDC, deferred organization and operating expenses, and other noninvestment assets necessary and appropriate to its operations as a BDC, until such time as 70% of our then-current gross assets were comprised of qualifying assets. We would not be required, however, to dispose of any non-qualifying assets in such circumstances.
Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies
A BDC generally must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities it holds significant managerial assistance, except in circumstances where either (i) the BDC controls such issuer of securities or (ii) the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together and one of the other persons in the group makes available such managerial assistance. Making available significant managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC, through its directors, officers or employees, offers to provide, and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company.
Temporary Investments
Pending investment in other types of “qualifying assets,” as described above, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. Typically, we will invest in U.S. Treasury bills or in repurchase agreements, provided that such agreements are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor, such as us, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25% of our gross assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would not meet the diversification tests in order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. We will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions.
Warrants and Options
Under the 1940 Act, a BDC is subject to restrictions on the amount of warrants, options, restricted stock or rights to purchase shares of capital stock that it may have outstanding at any time. Under the 1940 Act, we may generally only offer warrants provided that (i) the warrants expire by their terms within ten years, (ii) the exercise or conversion price is not less
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than the current market value at the date of issuance, (iii) our stockholders authorize the proposal to issue such warrants, and our Board of Directors approves such issuance on the basis that the issuance is in the best interests of us and our stockholders and (iv) if the warrants are accompanied by other securities, the warrants are not separately transferable unless no class of such warrants and the securities accompanying them has been publicly distributed. The 1940 Act also provides that the amount of our voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants, as well as options and rights, at the time of issuance may not exceed 25% of our outstanding voting securities. In particular, the amount of capital stock that would result from the conversion or exercise of all outstanding warrants, options or rights to purchase capital stock cannot exceed 25% of the BDC’s total outstanding shares of capital stock. This amount is reduced to 20% of the BDC’s total outstanding shares of capital stock if the amount of warrants, options or rights issued pursuant to an executive compensation plan would exceed 15% of the BDC’s total outstanding shares of capital stock.
Senior Securities
We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our gross assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure — Borrowings, such as our 6.00% Notes due 2026 (the "6.00% Notes due 2026"), can magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. This code establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain transactions by our personnel. Our code of ethics and our code of business conduct and ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and are available on our website. You may also obtain copies of our code of ethics and our code of business conduct and ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Compliance Policies and Procedures
We have adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent violation of the federal securities laws and review these compliance policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation. Our Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for administering these policies and procedures.
Compliance with Corporate Governance Regulations
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act imposes a wide variety of regulatory requirements on publicly held companies and their insiders. Many of these requirements affect us. For example:
•pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must certify the accuracy of the financial statements contained in our periodic reports;
•pursuant to Item 307 of Regulation S-K, our periodic reports must disclose our conclusions about the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures;
•pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, our management must prepare an annual report regarding its assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, and we must obtain an audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting performed by our independent registered public accounting firm if we are no longer a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act); and
•pursuant to Item 308 of Regulation S-K and Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, our periodic reports must disclose whether there were significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to review our current policies and procedures to determine whether we comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. We will continue to monitor our compliance with all regulations that are adopted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and will take actions necessary to ensure that we are in compliance therewith.
In addition, the Nasdaq Global Select Market has adopted various corporate governance requirements as part of its listing standards. We believe we are in compliance with such corporate governance listing standards. We will continue to monitor our compliance with all future listing standards and will take actions necessary to ensure that we are in compliance therewith.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
Proxy Policies
We will vote proxies relating to our portfolio securities in what we perceive to be the best interests of our stockholders. We will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted for a vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by us. Although we will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on our portfolio securities, we may vote for such a proposal if there are compelling long-term reasons to do so.
Our proxy voting decisions are made by our executive officers and investment professionals who are responsible for monitoring the relevant investments. To ensure that our vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, we require that: (1) anyone involved in the decision-making process disclose to our Chief Compliance Officer any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (2) employees involved in the decision-making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how we intend to vote on a proposal without the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer and our senior management in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.
Proxy Voting Records
You may obtain information about how we voted proxies with respect to our portfolio securities by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Chief Compliance Officer, SuRo Capital Corp., 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019 or compliance@surocap.com.
Privacy Principles
We are committed to maintaining the privacy of our stockholders and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.
Generally, we do not receive any non-public personal information relating to our stockholders, although certain non-public personal information of our stockholders may become available to us. We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our stockholders or former stockholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service stockholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third-party administrator).
We restrict access to non-public personal information about our stockholders to our employees and affiliates with a legitimate business need for the information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the non-public personal information of our stockholders.
Available Information
The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.
Our internet address is www.surocap.com. We make available free of charge on our website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into and should not be considered to be part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
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Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
Included in our consolidated financial statements are GSV Capital Lending, LLC, SuRo Capital Sports, LLC, and the following wholly-owned subsidiaries, which are taxable subsidiaries (collectively, the “Taxable Subsidiaries”) regardless of whether we qualify for tax treatment as a RIC: GSVC AE Holdings, Inc., GSVC AV Holdings, Inc., GSVC SW Holdings, Inc., and GSVC SVDS Holdings, Inc. The Taxable Subsidiaries are C corporations for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. These taxable subsidiaries are not consolidated for income tax purposes and may generate income tax expenses as a result of their ownership of the portfolio companies. Such income tax expenses and deferred taxes, if any, will be reflected in our consolidated financial statements.
We evaluate tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. We recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position has met the “more-likely-than-not” threshold. We classify penalties and interest associated with income taxes, if any, as income tax expense. Conclusions regarding tax positions are subject to review and may be adjusted at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, ongoing analyses of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof. We have identified our major tax jurisdictions as U.S. federal and New York.
Election to be Taxed as a RIC
We elected to be taxed as a RIC under the Code beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014, and qualified for taxation as a RIC for such taxable year and each of the subsequent taxable years. We intend to operate in a manner so as to qualify for taxation as a RIC. So long as we maintain our qualification for taxation a RIC, we generally will not be required to pay U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on any ordinary income or capital gains that we timely distribute to our stockholders as dividends. To qualify for taxation as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, in order to qualify for the special treatment accorded to RICs, we are required to distribute to our stockholders on a timely basis each year at least 90% of our “investment company taxable income,” which is generally our net ordinary income plus the excess of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses (the “Annual Distribution Requirement”).
Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company
If we:
•qualify as a RIC; and
•satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement,
then we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our income and capital gains that we timely distribute (or are deemed to distribute) to stockholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate rates on any income, including capital gains not distributed (or deemed distributed) to our stockholders.
We will be subject to a 4% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain undistributed income unless we distribute in a timely manner each calendar year an amount equal to at least the sum of (1) 98% of our net ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any ordinary income and net capital gains that we recognized for preceding years but were not distributed during such years and on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax (the “Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement”). While we intend to timely distribute our income and capital gains in order to avoid imposition of this 4% U.S. federal excise tax, we may not be successful in avoiding entirely the imposition of this tax. In that case, we will be liable for the tax only on the amount by which we do not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.
In order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:
•continue to qualify as a BDC under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year;
•derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of certain securities, gains from the sale of stock or other securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock or securities and net income from “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (the “90% Income Test”); and
•diversify our holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year:
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•at least 50% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of our assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer (the “50% Diversification Test”); and
•no more than 25% of the value of our assets is invested in the securities of one issuer, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable Code rules, by us and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or the securities of businesses, or of certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (the “25% Diversification Test,” and together with the 50% Diversification Test, the “Diversification Tests”).
If we satisfy the Diversification Tests as of the close of any quarter, we will not fail the Diversification Tests as of the close of a subsequent quarter as a consequence of a discrepancy between the value of our assets and the requirements of the Diversification Tests that is attributable solely to fluctuations in the value of our assets. Rather, we will fail the Diversification Tests as of the end of a subsequent quarter only if such a discrepancy existed immediately after our acquisition of any asset and such discrepancy is wholly or partly the result of that acquisition. In addition, if we fail the Diversification Tests as of the end of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a RIC if we eliminate the discrepancy within thirty days of the end of such quarter and, if we eliminate the discrepancy within that thirty-day period, we will be treated as having satisfied the Diversification Tests as of the end of such quarter for purposes of applying the rule described in the preceding sentence.
We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (which may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the origination of a loan or possibly in other circumstances), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. We may also have to include in income other amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as contractual payment-in-kind, or PIK, interest (which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term) or dividends and deferred loan origination fees that are paid after origination of the loan or are paid in non-cash compensation such as warrants or stock. Because any original issue discount or other amounts accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.
We will be subject to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement. See “—Regulation as a Business Development Company—Senior Securities.” Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
We may be required to sell assets in order to satisfy the Diversification Tests. However, our ability to dispose of assets to meet the Diversification Tests may be limited by the illiquid nature of our portfolio. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Diversification Tests, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous and may result in substantial losses.
We may invest in partnerships, including qualified publicly traded partnerships, which may result in our being subject to state, local or foreign income taxes, franchise taxes, or withholding liabilities. To the extent that we invest in entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than a “qualified publicly-traded partnership”), we generally must include the items of gross income derived by the partnerships for purposes of the 90% Income Test, and the income that is derived from a partnership (other than a “qualified publicly-traded partnership”) will be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test only to the extent that such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by us directly.
In order to meet the 90% Income Test, we may establish one or more special purpose corporations to hold assets from which we do not anticipate earning dividend, interest or other qualifying income under the 90% Income Test. Any investments held through a special purpose corporation would generally be subject to U.S. federal income and other taxes, and therefore we can expect to achieve a reduced after-tax yield on such investments.
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Certain of our investment practices may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things: (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions; (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income; (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited); (iv) cause us to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash; (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of securities is deemed to occur; (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions; and (vii) produce income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test described above. We will monitor our transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the potential adverse effect of these provisions.
A portfolio company may face financial difficulty that requires us to work-out, modify or otherwise restructure our investment in the portfolio company. Any such restructuring may result in unusable capital losses and future non-cash income. Any restructuring may also result in our recognition of a substantial amount of non-qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test.
Gain or loss realized by us from the sale or exchange of warrants acquired by us as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally will be treated as capital gain or loss. The treatment of such gain or loss as long-term or short-term will depend on how long we held a particular warrant. Upon the exercise of a warrant acquired by us, our adjusted tax basis in the stock purchased under the warrant will equal the sum of the amount paid for the warrant plus the strike price paid on the exercise of the warrant.
As a RIC, we are generally limited in our ability to deduct expenses in excess of our “investment company taxable income” (which is, generally, ordinary income plus the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses). If our expenses in a given year exceed investment company taxable income, we would experience a net operating loss for that year. However, a RIC is not permitted to carry forward net operating losses to subsequent years. In addition, expenses can be used only to offset investment company taxable income, not net capital gain. Due to these limits on the deductibility of expenses, we may, for tax purposes, have aggregate taxable income or net capital gains for several years that we are required to distribute and that is taxable to our stockholders even if such income or net capital gains is greater than the aggregate net income we actually earned during those years. Such required distributions may be made from the Company’s cash assets or by liquidation of investments, if necessary. We may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event we realize net capital gains from such transactions, a stockholder may receive a larger capital gain distribution than it would have received in the absence of such transactions.
Our investment in non-U.S. securities may be subject to non-U.S. income, withholding and other taxes. In that case, our yield on those securities would be decreased. Stockholders will generally not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to non-U.S. taxes paid by us.
If we purchase shares in a “passive foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”), we may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our allocable share of a portion of any “excess distribution” received on, or any gain from the disposition of, such shares. Additional charges in the nature of interest generally will be imposed on us in respect of deferred taxes arising from any such excess distribution or gain. This additional tax and interest may apply even if we make a distribution in an amount equal to any "excess distribution" or gain from the disposition of such shares as a taxable dividend by us to our shareholders. If we invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Code (a “QEF”), in lieu of the foregoing requirements, we will be required to include in income each year our proportionate share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the QEF, even if such income is not distributed by the QEF. Alternatively, we may be able to elect to mark-to-market at the end of each taxable year its shares in a PFIC; in this case, we will recognize as ordinary income our allocable share of any increase in the value of such shares, and as ordinary loss our allocable share of any decrease in such value to the extent that any such decrease does not exceed prior increases included in our income. Under either election, we may be required to recognize in a year income in excess of distributions from PFICs and proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income will nevertheless be subject to the Annual Distribution Requirement and will be taken into account for purposes of the 4% U.S. federal excise tax.
Failure to Maintain our Qualification as a RIC
If we fail to satisfy the 90% Income Test or the Diversification Tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless continue to qualify as a RIC for such year if certain relief provisions are applicable (which may, among other things, require us to pay certain U.S. federal income taxes at corporate rates or to dispose of certain assets).
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If we were unable to qualify for treatment as a RIC and the foregoing relief provisions are not applicable, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income at regular corporate rates, regardless of whether we make any distributions to our stockholders. Distributions would not be required, and any distributions would be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income that, subject to certain limitations, may be eligible for the 20% maximum rate to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits provided certain holding period and other requirements were met. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate distributees would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital that would reduce the stockholder's adjusted tax basis in its common stock (and correspondingly increase such stockholder's gain, or reduce such stockholder's loss, on disposition of such common stock), and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. To requalify as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, we would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and dispose of any earnings and profits from any year in which we failed to qualify as a RIC. Subject to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under Subchapter M of the Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that requalify as a RIC no later than the second year following the nonqualifying year, we could be subject to tax on any unrealized net built-in gains in the assets held by us during the period in which we failed to qualify as a RIC that are recognized within the subsequent five years, unless we made a special election to pay U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on such built-in gain at the time of our requalification as a RIC.
Tax matters are complicated and the tax consequences to an investor of an investment in our common stock will depend on the facts of his, her or its particular situation. We encourage investors to consult their own tax advisers regarding the specific consequences of such an investment, including tax reporting requirements, the applicability of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, eligibility for the benefits of any applicable tax treaty and the effect of any possible changes in the tax laws.
See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K and “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—U.S. Federal and State Income Taxes” and “Note 9—Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for further detail.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Investing in our securities involves a number of significant risks. In addition to the other information contained in this annual report on Form 10-K, you should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our securities. Although the risks described below represent the principal risks associated with an investment in us, they are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us might also impair our operations and performance. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Summary of Principal Risk Factors
The following is a summary of the principal risks that you should carefully consider before investing in our securities and is followed by a more detailed discussion of the material risks related to us and an investment in our securities.
We are subject to risks related to our investments, including but not limited to the following:
•Our investments in the rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies that we target may be extremely risky and we could lose all or part of our investments.
•In the event that we make an investment in a sponsor of a SPAC and the underlying SPAC does not consummate a business combination, we will lose the entirety of our investment.
•Because our investments are generally not in publicly traded securities, there will be uncertainty regarding the value of our investments, which could adversely affect the determination of our net asset value.
•The lack of liquidity in, and potentially extended holding period of, our many investments may adversely affect our business and will delay any distributions of gains, if any.
•Technology-related sectors in which we invest are subject to many risks, including volatility, intense competition, decreasing life cycles, product obsolescence, changing consumer preferences, periodic downturns, regulatory concerns and litigation risks.
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•Our portfolio is concentrated in a limited number of portfolio companies or market sectors, which subjects us to a risk of significant loss if the business or market position of these companies deteriorates or market sectors experiences a market downturn.
•Because we will generally not hold controlling equity interests in our portfolio companies, we will likely not be in a position to exercise control over our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by substantial stockholders or management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments.
We are subject to risks related to our business and structure, including but not limited to the following:
•As an internally managed BDC, we are subject to certain restrictions that may adversely affect our business and are dependent upon our management team and investment professionals for our future success.
•Our business model depends upon the development and maintenance of strong referral relationships with private equity, venture capital funds and investment banking firms.
•Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to achieve our investment objective.
•Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.
•Economic, political and market conditions may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
•We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates and inflation rates.
•We operate in a highly competitive market for direct equity investment opportunities.
•Our use of borrowed funds to make investments exposes us to risks typically associated with leverage.
•Ineffective internal controls could impact our business and operating results.
•We face cyber-security risks.
Risks related to our securities, include but are not limited to the following:
•Investing in our securities may involve an above average degree of risk.
•Our common stock price may be volatile and may decrease substantially.
•We may not be able to pay distributions to our stockholders and our distributions may not grow over time.
•Our stockholders may experience dilution upon the issuance of additional shares of our common stock.
•If we default under any future credit facility or any other future indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
•We may choose to redeem the 6.00% Notes due 2026 when prevailing interest rates are relatively low.
•An active trading market for the 6.00% Notes due 2026 may not develop or be maintained, which could limit a holder's ability to sell the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and/or adversely impact the market price of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
•We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates if we are profitable and are unable to qualify as a RIC, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
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Risks Related to Our Investments
Our investments in the rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies that we target may be extremely risky and we could lose all or part of our investments.
Investment in the rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies that we target involves a number of significant risks, including the following:
•these companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their existing debt, which may lead to equity financings, possibly at discounted valuations, in which we could be substantially diluted if we do not or cannot participate, bankruptcy or liquidation and the reduction or loss of our equity investment;
•they typically have limited operating histories, narrower, less established product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions, market conditions and consumer sentiment in respect of their products or services, as well as general economic downturns;
•they generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position;
•because they are privately owned, there is generally little publicly available information about these businesses; therefore, although we will perform due diligence investigations on these portfolio companies, their operations and their prospects, we may not learn all of the material information we need to know regarding these businesses and, in the case of investments we acquire on private secondary transactions, we may be unable to obtain financial or other information regarding the companies with respect to which we invest. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the information that we do obtain with respect to any investment is reliable; and
•they are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on the portfolio company and, in turn, on us.
A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by its lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our equity investment in such portfolio company. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery of our equity investment or to negotiate new terms with a financially distressed portfolio company.
Because our investments are generally not in publicly traded securities, there will be uncertainty regarding the value of our investments, which could adversely affect the determination of our net asset value.
Our portfolio investments will generally not be in publicly traded securities. As a result, although we expect that some of our equity investments may trade on private secondary marketplaces, the fair value of our direct investments in portfolio companies will often not be readily determinable. Under the 1940 Act, for our investments for which there are no readily available market quotations, including securities that, while listed on a private securities exchange, have not actively traded, we will value such securities at fair value quarterly as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Valuation Committee in accordance with our written valuation policy. In connection with that determination, our executive officers and investment professionals will prepare portfolio company valuations using, where available, the most recent portfolio company financial statements and forecasts. The Valuation Committee utilizes the services of an independent valuation firm, which prepares valuations for each of our portfolio investments that are not publicly traded or for which we do not have readily available market quotations, including securities that while listed on a private securities exchange, have not actively traded. However, the Board of Directors retains ultimate authority as to the appropriate valuation of each such investment. The types of factors that the Valuation Committee takes into account in providing its fair value recommendation to the Board of Directors with respect to such non-traded investments include, as relevant and, to the extent available, the portfolio company’s earnings, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to valuations of publicly traded companies, comparisons to recent sales of comparable companies, the discounted value of the cash flows of the portfolio company and other relevant factors. This information may not be available because it is difficult to obtain financial and other information with respect to private companies, and even when we are able to obtain such information, there can be no assurance that it is complete or accurate. Because such valuations are inherently uncertain and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would be assessed if a readily available market for these securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations with respect to any non-traded
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investments we hold may cause our net asset value on a given date to materially understate or overstate the value that we may ultimately realize on one or more of our investments. As a result, investors purchasing our securities based on an overstated net asset value would pay a higher price than the value of our investments might warrant. Conversely, investors selling securities during a period in which the net asset value understates the value of our investments would receive a lower price for their securities than the value of our investments might warrant.
The securities of our private portfolio companies are illiquid, and the inability of these portfolio companies to complete an IPO or consummate another liquidity event within our targeted time frame will extend the holding period of our investments, may adversely affect the value of these investments, and will delay the distribution of gains, if any.
The IPO market is, by its very nature, unpredictable. A lack of IPO opportunities for venture capital-backed companies could lead to companies staying longer in our portfolio as private entities still requiring funding. This situation may adversely affect the amount of available venture capital funding to late-stage companies that cannot complete an IPO. Such stagnation could dampen returns or could lead to unrealized depreciation and realized losses as some companies run short of cash and have to accept lower valuations in private fundings or are not able to access additional capital at all. A lack of IPO opportunities for venture capital-backed companies may also cause some venture capital firms to change their strategies, leading some of them to reduce funding of their portfolio companies and making it more difficult for such companies to access capital. This might result in unrealized depreciation and realized losses in such companies by other investment funds, like us, who are co-investors in such companies. There can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve our targeted return on our portfolio company investments if, as and when they go public.
The equity securities we acquire in a private company are generally subject to contractual transfer limitations imposed on the company’s stockholders as well as other contractual obligations, such as rights of first refusal and co-sale rights. These obligations generally expire only upon an IPO by the company or the occurrence of another liquidity/exit event. As a result, prior to an IPO or other liquidity/exit event, our ability to liquidate our private portfolio company positions may be constrained. Transfer restrictions could limit our ability to liquidate our positions in these securities if we are unable to find buyers acceptable to our portfolio companies, or where applicable, their stockholders. Such buyers may not be willing to purchase our investments at adequate prices or in volumes sufficient to liquidate our position, and even where they are willing, other stockholders could exercise their co-sale rights to participate in the sale, thereby reducing the number of shares available to sell by us. Furthermore, prospective buyers may be deterred from entering into purchase transactions with us due to the delay and uncertainty that these transfer and other limitations create.
If the private companies in which we invest do not perform as planned, they may be unable to successfully complete an IPO or consummate another liquidity event within our targeted time frame, or they may decide to abandon their plans for an IPO. In such cases, we will likely exceed our targeted holding period and the value of these investments may decline substantially if an IPO or other exit is no longer viable. We may also be forced to take other steps to exit these investments.
The illiquidity of our private portfolio company investments, including those that are traded on the trading platforms of private secondary marketplaces, may make it difficult for us to sell such investments should the need arise. Also, if we were required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our investments. We will have no limitation on the portion of our portfolio that may be invested in illiquid securities, and we anticipate that all or a substantial portion of our portfolio may be invested in such illiquid securities at all times. Due to the inherent uncertainty in determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments determined in good faith by our Board of Directors may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.
In addition, even if a portfolio company completes an IPO, we will typically not be able to sell our position until any applicable post-IPO lockup restriction expires. As a result of lockup restrictions, the market price of securities that we hold may decline substantially before we are able to sell them following an IPO. There is also no assurance that a meaningful trading market will develop for our publicly traded portfolio companies following an IPO to allow us to liquidate our position when we desire.
We may not realize gains from our equity investments and, because certain of our portfolio companies may incur substantial debt to finance their operations, we may experience a complete loss on our equity investments in the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation of any of our portfolio companies.
We invest principally in the equity and equity-related securities of what we believe to be rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies. However, the equity interests we acquire may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value.
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In addition, the private company securities we acquire may be subject to drag-along rights, which could permit other stockholders, under certain circumstances, to force us to liquidate our position in a subject company at a specified price, which could be, in our opinion, inadequate or undesirable or even below our cost basis. In this event, we could realize a loss or fail to realize gain in an amount that we deem appropriate on our investment. Further, capital market volatility and the overall market environment may preclude our portfolio companies from realizing liquidity events and impede our exit from these investments. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. We will generally have little, if any, control over the timing of any gains we may realize from our equity investments unless and until the portfolio companies in which we invest become publicly traded. In addition, the companies in which we invest may have substantial debt loads. In such cases, we would typically be last in line behind any creditors in a bankruptcy or liquidation and would likely experience a complete loss on our investment.
Many of our portfolio companies are currently experiencing operating losses, which may be substantial, and there can be no assurance when or if such companies will operate at a profit.
We have limited information about the financial performance and profitability of some of our portfolio companies. While certain of our portfolio companies have earned net income in recent periods, we believe that many of our portfolio companies are currently experiencing operating losses. There can be no assurance when or if such companies will operate at a profit.
The lack of liquidity in, and potentially extended holding period of, our many investments may adversely affect our business and will delay any distributions of gains, if any.
Our investments will generally not be in publicly traded securities. Although we expect that some of our equity investments will trade on private secondary marketplaces, certain of the securities we hold will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. In addition, while some portfolio companies may trade on private secondary marketplaces, we can provide no assurance that such a trading market will continue or remain active, or that we will be able to sell our position in any portfolio company at the time we desire to do so and at the price we anticipate. The illiquidity of our investments, including those that are traded on private secondary marketplaces, will make it difficult for us to sell such investments if the need arises. Also, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our investments. We have no limitation on the portion of our portfolio that may be invested in illiquid securities, and a substantial portion or all of our portfolio may be invested in such illiquid securities from time to time.
In addition, because we generally invest in equity and equity-related securities, with respect to the majority of our portfolio companies, we do not expect regular realization events, if any, to occur in the near term. We expect that our holdings of equity securities may require several years to appreciate in value, and we can offer no assurance that such appreciation will occur. Even if such appreciation does occur, it is likely that initial purchasers of our shares could wait for an extended period of time before any appreciation or sale of our investments, and any attendant distributions of gains, may be realized.
Our portfolio is concentrated in a limited number of portfolio companies or market sectors, which subjects us to a risk of significant loss if the business or market position of these companies deteriorates or market sectors experiences a market downturn.
A consequence of our limited number of investments is that the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment. For example, as of December 31, 2021, 54.2% of our net asset value was comprised of investments in ten portfolio companies. Beyond the asset diversification requirements necessary to qualify as a RIC, we have general guidelines for diversification, however our investments could be concentrated in relatively few issuers. In addition, our investments may be concentrated in a limited number of market sectors, including in technology-related sectors. As a result, a downturn in any market sector in which a significant number of our portfolio companies operate or the deterioration of the market position of any portfolio company in which we have a material position could materially adversely affect us.
Technology-related sectors in which we invest are subject to many risks, including volatility, intense competition, decreasing life cycles, product obsolescence, changing consumer preferences, periodic downturns, regulatory concerns and litigation risks.
Given the experience of our executive officers and investment professionals within the technology space, a number of the companies in which we have invested and intend to invest operate in technology-related sectors. Investments in such companies
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are subject to substantial risks. The revenue, income (or losses) and valuations of technology-related companies can and often do fluctuate suddenly and dramatically. In addition, because of rapid technological change, the average selling prices of products and some services provided by companies in technology-related sectors have historically decreased over their productive lives.
In addition, our portfolio companies face intense competition since their businesses are rapidly evolving, intensely competitive and subject to changing technology, shifting user needs and frequent introductions of new products and services. Potential competitors to our portfolio companies in the technology industry range from large and established companies to emerging start-ups. Further, such companies are subject to laws that were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet and related technologies and, as a result, may not contemplate or address the unique issues of the Internet and related technologies. The laws that do reference the Internet are being interpreted by the courts, but their applicability and scope remain uncertain. Claims have been threatened and filed under both U.S. and foreign laws for defamation, invasion of privacy and other tort claims, unlawful activity, copyright and trademark infringement, or other theories based on the nature and content of the materials searched and the ads posted by a company’s users, a company’s products and services, or content generated by a company’s users. Further, the growth of technology-related companies into a variety of new fields implicate a variety of new regulatory issues and may subject such companies to increased regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect the business and operations of a portfolio company in the technology industry and, in turn, adversely affect the value of these portfolio companies and the value of any securities that we may hold.
Our financial results could be negatively affected if a significant portfolio company 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 cost and fair value of our ten largest portfolio company positions as of December 31, 2021:
| Portfolio Company | Cost | Fair Value | % of Net Asset Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Hero, Inc. | $ | 14,999,972 | $ | 87,831,743 | 24.1% | |||||||||||||||
| Forge Global, Inc. | 2,526,223 | 21,015,781 | 5.8% | |||||||||||||||||
| Blink Health, Inc. | 15,004,340 | 14,315,526 | 4.0% | |||||||||||||||||
| Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. | 10,002,666 | 12,439,522 | 3.4% | |||||||||||||||||
| Stormwind, LLC | 6,387,741 | 11,830,722 | 3.2% | |||||||||||||||||
| Aspiration Partners, Inc. | 1,283,005 | 11,055,743 | 3.0% | |||||||||||||||||
| Trax Ltd. | 10,005,748 | 10,370,299 | 2.8% | |||||||||||||||||
| Architect Capital PayJoy SPV, LLC | 10,006,745 | 10,000,000 | 2.7% | |||||||||||||||||
| Orchard Technologies, Inc. | 10,004,034 | 9,999,996 | 2.7% | |||||||||||||||||
| Skillsoft Corp. | 9,818,430 | 8,983,863 | 2.5% | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 90,038,904 | $ | 197,843,195 | 54.2% | |||||||||||||||
We may be limited in our ability to make follow-on investments, and our failure to make follow-on investments in our portfolio companies could impair the value of our portfolio.
Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to: (1) increase or maintain in whole or in part our equity ownership percentage; (2) exercise warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing; or (3) attempt to preserve or enhance the value of our investment.
We may elect not to make follow-on investments, or may otherwise lack sufficient funds to make those investments or lack access to desired follow-on investment opportunities. We have the discretion to make any follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources and of the investment opportunity. The failure to make follow-on investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and our initial investment, or may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our concentration of risk, because we prefer other opportunities, or because we are inhibited by compliance with BDC requirements or the desire to qualify to maintain our status as a RIC, or we lack access to the desired follow-on investment opportunity.
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In addition, we may be unable to complete follow-on investments in our portfolio companies that have conducted an IPO as a result of regulatory or financial restrictions. This or any of the preceding rationales for failing to undertake a follow-on investment could impact our portfolio companies' performance and, thus, its value.
Because we will generally not hold controlling equity interests in our portfolio companies, we will likely not be in a position to exercise control over our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by substantial stockholders or management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments.
Generally, we will not take controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we will be subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and the stockholders and management of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests. In addition, other stockholders, such as venture capital and private equity sponsors, that have substantial investments in our portfolio companies may have interests that differ from that of the portfolio company or its minority stockholders, which may lead them to take actions that could materially and adversely affect the value of our investment in the portfolio company. Due to the lack of liquidity for the equity and equity-related investments that we will typically hold in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of our investments in the event we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company or its substantial stockholders, and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of our investments.
In the event that we make an investment in a sponsor of a SPAC and the SPAC does not consummate a business combination, we will lose the entirety of our investment.
We will lose the entirety of our investment in a sponsor of a SPAC if the underlying SPAC fails to consummate a business combination. Any investment by us in a sponsor of a SPAC will not have the same redemption rights that a direct investment in a SPAC may have. As such, there is a unique risk of experiencing a complete loss on our investment when we invest in a sponsor of a SPAC.
The number of founder shares allocated to us in respect of any investment in a sponsor of a SPAC may be reduced or otherwise subjected to forfeiture/dilution in the event that the sponsor of a SPAC raises additional capital.
In certain circumstances, the managing member of the sponsor of a SPAC in which we invest may determine that the underlying SPAC requires additional working capital following the IPO of the underlying SPAC but prior to a business combination, as contemplated by the underlying SPAC’s registration statement. Typically, the managing member of the sponsor of a SPAC, in his or her sole and absolute discretion, may permit existing or new members in the sponsor of a SPAC, including us, to make loans to the underlying SPAC or to make additional equity investments in the sponsor of the SPAC as needed. Accordingly, we typically will have no right to participate in any such loans or equity investments unless the managing member, in his or her sole discretion, offers us the opportunity to invest in any such loans or equity investments. In connection with such new loans or equity investments, the managing member may reallocate founder shares from members not participating in any such loans or equity to any such lenders/investors at a ratio calculated in accordance with the formula used to derive the ratio for the initial allocation of founder shares to us and the other members and so long as any reallocation would not affect our or any group of members’ membership interests disproportionately to all members in the aggregate. In such a case, our interest in the founder shares will be reduced or diluted. In the event any such reallocation would affect our or any group of members’ membership interests disproportionately to all members in the aggregate, we will have a limited right to participate in loan or equity investment at issue. If, however, we choose not to participate, our interest in the founder shares would be reduced or diluted as a result. Finally, the managing member may determine in his or her sole and absolute discretion that one or more strategic investors in the sponsor of a SPAC will not be subject to a reallocation of founder shares in the event a loan or equity investment is needed, and if so our interest in the founder shares will be further diluted as a result.
The requirement that a SPAC complete a business combination within a specified completion window may give potential target businesses leverage over the SPAC in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time the SPAC has in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as it approaches its dissolution deadline, which could undermine its ability to complete a business combination on terms that would produce value for us.
Any potential target business that enters into negotiations concerning a business combination with a SPAC in which we invest will be aware that the SPAC must complete a business combination within a specified completion window, which is usually between 18-24 months following the SPAC’s IPO. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over the SPAC in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if the SPAC does not complete a business combination with that particular target business, it may be unable to complete a business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as the SPAC gets closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, the SPAC may have limited time to conduct due
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diligence and may enter into a business combination on terms that it would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation. The foregoing could undermine the SPAC’s ability to complete a business combination on terms that would produce value for us.
Investments in foreign companies may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
While we invest primarily in U.S. companies, we may invest on an opportunistic basis in certain non-U.S. companies, including those located in emerging markets, that otherwise meet our investment criteria. In regards to the regulatory requirements for BDCs, non-U.S. investments do not qualify as investments in “eligible portfolio companies,” and thus may not be considered “qualifying assets.” In addition, investing in foreign companies, and particularly those in emerging markets, may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility. Further, we may have difficulty enforcing our rights as equity holders in foreign jurisdictions. In addition, to the extent we invest in non-U.S. companies, we may face greater exposure to foreign economic developments.
Although we expect that most of our investments will be U.S. dollar-denominated, any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments.
We may expose ourselves to risks if we engage in hedging transactions.
If we engage in hedging transactions, we may expose ourselves to risks associated with such transactions. We may utilize instruments such as forward contracts, currency options and interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the relative values of our portfolio positions from changes in currency exchange rates and market interest rates. Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. However, such hedging can establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions should increase. It may not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that we are not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.
Our ability to enter into transactions involving derivatives and financial commitment transactions may be limited.
In November 2020, the SEC adopted a rulemaking regarding the ability of a BDC (or a registered investment company) to use derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations. Under the newly adopted rules, BDCs that use derivatives will be subject to a value-at-risk leverage limit, a derivatives risk management program and testing requirements and requirements related to board reporting. These new requirements will apply unless the BDC qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined under the adopted rules. Under the new rule, a BDC may enter into an unfunded commitment agreement that is not a derivatives transaction, such as an agreement to provide financing to a portfolio company, if the BDC has, among other things, a reasonable belief, at the time it enters into such an agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all of its unfunded commitment agreements, in each case as it becomes due. Collectively, these requirements may limit our ability to use derivatives and/or enter into certain other financial contracts.
Risks Related to Our Business and Structure
Any failure on our part to maintain our status as a BDC would reduce our operating flexibility.
The 1940 Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their gross assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or thinly-traded U.S. public companies,
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cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Furthermore, any failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the 1940 Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us and/or expose us to claims of private litigants. In addition, upon approval of a majority of our stockholders, we may elect to withdraw our status as a BDC. If we decide to withdraw our election, or if we otherwise fail to maintain our qualification, to be regulated as a BDC, we may be subject to substantially greater regulation under the 1940 Act as a closed-end investment company. Compliance with such regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility and could significantly increase our costs of doing business.
As an internally managed BDC, we are subject to certain restrictions that may adversely affect our business.
As an internally managed BDC, the size and categories of our assets under management is limited, and we are unable to offer as wide a variety of financial products to prospective portfolio companies and sponsors (potentially limiting the size and diversification of our asset base). We therefore may not achieve efficiencies of scale and greater management resources available to externally managed BDCs.
Additionally, as an internally managed BDC, our ability to offer more competitive and flexible compensation structures, such as offering both a profit-sharing plan and an equity incentive plan, is subject to the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act, which limits our ability to attract and retain talented investment management professionals. As such, these limitations could inhibit our ability to grow, pursue our business plan and attract and retain professional talent, any or all of which may have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As an internally managed BDC, we are dependent upon our management team and investment professionals for their time availability and for our future success, and if we are not able to hire and retain qualified personnel, or if we lose key members of our senior management team, our ability to implement our business strategy could be significantly harmed.
As an internally managed BDC, our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to make distributions to our stockholders depends upon the performance of our management team and investment professionals. We depend upon the members of our management and our investment professionals for the identification, final selection, structuring, closing and monitoring of our investments. These employees have critical industry experience and relationships on which we rely to implement our business plan. If we lose the services of key members of our senior management team, we may not be able to operate the business as we expect, and our ability to compete could be harmed, which could cause our operating results to suffer. We believe our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to identify, attract and retain sufficient numbers of highly skilled employees. If we do not succeed in identifying, attracting and retaining such personnel, we may not be able to operate our business as we expect.
As an internally managed BDC, our compensation structure is determined and set by our Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee. This structure currently includes salary, bonus and incentive compensation. We are not generally permitted by the 1940 Act to employ an incentive compensation structure that directly ties performance of our investment portfolio and results of operations to incentive compensation.
Members of our senior management team may receive offers of more flexible and attractive compensation arrangements from other companies, particularly from investment advisers to externally managed BDCs that are not subject to the same limitations on incentive-based compensation that we are subject to as an internally managed BDC. A departure by one or more members of our senior management team could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to achieve our investment objective.
Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our management team’s and investment professionals' ability to identify, analyze and invest in companies that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of our management team’s and investment professionals' structuring of the investment process and their ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to us. We seek a specified number of investments in rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies, which may be extremely risky. There can be no assurance that our management team and investment professionals will be successful in identifying and investing in companies that meet our investment criteria, or that we will achieve our investment objective. Even if we are able to grow and build upon our investment operations, any failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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The results of our operations will depend on many factors, including the availability of opportunities for investment, readily accessible short- and long-term funding alternatives in the financial markets and economic conditions. Furthermore, any inability to successfully operate our business or implement our investment policies and strategies as described herein could adversely impact our ability to pay dividends.
Our business model depends upon the development and maintenance of strong referral relationships with private equity, venture capital funds and investment banking firms.
We expect that members of our management team and our investment professionals will maintain key informal relationships, which we use to help identify and gain access to investment opportunities. If our management team and investment professionals fail to maintain relationships with key firms, or if they fail to establish strong referral relationships with other firms or other sources of investment opportunities, we will not be able to grow our portfolio of equity investments and achieve our investment objective. In addition, persons with whom our management team and investment professionals have informal relationships are not obligated to inform them or us of investment opportunities, and therefore such relationships may not lead to the origination of equity or other investments. Any loss or diminishment of such relationships could effectively reduce the ability to identify attractive portfolio companies that meet our investment criteria, either for direct equity investments or for investments through private secondary market transactions or other secondary transactions.
There are significant potential risks related to investing in securities traded on private secondary marketplaces.
We have utilized and expect to continue to utilize private secondary marketplaces, such as SharesPost, Inc., to acquire investments for our portfolio. When we purchase secondary shares, we may have little or no direct access to financial or other information from these portfolio companies. As a result, we are dependent upon the relationships of our management team and investment professionals and our Board of Directors to obtain the information necessary to perform research and due diligence, and to monitor our investments after they are made. There can be no assurance that our management team and investment professionals will be able to acquire adequate information on which to make its investment decision with respect to any private secondary marketplace purchases, or that the information it is able to obtain is accurate or complete. Any failure to obtain full and complete information regarding the portfolio companies with respect to which we invest through private secondary marketplaces could cause us to lose part or all of our investment in such companies, which would have a material and adverse effect on our net asset value and results of operations.
In addition, while we believe the ability to trade on private secondary marketplaces provides valuable opportunities for liquidity, there can be no assurance that the portfolio companies with respect to which we invest through private secondary marketplaces will have or maintain active trading markets, and the prices of those securities may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may result in an inability for us to realize full value on our investment. In addition, wide swings in market prices, which are typical of irregularly traded securities, could cause significant and unexpected declines in the value of our portfolio investments. Further, prices in private secondary marketplaces, where limited information is available, may not accurately reflect the true value of a portfolio company, and may overstate a portfolio company’s actual value, which may cause us to realize future capital losses on our investment in that portfolio company. If any of the foregoing were to occur, it would likely have a material and adverse effect on our net asset value and results of operations.
Investments in private companies, including through private secondary marketplaces, also entail additional legal and regulatory risks which expose participants to the risk of liability due to the imbalance of information among participants and participant qualification and other transactional requirements applicable to private securities transactions, the non-compliance with which could result in rescission rights and monetary and other sanctions. The application of these laws within the context of private secondary marketplaces and related market practices are still evolving, and, despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, we could be exposed to liability. The regulation of private secondary marketplaces is also evolving. Additional state or federal regulation of these markets could result in limits on the operation of or activity on those markets. Conversely, deregulation of these markets could make it easier for investors to invest directly in private companies and affect the attractiveness of our Company as an access vehicle for investment in private shares. Private companies may also increasingly seek to limit secondary trading in their stock, such as through contractual transfer restrictions, and provisions in company charter documents, investor rights of first refusal and co-sale and/or employment and trading policies further restricting trading. To the extent that these or other developments result in reduced trading activity and/or availability of private company shares, our ability to find investment opportunities and to liquidate our investments could be adversely affected.
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Due to transfer restrictions and the illiquid nature of our investments, we may not be able to purchase or sell our investments when we wish to do so.
Most of our investments are or will be in equity or equity-related securities of privately held companies. The securities we acquire in private companies are typically subject to contractual transfer limitations, which may include prohibitions on transfer without the company’s consent, may require that shares owned by us be held in escrow and may include provisions in company charter documents, and may include investor rights of first refusal and co-sale and/or employment or trading policies further restricting trading. In order to complete a purchase of shares we may need to, among other things, give the issuer, its assignees or its stockholders a particular period of time, often 30 days or more, in which to exercise a veto right, or a right of first refusal over, the sale of such securities. We may be unable to complete a purchase transaction if the subject company or its stockholders chooses to exercise a veto right or right of first refusal. When we complete an investment, we generally become bound to the contractual transfer limitations imposed on the subject company’s stockholders as well as other contractual obligations, such as co-sale or tag- along rights. These obligations generally expire only upon an IPO by the subject company. As a result, prior to an IPO, our ability to liquidate may be constrained. Transfer restrictions could limit our ability to liquidate our positions in these securities if we are unable to find buyers acceptable to our portfolio companies, or where applicable, their stockholders. Such buyers may not be willing to purchase our investments at adequate prices or in volumes sufficient to liquidate our position, and even where they are willing, other stockholders could exercise their co-sales or tag-along rights to participate in the sale, thereby reducing the number of shares sellable by us. Furthermore, prospective buyers may be deterred from entering into purchase transactions with us due to the delay and uncertainty that these transfer and other limitations create.
Although we believe that secondary marketplaces may offer an opportunity to liquidate our private company investments, there can be no assurance that a trading market will develop for the securities that we wish to liquidate or that the subject companies will permit their shares to be sold through such marketplaces. Even if some of our portfolio companies complete IPOs, we are typically subject to lock-up provisions that prohibit us from selling our investments into the public market for specified periods of time after IPOs. As a result, the market price of securities that we hold may decline substantially before we are able to sell these securities following an IPO.
Due to the illiquid nature of most of our investments, we may not be able to sell these securities at times when we deem it advantageous to do so, or at all. Because our net asset value is only determined on a quarterly basis, and due to the difficulty in assessing this value, our net asset value may not fully reflect the illiquidity of our portfolio, which may change on a daily basis, depending on many factors, including the status of the private secondary markets and our particular portfolio at any given time.
There are significant potential risks associated with investing in venture capital companies with complex capital structures.
We invest primarily in what we believe to be rapidly growing, venture-capital-backed emerging companies, either through private secondary transactions, other secondary transactions or direct investments in companies. Such private companies frequently have much more complex capital structures than traditional publicly traded companies, and may have multiple classes of equity securities with differing rights, including with respect to voting and distributions. In addition, it is often difficult to obtain financial and other information with respect to private companies, and even where we are able to obtain such information, there can be no assurance that it is complete or accurate. In certain cases, such private companies may also have senior or pari passu preferred stock or senior debt outstanding, which may heighten the risk of investing in the underlying equity of such private companies, particularly in circumstances when we have limited information with respect to such capital structures. Although we believe that our management team and investment professionals and our Board of Directors have extensive experience evaluating and investing in private companies with such complex capital structures, there can be no assurance that we will be able to adequately evaluate the relative risks and benefits of investing in a particular class of a portfolio company’s equity securities. Any failure on our part to properly evaluate the relative rights and value of a class of securities in which we invest could cause us to lose part or all of our investment, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on our net asset value and results of operations.
Our business is subject to increasingly complex corporate governance, public disclosure and accounting requirements that are costly and could adversely affect our business and financial results.
We are subject to changing rules and regulations of federal and state government as well as the stock exchange on which our common stock is listed. These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, have issued a significant number of new and increasingly complex requirements and regulations over the course of the last several years and continue to develop additional regulations and requirements in response to laws enacted by Congress. In addition, there are significant corporate governance and executive compensation-related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act, and the SEC has adopted, and may continue to adopt, additional rules and regulations that may impact us.
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Our efforts to comply with these requirements have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, an increase in expenses and a diversion of management’s time from other business activities.
In addition, any failure to keep pace with such rules, or for our management to appropriately address compliance with such rules fully and in a timely manner, would expose us to an increasing risk of inadvertent non-compliance. While our management team takes reasonable efforts to ensure that we are in full compliance with all laws applicable to our operations, the increasing rate and extent of regulatory change increases the risk of a failure to comply, which may limit our ability to operate our business in the ordinary course or may subject us to potential fines, regulatory findings or other matters that may materially impact our business.
Over the last several years, there has also been an increase in regulatory attention to the extension of credit outside of the traditional banking sector, raising the possibility that some portion of the non-bank financial sector will be subject to new regulation. While it cannot be known at this time whether any regulation will be implemented or what form it will take, increased regulation of non-bank credit extension could negatively impact our operating results or financial condition, impose additional costs on us, intensify the regulatory supervision of us or otherwise adversely affect our business.
Capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability. These market conditions may materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad, which may in the future have a negative impact on our business and operations.
As a BDC, we must maintain our ability to raise additional capital for investment purposes. Without sufficient access to the capital markets or credit markets, we may be forced to curtail our business operations, or we may not be able to pursue new business opportunities.
From time to time, capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability, including as recently as 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During such periods of market disruption and instability, we and other companies in the financial services sector may have limited access, if available, to alternative markets for debt and equity capital. Equity capital may be difficult to raise because, subject to some limited exceptions which will apply to us as a BDC, we will generally not be able to issue additional shares of our common stock at a price less than net asset value without first obtaining approval for such issuance from our stockholders and our independent directors. In addition, our ability to incur indebtedness (including by issuing preferred stock) is limited by applicable regulations such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, must equal at least 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) immediately after each time we incur indebtedness. The debt capital that will be available, if at all, may be at a higher cost and on less favorable terms and conditions in the future. Any inability to raise capital could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Given the volatility and dislocation in the capital markets over the past several years, many BDCs have faced, and may in the future face, a challenging environment in which to raise or access capital. In addition, this volatility and disruption, has had, and in the future may have, a negative effect on the valuations of our investments and on the potential for liquidity events involving these investments. While most of our investments are not publicly traded, applicable accounting standards require us to assume, as part of our valuation process, that our investments are sold in orderly mark-to-market transactions between market participants. As a result, volatility in the capital markets can adversely affect our investment valuations. Further, the illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if required and to value such investments. As a result, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we will have recorded our investments. An inability to raise capital, and any required sale of our investments for liquidity purposes, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a prolonged period of market illiquidity may cause us to reduce the volume of investments we may make and adversely affect the value of our portfolio investments, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Global economic, political and market conditions may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, including our revenue growth and profitability.
The current worldwide financial market situation, as well as various social and political tensions in the United States and around the world, may contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets, and may cause economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide.
Downgrades by rating agencies to the U.S. government’s credit rating or concerns about its credit and deficit levels in general could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact both the perception of credit risk associated with debt investments and our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. In addition, a decreased U.S.
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government credit rating could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which may weigh heavily on our financial performance and the value of our common stock.
Deterioration in the economic conditions in the Eurozone and other regions or countries globally and the resulting instability in global financial markets may pose a risk to our business. Financial markets have been affected at times by a number of global macroeconomic events, including the following: large sovereign debts and fiscal deficits of several countries in Europe and in emerging markets jurisdictions, levels of non‑performing loans on the balance sheets of European banks, the effect of the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”) leaving the European Union (the “EU”), instability in the Chinese capital markets and the COVID-19 pandemic. Global market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, the U.S. capital markets, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We cannot assure you that market disruptions in Europe and other regions or countries, including the increased cost of funding for certain governments and financial institutions, will not impact the global economy, and we cannot assure you that assistance packages will be available, or if available, be sufficient to stabilize countries and markets in Europe or elsewhere affected by a financial crisis. To the extent uncertainty regarding any economic recovery in Europe or elsewhere negatively impacts consumer confidence and consumer credit factors, our and our portfolio companies’ business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected. Moreover, there is a risk of both sector-specific and broad-based corrections and/or downturns in the equity and credit markets. Any of the foregoing could have a significant impact on the markets in which we operate and could have a material adverse impact on our business prospects and financial condition.
Various social and political circumstances in the United States and around the world (including wars and other forms of conflict, terrorist acts, security operations and catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and global health epidemics), may also contribute to increased market volatility and economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. Such events, including rising trade tensions between the United States and China, other uncertainties regarding actual and potential shifts in U.S. and foreign, trade, economic and other policies with other countries, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. These market and economic disruptions could negatively impact the operating results of our portfolio companies.
Additionally, the Federal Reserve may raise, or may announce its intention to raise, the Federal Funds Rate in 2022. These developments, along with the U.S. government’s credit and deficit concerns, global economic uncertainties and market volatility and the impacts of COVID-19, could cause interest rates to be volatile, which may negatively impact our ability to access the debt markets and capital markets on favorable terms.
Events outside of our control, including public health crises, may negatively affect our results of operations and financial performance.
Periods of market volatility may occur in response to pandemics or other events outside of our control. These types of events could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance. For example, in December 2019, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities and factories across the world. As the potential impact on global markets from the coronavirus is difficult to predict, the extent to which the coronavirus may negatively affect our results of operation and financial performance or the duration of any potential business disruption is uncertain. Any potential impact to our results of operations and financial performance will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of the coronavirus and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, all of which are beyond our control. These potential impacts, while uncertain, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance.
We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Because we may borrow money to make investments, our net investment income may depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. As a result, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. A reduction in the interest rates on new investments relative to interest rates on current investments could have an adverse impact on our net investment income. However, an increase in interest rates could decrease the value of any investments we hold which earn fixed interest rates and also could increase our interest expense, thereby decreasing our net income. Also, an increase in interest rates available to investors could make an investment in our common stock less attractive if we are not able to increase our distribution rate, which could reduce the value of our common stock. Further, rising interest rates could also adversely affect our performance if such increases cause our borrowing costs to rise at a rate in excess of the rate that our investments yield.
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In periods of rising interest rates, to the extent we borrow money subject to a floating interest rate, our cost of funds would increase, which could reduce our net investment income. Further, rising interest rates could also adversely affect our performance if we hold investments with floating interest rates, subject to specified minimum interest rates (such as a LIBOR floor), while at the same time engaging in borrowings subject to floating interest rates not subject to such minimums. In such a scenario, rising interest rates may increase our interest expense, even though our interest income from investments is not increasing in a corresponding manner as a result of such minimum interest rates.
If general interest rates rise, there is a risk that the portfolio companies in which we may hold floating rate securities will be unable to pay escalating interest amounts, which could result in a default under their loan documents with us (if any). Rising interest rates could also cause portfolio companies to shift cash from other productive uses to the payment of interest, which may have a material adverse effect on their business and operations and could, over time, lead to increased defaults. In addition, rising interest rates may increase pressure on us to provide fixed rate loans to our portfolio companies, which could adversely affect our net investment income, as increases in our cost of borrowed funds would not be accompanied by increased interest income from such fixed-rate investments.
On March 5, 2021, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), which regulates LIBOR, announced that the 1-week and 2-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after December 31, 2021 and the overnight 1, 3, 6 and 12 months U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. However, the FCA has indicated it will not compel panel banks to continue to contribute to LIBOR after the end of 2021 and the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have encouraged banks to cease entering into new contracts that use U.S. dollar LIBOR as a reference rate no later than December 31, 2021.
To identify a successor rate for U.S. dollar LIBOR, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee ("ARRC"), a U.S.-based group convened by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was formed. On July 29, 2021, the ARCC formally recommended the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred alternative replacement rate for LIBOR. SOFR is a measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, and is based on directly observable U.S. Treasury-backed repurchase transactions. Whether or not SOFR attains market traction as a LIBOR replacement remains a question. Although SOFR appears to be the preferred replacement rate for U.S. dollar LIBOR, at this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any such changes, any establishment of alternative reference rates or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted.
The elimination of LIBOR or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR could have an adverse impact on the market for or value of any LIBOR-linked securities, loans, and other financial obligations or extensions of credit held by or due to us or on our overall financial condition or results of operations. In connection with the cessation of LIBOR, we may need to renegotiate credit agreements extending beyond 2021 with our portfolio companies that utilize LIBOR, if any, to provide for an alternative reference rate, to the extent any exist and they do not already provide for such a transition upon the cessation of LIBOR, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Further, the transition from LIBOR to SOFR or other alternative reference rates may also introduce operational risks in our accounting, financial reporting, loan servicing, liability management and other aspects of our business. We are assessing the impact of a transition from LIBOR; however, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the transition at this time.
Economic recessions or downturns could impair our portfolio companies and harm our operating results.
Many of the portfolio companies in which we make investments may be susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay any loans made to them during these periods and, thus, jeopardize our equity investment in such portfolio companies. Therefore, the value of our portfolio may decrease during these periods as we are required to record our investments at their current fair value. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of our equity investments and the value of any collateral securing our loans, if any. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions could also increase our and our portfolio companies’ funding costs, limit our and our portfolio companies’ access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us or our portfolio companies. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and harm our operating results.
A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the loans are due and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross- defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our equity investment in such portfolio company. We may incur additional expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a financially distressed or defaulting portfolio company. In addition, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and
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circumstances, we would typically be last in line behind any creditors and would likely experience a complete loss on our investment.
Any disruptive conditions in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those conditions could restrict our business operations and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the BDC market may be more sensitive to changes in interest rates or other factors and to the extent the BDC market trades down, our shares might likewise be affected. If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios imposed upon us by the 1940 Act. Any such failure would affect our ability to issue securities, including borrowings, and pay dividends, which could materially impair our business operations. Our liquidity could be impaired further by an inability to access the capital markets or to consummate new borrowing facilities to provide capital for normal operations, including new originations. In recent years, reflecting concern about the stability of the financial markets, many lenders and institutional investors have reduced or ceased providing funding to borrowers.
Economic sanction laws in the United States and other jurisdictions may prohibit us from transacting with certain countries, individuals and companies. In the United States, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces laws, executive orders and regulations establishing U.S. economic and trade sanctions, which prohibit, among other things, transactions with, and the provision of services to, certain non-U.S. countries, territories, entities and individuals. These types of sanctions may significantly restrict or completely prohibit investment activities in certain jurisdictions, and if we, our portfolio companies or other issuers in which we invest were to violate any such laws or regulations, we may face significant legal and monetary penalties. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and other anti-corruption laws and regulations, as well as antiboycott regulations, may also apply to and restrict our activities, our portfolio companies and other issuers of our investments. If an issuer or we were to violate any such laws or regulations, such issuer or we may face significant legal and monetary penalties.
The U.S. government has indicated that it is particularly focused on FCPA enforcement, which may increase the risk that an issuer or us becomes the subject of such actual or threatened enforcement. In addition, certain commentators have suggested that private investment firms and the funds that they manage may face increased scrutiny and/or liability with respect to the activities of their underlying portfolio companies. As such, a violation of the FCPA or other applicable regulations by us or an issuer of our portfolio investments could have a material adverse effect on us. We are committed to complying with the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws and regulations, as well as anti-boycott regulations. As a result, we may be adversely affected because of our unwillingness to enter into transactions that violate any such laws or regulations.
Inflation may adversely affect the business, results of operations and financial condition of our portfolio companies.
Certain of our portfolio companies may be impacted by inflation. If such portfolio companies are unable to pass any increases in their costs along to their customers, it could adversely affect their results, which could in turn adversely impact our results of operations. In addition, any projected future decreases in our portfolio companies’ operating results due to inflation could adversely impact the fair value of our investments. Any decreases in the fair value of our investments could result in future unrealized losses and therefore reduce our net assets resulting from operations.
We are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility.
Our business faces increasing public scrutiny related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) activities. We risk damage to our brand and reputation if we fail to act responsibly in a number of areas, such as environmental stewardship, corporate governance and transparency and considering ESG factors in our investment processes. Adverse incidents with respect to ESG activities could impact the value of our brand, the cost of our operations and relationships with investors, all of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, new regulatory initiatives related to ESG could adversely affect our business.
Our business and operations could be negatively affected if we become subject to any securities litigation or stockholder activism, which could cause us to incur significant expense, hinder execution of investment strategy and impact our stock price.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class-action litigation has often been brought against that company. Stockholder activism, which could take many forms or arise in a variety of situations, has been increasing in the BDC space recently. While we are currently not subject to any securities litigation or stockholder activism, due to the potential volatility of our stock price and for a variety of other reasons, we may in the future become the target of securities litigation or stockholder activism. Securities litigation and stockholder activism, including potential proxy contests, could result in substantial costs and divert management’s and our Board of Directors’ attention and
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resources from our business. Additionally, such securities litigation and stockholder activism could give rise to perceived uncertainties as to our future, adversely affect our relationships with service providers and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel. Also, we may be required to incur significant legal fees and other expenses related to any securities litigation and activist stockholder matters. Further, our stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any securities litigation and stockholder activism.
We operate in a highly competitive market for direct equity investment opportunities.
A large number of entities compete with us to make the types of direct equity investments that we target as part of our business strategy. We compete for such investments with a large number of private equity and venture capital funds, other equity and non- equity based investment funds, investment banks and other sources of financing, including traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and specialty finance companies. Many of our competitors are substantially larger than us and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC. There can be no assurance that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to identify and make direct equity investments that are consistent with our investment objective.
Borrowings, such as the 6.00% Notes due 2026, can magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.
Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities. In addition to the 6.00% Notes due 2026, we may borrow from and issue senior debt securities to banks, insurance companies and other lenders. Lenders of such senior securities would have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders. If the value of our assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to increase more sharply than it would have had we not leveraged. Conversely, if the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any increase in our income in excess of interest payable on the borrowed funds would cause our net income to increase more than it would without the leverage, while any decrease in our income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. Our ability to service the 6.00% Notes due 2026, borrowings under any other future debt that we incur will depend largely on our financial performance and will be subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. As a result of our use of leverage, we have experienced a substantial increase in operating expenses and may continue to do so in the future.
The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns on our portfolio, net of expenses. Leverage generally magnifies the return of stockholders when the portfolio return is positive and magnifies their losses when the portfolio return is negative. The calculations in the table below are hypothetical, and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing in the table below.
| Assumed Return on Our Portfolio | |||||||||||||||||
| (Net of Expenses) | |||||||||||||||||
| (10.0)% | (5.0)% | 0.0% | 5.0% | 10.0% | |||||||||||||
Corresponding return to common stockholder(1) | (8.39)% | (4.82)% | (1.26)% | 2.31% | 5.87% | ||||||||||||
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(1)Assumes $260.1 million in total portfolio assets and $75.0 million in outstanding 6.00% Notes due 2026 as of December 31, 2021.
Our use of borrowed funds to make investments exposes us to risks typically associated with leverage.
We borrow money and may issue additional debt securities or preferred stock to leverage our capital structure. As a result:
• shares of our common stock would be exposed to incremental risk of loss; therefore, a decrease in the value of our investments would have a greater negative impact on the value of our common shares than if we did not use leverage;
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• any depreciation in the value of our assets may magnify losses associated with an investment and could totally eliminate the value of an asset to us;
• if we do not appropriately match the assets and liabilities of our business and interest or dividend rates on such assets and liabilities, adverse changes in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the incremental income we make with the proceeds of any leverage;
• our ability to pay dividends on our common stock may be restricted if our asset coverage ratio, as provided in the 1940 Act, is not at least 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met), and any amounts used to service indebtedness or preferred stock would not be available for such dividends;
• any future credit facility we may enter would be, subject to periodic renewal by our lenders, whose continued participation cannot be guaranteed;
• such securities would be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility or affecting our investment or operating policies, and may require us to pledge assets or provide other security for such indebtedness;
• we, and indirectly our common stockholders, bear the entire cost of issuing and paying interest or dividends on such securities;
• if we issue preferred stock, the special voting rights and preferences of preferred stockholders may result in such stockholders’ having interests that are not aligned with the interests of our common stockholders, and the rights of our preferred stockholders to dividends and liquidation preferences will be senior to the rights of our common stockholders;
• any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common shares; and
• any custodial relationships associated with our use of leverage would conform to the requirements of the 1940 Act, and no creditor would have veto power over our investment policies, strategies, objectives or decisions except in an event of default or if our asset coverage was less than 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met.)
Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are permitted, as a BDC, to issue senior securities only in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio equals at least 200% after each issuance of senior securities. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test and we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our senior securities at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.
If we default under any future borrowing facility we enter into or are unable to amend, repay or refinance any such facility on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, we may suffer material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Substantially all of our assets may be pledged as collateral under any future borrowing facility. In the event that we default under any future borrowing facility, our business could be adversely affected as we may be forced to sell all or a portion of our investments quickly and prematurely at what may be disadvantageous prices to us in order to meet our outstanding payment obligations and/or support covenants and working capital requirements under any future borrowing facility, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Following any such default, the agent for the lenders under any future borrowing facility could assume control of the disposition of any or all of our assets, including the selection of such assets to be disposed and the timing of such disposition, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, if the lender exercises its right to sell the assets pledged under any future borrowing facility, such sales may be completed at distressed sale prices, thereby diminishing or potentially eliminating the amount of cash available to us after repayment of our outstanding borrowings. Moreover, such deleveraging of our Company could significantly impair our ability to effectively operate our business in the manner in which we have historically operated. As a result, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities and lower or eliminate any dividends that we may pay to our stockholders.
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We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.
Although we focus on achieving capital gains from our investments, in certain cases we may receive current income, such as interest or dividends, on our investments. Because in certain cases we may recognize such current income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty satisfying the annual distribution requirement applicable to RICs. Accordingly, in order to maintain our qualification as a RIC, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investments to meet these distribution requirements. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates.
Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital, which may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.
We may in the future issue additional debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, which we refer to collectively (along with the 6.00% Notes due 2026) as “senior securities,” up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are permitted, as a BDC, to issue senior securities in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) of gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, after each issuance of senior securities. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. Furthermore, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our common stockholders.
All of the costs of offering and servicing the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and any additional debt or preferred stock we may issue in the future, including interest payments thereon, will be borne by our common stockholders. The interests of the holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026, any additional debt or preferred stock we may issue will not necessarily be aligned with the interests of our common stockholders. In particular, the rights of holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and our debt or preferred stock to receive interest or principal repayment will be senior to those of our common stockholders. Also, in the event we issue preferred stock, the holders of such preferred stock will have the ability to elect two members of our Board of Directors. In addition, we may grant a lender a security interest in a significant portion or all of our assets, even if the total amount we may borrow from such lender is less than the amount of such lender’s security interest in our assets. In no event, however, will any lender to us have any veto power over, or any vote with respect to, any change in our, or approval of any new, investment objective or investment policies or strategies.
We are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value of our common stock if our Board of Directors determines that such sale is in the best interests of SuRo Capital and its stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price which, in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). We are also generally prohibited under the 1940 Act from issuing securities convertible into voting securities without obtaining the approval of our existing stockholders.
In addition to regulatory requirements that restrict our ability to raise capital, the loan agreement governing any future credit facility may contain various covenants which, if not complied with, could materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.
Under the loan agreement governing any future credit facility, we may take certain customary representations and warranties and may be required to comply with various affirmative and negative covenants, reporting requirements, and other customary requirements for similar credit facilities, including, without limitation, restrictions on incurring additional indebtedness, compliance with the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act, a minimum net asset value requirement, a limitation on the reduction of our net asset value, and maintenance of RIC and BDC status. Such loan agreement may include usual and customary events of default for credit facilities of similar nature, including, without limitation, nonpayment, misrepresentation of representations and warranties in a material respect, breach of covenant, cross-default to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy, and the occurrence of a material adverse effect.
Our ability to continue to comply with these covenants in the future depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control. There are no assurances that we will be able to comply with these covenants. Failure to comply with these
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covenants would result in a default which, if we were unable to obtain a waiver under any such loan agreement, would have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.
We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates if we are profitable and are unable to qualify as a RIC, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
We elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014, have qualified to be treated as a RIC for subsequent taxable years and expect to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to RICs. See “Item 1. Business—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—U.S. Federal and State Income Taxes” and “Note 9—Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for more information.
Management generally believes that it will be in our best interest to be treated as a RIC in any year in which we are profitable. If we fail to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC for any year in which we are profitable and such profits exceed certain loss carryforwards that we are entitled to utilize, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates, which could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution or reinvestment and the amount of our distributions. Such a failure could have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
In any year in which we intend to be treated as a RIC, we may be forced to dispose of investments at times when our management team would not otherwise do so or raise additional capital at times when we would not otherwise do so, in each case in order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs.
To qualify for the special treatment accorded to RICs, we must meet certain income source, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. In order to satisfy the income source requirement, we must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale of stock or other securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock or securities or income from “qualified publicly traded partnerships.” To qualify as a RIC, we must also meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of our taxable year. Failure to meet these tests in any year in which we intend to be treated as a RIC may result in our having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status. Because most of our investments are in private companies, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses. In addition, in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement for a RIC, we must distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders on an annual basis. We will be subject to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under the terms of our indebtedness that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the annual distribution requirement. If we are unable to dispose of investments quickly enough to meet the asset diversification requirements at the end of a quarter or obtain cash from other sources in order to meet the annual distribution requirement, we may fail to qualify for special tax treatment accorded to RICs and, thus, be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates.
Legislative or regulatory tax changes could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Changes in tax laws, regulations or administrative interpretations or any amendments thereto could adversely affect us, the entities in which we invest, or the holders of our securities, including our common stock and the 6.00% Notes due 2026. The Biden Administration has announced a number of tax law proposals, including American Families Plan and Made in America Tax Plan, which include increases in the corporate and individual tax rates, and impose a minimum tax on book income and profits of certain multinational corporations. The impact of any new legislation on us, the entities in which we invest, and the holders of our securities is uncertain. Investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to the impact of this legislation and the status of any other regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in our securities.
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Because we expect to distribute substantially all of our net investment income and net realized capital gains to our stockholders, we will need additional capital to finance our growth and such capital may not be available on favorable terms or at all.
We have elected to be taxed for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. If we meet certain requirements, including source of income, asset diversification and distribution requirements, and if we continue to qualify as a BDC, we will continue to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC under the Code and will not be subject to U.S. income taxes on income we distribute to our stockholders as dividends, allowing us to substantially reduce or eliminate our U.S. federal income tax liability. As a BDC, we are generally required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities, which includes all of our borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) at the time we issue any debt or preferred stock. This requirement limits the amount that we may borrow. Because we will continue to need capital to grow our investment portfolio, this limitation may prevent us from incurring debt or preferred stock and require us to raise additional equity at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. We cannot assure you that debt and equity financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all, and debt financings may be restricted by the terms of any of our outstanding borrowings. In addition, as a BDC, we are generally not permitted to issue common stock priced below net asset value without stockholder approval. If additional funds are not available to us, we could be forced to curtail or cease new lending and investment activities, and our net asset value could decline.
We may continue to choose to pay dividends in our common stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.
We have in the past, and may continue to, distribute taxable dividends that are payable in part in shares of our common stock. For example, on November 3, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $2.00 per share to stockholders, paid partially in cash and partially in shares of our common stock on December 30, 2021. In accordance with certain applicable U.S. Treasury regulations and published guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), a RIC may treat a distribution of its own common stock as fulfilling the RIC distribution requirements if each stockholder may elect to receive his or her entire distribution in either cash or common stock of the RIC, subject to a limitation that the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed to all stockholders must not exceed more than 50% of the aggregate declared distribution. If too many stockholders elect to receive cash, the cash available for distribution must be allocated among the stockholders electing to receive cash (with the balance of the distribution paid in stock). In no event will any stockholder electing to receive cash, receive less than the lesser of (a) the portion of the distribution such stockholder has elected to receive in cash or (b) an amount equal to his or her entire distribution times the percentage limitation on cash available for distribution. If these and certain other requirements are met, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of the dividend paid in common stock will be equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of common stock. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to Non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in common stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our common stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock.
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Changes in laws or regulations governing our business or the businesses of our portfolio companies, changes in the interpretation thereof or newly enacted laws or regulations, and any failure by us or our portfolio companies to comply with these laws or regulations may adversely affect our business and the businesses of our portfolio companies.
We and our portfolio companies are subject to laws and regulations at the U.S. federal, state and local levels and, in some cases, foreign levels. These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, and new laws, regulations and interpretations may also come into effect, potentially with retroactive effect. Any such new or changed laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business or the business of our portfolio companies. The legal, tax and regulatory environment for BDCs, investment advisers and the instruments that they utilize (including derivative instruments) is continuously evolving. In addition, there is significant uncertainty regarding enacted legislation (including the Dodd-Frank Act and the regulations adopted thereunder and future regulations that may or may not be adopted pursuant to such legislation) and, consequently, the full impact that such legislation will ultimately have on us and the markets in which we trade and invest is not fully known. Such uncertainty and any resulting confusion may itself be detrimental to the efficient functioning of the markets and the success of certain investment strategies.
In addition, as private equity firms become more influential participants in the U.S. and global financial markets and economy generally, there recently has been pressure for greater governmental scrutiny and/or regulation of the private equity industry. It is uncertain as to what form and in what jurisdictions such enhanced scrutiny and/or regulation, if any, on the private equity industry may ultimately take. Therefore, there can be no assurance as to whether any such scrutiny or initiatives will have an adverse impact on the private equity industry, including our ability to effect operating improvements or restructurings of our portfolio companies or otherwise achieve our objectives.
Over the last several years, there also has been an increase in regulatory attention to the extension of credit outside of the traditional banking sector, raising the possibility that some portion of the non-bank financial sector will be subject to new regulation. While it cannot be known at this time whether any regulation will be implemented or what form it will take, increased regulation of non-bank credit extension could negatively impact our or our portfolio companies’ operating results or financial condition, impose additional costs on us or our portfolio companies, intensify the regulatory supervision of us or otherwise adversely affect our business.
Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans set forth herein and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of our management team and investment professionals to other types of investments in which the investment team may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
The Small Business Credit Availability Act allows us to incur additional leverage, which could increase the risk of investing in the Company.
The 1940 Act had generally prohibited us from incurring indebtedness unless immediately after such borrowing we had an asset coverage for total borrowings of at least 200% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50% of the value of our total assets). However, the Small Business Credit Availability Act (the “SBCA") modified the 1940 Act to allow BDCs to decrease their asset coverage requirement from 200% to 150% (i.e. the amount of debt may not exceed 66.7% of the value of our total assets), if certain requirements are met. Under the SBCA, we are allowed to reduce our asset coverage requirement to 150%, and thereby increase our leverage capacity, if shareholders representing at least a majority of the votes cast, when a quorum is present, approve a proposal to do so. If we receive shareholder approval, we would be allowed to reduce our asset coverage requirement to 150% on the first day after such approval. Alternatively, the SBCA allows the majority of our independent directors to approve the reduction in our asset coverage requirement to 150%, and such approval would become effective after one year. In either case, we would be required to make certain disclosures on our website and in SEC filings regarding, among other things, the receipt of approval to reduce our asset coverage requirement to 150%, our leverage capacity and usage, and risks related to leverage.
As a result of the SBCA, if we obtain the necessary approval, we may be able to increase our leverage up to an amount that reduces our asset coverage ratio from 200% to 150%. Leverage magnifies the potential for loss on investments in our indebtedness and on invested equity capital. As we use leverage to partially finance our investments, you will experience increased risks of investing in our securities. If the value of our assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to increase more sharply than it would have had we not leveraged. Conversely, if the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not
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leveraged our business. Similarly, any increase in our income in excess of interest payable on the borrowed funds would cause our net investment income to increase more than it would without the leverage, while any decrease in our income would cause net investment income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to pay common stock dividends, scheduled debt payments or other payments related to our securities. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique.
We cannot predict how new tax legislation will affect us, our investments, or our stockholders, and any such legislation could adversely affect our business.
Legislative or other actions relating to taxes could have a negative effect on us. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. The Biden Administration has proposed significant changes to the existing U.S. tax rules, and there are a number of proposals in Congress that would similarly modify the existing U.S. tax rules. The likelihood of any such legislation being enacted is uncertain, but new legislation and any U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions interpreting such legislation could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to us and our investors of such qualification, or could have other adverse consequences. Investors are urged to consult with their tax advisor regarding tax legislative, regulatory, or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in our securities.
Certain investors are limited in their ability to make significant investments in us.
Private funds that are excluded from the definition of “investment company” either pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act are restricted from acquiring directly or through a controlled entity more than 3% of our total outstanding voting stock (measured at the time of the acquisition). Investment companies registered under the 1940 Act and BDCs, such as us, are also subject to this restriction as well as other limitations under the 1940 Act that would restrict the amount that they are able to invest in our securities. As a result, certain investors will be limited in their ability to make significant investments in us at a time that they might desire to do so.
Ineffective internal controls could impact our business and operating results.
Our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. Even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, including any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or if we experience difficulties in their implementation, our business and operating results could be harmed and we could fail to meet our financial reporting obligations.
We may in the future determine to fund a portion of our investments with preferred stock, which would magnify the potential for gain or loss and the risks of investing in us in the same way as our borrowings.
Preferred stock, which is another form of leverage, has the same risks to our common stockholders as borrowings because the dividends on any preferred stock we issue must be cumulative. Payment of such dividends and repayment of the liquidation preference of such preferred stock must take preference over any dividends or other payments to our common stockholders, and preferred stockholders are not subject to any of our expenses or losses and are not entitled to participate in any income or appreciation in excess of their stated preference.
Our Board of Directors is authorized to reclassify any unissued shares of stock into one or more classes of preferred stock, which could convey special rights and privileges to its owners.
Our charter permits our Board of Directors to reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of stock into one or more classes of preferred stock. Our Board of Directors will generally have broad discretion over the size and timing of any such reclassification, subject to a finding that the reclassification and issuance of such preferred stock is in the best interests of SuRo Capital and our existing common stockholders. Any issuance of preferred stock would be subject to certain limitations imposed under the 1940 Act, including the requirement that such preferred stock have equal voting rights with our outstanding common stock. We are authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock. In the event our Board of Directors opts to reclassify a portion of our unissued shares of common stock into a class of preferred stock, those preferred shares would have a preference over our common stock with respect to dividends and liquidation. The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our existing common stockholders. In addition, the 1940 Act provides that holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote separately from holders of common stock to elect two directors. As a result, our preferred stockholders will have the ability
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to reject a director that would otherwise be elected by our common stockholders. In addition, while Maryland law generally requires directors to act in the best interests of all of a corporation’s stockholders, there can be no assurance that a director elected by our preferred stockholders will not choose to act in a manner that tends to favors our preferred stockholders, particularly where there is a conflict between the interests of our preferred stockholders and our common stockholders. The class voting rights of any preferred shares we may issue could make it more difficult for us to take some actions that may, in the future, be proposed by the Board of Directors and/or the holders of our common stock, such as a merger, exchange of securities, liquidation, or alteration of the rights of a class of our securities, if these actions were perceived by the holders of preferred shares as not in their best interests. The issuance of preferred shares convertible into shares of common stock might also reduce the net income and net asset value per share of our common stock upon conversion. These effects, among others, could have an adverse effect on your investment in our common stock.
Our Board of Directors may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.
Our Board of Directors has the authority to modify or waive our investment objective, current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, net asset value, operating results and value of our stock. However, the effects might be adverse, which could negatively impact our ability to pay you dividends and cause you to lose all or part of your investment.
Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and of our charter and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.
The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of us or the removal of our directors. We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act (“MBCA”), subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. Our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution exempting from the MBCA any business combination between us and any other person, subject to prior approval of such business combination by our Board of Directors, including approval by a majority of our directors who are not “interest persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. If the resolution exempting business combinations is repealed or our Board of Directors does not approve a business combination, the MBCA may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. Our bylaws exempt from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (“Control Share Act”) acquisitions of our stock by any person. If we amend our bylaws to repeal the exemption from the Control Share Act, the Control Share Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such a transaction. However, we will amend our bylaws to be subject to the Control Share Act only if our Board of Directors determines that it would be in our best interests and if the SEC staff does not object to our determination that our being subject to the Control Share Act does not conflict with the 1940 Act.
We have also adopted measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter classifying our Board of Directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms, and authorizing our Board of Directors, without stockholder action, to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series, including preferred stock, to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, to amend our charter without stockholder approval to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. These provisions, as well as other provisions of our charter and bylaws, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
We are highly dependent on information systems and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability make distributions.
Our business is highly dependent on our and third parties’ communications and information systems. Any failure or interruption of those systems, including as a result of the termination of an agreement with any third-party service providers, could cause delays or other problems in our activities. Our financial, accounting, data processing, backup or other operating systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control and may adversely affect our business. There could be:
• sudden electrical or telecommunications outages;
• natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes;
• disease pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic);
• events arising from local or larger scale political or social matters, including terrorist acts; and
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• cyber-attacks.
These events, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders.
Risks Related to the 6.00% Notes due 2026
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are unsecured and therefore effectively subordinated to any future secured indebtedness we could incur; however, we have agreed under the indenture to not incur any secured or unsecured indebtedness that would be senior to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 while the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, subject to certain exceptions. The 6.00% Notes due 2026 rank pari passu with, or equal to, all outstanding and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness issued by us and our general liabilities.
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are not secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of any of our subsidiaries. As a result, the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are effectively subordinated to any future secured indebtedness we or our subsidiaries may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured as to which we subsequently grant a security interest) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. However, we have agreed under the governing indenture to not incur any secured or unsecured indebtedness that would be senior to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 while the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, subject to certain exceptions. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our future secured indebtedness or secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness in order to receive full payment of their indebtedness before the assets may be used to pay other creditors.
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 rank pari passu, which means equal in right of payment, with all outstanding and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness issued by us. The 6.00% Notes due 2026 also rank pari passu with, or equal to, our general liabilities (total liabilities, less debt). In total, these general liabilities were approximately $24.4 million as of December 31, 2021. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of such indebtedness may assert rights equal to the holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026, which may limit recovery by the holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are obligations exclusively of SuRo Capital Corp., and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries will be a guarantor of the 6.00% Notes due 2026, and the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are not be required to be guaranteed by any subsidiary we may acquire or create in the future. Any assets of our subsidiaries will not be directly available to satisfy the claims of our creditors, including holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026. Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors of our subsidiaries will have priority over our equity interests in such entities (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026) with respect to the assets of such entities. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of these entities, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such entity and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such entity senior to our claims. Consequently, the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of any of our existing or future subsidiaries.
The indenture under which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 were issued contains limited protection for holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
The indenture under which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 were issued offers limited protection to holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026. The terms of the indenture and the 6.00% Notes due 2026 do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have a material adverse impact on an investment in the 6.00% Notes due 2026. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the 6.00% Notes due 2026 do not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:
• issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the 6.00% Notes due 2026, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in those entities and therefore rank structurally senior to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries, in each case other than an incurrence of indebtedness or other obligation that would cause a violation of Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by such provisions of Section 61(a) of the 1940 Act as may be applicable to us from
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time to time or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act, but giving effect, in each case, to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC. Currently, these provisions generally prohibit us from making additional borrowings, including through the issuance of additional debt or the sale of additional debt securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) after such borrowings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the period of time during which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, we will not seek the requisite approval under the 1940 Act of our board of directors or our shareholders to reduce our asset coverage below 200%. In addition, we have agreed under the indenture that, for the period of time during which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, we will not incur any indebtedness, unless at the time of the incurrence of such indebtedness we have an asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) of at least 300% after giving effect to the incurrence of such indebtedness and the application of the net proceeds therefrom;
• pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities ranking junior in right of payment to the 6.00% Notes due 2026, including subordinated indebtedness, except that we have agreed under the indenture that, for the period of time during which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, we will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by (i) Section 61(a) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions thereto, whether or not we are subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act and after giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC and (ii) the following two exceptions: (A) we will be permitted to declare a cash dividend or distribution notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, but only up to such amount as is necessary for us to maintain our status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code; and (B) this restriction will not be triggered unless and until such time as our asset coverage has not been in compliance with the minimum asset coverage required by Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions (after giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC) for more than six consecutive months. Currently, these provisions would generally prohibit us from declaring any cash dividend or distribution upon any class of our capital stock, or purchasing any such capital stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, were below 200% (or 150% if certain requirements are met) at the time of the declaration of the dividend or distribution or the purchase and after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the period of time during which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, we will not seek the requisite approval under the 1940 Act of our board of directors or our shareholders to reduce our asset coverage below 200%. In addition, we have agreed under the indenture that, for the period of time during which the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, we will not purchase any shares of our outstanding capital stock, unless at the time of any such purchase we have an asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) of at least 300% after deducting the amount of such purchase price;
• sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);
• enter into transactions with affiliates;
• create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions, except that we have agreed under the indenture to not incur any secured or unsecured indebtedness that would be senior to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 while the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding, subject to certain exceptions;
• make investments; or
• create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.
In addition, the indenture governing the 6.00% Notes due 2026 does not require us to make an offer to purchase the 6.00% Notes due 2026 in connection with a change of control or any other event.
Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the 6.00% Notes due 2026 do not protect holders of the 6.00% Notes due 2026 in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, if any, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity.
Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt (including additional debt that matures prior to the maturity of the 6.00% Notes due 2026), and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the 6.00% Notes due 2026 may have important consequences for a holder of the 6.00% Notes due 2026, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the 6.00% Notes due 2026 or negatively affecting the trading value of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the 6.00% Notes due 2026, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for, trading levels, and prices of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
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An active trading market for the 6.00% Notes due 2026 may not develop or be maintained, which could limit a holder’s ability to sell the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and/or adversely impact the market price of the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are a new issue of debt securities for which there initially was no trading market. The 6.00% Notes due 2026 are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SSSSL”. We cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop or be maintained for the 6.00% Notes due 2026 or that a holder will be able to sell its 6.00% Notes due 2026. The 6.00% Notes due 2026 may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, if any, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. The underwriters of the public offering of the 6.00% Notes due 2026 have advised us that they intend to make a market in the 6.00% Notes due 2026, but they are not obligated to do so. Such underwriters may discontinue any market-making in the 6.00% Notes due 2026 at any time at their sole discretion.
Accordingly, we can provide no assurance that a liquid trading market will develop or be maintained for the 6.00% Notes due 2026, that a holder will be able to sell its 6.00% Notes due 2026 at a particular time or that the price a holder may receive when it sells its 6.00% Notes due 2026 will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the 6.00% Notes due 2026 may be harmed. Accordingly, a holder may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the 6.00% Notes due 2026 for an indefinite period of time.
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the 6.00% Notes due 2026.
Any default under any agreements governing any of our future indebtedness that is not waived by the required lenders or holders of such indebtedness, and the remedies sought by lenders or the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and substantially decrease the market value of the 6.00% Notes due 2026. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, if any, or if we otherwise fail to comply with any covenants, including financial and operating covenants, as applicable, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, if any, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness and the 6.00% Notes due 2026. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under any credit facility or other debt we may enter into or incur in the future could elect to terminate their commitment, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in the future is, to some extent, subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We can provide no assurance that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the 6.00% Notes due 2026, our other debt, and to fund other liquidity needs.
If our operating performance declines and we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may in the future need to refinance or restructure our debt, including any 6.00% Notes due 2026 sold, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, seek to raise additional capital or seek to obtain waivers from the lenders under any credit facility or other debt we may enter into or incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the 6.00% Notes due 2026 and any other debt. If we are unable to repay debt, lenders having secured obligations could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. Because any future credit facilities will likely have customary cross-default provisions, if we have a default under the terms of the 6.00% Notes due 2026, the obligations under any future credit facility may be accelerated and we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.
We may choose to redeem the 6.00% Notes due 2026 when prevailing interest rates are relatively low.
On or after December 30, 2024, we may choose to redeem the 6.00% Notes due 2026 from time to time, especially if prevailing interest rates are lower than the rate borne by the 6.00% Notes due 2026. If prevailing rates are lower at the time of redemption, and we redeem the 6.00% Notes due 2026, a holder likely would not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the 6.00% Notes due 2026 being redeemed. Our redemption right also may adversely impact a holder’s ability to sell the 6.00% Notes due 2026 as the optional redemption date or period approaches.
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A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or our securities, if any, could cause the liquidity or market value of the 6.00% Notes due 2026 to decline significantly.
Our credit ratings, if any, are an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the 6.00% Notes due 2026. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the 6.00% Notes due 2026. Credit ratings are paid for by the issuer and are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization in its sole discretion.
An explanation of the significance of any ratings of us or our securities may be obtained from the applicable rating agency. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. Neither we nor any underwriter undertakes any obligation to maintain any such credit ratings or to advise holders of 6.00% Notes due 2026 of any changes in credit ratings of us or our securities. There can be no assurance that our credit ratings will remain at their current levels for any given period of time or that such credit ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the rating agency if in their judgment future circumstances relating to the basis of the credit ratings, such as adverse changes in our company, so warrant.
Pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 6.00% Notes due 2026, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a credit rating on the 6.00% Notes due 2026 by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) during the period of time that the 6.00% Notes due 2026 are outstanding; provided that no minimum credit rating is required. We offer no assurance that such rating, should it be maintained, will comport to any particular minimum level of creditworthiness.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities
Investing in our securities may involve an above average degree of risk.
The investments we make in accordance with our investment objective may result in a higher amount of risk than alternative investment options and a higher risk of volatility or loss of principal. Our investments in portfolio companies may be highly speculative, and therefore, an investment in our shares may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.
Our common stock price may be volatile and may decrease substantially.
The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially. The price of our common stock that will prevail in the market after any future offering may be higher or lower than the price you pay, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
• price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
• investor demand for our shares;
• significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of RICs, BDCs or other financial services companies;
• changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines with respect to RICs or BDCs;
• failure to qualify as a RIC for a particular taxable year, or the loss of RIC status;
• actual or anticipated changes in our earnings or fluctuations in our operating results or changes in the expectations of securities analysts;
• general economic conditions and trends;
• fluctuations in the valuation of our portfolio investments;
• operating performance of companies comparable to us;
• market sentiment against technology-related companies; or
• departures of any of the senior members of our management team.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Due to the potential volatility of our stock price, we may therefore be the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and
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resources from our business. For more information, see "Our business and operations could be negatively affected if we become subject to any securities litigation or stockholder activism, which could cause us to incur significant expenses, hinder the execution of our investment strategy, and impact our stock price."
Shares of our common stock have recently traded, and may in the future trade, at discounts from net asset value or at premiums that may prove to be unsustainable.
Shares of BDCs like us may, during some periods, trade at prices higher than their net asset value per share and, during other periods, as frequently occurs with closed-end investment companies, trade at prices lower than their net asset value per share. The perceived value of our investment portfolio may be affected by a number of factors including perceived prospects for individual companies we invest in, market conditions for common stock generally, for IPOs and other exit events for venture-capital-backed companies, and the mix of companies in our investment portfolio over time. Negative or unforeseen developments affecting the perceived value of companies in our investment portfolio could result in a decline in the trading price of our common stock relative to our net asset value per share.
The possibility that our shares will trade at a discount from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable are risks separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share will decrease. The risk of purchasing shares of a BDC that might trade at a discount or unsustainable premium is more pronounced for investors who wish to sell their shares in a relatively short period of time because, for those investors, realization of a gain or loss on their investments is likely to be more dependent upon changes in premium or discount levels than upon increases or decreases in net asset value per share. As of March 10, 2022, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $8.92 per share, which represented an approximately 23.9% discount to our net asset value of $11.72 per share as of December 31, 2021.
We may not be able to pay distributions to our stockholders and our distributions may not grow over time, particularly since we invest primarily in securities that do not produce current income, and a portion of distributions paid to our stockholders may be a return of capital, which is a distribution of the stockholders’ invested capital.
The timing and amount of our distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will be declared out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results or maintain a tax treatment that will allow or require any specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by, among other things, the impact of one or more of the risk factors described herein. In addition, the inability to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC could limit our ability to pay distributions. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our tax treatment as a RIC, compliance with applicable BDC regulations, compliance with our debt covenants and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that we will pay distributions to our stockholders in the future.
As we intend to focus on making primarily capital gains-based investments in equity securities, which generally will not be income producing, we do not anticipate that we will pay dividends on a quarterly basis or become a predictable issuer of dividends, and we expect that our dividends, if any, will be less consistent than other BDCs that primarily make debt investments. When we make distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current or accumulated taxable earnings, recognized capital gains or capital. To the extent there is a return of capital, investors will be required to reduce their basis in our stock for U.S. federal tax purposes, which may result in higher tax liability when the shares are sold, even if they have not increased in value or have lost value. In addition, any return of capital will be net of any sales load and offering expenses associated with sales of shares of our common stock. Our distributions have included a return of capital in the past, and our future distributions may include a return of capital.
We have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from our offerings, to the extent they are successful, and will use proceeds in part to satisfy operating expenses.
We have significant flexibility in applying the proceeds of our offerings and may use the net proceeds from such offerings in ways with which you may not agree, or for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of the offering. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully utilize the proceeds within the time frame contemplated. We will also pay operating expenses, and may pay other expenses such as due diligence expenses of potential new investments, from the net proceeds of any offering. Our ability to achieve our investment objective may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds of an offering, pending full investment, are used to pay operating expenses. In addition, we can provide you no assurance that any such offerings will be successful, or that by increasing the size of our available equity capital our aggregate expenses, and correspondingly, our expense ratio, will be lowered.
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We have internalized our operating structure, including our management and investment functions; as a result, we may incur significant costs and face significant risks associated with being self-managed, including adverse effects on our business and financial condition.
On March 12, 2019, our Board of Directors approved internalizing our operating structure, including our management and investment functions. There can be no assurances that internalizing our operating structure will be beneficial to us and our stockholders, as we may incur the costs and risks discussed below and may not be able to effectively replicate the services previously provided to us by our former investment adviser, GSV Asset Management, and our former administrator, GSV Capital Service Company.
While we will no longer bear the costs of the various fees and expenses we previously paid to GSV Asset Management under the Investment Advisory Agreement, our direct expenses will generally include general and administrative costs, including legal, accounting, and other expenses related to corporate governance, SEC reporting and compliance, as well as costs and expenses related to making and managing our investments. We will also now incur the compensation and benefits costs of our officers and other employees and consultants, and we may issue equity awards to our officers, employees and consultants, which awards may decrease net income and funds from our operations and may dilute our stockholders. We may also be subject to potential liabilities commonly faced by employers, such as workers disability and compensation claims, potential labor disputes and other employee-related liabilities and grievances.
In addition, if the expenses we assume as a result of our internalization are higher than the expenses we would have paid to GSV Asset Management and/or reimbursed to GSV Capital Service Company, our earnings per share may be lower as a result of our internalization than they otherwise would have been, potentially decreasing the amount of funds available to distribute to our stockholders and the value of our shares.
Further, in connection with internalizing our operating structure, we may experience difficulty integrating these functions as a stand-alone entity, and we could have difficulty retaining our personnel, including those performing management, investment and general and administrative functions. These personnel have a great deal of know-how and experience, and replacing such personnel may prove challenging. We may also fail to properly identify the appropriate mix of personnel and capital needs to operate successfully as a stand-alone entity. An inability to effectively manage our internalization could result in our incurring excess costs and operating inefficiencies, and may divert our management’s attention from managing our investments.
Internalization transactions have also, in some cases, been the subject of litigation. Even if these claims are without merit, we could be forced to spend significant amounts of time and money defending claims, which would reduce the amount of funds available for us to make investments and to pay distributions, and may divert our management’s attention from managing our investments.
All of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and ability to pay distributions.
General Risk Factors
We will likely experience fluctuations in our results and we may be unable to replicate past investment opportunities or make the types of investments we have made to date in future periods.
We will likely experience fluctuations in our operating results due to a number of factors, including the rate at which we make new investments, the level of our expenses, changes in the valuation of our portfolio investments, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. For example, since inception through December 31, 2021, we have experienced substantial cumulative negative cash flows from operations. These fluctuations may in certain cases be exaggerated as a result of our focus on realizing capital gains rather than current income from our investments. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to locate or acquire investments that are of a similar nature to those currently in our portfolio. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
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Certain historical data regarding our business properties, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity does not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures and therefore does not purport to be representative of our future performance.
The information included in this Annual Report and our other reports filed with the SEC includes information regarding our business, properties, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity as of dates and for periods before the impact of COVID-19 related containment measures including quarantines and government orders requiring the closure of certain businesses, limiting travel, requiring that individuals stay at home or shelter in place and closing borders. This historical information therefore does not reflect the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related containment measures. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on historical information regarding our businesses, properties, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, as that data does not reflect the adverse impact of COVID-19 and therefore does not purport to be representative of the future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity or other financial or operating results of us, our properties or our business.
There is uncertainty surrounding potential legal, regulatory and policy changes by new presidential administrations in the United States that may directly affect financial institutions and the global economy.
As a result of the United States presidential election, which occurred on November 3, 2020, the Democratic Party gained control of the executive branch and the legislative branch of government. Changes in federal policy, including tax policies, and at regulatory agencies occur over time through policy and personnel changes following elections, which lead to changes involving the level of oversight and focus on the financial services industry or the tax rates paid by corporate entities. The nature, timing and economic and political effects of potential changes to the current legal and regulatory framework affecting financial institutions remain highly uncertain. Uncertainty surrounding future changes may adversely affect our operating environment and therefore our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Uncertainty about presidential administration initiatives could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The current administration has called for significant changes to U.S. trade, healthcare, immigration, foreign and government regulatory policy. In this regard, there is significant uncertainty with respect to legislation, regulation and government policy at the federal level, as well as the state and local levels. Recent events have created a climate of heightened uncertainty and introduced new and difficult-to-quantify macroeconomic and political risks with potentially far-reaching implications. There has been a corresponding meaningful increase in the uncertainty surrounding interest rates, inflation, foreign exchange rates, trade volumes and fiscal and monetary policy. To the extent the U.S. Congress or the current administration implements changes to U.S. policy, those changes may impact, among other things, the U.S. and global economy, international trade and relations, unemployment, immigration, corporate taxes, healthcare, the U.S. regulatory environment, inflation and other areas.
A particular area identified as subject to potential change, amendment or repeal includes the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the “Dodd-Frank Act,” including the Volcker Rule and various swaps and derivatives regulations, credit risk retention requirements and the authorities of the Federal Reserve, the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the SEC. Given the uncertainty associated with the manner in which and whether the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented, repealed, amended, or replaced, the full impact such requirements will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition is unclear. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act or any changes to the regulations already implemented thereunder may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes in order to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any such laws, regulations or principles, or changes thereto, may negatively impact our business, results of operations or financial condition. While we cannot predict what effect any changes in the laws or regulations or their interpretations would have on us as a result of recent financial reform legislation, these changes could be materially adverse to us and our stockholders.
Changes to United States tariff and import/export regulations may have a negative effect on our portfolio companies and, in turn, harm us.
As a result of the 2020 U.S. election, the Democratic Party currently controls the executive and legislative branches of government. Significant changes to U.S. trade policy may occur as a result of the administration change, including the United States re-entering, withdrawing from or renegotiating various trade agreements or other actions that would change current trade policies of the United States. We cannot predict which, if any, of these actions will be taken or, if taken, their effect on the
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financial stability of the United States. Such actions could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We incur significant costs as a result of being a publicly traded company.
As a publicly traded company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and other rules implemented by the SEC. These costs may divert capital from other areas of operation and thus adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Terrorist attacks, acts of war or natural disasters may affect any market for our securities, impact the businesses in which we invest and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Terrorist acts, acts of war or natural disasters may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts have created, and may continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability. Terrorist activities, military or security operations, or natural disasters could further weaken domestic and/or global economies and create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.
We face cyber-security risks.
Our business operations rely upon secure information technology systems for data processing, storage and reporting. Despite careful security and controls design, implementation and updating, our information technology systems could become subject to cyber-attacks. Network, system, application and data breaches could result in operational disruptions or information misappropriation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We and our service providers have been - and may in the future be - impacted by quarantines and similar measures being enacted by governments in response to COVID-19, which may obstruct the regular functioning of business workforces (including by requiring employees to work from external locations and their homes). Policies of extended periods of remote working, whether by us or our service providers, could strain technology resources, introduce operational risks and otherwise heighten the risks described above. Remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to hacking attacks, including phishing and social engineering attempts that seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the risks described above are heightened under remote conditions.
The failure in cyber-security systems, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.
The occurrence of a disaster such as a cyber-attack, a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, a terrorist attack or war, events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems, or a support failure from external providers, could have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct business and on our results of operations and financial condition, particularly if those events affect our computer-based data processing, transmission, storage, and retrieval systems or destroy data. If a significant number of the members of our management team are unavailable in the event of a disaster, our ability to effectively conduct our business could be severely compromised.
We depend heavily upon computer systems to perform necessary business functions. Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, our computer systems could be subject to cyber-attacks and unauthorized access, such as physical and electronic break-ins or unauthorized tampering. Like other companies, we may experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, system failures and disruptions. If one or more of these events occurs, it could potentially jeopardize the confidential, proprietary and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, which could result in damage to our reputation, financial losses, litigation, increased costs, regulatory penalties and/or customer dissatisfaction or loss, reputational damage, and increased costs associated with mitigation of damages and remediation. If unauthorized parties gain access to such information and technology systems, they may be able to steal, publish, delete or modify private and sensitive information, including nonpublic personal information related to stockholders (and their beneficial owners) and material nonpublic information. The systems we have implemented to manage risks relating to these types of events could prove to be inadequate and, if compromised, could become inoperable for extended periods of time, cease to
46
function properly or fail to adequately secure private information. Breaches such as those involving covertly introduced malware, impersonation of authorized users and industrial or other espionage may not be identified even with sophisticated prevention and detection systems, potentially resulting in further harm and preventing them from being addressed appropriately. The failure of these systems or of disaster recovery plans for any reason could cause significant interruptions in our operations and result in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to stockholders, material nonpublic information and other sensitive information in our possession.
A disaster or a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our business, including a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business, or directly affecting our headquarters, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. Our disaster recovery programs may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. In addition, insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all.
Third parties with which we do business may also be sources of cybersecurity or other technological risk. We outsource certain functions and these relationships allow for the storage and processing of our information, as well as client, counterparty, employee, and borrower information. While we engage in actions to reduce our exposure resulting from outsourcing, ongoing threats may result in unauthorized access, loss, exposure, destruction, or other cybersecurity incident that affects our data, resulting in increased costs and other consequences as described above.
In addition, cybersecurity has become a top priority for regulators around the world, and some jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data. If we fail to comply with the relevant laws and regulations, we could suffer financial losses, a disruption of our businesses, liability to investors, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 2.Properties
We do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operations. Our principal executive office and headquarters is located at 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019 and we maintain an additional office at One Sansome Street, Suite 730, San Francisco, CA 94104. We are party to office leases pursuant to which we are leasing office facilities from third parties. We believe our office facilities are suitable and adequate for our business as it is presently conducted.
Item 3.Legal Proceedings
We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, are any material legal proceedings threatened against us. From time to time, we may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. Furthermore, third parties may seek to impose liability on us in connection with the activities of our portfolio companies. Our business is also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against us. While the outcome of any future legal or regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that any such future proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SSSS.” Prior to November 24, 2021, our common stock traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the same symbol ("SSSS"). Our common stock has historically traded at prices both above and below our net asset value per share. It is not possible to predict whether our common stock will trade at, above or below net asset value ("NAV"). See "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities." The following table sets forth, for each fiscal quarter for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the net asset value per share of our common stock, the range of high and low closing sales prices for our common stock, and such closing sales price as a percentage (premium and discount) to our net asset value per share. The closing market prices reported below have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to material changes resulting from stock dividends. The reported closing market price of our common stock on March 10, 2022 was $8.92 per share, which represented an approximately 23.9% discount to our net asset value of $11.72 per share as of December 31, 2021.
| Price Range | High Close Price as a Premium/(Discount) to NAV(2) | Low Close Price as a Premium/(Discount) to NAV(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAV(1) | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | $ | 11.72 | $ | 15.60 | $ | 11.41 | 33.1 | % | (2.6) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | 14.79 | 16.25 | 12.19 | 9.9 | (17.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter | 16.56 | 15.52 | 13.07 | (6.3) | (21.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Quarter | 18.01 | 15.43 | 12.33 | (14.3) | (31.5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | $ | 15.14 | $ | 13.29 | $ | 8.16 | (12.2) | % | (46.1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | 12.46 | 14.31 | 8.63 | 14.8 | (30.7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter | 11.84 | 9.19 | 5.31 | (22.4) | (55.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Quarter | 10.22 | 7.00 | 3.61 | (31.5) | (64.7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | $ | 11.38 | $ | 6.90 | $ | 5.75 | (39.4) | % | (49.5) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | 11.24 | 6.66 | 6.13 | (40.7) | (45.5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter | 10.75 | 7.19 | 6.13 | (33.1) | (43.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Quarter | 10.75 | 8.37 | 5.20 | (22.1) | (51.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
___________________
(1) NAV per share is determined as of the last day in the relevant quarter and therefore may not reflect the NAV per share on the date of the high and low close prices. The NAV per share figures shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.
(2) Calculated as the respective high or low close sales price divided by the NAV and subtracting 1.
Holders
As of March 10, 2022, there were 10 holders of record of our common stock (including Cede & Co.).
Distributions
We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and expect to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to RICs. To maintain RIC tax treatment, we must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Further, undistributed taxable income (subject to a 4% excise tax) pertaining to a given fiscal year may be distributed up to 12 months subsequent to the end of that fiscal year, provided such dividends are declared prior to the later of (1) the fifteenth day of the ninth month following the close of that fiscal year or (2) the extended due date for filing the U.S. federal income tax return for that fiscal year. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we currently intend to distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year and (3) any ordinary income and net capital gains for preceding years that were not distributed during such years. In addition, although we currently intend to distribute realized net capital gains (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses), if any,
48
at least annually, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment. If this happens, our stockholders will be treated as if they received an actual distribution of the capital gains we retain and reinvested the net after-tax proceeds in us. Stockholders may be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to the allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to them. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, to the extent that we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.
The timing and amount of our distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will be declared out of assets legally available for distribution. The following table lists the distributions, including dividends and returns of capital, if any, per share that we have declared since our formation through December 31, 2021. The table is divided by fiscal year according to record date:
| Date Declared | Record Date | Payment Date | Amount per Share | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2015: | ||||||||||||||||||||
November 4, 2015(1) | November 16, 2015 | December 31, 2015 | $ | 2.76 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2016: | ||||||||||||||||||||
August 3, 2016(2) | August 16, 2016 | August 24, 2016 | 0.04 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2019: | ||||||||||||||||||||
November 5, 2019(3) | December 2, 2019 | December 12, 2019 | 0.20 | |||||||||||||||||
December 20, 2019(4) | December 31, 2019 | January 15, 2020 | 0.12 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2020: | ||||||||||||||||||||
July 29, 2020(5) | August 11, 2020 | August 25, 2020 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||||
September 28, 2020(6) | October 5, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | 0.25 | |||||||||||||||||
October 28, 2020(7) | November 10, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | 0.25 | |||||||||||||||||
December 16, 2020(8) | December 30, 2020 | January 15, 2021 | 0.22 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2021: | ||||||||||||||||||||
January 26, 2021(9) | February 5, 2021 | February 19, 2021 | 0.25 | |||||||||||||||||
March 8, 2021(10) | March 30, 2021 | April 15, 2021 | 0.25 | |||||||||||||||||
May 4, 2021(11) | May 18, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | 2.50 | |||||||||||||||||
August 3, 2021(12) | August 18, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | 2.25 | |||||||||||||||||
November 2, 2021(13) | November 17, 2021 | December 30, 2021 | 2.00 | |||||||||||||||||
December 20, 2021(14) | December 31, 2021 | January 14, 2022 | 0.75 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 11.99 | ||||||||||||||||||
___________________
(1) The distribution was paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of stockholders, although the total amount of cash distributed to all stockholders was limited to approximately 50% of the total distribution to be paid to all stockholders. As a result of stockholder elections, the distribution consisted of 2,860,903 shares of common stock issued in lieu of cash, or approximately 14.8% of our outstanding shares prior to the distribution, as well as cash of $26,358,885. The number of shares of common stock comprising the stock portion was calculated based on a price of $9.425 per share, which equaled the average of the volume weighted-average trading price per share of our common stock on December 28, 29 and 30, 2015. None of the $2.76 per share distribution represented a return of capital.
(2) Of the total distribution of $887,240 on August 24, 2016, $820,753 represented a distribution from realized gains, and $66,487 represented a return of capital.
(3) All of the $3,512,849 distribution paid on December 12, 2019 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(4) All of the $2,107,709 distribution paid on January 15, 2020 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(5) All of the $2,516,452 distribution paid on August 25, 2020 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(6) All of the $5,071,326 distribution paid on October 20, 2020 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(7) All of the $4,978,504 distribution paid on November 30, 2020 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(8) All of the $4,381,084 distribution paid on January 15, 2021 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
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(9) All of the $4,981,131 distribution paid on February 19, 2021 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(10) All of the $6,051,304 distribution paid on April 15, 2021 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
(11) The distribution was paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of stockholders, although the total amount of cash distributed to all stockholders was limited to approximately 50% of the total distribution to be paid to all stockholders. As a result of stockholder elections, the distribution consisted of 2,335,527 shares of common stock issued in lieu of cash, or approximately 9.6% of our outstanding shares prior to the distribution, as well as cash of $29,987,589. The number of shares of common stock comprising the stock portion was calculated based on a price of $13.07 per share, which equaled the average of the volume weighted-average trading price per share of our common stock on May 12, 13, and 14, 2021. None of the $2.50 per share distribution represented a return of capital.
(12) The distribution was paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of stockholders, although the total amount of cash distributed to all stockholders was limited to approximately 50% of the total distribution to be paid to all stockholders. As a result of stockholder elections, the distribution consisted of 2,225,193 shares of common stock issued in lieu of cash, or approximately 8.4% of our outstanding shares prior to the distribution, as well as cash of $29,599,164. The number of shares of common stock comprising the stock portion was calculated based on a price of $13.55 per share, which equaled the average of the volume weighted-average trading price per share of our common stock on August 11, 12, and 13, 2021. None of the $2.25 per share distribution represented a return of capital.
(13) The distribution was paid in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of stockholders, although the total amount of cash distributed to all stockholders was limited to approximately 50% of the total distribution to be paid to all stockholders. As a result of stockholder elections, the distribution consisted of 2,170,807 shares of common stock issued in lieu of cash, or approximately 7.5% of our outstanding shares prior to the distribution, as well as cash of $28,494,812. The number of shares of common stock comprising the stock portion was calculated based on a price of $13.39 per share, which equaled the average of the volume weighted-average trading price per share of our common stock on November 11, 12, and 13, 2021. None of the $2.00 per share distribution represented a return of capital.
(14) All of the $23,338,915 distribution paid on January 14, 2022 represented a distribution from realized gains. None of the distribution represented a return of capital.
We intend to focus on making equity-based investments from which we will derive primarily capital gains. As a consequence, we do not anticipate that we will pay distributions on a quarterly basis or become a predictable distributor of distributions, and we expect that our distributions, if any, will be much less consistent than the distributions of other BDCs that primarily make debt investments. If there are earnings or realized capital gains to be distributed, we intend to declare and pay a distribution at least annually. The amount of realized capital gains available for distribution to stockholders will be impacted by our tax status.
Our current intention is to make any future distributions out of assets legally available therefrom in the form of additional shares of our common stock under our dividend reinvestment plan, except in the case of stockholders who elect to receive dividends and/or long-term capital gains distributions in cash. Under the dividend reinvestment plan, if a stockholder owns shares of common stock registered in its own name, the stockholder will have all cash distributions (net of any applicable withholding) automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock unless the stockholder opts out of our dividend reinvestment plan by delivering a written notice to our dividend paying agent prior to the record date of the next dividend or distribution. Any distributions reinvested under the plan will nevertheless be treated as received by the U.S. stockholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although no cash distribution has been made. As a result, if a stockholder does not elect to opt out of the dividend reinvestment plan, it will be required to pay applicable federal, state and local taxes on any reinvested dividends even though such stockholder will not receive a corresponding cash distribution. Stockholders that hold shares in the name of a broker or financial intermediary should contact the broker or financial intermediary regarding any election to receive distributions in cash.
So long as we qualify and maintain our tax treatment as a RIC, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute at least annually to our stockholders as dividends. Rather, any tax liability related to income earned by the RIC will represent obligations of our investors and will not be reflected in our consolidated financial statements. See “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—U.S. Federal and State Income Taxes” and “Note 9—Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 for more information. The Taxable Subsidiaries included in our consolidated financial statements are taxable subsidiaries, regardless of whether we are taxed as a RIC. These taxable subsidiaries are not consolidated for income tax purposes and may generate income tax expenses as a result of their ownership of the portfolio companies. Such income tax expenses and deferred taxes, if any, will be reflected in our consolidated financial statements.
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
See “Item 10. Executive Compensation” and “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our common stock with that of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Nasdaq Stock Index, as we do not believe there is an appropriate index of companies with an investment strategy similar to our own with which to compare the return on our common stock, for the five years ended December 31, 2021. The graph assumes that, on December 31, 2016, a person invested $100.00 in our common stock, at the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2016, and in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Nasdaq Stock Index. The graph measures total stockholder return, which takes into account both changes in stock price and dividends. It assumes that dividends are reinvested in like securities on the respective dividend dates without commissions.
| 12/31/16 | 12/31/17 | 12/31/18 | 12/31/19 | 12/31/20 | 12/31/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SSSS | $ | 100.00 | $ | 108.35 | $ | 103.78 | $ | 136.53 | $ | 295.76 | $ | 292.60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 119.42 | $ | 111.97 | $ | 144.31 | $ | 167.77 | $ | 212.89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nasdaq Stock Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 128.24 | $ | 123.26 | $ | 166.68 | $ | 239.42 | $ | 290.63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The graph and other information furnished under this Part II, Item 5 of this annual report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. The stock price performance included in the above graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
We did not sell any equity securities during the period covered in this report that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities(1)
Information relating to the Company’s purchases of its common stock during the year ended December 31, 2021 is as follows:
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased(2) | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Share Repurchase Program | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1 through January 31, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1 through February 28, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 1 through March 31, 2021 | 16,610 | 11.91 | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 1 through April 30, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 1 through May 31, 2021 | 6,738 | 14.72 | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 1 through June 30, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 1 through July 31, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 1 through August 31, 2021 | 6,825 | 15.12 | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1 through September 30, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 through October 31, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1 through November 30, 2021 | — | — | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 1 through December 31, 2021 | 27,460 | 11.81 | — | 9,617,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 57,633 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program.
_______________________
(1)On August 8, 2017, we announced the $5.0 million discretionary open-market Share Repurchase Program under which our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the open market until the earlier of (i) August 6, 2018 or (ii) the repurchase of $5.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On November 7, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized an extension of, and an increase in the amount of shares of our common stock that may be repurchased under, the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) November 6, 2018 or (ii) the repurchase of $10.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On May 3, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $5.0 million increase in the amount of shares of our common stock that may be repurchased under the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) November 6, 2018 or (ii) the repurchase of $15.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On November 1, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $5.0 million increase in the amount of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be repurchased under the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) October 31, 2019 or (ii) the repurchase of $20.0 million in aggregate amount of the Company’s common stock. On August 5, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized a $5.0 million increase in the amount of shares of our common stock that may be repurchased under the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) August 4, 2020 or (ii) the repurchase of $25.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On March 9, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized a $5.0 million increase in the amount of shares of our common stock that may be repurchased under the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) March 8, 2021 or (ii) the repurchase of $30.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On October 28, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized a $10.0 million increase in the amount of shares of our common stock that may be repurchased under the discretionary Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) October 31, 2021 or (ii) the repurchase of $40.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. On October 27, 2021, our Board of Directors approved an extension of the Share Repurchase Program until the earlier of (i) October 31, 2022 or (ii) the repurchase of $40.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock. The timing and number of shares to be repurchased will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions and alternative investment opportunities. The Share Repurchase Program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason and does not obligate us to acquire any specific number of shares of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not repurchase any shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program. As of December 31, 2021, the dollar value of shares that remained available to be purchased by the Company under the Share Repurchase Program was approximately $9.6 million.
(2)Includes purchases of our common stock made on the open market by or on behalf of any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 10b-18(a)(3), of the Company.
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Senior Securities
Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table as of the end of the last ten fiscal years. There were no senior securities outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, on the senior securities table, as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, is attached as an exhibit to this annual report on Form 10-K.
| Class and Year | Total Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Treasury Securities(1) | Asset Coverage Ratio Per Unit(2) | Involuntary Liquidation Preference Per Unit(3) | Average Market Value Per Unit | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6.00% Notes due 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2021(4) | $ | 75,000,000 | $ | 5,865 | — | $ | 25.52 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2020 | — | 8,892 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2019 | — | 5,998 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2018 | — | 5,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2017 | — | 3,968 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2016 | — | 3,784 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2015 | — | 4,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2014 | — | 4,286 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2013 | — | 5,173 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2012 | — | — | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2021(5) | $ | — | $ | 5,865 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2020(5) | 38,215,000 | 8,892 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2019 | 40,000,000 | 5,998 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2018 | 40,000,000 | 5,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2017 | — | 3,968 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2016 | — | 3,784 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2015 | — | 4,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2014 | — | 4,286 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2013 | — | 5,173 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2012 | — | — | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2021(6) | $ | — | $ | 5,865 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2020(6) | — | 8,892 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2019(6) | — | 5,998 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2018(6) | — | 5,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2017 | 69,000,000 | 3,968 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2016 | 69,000,000 | 3,784 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2015 | 69,000,000 | 4,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2014 | 69,000,000 | 4,286 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2013 | 69,000,000 | 5,173 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2012 | — | — | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Credit Facility | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2021 | $ | — | $ | 5,865 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2020 | — | 8,892 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2019(7) | — | 5,998 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2018(7) | — | 5,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2017(7) | — | 3,968 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2016(8) | — | 3,784 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2015(8) | — | 4,884 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2014(8) | 18,000,000 | 4,286 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2013 | — | 5,173 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal 2012 | — | — | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
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_______________________
(1)Total gross amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented, before deduction of discount and debt issuance costs.
(2)Asset coverage per unit for a class of senior securities is the ratio of the carrying value of our total consolidated assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Asset coverage per unit is expressed in terms of dollar amounts per $1,000 of indebtedness.
(3)The amount to which such class of senior security would be entitled upon the voluntary liquidation of the issuer in preference to any security junior to it. The "—" in this column indicates that the SEC expressly does not require this information to be disclosed for the types of senior securities representing indebtedness issued by the Company as of the stated time periods.
(4)The 6.00% Notes due 2026 were issued on December 17, 2021.
(5)For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 174,888 shares of its common stock and cash for fractional shares upon the conversion of $1,785,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023. The 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 were repaid in full with interest on March 29, 2021.
(6)The 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 were repaid in full with interest on September 15, 2018.
(7)Represents amounts under the $12.0 million senior secured revolving Credit Facility with Western Alliance Bank which matured on May 31, 2019.
(8)Represents amounts under the $18.0 million Credit Facility with SVB which matured on December 31, 2016.
Fees and Expenses
The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The following table should not be considered a representation of our future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “us” or “SuRo Capital,” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, you will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as an investor in SuRo Capital Corp., however, your responsibility for such fees or expenses is limited to your investment in SuRo Capital Corp. The fee table and example below include all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries.
| Stockholder transaction expenses: | ||||||||
| Sales load (as a percentage of offering price) | — | % | (1) | |||||
| Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering price) | — | % | (2) | |||||
| Dividend reinvestment plan expenses | — | % | (3) | |||||
| Total stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of offering price) | — | % | (4) | |||||
Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock)(8): | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 2.41 | % | (5) | |||||
| Interest payments on borrowed funds | 1.26 | % | (6) | |||||
| Other expenses | 0.31 | % | (7) | |||||
| Total annual expenses | 3.98 | % | ||||||
_______________________
(1)In the event that our securities are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus or prospectus supplement will disclose the applicable sales load.
(2)In the event that we conduct an offering of our securities, a corresponding prospectus or prospectus supplement will disclose the estimated offering expenses. Our common stockholders will bear, directly or indirectly, the expenses of any offering of our securities, including debt securities.
(3)Under our distribution reinvestment plan (the "DRIP"), the plan administrator’s fees will be paid by us. There will be no brokerage charges or other charges to stockholders who participate in the plan except that, if a participant elects by his or its written or telephonic notice to the plan administrator in advance of termination to have the plan administrator sell part or all of his or its shares and remit the proceeds to the participant, the plan administrator is authorized to deduct a $15 transaction fee plus brokerage commission from the proceeds. The expenses of our DRIP are included in “Other Expenses.”
(4)The total stockholder transaction expenses may include sales load and will be disclosed in a future prospectus or prospectus supplement, if any.
(5)Operating expenses in this table represent estimated annual operating expenses based upon the actual annual operating expenses of SuRo Capital Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2021. We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board of Directors. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals including, without limitation, compensation expenses related to salaries, discretionary bonuses and restricted stock grants.
(6)We are exposed to the risks of leverage, which may be considered a speculative investment technique. The use of leverage magnifies the potential for gain and loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increases the risks associated with an investment in us. Interest payments on borrowed funds represents our estimated annual interest payments based on actual interest rate terms under our outstanding 6.00% Notes due 2026 as of December 31, 2021.
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(7)"Other expenses," which we calculate to equal approximately $1.1 million, are estimated based upon actual "Other expenses" for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(8)"Net assets attributable to common stock," which we calculate to equal approximately $364.8 million, reflect our net assets for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Example
The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in our common stock. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed that our annual operating expenses would remain at the levels set forth in the table above. See footnote 6 above for additional information regarding certain assumptions regarding our level of leverage.
| 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||||||||
| You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return | $40 | $121 | $204 | $426 | ||||||||||
The example and the expenses in the tables above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5.0% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5.0%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all dividends at net asset value participants in our DRIP will receive a number of shares of our common stock, determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the dividend payable to a participant by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of trading on the dividend payment date, which may be at, above or below net asset value. See "Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Distributions" for additional information regarding our DRIP.
Item 6.[Reserved]
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking statements
This annual report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about us, our current and prospective portfolio investments, our industry, our beliefs, and our assumptions. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “targets,” “projects,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements as to:
•the effect and consequences of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) public health crisis on matters including global, U.S. and local economies, our business operations and continuity, potential disruption to our portfolio companies, tightened availability to capital and financing, the health and productivity of our employees, the ability of third-party providers to continue uninterrupted service, and the regulatory environment in which we operate;
• our future operating results;
• our business prospects and the prospects of our portfolio companies;
• the impact of investments that we expect to make;
• our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;
• the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;
• the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
• our expected financings and investments;
• the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital; and
• the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:
• an economic downturn could impair our portfolio companies’ ability to continue to operate, which could lead to the loss of some or all of our investments in such portfolio companies;
• an economic downturn could disproportionately impact the market sectors in which a significant portion of our portfolio is concentrated, causing us to suffer losses in our portfolio;
• a contraction of available credit and/or an inability to access the equity markets could impair our investment activities;
• interest rate volatility could adversely affect our results, particularly because we use leverage as part of our investment strategy; and
• the risks, uncertainties and other factors we identify in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our annual report on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC.
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Although we believe that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be inaccurate. Important assumptions include our ability to originate new investments, certain margins and levels of profitability and the availability of additional capital. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this annual report on Form 10-K should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include those described or identified in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K, in the “Risk Factors” sections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K. The following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are an internally-managed, non-diversified closed-end management 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”), and has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio’s total return, principally by seeking capital gains on our equity and equity-related investments, and to a lesser extent, income from debt investments. We invest principally in the equity securities of what we believe to be rapidly growing venture-capital-backed emerging companies. We acquire our investments through direct investments in prospective portfolio companies, secondary marketplaces for private companies and negotiations with selling stockholders. In addition, we may invest in private credit and in the founders equity, founders warrants, forward purchase agreements, and private investment in public equity ("PIPE") transactions of special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs"). We may also invest on an opportunistic basis in select publicly traded equity securities or certain non-U.S. companies that otherwise meet our investment criteria, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. To the extent we make investments in private equity funds and hedge funds that are excluded from the definition of “investment company” under the 1940 Act by Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, we will limit such investments to no more than 15% of our net assets.
In regard to the regulatory requirements for BDCs under the 1940 Act, some of these investments may not qualify as investments in “eligible portfolio companies,” and thus may not be considered “qualifying assets.” “Eligible portfolio companies” generally include U.S. companies that are not investment companies and that do not have securities listed on a national exchange. If at any time less than 70% of our gross assets are comprised of qualifying assets, including as a result of an increase in the value of any non-qualifying assets or decrease in the value of any qualifying assets, we would generally not be permitted to acquire any additional non-qualifying assets until such time as 70% of our then-current gross assets were comprised of qualifying assets. We would not be required, however, to dispose of any non-qualifying assets in such circumstances.
Our investment philosophy is based on a disciplined approach of identifying promising investments in high-growth, venture-backed companies across several key industry themes which may include, among others, social mobile, cloud computing and big data, internet commerce, financial technology, mobility, and enterprise software. Our investment decisions are based on a disciplined analysis of available information regarding each potential portfolio company’s business operations, focusing on the portfolio company’s growth potential, the quality of recurring revenues, and path to profitability, as well as an understanding of key market fundamentals. Venture capital funds or other institutional investors have invested in the vast majority of companies that we evaluate.
We seek to deploy capital primarily in the form of non-controlling equity and equity-related investments, including common stock, warrants, preferred stock and similar forms of senior equity, which may or may not be convertible into a portfolio company’s common equity, and convertible debt securities with a significant equity component. Typically, our preferred stock investments are non-income producing, have different voting rights than our common stock investments and are generally convertible into common stock at our discretion. As our investment strategy is primarily focused on equity positions, our investments generally do not produce current income and therefore we may be dependent on future capital raising to meet our operating needs if no other source of liquidity is available.
We seek to create a low-turnover portfolio that includes investments in companies representing a broad range of investment themes.
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Internalization of Operating Structure
On and effective March 12, 2019 (the "Effective Date"), our Board of Directors approved internalizing our operating structure ("Internalization") and we began operating as an internally managed non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. Our Board of Directors approved the Internalization in order to better align the interests of the Company's stockholders with its management. As an internally managed BDC, the Company is managed by its employees, rather than the employees of an external investment adviser, thereby allowing for greater transparency to stockholders through robust disclosure regarding the Company's compensation structure. Prior to the Effective Date, we were externally managed by our former investment adviser, GSV Asset Management, LLC (“GSV Asset Management”), pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), and our former administrator, GSV Capital Service Company, LLC (“GSV Capital Service Company”), provided the administrative services necessary for our operations pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”). In connection with our Internalization, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement were terminated as of the Effective Date, in accordance with their respective terms. As a result, we no longer pay any fees or expenses under an investment advisory agreement or administration agreement, and instead pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals including, without limitation, compensation expenses related to salaries, discretionary bonuses and restricted stock grants. See “Part II, Item 8, Note 3—Related Party Arrangements” and “Part II, Item 8, Note 11—Stock-Based Compensation” in this Form 10-K for more information.
Except as otherwise disclosed herein, this Form 10-K discusses our business and operations as an internally-managed BDC during the period covered by this Form 10-K.
Recent COVID-19 Developments
In March 2020, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As of the year ended December 31, 2021, and subsequent to December 31, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the U.S. and global economy.
We have and continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our portfolio companies. We cannot predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its duration in the United States and worldwide, the effectiveness of governmental responses designed to mitigate strain to businesses and the economy, and the magnitude of the economic impact of the outbreak, including with respect to the travel restrictions, business closures and other quarantine measures imposed on service providers and other individuals by various local, state, and federal governmental authorities, as well as non-U.S. governmental authorities. As such, we are unable to predict the duration of any business and supply-chain disruptions, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively affect our portfolio companies’ operating results or the impact that such disruptions may have on our results of operations and financial condition. Our portfolio companies and, by extension, our operating results may be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and, depending on the duration and extent of the disruption to the operations of our portfolio companies, certain portfolio companies may experience financial distress and may possibly default on their financial obligations to us and their other capital providers. Any of these developments would likely result in a decrease in the value of our investment in any such portfolio company. In addition, to the extent that the impact to our portfolio companies results in reduced interest payments or permanent impairments on our investments, we could see a decrease in our net investment income, which would increase the percentage of our cash flows dedicated to our debt obligations and could impact the amount of any future distributions to our stockholders.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted a temporary work-from-home policy in March 2020, pursuant to which our employees primarily worked remotely without disruption to our operations. This policy was amended in February 2022 when it was deemed safe to return to our offices. As of March 10, 2022, there is no indication of a reportable subsequent event impacting the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company continues to observe and respond to the evolving COVID-19 environment and its potential impact on areas across its business.
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Portfolio and Investment Activity
Year Ended December 31, 2021
The value of our investment portfolio will change over time due to changes in the fair value of our underlying investments, as well as changes in the composition of our portfolio resulting from purchases of new and follow-on investments and the sales of existing investments. The fair value, as of December 31, 2021, of all of our portfolio investments was $260,136,253.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we funded investments in an aggregate amount of $81,668,146 (not including capitalized transaction costs) as shown in the following table:
| Portfolio Company | Investment | Transaction Date | Gross Payments | |||||||||||||||||
| NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (f/k/a GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp.) | Common Shares | 2/12/2021 | $ | 499,986 | ||||||||||||||||
Churchill Sponsor VI LLC(1) | Common Share Units & Warrant Units | 2/25/2021 | 200,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Churchill Sponsor VII LLC(2) | Common Share Units & Warrant Units | 2/25/2021 | 300,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Shogun Enterprises, Inc.(3) | Preferred Shares, Series B-1 | 2/26/2021 | 3,499,994 | |||||||||||||||||
Shogun Enterprises, Inc.(3) | Preferred Shares, Series B-2 | 2/26/2021 | 3,499,998 | |||||||||||||||||
Architect Capital PayJoy SPV, LLC(4) | Membership Interest in Lending SPV | 3/24/2021 | 10,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Streaming Solutions Inc. (d/b/a BettorView) | Simple Agreement for Future Equity ("SAFE") | 3/26/2021 | 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Colombier Sponsor LLC(5) | Class B Units & Class W Units | 4/1/2021 | 502,193 | |||||||||||||||||
Colombier Sponsor LLC(5) | Class B Units & Class W Units | 6/7/2021 | 2,209,649 | |||||||||||||||||
Churchill Capital Corp. II(6) | Common Shares, Class A | 6/8/2021 | 10,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Trax Ltd. | Common Shares & Investec Preferred Shares | 6/9/2021 | 10,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Blink Health, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series C | 6/28/2021 | 4,999,987 | |||||||||||||||||
AltC Sponsor LLC(7) | Share Units | 7/21/2021 | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| PayJoy, Inc. | Preferred Shares | 7/23/2021 | 2,500,002 | |||||||||||||||||
| Orchard Technologies, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series D | 8/9/2021 | 9,999,996 | |||||||||||||||||
| Varo Money, Inc. | Common Shares | 8/11/2021 | 10,000,371 | |||||||||||||||||
| YouBet Technology, Inc. (d/b/a PickUp) | Preferred Shares, Series Seed-2 | 8/26/2021 | 499,999 | |||||||||||||||||
True Global Ventures 4 Plus Pte Ltd(8) | Limited Partner Fund Investment | 8/27/2021 | 706,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Rebric, Inc. (d/b/a Compliable) | Preferred Shares, Series Seed-4 | 10/12/2021 | 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Hero, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series C | 11/5/2021 | 9,999,971 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 81,668,146 | ||||||||||||||||||
_________________________________
(1)Churchill Sponsor VI LLC is the sponsor of Churchill Capital Corp VI, a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Our investment in Churchill Sponsor VI LLC constituted a “remote-affiliate” transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act in light of the fact that Mark Klein, our Chairman, CEO and President, has a non-controlling interest in the entity that controls Churchill Sponsor VI LLC, and is a non-controlling board member of Churchill Capital Corp VI.
(2)Churchill Sponsor VII LLC is the sponsor of Churchill Capital Corp VII, a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Our investment in Churchill Sponsor VII LLC constituted a “remote-affiliate” transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act in light of the fact that Mark Klein, our Chairman, CEO and President, has a non-controlling interest in the entity that controls Churchill Sponsor VII LLC, and is a non-controlling board member of Churchill Capital Corp VII.
(3)Keri Findley, a senior managing director of the Company, is a non-controlling member of the board of directors of Shogun Enterprises, Inc. and holds a minority equity interest in such company.
(4)As of December 31, 2021, the total $10.0 million capital commitment representing SuRo Capital Corp.'s Membership Interest in Architect Capital PayJoy SPV, LLC had been called and funded. Keri Findley, a senior managing director of the Company, is a non-controlling member of the board of directors of the investment manager to Architect Capital PayJoy SPV, LLC and holds a minority equity interest in such investment manager.
(5)Colombier Sponsor LLC is the sponsor of Colombier Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Keri Findley, a senior managing director of the Company, and Claire Councill, an investment professional of the Company, are non-controlling members of the board of directors of Colombier Acquisition Corp.
(6)On June 11, 2021, Churchill Capital Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company, executed a private investment in public equity transaction in order to acquire shares of Software Luxembourg Holding S.A. alongside the merger of Software Luxembourg Holding S.A. and Churchill Capital Corp. II. Following the merger, Software Luxembourg Holding S.A. changed its name to Skillsoft Corp. This investment constituted a “remote-affiliate” transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act in light of the fact that Mark Klein, our Chairman, CEO and President, has a non-controlling interest
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in the entity that controls Churchill Sponsor II LLC, the sponsor of Churchill Capital Corp II, and is a non-controlling board member of Churchill Capital Corp II.
(7)AltC Sponsor LLC is the sponsor of AltC Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company's investment in AltC Sponsor LLC constituted a “remote-affiliate” transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act in light of the fact that Mark D. Klein, the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, has a non-controlling interest in one of the entities that controls AltC Sponsor LLC, and Allison Green, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, is a non-controlling member of the board of directors of AltC Acquisition Corp.
(8)As of December 31, 2021, $0.7 million of a $2.0 million capital commitment to True Global Ventures 4 Plus Fund LP had been called and funded.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we capitalized fees of $47,893.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we exited or received proceeds from investments in an amount of $259,698,537, net of transaction costs, and realized a net gain on investments of $218,735,504 (including U.S. Treasury investments and adjustments to amounts held in escrow receivable) as shown in following table:
| Portfolio Company | Transaction Date | Shares | Average Net Share Price (1) | Net Proceeds | Realized Gain(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Palantir Technologies, Inc.(3) | Various | 4,618,952 | $ | 26.72 | $ | 123,419,184 | $ | 110,544,068 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Palantir Lending Trust SPV I(4) | Various | N/A | N/A | 2,172,637 | 2,172,637 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential Homes for Rent, LLC (d/b/a Second Avenue)(5) | Various | N/A | N/A | 1,386,457 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SP Holdings Group, Inc. | 4/28/2021 | 2,542,587 | 0.19 | 490,246 | 490,246 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CUX, Inc. (d/b/a CorpU)(6) | 8/24/2021 | N/A | N/A | 6,009,092 | 1,968,218 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clever, Inc.(7) | 9/3/2021 | 1,799,047 | 1.67 | 3,011,486 | 1,010,886 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skillsoft Corp. | Various | 18,157 | 12.63 | 229,269 | 47,699 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coursera, Inc.(8) | Various | 3,128,361 | 36.86 | 115,325,000 | 97,965,464 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tynker (f/k/a Neuron Fuel, Inc.)(9) | 12/6/2021 | 534,162 | 5.44 | 2,907,951 | 2,598,640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. | Various | 167,755 | 28.30 | 4,747,215 | 1,390,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 259,698,537 | $ | 218,188,494 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_________________________________
(1)The average net share price is the net share price realized after deducting all commissions and fees on the sale(s), if applicable.
(2)Realized gain does not include adjustments to amounts held in escrow receivable.
(3)As of March 4, 2021, all remaining shares of Palantir Technologies, Inc. held by us had been sold.
(4)The Palantir Lending Trust SPV I promissory note was initially collateralized with 2,260,000 Class A common shares of Palantir Technologies, Inc. to which SuRo Capital Corp. retains a beneficial equity upside interest. As of December 31, 2021, 512,290 Class A common shares remain in Palantir Lending Trust SPV I, none of which are subject to lock-up restrictions. The realized gain from SuRo Capital Corp.'s investment in Palantir Lending Trust SPV I is generated by the proceeds from the sale of a portion of the shares collateralizing the promissory note to Palantir Lending Trust SPV I and attributable to the Equity Participation in Underlying Collateral.
(5)During the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately $1.4 million has been received from Residential Homes for Rent, LLC (d/b/a Second Avenue) related to the 15% term loan due December 23, 2023. Of the proceeds received, approximately $1.0 million repaid a portion of the outstanding principal and approximately $0.4 million was attributed to interest.
(6)As of December 31, 2021, net proceeds includes approximately $0.3 million in additional proceeds currently held in escrow.
(7)On September 3, 2021, Clever, Inc. completed its sale to Kahoot! ASA. In connection with this transaction, SuRo Capital Corp. received 86,800 common shares in Kahoot! ASA in addition to cash proceeds and amounts currently held in escrow. SuRo Capital Corp. is also eligible to receive cash and Kahoot! ASA common shares subject to certain earn-out provisions and contingencies. As of December 31, 2021, SuRo Capital Corp.'s common shares in Kahoot! ASA were subject to certain lock-up restrictions.
(8)As of November 4, 2021, all remaining shares of Coursera, Inc. held by us had been sold.
(9)As of December 31, 2021, net proceeds includes approximately $0.4 million in additional proceeds currently held in escrow.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we realized a net investment loss of $0.1 million due to the expiration of our OneValley, Inc. (f/k/a NestGSV, Inc.) Series A-4 preferred warrants with a strike price of $1.33 on July 18, 2021, and our OneValley, Inc. (f/k/a NestGSV, Inc.) Series B preferred warrants with a strike price of $2.31 on November 29, 2021.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we did not write-off any investments and our OneValley, Inc. (f/k/a NestGSV, Inc.) Series A-3 preferred warrants with a strike price of $1.33 expired on April 4, 2021, and our OneValley, Inc. (f/k/a NestGSV, Inc.) Series A-4 preferred warrants with a strike price of $1.33 expired on October 6, 2021.
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Year Ended December 31, 2020
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we funded investments in an aggregate amount of $31,242,228 (not including capitalized transaction costs) as shown in the following table:
| Portfolio Company | Investment | Transaction Date | Gross Payments | |||||||||||||||||
| Neutron Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a Lime) | Junior Preferred Convertible Note 4% Due 5/11/2027 | 5/11/2020 | $ | 506,339 | ||||||||||||||||
| Rent the Runway, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series G | 6/17/2020 | 5,000,001 | |||||||||||||||||
| Palantir Lending Trust SPV I | Collateralized Loan 15% Due 6/19/2022 | 6/19/2020 | 6,870,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Coursera, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series F | 7/15/2020 | 2,838,354 | |||||||||||||||||
| Blink Health, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series A | 10/27/2020 | 4,999,995 | |||||||||||||||||
| Blink Health, Inc. | Preferred Shares, Series C | 10/27/2020 | 4,999,987 | |||||||||||||||||
| Enjoy Technology, Inc. | Convertible Note 14% Due 1/30/2024 | 11/30/2020 | 521,112 | |||||||||||||||||
| GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp. | Common Shares | 12/17/2020 | 503,220 | |||||||||||||||||
| GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp. | Common Shares | 12/29/2020 | 503,220 | |||||||||||||||||
| Residential Homes for Rent, LLC (d/b/a Second Avenue) | Term Loan 15% Due 12/23/2023 | 12/23/2020 | 3,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Residential Homes for Rent, LLC (d/b/a Second Avenue) | Preferred Shares, Series A | 12/23/2020 | 1,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 31,242,228 | ||||||||||||||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we capitalized fees of $190,799.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we exited investments in an amount of $31,245,944, net of transaction costs, and realized a net gain on investments of $16,441,223 (including U.S. Treasury investments and adjustments to amounts held in escrow receivable) as shown in following table:
| Portfolio Company | Net Proceeds | Realized Gain/(Loss)(1) | ||||||||||||
Parchment, Inc.(2) | $ | 10,876,621 | $ | 6,785,364 | ||||||||||
4C Insights (f/k/a The Echo Systems Corp.)(3) | 807,952 | (628,452) | ||||||||||||
Palantir Technologies, Inc.(4) | 11,671,878 | 8,357,068 | ||||||||||||
Palantir Lending Trust SPV I(5) | 7,889,493 | 988,892(6) | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 31,245,944 | $ | 15,502,872 | ||||||||||
(1)Realized gain/(loss) does not include amounts held in escrow receivable or any realized gain/(loss) incurred on the maturity of our U.S. Treasury investments.
(2)On January 31, 2020, Parchment, Inc. closed a merger with Credentials Solutions. As a result of the transaction, we received $10,876,621 in net proceeds. As of December 31, 2020, we received all escrow proceeds of $90,275.
(3)On July 29, 2020, SuRo Capital Corp. exited its investment in 4C Insights (f/k/a The Echo Systems Corp.). In connection with this exit, SuRo Capital Corp. received 112,374 Class A common shares in Kinetiq Holdings, LLC in addition to cash proceeds and amounts currently held in escrow. As of December 31, 2020, we have received $12,900 in escrow proceeds, and expect to receive $43,223 in additional escrow proceeds in 2021.
(4)As of December 31, 2020, we held 4,618,952 remaining Class A common shares of Palantir Technologies, Inc., all of which were subject to lock-up restrictions.
(5)The Palantir Lending Trust SPV I promissory note was initially collateralized with 2,260,000 Class A common shares of Palantir Technologies, Inc. The collateralized loan to Palantir Lending Trust SPV I matures on June 19, 2022 and includes a 15% interest rate. Through the collateralized loan, SuRo Capital Corp. participated in additional upside in a future Palantir Technologies, Inc. liquidity event by receiving a percentage of the share price appreciation as captured in the Equity Participation in Underlying Collateral security. As of December 31, 2020, the balance of the loan and all guaranteed interest has been fully repaid, and SuRo Capital Corp. retains the right to upside on 1,312,290 shares as captured in the Equity Participation in Underlying Collateral security. The net proceeds figure does not include accrued guaranteed interest received of $782,125.
(6)The realized gain from SuRo Capital Corp.'s investment in Palantir Lending Trust SPV I is generated by the proceeds from the sale of a portion of the shares collateralizing the promissory note to Palantir Lending Trust SPV I and attributable to the Equity Participation in Underlying Collateral.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we did not write-off any investments and our CUX, Inc. (d/b/a CorpU) Series D preferred warrants with a strike price of $4.59, expired on February 14, 2020.
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Year Ended December 31, 2019
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we funded investments in an aggregate amount of $25,530,000 (not including capitalized transaction costs) as shown in the following table:
| Portfolio Company | Investment | Transaction Date | Gross Payments | |||||||||||||||||
| Neutron Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a Lime) | Preferred Shares, Series D | 1/25/2019 | $ | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Aspiration Partners, Inc. | Convertible Promissory Note 5% Due 1/31/2021 | 8/12/2019 | $ | 280,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp. | Common shares | 8/12/2019 | $ | 7,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Treehouse Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. | Common shares | 9/11/2019 | $ | 7,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Stormwind, LLC | Preferred shares, Series D | 11/26/2019 | $ | 250,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 25,530,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we capitalized fees of $39,685.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we sold investments in an amount of $65,603,252, net of transaction costs, and realized a net gain on investments of $19,179,340 (including U.S. Treasury investments) as shown in following table:
| Portfolio Investment | Net Proceeds | Realized Gain/(Loss)(2) | ||||||||||||
Declara, Inc.(3) | $ | — | $ | (12,334,151) | ||||||||||
Spotify Technologies S.A.(4) | 32,547,633 | 22,545,550 | ||||||||||||
Dropbox, Inc.(5) | 19,723,591 | 6,066,664 | ||||||||||||
Knewton, Inc.(6) | 51,511 | (5,083,701) | ||||||||||||
CUX, Inc. (d/b/a CorpU)(7) | — | (109,331) | ||||||||||||
Lyft, Inc.(8) | 13,280,517 | 8,983,623 | ||||||||||||
EdSurge, Inc.(9) | — | (1,002,161) | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 65,603,252 | $ | 19,066,493 | ||||||||||
__________________
(1)The average net share price is the net share price realized after deducting all commissions and fees on the sale(s), if applicable.
(2)Realized gain/(loss) does not include amounts held in escrow or any realized gain or loss incurred on the maturity of our U.S. Treasury investments.
(3)On March 11, 2019, Declara, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Declara Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Futuryng, Inc. Despite the existence of an earn-out provision, as a result of the transaction, the Company does not expect to receive any proceeds. The exit of Declara, Inc. included a 12% Convertible Promissory Note with a principal value of $2,334,152.
(4)As of May 2, 2019, all remaining shares of Spotify Technologies S.A. held by us had been sold.
(5)As of September 19, 2019, all remaining shares of Dropbox, Inc. held by us had been sold.
(6)On May 31, 2019, a sale of substantially all of Knewton, Inc. to Wiley Education was completed. As a result of the transaction, we received $51,511 in net proceeds in 2019 and $26,254 in escrow proceeds in 2020.
(7)On October 24, 2019, CUX, Inc. (d/b/a CorpU) completed a recapitalization, which amended our investment in the Senior Subordinated Convertible Promissory Note. As a result of the recapitalization, the principal amount of our Senior Subordinated Convertible Promissory Note was reduced by $109,331, the interest rate was reduced to 4%, and the maturity was extended to February 14, 2023.
(8)As of November 4, 2019, all remaining shares of Lyft, Inc. held by us had been sold.
(9)As of December 12, 2019, all remaining shares of EdSurge, Inc. held by us had been sold in a transaction with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). As a result of the transaction, we do not expect to receive any proceeds.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not write-off any investments.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Operating results for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Income | $ | 1,470,842 | $ | 1,824,127 | $ | 1,495,724 | |||||||||||
| Interest income | 897,772 | 1,006,510 | 995,724 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend income | 573,070 | 817,617 | 500,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 11,401,661 | $ | 16,338,543 | $ | 10,946,792 | |||||||||||
| Management fees | — | — | 848,723 | ||||||||||||||
| Incentive fees/(reversal of incentive fee accrual) | — | — | (4,660,472) | ||||||||||||||
| Costs incurred under Administration Agreement | — | — | 306,084 | ||||||||||||||
| Compensation expense | 6,162,716 | 8,801,841 | 4,286,972 | ||||||||||||||
| Directors’ fees | 752,442 | 445,000 | 383,370 | ||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 2,665,689 | 2,962,781 | 5,290,329 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 693,526 | 2,247,817 | 2,372,570 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 9,347 | 43,574 | 33,825 | ||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 1,117,941 | 1,837,530 | 2,085,391 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Loss | $ | (9,930,819) | $ | (14,514,416) | $ | (9,451,068) | |||||||||||
| Net realized gain on investments | 218,735,504 | 16,441,223 | 19,179,340 | ||||||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments | (61,732,964) | 73,410,631 | 13,339,859 | ||||||||||||||
| Benefit from taxes on unrealized depreciation of investments | — | — | 885,566 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 147,071,721 | $ | 75,337,438 | $ | 23,953,697 | |||||||||||
Investment Income
For the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020
Investment income decreased to $1,470,842 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $1,824,127 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The net decrease between periods was due to a decrease in dividend income from SPBRX, Inc. (f/k/a GSV Sustainability Partners, Inc.), and a decrease in accrued interest income from Palantir Lending Trust SPV I. The decrease was offset by an increase in dividend income from Aventine Property Group, Inc., Treehouse Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., and NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (f/k/a GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp.), and interest income from the Residential Homes for Rent, LLC (d/b/a Second Avenue) term loan, Enjoy Technologies, Inc. convertible promissory note, and Architect Capital PayJoy SPV, LLC membership interest in lending SPV during the year ended December 31, 2021, relative to the year ended December 31, 2020.
For the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019
Investment income increased to $1,824,127 for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $1,495,724 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was due to an increase in dividend income received from GreenAcreage Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and guaranteed interest from Palantir Lending Trust SPV I, partially offset by a decrease in accrued interest income due to the placement of some debt investments on non-accrual status and decreased Treehouse Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. dividends, relative to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Operating Expenses
For the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020
Total operating expenses decreased to $11,401,661 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $16,338,543 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in operating expense was primarily due to the decrease in the recognition of all unvested and unrecognized compensation cost related to the stock-based compensation plan upon cancellation of all outstanding options on April 28, 2020, as well as a decrease in interest expense, professional fees, income tax expense, and other expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021, relative to the year ended December 31, 2020.
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For the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019
Total operating expenses increased to $16,338,543 for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $10,946,792 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in operating expense was primarily due to the accelerated recognition of compensation cost related to the cancellation of unvested options on April 28, 2020, as well as reversal of the incentive fee accrual as a result of the Internalization. The notable increase was partially offset by removal of management and professional fees related to the termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreements.
Net Investment Loss
For the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized net investment loss of $9,930,819, compared to net investment loss of $14,514,416 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The change between periods resulted from the decrease in operating expenses between periods during the year ended December 31, 2021, relative to the year ended December 31, 2020.
For the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized net investment loss of $14,514,416, compared to net investment loss of $9,451,068 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The change between periods resulted from the increase in operating expenses, as discussed above, and an increase in total investment income between periods.
Net Realized Gain on Investments
For the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a net realized gain on our investments of $218,735,504, compared to a net realized gain of $16,441,223 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The components of our net realized gains on portfolio investments for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, excluding U.S. Treasury investments, are reflected in the tables above, under “—Portfolio and Investment Activity.”
For the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized net realized gain on our investments of $16,441,223, compared to net realized gain of $19,179,340 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The components of our net realized gains/losses on portfolio investments for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, excluding U.S. Treasury investments, are reflected in the tables above, under “—Portfolio and Investment Activity.”
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) of Investments
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had a net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of $(61,732,964). For the year ended December 31, 2020, we had a net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of $73,410,631. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we had a net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of $13,339,859. The following tables summarize, by portfolio company, the significant changes in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of our investment portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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| Portfolio Company | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| Course Hero, Inc. | $ | 42,752,699 | ||||||
| Forge Global, Inc. | 10,976,202 | |||||||
| Aspiration Partners, Inc. | 7,597,596 | |||||||
| Rover Group, Inc. | 6,290,626 | |||||||
| StormWind, LLC | 3,872,381 | |||||||
CUX, Inc. (d/b/a CorpU)(1) | 3,654,203 | |||||||
NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (f/k/a GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp.)(1) | 1,905,116 | |||||||
| Varo Money, Inc. | (1,463,873) | |||||||
| Palantir Lending Trust SPV I | (1,620,240) | |||||||
| Enjoy Technology, Inc. | (2,514,243) | |||||||
| Rent the Runway, Inc. | (2,581,146) | |||||||
| Ozy Media, Inc. | (10,098,381) | |||||||
Coursera, Inc.(1) | (35,822,601) | |||||||
Palantir Technologies, Inc.(1) | (81,760,272) | |||||||
Other(2) | (2,921,031) | |||||||
| Total | $ | (61,732,964) | ||||||
_______________________
(1)The change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) reflected for these investments resulted from the full or partial exit of the investment, which resulted in the reversal of previously accrued unrealized appreciation/(depreciation), as applicable.
(2)“Other” represents investments (including U.S. Treasury bills) for which individual change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) was less than $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
| Portfolio Company | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Portfolio Company | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
Palantir Technologies, Inc.(1) | $ | 66,368,123 | Declara, Inc.(1) | $ | 12,334,151 | |||||||||||||||
| Coursera, Inc. | 16,772,218 | Ozy Media, Inc. | 12,218,812 | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Hero, Inc. | 9,405,053 | Course Hero, Inc. | 11,567,394 | |||||||||||||||||
Forge Global, Inc.(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||