0001280784false424B2Hercules Capital, Inc.Represents the estimated commission with respect to the shares of common stock being sold in this offering. Each Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the sale of any shares of our common stock under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement, with the exact amount of such compensation to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Sales Agent from time to time. There is no guarantee that there will be any sales of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.The expenses associated with the administration of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Operating expenses.” We pay all brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases, if any, made by the administrator under the plan. For more details about the plan, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” In the accompanying prospectus.“Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds” represent our estimated interest, fees, and credit facility expenses by annualizing our actual interest, fees and credit facility expenses incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.“Acquired fund fees and expenses” represent the estimated indirect expenses by annualizing our actual indirect expenses incurred due to investments in other investment companies and private funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.“Operating expenses” represent our estimated operating expenses by annualizing our actual expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries and excluding interest and fees on our debt.We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals.“Total annual expenses” is the sum of “Operating expenses”, “Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds”, and “Acquired fund fees and expenses”. “Total annual expenses” is presented as a percentage of weighted average net assets attributable to common stockholders, because the holders of shares of our common stock (and not the holders of our debt securities or preferred stock, if any) bear all of our fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of our wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are included in this fee table presentation.“Net assets attributable to common stock” equals the weighted average net assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is approximately $1,846.2 million.On October 28, 2024, the Company filed Articles of Amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland. The Charter Amendment amended the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Company stock from 200.0 million shares to 300.0 million shares, as approved by the Company’s Board. The Charter Amendment is effective as of October 28, 2024.Aggregate principal amount (in millions)The percentage reflects estimated offering expenses of approximately $250,000, assuming all shares are sold under this prospectus supplement. 0001280784 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:RiskFactorsMember 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:FourPointFiveZeroPercentNotesADueMarch2026Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:FourPointFiveFivePercentNotesBdueMarch2026Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:TwoPointSixTwoFivePercentNotesdueSeptember2026Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:ThreePointThreeSevenFivePercentNotesDueJanuary2027Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:FourPointNineFivePercentNotesdueJuly2031Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:SixPointTwoFivePercentNotesdue2033Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:CommonStocksMember 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:SBADebenturesMember 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:FourPointTwoEightPercentNotesdueFebruary2025Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:FourPointThreeOnePercentNotesdueJune2025Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 0001280784 htgc:SixPointZeroZeroPercentNotesdueJune2025Member 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 xbrli:shares xbrli:pure iso4217:USD
Table of Contents
Filed Pursuant to Rule
424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-283735

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated December 11, 2024)
 
 
LOGO
Up to 30,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
 
About this offering.
We are offering to sell up to 30,000,000 shares of our common stock from time to time through our “
Sales Agents
”, Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC. Any such sales may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” (as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act). “At the market” transactions may be made directly on the NYSE or another securities exchange or through a market maker (other than a securities exchange). Any such sales of our common stock may be made at prices related to the prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. Our arrangement with the Sales Agents is governed by Equity Distribution Agreements, dated December 12, 2024. Under those Agreements, the Sales Agents will receive a commission from us for sales of common stock. The amount of each Sales Agent’s commission will be negotiated from time to time but will never exceed 2.0% of the gross sales price of common stock sold through the Sales Agent under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement. The Sales Agents are not required to sell any of our common stock but will use their commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with their sales and trading practices, to effect sales. Our previous “at the market” offering terminated upon the filing of our registration statement on Form
N-2ASR
(File No. 333-283735). For more information, see “Plan of Distribution” beginning on pages S-14 of the prospectus supplement and 79 of the accompanying prospectus.
About Hercules Capital, Inc. and our common stock.
We are an internally managed,
non-diversified,
closed-end
investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“
BDC
”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “
1940 Act
”). Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio total return by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity-related investments. Our common stock trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “HTGC.” The last reported sale price on the NYSE of our common stock on December 9, 2024 was
$19.39
per share of our common stock and our NAV per share was $11.40 as of September 30, 2024 (the most recent date NAV was determined).
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
An investment in our common stock may be speculative and involves risks, including total loss of investment. The companies in which we invest are also subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, page 12 of the accompanying prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K,
and in any of our other filings with the SEC to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our common stock, including the risk of leverage.
You should carefully read the Offering Materials before deciding to invest in our common stock. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus related to this offering and any other documents incorporated by reference in such materials are referred to as the Offering Materials. No other person has been authorized to provide you with information that is different or inconsistent with the information found in the Offering Materials. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. Information found in the Offering Materials is accurate only as of the date the information was published and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the Sales Agents are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This document has two parts. The first is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering and adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information and disclosure. If any information contained in this prospectus supplement differs from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement will control.
 
 
 
     Jefferies
 
Citizens JMP     
The date of this prospectus supplement is December 12, 2024.

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
 
    
Page
 
    
S-2
 
    
S-4
 
    
S-5
 
    
S-5
 
    
S-5
 
    
S-5
 
    
S-7
 
    
S-8
 
    
S-9
 
    
S-11
 
    
S-12
 
    
S-14
 
    
S-15
 
    
S-17
 
    
S-17
 
    
S-17
 
Prospectus
 
    
Page
   2
   9
   11
   13
   15
   16
   17
   19
   20
   45
   52
   53
   54
   55
   61
   62
   65
   71
   72
   74
   76
   88
   89
   91
   91
   91
   91
   92
 
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Table of Contents
GLOSSARY
 
1940 Act
means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
 
BDC
means business development company
 
Below-NAV
Sale
means the sale or issuance of shares of our common stock in one or multiple public or private offerings, at a purchase price below the then-current NAV during the period
 
Board
means the Board of Directors of Hercules Capital, Inc.
 
Code
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
 
Company, Hercules Capital, Hercules, we, us and our
refer to Hercules Capital, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries
 
Equity Distribution Agreements or Agreements
refer to the Equity Distribution Agreements between Hercules Capital, Inc. and each of the Sales Agents, each dated as of December 12, 2024
 
Exchange Act
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
  
Non-Participating
Existing Stockholder
means an existing stockholder who does not participate in
a Below-NAV
Sale (or who does not buy additional shares of our common stock in the secondary market at the same or lower price as the price of shares of our common stock sold in
the Below-NAV Sale,
after expenses and commissions)
 
NAV
means net asset value
 
NYSE
means the New York Stock Exchange
 
Offering Materials
refers to this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus related to this offering
 
Participating Existing Stockholder
means an existing stockholder who participates in a Below-NAV Sale (or who buys additional shares of our common stock in the secondary market at the same or lower price as the price of shares of our common stock sold in
the Below-NAV Sale,
after expenses and commissions)
 
RIC
means Regulated Investment Company
 
Required Majority of Directors
refers to a majority of our independent directors who have no financial interest in the proposed
Below-NAV
Sale
 
Sales Agents
refers to Jefferies LLC and JMP Securities LLC
 
SBA
means the Small Business Administration
 
SBIC
means a Small Business Investment Company
 
SEC
means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
 
Securities Act
means the Securities Act of 1934, as amended
 
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
A forward-looking statement relates to future events or our future financial performance and typically uses words like “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts” “potential” or “continue” and similar expressions, as well as the negative of these words and expressions. We may use forward-looking statements in the Offering Materials, as well as in future oral and written statements by our management. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations; however, they are based on assumptions regarding, among other things, our ability to originate new investments, achieve certain margins and levels of profitability, the availability of additional capital and the ability to maintain certain debt to asset ratios. All of these assumptions carry substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the results described in or implied by our forward-looking statements.
You should not rely on forward-looking statements when determining whether to invest in our common stock or regard a forward-looking statement as a representation by us that our plans or objectives will be achieved.
Forward-looking statements in the Offering Materials include statements about:
 
 
 
our current and future management structure;
 
 
 
our future operating results;
 
 
 
our business prospects and the prospects of our prospective portfolio companies;
 
 
 
the impact of investments that we expect to make;
 
 
 
our informal relationships with third parties including in the venture capital industry;
 
 
 
the expected market for venture capital investments and our addressable market;
 
 
 
the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;
 
 
 
our ability to access debt markets and equity markets;
 
 
 
the occurrence and impact of macro-economic developments (for example, global pandemics, natural disasters, terrorism, international conflicts and war) on us and our portfolio companies;
 
 
 
the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
 
 
 
our expected financings and investments;
 
 
 
our regulatory structure and tax status as a RIC;
 
 
 
our ability to operate as a BDC and a SBIC;
 
 
 
the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital;
 
 
 
the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies;
 
 
 
the timing, form and amount of any distributions;
 
 
 
the impact of fluctuations in interest rates on our business;
 
 
 
the valuation of any investments in portfolio companies, particularly those having no liquid trading market; and
 
 
 
our ability to recover unrealized depreciation on investments.
The forward-looking statements made in the Offering Materials relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made and are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act. We are not obligated, and do not plan, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date the statement is made. We encourage you to consult any additional disclosures that we make directly to you or through reports that we file with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form
10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q
and Current Reports on Form
8-K.
 
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Table of Contents
Before you decide to invest in our common stock, please be sure you have read the accompanying prospectus (including “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on pages 12 and 14, respectively), our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K
(including “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q.
 
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INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA
The
Offering Materials include certain industry estimates that we have compiled using internally-generated information and data. We believe our estimates are reliable but you should know that they have not been verified by any independent sources. Our estimates are based on a number of assumptions, including increasing investment in venture capital- and private equity-backed companies. Actual results may differ from projections and estimates, and this market may not grow at the rates projected, or at all. If this market fails to grow at projected rates, our business and the market price of our securities, including our common stock, could be materially adversely affected.
 
S-4

Table of Contents
SUMMARY
The following summary highlights some of the information included elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in the Offering Materials. This summary is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. You should carefully read the Offering Materials, including any sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Available Information,” “Incorporation by Reference,” and “Use of Proceeds,” and our financial statements. We use the terms “Company,” “Hercules Capital,” “Hercules,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Hercules Capital, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. You can find definitions for any other defined terms in the Glossary section of this prospectus supplement.
Our Company
We are a specialty finance company focused on providing financing solutions to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in a variety of technology and life sciences industries. Our goal is to be the leading Structured Debt financing provider for venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in technology-related industries requiring sophisticated and customized financing solutions. We use the term “Structured Debt” to refer to a debt investment that is structured with an equity, warrant, option, or other right to purchase or convert into common or preferred stock. Our strategy is to evaluate and invest in a broad range of technology-related industries including technology, drug discovery and development, biotechnology, life sciences and healthcare and to offer a full suite of growth capital products. We are an internally-managed,
non-diversified
closed-end
investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company, or BDC, under the 1940 Act. Effective January 1, 2006, we elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under the Code.
General Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 1 North B Street, Suite 2000, San Mateo, California, 94401 and our telephone number is (650)
289-3060.
We also have offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, and London, United Kingdom.
The Offering
 
Common stock offered by us:
Up to 30,000,000 shares
 
Common stock outstanding prior to this offering:
167,582,250 shares
 
Manner of offering:
“At the market” offering that may be made from time to time through our Sales Agents, Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, using commercially reasonable efforts. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information.
 
Offering price:
Any sales of our common stock in this offering may be made at prices related to the prevailing market price or at negotiated prices.
 
 
We are not generally able to sell our common stock at a price per share below NAV unless our Board determines that such sale is in the
 
S-5

Table of Contents
 
best interests of our stockholders and if stockholders (including a majority of those stockholders that are unaffiliated with us) approve the sale. Any sale or other issuance of shares of our common stock at a price below NAV per share would result in an immediate dilution to your interest in our common stock and a reduction of our NAV per share.
 
  On August 15, 2024, we obtained authorization from our stockholders to issue common stock at a price below our then-current NAV per share for a twelve-month period expiring on August 15, 2025. We may seek to obtain this authorization again in the future. The stockholder authorization is subject to the following conditions and stockholder protections:
 
   
The number of shares of our common stock sold or issued in
Below-NAV
Sale may not exceed 25% of the number of then-current outstanding shares of our common stock.
 
   
The purchase price of each share of our common stock sold in a
Below-NAV
Sale may not be more than 25% below the then-current NAV per share of our common stock.
 
   
The Board will consider the potential dilutive effect of any
Below-NAV
Sale when considering whether to authorize any such
Below-NAV
Sale.
 
   
The prospectus or offering memorandum pursuant to which any
Below-NAV
Sale is conducted will include a chart based on the actual number of shares of our common stock to be offered, the purchase price of such shares of our common stock and the actual discount of the purchase price relative to the most recently determined NAV per share of our common stock.
 
   
A majority of our independent directors who have no financial interest in the proposed
Below-NAV
Sale (the “
Required Majority of Directors
”) must determine that each
Below-NAV
Sale is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders prior to approving any such
Below-NAV
Sale.
 
   
Prior to approving any
Below-NAV
Sale that will be conducted as an underwritten offering, a Required Majority of Directors, in consultation with the underwriter(s) of the offering, must determine in good faith, and as of a time immediately prior to the first solicitation by or on behalf of the Company of firm commitments to purchase shares of our common stock or immediately prior to the
Below-NAV
Sale, that the price at which such shares of our common stock are to be sold in the
Below-NAV
Sale is not less than a price that closely approximates the market value of the shares of our common stock, less any distributing commission or discount.
 
 
Even though we have obtained authorization from our stockholders to issue common stock at a price below our then-current NAV, we
 
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cannot predict whether we will make
any Below-NAV Sales
under this prospectus supplement. For more information about the impact of the sale of our common stock at a price per share below NAV, please see “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” beginning on page 49 of the accompanying prospectus.
 
Use of proceeds:
We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund investments in debt and equity securities in accordance with our investment objectives, to make acquisitions, to retire certain debt obligations, and for other general corporate purposes.
 
  Pending such uses and investments, we will invest a portion of the net proceeds of this offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. Our ability to achieve our investment objectives may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds of this offering, pending full investment, are held in lower yielding short-term instruments. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.
 
Distribution:
To the extent that we have income available, we intend to distribute quarterly distributions to our stockholders. The amount of our distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board. Any distributions to our stockholders will be declared out of assets legally available for distribution. See “Price Range of Common Stock and Distributions” in the accompanying prospectus.
 
Taxation:
We have elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally do not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders as distributions. To maintain our RIC tax status, we must meet specified
source-of-income
and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually 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. See “Price Range of Common Stock and Distributions” in the accompanying prospectus and “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.
 
NYSE ticker:
HTGC
Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock may be speculative and involves risks, including total loss of investment. The companies in which we invest are also subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of the accompanying prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K,
our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q,
in any of our other filings with the SEC, and in any free writing prospectus to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our common stock, including the risk of leverage.
 
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Table of Contents
Available Information
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form
N-2,
together with all amendments and related exhibits, under the Securities Act, with respect to our securities offered by the Offering Materials. The registration statement contains additional information about us and our securities being offered by the Offering Materials.
We file with or furnish to the SEC periodic and current reports, proxy statements and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. We maintain a website at www.htgc.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our proxy statements, Annual Reports on Form
10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q,
Current Reports on Form
8-K,
any amendments to those reports and other publicly filed information available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, who file documents electronically with the SEC. The information on the websites referred to herein is not incorporated by reference into the Offering Materials.
 
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Table of Contents
FEES AND EXPENSES
The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. However, we caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The footnotes to the fee table state which items are estimates. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you” or “us” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in Hercules Capital, Inc.
 
Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price):
  
Sales load (as a percentage of offering price)
(1)
     2.00
Offering expenses
      0.06 %
(2)
 
Dividend reinvestment plan fees
    
(3)
 
  
 
 
 
Total stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price)
     2.06
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock):
(4)
  
Operating expenses
     4.57 %
(5)(6)
 
Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds
     4.61 %
(7)
 
Acquired fund fees and expenses
     0.01 %
(9)
 
  
 
 
 
Total annual expenses
     9.19 %
(8)
 
  
 
 
 
 
(1)
Represents the estimated commission with respect to the shares of common
stock
being sold in this offering. Each Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the sale of any shares of our common stock under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement, with the exact amount of such compensation to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Sales Agent from time to time. There is no guarantee that there will be any sales of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
(2)
The percentage reflects estimated offering expenses of approximately $350,000, assuming all shares are sold under this prospectus supplement.
(3)
The expenses associated with the administration of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Operating expenses.” We pay all brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases, if any, made by the administrator under the plan. For more details about the plan, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” In the accompanying prospectus.
(4)
“Net assets attributable to common stock” equals the weighted average net assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is approximately $1,846.2 million.
(5)
“Operating expenses” represent our estimated operating expenses by annualizing our actual expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries and excluding interest and fees on our debt.
(6)
We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals.
(7)
“Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds” represent our estimated interest, fees, and credit facility expenses by annualizing our actual interest, fees and credit facility expenses incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
(8)
“Total annual expenses” is the sum of “Operating expenses”, “Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds”, and “Acquired fund fees and expenses”. “Total annual expenses” is presented as a percentage of weighted average net assets attributable to common stockholders, because the holders of
 
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  shares of our common stock (and not the holders of our debt securities or preferred stock, if any) bear all of our fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of our wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are included in this fee table presentation.
(9)
“Acquired fund fees and expenses” represent the estimated indirect expenses by annualizing our actual indirect expenses incurred due to investments in other investment companies and private funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
EXAMPLE
The below example is intended to help you understand the cumulative expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in our common stock over a
1-,
3-,
5-
and
10-year
period. These hypothetical expenses assume a 5% annual return on your investment, annual operating expenses of 4.57% (from the above table) and that we incur no additional leverage and that all dividends are reinvested in additional shares of common stock. Actual expenses, returns, operating expenses, leverage levels, dividend amounts and dividend treatment may all differ.
 
1 Year
  
3 Years
    
5 Years
    
10 Years
 
$109
   $ 274      $ 427      $ 756  
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 lesser than those shown. Moreover, while the example assumes, as required by the applicable rules of the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or lesser than 5%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at NAV, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan may receive shares valued at the market price in effect at that time. This price may be at, above or below NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in the accompanying prospectus for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.
 
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Sales of our common stock, if any, under the Offering Materials may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” (as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act). “At the market” transactions may be made directly on the NYSE or another securities exchange or through a market maker (other than a securities exchange). There is no guarantee that any such sales will be made.
The last reported sale price on the NYSE of our common stock on December 9, 2024 was $19.39 per share. If we sell all 30,000,000 shares of common stock offered under the Offering Materials at $19.39 per share, we estimate that the net proceeds of this offering will be approximately $5
69
.7 million, after deducting the estimated sales commission payable to the Sales Agents and our estimated offering expenses. Actual sales and net proceeds (if any) may be more or less than these estimated amounts and depend, among other things, the market price of our common stock at the time of any sales.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund investments in debt and equity securities in accordance with our investment objectives, to make acquisitions, to retire certain debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes.
We intend to seek to invest the net proceeds received in this offering, consistent with our investment objective, as promptly as practicable after we receive them. We anticipate that substantially all of the net proceeds from any sales of our common stock will be used as described above within 3 to 6 months, depending on market conditions. We anticipate that the remainder will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including potential payments or distributions to stockholders. Until we use or invest proceeds in this manner, we will invest a portion of the net proceeds of any sales primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. Our ability to achieve our investment objectives may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds of any sales, pending full investment, are held in lower yielding short-term instruments.
 
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Table of Contents
CAPITALIZATION
We are offering to sell up to 30,000,000 shares of our common stock from time to time through our Sales Agents, Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC. The below table assumes that we will sell all 30,000,000 shares at a price of $19.39 per share (the last reported sale price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on December 9, 2024). However, there is no guarantee that there will be any sales of our common stock. Actual sales, if any, may be less than as shown in the below table. In addition, the price per share of any such sale may be greater or less than $19.39 depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of any such sale. The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2024, on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis, giving effect to the issuance of (i) 30,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $19.39 per share, less commissions and expenses, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of common stock under our previous “at the market” offering, less commissions and expenses. The adjusted information is illustrative only.
This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” included in this prospectus supplement and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and notes thereto included in the accompanying prospectus.
 
 
  
As of September 30, 2024
 
 
  
Actual
 
  
As
Adjusted
 
 
  
(in thousands)
 
Investments at fair value
  
$
3,560,513
 
  
$
3,560,513
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  
 
38,904
 
  
 
704,298
 
Liabilities
(1)
:
  
  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  
$
46,860
 
  
$
46,860
 
Operating lease liability
  
 
18,480
 
  
 
18,480
 
SBA Debentures
  
 
170,763
 
  
 
170,763
 
February 2025 Notes
  
 
49,952
 
  
 
49,952
 
June 2025 Notes
  
 
69,879
 
  
 
69,879
 
June 2025
3-Year
Notes
  
 
49,887
 
  
 
49,887
 
March 2026 A Notes
  
 
49,866
 
  
 
49,866
 
March 2026 B Notes
  
 
49,854
 
  
 
49,854
 
September 2026 Notes
  
 
323,075
 
  
 
323,075
 
January 2027 Notes
  
 
346,932
 
  
 
346,932
 
2031 Asset-Backed Notes
  
 
148,985
 
  
 
148,985
 
2033 Notes
  
 
39,016
 
  
 
39,016
 
MUFG Bank Facility
  
 
240,000
 
  
 
240,000
 
SMBC Facility
  
 
201,000
 
  
 
201,000
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Total liabilities
  
$
1,804,549
 
  
$
1,804,549
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Net assets:
  
  
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 200,000,000
(2)
shares authorized; 162,505,144 shares issued and outstanding, actual, 197,582,250 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted, respectively
  
$
163
 
  
$
198
 
Capital in excess of par value
  
 
1,741,975
 
  
 
2,407,334
 
Total distributable earnings (loss)
  
 
109,672
 
  
 
109,672
 
Total net assets
  
$
1,851,810
 
  
$
2,517,204
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Total capitalization
  
$
3,656,359
 
  
$
4,321,753
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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(1)
The above table reflects the carrying value of indebtedness outstanding as of September 30, 2024. Principal amounts of indebtedness as of September 30, 2024, were as follows:
 
SBA Debentures
  
$
   175,000
 
  
September 2026 Notes
  
$
   325,000
 
February 2025 Notes
  
$
50,000
 
  
January 2027 Notes
  
$
350,000
 
June 2025 Notes
  
$
70,000
 
  
2031 Asset-Backed Notes
  
$
150,000
 
June 2025 3-Year Notes
  
$
50,000
 
  
2033 Notes
  
$
40,000
 
March 2026 A Notes
  
$
50,000
 
  
MUFG Bank Facility
  
$
240,000
 
March 2026 B Notes
  
$
50,000
 
  
SMBC Facility
  
$
201,000
 
 
(2)
On October 28, 2024, the Company filed Articles of Amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland. The Charter Amendment amended the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Company stock from 200.0 million shares to 300.0 million shares, as approved by the Company’s Board. The Charter Amendment is effective as of October 28, 2024.
 
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC are acting as our Sales Agents in connection with the offer and sale of shares of our common stock under the Offering Materials. Any such sales may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” (as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act). “At the market” transactions may be made directly on the NYSE or another securities exchange or through a market maker (other than a securities exchange). Any such sales of our common stock may be made at prices related to the prevailing market price or at negotiated prices.
Upon written instructions from us, the Sales Agents will use their commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with their sales and trading practices, to sell our common stock under the terms and subject to the conditions in the Equity Distribution Agreements. We will indicate to the Sales Agents how much common stock they may sell as our agents and may instruct the Sales Agents not to sell common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above a price we select. We or the Sales Agents may suspend the offering of common stock upon proper notice and subject to other conditions.
We are not generally able to sell our common stock at a price per share below NAV unless our Board determines that such sale is in the best interests of our stockholders and if stockholders (including a majority of those stockholders that are unaffiliated with us) approve the sale. Any sale or other issuance of shares of our common stock at a price below NAV per share would result in an immediate dilution to your interest in our common stock and a reduction of our NAV per share.
We obtained authorization from our stockholders to issue common stock at a price below our then-current NAV per share on August 15, 2024, which authorization is effective through August 15, 2025, and we may seek to obtain this authorization again in the future. For more information about the impact of the sale of our common stock at a price per share below NAV, please see “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” beginning on page 49 of the accompanying prospectus.
The Sales Agents will provide written confirmation of a sale to us no later than the opening of the trading day on the NYSE following each trading day in which shares of our common stock are sold under the Equity Distribution Agreements. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of common stock sold on the preceding day, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to the Sales Agents in connection with the sales.
Settlement for sales of shares of common stock will occur on the second trading day following the date on which such sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the Sales Agents in connection with a particular transaction, or required by law, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will report, at least quarterly, the number of shares of our common stock sold through the Sales Agents under the Equity Distribution Agreements and the net proceeds to us.
We will reimburse the Sales Agents for all reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of their counsel in connection with the Equity Distribution Agreements provided that such reimbursement will not exceed (i) $75,000 in connection with the preparation of the Equity Distribution Agreements and the commencement of this offering and (ii) an aggregate amount of $15,000 on each Representation Date (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreements) thereafter.
The amount of each Sales Agent’s commission will be negotiated from time to time but will never exceed 2.0% of the gross sales price of common stock sold through the Sales Agent under the applicable Equity Distribution
Agreement. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to the Sales
 
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Agents under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreements (including reimbursement of the Sales Agents’ counsel fees), will be approximately $350,000, assuming all 30,000,000 shares of common stock are sold. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Sales Agents may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the Sales Agents’ compensation may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify and contribute to the Sales Agents against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The offering of our shares of common stock pursuant to an Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the termination of such Equity Distribution Agreement. An Equity Distribution Agreement may be terminated by us in our sole discretion under the circumstances specified in the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement by giving notice to the applicable Sales Agent. In addition, a Sales Agent may terminate its Equity Distribution Agreement under the circumstances specified in the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement by giving notice to us.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, and their respective affiliates, have provided, or may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory, brokerage and other services to us and our affiliates for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expense reimbursement. Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, and their respective affiliates, may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, and their respective affiliates, may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our company.
The principal business address of Jefferies LLC is 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022. The principal business address of Citizens JMP Securities, LLC is 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94111.
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
 
Title of Class
  
Amount
Authorized
   
Amount Held by
Company for its Account
    
Amount Outstanding
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
     200,000,000          162,505,144 shares
SBA Debentures
     350,000,000        $175.0**
4.28% Notes due February 2025
     50,000,000            $50.0**
4.31% Notes due June 2025
     70,000,000            $70.0**
6.00% Notes due June 2025
     50,000,000            $50.0**
4.50% Notes A due March 2026
     50,000,000            $50.0**
4.55% Notes B due March 2026
     50,000,000            $50.0**
2.625% Notes due September 2026
     325,000,000            $325.0**
3.375% Notes due January 2027
     350,000,000            $350.0**
4.95% Notes due July 2031
     150,000,000            $150.0**
6.25% Notes due 2033
     40,000,000            $40.0**
 
*
On October 28, 2024, the Company filed Articles of Amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland. The Charter Amendment amended the Company’s Articles of
 
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  Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Company stock from 200.0 million shares to 300.0 million shares, as approved by the Company’s Board. The Charter Amendment is effective as of October 28, 2024.
**
Aggregate principal amount (in millions)
 
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Dechert LLP, New York, NY. Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for Jefferies LLC and JMP Securities, LLC, as Sales Agents, by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, NY.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement the documents listed below and any future reports and other documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until all of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement have been sold or we otherwise terminate the offering of these securities (such reports and other documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents); provided, however, that information “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form
8-K,
or other information “furnished” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act will not be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:
 
Document
  
Reporting Period
  
Filing Date
   Year ended   
Annual Report on Form 10-K    December 31, 2023    February 15, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    February 15, 2024    February 15, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    April 30, 2024    May 2, 2024
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q    March 31, 2024    May 2, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    June 21, 2024    June 21, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    July 17, 2024    July 17, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    July 30, 2024    August 1, 2024,
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q    June 30, 2024    August 1, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    August 15, 2024    August 16, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    October 28, 2024;    October 30, 2024;
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q    September 30, 2024    October 30, 2024
Current Report on Form 8-K    November 26, 2024    December 2, 2024
The description of our Common Stock referenced in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (No. 001-35515)       April 17, 2012
Any reports filed by us with the SEC before the date that any offering of any securities by means of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
To obtain copies of these filings, see “Available Information” in this prospectus supplement.
 
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PROSPECTUS

Hercules Capital, Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Debt Securities

Units

 

 

This prospectus relates to the offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, subscription rights, debt securities, or units comprised of any combination of the foregoing, which we refer to, collectively, as the “securities.” The preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights and warrants (including as part of a unit) offered hereby may be convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock. We may sell our securities through underwriters or dealers, “at-the-market” to or through a market maker into an existing trading market or otherwise directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, or through agents or through a combination of methods of sale, including auctions. The identities of such underwriters, dealers, market makers or agents, as the case may be, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.

In the event we offer common stock, the offering price per share will not be less than the net asset value per share of our common stock at the time we make the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the holders of the majority of our voting securities and approval of our Board of Directors, or (3) under such circumstances as the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, may permit. See “Risk Factors” and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” below for more information.

We are a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in a variety of technology and life sciences industries. We source our investments through our principal office located in San Mateo, CA, as well as through additional offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO and London, United Kingdom. Our primary business objectives are to increase our net income, net investment income, and net asset value through our investments. We principally invest in debt securities and, to a lesser extent, equity securities, with a particular emphasis on Structured Debt. We use the term “Structured Debt” to refer to a debt investment that is structured with an equity, warrant, option, or other right to purchase or convert into common or preferred stock. We aim to achieve our business objectives by maximizing our portfolio total return through generation of current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity investments.

We are an internally-managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “HTGC.” On December 9, 2024, the last reported sale price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE, was $19.39. The net asset value per share of our common stock as of September 30, 2024 (the last date prior to the date of this prospectus on which we determined net asset value) was $11.40.

 

 

An investment in our securities may be speculative and involves risks including a heightened risk of total loss of investment. In addition, the companies in which we invest are subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 13 of this prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in any of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in any applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectus to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our securities, including the risk of leverage.

Please read this prospectus and any free writing prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. It contains important information about us that a prospective investor ought to know before investing in our securities. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information is available free of charge by contacting us at 1 N B Street, Suite 2000, San Mateo, California 94401 or by telephone calling collect at (650) 289-3060 or on our website at www.htgc.com. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is December 11, 2024

 


You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, or any other information which we have referred you. We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to provide you with different information or to make representations as to matters not stated in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities by any person in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful for that person to make such an offer or solicitation or to any person in any jurisdiction to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. The information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus is accurate only as of its date, and under no circumstances should the delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, or any free writing prospectus or the sale of any securities imply that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any later date or that the affairs of Hercules Capital, Inc. have not changed since the date hereof. This prospectus will be updated to reflect material changes.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Prospectus Summary

   2

Fees and Expenses

   9

Financial Highlights

   11

Risk Factors

   13

Forward-Looking Statements

   15

Use of Proceeds

   16

Price Range of Common Stock and Distributions

   17

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   19

Portfolio Companies

   20

Senior Securities

   45

Business

   52

Management

   53

Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

   54

Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value

   55

Control Persons and Principal Stockholders

   61

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

   62

Description of Capital Stock

   65

Description of Our Preferred Stock

   71

Description of Our Subscription Rights

   72

Description of Warrants

   74

Description of Our Debt Securities

   76

Regulation

   88

Plan of Distribution

   89

Custodian, Transfer, and Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar

   91

Legal Matters

   91

Experts

   91

Incorporation by Reference

   91

Available Information

   92

 

 

Hercules Capital, Inc., our logo and other trademarks of Hercules Capital, Inc. mentioned in this prospectus are the property of Hercules Capital, Inc. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using the “shelf” registration process as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, which constitutes a delayed offering in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act, we may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, our common stock, preferred stock, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, subscription rights or debt securities on the terms to be determined at the time of the offering. We may sell our securities through underwriters or dealers, “at-the-market” to or through a market maker, into an existing trading market or otherwise directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, or through agents or through a combination of methods of sale. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Such prospectus supplement and/or free writing prospectus (collectively referred to hereinafter as the “prospectus supplement”) may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we incorporate by reference herein. This prospectus and the prospectus supplement, together with any documents incorporated by reference herein, will include all material information relating to the applicable offering. Please carefully read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, together with any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, any exhibits and the additional information described under the headings “Available Information,” “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference,” “Prospectus Summary” and “Risk Factors” before you make an investment decision.


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. You should read carefully the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors” and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “Hercules,” “HTGC,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Hercules Capital, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and its affiliated securitization trust.

THE COMPANY

Overview

We are a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in a variety of technology and life sciences industries. We source our investments through our principal office located in San Mateo, CA, as well as through additional offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO and London, United Kingdom.

We make investments in companies that are active across a variety of technology industry sub-sectors or are characterized by products or services that require advanced technologies, including, but not limited to, computer software and hardware, networking systems, semiconductors, semiconductor capital equipment, information technology infrastructure or services, consumer and business services, telecommunications, telecommunications equipment, media and renewable or alternative energy. Within the life sciences sub-sector, we generally focus on medical devices, bio-pharmaceutical, drug discovery and development, drug delivery, health care services and information systems companies. Within the sustainable and renewable technology sub-sector, we focus on sustainable and renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency and monitoring technologies. We refer to all of these companies as “technology-related” companies and intend, under normal circumstances, to invest at least 80% of the value of our total assets in such businesses.

Our primary business objectives are to increase our net income, net investment income, and net asset value (“NAV”) through our investments in primarily Structured Debt or senior secured debt instruments of venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies across a variety of technology-related industries at attractive yields. We use the term “Structured Debt” to refer to a debt investment that is structured with an equity, warrant, option, or other right to purchase or convert into common or preferred stock. We aim to achieve our business objectives by maximizing our portfolio total return through generation of current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity investments.

Our equity ownership in our portfolio companies may exceed 25% of the voting securities of such companies, which represents a controlling interest under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. In some cases, we receive the right to make additional equity investments in our portfolio companies in connection with future equity financing rounds. Capital that we provide directly to venture capital- backed companies in technology-related industries is generally used for growth and general working capital purposes as well as in select cases for acquisitions or recapitalizations.

The Company formed Hercules Capital Management LLC and Hercules Adviser LLC in 2020 as wholly owned Delaware limited liability subsidiaries. The Company was granted no-action relief by the staff of the SEC to allow Hercules Adviser LLC, or the Adviser Subsidiary, to register as a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. The Adviser Subsidiary provides investment advisory and related services to investment vehicles, or Adviser Funds, owned by one or more unrelated third-party investors, or External Parties. The Adviser Subsidiary is owned by Hercules Capital Management LLC and collectively held and presented with Hercules Partner Holdings, LLC, which separately wholly owns the general partnership vehicles to each of the Adviser Funds.

See “Item 1. Business” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about us.

 

2


Corporate Information

We are an internally-managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company, or a BDC, under the 1940 Act. Effective January 1, 2006, we elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.

As a RIC, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses) we distribute (or are deemed to distribute) as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to stockholders with respect to that taxable year. We will be subject to a 4% non-deductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain undistributed income and gains unless we make distributions treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a timely manner to our stockholders in respect of each calendar year subject to certain requirements as defined for RICs. See “Item 1. Business—Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference herein for additional information about our tax requirements. The Company has also established certain wholly owned subsidiaries, all of which are structured as Delaware corporations or Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”), to hold portfolio companies organized as LLCs (or other forms of pass-through entities). These subsidiaries are consolidated for financial reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain of the subsidiaries are taxable and not consolidated with Hercules for income tax purposes and may generate income tax expense, or benefit, and tax assets and liabilities as a result of their ownership of certain portfolio investments.

We are a Maryland corporation formed in December 2003 that began investment operations in September 2004. Our principal executive offices are located at 1 N B Street, Suite 2000, San Mateo, California 94401, and our telephone number is (650) 289-3060.

Risk Factors

Investing in Hercules involves risks. The following is a summary of the principal risks that you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. In addition, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference herein for a more detailed discussion of the principal risks as well as certain other risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.

Risks Related To Our Business And Structure

 

   

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.

 

   

We are dependent upon senior management personnel for our future success, particularly our CEO, Scott Bluestein.

 

   

Our success depends on attracting and retaining qualified personnel in a competitive environment.

 

   

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships.

 

   

Our Board may change our operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.

 

   

We may not be able to pay distributions to our stockholders, our distributions may not grow over time, and a portion of distributions paid to our stockholders may be a return of capital, which is a distribution of the stockholders’ invested capital.

 

   

We are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility.

 

3


Risks Related To Our Investments

 

   

Our investments in portfolio companies involve higher levels of risk, and we could lose all or part of our investment.

 

   

Our investments are concentrated in certain technology-related industries, which subjects us to the risk of significant loss if any one or more of such industries experiences a downturn.

 

   

Our financial results could be negatively affected if a significant portfolio investment fails to perform as expected.

 

   

We may be exposed to higher risks with respect to our investments that include PIK interest or Exit fees.

 

   

The lack of liquidity in our investments may adversely affect our business.

 

   

We may not have the funds or ability to make additional investments in our portfolio companies.

 

   

There may be circumstances where our debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or we could be subject to lender liability claims.

 

   

We are a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and therefore we are not limited with respect to the proportion of our assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer, which may subject us to a risk of significant loss if any such issuer experiences a downturn.

 

   

We generally will not control our portfolio companies, which may result in the portfolio company making decisions which could adversely impact the value of our investments in the portfolio company’s securities.

 

   

Defaults by our portfolio companies will harm our operating results.

 

   

Substantially all of our portfolio investments are recorded at fair value as determined in accordance with our Valuation Guidelines and, as a result, there may be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.

 

   

Any unrealized depreciation we experience on our investment portfolio may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available for distribution and could impair our ability to service our borrowings.

 

   

We are subject to risks associated with the current interest rate environment and changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital, net investment income and the value of our investments.

 

   

We may not realize gains from our equity or warrant investments.

 

   

Our investments in foreign securities or investments denominated in foreign currencies may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. and U.S.-denominated investments.

Risks Related to Leverage

 

   

Because we borrow money, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.

 

   

Substantially all of our assets are subject to security interests under our senior securities and if we default on our obligations under our senior securities, we may suffer adverse consequences, including foreclosure on our assets.

 

4


Risks Related To Our Investment Management Activities

 

   

Our executive officers and employees, through the Adviser Subsidiary, are expected to manage the Adviser Funds or separately managed accounts, which includes funds from External Parties, that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, which may result in significant conflicts of interest.

 

   

Investments in the Adviser Funds managed by our Adviser Subsidiary may create conflicts of interests.

 

   

We, through the Adviser Subsidiary, derive revenues from managing third-party funds pursuant to management agreements that may be terminated, which could negatively impact our operating results.

Risks Related To BDCs

 

   

Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations and changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.

 

   

Failure to maintain our status as a BDC would reduce our operating flexibility.

 

   

Operating under the constraints imposed on us as a BDC and RIC may hinder the achievement of our investment objectives.

 

   

Regulations governing our operation as a BDC will affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital.

Risks Related To Our Securities

 

   

Investing in our securities may involve a high degree of risk.

 

   

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, may trade at a discount to their NAV.

 

   

The market price of our securities may be volatile and fluctuate significantly.

 

   

Stockholders may incur dilution if we sell shares of our common stock in one or more offerings at prices below the then current NAV per share of our common stock or issue securities to subscribe to, convert to or purchase shares of our common stock.

 

   

Certain debt securities are unsecured and therefore effectively subordinated to any current or future secured indebtedness or may be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

   

Our debt securities may or may not have an established trading market. If a trading market in our debt securities is developed, it may not be maintained.

 

   

A downgrade, suspension, or withdrawal of the credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or our debt securities, if any, or change in the debt markets could cause the liquidity or market value of our debt securities to decline significantly.

 

   

The indentures under which our debt securities were issued contain limited protections for the holders of the debt securities.

 

   

If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on our outstanding Notes and Credit Facilities.

 

   

We may not be able to prepay the Notes upon a change in control.

 

5


Risks Related To Our SBIC Subsidiaries

 

   

We, through our wholly owned subsidiary, issue debt securities guaranteed by the Small Business Association (“SBA”) and sold in the capital markets. As a result of its guarantee of the debt securities, the SBA has fixed dollar claims on the assets of our subsidiary that are superior to the claims of our securities holders.

 

   

Our wholly owned subsidiary is licensed by the SBA, and therefore subject to small business investment company (“SBIC”) regulations.

 

   

Our SBIC subsidiary may be unable to make distributions to us that will enable us to meet or maintain RIC status, which could result in the imposition of an entity-level tax.

Risks Related To Operating As A RIC And U.S. Federal Income Taxes

 

   

We will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes if we are unable to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.

 

   

We may have difficulty paying the distributions required to maintain our RIC status under the Code if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.

 

   

Legislative or regulatory tax changes could adversely affect our stockholders.

General Risk Factors

 

   

We are currently operating in a period of economic and political uncertainty, and capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability in the future. These market conditions may materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad, which may have a negative impact on our business and operations.

 

   

Terrorist attacks, acts of war, public health crises 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.

 

   

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 to pay dividends.

 

   

The failure in cyber security systems, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and business continuity planning could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.

 

   

We may be the target of litigation.

Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

6


OFFERINGS

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or units comprised of any combination of the foregoing, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. We will offer our securities at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The offering price per share of our common stock, less any underwriting commissions or discounts, generally will not be less than the NAV per share of our common stock at the time of an offering. However, we may issue shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus at a price per share that is less than our NAV per share (a) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (b) with the prior approval of the majority of our common stockholders or (c) under such other circumstances as the SEC may permit. Any such issuance of shares of our common stock below NAV may be dilutive to the NAV of our common stock. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Securities” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as “Risk Factors” and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” included in this prospectus.

We may offer our securities directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, through agents that we designate from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. The prospectus supplement relating to each offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our securities, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters or among our underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. See “Plan of Distribution.” We may not sell any of our securities through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of our securities. Set forth below is additional information regarding offerings of our securities:

 

Use of Proceeds

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus relating to an offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from selling our securities to fund investments in debt and equity securities in accordance with our investment objectives, to make acquisitions, to retire certain debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes. Each supplement to this prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of the proceeds from such offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Distributions

Subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of our board of directors, we intend to declare and pay regular cash distributions on a quarterly basis. From time to time, we may also pay special interim distributions in the form of cash or shares of our common stock at the discretion of our board of directors. The timing and amount of any future distributions to stockholders are subject to applicable legal restrictions and the sole discretion of our board of directors. See “Price Range of Common Stock and Distributions.”

 

Taxation

We have elected to be subject to tax as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not be subject to pay corporate- level U.S. federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we timely distribute each tax year as distributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes to our stockholders. To qualify for and maintain our qualification as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described herein). See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Distribution reinvestment plan

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, through which all distributions are paid to our stockholders in the form of additional shares of our common stock, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash as provided below. In this way, a stockholder can maintain an undiluted investment in our common stock and still allow us to pay out the required distributable income. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” below.

 

NYSE Trading Symbol

“HTGC”

 

7


Leverage

We borrow funds to make additional investments. We use this practice, which is known as “leverage,” to attempt to increase returns to our stockholders, but it involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” and “Senior Securities” below. We are currently allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, as calculated pursuant to the Investment Company Act, equals at least 150% after such borrowing. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and current periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC which are available on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We maintain a website on the Internet at www.htgc.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the information on our website is not part of this prospectus. We make available, free of charge, on our website our proxy statement, annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. See “Available Information.”

 

Incorporation by Reference

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to comprise a part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC before the date that any offering of any securities by means of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

8


FEES AND EXPENSES

The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. However, we caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The footnotes to the fee table state which items are estimates. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you” or “us” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in Hercules Capital, Inc.

 

Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price):

  

Sales load (as a percentage of offering price)(1)

    

Offering expenses

     %(2) 

Dividend reinvestment plan fees

     %(3) 
  

 

 

 

Total stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price)

     %(4) 
  

 

 

 

Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock):(5)

  

Operating expenses

     4.57 %(6)(7) 

Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds

     4.61 %(8) 

Acquired fund fees and expenses

     0.01 %(10) 
  

 

 

 

Total annual expenses

     9.19 %(9) 
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

In the event that our securities are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement to the Prospectus will disclose the applicable sales load.

(2)

In the event that we conduct an offering of our securities, a corresponding prospectus supplement to this prospectus will disclose the estimated offering expenses.

(3)

The expenses associated with the administration of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Operating expenses.” We pay all brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases, if any, made by the administrator under the plan. For more details about the plan, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

(4)

Total stockholder transaction expenses may include sales load and will be disclosed in a future prospectus supplement, if any.

(5)

“Net assets attributable to common stock” equals the weighted average net assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is approximately $1,846.2 million.

(6)

“Operating expenses” represent our estimated operating expenses by annualizing our actual expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries and excluding interest and fees on our debt.

(7)

We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals.

(8)

“Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds” represent our estimated interest, fees, and credit facility expenses by annualizing our actual interest, fees and credit facility expenses incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

(9)

“Total annual expenses” is the sum of “Operating expenses”, “Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds”, and “Acquired fund fees and expenses”. “Total annual expenses” is presented as a percentage of weighted average net assets attributable to common stockholders, because the holders of shares of our common stock (and not the holders of our debt securities or preferred stock, if any) bear all of our fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of our wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are included in this fee table presentation.

(10)

“Acquired fund fees and expenses” represent the estimated indirect expenses by annualizing our actual indirect expenses incurred due to investments in other investment companies and private funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

9


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. These amounts are based upon our payment of annual operating expenses at the levels set forth in the table above and assume no additional 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

   $ 90      $ 259      $ 415      $ 751  

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 lesser than those shown. Moreover, while the example assumes, as required by the applicable rules of the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or lesser than 5%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at NAV, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan may receive shares valued at the market price in effect at that time. This price may be at, above or below NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.

 

10


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial data set forth in the following table as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are derived from our consolidated financial statements. The financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 are derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, which may be obtained from www.sec.gov or upon request. The financial data set forth in the following table as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements, but in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary to present fairly the results of such interim period. Interim results as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024. You should read these financial highlights in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, or our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference herein.

 

11


     As of and
for the
nine
months
ended
September

30, 2024
    Year Ended December 31,  
  2023     2022     2021     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  

Per share data (1):

                      

Net asset value at beginning of period

   $ 11.43     $ 10.53     $ 11.22     $ 11.26     $ 10.55     $ 9.90     $ 9.96     $ 9.90     $ 9.94     $ 10.18     $ 10.51  

Net investment income

     1.53       2.11       1.50       1.29       1.39       1.41       1.20       1.17       1.36       1.06       1.16  

Net realized gain (loss)

     0.01       0.06       (0.01     0.18       (0.50     0.16       (0.12     (0.32     0.06       0.07       0.32  

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (0.28     0.17       (0.68     0.03       1.13       0.14       (0.23     0.11       (0.49     (0.51     (0.33
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.26       2.34       0.81       1.50       2.02       1.71       0.85       0.96       0.93       0.62       1.15  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions(1)

     0.10       0.44       0.34       (0.08     0.01       0.20       0.23       0.26       0.18       0.26       (0.37

Distributions of net investment income(6)

     (1.45     (1.93     (1.63     (1.06     (1.03     (1.15     (1.26     (1.07     (1.14     (1.04     (1.27

Distributions of capital gains(6)

     —        —        (0.36     (0.49     (0.36     (0.18     —        (0.18     (0.11     (0.22     —   

Stock-based compensation expense included in net investment income and other movements(2)

     0.06       0.05       0.15       0.09       0.07       0.07       0.12       0.09       0.10       0.14       0.16  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value at end of period

   $ 11.40     $ 11.43     $ 10.53     $ 11.22     $ 11.26     $ 10.55     $ 9.90     $ 9.96     $ 9.90     $ 9.94     $ 10.18  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios and supplemental data:

                      

Per share market value at end of period

   $ 19.64     $ 16.67     $ 13.22     $ 16.59     $ 14.42     $ 14.02     $ 11.05     $ 13.12     $ 14.11     $ 12.19     $ 14.88  

Total return(3)

     26.84     42.00     (10.14 )%      25.62     14.31     39.36     (7.56 )%      1.47     26.87     (9.70 )%      (1.75 )% 

Shares outstanding at end of period

     162,505       157,758       133,045       116,619       114,726       107,364       96,501       84,424       79,555       72,118       64,715  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     159,742       144,091       125,189       114,742       111,985       101,132       90,929       82,519       73,753       69,479       61,862  

Net assets at end of period

   $ 1,851,810     $ 1,802,706     $ 1,401,459     $ 1,308,547     $ 1,291,704     $ 1,133,049     $ 955,444     $ 840,967     $ 787,944     $ 717,134     $ 658,864  

Ratio of total expense to average net assets(4)

     9.18     9.92     9.92     9.86     11.30     11.95     10.73     11.37     11.25     11.55     10.97

Ratio of net investment income before investment gains and losses to average net assets(4)

     17.67     19.26     13.96     11.28     13.64     13.74     11.78     11.61     13.65     10.15     10.94

Portfolio turnover rate(5)

     20.06     31.95     19.29     51.58     32.38     31.30     38.76     49.03     36.22     46.34     56.15

Weighted average debt outstanding

   $ 1,696,442     $ 1,607,278     $ 1,468,335     $ 1,248,177     $ 1,309,903     $ 1,177,379     $ 826,931     $ 784,455     $ 635,365     $ 615,198     $ 535,127  

Weighted average debt per common share

   $ 10.62     $ 11.15     $ 11.73     $ 10.88     $ 11.70     $ 11.64     $ 9.09     $ 9.51     $ 8.61     $ 8.85     $ 8.65  

 

(1)

All per share activity is calculated based on the weighted average shares outstanding for the relevant period, except net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions, which is based on the common shares outstanding as of the relevant balance sheet date.

(2)

Adjusts for the impact of stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash expense and has no net impact to net asset value. Pursuant to ASC Topic 718, the expense is offset by a corresponding increase in paid-in capital. Additionally, adjusts for other items attributed to the difference between certain per share data based on the weighted-average basic shares outstanding and those calculated using the shares outstanding as of a period end or transaction date.

(3)

The total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 equals to the change in the ending market value over the beginning of the period price per share plus distributions paid per share during the period, divided by the beginning price assuming the distribution is reinvested on the date of the distribution. As such, the total return is not annualized. The total return does not reflect any sales load that must be paid by investors.

(4)

The ratios are calculated based on weighted average net assets for the relevant period and are annualized.

(5)

The portfolio turnover rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 equals to the lesser of investment portfolio purchases or sales during the period, divided by the average investment portfolio value during the period. As such, portfolio turnover rate is not annualized.

(6)

Includes distributions on unvested restricted stock awards.

 

12


RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risk factors described below, and in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and the risks discussed in the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” which are incorporated by reference herein, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference herein, and any subsequent filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated by reference herein, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below and described in such documents are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the net asset value of our common stock and the trading price, if any, of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Investors in offerings of our common stock will likely incur immediate dilution upon the closing of such offering.

We generally expect the public offering price of any offering of shares of our common stock to be higher than the book value per share of our outstanding common stock (unless we offer shares pursuant to a rights offering or after obtaining prior approval for such issuance from our stockholders and our independent directors). Accordingly, investors purchasing shares of our common stock in offerings pursuant to this prospectus may pay a price per share that exceeds the tangible book value per share after such offering.

Your interest in us may be diluted if you do not fully exercise your subscription rights in any rights offering. In addition, if the subscription price is less than our NAV per share, then you will experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate NAV of your shares.

In the event we issue subscription rights, stockholders who do not fully exercise their subscription rights should expect that they will, at the completion of a rights offering pursuant to this prospectus, own a smaller proportional interest in us than would otherwise be the case if they fully exercised their rights. We cannot state precisely the amount of any such dilution in share ownership because we do not know at this time what proportion of the shares will be purchased as a result of such rights offering.

In addition, if the subscription price is less than the NAV per share of our common stock, then our stockholders would experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate NAV of their shares as a result of the offering. The amount of any decrease in NAV is not predictable because it is not known at this time what the subscription price and NAV per share will be on the expiration date of a rights offering or what proportion of the shares will be purchased as a result of such rights offering. Such dilution could be substantial. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Securities—We have received the approval from our stockholders to issue shares of our common stock at prices below the then current NAV per share of our common stock, subject to certain limitations and with the approval from our independent directors. If we receive such approval from the independent directors, we may periodically issue shares of our common stock at a price below the then current NAV per share of common stock. Any such issuance could materially dilute your interest in our common stock and reduce our NAV per share” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” below.

We may initially invest a portion of the net proceeds of offerings pursuant to this prospectus primarily in high-quality short-term investments, which will generate lower rates of return than those expected from the interest generated on first and second lien senior secured loans, mezzanine debt, including “unitranche” loans, as well as returns generated by other investments permitted by our investment objective.

We may initially invest a portion of the net proceeds of offerings pursuant to this prospectus primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality short-term investments. These securities generally earn yields substantially lower than the income that we anticipate receiving once we are fully invested in accordance with our investment objective. As a result, we may not, for a time, be able to achieve our investment objective and/or we may need

 

13


to, for a time, decrease the amount of any dividend that we may pay to our stockholders to a level that is substantially lower than the level that we expect to pay when the net proceeds of offerings are fully invested in accordance with our investment objective. If we do not realize yields in excess of our expenses, we may incur operating losses and the market price of our shares may decline.

Our stockholders may receive shares of our common stock as dividends, which could result in adverse cash flow consequences to them.

In order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement applicable to RICs, we have the ability to declare a large portion of a dividend in shares of our common stock instead of in cash. As long as a portion of such dividend is paid in cash (which portion could be as low as 20%) and certain requirements are met, the entire distribution would be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a stockholder would be taxed on 100% of the fair market value of the shares received as part of the dividend on the date a stockholder received it in the same manner as a cash dividend, even though most of the dividend was paid in shares of our common stock.

 

14


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The matters discussed in this prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference herein, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference therein, as well as in future oral and written statements by management of Hercules Capital, Inc., that are forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We generally identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Important assumptions include our ability to originate new investments, achieve certain margins and levels of profitability, the availability of additional capital, and the ability to maintain certain debt to asset ratios. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this prospectus should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans or objectives will be achieved. The forward- looking statements contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus include statements as to:

 

   

our current and future management structure;

 

   

our future operating results;

 

   

our business prospects and the prospects of our prospective portfolio companies;

 

   

the impact of investments that we expect to make;

 

   

our informal relationships with third parties including in the venture capital industry;

 

   

the expected market for venture capital investments and our addressable market;

 

   

the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

   

our ability to access debt markets and equity markets;

 

   

the occurrence and impact of macro-economic developments (for example, global pandemics, natural disasters, terrorism, international conflicts and war) on us and our portfolio companies;

 

   

the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;

 

   

our expected financings and investments;

 

   

our regulatory structure and tax status as a RIC;

 

   

our ability to operate as a BDC and our subsidiaries ability to operate as SBICs;

 

   

the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital;

 

15


   

the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies;

 

   

the timing, form and amount of any distributions;

 

   

the impact of fluctuations in interest rates on our business;

 

   

the valuation of any investments in portfolio companies, particularly those having no liquid trading market; and

 

   

our ability to recover unrealized depreciation on investments.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus, any free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from selling our securities to fund investments in debt and equity securities in accordance with our investment objectives, to make acquisitions, to retire certain debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes. The supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of proceeds from such offering.

We anticipate that substantially all of the net proceeds from any offering of our securities will be used as described above within twelve months, but in no event longer than two years. Pending such uses and investments, we will invest the net proceeds primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. Our ability to achieve our investment objective may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds of any offering, pending full investment, are held in lower yielding short-term instruments.

 

16


PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “HTGC.”

The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing sales prices of our common stock, the sales price as a percentage of NAV and the distributions declared by us for each fiscal quarter. The stock quotations are interdealer quotations and do not include markups, markdowns or commissions.

 

17


            Price Range      Premium /
Discount of
High Sales
Price to
NAV
    Premium /
Discount of
Low Sales
Price to
NAV
    Cash
Dividend
Distribution
per Share(2)
 
     NAV(1)      High      Low  

2022

               

First quarter

   $ 10.82      $ 18.23      $ 16.56        68.5     53.0   $ 0.48  

Second quarter

   $ 10.43      $ 18.91      $ 12.82        81.3     22.9   $ 0.48  

Third quarter

   $ 10.47      $ 16.13      $ 11.45        54.1     9.4   $ 0.50  

Fourth quarter

   $ 10.53      $ 14.92      $ 11.59        41.7     10.1   $ 0.51  

2023

               

First quarter

   $ 10.82      $ 16.24      $ 11.56        50.1     6.8   $ 0.47  

Second quarter

   $ 10.96      $ 15.08      $ 12.38        37.6     13.0   $ 0.47  

Third quarter

   $ 10.93      $ 18.02      $ 14.86        64.9     36.0   $ 0.48  

Fourth quarter

   $ 11.43      $ 16.93      $ 15.09        48.2     32.1   $ 0.48  

2024

               

First quarter

   $ 11.63      $ 18.77      $ 16.67        61.4     43.3   $ 0.48  

Second quarter

   $ 11.43      $ 20.45      $ 17.96        78.9     57.1   $ 0.48  

Third quarter

   $ 11.40      $ 21.67      $ 17.71        90.1     55.4   $ 0.48  

Fourth quarter (through December 9, 2024)

     *      $ 20.22      $ 18.53        *       *     $ 0.48  

 

(1)

Net asset value per share is generally determined as of the last day in the relevant quarter and therefore may not reflect the net asset value per share on the date of the high and low sales prices. The net asset values shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.

(2)

Represents the dividend or distribution declared in the relevant quarter.

*

NAV has not yet been calculated for this period.

The last reported price for our common stock on December 9, 2024 was $19.39 per share.

Shares of BDCs may trade at a market price that is less than the value of the net assets attributable to those shares. The possibility that our shares of common stock will trade at a discount from NAV or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term are separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV will decrease. At times, our shares of common stock have traded at a premium to NAV and at times our shares of common stock have traded at a discount to the net assets attributable to those shares. It is not possible to predict whether the shares offered hereby will trade at, above, or below NAV.

 

18


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q are incorporated by reference herein.

 

19


PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

The following tables set forth certain information as of September 30, 2024 regarding each portfolio company in which we had a debt or equity investment. Other than these investments, our only formal relationship with our portfolio companies is the offer to make available significant managerial assistance. In addition, we may have board representation or receive rights to observe the Board of Directors’ meetings of our portfolio companies.

As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Type of

Investment

  Maturity Date    

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

  Principal
Amount
    Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes

Debt Investments

             

Biotechnology Tools

             

PathAI, Inc.
1325 Boylston Street, Suite 10000
Boston, MA 02215

  Senior Secured     January 2027     Prime + 2.15%, Floor rate 9.15%, 7.85% Exit Fee   $ 32,000     $ 32,572     $ 33,600     (12)(13)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (1.81%)*

            32,572       33,600    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Communications & Networking

             

Aryaka Networks, Inc.
3945 Freedom Circle, Suite 1100
Santa Clara, CA 95054

  Senior Secured     July 2026    

Prime + 3.25%, Floor rate 6.75%, PIK Interest 1.05%,

3.55% Exit Fee

  $ 25,351       25,427       26,373     (12)(14)(19)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Communications & Networking (1.42%)*

          25,427       26,373    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Consumer & Business Services

             

Altumint, Inc.
4600 Forbes Blvd, Suite 203
Lanham, MD 20706

  Senior Secured     December 2027     Prime + 3.65%, Floor rate 12.15%, 2.50% Exit Fee   $ 10,000       9,958       10,107     (15)

Carwow LTD
2nd Floor, 10 Bressenden Place
London, United Kingdom SW1E 5DH

  Senior Secured     December 2027    

Prime + 4.70%, Floor rate 11.45%, PIK Interest 1.45%,

4.95% Exit Fee

  £ 20,287       27,650       27,128     (5)(10)(14)

Houzz, Inc.
285 Hamilton Avenue, 4th Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94301

  Convertible Debt     May 2028     PIK Interest 10.00%   $ 25,011       25,011       25,745     (9)(14)

Jobandtalent USA, Inc.
12 New Fetter Lane
London, United Kingdom EC4A 1JP

  Senior Secured     August 2025     1-month SOFR + 8.86%, Floor rate 9.75%, 2.87% Exit Fee   $ 13,123       13,345       13,345     (5)(10)

Plentific Ltd
Third Floor Yarnwicke, 119-121 Cannon Street
London, United Kingdom EC4N 5AT

  Senior Secured     October 2026     Prime + 2.55%, Floor rate 11.05%, 2.95% Exit Fee   $ 3,325       3,264       3,324     (5)(10)(13)

Provi
1 North Dearborn, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60602

  Senior Secured     December 2026     Prime + 4.40%, Floor rate 10.65%, 2.95% Exit Fee   $ 15,000       15,043       15,229     (15)

Riviera Partners LLC
141 10thStreet
San Francisco, CA 94103

  Senior Secured     April 2027     1-month SOFR + 8.27%, Floor rate 9.27%   $ 36,587       36,161       34,807     (17)(18)

RVShare, LLC
155 Montrose West Avenue
Akron, OH 44321

  Senior Secured     December 2026    

3-month SOFR + 5.50%, Floor rate 6.50%, PIK Interest

4.00%

  $ 29,771       29,442       29,753     (13)(14)(15)

SeatGeek, Inc.
902 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10010

  Senior Secured     May 2026    

Prime + 7.00%, Floor rate 10.50%, PIK Interest 0.50%,

4.00% Exit Fee

  $ 25,295       25,313       25,736     (11)(14)(16)

 

20


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Type of

Investment

  Maturity Date  

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

  Principal
Amount
    Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes
  Senior Secured   July 2026  

Prime + 2.50%, Floor rate 10.75%, PIK Interest 0.50%,

3.00% Exit Fee

  $ 77,939     $ 77,594     $ 78,952     (12)(14)(16)
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total SeatGeek, Inc.

        $ 103,234       102,907       104,688    

Skyword, Inc.
33 Arch Street
Boston, MA 02110

  Senior Secured   November 2026  

Prime + 2.75%, Floor rate 9.25%, PIK Interest 1.75%,

3.00% Exit Fee

  $ 7,271       7,375       7,482     (13)(14)

Tectura Corporation
951 Old County Road, Suite 2-317
Belmont, CA 94002

  Senior Secured   January 2027   FIXED 8.25%   $ 8,250       8,250       8,250     (7)

Thumbtack, Inc.
415 Natoma Street, Suite 1300
San Francisco, CA 94103

  Senior Secured   March 2028   Prime + 2.45%, Floor rate 10.95%, PIK Interest 1.50%   $ 20,839       20,460       21,069     (11)(14)(17)

Veem, Inc.
1160 Battery St. East, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94111

  Senior Secured   March 2025  

Prime + 4.00%, Floor rate 7.25%, PIK Interest 1.25%,

4.50% Exit Fee

  $ 5,156       5,322       5,322     (13)(14)
  Senior Secured   March 2025  

Prime + 4.70%, Floor rate 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.50%,

4.50% Exit Fee

  $ 5,169       5,338       5,338     (12)(14)
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Veem, Inc.

        $ 10,325       10,660       10,660    

Worldremit Group Limited
51 Eastcheap
London, United Kingdom EC3M 1DT

  Senior Secured   February 2026   3-month SOFR + 9.40%, Floor rate 10.25%   $ 24,617       24,485       24,863     (5)(10)(11)(12)(19)
  Senior Secured   February 2026   1-month SOFR + 9.35%, Floor rate 10.25%   $ 6,466       6,424       6,530     (5)(10)(19)
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Worldremit Group Limited

        $ 31,083       30,909       31,393    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Consumer & Business Services (18.52%)*

            340,435       342,980    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Diversified Financial Services

             

Gibraltar Acquisition, LLC (p.k.a. Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC)
400 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 375
Northbrook, IL 60062

  Unsecured   September 2026   FIXED 3.45%, PIK Interest 8.05%   $ 26,033       25,774       25,774     (7)(14)(20)
  Unsecured   September 2026   FIXED 11.95%   $ 10,000       9,859       9,859     (7)(20)
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Gibraltar Acquisition, LLC (p.k.a. Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC)

        $ 36,033       35,633       35,633    

Hercules Adviser LLC
1 North B Street, Suite 2000
San Mateo, CA 94401

  Unsecured   June 2025   FIXED 5.00%   $ 12,000       12,000       12,000     (7)(23)

Next Insurance, Inc.
975 California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304

  Senior Secured   February 2028   Prime - (1.50%), Floor rate 4.75%, PIK Interest 5.50%   $ 10,918       10,757       11,149     (13)(14)(19)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (3.17%)*

            58,390       58,782    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Drug Discovery & Development

             

Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc
60 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park
Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RX

  Senior Secured   June 2029  

Prime + 1.15%, Floor rate 9.65%, PIK Interest 2.00%,

5.85% Exit Fee

  $ 30,108       29,878       29,878     (5)(10)(14)

 

21


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Type of

Investment

  Maturity Date  

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

  Principal
Amount
    Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes

Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

  Senior Secured   March 2027   Prime + 3.65%, Floor rate 7.65%, 5.85% Exit Fee   $ 17,500     $ 17,603     $ 17,897     (10)(13)(17)

Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc.
131 Hartwell Avenue, Suite 320
Lexington, MA 02421

  Senior Secured   April 2026   Prime + 3.10%, Floor rate 11.10%, 8.90% Exit Fee   $ 15,000       15,292       15,293     (11)

AmplifyBio, LLC
1425 Plain City-Gerogesville Road, Building
JM-10, West Jefferson, OH, 43162

  Senior Secured   January 2027  

Prime + 2.50%, Floor rate 9.50%, Cap rate 10.75%, 5.85%

Exit Fee

  $ 24,000       24,502       24,891     (15)

Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
3928 Point Eden Way
Hayward, CA 94545

  Senior Secured   September 2029   Prime + 1.95%, Floor rate 10.45%, 7.75% Exit Fee   $ 37,500       37,248       37,248     (6)(10)(15)(17)

ATAI Life Sciences N.V.
Wallstrasse 16
Berlin, Germany 10179

  Senior Secured   August 2026   Prime + 4.30%, Floor rate 9.05%, 6.95% Exit Fee   $ 14,000       14,347       14,253     (5)(10)(17)

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
One World Trade Center, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10007

  Senior Secured   January 2028  

Prime + 2.20%, Floor rate 9.95%, Cap rate 10.70%, 5.78%

Exit Fee

  $ 143,350       144,974       152,241     (10)(11)(12)(16)

Bluebird Bio, Inc.
455 Grand Union Boulevard
Somerville, MA 02145

  Senior Secured   April 2029  

Prime + 1.45%, Floor rate 9.95%, PIK Interest 2.45%,

6.45% Exit Fee

  $ 65,250       63,337       63,682     (14)

Braeburn, Inc.
450 Plymouth Road, Suite 400
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

  Senior Secured   October 2028  

Prime + 2.45%, Floor rate 10.95%, PIK Interest 1.10%,

5.45% Exit Fee

  $ 53,045       53,079       54,450     (14)(17)

Compass Pathways plc
33 Broadwick Street
London, United Kingdom W1F 0DQ

  Senior Secured   July 2027  

Prime + 1.50%, Floor rate 9.75%, PIK Interest 1.40%,

4.75% Exit Fee

  $ 24,404       24,401       25,280     (5)(10)(14)

Corium, Inc.
4558 50th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512

  Senior Secured   September 2026   Prime + 5.70%, Floor rate 8.95%, 7.75% Exit Fee   $ 105,225       109,041       110,394     (13)(16)

Curevo, Inc.
18911 North Creek Pkwy, Suite 150
Bothell, WA 98011

  Senior Secured   June 2027   Prime + 1.70%, Floor rate 9.70%, 6.95% Exit Fee   $ 10,000       10,039       9,639     (15)

Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
480 Arsenal Way, Suite 130
Watertown, MA 02472

  Senior Secured   April 2025   Prime + 6.25%, Floor rate 9.50%, 4.00% Exit Fee   $ 489       988       988     (15)

enGene, Inc.
7171 Rue Frederick Banting
Saint-Laurent, Canada H4S 1Z9

  Senior Secured   January 2028  

Prime + 0.75%, Floor rate 9.25%, Cap rate 9.75%, PIK

Interest 1.15%, 5.50% Exit Fee

  $ 15,878       15,897       16,337     (5)(10)(14)(17)

Geron Corporation
919 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Suite 250
Foster City, CA 94404

  Senior Secured   October 2025   Prime + 4.50%, Floor rate 9.00%, 6.55% Exit Fee   $ 30,200       31,690       32,353     (10)(12)(13)(17)

Gritstone Bio, Inc.
5959 Horton Street, Suite 300
EmeryVille, CA 94608

  Senior Secured   July 2027  

Prime + 3.15%, Floor rate 7.15%, Cap rate 8.65%, PIK

Interest 2.00%, 5.75% Exit Fee

  $ 30,995       31,523       30,472     (13)(14)

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
4242 Campus Point Court, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121

  Senior Secured   February 2026  

Prime + 1.70%, Floor rate 9.95%, PIK Interest 1.50%,

3.00% Exit Fee

  $ 20,327       20,303       20,761     (14)(15)(17)

 

22


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Type of

Investment

  Maturity Date  

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

  Principal
Amount
    Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes

Hibercell, Inc.
619 West 54th St., 8th Fl.
New York, NY 10019

  Senior Secured   May 2025   Prime + 5.40%, Floor rate 8.65%, 4.95% Exit Fee   $ 6,233     $ 6,980     $ 6,980     (13)(15)

Kura Oncology, Inc.
12730 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130

  Senior Secured   November 2027   Prime + 2.40%, Floor rate 8.65%, 15.13% Exit Fee   $ 5,500       5,599       5,694     (10)(15)

Locus Biosciences, Inc.
523 Davis Drive, Suite 350
Morrisville, NC 27560

  Senior Secured   July 2025   Prime + 6.10%, Floor rate 9.35%, 4.95% Exit Fee   $ 3,009       3,343       3,343     (15)

Madrigal Pharmaceutical, Inc.
200 Barr Harbor Drive, Suite 200
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

  Senior Secured   May 2027   Prime + 2.45%, Floor rate 8.25%, 5.35% Exit Fee   $ 78,200       79,622       82,775     (10)(13)

NorthSea Therapeutics
Paasheuvelweg 25-C6
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1105 BP

  Convertible Debt   December 2025   FIXED 6.00%   $ 273       273       273     (5)(9)(10)

Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
100 Campus Drive, Suite 102
Florham Park, NJ 07932

  Senior Secured   December 2027  

Prime + 1.35%, Floor rate 9.85%, Cap rate 10.35%, PIK

Interest 2.15%, 6.59% Exit Fee

  $ 153,201       155,420       158,117     (10)(12)(14)(15)

(16)(17) (22)

Replimune Group, Inc.
500 Unicorn Park Drive, Suite 303
Woburn, MA 01801

  Senior Secured   October 2027  

Prime + 1.75%, Floor rate 7.25%, Cap rate 9.00%, PIK

Interest 1.50%, 4.95% Exit Fee

  $ 31,769       32,076       33,784     (10)(12)(13)(14)

SynOx Therapeutics Limited
3 Dublin Landings, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1
Dublin, Ireland D01 C4E0

  Senior Secured   May 2027   Prime + 1.40%, Floor rate 9.90%, 7.25% Exit Fee   $ 4,500       4,431       4,431     (5)(10)

uniQure B.V.
Paasheuvelweg 25a
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1105 BP

  Senior Secured   January 2027   Prime + 4.70%, Floor rate 7.95%, 6.10% Exit Fee   $ 35,000       35,962       37,135     (5)(10)(11)(12)

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.
221 Crescent Street, Suite 401
Waltham, MA 02453

  Senior Secured   October 2026  

Prime + 4.20%, Floor rate 7.45%, Cap rate 8.95%, 6.00%

Exit Fee

  $ 8,000       8,191       8,350     (10)(13)(17)

X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
61 North Beacon Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02134

  Senior Secured   July 2027   Prime + 3.15%, Floor rate 10.15%, 3.72% Exit Fee   $ 75,000       75,292       75,304     (11)(12)(13)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (57.90%)*

          1,051,331       1,072,243    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Electronics & Computer Hardware

           

Locus Robotics Corp.
301 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887

  Senior Secured   June 2026   Prime + 4.50%, Floor rate 8.00%, 4.00% Exit Fee   $ 18,281       18,498       18,846     (19)

Shield AI, Inc.
600 West Broadway, Suite 450
San Diego, CA 92101

  Senior Secured   February 2029  

Prime + 0.85%, Floor rate 6.85%, Cap rate 9.60%, PIK

Interest 2.50%, 2.50% Exit Fee

  $ 75,790       75,200       76,132     (12)(14)(17)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (5.13%)*

          93,698       94,978    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Healthcare Services, Other

           

Blue Sprig Pediatrics, Inc.
7500 San Felipe Street, Suite 990
Houston, TX 77063

  Senior Secured   November 2026  

1-month SOFR + 5.11%, Floor rate 6.00%, PIK Interest

4.45%

  $ 71,414       70,813       70,397     (11)(12)(13)(14)

 

23


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Type of

Investment

  Maturity Date    

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

  Principal
Amount
    Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes

Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.
2100 Franklin Street , Suite 355
Oakland, CA 94612

  Senior Secured     June 2026    

Prime - (1.50%), Floor rate 7.00%, PIK Interest 7.00%,

5.64% Exit Fee

  $ 49,524     $ 51,125     $ 49,393     (11)(13)(14)
  Convertible Debt     December 2025     FIXED 12.00%   $ 202       202       202     (9)
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.

        $ 49,726       51,327       49,595    

Curana Health Holdings, LLC
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway, Building 1
Austin, TX 78759

  Senior Secured     January 2028     Prime + 1.45%, Floor rate 9.20%, 4.95% Exit Fee   $ 27,500       27,630       28,053     (13)(17)(19)

Equality Health, LLC
7720 North Dobson Road, Suite 200
Scottsdale, AZ 85256

  Senior Secured     February 2026     Prime + 6.25%, Floor rate 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.55%   $ 70,402       70,084       70,078     (11)(12)(14)

Main Street Rural, Inc.
900 Main Street
Nashville, TN 37206

  Senior Secured     July 2027     Prime + 1.95%, Floor rate 9.95%, 6.85% Exit Fee   $ 38,500       38,859       39,132     (13)(15)(17)

Marathon Health, LLC
10 West Market Street, Suite 2900
Indianapolis, IN 46204

  Senior Secured     February 2029    

Prime - (0.90%), Floor rate 7.10%, PIK Interest 4.00%,

3.00% Exit Fee

  $ 157,577       156,581       157,857     (14)(16)(17)

Modern Life, Inc.
650 California Street, Floor 7
San Francisco, CA 94108

  Senior Secured     February 2027     Prime + 2.75%, Floor rate 8.75%, 5.00% Exit Fee   $ 18,200       18,208       18,393     (13)

NeueHealth, Inc.
9250 NW 36th St, Suite 420
Doral, FL 33178

  Senior Secured     June 2028    

Prime + 1.15%, Floor rate 9.65%, PIK Interest 2.50%,

2.50% Exit Fee

  $ 24,874       23,990       24,141     (12)(14)

Recover Together, Inc.
3 Burlington Woods Dr, Suite 301
Burlington, MA 01803

  Senior Secured     July 2027     Prime + 1.90%, Floor rate 10.15%, 7.50% Exit Fee   $ 40,000       40,257       40,110     (13)(17)

Strive Health Holdings, LLC
1600 Stout Street, Suite 2000
Denver, CO 80202

  Senior Secured     September 2027     Prime + 0.70%, Floor rate 9.20%, 5.95% Exit Fee   $ 12,000       12,015       12,359     (15)

Vida Health, Inc.
100 Montgomery Street, Suite 750
San Francisco, CA 94104

  Senior Secured     July 2026     FIXED 8.50%, PIK Interest 2.05%, 4.95% Exit Fee   $ 36,571       37,000       36,636     (11)(14)

WellBe Senior Medical, LLC
225 W. Washington St., Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60606

  Senior Secured     May 2029    

Prime + 0.75%, Floor rate 7.75%, PIK Interest 2.65%,

6.75% Exit Fee

  $ 20,148       20,023       19,633     (14)(15)(17)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (30.59%)*

          566,787       566,384    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Information Services

           

Checkr Group, Inc.
One Montgomery Street, Suite 2400
San Francisco, CA 94104

  Senior Secured     August 2028    

Prime + 1.45%, Floor rate 8.00%, PIK Interest 2.00%,

2.75% Exit Fee

  $ 48,354       48,371       50,620     (12)(14)(17)

Saama Technologies, LLC
900 East Hamilton Avenue, Suite 430
Campbell, CA 95008

  Senior Secured     July 2027    

Prime + 0.70%, Floor rate 8.95%, PIK Interest 2.00%,

2.95% Exit Fee

  $ 19,679       19,591       20,300     (12)(14)(17)

Signal Media Limited
207, 211 Old St
London, United Kingdom EC1V 9NR

  Senior Secured     June 2025    

Prime + 5.50%, Floor rate 9.00%, Cap rate 12.00%, 3.45%

Exit Fee

  $ 6,150       6,220       6,424     (5)(10)
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Information Services (4.18%)*

          74,182       77,344    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

24


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Type of
Investment
     Maturity Date   

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

   Principal
Amount
     Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

Medical Devices & Equipment

                    

Senseonics Holdings, Inc.
20451 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Germantown, MD 20876-7005

     Senior Secured      September 2027    Prime + 1.40%, Floor rate 9.90%, 6.95% Exit Fee    $ 30,625      $ 30,650      $ 31,136        (11)  

Sight Sciences, Inc.
4040 Campbell Avenue, Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025

     Senior Secured      July 2028    Prime + 2.35%, Floor rate 10.35%, 5.95% Exit Fee    $ 24,500        24,273        24,277        (17)  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (2.99%)*

                 54,923        55,413     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Software

                    

3GTMS, LLC
8760 Orion Pl , Suite #300
Columbus, OH 43240

     Senior Secured      February 2025    3-month SOFR + 10.40%, Floor rate 11.30%    $ 13,042        13,013        13,013        (11)(17)(18)  
     Senior Secured      February 2025    3-month SOFR + 7.25%, Floor rate 8.15%    $ 6,209        6,184        6,184        (17)(18)  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total 3GTMS, LLC

            $ 19,251        19,197        19,197     

Alchemer LLC
168 Centennial Parkway, Unit #250
Louisville, CO 80027

     Senior Secured      May 2028    1-month SOFR + 8.14%, Floor rate 9.14%    $ 21,302        20,955        21,302        (13)(18)  

Allvue Systems, LLC
396 Alhambra Circle, 11th Floor
Coral Gables, FL 33134

     Senior Secured      September 2029    3-month SOFR + 7.25%, Floor rate 8.25%    $ 36,410        35,612        36,651        (17)  

AlphaSense, Inc.
24 Union Square East, Floor 6
New York, NY 10003

     Senior Secured      June 2029    1-month SOFR + 6.25%, Floor rate 8.25%    $ 20,000        19,808        19,808        (17)  

Annex Cloud
1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1500
Mclean, VA 22102

     Senior Secured      February 2027    1-month BSBY + 10.00%, Floor rate 11.00%    $ 11,408        11,260        11,016        (13)  

Armis, Inc.
548 Market Street, Suite 97439
San Francisco, CA 94104-5401

     Senior Secured      March 2028    Prime + 0.00%, Floor rate 7.50%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 2.25% Exit Fee    $ 50,477        50,154        50,974        (12)(14)(17)  
     Senior Secured      March 2028    Prime + 1.25%, Floor rate 7.50%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 2.25% Exit Fee    $ 25,031        24,802        24,880        (14)(17)  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Armis, Inc.

            $ 75,508        74,956        75,854     

Automation Anywhere, Inc.
633 River Oaks Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134

     Senior Secured      September 2027    Prime + 4.25%, Floor rate 9.00%, 4.50% Exit Fee    $ 19,600        19,587        20,354        (11)(19)  

Babel Street
1818 Library Street, Suite 500
Reston, VA 20190

     Senior Secured      December 2027    3-month SOFR + 8.01%, Floor rate 9.01%    $ 65,500        64,138        64,956        (15)(17)(18)  

Behavox Limited
29 Albert Embankment, Lambeth
London, United Kingdom SE1 7GR

     Senior Secured      September 2027    Prime - (0.55%), Floor rate 7.45%, PIK Interest 3.00%, 4.95% Exit Fee    $ 7,000        6,972        6,972        (5)(10)(17)  

Brain Corporation
10182 Telesis Court, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92121

     Senior Secured      September 2028    Prime + 1.35%, Floor rate 9.85%, PIK Interest 2.50%, 3.95% Exit Fee    $ 31,849        31,468        31,614        (13)  

Catchpoint Systems, Inc.
228 Park Avenue South, PMB 28080
New York, NY 10003-1502

     Senior Secured      November 2025    1-month SOFR + 9.41%, Floor rate 11.81%    $ 9,996        9,905        9,985        (18)  

 

25


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Type of
Investment
     Maturity Date   

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

   Principal
Amount
     Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

Ceros, Inc.
40 West 25th Street, 2th Floor
New York, NY 10010

     Senior Secured      September 2026    3-month SOFR + 8.99%, Floor rate 9.89%    $ 22,762      $ 22,483      $ 22,261      (17)(18)

Constructor.io Corporation
268 Bush St., Suite 4450
San Francisco, CA 94104

     Senior Secured      July 2027    1-month SOFR + 8.44%, Floor rate 9.44%    $ 4,688        4,608        4,687      (13)(17)(18)

Convoy, Inc.
1301 2nd Ave Seattle , WA 98101

     Senior Secured      March 2026    Prime + 3.20%, Floor rate 6.45%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 4.55% Exit Fee    $ 31,049        30,916        —       (8)(14)(19)

Copper CRM, Inc
301 Howard St., #600
San Francisco, CA 94105

     Senior Secured      March 2025    Prime + 4.50%, Floor rate 8.25%, Cap rate 10.25%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 4.50% Exit Fee    $ 8,669        8,954        8,954      (11)(14)

Coronet Cyber Security Ltd.
550 West Van Buren, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60607

     Senior Secured      October 2028    Prime - (2.95%), Floor rate 3.55%, PIK Interest 5.85%    $ 8,500        8,348        8,348      (17)

Cutover, Inc.
41 Luke Street, Shoreditch
London, United Kingdom EC2A 4DP

     Senior Secured      October 2025    Prime + 5.20%, Floor rate 9.95%, 4.95% Exit Fee    $ 5,500        5,634        5,757      (5)(10)(12)
     Senior Secured      October 2025    Prime + 5.20%, Floor rate 9.95%, 4.95% Exit Fee    £ 1,250        1,597        1,774      (5)(10)
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Cutover, Inc.

                 7,231        7,531     

Cybermaxx Intermediate Holdings, Inc.
2115 Yeaman Place
Nashville, TN 37206

     Senior Secured      August 2026    6-month SOFR + 8.63%, Floor rate 9.38%, 0.58% Exit Fee    $ 8,207        8,120        8,071      (13)(17)(18)
     Senior Secured      August 2026    6-month SOFR + 12.36%, Floor rate 13.11%, 0.58% Exit Fee    $ 2,527        2,489        2,581      (13)(17)(18)
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Cybermaxx Intermediate Holdings, Inc.

            $ 10,734        10,609        10,652     

Dashlane, Inc.
44 West 18th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10011

     Senior Secured      December 2027    Prime + 3.05%, Floor rate 11.55%, PIK Interest 1.10%, 6.28% Exit Fee    $ 45,350        46,088        47,370      (11)(13)(14)(19)

Dispatch Technologies, Inc.
27 School St., 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108

     Senior Secured      April 2028    3-month SOFR + 8.01%, Floor rate 8.76%    $ 8,792        8,643        8,533      (17)(18)

Dragos, Inc.
1745 Dorsey Road, Suite R
Hanover, MD 21076

     Senior Secured      July 2027    Prime + 2.00%, Floor rate 8.75%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 1.00% Exit Fee    $ 6,500        6,162        6,163      (17)

Dronedeploy, Inc.
548 Market St., #34583
San Francisco, CA 94104

     Senior Secured      July 2026    Prime + 4.50%, Floor rate 8.75%, 4.00% Exit Fee    $ 9,375        9,271        9,457      (13)(17)

Earnix, Inc.
221 Crescent Street, STE 104
Waltham, MA 02453

     Senior Secured      June 2029    Prime - (1.15%), Floor rate 5.35%, PIK Interest 4.45%    $ 18,952        18,631        18,631      (14)(17)

Elation Health, Inc.
530 Divisadero Street, Suite 872
San Francisco, CA 94117

     Senior Secured      March 2026    Prime + 4.25%, Floor rate 9.00%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 3.95% Exit Fee    $ 12,815        12,699        13,074      (14)(17)(19)

Flight Schedule Pro, LLC
6811 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 206 Overland Park, KS 66062

     Senior Secured      October 2027    1-month SOFR + 7.80%, Floor rate 8.70%    $ 6,907        6,758        6,955      (17)(18)

 

26


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Type of
Investment
   Maturity Date   

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

   Principal
Amount
     Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

Fortified Health Security
2550 Meridian Blvd, Suite 190
Franklin, TN 37067

   Senior Secured    December 2027    1-month SOFR + 7.64%, Floor rate 8.54%    $ 7,000      $ 6,873      $ 7,037      (11)(17)(18)

Harness, Inc.
55 Stockton Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108

   Senior Secured    March 2029    Prime - (2.25%), Floor rate 5.25%, Cap rate 6.50%, PIK Interest 6.25%, 1.00% Exit Fee    $ 17,849        17,650        17,887      (14)(17)(19)

iGrafx, LLC
8100 SW Nyberg Street, Suite 450
Tualatin, OR 97062

   Senior Secured    May 2027    1-month SOFR + 8.61%, Floor rate 9.51%, 0.47% Exit Fee    $ 4,962        4,884        4,915      (18)

Ikon Science Limited
1 The Crescent, Surbiton
London, United Kingdom KT6 4BN

   Senior Secured    October 2024    3-month SOFR + 9.26%, Floor rate 10.00%    $ 5,950        5,947        5,947      (5)(10)(17)(18)

Khoros (p.k.a Lithium Technologies)
7300 Ranch Road 2222, BLDG 3 STE 150
Austin, TX 78730-3204

   Senior Secured    January 2025    3-month SOFR + 4.50%, Floor rate 5.50%, PIK Interest 4.50%    $ 61,341        61,317        20,723      (8)(14)

Leapwork ApS
Store Kongensgade 72
Copenhagen, Denmark 1264

   Senior Secured    February 2026    Prime + 0.25%, Floor rate 7.00%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 2.70% Exit Fee    $ 3,871        3,901        3,999      (5)(10)(12)(14)(17)

LinenMaster, LLC
601 21st St, Suite 300
Vero Beach, FL 32960

   Senior Secured    August 2028    1-month SOFR + 6.25%, Floor rate 7.25%, PIK Interest 2.15%    $ 15,342        15,090        15,495      (12)(14)(17)

Loftware, Inc.
249 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801

   Senior Secured    March 2028    3-month SOFR + 7.88%, Floor rate 8.88%    $ 27,206        26,696        27,646      (17)(18)

LogicSource
44 Main Street
Westport, CT 06880

   Senior Secured    July 2027    1-month SOFR + 8.93%, Floor rate 9.93%    $ 13,178        12,993        13,178      (17)(18)

LogRhythm, Inc.
385 Interlocken Crescent, Suite 1050
Broomfield, CO 80021

   Senior Secured    July 2029    3-month SOFR + 7.50%, Floor rate 8.50%    $ 25,000        24,277        24,277      (17)

Marigold Group, Inc. (p.k.a. Campaign Monitor Limited)
11 Lea Ave
Nashville, TN 37210

   Senior Secured    November 2026    PIK Interest 6-month SOFR + 10.55%, Floor rate 11.55%    $ 37,413        36,875        31,863      (13)(14)(19)

Mobile Solutions Services
10731 E. Easter Ave
Centennial, CO 80112

   Senior Secured    December 2025    6-month SOFR + 9.31%, Floor rate 10.06%    $ 18,366        18,205        17,609      (18)

New Relic, Inc.
188 Spear Street, Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94105

   Senior Secured    November 2030    3-month SOFR + 6.75%, Floor rate 7.75%    $ 20,890        20,412        20,291      (17)

Omeda Holdings, LLC
1 N. Dearborn Suite 750
Chicago, IL 60602

   Senior Secured    July 2027    3-month SOFR + 8.05%, Floor rate 9.05%    $ 7,688        7,524        7,687      (11)(17)(18)

Pindrop Security, Inc.
1115 Howell Mill Road, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30318

   Senior Secured    June 2029    Prime + 3.50%, Floor rate 10.00%, 2.00% Exit Fee    $ 31,000        30,521        30,521      (15)(17)

Reveleer
425 West Broadway, #110
Glendale, CA 91204

   Senior Secured    February 2027    Prime + 0.65%, Floor rate 9.15%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 5.05% Exit Fee    $ 36,191        36,071        36,095      (14)(15)

 

27


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Type of
Investment
     Maturity Date     

Interest Rate and Floor(1)

   Principal
Amount
     Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

Semperis Technologies Inc.
5 Marine View Plaza, Suite 102
Hoboken, NJ 07030

     Senior Secured        April 2028      Prime - (1.75%), Floor rate 6.75%, PIK Interest 3.25%    $ 15,124      $ 15,016      $ 15,016        (14)(17)(19)  

ShadowDragon, LLC
1505 East 16th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82001

     Senior Secured        December 2026      3-month SOFR + 8.92%, Floor rate 9.82%    $ 6,000        5,909        5,977        (17)(18)  

Simon Data, Inc.
483 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013

     Senior Secured        March 2027      Prime + 1.00%, Floor rate 8.75%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 2.95% Exit Fee    $ 13,022        13,051        13,125        (12)(14)  

Sisense Ltd.
Zeev Jabotinsky St 2
Ramat Gan, Israel 5252903

     Senior Secured        July 2027      Prime + 1.50%, Floor rate 9.50%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 5.95% Exit Fee    $ 33,894        34,126        34,298        (5)(10)(14)  

Streamline Healthcare Solutions
1301 W 22nd St, Suite 305
Oak Brook, IL 60523

     Senior Secured        March 2028      3-month SOFR + 7.25%, Floor rate 8.25%    $ 17,600        17,306        17,763        (11)(13)(17)(18)  

Sumo Logic, Inc.
855 Main St., Suite 100
Redwood City, CA 94063

     Senior Secured        May 2030      3-month SOFR + 6.50%, Floor rate 7.50%    $ 23,000        22,504        23,212        (17)  

Suzy, Inc.
228 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003-1502

     Senior Secured        August 2027      Prime + 1.75%, Floor rate 10.00%, PIK Interest 1.95%, 3.45% Exit Fee    $ 16,264        16,071        16,605        (14)(15)(17)  

ThreatConnect, Inc.
3865 Wilson Blvd., Suite 550
Arlington, VA 22203

     Senior Secured        May 2026      3-month SOFR + 9.15%, Floor rate 10.00%    $ 10,794        10,658        10,794        (17)(18)  

Tipalti Solutions Ltd.
65 Pinchas Rosen Street
Tel Aviv, Israel

     Senior Secured        April 2027      Prime + 0.45%, Floor rate 7.95%, PIK Interest 2.00%, 3.75% Exit Fee    $ 42,455        41,989        43,092        (5)(10)(14)  

Zappi, Inc.
Theatre House, 97 - 99 Camden High Street
London, United Kingdom NW1 7JN

     Senior Secured        December 2027      3-month SOFR + 8.03%, Floor rate 9.03%    $ 12,761        12,540        12,786        (5)(10)(13)(17)(18)  

Zimperium, Inc.
4055 Valley View
Dallas, TX 75244

     Senior Secured        May 2027      1-month SOFR + 8.31%, Floor rate 9.31%    $ 14,790        14,602        14,459        (17)(18)  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Software (53.06%)*

                 1,048,267        982,622     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Space Technologies

                    

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.
1225 17th Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202

     Senior Secured        July 2028      Prime + 1.25%, Floor rate 9.75%, PIK Interest 2.50%, 5.50% Exit Fee    $ 45,153        44,839        44,839        (14)(15)  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Space Technologies (2.42%)*

                 44,839        44,839     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Sustainable and Renewable Technology

                    

Ampion, PBC
31 St. James Avenue, Suite 355
Boston, MA 02116

     Senior Secured        May 2025      Prime + 4.70%, Floor rate 7.95%, PIK Interest 1.45%, 3.95% Exit Fee    $ 3,970        4,063        4,063        (13)(14)  

Electric Hydrogen Co.
1 Strathmore Road
Natick, MA 01760

     Senior Secured        May 2028      Prime + 2.25%, Floor rate 10.75%, PIK Interest 1.25%, 4.89% Exit Fee    $ 20,069        19,514        19,610        (14)(15)(19)  

Pineapple Energy LLC
10900 Red Circle Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55343

     Senior Secured        June 2027      FIXED 10.00%    $ 1,371      $ 1,371      $ 1,347        (19)  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (1.35%)*

                 24,948        25,020     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total: Debt Investments (182.56%)*

               $ 3,415,799      $ 3,380,578     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

28


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
    

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

Equity Investments

                      

Biotechnology Tools

                      

Alamar Biosciences, Inc.
47071 Bayside Parkway
Fremont, CA 94538

     0.46     Equity        2/21/2024      Preferred Series C      503,778      $ 1,500      $ 1,492     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (0.08%)*

                   1,500        1,492     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Consumer & Business Products

                      

Fabletics, Inc.
800 Apollo Street
El Segundo, CA 90245

     0.32     Equity        4/30/2010      Common Stock      42,989        128        43     
       Equity        7/16/2013      Preferred Series B      130,191        1,101        279     
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Fabletics, Inc.

                173,180        1,229        322     

Grove Collaborative, Inc.
1301 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

     0.03     Equity        4/30/2021      Common Stock      12,260        433        17        (4)  

Savage X Holding, LLC
800 Apollo Street
El Segundo, CA 90245

     0.33     Equity        4/30/2010      Class A Units      172,328        13        482     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.04%)*

                   1,675        821     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Consumer & Business Services

                      

Carwow LTD
2nd Floor, 10 Bressenden Place
London, United Kingdom SW1E 5DH

     0.56     Equity        12/15/2021      Preferred Series D-4      214,869        1,151        647        (5)(10)  

Lyft, Inc.
185 Berry Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94107

     0.02     Equity        12/26/2018      Common Stock      100,738        5,263        1,284        (4)  

Nerdy Inc.
8001 Forsyth Boulevard, Suite 1050
Saint Louis, MO 63105

     0.09     Equity        9/17/2021      Common Stock      100,000        1,000        98        (4)  

 

29


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
  Type of
Investment
   Acquisition
Date(4)
  

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

OfferUp, Inc.

1745 114th Avenue SE, Suite 100

Bellevue, WA 98004-6968

   0.17%   Equity    10/25/2016    Preferred Series A      286,080        1,663        439     
     Equity    10/25/2016    Preferred Series A-1      108,710      $ 632      $ 167     
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total OfferUp, Inc.                 394,790        2,295        606     

Oportun

2 Circle Star Way

San Carlos, CA 94070

   0.14%   Equity    6/28/2013    Common Stock      48,365        577        136      (4)

Reischling Press, Inc.

3325 South 116th Street, Suite 161

Seattle, WA 98168

   0.01%   Equity    7/31/2020    Common Stock      3,095        40        —      

Rhino Labs, Inc.

99 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

   0.44%   Equity    1/24/2022    Common Stock      7,063        1,000        —      

Tectura Corporation

951 Old County Road, Suite 2-317

Belmont, CA 94002

   49.70%   Equity    5/23/2018    Common Stock      414,994,863        900        6      (7)
     Equity    6/6/2016    Preferred Series BB      1,000,000        —          15      (7)
     Equity    12/29/2023    Preferred Series C      3,235,298        13,263        3,772      (7)
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total Tectura Corporation                 419,230,161        14,163        3,793     

Worldremit Group Limited

51 Eastcheap

London, United Kingdom EC3M 1DT

   0.14%   Equity    6/24/2024    Preferred Series X      6,641        639        660      (5)(10)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Consumer & Business Services (0.39%)*                    26,128        7,224     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Diversified Financial Services                       

Gibraltar Acquisition, LLC (p.k.a. Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC)

400 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 375

Northbrook, IL 60062

   100.00%   Equity    3/1/2018    Member Units      1        34,006        21,669      (7)(20)

Hercules Adviser LLC

1 North B Street, Suite 2000

San Mateo, CA 94401

   100.00%   Equity    3/26/2021    Member Units      1        35        31,433      (7)(23)

Newfront Insurance Holdings, Inc.

450 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

   0.03%   Equity    9/30/2021    Preferred Series D-2      210,282        403        327     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (2.89%)*                    34,444        53,429     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Drug Delivery                       

Aytu BioScience, Inc.

7900 East Union Avenue, Suite 920

Denver, CO 80237

   0.01%   Equity    3/28/2014    Common Stock      680        1,500        2      (4)

BioQ Pharma Incorporated

1325 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

   1.87%   Equity    12/8/2015    Preferred Series D      165,000        500        —      

PDS Biotechnology Corporation

303A College Road East

Princeton, NJ 08540

   0.01%   Equity    4/6/2015    Common Stock      2,498        309        9      (4)

 

30


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
  Type of
Investment
   Acquisition
Date(4)
  

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

Talphera, Inc.
1850 Gateway Drive, Suite 175
San Mateo, CA 94404

   0.05%   Equity    12/10/2018    Common Stock      8,836      $ 1,329      $ 8      (4)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.00%)*                    3,638        19     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Drug Discovery & Development                       

Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

   0.10%   Equity    3/8/2024    Common Stock      34,483        1,000        989      (4)(10)

Avalo Therapeutics, Inc.
540 Gaither Road, Suite 400
Rockville, MD 20850

   — %   Equity    8/19/2014    Common Stock      42        1,000        —       (4)

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
One World Trade Center, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10007

   0.39%   Equity    5/9/2022    Common Stock      127,021        4,165        11,415      (4)(10)(16)

Bicycle Therapeutics PLC
Portway Building, Blocks A & B
Cambridge, United Kingdom CB21 6GS

   0.14%   Equity    10/5/2020    Common Stock      98,100        1,871        2,220      (4)(5)(10)

BridgeBio Pharma, Inc.
3160 Porter Drive, Suite 250
Palo Alto, CA 94304

   0.12%   Equity    6/21/2018    Common Stock      231,329        2,255        5,890      (4)

Cyclo Therapeutics, Inc.
6714 NW 16th Street, Suite B
Gainesville, FL 32653

   — %   Equity    4/6/2021    Common Stock      134        42        —       (4)(10)

Dare Biosciences, Inc.
3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 260
San Diego, CA 92122

   0.01%   Equity    1/8/2015    Common Stock      1,129        1,000        4      (4)

Dynavax Technologies
2100 Powell Street, Suite 720
Emeryville, CA 94608

   0.02%   Equity    7/22/2015    Common Stock      20,000        550        223      (4)(10)

Gritstone Bio, Inc.
5959 Horton Street, Suite 300
EmeryVille, CA 94608

   0.37%   Equity    10/26/2022    Common Stock      442,477        1,000        257      (4)

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
4242 Campus Point Court, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121

   0.40%   Equity    7/25/2023    Common Stock      364,963        500        726      (4)

Hibercell, Inc.
619 West 54th St., 8th Fl.
New York, NY 10019

   0.81%   Equity    5/7/2021    Preferred Series B      3,466,840        4,250        253      (15)

HilleVax, Inc.
321 Harrison Avenue, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02118

   0.49%   Equity    5/3/2022    Common Stock      235,295        4,000        414      (4)

Kura Oncology, Inc.
12730 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130

   0.08%   Equity    6/16/2023    Common Stock      47,826        550        935      (4)(10)

 

31


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
    

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

Madrigal Pharmaceutical, Inc.
200 Barr Harbor Drive, Suite 200
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

     0.08%       Equity        9/29/2023      Common Stock      5,100        773        1,082        (4)(10)  

NorthSea Therapeutics
Paasheuvelweg 25-C6
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1105 BP

     0.94%       Equity        12/15/2021      Preferred Series C      983        2,000        1,334        (5)(10)  

Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
100 Campus Drive, Suite 102
Florham Park, NJ 07932

     0.36%       Equity        6/9/2023      Common Stock      147,233        1,730        2,662        (4)(10)(16)  

Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
9 Cedarbrook Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

     —%       Equity        8/22/2007      Common Stock      944        1,500        18        (4)  

Savara, Inc.
1717 Langhorne Newtown Road, Suite 300
Langhorne, PA 19047

     0.01%       Equity        8/11/2015      Common Stock      11,119        203        47        (4)  

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
15440 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 160
Irvine, CA 92618

     0.20%       Equity        5/5/2022      Common Stock      77,778        1,050        2,558        (4)(10)  

uniQure B.V.
Paasheuvelweg 25a
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1105 BP

     0.04%       Equity        1/31/2019      Common Stock      17,175        332        85        (4)(5)(10)  

Valo Health, LLC
399 Boyl-ston Street
Boston, MA 02116

     0.08%       Equity        12/11/2020      Preferred Series B      510,308        3,000        2,126     
       Equity        10/31/2022      Preferred Series C      170,102        1,000        1,029     
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total Valo Health, LLC                 680,410        4,000        3,155     

Verge Analytics, Inc.
131 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 300
South San Francisco, CA 94080

     0.39%       Equity        9/6/2023      Preferred Series C      208,588        1,500        1,488     

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.
221 Crescent Street, Suite 401
Waltham, MA 02453

     0.05%       Equity        11/6/2023      Common Stock      32,310        400        735        (4)(10)  

X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
61 North Beacon Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02134

     1.76%       Equity        11/26/2019      Common Stock      1,566,064        2,945        1,048        (4)  
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (2.03%)*                    38,616        37,538     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Electronics & Computer Hardware                       

Locus Robotics Corp.
301 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887

     0.05%       Equity        11/17/2022      Preferred Series F      15,116        650        277     

Skydio, Inc.
3000 Clearview Way, Building E
San Mateo, CA 94402

     0.21%       Equity        3/8/2022      Preferred Series E      248,900        1,500        566     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.05%)*                    2,150        843     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Healthcare Services, Other

                      

 

32


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
  Type of
Investment
   Acquisition
Date(4)
  

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

23andMe, Inc.
349 Oyster Point Boulevard
South San Francisco, CA 94080

   0.16%   Equity    3/11/2019    Common Stock      825,732        5,094        287      (4)

Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.
2100 Franklin Street , Suite 355
Oakland, CA 94612

   0.10%   Equity    3/30/2021    Preferred Series C      217,880      $ 1,687      $ 6     

Click Therapeutics, Inc.
80 White Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10013

   0.81%   Equity    5/20/2024    Common Stock      560,000        1,662        1,800      (15)

Curana Health Holdings, LLC
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway, Building 1
Austin, TX 78759

   0.32%   Equity    5/13/2024    Common Units      1,114,380        2,500        2,837     

WellBe Senior Medical, LLC
225 W. Washington St., Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60606

   0.32%   Equity    6/10/2024    Common Units      181,163        1,600        1,720     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.36%)*                    12,543        6,650     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Information Services                       

Yipit, LLC
22 West 19th Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10011-4204

   0.23%   Equity    12/30/2021    Preferred Series E      41,021        3,825        3,907     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Information Services (0.21%)*                    3,825        3,907     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Manufacturing Technology                       

Xometry, Inc.
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 800
North Bethesda, MD 20852

   0.11%   Equity    5/9/2018    Common Stock      52,126        47        958      (4)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Manufacturing Technology (0.05%)*                    47        958     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Medical Devices & Equipment                       

Coronado Aesthetics, LLC
11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 2250
Los Angeles, CA 76092

   59.84%   Equity    10/15/2021    Common Units      180,000        —         1      (7)
     Equity    10/15/2021    Preferred Series A-2      5,000,000        250        318      (7)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total Coronado Aesthetics, LLC                 5,180,000        250        319     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.02%)*                    250        319     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Semiconductors                       

Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
2903 Bunker Hill Lane, Suite 200
Santa Clara, CA 95054

   0.30%   Equity    7/1/2011    Preferred Series C      277,995        160        194     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.01%)*                    160        194     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Software                       

3GTMS, LLC
8760 Orion Pl , Suite #300
Columbus, OH 43240

   0.89%   Equity    8/9/2021    Common Stock      1,000,000        1,000        745     

Black Crow AI, Inc. affiliates
447 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013

   — %   Equity    3/24/2021    Preferred Note      3        2,406        2,406      (21)

 

33


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
    

Series(3)

   Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

CapLinked, Inc.
3770 Highland Ave, Suite 101
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

     0.32%       Equity        10/26/2012      Preferred Series A-3      53,614        51        —      

Contentful Global, Inc.
Max-Urich-Straße 3
Berlin, Germany 13355

     0.17%       Equity        12/22/2020      Preferred Series C      41,000      $ 138      $ 323        (5)(10)  
       Equity        11/20/2018      Preferred Series D      108,500        500        895        (5)(10)  
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total Contentful Global, Inc.                 149,500        638        1,218     

DNAnexus, Inc.
1975 West El Camino Real, Suite 204
Mountain View, CA 94040

     0.01%       Equity        3/21/2014      Preferred Series C      51,948        97        5     

Docker, Inc.
3790 El Camino Real, Suite 1052
Palo Alto, CA 94306

     0.03%       Equity        11/29/2018      Common Stock      20,000        4,284        210     

Druva Holdings, Inc.
800 W. California Avenue, Suite 100 S
unnyvale, CA 94086

     0.26%       Equity        10/22/2015      Preferred Series 2      458,841        1,000        2,617     
       Equity        8/24/2017      Preferred Series 3      93,620        300        560     
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total Druva Holdings, Inc.                 552,461        1,300        3,177     

HighRoads, Inc.
70 Blanchard Road, Suite 403
Burlington, MA 01803

     — %       Equity        1/18/2013      Common Stock      190        307        —      

Leapwork ApS
Store Kongensgade 72
Copenhagen, Denmark 1264

     0.14%       Equity        8/25/2023      Preferred Series B2      183,073        250        155        (5)(10)  

Lightbend, Inc.
580 California, #1231
San Francisco, CA 94104

     0.18%       Equity        12/4/2020      Common Stock      38,461        265        25     

Nextdoor.com, Inc.
420 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

     0.27%       Equity        8/1/2018      Common Stock      1,019,255        4,854        2,528        (4)  

Palantir Technologies
1200 17th Street, Floor 15
Denver, CO 80202

     0.01%       Equity        9/23/2020      Common Stock      300,000        1,834        11,160        (4)  

SingleStore, Inc.
388 Market Street, Suite 860
San Francisco, CA 94111

     0.46%       Equity        11/25/2020      Preferred Series E      580,983        2,000        1,842     
       Equity        8/12/2021      Preferred Series F      52,956        280        207     
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
Total SingleStore, Inc.                 633,939        2,280        2,049     

Sirion Labs, Inc.
160 Robinson Road, #03-12
Singapore, Singapore 068914

     0.19%       Equity        6/30/2024      Preferred Series F1      152,250        1,791        1,999        (5)(10)  

Verana Health, Inc.
600 Harrison Street, #250
San Francisco, CA 94107

     0.34%       Equity        7/8/2021      Preferred Series E      952,562        2,000        318     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    
Subtotal: Software (1.40%)*                    23,357        25,995     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Space Technologies

                      

 

34


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Percentage
Ownership

 

Type of
Investment

  Acquisition
Date(4)
 

Series(3)

  Shares     Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes  

Planet Labs, Inc.
645 Harrison Street, Floor 4
San Francisco, CA 94107

  0.19%   Equity   6/21/2019   Common Stock     547,880     $ 615     $ 1,222       (4)  
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Space Technologies (0.07%)*

 

    615       1,222    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Sustainable and Renewable Technology

               

Impossible Foods, Inc.
400 Saginaw Drive
Redwood City, CA 94063

  0.07%   Equity   5/10/2019   Preferred Series E-1     188,611       2,000       112    

Modumetal, Inc.
20124 Broadway Ave, Building A
Snohomish, WA 98296

  — %   Equity   6/1/2015   Common Stock     1,035       500       —     

NantEnergy, LLC
8455 North 90th Street, Suite 4
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

  — %   Equity   8/31/2013   Common Units     59,665       102       —     

Pineapple Energy LLC
10900 Red Circle Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343

  0.23%   Equity   12/10/2020   Common Stock     20,299       3,153       3       (4)  

Pivot Bio, Inc.
2910 Seventh Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

  0.27%   Equity   6/28/2021   Preferred Series D     593,080       4,500       2,309    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.13%)*

 

    10,255       2,424    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total: Equity Investments (7.72%)*

 

  $ 159,203     $ 143,035    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Warrant Investments

               

Biotechnology Tools

               

Alamar Biosciences, Inc.
47071 Bayside Parkway
Fremont, CA 94538

  0.46%   Warrant   6/21/2022   Preferred Series C     75,567     $ 36     $ 124    

PathAI, Inc.
1325 Boylston Street, Suite 10000
Boston, MA 02215

  0.16%   Warrant   12/23/2022   Common Stock     53,418       460       95       (12)  
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Biotechnology Tools (0.01%)*

 

    496       219    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Communications & Networking

               

Aryaka Networks, Inc.
3945 Freedom Circle, Suite 1100
Santa Clara, CA 95054

  0.12%   Warrant   6/28/2022   Common Stock     229,611       123       92       (12)  
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Communications & Networking (0.00%)*

 

    123       92    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Consumer & Business Products

               

Gadget Guard, LLC
709 North 400 West, Suite 3
North Salt Lake, UT 84054

  1.06%   Warrant   6/3/2014   Common Stock     1,662,441       228       —     

 

35


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Percentage
Ownership

 

Type of
Investment

  Acquisition
Date(4)
 

Series(3)

  Shares     Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes  

Whoop, Inc.

One Kenmore Square , #601

Boston, MA 02215

  0.09%   Warrant   6/27/2018   Preferred Series C     686,270     $ 17     $ 464    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Consumer & Business Products (0.03%)*

 

    245       464    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Consumer & Business Services

               

Carwow LTD

2nd Floor, 10 Bressenden Place

London, United Kingdom SW1E 5DH

  0.56%   Warrant   12/14/2021   Common Stock     174,163       164       54       (5)(10)  
    Warrant   2/13/2024   Preferred Series D-4     109,257       20       11       (5)(10)  
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Carwow LTD

            283,420       184       65    

Houzz, Inc.

285 Hamilton Avenue, 4th Floor

Palo Alto, CA 94301

  0.13%   Warrant   10/29/2019   Common Stock     529,661       20       —     

Landing Holdings Inc.

535 Mission Street, Suite 2310

San Francisco, CA 94105

  0.05%   Warrant   3/12/2021   Common Stock     11,806       116       140       (15)  

Lendio, Inc.

4100 Chapel Ridge Road, Suite 500

Lehi, UT 84043

  0.06%   Warrant   3/29/2019   Preferred Series D     127,032       39       22    

Plentific Ltd

Third Floor Yarnwicke, 119-121 Cannon Street

London, United Kingdom EC4N 5AT

  0.10%   Warrant   10/3/2023   Ordinary Shares     27,298       60       38       (5)(10)  

Provi

1 North Dearborn, Suite 700

Chicago, IL 60602

  0.23%   Warrant   12/22/2022   Common Stock     117,042       166       65       (15)  

Rhino Labs, Inc.

99 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

  0.44%   Warrant   3/12/2021   Common Stock     13,106       470       —        (15)  

SeatGeek, Inc.

902 Broadway, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10010

  0.54%   Warrant   6/12/2019   Common Stock     1,379,761       842       4,464       (16)  

Skyword, Inc.

33 Arch Street

Boston, MA 02110

  1.49%   Warrant   11/14/2022   Common Stock     1,607,143       57       13    
    Warrant   8/23/2019   Preferred Series B     444,444       83       1    
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Skyword, Inc.

            2,051,587       140       14    

Snagajob.com, Inc.

4851 Lake Brook Drive

Glen Allen, VA 23060

  1.40%   Warrant   4/20/2020   Common Stock     600,000       16       —     
    Warrant   6/30/2016   Preferred Series A     1,800,000       782       —     
    Warrant   8/1/2018   Preferred Series B     1,211,537       62       —     
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Snagajob.com, Inc.

            3,611,537       860       —     

 

36


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Percentage
Ownership

 

Type of
Investment

  Acquisition
Date(4)
 

Series(3)

  Shares     Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes  

Thumbtack, Inc.

415 Natoma Street, Suite 1300

San Francisco, CA 94103

  0.13%   Warrant   5/1/2018   Common Stock     343,497       985       741    

Veem, Inc.

1160 Battery St. East, Suite 100

San Francisco, CA 94111

  0.21%   Warrant   3/31/2022   Common Stock     98,428     $ 126     $ 9       (12)  

Worldremit Group Limited

51 Eastcheap

London, United Kingdom EC3M 1DT

  0.14%   Warrant   2/11/2021   Preferred Series D     77,215       129       69       (5)(10)(12)  
    Warrant   8/27/2021   Preferred Series E     1,868       26         (5)(10)  
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Worldremit Group Limited

            79,083       155       69    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Consumer & Business Services (0.30%)*

 

    4,163       5,627    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Diversified Financial Services

               

Next Insurance, Inc.

975 California Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304

  0.11%   Warrant   2/3/2023   Common Stock     522,930       214       498    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Diversified Financial Services (0.03%)*

              214       498    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Drug Delivery

               

BioQ Pharma Incorporated

1325 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

  1.87%   Warrant   10/27/2014   Common Stock     459,183       1       —     
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Drug Delivery (0.00%)*

 

    1       —     
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Drug Discovery & Development

               

Akero Therapeutics, Inc.

601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350

South San Francisco, CA 94080

  0.10%   Warrant   6/15/2022   Common Stock     32,128       330       547       (4)(10)  

AmplifyBio, LLC

1425 Plain City-Gerogesville Road, Building

JM-10, West Jefferson, OH, 43162

  0.24%   Warrant   12/27/2022   Class A Units     69,239       238       172       (15)  

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.

One World Trade Center, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10007

  0.39%   Warrant   9/25/2020   Common Stock     61,004       1,290       1,813       (4)(10)(12)(16)  

Bluebird Bio, Inc.

455 Grand Union Boulevard

Somerville, MA 02145

  1.15%   Warrant   3/15/2024   Common Stock     2,224,137       1,744       514       (4)  

Cellarity, Inc.

101 South Street, 6th Floor

Somerville, MA 02143

  0.11%   Warrant   12/8/2021   Preferred Series B     100,000       287       64       (15)  

Century Therapeutics, Inc.

25 North 38th Street, 11th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19104

  0.02%   Warrant   9/14/2020   Common Stock     16,112       37       —        (4)  

Compass Pathways plc

33 Broadwick Street

London, United Kingdom W1F 0DQ

  0.11%   Warrant   6/30/2023   Ordinary Shares     75,376       278       136       (4)(5)(10)  

 

37


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Percentage
Ownership

 

Type of
Investment

  Acquisition
Date(4)
 

Series(3)

  Shares     Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes  

Curevo, Inc.

18911 North Creek Pkwy, Suite 150

Bothell, WA 98011

  0.18%   Warrant   6/9/2023   Common Stock     95,221       233       149       (15)  

Dermavant Sciences Ltd.

3780 Kilroy Airport Way

Long Beach, CA 90806

  0.05%   Warrant   5/31/2019   Common Stock     223,642     $ 101     $ —        (5)(10)  

enGene, Inc.

7171 Rue Frederick Banting

Saint-Laurent, Canada H4S 1Z9

  0.10%   Warrant   12/22/2023   Common Stock     43,689       118       105       (4)(5)(10)  

Fresh Tracks Therapeutics, Inc.

2000 Central Avenue, Suite 100

Boulder, CO 80301

  —%   Warrant   2/18/2016   Common Stock     201       119       —        (4)  

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

4242 Campus Point Court, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92121

  0.40%   Warrant   8/9/2023   Common Stock     238,095       228       233       (4)(15)  

Kineta, Inc.

219 Terry Ave. N, Suite 300

Seattle, WA 98109

  0.02%   Warrant   12/20/2019   Common Stock     2,202       110       —        (4)  

Kura Oncology, Inc.

12730 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400

San Diego, CA 92130

  0.08%   Warrant   11/2/2022   Common Stock     14,342       88       92       (4)(10)(15)  

Madrigal Pharmaceutical, Inc.

200 Barr Harbor Drive, Suite 200

West Conshohocken, PA 19428

  0.08%   Warrant   5/9/2022   Common Stock     13,229       570       1,539       (4)(10)  

Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

100 Campus Drive, Suite 102

Florham Park, NJ 07932

  0.36%   Warrant   9/17/2021   Common Stock     64,687       848       128       (4)(10)(12)(15)(16)  

Redshift Bioanalytics, Inc.

80 Central Street

Boxborough, MA 01719

  0.14%   Warrant   3/23/2022   Preferred Series E     475,510       20       23       (15)  

Scynexis, Inc.

1 Evertrust Plaza, 13th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302-6548

  0.28%   Warrant   5/14/2021   Common Stock     106,035       296       4       (4)  

SynOx Therapeutics Limited

3 Dublin Landings, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1

Dublin, Ireland D01 C4E0

  0.15%   Warrant   4/18/2024   Preferred Series B     251,195       83       83       (5)(10)  

TG Therapeutics, Inc.

3020 Carrington Mill Blvd., Suite 475

Morrisville, NC 27560

  0.18%   Warrant   2/28/2019   Common Stock     264,226       1,284       3,514       (4)(10)  

Valo Health, LLC

399 Boyl-ston Street

Boston, MA 02116

  0.08%   Warrant   6/15/2020   Common Units     102,216       256       102    

X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

61 North Beacon Street, 4th Floor

Boston, MA 02134

  1.76%   Warrant   3/18/2019   Common Stock     1,392,787       510       137       (4)  
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.51%)*

 

    9,068       9,355    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

Electronics & Computer Hardware

               

 

38


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

 

Percentage
Ownership

 

Type of
Investment

  Acquisition
Date(4)
 

Series(3)

  Shares   Cost(2)     Value     Footnotes

908 Devices, Inc.

645 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02210

  0.14%   Warrant   3/15/2017   Common Stock   49,078     101       9     (4)

Locus Robotics Corp.

301 Ballardvale Street

Wilmington, MA 01887

  0.05%   Warrant   6/21/2022   Common Stock   8,503   $ 34     $ 51    

Skydio, Inc.

3000 Clearview Way, Building E

San Mateo, CA 94402

  0.21%   Warrant   11/8/2021   Common Stock   622,255     557       244    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Subtotal: Electronics & Computer Hardware (0.02%)*               692       304    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Healthcare Services, Other                

Curana Health Holdings, LLC

8911 North Capital of Texas Highway, Building 1

Austin, TX 78759

  0.32%   Warrant   1/4/2024   Common Units   447,410     156       562    

Modern Life, Inc.

650 California Street, Floor 7

San Francisco, CA 94108

  0.17%   Warrant   3/30/2023   Common Stock   52,665     210       113    

NeueHealth, Inc.

9250 NW 36th St, Suite 420

Doral, FL 33178

  2.25%   Warrant   6/21/2024   Common Stock   185,625     716       726     (4)(12)

Recover Together, Inc.

3 Burlington Woods Dr, Suite 301

Burlington, MA 01803

  0.40%   Warrant   7/3/2023   Common Stock   194,830     382       193    

Strive Health Holdings, LLC

1600 Stout Street, Suite 2000

Denver, CO 80202

  0.03%   Warrant   9/28/2023   Common Units   51,760     83       121     (15)

Vida Health, Inc.

100 Montgomery Street, Suite 750

San Francisco, CA 94104

  0.17%   Warrant   3/28/2022   Preferred Series E   192,431     121       1    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Subtotal: Healthcare Services, Other (0.09%)*               1,668       1,716    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Information Services                

INMOBI Inc.

Embassy Tech Square, 6, 7, 8th Floor, Block Delta

B Block, Bengaluru, India 560103

  0.38%   Warrant   11/19/2014   Common Stock   149,165     82       —      (5)(10)

NetBase Quid, Inc. (p.k.a NetBase Solutions)

3960 Freedom Circle

Santa Clara, CA 95054

  0.02%   Warrant   8/22/2017   Preferred Series 1   60,000     356       —     

Signal Media Limited

207, 211 Old St

London, United Kingdom EC1V 9NR

  0.10%   Warrant   6/29/2022   Common Stock   129,638     57       15     (5)(10)
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Subtotal: Information Services (0.00%)*               495       15    
           

 

 

   

 

 

   
Manufacturing Technology                

Bright Machines, Inc.

2445 16th St

San Francisco, CA 94103

  0.24%   Warrant   3/31/2022   Common Stock   392,308     537       1,006    

 

39


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
     Series(3)      Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

MacroFab, Inc.
2000 West Governors Circle, Suite F
Houston, TX 77092

     1.14     Warrant        3/23/2022       

Common

Stock

 

 

     1,111,111        528        132     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Manufacturing Technology (0.06%)*

                   1,065        1,138     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Media/Content/Info

                      

Fever Labs, Inc.
76 Greene St, 4th Fl
New York, NY 10012

     0.07     Warrant        12/30/2022       

Preferred

Series E-1

 

 

     369,370      $ 67        55     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Media/Content/Info (0.00%)*

                   67        55     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Medical Devices & Equipment

                      

Outset Medical, Inc.
3052 Orchard Drive
San Jose, CA 95134

     0.12     Warrant        9/27/2013       

Common

Stock

 

 

     62,794        401        2        (4)  

Senseonics Holdings, Inc.
20451 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Germantown, MD 20876-7005

     0.19     Warrant        9/8/2023       

Common

Stock

 

 

     1,032,718        277        88        (4)  

Sight Sciences, Inc.
4040 Campbell Avenue, Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025

     0.19     Warrant        1/22/2024       

Common

Stock

 

 

     94,980        327        331        (4)  

Tela Bio, Inc.
1 Great Valley Parkway, Suite 24
Malvern, PA 19355

     0.06     Warrant        3/31/2017       

Common

Stock

 

 

     15,712        61        —         (4)  
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Medical Devices & Equipment (0.02%)*

                   1,066        421     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Semiconductors

                      

Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
2903 Bunker Hill Lane, Suite 200
Santa Clara, CA 95054

     0.30     Warrant        6/26/2015       

Preferred

Series D-2


 

     750,000        99        461     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Semiconductors (0.02%)*

                   99        461     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Software

                      

Aria Systems, Inc.
575 Market Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

     0.11     Warrant        5/22/2015       

Preferred

Series G


 

     231,535        74        —      

Automation Anywhere, Inc.
633 River Oaks Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134

     0.06     Warrant        9/23/2022       
Common
Stock
 
 
     254,778        449        338     

Bitsight Technologies, Inc.
111 Huntington Ave, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02199

     0.10     Warrant        11/18/2020       
Common
Stock
 
 
     29,691        284        417     

Brain Corporation
10182 Telesis Court, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92121

     0.36     Warrant        10/4/2021       
Common
Stock
 
 
     435,396        215        90     

CloudBolt Software, Inc.
12345 Parklawn Dr, Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852

     0.27     Warrant        9/30/2020       
Common
Stock
 
 
     211,342        117        —      

Cloudian, Inc.
63 Bovet Road, Suite 400
San Mateo, CA 94402

     0.18     Warrant        11/6/2018       
Common
Stock
 
 
     477,454        71        —      

 

40


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
   Acquisition
Date(4)
   Series(3)    Shares    Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

Cloudpay, Inc.
Kingsgate House, Newbury Road
Andover, United Kingdom SP10 4DU

     0.30   Warrant    4/10/2018    Preferred
Series B
   6,763      54        665      (5)(10)

Coronet Cyber Security Ltd.
550 West Van Buren, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60607

     0.09   Warrant    9/26/2024    Ordinary
Shares
   39,183    $ 254      $ 254     

Couchbase, Inc.
3250 Olcott Street
Santa Clara, CA 95054

     0.21   Warrant    4/25/2019    Common
Stock
   105,350      462        728      (4)

Cutover, Inc.
41 Luke Street, Shoreditch
London, United Kingdom EC2A 4DP

     0.11   Warrant    9/21/2022    Common
Stock
   102,898      26        44      (5)(10)(12)

Dashlane, Inc.
44 West 18th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10011

     0.66   Warrant    3/11/2019    Common
Stock
   770,838      461        1,077     

Demandbase, Inc.
680 Folsom, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94107

     0.21   Warrant    8/2/2021    Common
Stock
   727,047      545        135     

Dragos, Inc.
1745 Dorsey Road, Suite R
Hanover, MD 21076

     0.13   Warrant    6/28/2023    Common
Stock
   57,528      1,576        867     

Dronedeploy, Inc.
548 Market St., #34583
San Francisco, CA 94104

     0.15   Warrant    6/30/2022    Common
Stock
   95,911      278        295     

Earnix, Inc.
221 Crescent Street, STE 104
Waltham, MA 02453

     0.12   Warrant    6/6/2024    Common
Stock
   20,762      220        295     

Elation Health, Inc.
530 Divisadero Street, Suite 872
San Francisco, CA 94117

     0.30   Warrant    9/12/2022    Common
Stock
   362,837      583        226     

First Insight, Inc.
2000 Ericsson Drive, Suite 200
Warrendale, PA 15086-6507

     0.37   Warrant    5/10/2018    Preferred
Series B
   75,917      96        24     

Fulfil Solutions, Inc.
901 Shasta Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

     0.19   Warrant    7/29/2022    Common
Stock
   84,995      325        255     

Harness, Inc.
55 Stockton Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108

     0.12   Warrant    3/12/2024    Common
Stock
   193,618      534        554     

Kore.ai, Inc.
7380 West Sand Lake Road, Suite 390
Orlando, FL 32819

     0.13   Warrant    3/31/2023    Preferred
Series C
   64,293      208        196     

Leapwork ApS
Store Kongensgade 72
Copenhagen, Denmark 1264

     0.14   Warrant    1/23/2023    Common
Stock
   39,948      16        22      (5)(10)(12)

Lightbend, Inc.
580 California, #1231
San Francisco, CA 94104

     0.18   Warrant    2/14/2018    Preferred
Series LB-2
   86,984      131        24     

 

41


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
     Series(3)      Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes  

Mixpanel, Inc.
One Front Street, 28th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111

     0.19     Warrant        9/30/2020       
Common
Stock
 
 
     82,362        252        231     

Pindrop Security, Inc.
1115 Howell Mill Road, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30318

     0.20     Warrant        6/26/2024       
Common
Stock
 
 
     134,542      $ 494      $ 427        (15)  

Reltio, Inc.
100 Marine Parkway, Suite 275
Redwood Shores, CA 94065

     0.09     Warrant        6/30/2020       
Common
Stock
 
 
     69,120        215        595     

Semperis Technologies Inc.
5 Marine View Plaza, Suite 102
Hoboken, NJ 07030

     0.08     Warrant        4/23/2024       
Common
Stock
 
 
     72,122        115        161     

Simon Data, Inc.
483 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013

     0.20     Warrant        3/22/2023       
Common
Stock
 
 
     77,934        96        63        (12)  

SingleStore, Inc.
388 Market Street, Suite 860
San Francisco, CA 94111

     0.46     Warrant        4/28/2020       
Preferred
Series D
 
 
     312,596        103        430     

Sisense Ltd.
Zeev Jabotinsky St 2
Ramat Gan, Israel 5252903

     0.15     Warrant        6/8/2023       
Ordinary
Shares
 
 
     321,956        174        54        (5)(10)  

Suzy, Inc.
228 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003-1502

     0.24     Warrant        8/24/2023       
Common
Stock
 
 
     292,936        367        230        (15)  

Tipalti Solutions Ltd.
65 Pinchas Rosen Street
Tel Aviv, Israel

     0.11     Warrant        3/22/2023       
Ordinary
Shares
 
 
     509,753        359        323        (5)(10)  

VideoAmp, Inc.
2229 South Carmelina Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064

     0.17     Warrant        1/21/2022       
Common
Stock
 
 
     152,048        1,275        203        (15)  
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Software (0.50%)*

                   10,429        9,223     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Space Technologies

                      

Capella Space Corp.
438 Shotwell Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

     0.12     Warrant        10/21/2021       
Common
Stock
 
 
     176,200        207        21        (15)  
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Space Technologies (0.00%)*

                   207        21     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Sustainable and Renewable Technology

                      

Ampion, PBC
31 St. James Avenue, Suite 355
Boston, MA 02116

     0.22     Warrant        4/15/2022       
Common
Stock
 
 
     18,472        52        51     

Electric Hydrogen Co.
1 Strathmore Road
Natick, MA 01760

     0.14     Warrant        3/27/2024       
Common
Stock
 
 
     246,618        507        363        (15)  

Halio, Inc.
3955 Trust Way
Hayward, CA 94545

     0.11     Warrant        4/7/2015       
Common
Stock
 
 
     144,914        63        —      
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Sustainable and Renewable Technology (0.02%)*

                   622        414     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

42


As of September 30, 2024

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Portfolio Company

   Percentage
Ownership
    Type of
Investment
     Acquisition
Date(4)
     Series(3)      Shares      Cost(2)      Value      Footnotes

Total: Warrant Investments (1.62%)*

                 $ 30,720      $ 30,023     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Investments in Securities (191.90%)*

                 $ 3,605,722      $ 3,553,636     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Investment Funds & Vehicles Investments

                      

Drug Discovery & Development

                      

Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund I C.V.
Gooimeer 2 35
Naarden, Netherlands 1411DC

     1.48    

Investment
Funds &
Vehicles
 
 
 
     11/16/2020            $ 2,847      $ 5,123      (5)(10)(17)

Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund II C.V.
Gooimeer 2 35
Naarden, Netherlands 1411DC

     0.62    

Investment
Funds &
Vehicles
 
 
 
     6/23/2022              1,036        1,358      (5)(10)(17)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Drug Discovery & Development (0.35%)*

                   3,883        6,481     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Software

                      

Liberty Zim Co-Invest L.P.
2099 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20006

     0.47    

Investment
Funds &
Vehicles
 
 
 
     7/21/2022              381        396      (5)(10)
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Subtotal: Software (0.02%)*

                   381        396     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total: Investment Funds & Vehicles Investments (0.37%)*

                 $ 4,264      $ 6,877     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Investments (192.27%)*

                 $ 3,609,986      $ 3,560,513     
                

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

*

Value as a percent of net assets. All amounts are stated in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise noted. The Company uses the Standard Industrial Code for classifying the industry grouping of its portfolio companies.

(1)

Prime represents 8.00% as of September 30, 2024. 1-month SOFR, 3-month SOFR and 6-month SOFR represent 4.85%, 4.59%, and 4.25%, respectively, as of September 30, 2024.

(2)

Gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized depreciation for federal income tax purposes totaled $121.3 million, $169.9 million and $48.6 million, respectively. The tax cost of investments is $3.6 billion.

(3)

Preferred and common stock, warrants, and equity interest are generally non-income producing.

(4)

Except for warrants in 22 publicly traded companies and common stock in 33 publicly traded companies, all investments are restricted as of September 30, 2024 and were valued at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs as determined in good faith by the Company’s valuation committee (the “Valuation Committee”) and approved by the board of directors (the “Board”).

(5)

Non-U.S. company or the company’s principal place of business is outside the United States.

(6)

Denotes that all or a portion of the investment in this portfolio company is held by Hercules SBIC V, L.P., the Company’s wholly owned small business investment company.

(7)

Control investment as defined under the 1940 Act in which Hercules owns at least 25% of the company’s voting securities or has greater than 50% representation on its board.

(8)

Debt is on non-accrual status as of September 30, 2024, and is therefore considered non-income producing.

(9)

Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is convertible debt.

(10)

Indicates assets that the Company deems not “qualifying assets” under section 55(a) of 1940 Act. Qualifying assets must represent at least 70% of the Company’s total assets at the time of acquisition of any additional non-qualifying assets.

(11)

Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment is pledged as collateral under the SMBC Facility (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).

(12)

Denotes that all or a portion of the investment is pledged as collateral under the MUFG Bank Facility (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).

(13)

Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment secures the 2031 Asset-Backed Notes (as defined in “Note 5 — Debt”).

(14)

Denotes that all or a portion of the debt investment principal includes accumulated PIK interest and is net of repayments.

(15)

Denotes that all or a portion of the investment in this portfolio company is held by Hercules Capital IV, L.P., the Company’s wholly owned small business investment company.

(16)

Denotes that the fair value of the Company’s total investments in this portfolio company represent greater than 5% of the Company’s total net assets as of September 30, 2024.

(17)

Denotes that there is an unfunded contractual commitment available at the request of this portfolio company as of September 30, 2024 (Refer to “Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies”).

(18)

Denotes unitranche debt with first lien “last-out” senior secured position and security interest in all assets of the portfolio company whereby the “last-out” portion will be subordinated to the “first-out” portion in a liquidation, sale or other disposition.

 

43


(19)

Denotes second lien senior secured debt.

(20)

Gibraltar Acquisition LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary, which is the holding company for their wholly-owned affiliated portfolio companies, Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC and Gibraltar Equipment Finance, LLC.

(21)

Denotes investment in a non-voting security in the form of a promissory note. The terms of the notes provide the Company with a lien on the issuers’ shares of Common Stock for Black Crow AI, Inc., subject to release upon repayment of the outstanding balance of the notes. As of September 30, 2024, the Black Crow AI, Inc. affiliates promissory notes had an outstanding balance of $2.4 million.

(22)

Denotes the security holds rights to royalty fee income associated with certain products of the portfolio company. The approximate cost and fair value of the royalty contract are $12.0 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

(23)

Hercules Adviser LLC is owned by Hercules Capital Management LLC and presented with Hercules Partner Holdings, LLC which are both wholly owned by the Company. Please refer to “Note 1” for additional disclosure.

 

44


SENIOR SECURITIES

Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. The annual information is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for these periods, which have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. The “N/A” indicates information that the SEC expressly does not require to be disclosed for certain types of senior securities.

 

Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

Securitized Credit Facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance

        

December 31, 2014(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2015

   $ 50,000,000      $ 26,352        N/A  

December 31, 2016

   $ 5,015,620      $ 290,234        N/A  

December 31, 2017(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2018

   $ 13,106,582      $ 147,497        N/A  

December 31, 2019(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2020(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2021(7)

     —         —         N/A  

Secured Credit Facility with MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG)(9)

        

December 31, 2014(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2015(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2016(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2017(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2018

   $ 39,849,010      $ 48,513        N/A  

December 31, 2019

   $ 103,918,736      $ 23,423        N/A  

December 31, 2020(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2021(7)

     —         —         N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 107,000,000      $ 27,964        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 61,000,000      $ 55,250        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 240,000,000      $ 15,004        N/A  

Secured Credit Facility with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)

        

December 31, 2021

   $ 29,924,726      $ 85,479        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 72,000,000      $ 41,558        N/A  

 

45


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

December 31, 2023

   $ 94,000,000      $ 35,854        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 201,000,000      $ 17,915        N/A  

Small Business Administration Debentures (HT II)(4)

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 41,200,000      $ 31,535        N/A  

December 31, 2015

   $ 41,200,000      $ 31,981        N/A  

December 31, 2016

   $ 41,200,000      $ 35,333        N/A  

December 31, 2017

   $ 41,200,000      $ 39,814        N/A  

December 31, 2018

     —         —         N/A  

Small Business Administration Debentures (HT III)(5)

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 149,000,000      $ 8,720        N/A  

December 31, 2015

   $ 149,000,000      $ 8,843        N/A  

December 31, 2016

   $ 149,000,000      $ 9,770        N/A  

December 31, 2017

   $ 149,000,000      $ 11,009        N/A  

December 31, 2018

   $ 149,000,000      $ 12,974        N/A  

December 31, 2019

   $ 149,000,000      $ 16,336        N/A  

December 31, 2020

   $ 99,000,000      $ 26,168        N/A  

December 31, 2021

     —         —         N/A  

Small Business Administration Debentures (HC IV)(6)

        

December 31, 2021

   $ 150,500,000      $ 16,996        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 175,000,000      $ 17,098        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 175,000,000      $ 19,259        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 175,000,000      $ 20,577        N/A  

2016 Convertible Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 17,674,000      $ 74,905      $ 1,290  

December 31, 2015

   $ 17,604,000      $ 74,847      $ 1,110  

December 31, 2016

     —         —         N/A  

April 2019 Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 84,489,500      $ 15,377      $ 1,023  

December 31, 2015

   $ 64,489,500      $ 20,431      $ 1,017  

December 31, 2016

   $ 64,489,500      $ 22,573      $ 1,022  

December 31, 2017

     —         —         N/A  

 

46


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

September 2019 Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 85,875,000      $ 15,129      $ 1,026  

December 31, 2015

   $ 45,875,000      $ 28,722      $ 1,009  

December 31, 2016

   $ 45,875,000      $ 31,732      $ 1,023  

December 31, 2017

     —         —         N/A  

2022 Notes

        

December 31, 2017

   $ 150,000,000      $ 10,935      $ 1,014  

December 31, 2018

   $ 150,000,000      $ 12,888      $ 976  

December 31, 2019

   $ 150,000,000      $ 16,227      $ 1,008  

December 31, 2020

   $ 150,000,000      $ 17,271      $ 1,017  

December 31, 2021

   $ 150,000,000      $ 17,053      $ 1,019  

December 31, 2022

     —         —         N/A  

2024 Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 103,000,000      $ 12,614      $ 1,010  

December 31, 2015

   $ 103,000,000      $ 12,792      $ 1,014  

December 31, 2016

   $ 252,873,175      $ 5,757      $ 1,016  

December 31, 2017

   $ 183,509,600      $ 8,939      $ 1,025  

December 31, 2018

   $ 83,509,600      $ 23,149      $ 1,011  

December 31, 2019

     —         —         N/A  

 

47


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

2025 Notes

        

December 31, 2018

   $ 75,000,000      $ 25,776      $ 962  

December 31, 2019

   $ 75,000,000      $ 32,454      $ 1,032  

December 31, 2020

   $ 75,000,000      $ 34,541      $ 1,020  

December 31, 2021

     —         —         N/A  

2033 Notes

        

December 31, 2018

   $ 40,000,000      $ 48,330      $ 934  

December 31, 2019

   $ 40,000,000      $ 60,851      $ 1,054  

December 31, 2020

   $ 40,000,000      $ 64,765      $ 1,072  

December 31, 2021

   $ 40,000,000      $ 63,948      $ 1,067  

December 31, 2022

   $ 40,000,000      $ 74,804      $ 984  

December 31, 2023

   $ 40,000,000      $ 84,256      $ 1,010  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 40,000,000      $ 90,025      $ 1,025  

July 2024 Notes

        

December 31, 2019

   $ 105,000,000      $ 23,181        N/A  

December 31, 2020

   $ 105,000,000      $ 24,672        N/A  

December 31, 2021

   $ 105,000,000      $ 24,361        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 105,000,000      $ 28,497        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 105,000,000      $ 32,098        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

     —         —         N/A  

February 2025 Notes

        

December 31, 2020

   $ 50,000,000      $ 51,812        N/A  

December 31, 2021

   $ 50,000,000      $ 51,159        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 50,000,000      $ 59,843        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 50,000,000      $ 67,405        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 50,000,000      $ 72,020        N/A  

 

48


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

June 2025 Notes

        

December 31, 2020

   $ 70,000,000      $ 37,009        N/A  

December 31, 2021

   $ 70,000,000      $ 36,542        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 70,000,000      $ 42,745        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 70,000,000      $ 48,146        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 70,000,000      $ 51,443        N/A  

June 2025 3-Year Notes

        

December 31, 2022

   $ 50,000,000      $ 59,843        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 50,000,000      $ 67,405        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 50,000,000      $ 72,020        N/A  

March 2026 A Notes

        

December 31, 2020

   $ 50,000,000      $ 51,812        N/A  

December 31, 2021

   $ 50,000,000      $ 51,159        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 50,000,000      $ 59,843        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 50,000,000      $ 67,405        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 50,000,000      $ 72,020        N/A  

March 2026 B Notes

        

December 31, 2021

   $ 50,000,000      $ 51,159        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 50,000,000      $ 59,843        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 50,000,000      $ 67,405        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 50,000,000      $ 72,020        N/A  

September 2026 Notes

        

December 31, 2021

   $ 325,000,000      $ 7,871        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 325,000,000      $ 9,207        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 325,000,000      $ 10,370        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 325,000,000      $ 11,080        N/A  

 

49


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

January 2027 Notes

        

December 31, 2022

   $ 350,000,000      $ 8,549        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 350,000,000      $ 9,629        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 350,000,000      $ 10,289        N/A  

2017 Asset-Backed Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 16,049,144      $ 80,953      $ 1,375  

December 31, 2015

     —         —         N/A  

2021 Asset-Backed Notes

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 129,300,000      $ 10,048      $ 1,000  

December 31, 2015

   $ 129,300,000      $ 10,190      $ 996  

December 31, 2016

   $ 109,205,263      $ 13,330      $ 1,002  

December 31, 2017

   $ 49,152,504      $ 33,372      $ 1,001  

December 31, 2018

     —         —         N/A  

2027 Asset-Backed Notes

        

December 31, 2018

   $ 200,000,000      $ 9,666      $ 1,006  

December 31, 2019

   $ 200,000,000      $ 12,170      $ 1,004  

December 31, 2020

   $ 180,988,022      $ 14,314      $ 1,001  

December 31, 2021

     —         —         N/A  

2028 Asset-Backed Notes

        

December 31, 2019

   $ 250,000,000      $ 9,736      $ 1,004  

December 31, 2020

   $ 250,000,000      $ 10,362      $ 1,002  

December 31, 2021

     —         —         N/A  

2031 Asset-Backed Notes

        

December 31, 2022

   $ 150,000,000      $ 19,948      $ 951  

December 31, 2023

   $ 150,000,000      $ 22,468      $ 950  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 150,000,000      $ 24,007      $ 970  

 

50


Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage

per Unit(2)
     Average
Market
Value
per Unit(3)
 

2022 Convertible Notes

        

December 31, 2017

   $ 230,000,000      $ 7,132      $ 1,028  

December 31, 2018

   $ 230,000,000      $ 8,405      $ 946  

December 31, 2019

   $ 230,000,000      $ 10,583      $ 1,021  

December 31, 2020

   $ 230,000,000      $ 11,264      $ 1,027  

December 31, 2021

   $ 230,000,000      $ 11,121      $ 1,026  

December 31, 2022

     —         —         N/A  

Total Senior Securities(8)

        

December 31, 2014

   $ 626,587,644      $ 2,073        N/A  

December 31, 2015

   $ 600,468,500      $ 2,194        N/A  

December 31, 2016

   $ 667,658,558      $ 2,180        N/A  

December 31, 2017

   $ 802,862,104      $ 2,043        N/A  

December 31, 2018

   $ 980,465,192      $ 1,972        N/A  

December 31, 2019

   $ 1,302,918,736      $ 1,868        N/A  

December 31, 2020

   $ 1,299,988,022      $ 1,993        N/A  

December 31, 2021

   $ 1,250,424,726      $ 2,046        N/A  

December 31, 2022

   $ 1,594,000,000      $ 1,877        N/A  

December 31, 2023

   $ 1,570,000,000      $ 2,147        N/A  

September 30, 2024 (unaudited)

   $ 1,751,000,000      $ 2,057        N/A  

 

(1)

Total amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented.

(2)

The asset coverage ratio for a class of senior securities representing indebtedness is calculated as our consolidated total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, including senior securities not subject to asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act due to exemptive relief from the SEC, divided by senior securities representing indebtedness. This asset coverage ratio is multiplied by $1,000 to determine the Asset Coverage per Unit.

(3)

Not applicable because senior securities are not registered for public trading.

(4)

Issued by Hercules Technology II, L.P. (“HT II”), one of our prior SBIC subsidiaries, to the SBA. On July 13, 2018, we completed repayment of the remaining outstanding HT II debentures and subsequently surrendered the SBA license with respect to HT II. These categories of senior securities were not subject to the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act as a result of exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC.

(5)

Issued by HT III, one of our prior SBIC subsidiaries, to the SBA. On May 5, 2021, we completed repayment of the remaining outstanding HT III debentures and subsequently surrendered the SBA license with respect to HT III. These categories of senior securities were not subject to the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act as a result of exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC.

(6)

Issued by HC IV, one of our SBIC subsidiaries, to the SBA. These categories of senior securities are not subject to the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act as a result of exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC.

(7)

The Company’s Wells Facility and MUFG Bank Facility had no borrowings outstanding as of the periods noted above.

(8)

The total senior securities and Asset Coverage per Unit shown for those securities do not represent the asset coverage ratio requirement under the 1940 Act, because the presentation includes senior securities not subject to the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act as a result of exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC. As of September 30, 2024, our asset coverage ratio under our regulatory requirements as a business development company was 217.1% excluding our SBA debentures as a result of our exemptive order from the SEC which allows us to exclude all SBA leverage from our asset coverage ratio.

(9)

The June 2022 amendment of the MUFG Bank Facility replaced the Union Bank Facility via an amendment as the lead lender.

 

51


BUSINESS

The information contained under the caption “Item 1A. Business” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

52


MANAGEMENT

The information contained under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Three Independent Directors” in our most recent Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders and “Item 1. Business” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

53


CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The information contained under the captions “Item 1. Business—Certain United States Income Tax Considerations” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

54


SALES OF COMMON STOCK BELOW NET ASSET VALUE

We are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below NAV per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, at a price below the current NAV of the common stock, or sell warrants, options or other rights to acquire such common stock, at a price below the current NAV of the common stock if our Board of Directors, subject to its fiduciary duties and regulatory requirements, determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders and our stockholders have approved the practice of making such sales. Pursuant to approval granted at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, we are permitted to sell or otherwise issue shares of the common stock not exceeding 25% of our then outstanding common stock, at a price not more than 25% below the then-current NAV per share. Such stockholder approval expires on August 15, 2025.

In order to sell shares pursuant to this authorization:

 

   

majority of our independent directors who have no financial interest in the sale must have approved the sale; and

 

   

a majority of such directors, who are not interested persons of the Company, in consultation with the underwriter or underwriters of the offering if it is to be underwritten, must have determined in good faith, and as of a time immediately prior to the first solicitation by us or on our behalf of firm commitments to purchase such shares or immediately prior to the issuance of such shares, that the price at which such shares are to be sold is not less than a price which closely approximates the market value of those shares, less any underwriting commission or discount; and

Any offering of common stock below NAV per share will be designed to raise capital for investment in accordance with our investment objectives and business strategies.

In making a determination that an offering below NAV per share is in our and our stockholders’ best interests, our Board of Directors would consider a variety of factors including:

 

   

The effect that an offering below NAV per share would have on our stockholders, including the potential dilution they would experience as a result of the offering;

 

   

The amount per share by which the offering price per share and the net proceeds per share are less than the most recently determined NAV per share;

 

   

The relationship of recent market prices of our common stock to NAV per share and the potential impact of the offering on the market price per share of our common stock;

 

   

Whether the proposed offering price would closely approximate the market value of our shares;

 

   

The potential market impact of being able to raise capital during the current financial market difficulties;

 

   

The nature of any new investors anticipated to acquire shares in the offering;

 

   

The anticipated rate of return on and quality, type and availability of investments to be funded with the proceeds from the offering, if any; and

 

   

The leverage available to us, both before and after any offering, and the terms thereof.

Sales by us of our common stock at a discount from NAV pose potential risks for our existing stockholders whether or not they participate in the offering, as well as for new investors who participate in the offering.

The following three headings and accompanying tables will explain and provide hypothetical examples on the impact of an offering at a price less than NAV per share on three different sets of investors:

 

   

existing stockholders who do not purchase any shares in the offering;

 

   

existing stockholders who purchase a relatively small amount of shares in the offering or a relatively large amount of shares in the offering; and

 

   

new investors who become stockholders by purchasing shares in the offering.

 

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Except for such authorizations as otherwise may be required with respect to a particular issuance under applicable law, NYSE rules or our charter, no further authorization from stockholders will be solicited or required prior to a sale or other issuance of shares of common stock at a price below NAV per share in accordance with the terms of our stockholders’ authorization.

Impact on Existing Stockholders not Participating in the Offering

Our existing stockholders who do not participate in an offering below NAV per share or who do not buy additional shares in the secondary market at the same or lower price we obtain in the offering (after expenses and commissions) face the greatest potential risks. All stockholders will experience an immediate decrease (often called dilution) in the NAV of the shares they hold. Stockholders who do not participate in the offering will also experience a disproportionately greater decrease in their participation in our earnings and assets and their voting power than stockholders who do participate in the offering. All stockholders may also experience a decline in the market price of their shares, which often reflects to some degree announced or potential decreases in NAV per share. This decrease could be more pronounced as the size of the offering and level of discount to NAV increases.

The following table illustrates the level of NAV dilution that would be experienced by a nonparticipating stockholder in different hypothetical offerings of different sizes and levels of discount from NAV per share. Actual sales prices and discounts may differ from the presentation below.

 

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The examples assume that Company XYZ has 3,000,000 common shares outstanding, $40,000,000 in total assets and $10,000,000 in total liabilities. The current NAV and NAV per share are thus $30,000,000 and $10.00, respectively. The table illustrates the dilutive effect on nonparticipating Stockholder A of (1) an offering of 150,000 shares (5% of the outstanding shares) with proceeds to the Company XYZ at $9.50 per share after offering expenses and commissions, (2) an offering of 300,000 shares (10% of the outstanding shares) with proceeds to the Company XYZ at $9.00 per share after offering expenses and commissions, (3) an offering of 600,000 shares (20% of the outstanding shares) with proceeds to the Company XYZ at $8.00 per share after offering expenses and commissions and (4) an offering of 750,000 shares (25% of the outstanding shares) with proceeds to the Company XYZ at $7.50 per share after offering expenses and commissions,

 

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           Example 1     Example 2     Example 3     Example 4  
     Prior to     5% Offering at 5%
Discount
    10% Offering at 10%
Discount
    20% Offering at 20%
Discount
    25% Offering at 25%
Discount
 
   Sale Below
NAV
    Following
Sale
    % Change     Following
Sale
    % Change     Following
Sale
    % Change     Following
Sale
    % Change  

Offering Price

                  

Price per Share of Our Common Stock to the Public(1)

     —      $ 10.00       —      $ 9.47       —      $ 8.42       —      $ 7.89       —   

Net Proceeds per Share of Our Common Stock to Issuer

     —      $ 9.50       —      $ 9.00       —      $ 8.00       —      $ 7.50       —   

Decrease to NAV

                  

Total Shares of Our Common Stock Outstanding

     3,000,000       3,150,000       5.00     3,300,000       10.00     3,600,000       20.00     3,750,000       25.00

NAV per Share of Our Common Stock $

   $ 10.00     $ 9.98       (0.20 )%    $ 9.91       (0.90 )%    $ 9.67       (3.30 )%    $ 9.50       (5.00 )% 

Dilution to Nonparticipating Stockholder

                  

Shares of Our Common Stock Held by Stockholder A

     30,000       30,000       —        30,000       —        30,000       —        30,000       —   

Percentage Held by Stockholder A

     1.00     0.95     (4.76 )%      0.91     (9.09 )%      0.83     (16.67 )%      0.80     (20.00 )% 

Total NAV Held by Stockholder A

   $ 300,000     $ 299,400       (0.20 )%    $ 297,300       (0.90 )%    $ 290,100       (3.30 )%    $ 285,000       (5.00 )% 

Total Investment by Stockholder A (Assumed to Be $10.00 per Share of Our Common Stock)

   $ 300,000     $ 300,000       —      $ 300,000       —      $ 300,000       —      $ 300,000       —   

Total Dilution to Stockholder A (Total NAV Less Total Investment)

     —      $ (600     —      $ (2,700     —      $ (9,900     —      $ (15,000     —   

Investment per Share of Our Common Stock Held by Stockholder A (Assumed to be $10.00 per Share of our Common Stock on Shares of Our Common Stock Held Prior to Sale)

   $ 10.00     $ 10.00       —      $ 10.00       —      $ 10.00       —      $ 10.00       —   

NAV per Share of Our Common Stock Held by Stockholder A

     —      $ 9.98       —      $ 9.91       —      $ 9.67       —      $ 9.50       —   

Dilution per Share of Our Common Stock Held by Stockholder A (NAV per Share of Our Common Stock Less Investment per Share of Our Common Stock)

     —      $ (0.02     —      $ (0.09     —      $ (0.33     —      $ (0.50     —   

Percentage Dilution to Stockholder A (Dilution per Share Divided by Investment per Share of Our Common Stock)

     —        —        (0.20 )%      —        (0.90 )%      —        (3.30 )%      —        (5.00 )% 

 

(1)

Assumes 5% in selling compensation and expenses paid by Company XYZ.

Impact on Existing Stockholders who do Participate in the Offering

Our existing stockholders who participate in an offering below NAV per share or who buy additional shares in the secondary market at the same or lower price as we obtain in the offering (after expenses and commissions) will experience the same types of NAV dilution as the nonparticipating stockholders, albeit at a lower level, to the extent they purchase less than the same percentage of the discounted offering as their interest in our shares immediately prior to the offering. The level of NAV dilution on an aggregate basis will decrease as the number of shares such stockholders purchase increases. Existing stockholders who buy more than their proportionate percentage will experience NAV dilution but will, in contrast to existing stockholders who purchase less than their proportionate share of the offering, experience an increase (often called accretion) in NAV per share over their

 

58


investment per share and will also experience a disproportionately greater increase in their participation in our earnings and assets and their voting power than our increase in assets, potential earning power and voting interests due to the offering. The level of accretion will increase as the excess number of shares purchased by such stockholder increases. Even a stockholder who over-participates will, however, be subject to the risk that we may make additional discounted offerings in which such stockholder does not participate, in which case such a stockholder will experience NAV dilution as described above in such subsequent offerings. These stockholders may also experience a decline in the market price of their shares, which often reflects to some degree announced or potential decreases in NAV per share. This decrease could be more pronounced as the size of the offering and the level of discount to NAV increases.

The following chart illustrates the level of dilution and accretion in the hypothetical 20% discount offering from the prior chart (Example 3) for a stockholder that acquires shares equal to (1) 50% of its proportionate share of the offering (i.e., 3,000 shares, which is 0.5% of an offering of 600,000 shares rather than its 1.0% proportionate share) and (2) 150% of such percentage (i.e., 9,000 shares, which is 1.5% of an offering of 600,000 shares rather than its 1.0% proportionate share). The prospectus supplement pursuant to which any discounted offering is made will include a chart for this example based on the actual number of shares in such offering and the actual discount from the most recently determined NAV per share.

 

     Prior to     50% Participation     150% Participation  
   Sale Below
NAV
    Following
Sale
    % Change     Following
Sale
    % Change  

Offering Price

          

Price per Share to Public(1)

     —      $ 8.42       —      $ 8.42       —   

Net Proceeds per Share to Issuer

     —      $ 8.00       —      $ 8.00       —   

Increase in Shares and Decrease to NAV

          

Total Shares Outstanding

     3,000,000       3,600,000       20.00     3,600,000       20.00

NAV per Share

   $ 10.00     $ 9.67       (3.33 )%    $ 9.67       (3.33 )% 

Dilution/Accretion to Participating Stockholder A

          

Share Dilution/Accretion

          

Shares Held by Stockholder A

     30,000       33,000       10.00     39,000       30.00

Percentage Outstanding Held by Stockholder A

     1.00     0.92     (8.33 )%      1.08     8.33

NAV Dilution/ Accretion

          

Total NAV Held by Stockholder A

   $ 300,000     $ 319,000       6.33   $ 377,000       25.67

Total Investment by Stockholder A (Assumed to be $10.00 per Share on Shares Held Prior to Sale)

     —      $ 325,260       —      $ 375,780       —   

Total Dilution/Accretion to Stockholder A (Total 50% NAV Less Total Investment)

     —      $ (6,260     —      $ 1,220       —   

NAV Dilution/ Accretion per Share

          

NAV per Share Held by Stockholder A

     —      $ 9.67       —      $ 9.67       —   

Investment per Share Held by Stockholder A (Assumed to be $10.00 per Share on Shares Held Prior to Sale)

   $ 10.00     $ 9.86       (1.44 )%    $ 9.64       (3.65 )% 

NAV Dilution/ Accretion per Share Experienced by Stockholder A (NAV per Share Less Investment per Share)

     —      $ (0.19     —      $ 0.03       —   

Percentage NAV Dilution/ Accretion Experienced by Stockholder A (NAV Dilution/ Accretion per Share Divided by Investment per Share)

     —        —        (1.93 )%      —        0.33

 

(1)

Assumes 5% in selling compensation and expenses paid by Company XYZ.

Impact on New Investors

Investors who are not currently stockholders, but who participate in an offering below NAV and whose investment per share is greater than the resulting NAV per share (due to selling compensation and expenses paid by us) will experience an immediate decrease, albeit small, in the NAV of their shares and their NAV per share compared to the price they pay for their shares. Investors who are not currently stockholders and who participate in an offering below NAV per share and whose investment per

 

59


share is also less than the resulting NAV per share will experience an immediate increase in the NAV of their shares and their NAV per share compared to the price they pay for their shares. All these investors will experience a disproportionately greater participation in our earnings and assets and their voting power than our increase in assets, potential earning power and voting interests. These investors will, however, be subject to the risk that we may make additional discounted offerings in which such new stockholder does not participate, in which case such new stockholder will experience dilution as described above in such subsequent offerings. These investors may also experience a decline in the market price of their shares, which often reflects to some degree announced or potential decreases in NAV per share. This decrease could be more pronounced as the size of the offering and level of discount to NAV increases.

The following chart illustrates the level of dilution or accretion for new investors that would be experienced by a new investor in a hypothetical 20% discounted offerings as described in the first chart above. The illustration is for a new investor who purchases the same percentage (1.00%) of the shares in the offering as Stockholder A in the prior examples held immediately prior to the offering. The prospectus supplement pursuant to which any discounted offering is made will include a chart for these examples based on the actual number of shares in such offering and the actual discount from the most recently determined NAV per share.

 

     Prior to      20% Offering at 20%
Discount
 
   Sale Below
NAV
     Following
Sale
    % Change  

Offering Price

       

Price per Share of Our Common Stock to Public(1)

     —       $ 9.47       —   

Net Proceeds per Share of Our Common Stock to Issuer

     —       $ 9.00       —   

Increase in Shares of Our Common Stock and Decrease to NAV

       

Total Shares of Our Common Stock Outstanding

     3,000,000        3,300,000       10.00

NAV per Share

   $ 10.00      $ 9.91       (0.91 )% 

Dilution/Accretion to New Investor A

       

Share Dilution/Accretion

       

Shares of Our Common Stock Held by Investor A

     —         6,000       100.00

Percentage Outstanding Held by Investor A

     —         17.00     100.00

NAV Dilution

       

Total NAV Held by Investor A

     —       $ 58,020       100.00

Total Investment by Investor A (At Price to Public)

     —       $ 50,520       100.00

Total Dilution/Accretion to Investor A (Total NAV Less Total Investment)

     —       $ 7,500       (12.93 )% 

NAV Dilution per Share

       

NAV per Share of Our Common Stock Held by Investor A

     —       $ 9.67       —   

Investment per Share of Our Common Stock Held by Investor A

     —       $ 8.42       100.00

NAV Dilution/ Accretion per Share of Our Common Stock Experienced by Investor A (NAV per Share of Our Common Stock Less Investment per Share of Our Common Stock )

     —       $ 1.25       100.00

Percentage NAV Dilution/ Accretion Experienced by Investor A (NAV Dilution/ Accretion per Share of Our Common Stock Divided by Investment per Share of Our Common Stock)

     —         —        12.93

 

(1)

Assumes 5% in selling compensation and expenses paid by Company XYZ.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The information contained under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our most recent Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

The Company has adopted the following plan (the “Plan”) with respect to dividends and distributions declared by our Board of Directors on shares of our common stock:

Unless a stockholder specifically elects to receive cash as set forth below, all cash dividends and distributions hereafter declared by our Board of directors shall be payable in shares of common stock, and no action shall be required on such stockholder’s part to receive a distribution in stock.

Such cash dividends and distributions shall be payable on such date or dates as may be fixed from time to time by our Board of Directors to stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date(s) established by our Board of Directors for the dividend and/or distribution involved.

The Company intends to use primarily newly-issued shares of common stock to implement the Plan, whether its shares are trading at a premium or at a discount to NAV; however, the Company reserves the right to purchase shares in the open market in connection with its obligations under the Plan. If dividends and distributions are reinvested in newly-issued shares, then the number of shares to be issued to a stockholder shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the record date fixed by our Board of Directors for such distribution on the NYSE or, if no sale is reported for such day, at the average of their reported bid and asked prices. If dividends and distributions are reinvested in shares purchased on the open market, then the number of shares received by a stockholder shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the weighted average price per share for all shares purchased by the Plan Administrator on the open market in connection with such distribution.

A stockholder may, however, elect to receive his, her or its dividends and distributions in cash. To exercise this option, such stockholder shall notify Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the plan administrator (the “Plan Administrator”), so that such notice is received by the Plan Administrator prior to the record date fixed by our Board of Directors for the dividend and/or distribution involved for the payment to be paid in cash. If such notice is received by the Plan Administrator after the record date, then that dividend will be reinvested pursuant to the terms of the Plan and any subsequent dividends will be paid in cash.

The Plan Administrator will set up an account for shares acquired pursuant to the Plan for each stockholder who has not so elected to receive dividends and distributions in cash (each a “Participant”). The Plan Administrator may hold each Participant’s shares, together with the shares of other Participants, in non-certificated form in the Plan Administrator’s name or that of its nominee. Upon request by a Participant, received prior to a record date, the Plan Administrator will promptly terminate the Participant’s account and, instead of crediting shares to and/or carrying shares in a Participant’s account, will issue a certificate registered in the Participant’s name for the number of whole shares registered to the value of which will be calculated using the market value of the Company’s shares determined in accordance with Section 3 hereof, less any fees. If a request to terminate a Participant’s account is received by the Plan Administrator after a payment date, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may either distribute such dividends and distributions in cash or reinvest them in shares on behalf of the terminating Participant. If such dividends are reinvested, the Plan Administrator will process the termination as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days after the reinvestment is completed.

Upon request by a Participant, the Plan Administrator will issue a certificate registered in the Participant’s name for the number of whole shares registered to the Participant without terminating the Participant’s account. Issuance of certificates may be subject to a transaction fee. Please contact the Plan Administrator at www.computershare.com/investor or at 1-800-736-3001 to determine if there is a certificate issuance fee.

 

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The Plan Administrator will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made pursuant to the Plan as soon as practicable after the date of each acquisition. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to six decimal places) in a share of Common Stock of the Company, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Administrator will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Company’s shares at the time of termination.

The Plan Administrator will forward to each Participant any Company-related proxy solicitation materials and each Company report or other communication to stockholders and will vote any shares held by it under the Plan in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by Participants to the Company.

In the event that the Company makes available to its stockholders rights to purchase additional shares or other securities, the shares held by the Plan Administrator for each Participant under the Plan will be added to any other shares held by the Participant in certificated form in calculating the number of rights to be issued to the Participant.

The Plan Administrator’s fees, if any, for purchases made pursuant to the Plan, and expenses for administering the Plan will be paid for by the Company.

Each Participant may terminate his, her or its account under the Plan by so notifying the Plan Administrator via the Plan Administrator’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, by filling out the transaction request form located at the bottom of the Participant’s Statement and sending it to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Attn: Investment Services Department, P.O. Box 43006 , Providence, RI 02940-3006 or by calling the Plan Administrator at 1-800-736-3001. See sixth paragraph of these terms and conditions for termination procedures. The Plan may be terminated by the Company upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Company. Upon any termination, the Plan Administrator will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held for the Participant under the Plan and a cash adjustment for any fractional share to be delivered to the Participant less any applicable fees.

You may sell some or all of your shares of Hercules Capital, Inc. common stock held in your Plan account, even if you are not withdrawing from this Plan. You may sell your shares either through your broker or through the Plan Administrator. If you elect to sell through a broker that you have selected, you must first request the Plan Administrator to move your shares to the Direct Registration System and then have your broker request the Plan Administrator to electronically transfer the number of whole shares you want to sell through the DRS Profile System.

Alternatively, you may request the Plan Administrator to send you a certificate representing the number of shares you want to sell. Issuance of a stock certificate may be subject to a transaction fee. The Plan Administrator will generally move your shares to DRS or issue certificates for your shares approximately three business days after your request is received. Alternatively, you may send the Plan Administrator a request to sell some or all of the shares held in your Plan account.

You have the following choices when making a sale:

Batch Order: A batch order is an accumulation of all sale requests by any security holder for a security submitted together as a collective request. Batch orders are submitted on each trading day, to the extent that there are sale requests. Sale instructions for batch orders received by the Plan Administrator will be processed no later than five business days after the date on which the order is received (except where deferral is required under applicable federal or state laws or regulations), assuming the applicable market is open for trading and sufficient market liquidity exists. All sales requests received in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. The Plan Administrator will cause your shares to be sold in the open market within five business days of its receipt of your request. To maximize cost savings for batch order sale requests, the Plan Administrator will seek to sell shares in round lot transactions. For this purpose, the Plan Administrator may combine each selling Plan Participant’s shares with those of other selling Plan Participants. In every case of a batch order sale, the price to each selling Plan Participant will be the weighted average sale price obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker for each aggregate order placed by the Plan Administrator and executed by the broker, less a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold.

Market Order: A market order is a request to sell shares promptly at the then current market price. You may request a market order sale only online at www.computershare.com/investor by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. Market order sale requests made in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. Market order sale requests received online or by telephone will be placed promptly upon receipt during normal market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

63


Eastern Time). Any orders received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time will be placed promptly on the next trading day. The price will be the market price for shares obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker, less a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold. The Plan Administrator will use commercially reasonable efforts to honor requests by Participants to cancel market orders placed outside of market hours. Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volume in the shares, a market order may only be partially filled or not filled at all on the trading day in which it is placed, in which case the order, or remainder of the order, as applicable, will be cancelled at the end of such day. To determine if your shares were sold, you should check your account online at www.computershare.com/investor or call the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. If your market order sale was not filled and you still want the shares to be sold, you will need to re-enter the sale request.

Day Limit Order: A day limit order is an order to sell shares when and if they reach a specific trading price on a specific day. The order is automatically cancelled if the price is not met by the end of that day (or, for orders placed during aftermarket hours, the next trading day the market is open). Depending on the number of shares of common stock being sold and the current trading volume in the shares, such an order may only be partially filled, in which case the remainder of the order will be cancelled. The order may be cancelled by the applicable stock exchange, by the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion or, if the Plan Administrator’s broker has not filled the order, at your request made online at www.computershare.com/investor or by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. There is a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold for each Day Limit Order sale.

Good-Til-Cancelled (“GTC”) Limit Order: A GTC limit order is an order to sell shares of common stock when and if the shares reach a specific trading price at any time while the order remains open (generally up to 30 days). Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volume in the shares, sales may be executed in multiple transactions and over more than one day. If shares are traded on more than one day during which the market is open a separate fee will be charged for each such day. The order (or any unexecuted portion thereof) is automatically cancelled if the trading price is not met by the end of the order period. The order may be cancelled by the applicable stock exchange, by the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion or, if the Plan Administrator’s broker has not filled the order, at your request made online at www.computershare.com/investor or by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. There is a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold for each Good-til-Cancelled Limit Order sale.

General: All sales requests processed over the telephone by a customer service representative entail an additional fee of $15. All per share fees include any brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay. Any fractional share will be rounded up to a whole share for purposes of calculating the per share fee. Fees are deducted from the proceeds derived from the sale. The Plan Administrator may, under certain circumstances, require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Please contact The Plan Administrator to determine if there are any limitations applicable to your particular sale request. Proceeds are normally paid by check, which are distributed within 24 hours of after your sale transaction has settled. The Plan Administrator reserves the right to decline to process a sale if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which shares for the Plan are sold (except for prices specified for day limit orders or GTC limit orders), and no one, other than The Plan Administrator, will select the broker(s) or dealer(s) through or from whom sales are to be made. Participants should be aware that the price may fluctuate during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by the Plan Administrator and the ultimate sale on the open market. Instructions sent to the Plan Administrator to sell shares for a market order or a batch order sale are binding and may not be rescinded.

Any shares issued in connection with a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company will be added to the Participant’s account with the Plan Administrator. Transaction processing may be curtailed or suspended until the completion of such stock split or payment of such stock dividend.

These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Company at any time but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Administrator receives written notice of the termination of his, her or its account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Administrator in its place of a successor agent

 

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under these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the acts to be performed by the Plan Administrator under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any agent for the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Company will be authorized to pay to such successor agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on shares of the Company held in the Participant’s name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor agent as provided in these terms and conditions.

The Plan Administrator will at all times act in good faith for all purchases and sales and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to ensure its full and timely performance of all services to be performed by it under this Plan and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Plan Administrator’s gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents. In no event shall the Company, the Plan Administrator or their agents have any liability as to any inability to purchase shares or as to the timing of any purchase.

A Participant may request to have some or all of the Participant’s shares certificated or sold without terminating his, her or its account with the Plan Administrator.

A Participant may deposit certificated shares into the Participant’s account with the Plan Administrator at any time. Certificated shares may be deposited into the plan, to be held in book-entry form by the Plan Administrator, by delivering with a letter of instruction and such certificates to the Plan Administrator. These certificates should not be endorsed. We strongly recommend that certificates be sent by registered or certified mail, with adequate insurance. However, the method used to submit certificates to the Plan Administrator is at your option and risk.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description is based on relevant portions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and on our charter and bylaws. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you, and we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to any shares of our capital stock being offered.

Under the terms of our charter, our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 167,582,250 shares are outstanding as of December 9, 2024. Under our charter, our Board of Directors is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, and to cause the issuance of such shares, without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, but subject to the 1940 Act, our charter provides that the Board of Directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend the charter from time to time 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. Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations.

Common Stock

All shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, distributions and voting privileges, except as described below and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized by our Board of Directors and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor. Shares of our common stock have no conversion, exchange, preemptive or redemption rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Hercules each share of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

Title of Class

   Amount
Authorized
     Amount Held by
Company for its
Account
     Amount
Outstanding
 

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

     300,000,000        —         167,582,250  

 

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Preferred Stock

Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. You should note, however, that any issuance of preferred stock must comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires, among other things, that (1) immediately after issuance and before any dividend or other distribution is made with respect to our common stock and before any purchase of common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 50% of our total assets after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, and (2) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if distributions on such preferred stock are in arrears by two years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions.

Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.

Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in our best interest or to be liable to us or our stockholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office. Our charter also provides that, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, with the approval of our Board of Directors and provided that certain conditions described in our charter are met, we may pay certain expenses incurred by any such indemnified person in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such indemnified person to repay amounts we have so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under our charter. Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in any such capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in our best interest or to be liable to us or our stockholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,

 

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gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office. Our bylaws also provide that, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, with the approval of our Board of Directors and provided that certain conditions described in our bylaws are met, we may pay certain expenses incurred by any such indemnified person in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such indemnified person to repay amounts we have so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under our bylaws.

Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

We currently have in effect a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy covering our directors and officers and us for any acts and omissions committed, attempted or allegedly committed by any director or officer during the policy period. The policy is subject to customary exclusions.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquiror to acquire us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the negotiation of such proposals may improve their terms.

Classified Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The terms of the first, second and third classes will expire in 2026, 2027 and 2025, respectively. Upon expiration of their current terms, directors of each class are eligible to serve for three-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. A classified board may render a change in control or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. We believe, however, that the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified Board of Directors will help to ensure the continuity and stability of our management and policies.

Election of Directors

Our charter provides that, except as otherwise provided in the bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors will be required to elect each director. Our bylaws currently provide a nominee for director shall be elected as a directly only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and votes cast against such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. Our bylaws further provide that, in a Contested Election (as defined in our bylaws), directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast at a meeting of stockholders that is duly called and at which a quorum is present. Pursuant to our charter and bylaws, our Board of Directors may amend the bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.

 

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Number of Directors; Vacancies; Removal

Our charter provides that the number of directors will be set only by the Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, unless the bylaws are amended, the number of directors may never be less than one nor more than 12. We have elected to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (the “Maryland General Corporation Law”), regarding the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors. Accordingly, at such time, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies, subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.

Our charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause, as defined in the charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors.

Action by Stockholders

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, stockholder action may be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by unanimous consent in lieu of a meeting (unless the charter provides for stockholder action by less than unanimous written consent, which our charter does not). These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders discussed below, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting.

Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the Board of Directors or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the Board of Directors or (3) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our Board of Directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our Board of Directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our Board of Directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.

 

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Approval of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and Bylaws

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter generally provides for approval of charter amendments and extraordinary transactions by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter also provides that certain charter amendments and any proposal for our conversion, whether by merger or otherwise, from a closed-end company to an open-end company or any proposal for our liquidation or dissolution requires the approval of the stockholders entitled to cast at least 75% of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. However, if such amendment or proposal is approved by at least 75% of our continuing directors (in addition to approval by our Board of Directors), such amendment or proposal may be approved by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such a matter. The “continuing directors” are defined in our charter as our current directors, as well as those directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the continuing directors then on the Board of Directors.

Our charter and bylaws provide that the Board of Directors will have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of our bylaws.

No Appraisal Rights

Except with respect to appraisal rights arising in connection with the Control Share Act discussed below, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.

Control Share Acquisitions

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “Control Share Act”) provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

   

a majority or more of all voting power.

The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquiror crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the Board of Directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

Business Combinations

Under the Maryland Business Combination Act (the “Business Combination Act”), “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

   

any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or

 

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an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under this statute if the Board of Directors approved in advance the transaction by which such stockholder otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the Board of Directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

After the 5-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the Board of Directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the Board of Directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution exempting any business combination between us and any other person from the provisions of the Business Combination Act, provided that the business combination is first approved by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons as defined in the 1940 Act.

Conflict with 1940 Act

Our bylaws provide that, if and to the extent that any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any provision of our charter or bylaws conflicts with any provision of the 1940 Act, the applicable provision of the 1940 Act will control.

Regulatory Restrictions

Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, HC IV and SBIC V, have each obtained an SBIC license. The SBA prohibits, without prior SBA approval, a “change of control” or transfers which would result in any person (or group of persons acting in concert) owning 10% or more of any class of capital stock of a SBIC. A “change of control” is any event which would result in a transfer of the power, direct or indirect, to direct the management and policies of a SBIC, whether through ownership, contractual arrangements or otherwise.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK

In addition to shares of common stock, our charter authorizes the issuance of preferred stock. We may issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, without stockholder approval. If we offer preferred stock under this prospectus we will issue an appropriate prospectus supplement. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. You should note, however, that any such an issuance must adhere to the requirements of the 1940 Act, Maryland law and any other limitations imposed by law.

The following is a general description of the terms of the preferred stock we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any preferred stock we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement accompanying each preferred share offering.

The 1940 Act requires, among other things, that (i) immediately after issuance and before any dividend or other distribution is made with respect to our common stock and before any purchase of common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 50% of our total assets after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, (ii) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if dividends or other distribution on the preferred stock are in arrears by two years or more, and (iii) such shares be cumulative as to distributions and have a complete preference over our common stock to payment of their liquidation in event of dissolution. Some matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, holders of preferred stock would vote separately from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations as a BDC. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions.

For any series of preferred stock that we may issue, our Board of Directors will determine and the articles supplementary and the prospectus supplement relating to such series will describe:

 

   

the designation and number of shares of such series;

 

   

the rate and time at which, and the preferences and conditions under which, any dividends or other distributions will be paid on shares of such series, as well as whether such dividends or other distributions are participating or non-participating;

 

   

any provisions relating to convertibility or exchangeability of the shares of such series, including adjustments to the conversion price of such series;

 

   

the rights and preferences, if any, of holders of shares of such series upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

 

   

the voting powers, if any, of the holders of shares of such series;

 

   

any provisions relating to the redemption of the shares of such series;

 

   

any limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions on, or acquire or redeem, other securities while shares of such series are outstanding;

 

   

any conditions or restrictions on our ability to issue additional shares of such series or other securities;

 

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if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other relative powers, preferences and participating, optional or special rights of shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

All shares of preferred stock that we may issue will be identical and of equal rank except as to the particular terms thereof that may be fixed by our Board of Directors, and all shares of each series of preferred stock will be identical and of equal rank except as to the dates from which dividends or other distributions, if any, thereon will be cumulative. To the extent we issue preferred stock, the payment of distributions to holders of our preferred stock will take priority over payment of distributions to our common stockholders. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to any preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete articles supplementary that contain the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

The following is a general description of the terms of the subscription rights we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any subscription rights we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such subscription rights.

We may issue subscription rights to our stockholders to purchase common stock. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with a subscription rights offering to our stockholders, we would distribute certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving subscription rights in such subscription rights offering.

Our stockholders will indirectly bear all of the expenses of the subscription rights offering, regardless of whether our stockholders exercise any subscription rights.

A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any subscription rights we may issue, including the following:

 

   

the period of time the offering would remain open (which shall be open a minimum number of days such that all record holders would be eligible to participate in the offering and shall not be open longer than 120 days);

 

   

the title and aggregate number of such subscription rights;

 

   

the exercise price for such subscription rights (or method of calculation thereof);

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such subscription rights may be payable;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the subscription rights are issued and the number of subscription rights issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

   

the ratio of the offering (which, in the case of transferable rights, will require a minimum of three shares to be held of record before a person is entitled to purchase an additional share);

 

   

the number of such subscription rights issued to each stockholder;

 

   

the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which such right shall expire (subject to any extension);

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum number of subscription rights that may be exercised at one time;

 

   

the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such over-subscription privilege;

 

   

any termination right we may have in connection with such subscription rights offering;

 

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the terms of any rights to redeem, or call such subscription rights;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the subscription rights;

 

   

the material terms of any standby underwriting, backstop or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the subscription rights offering;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights; and

 

   

any other terms of such subscription rights, including exercise, settlement and other procedures and limitations relating to the transfer and exercise of such subscription rights.

Each subscription right will entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash or other consideration such amount of shares of common stock at such subscription price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement beginning on the date specified therein and continuing until the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights will become void.

Upon receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the rights represented by such subscription rights certificate are exercised, a new subscription certificate will be issued for the remaining rights. Prior to exercising their subscription rights, holders of subscription rights will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise. To the extent permissible under applicable law, we may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Under the 1940 Act, we may generally only offer subscription rights (other than rights to subscribe expiring not later than 120 days after their issuance and issued exclusively and ratably to a class or classes of our security holders) on the condition that (1) the subscription rights expire by their terms within ten years; (2) the exercise price is not less than the current market value at the date of issuance; (3) our stockholders authorize the proposal to issue such subscription rights, and a “required” majority of our Board of Directors approves of such issuance on the basis that the issuance is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders; and (4) if the subscription rights are accompanied by other securities, the subscription rights are not separately transferable unless no class of such subscription rights and the securities accompanying them has been publicly distributed. A “required” majority of our Board of Directors is a vote of both a majority of our directors who have no financial interest in the transaction and a majority of the directors who are not interested persons of the company. The 1940 Act also provides that the amount of our voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and subscription rights at the time of issuance may not exceed 25% of our outstanding voting securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any warrants we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants and will be subject to compliance with the 1940 Act.

We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. Such warrants may be issued independently or together with shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be attached or separate from such securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants we may issue, including the following:

 

   

the title and aggregate number of such warrants;

 

   

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire (subject to any extension);

 

   

whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

the terms of any rights to redeem, or call such warrants;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price or such principal amount of debt securities as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement beginning on the date specified therein and continuing until the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Upon receipt of payment and a warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

Prior to exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive principal, premium, if any, or interest payments, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture or, in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends or other distributions, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise any voting rights.

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 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 the Company and its 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.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities in one or more series. The specific terms of each series of debt securities will be described in this prospectus and in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement may or may not modify the general terms found in this prospectus and will be filed with the SEC. For a complete description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, including any supplemental indenture, you should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus relating to that particular series.

As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described in the second paragraph under “Events of Default—Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.

 

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Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the indenture. The following description summarizes the material provisions of the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. For example, in this section, we use capitalized words to signify terms that are specifically defined in the indenture. We have filed the form of the indenture with the SEC. See “Available Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.

A prospectus supplement, which will accompany this prospectus, will describe the particular terms of any series of debt securities being offered, including the following:

 

   

the designation or title of the series of debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount of the series of debt securities;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;

 

   

the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;

 

   

the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which could be based on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and how these amounts will be determined;

 

   

the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the City of New York, of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;

 

   

the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the provision for any sinking fund;

 

   

any restrictive covenants;

 

   

any Events of Default;

 

   

whether the series of debt securities are issuable in certificated form;

 

   

any provisions for defeasance or covenant defeasance;

 

   

if applicable, U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to OID;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option);

 

   

any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities into or for any other securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

 

   

the listing, if any, on a securities exchange; and

 

   

any other terms.

The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.

 

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We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 150%, subject to certain disclosure requirements, immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any indebtedness and other 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 total assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage.

General

The indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the attached prospectus supplement (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants or upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”), may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.

For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder from time to time. Debt securities issued under the indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the “indenture securities.” The indenture also provides that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of indenture securities. See “Resignation of Trustee” section below. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “indenture securities” means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under the indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.

We refer you to the prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.

Conversion and Exchange

If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.

Issuance of Securities in Registered Form

We may issue the debt securities in registered form, in which case we may issue them either in book-entry form only or in “certificated” form. Debt securities issued in book-entry form will be represented by global securities. We expect that we will usually issue debt securities in book-entry only form represented by global securities.

 

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Book-Entry Holders

We will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means debt securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary that will hold them on behalf of financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the debt securities held by the depositary or its nominee. These institutions may hold these interests on behalf of themselves or customers.

Under the indenture, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized as the holder of that debt security. Consequently, for debt securities issued in book-entry form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the debt securities and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary. The depositary will then pass along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn will pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities.

As a result, investors will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book- entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the debt securities are represented by one or more global securities, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

Street Name Holders

In the future, we may issue debt securities in certificated form or terminate a global security. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their debt securities in their own names or in “street name.” Debt securities held in street name are registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution chosen by the investor, and the investor would hold a beneficial interest in those debt securities through the account he or she maintains at that institution.

For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions will pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the applicable trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the applicable trustee, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security or has no choice because we are issuing the debt securities only in book-entry form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend an indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture), we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

When we refer to you, we mean those who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those debt securities. When we refer to your debt securities, we mean the debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, we urge you to check with that institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices,

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges,

 

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how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required,

 

   

Whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future for a particular series of debt securities,

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests, and

 

   

if the debt securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

As noted above, we usually will issue debt securities as registered securities in book-entry form only. A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations when a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the debt security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. The depositary that holds the global security will be considered the holder of the debt securities represented by the global security.

If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

An investor cannot cause the debt securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations we describe below.

 

   

An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities, as we describe under “Issuance of Securities in Registered Form” above.

 

   

An investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form.

 

   

An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the debt securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective.

 

   

The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way.

 

   

If we redeem less than all the debt securities of a particular series being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount to be redeemed from each of its participants holding that series.

 

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An investor is required to give notice of exercise of any option to elect repayment of its debt securities, through its participant, to the applicable trustee and to deliver the related debt securities by causing its participant to transfer its interest in those debt securities, on DTC’s records, to the applicable trustee.

 

   

DTC requires that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security deposited in its book-entry system use immediately available funds. Your broker or bank may also require you to use immediately available funds when purchasing or selling interests in a global security.

 

   

Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations when a Global Security will be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book-entry form (certificated securities). After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of legal holders and street name investors under “Issuance of Securities in Registered Form” above.

The prospectus supplement may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt securities.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustee’s records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often approximately two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”

Payments on Global Securities

We will make payments on a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

Payments on Certificated Securities

We will make payments on a certificated debt security as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, by check at the office of the applicable trustee in New York, New York and/or at other offices that may be specified in the prospectus supplement or in a notice to holders against surrender of the debt security.

Alternatively, if the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the due date. To request payment by wire, the holder must give the applicable trustee or other paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

 

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Payment when Offices are Closed

If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date, except as otherwise indicated in the attached prospectus supplement. Such payment will not result in a default under any debt security or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

Events of Default

You will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of your series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of your series means any of the following (unless the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities states otherwise):

 

   

we do not pay the principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of the series on its due date, and do not cure this default within five days;

 

   

we do not pay interest on a debt security of the series when due, and such default is not cured within 30 days;

 

   

we do not deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of debt securities of the series on its due date, and do not cure this default within five days;

 

   

we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of debt securities of the series for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the series;

 

   

we file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days;

 

   

on the last business day of each of 24 consecutive calendar months, we have an asset coverage of less than 100%; and

 

   

any other Event of Default in respect of debt securities of the series described in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. In certain circumstances, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series.

The trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an “indemnity”). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

 

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Before you are allowed to bypass your trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

   

the holder must give your trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;

 

   

the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity; and

 

   

the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60 day period.

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt securities on or after the due date.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may waive any past defaults other than:

 

   

the payment of principal, any premium or interest; or

 

   

in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.

Each year, we will furnish to each trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Merger or Consolidation

Under the terms of the indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We may also be permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, unless the prospectus supplement relating to certain debt securities states otherwise, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

   

where we merge out of existence or sell our assets, the resulting entity must agree to be legally responsible for our obligations under the debt securities;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing;

 

   

under the indenture, no merger or sale of assets may be made if as a result any of our property or assets or any property or assets of one of our subsidiaries, if any, would become subject to any mortgage, lien or other encumbrance unless either (a) the mortgage, lien or other encumbrance could be created;

 

   

pursuant to the limitation on liens covenant in the indenture without equally and ratably securing the indenture securities or (b) the indenture securities are secured equally and ratably with or prior to the debt secured by the mortgage, lien or other encumbrance;

 

   

we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee; and

 

   

we must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

 

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Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.

Changes Requiring Approval

First, there are changes that we cannot make to debt securities without specific approval of all of the holders. The following is a list of those types of changes:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of or interest on a debt security;

 

   

reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a security following a default;

 

   

adversely affect any right of repayment at the holder’s option;

 

   

change the place (except as otherwise described in the prospectus or prospectus supplement) or currency of payment on a debt security;

 

   

impair your right to sue for payment;

 

   

adversely affect any right to convert or exchange a debt security in accordance with its terms;

 

   

modify the subordination provisions in the indenture in a manner that is adverse to holders of the debt securities;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults;

 

   

modify any other aspect of the provisions of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures, modification and waiver of past defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants; and

 

   

change any obligation we have to pay additional amounts.

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect. We also do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the change takes effect.

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture and the debt securities would require the following approval:

 

   

if the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of that series; and

 

   

if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series of debt securities issued under an indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance with some of our covenants in that indenture. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “—Changes Requiring Approval.”

Further Details Concerning Voting

When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to a debt security:

 

   

for OID securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of these debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default;

 

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for debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that debt security described in the prospectus supplement; and

 

   

for debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent.

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Defeasance—Full Defeasance.”

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding indenture securities of those series on the record date and must be taken within eleven months following the record date.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

Defeasance

The following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that the provisions of covenant defeasance and full defeasance will not be applicable to that series.

Covenant Defeasance

Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay your debt securities. If applicable, you also would be released from the subordination provisions as described under the “Indenture Provisions—Subordination” section below. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

   

if the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates;

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity; and

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act, as amended, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with.

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. For example, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and payable, there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

Full Defeasance

If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called “full defeasance”) if we put in place the following other arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

   

if the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and United States government or United

 

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States government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an IRS ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity. Under current U.S. federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we paid you your share of the cash and notes or bonds at the time the cash and notes or bonds were deposited in trust in exchange for your debt securities and you would recognize gain or loss on the debt securities at the time of the deposit;

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act, as amended, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to defeasance have been complied with;

 

   

Defeasance must not result in a breach of the indenture or any other material agreements; and

 

   

Satisfy the conditions for covenant defeasance contained in any supplemental indentures.

If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. If applicable, you would also be released from the subordination provisions described later under “Indenture Provisions—Subordination.”

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities

Holders may exchange their certificated securities, if any, for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities, if any, at the office of their trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, if any, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and we redeem less than all the debt securities of that series, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.

Resignation of Trustee

Each trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to these series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.

 

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Indenture Provisions—Subordination

Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness (as defined below), but our obligation to you to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking fund or interest, if any, may be made on such subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal (and premium, if any), sinking fund and interest on senior indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by us is received by the trustee in respect of subordinated debt securities or by the holders of any of such subordinated debt securities before all senior indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the senior indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the senior indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the senior indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness upon this distribution by us, the holders of such subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the senior indebtedness out of the distributive share of such subordinated debt securities.

By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our senior creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of any subordinated debt securities. The indenture provides that these subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

Senior indebtedness is defined in the indenture as the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:

 

   

our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than indenture securities issued under the indenture and denominated as subordinated debt securities), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or under which the same is outstanding it is provided that this indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; and

 

   

renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any of this indebtedness.

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement to this prospectus will set forth the approximate amount of our senior indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.

Secured Indebtedness

Certain of our indebtedness, including certain series of indenture securities, may be secured. The prospectus supplement for each series of indenture securities will describe the terms of any security interest for such series and will indicate the approximate amount of our secured indebtedness as of a recent date. In the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, the holders of unsecured indenture securities may recover less, ratably, than holders of any of our secured indebtedness.

The Trustee under the Indenture

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will serve as the trustee under the indenture.

Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies

Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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REGULATION

The information contained under “Item 1. Business—Regulation” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities in one or more underwritten public offerings, at-the-market offerings, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market for the securities, on an exchange, or otherwise, negotiated transactions, block trades, best efforts, auctions or a combination of these methods. The holders of our common stock will indirectly bear any fees and expenses in connection with any such offerings. We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, through agents or through a combination of any such methods of sale. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. A prospectus supplement or supplements will also describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including: the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; any expenses we incur in connection with the sale of such securities; the public offering price; any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. Only underwriters named in the applicable prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at prices determined by an auction process, provided, however, that the offering price per share of our common stock, less any underwriting commissions or discounts, must equal or exceed the NAV per share of our common stock at the time of the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the majority of our voting securities or (3) under such circumstances as the SEC may permit. The price at which securities may be distributed may represent a discount from prevailing market prices. Pursuant to approval granted at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, we are permitted to sell or otherwise issue shares of the common stock not exceeding 25% of our then outstanding common stock, at a price not more than 25% below the then-current NAV per share, if our Board of Directors, subject to its fiduciary duties and regulatory requirements, determines that such sale or issuance is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. Such stockholder approval expires on August 15, 2025. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” above for more information.

In connection with the sale of our securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of our securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell our securities to or through dealers and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of our securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions they receive from us and any profit realized by them on the resale of our securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such compensation received from us will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the NYSE may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the NYSE in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no trading market, other than our common stock, which is traded on the NYSE. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchanges, but we are not obligated to do so. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

Under agreements that we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase our securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of our securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the maximum compensation to the underwriters or dealers in connection with the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities as set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement.

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our securities offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

Securities we hold in connection with our investments are held under a custody agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company located at 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, MA 02171 and City National Bank located at 555 S. Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will act as our transfer agent, dividend paying and reinvestment agent and registrar. The principal business address of the transfer agent is 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters regarding the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Dechert LLP, New York, NY. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for underwriters, if any, by the counsel named in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Pursuant to the Small Business Credit Availability Act, we are allowed to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.

 

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We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings (including those made after the date of the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part) we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus; provided, however, that information “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC which is not deemed filed is not incorporated by reference:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024;

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024, August 1, 2024 and October 30, 2024, respectively;

 

   

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2024;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024, May 2, 2024, June 21, 2024, July 17, 2024, August 1, 2024, August 16, 2024, and October 30, 2024; and December 2, 2024

 

   

The description of our Common Stock referenced in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (No. 001-35515), as filed with the SEC on April 17, 2012, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description prior to the termination of the offering of the common stock registered hereby;

These documents may also be accessed on our website at www.htgc.com. Information contained in, or accessible through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.

You may request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents) at no cost by writing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:

Hercules Capital, Inc.

1 N B Street, Suite 2000

San Mateo, California 94401

(650) 433-5578

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC which are available on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy and information statements and other information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

We maintain a website on the Internet at www.htgc.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the information on our website is not part of this prospectus. We make available, free of charge, on our website our proxy statement, annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

 

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Up to 30,000,000 Shares

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

The date of this prospectus supplement is December 12, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

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