UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number: 001-39995
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(561 ) 510-2390
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company | |||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
| Class | Outstanding at November 13, 2024 | ||||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value per share | |||||
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX
Item 2. | ||||||||
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| As of | |||||||||||
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (unaudited) | |||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
Loans held for investment at fair value (cost of $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Loans held for investment at carrying value, net | |||||||||||
| Loan receivable held at carrying value, net | |||||||||||
| Current expected credit loss reserve | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Loans held for investment at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value, net of current expected credit loss reserve | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | |||||||||||
| Interest receivable | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | |||||||||||
| Assets of discontinued operations | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accrued interest | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Due to affiliate | |||||||||||
| Dividends payable | |||||||||||
| Current expected credit loss reserve | |||||||||||
| Accrued management and incentive fees | |||||||||||
| Accrued direct administrative expenses | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Senior notes payable, net | |||||||||||
| Line of credit payable, net | |||||||||||
| Liabilities of discontinued operations | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, par value $ | |||||||||||
Common stock, par value $ | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Accumulated (deficit) earnings | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
1
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Management and incentive fees, net (less rebate of $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Increase) decrease in provision for current expected credit losses | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on investments, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gains (losses) on loans at fair value, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations before income taxes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total basic earnings per common share | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total diluted earnings per common share | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
2
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(unaudited)
| Three months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on common shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions in connection with the Spin-Off | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on common shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
3
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(unaudited)
| Nine months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In- Capital | Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on common shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on preferred shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of preferred shares | ( | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions in connection with the Spin-Off | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In- Capital | Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on common shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on preferred shares ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
4
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
| Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||
| (Decrease) increase in provision for current expected credit losses | ( | ||||||||||
| Realized (gains) losses on investments, net | |||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt | ( | ||||||||||
| Change in unrealized (gains) losses on loans at fair value, net | |||||||||||
| Accretion of deferred loan original issue discount and other discounts | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs - revolving credit facility | |||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs - senior notes | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | |||||||||||
| Payment-in-kind interest | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Interest receivable | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Interest reserve | ( | ||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||
| Accrued management and incentive fees, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accrued direct administrative expenses | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||
| Issuance of and fundings on loans | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of loans | |||||||||||
| Due from affiliate | ( | ||||||||||
| Principal repayment of loans | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations | |||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities of discontinued operations | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of common stock | |||||||||||
| Payment of offering costs - equity offering | ( | ||||||||||
| Payment of financing costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Redemption of preferred shares | ( | ||||||||||
| Cash distribution in connection with the Spin-Off of SUNS | ( | ||||||||||
| Borrowings on revolving credit facility | |||||||||||
| Repayment of revolving credit facility | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Repayment of senior notes | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of continuing operations | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
5
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity: | |||||||||||
| Interest reserve withheld from funding of loans | $ | $ | |||||||||
| OID withheld from funding of loans | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Dividends declared and not yet paid | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non-cash funding of new loan | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non-cash net assets distribution in connection with the spin-off of SUNS | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Supplemental information: | |||||||||||
| Interest paid during the period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income taxes paid during the period | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
6
ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of September 30, 2024
(unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION
Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) (the “Company” or “AFC”) is an institutional lender that was founded in July 2020 by a veteran team of investment professionals. The Company primarily originates, structures, underwrites, invests in and manages senior secured mortgage loans and other types of loans and debt securities, with a specialization in loans to cannabis industry operators in states that have legalized medical and/or adult-use cannabis.
The Company is a Maryland corporation and completed its initial public offering (the “IPO”) in March 2021. The Company is externally managed by AFC Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company’s “Manager”), pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated January 14, 2021, between the parties (as amended from time to time, the “Management Agreement”). The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AFCG TRS1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TRS1”), operates as a taxable real estate investment trust subsidiary (a “TRS”). TRS1 began operating in July 2021, and the financial statements of TRS1 are consolidated within the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
On July 9, 2024, the Company completed the spin-off (the “Spin-Off”) of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (“SUNS”), which held the Company’s commercial real estate (“CRE”) loan portfolio, into an independent, publicly traded REIT, SUNS. In connection with the Spin-Off, the operating results of the SUNS business through the date of the Spin-Off are reported in net income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. The related assets and liabilities are reported as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash flows from the Company’s discontinued operations are presented as such in the consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts and disclosures included in the notes to consolidated financial statements reflect only the Company’s continuing operations. For additional information, see Note 17, “Discontinued Operations.”
The Company operates in one operating segment. The Company is solely focused on senior secured loans to cannabis industry operators in states where medical and/or adult-use cannabis is legal. These loans are generally held for investment and are typically secured, directly or indirectly, by real estate, equipment, cash flows and the value associated with licenses (where applicable) and/or other assets of borrowers depending on the applicable laws and regulations governing such borrowers.
The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for United States federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company generally will not be subject to United States federal income taxes on its REIT taxable income as long as it annually distributes all of its REIT taxable income prior to the deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and complies with various other requirements as a REIT.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and results of operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC.
Refer to Note 2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies. The Company has included disclosures below regarding basis of presentation and other accounting policies that (i) are required to be disclosed quarterly, (ii) have material changes or (iii) the Company views as critical as of the date of this report.
7
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and in conformity with the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to interim financial information and include the accounts of the Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition as of and for the periods presented. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The current period’s results of operations will not necessarily be indicative of results that ultimately may be realized for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Discontinued Operations
A discontinued operation may include a component or a group of components of the Company’s operations. A disposal of a component or a group of components is reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results when the following occurs: (1) a component (or group of components) meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale; (2) the component or group of components is disposed of by sale; or (3) the component or group of components is disposed of other than by sale (for example, by abandonment or in a distribution to owners in a spin-off). For any component classified as held for sale or disposed of by sale or other than by sale, qualifying for presentation as a discontinued operation, the Company reports the results of operations of the discontinued operations (including any gain or loss recognized on the disposal or loss recognized on classification as held for sale of a discontinued operation), less applicable income taxes (benefit), as a separate component in the consolidated statements of operations for current and all prior periods presented. The Company also reports assets and liabilities associated with discontinued operations as separate line items on the consolidated balance sheets for prior periods. The Company determined that the Spin-Off of SUNS in July 2024 met the criteria for classification as a discontinued operation in accordance with ASC Subtopic 205-20, Discontinued Operations (“ASC 205-20”). See Note 17 for further details.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include the valuation of loans held for investment at fair value and current expected credit losses (“CECL”).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”). Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected to take advantage of this extended transition period. As a result, the Company will not be subject to the same implementation timing for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, which may make comparison of the Company’s financials to those of other public companies more difficult.
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Upon transition, the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods should be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the update on the Company’s future consolidated financial statements.
8
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 improves the transparency of income tax disclosures related to rate reconciliation and income taxes. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. For entities other than public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments should be applied prospectively, however retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the update on the Company’s future consolidated financial statements.
3. LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT AT FAIR VALUE
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio included one and two loans held at fair value, respectively. The aggregate originated commitment under these loans was approximately $85.3 million and $94.2 million, respectively, and outstanding principal was approximately $53.8 million and $71.9 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company funded approximately $4.6 million in new loans and additional principal and received approximately $4.5 million of principal repayments of loans held at fair value and sold $19.3 million of the Company’s investment in Private Company B. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s loans held at fair value had floating interest rates.
The following tables summarize the Company’s loans held at fair value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value(1) | Carrying Value(2) | Outstanding Principal(2) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loan | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loan held at fair value | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value(1) | Carrying Value(2) | Outstanding Principal(2) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Refer to Note 14.
(2)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of unaccreted original issue discount (“OID”) and loan origination costs.
(3)As of September 30, 2024, the maturity date passed on the credit facility with Private Company A without repayment.
(4)Weighted average remaining life is calculated based on the fair value of the loans as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the weighted average remaining life only reflects the remaining life of the Private Company A Credit Facility.
9
The following table presents changes in loans held at fair value as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gains (losses) on loans at fair value, net | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| New fundings | ( | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion of original issue discount | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of loans | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| PIK interest | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had one loan held at fair value on nonaccrual status. Effective March 1, 2024, the Company placed Private Company A on nonaccrual status with an outstanding principal amount of approximately $53.8 million and an unrealized loss of approximately $(19.6 ) million as of September 30, 2024.
A more detailed listing of the Company’s loan held at fair value portfolio based on information available as of September 30, 2024 is as follows:
| Collateral Location | Collateral Type (1) | Fair Value (2) | Carrying Value (3) | Outstanding Principal (3) | Interest Rate | Maturity Date (4) | Payment Terms (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. A | AZ, GA, MA, NM | C, D | $ | $ | $ | % | (6) | 5/8/2024 | I/O | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loan held at fair value | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)C = Cultivation Facilities, D = Dispensary/Retail Facilities.
(2)Refer to Note 14.
(3)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of OID and loan origination costs.
(4)Certain loans are subject to contractual extension options and may be subject to performance based or other conditions as stipulated in the loan agreement. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities stated herein as certain borrowers may have the right to prepay with or without paying a prepayment penalty. The Company may also extend contractual maturities and amend other terms of the loans in connection with loan modifications.
(5)I/O = interest-only, P/I = principal and interest. P/I loans may include interest-only periods for a portion of the loan term.
(6)Base weighted average interest rate of 13.0 % and payment-in-kind (“PIK”) weighted average interest rate of 2.5 %. In October 2023, AFC Agent LLC (“AFC Agent”) delivered a notice of default to Private Company A based on certain financial and other covenant defaults and began charging additional default interest of 5.0 %, beginning as of July 1, 2023, in accordance with the terms of the Private Company A Credit Facility. Effective March 1, 2024, the Company placed the borrower on nonaccrual status. The maturity date passed on the credit facility to Private Company A without repayment. In November 2023, Private Company A was placed into receivership to maintain the borrower’s operations and maximize value for the benefit of its creditors. The court-appointed receiver is determining the amount of principal payments the borrower is able to repay either from operations or from sale of collateral assets on a monthly basis.
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4. LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT AT CARRYING VALUE
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio included eleven and nine loans held at carrying value, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate originated commitment under these loans was approximately $260.2 million and $333.1 million, respectively, and outstanding principal was approximately $242.8 million and $314.4 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company funded approximately $65.5 million of new loans and additional principal, had approximately $48.8 million of principal repayments of loans held at carrying value and sold $90.0 million in the aggregate of the Company’s investments in Subsidiary of Public Company H and Subsidiary of Public Company M. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, approximately 47 % and 84 %, respectively, of the Company’s loans held at carrying value had floating interest rates. As of September 30, 2024, these floating benchmark rates included one-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) subject to a weighted average floor of 3.6 % and quoted at 4.8 %.
The following tables summarize the Company’s loans held at carrying value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding Principal(1) | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value(1) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding Principal(1) | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value(1) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(1)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of unaccreted OID and loan origination costs.
(2)Weighted average remaining life is calculated based on the carrying value of the loans as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
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The following table presents changes in loans held at carrying value as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
| New fundings | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Accretion of original issue discount | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Sale of loans | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| PIK interest | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Loan amortization payments | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had two loans held at carrying value on nonaccrual status.
The Company placed Subsidiary of Private Company G on nonaccrual status effective December 1, 2023, with an outstanding principal amount of approximately $79.2 million and an amortized cost of approximately $77.8 million. Subsidiary of Private Company G was previously placed on nonaccrual status during various periods in 2023. The Company will recognize income related to loan activity only upon receipt of cash. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recognized interest income of approximately $5.2 million related to this loan, which was received in cash.
The Company placed Private Company K on nonaccrual status effective December 1, 2023, with an outstanding principal amount of approximately $12.2 million and an amortized cost of approximately $11.5 million. The Company will recognize income related to loan activity only upon receipt of cash. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company received a $1.3 million payment applied to the outstanding principal balance and recognized interest income of approximately $0.5 million related to this loan received in cash.
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A more detailed listing of the Company’s loans held at carrying value portfolio based on information available as of September 30, 2024 is as follows:
| Collateral Location | Collateral Type (1) | Outstanding Principal (2) | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value (2) | Interest Rate | Maturity Date (3) | Payment Terms (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sub. of Private Co. G | NJ, PA | C, D | $ | $ | ( | $ | % | (5) | 5/1/2026 | I/O | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. K | MA | C, D | ( | % | (6) | 5/3/2027 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. J | MO | C, D | ( | % | (7) | 9/1/2025 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. L | OH | C, D | ( | % | (8) | 5/1/2026 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sub. of Public Co. M | IL, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA | C, D | ( | % | (9) | 8/27/2025 | I/O | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. M | AZ | D | ( | % | (10) | 7/31/2026 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. N - Real Estate | FL | C, D | ( | % | (11) | 4/1/2028 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. N - Non-Real Estate | FL | C, D | ( | % | (12) | 4/1/2028 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. O | AZ, MD, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, Canada | C | ( | % | (13) | 6/1/2028 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. P | MI | C, D | ( | % | (14) | 7/1/2027 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. Q | GA | C, D | ( | % | (15) | 9/1/2028 | P/I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)For cannabis operators, C = Cultivation Facilities, D = Dispensary/Retail Facilities.
(2)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of unaccreted OID and loan origination costs.
(3)Certain loans are subject to contractual extension options and may be subject to performance based or other conditions as stipulated in the loan agreement. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities stated herein as certain borrowers may have the right to prepay with or without paying a prepayment penalty. The Company may also extend contractual maturities and amend other terms of the loans in connection with loan modifications.
(4)I/O = interest-only, P/I = principal and interest. P/I loans may include interest-only periods for a portion of the loan term.
(5)Base interest rate of 12.5 %. Effective March 2024, pursuant to the forbearance agreement with Subsidiary of Private Company G, Subsidiary of Private Company G transitioned from a floating interest rate tied to U.S. prime rate to a fixed interest rate. Effective December 1, 2023, the Company placed the borrower on nonaccrual status.
(6)Base interest rate of 12.0 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 1.0 %) and PIK interest rate of 2.0 %. As amended by the forbearance agreement entered into in March 2024, between 20.0 % and 80.0 % of the monthly cash interest is paid in kind from December 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024. Effective December 1, 2023, the Company placed the borrower on nonaccrual status.
(7)Base interest rate of 12.0 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 1.0 %) and PIK interest rate of 2.0 %.
(8)Base interest rate of 8.4 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 5.0 %).
(9)Base interest rate of 9.5 %.
(10)Base interest rate of 9.0 %. Quarterly cash interest is paid in kind from closing to February 1, 2024 and then payable in cash thereafter.
(11)Base interest rate of 8.0 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 4.5 %).
(12)Base interest rate of 8.0 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 4.5 %).
(13)Base interest rate of 8.5 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 5.0 %).
(14)Base interest rate of 13.0 %. Pursuant to the first amendment to the credit agreement entered into in August 2024, interest was paid in kind from July 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024 and then payable in cash thereafter.
(15)Base interest rate of 8.75 % plus SOFR (SOFR floor of 5.0 %).
13
5. LOAN RECEIVABLE HELD AT CARRYING VALUE
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio included one 4.0 2.0
The following table presents changes in loans receivable as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||
| Total loan receivable held at carrying value at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Total loan receivable held at carrying value at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had one loan receivable held at carrying value on nonaccrual status with an outstanding principal amount of approximately $2.0 million and amortized cost of approximately $2.0 million.
6. CURRENT EXPECTED CREDIT LOSSES
The Company estimates its current expected credit losses on both the outstanding balances and unfunded commitments on loans held for investment and requires consideration of a broader range of historical experience adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecast information to inform the “CECL Reserve” using a model that considers multiple datapoints and methodologies that may include discounted cash flows (“DCF”) and other inputs which may include the risk rating of the loan, how recently the loan was originated compared to the measurement date and expected prepayment, if applicable. Calculation of the CECL Reserve requires loan specific data, which may include the fixed charge coverage ratio, loan-to-value ratio, property type and geographic location. Estimating the CECL Reserve also requires significant judgment with respect to various factors, including but not limited to, the expected timing of loan repayments and the Company’s current and future view of the macroeconomic environment. The Company may consider loan-specific qualitative factors on certain loans to estimate its CECL Reserve, which may include (i) whether cash from the borrower’s operations is sufficient to cover the debt service requirements currently and into the future, (ii) the ability of the borrower to refinance the loan and (iii) the liquidation value of collateral. For loans where the Company has deemed the borrower/sponsor to be experiencing financial difficulty, the Company may elect to apply a practical expedient in which the fair value of the underlying collateral is compared to the amortized cost of the loan in determining a specific CECL allowance.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s CECL Reserve for its loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value is approximately $25.3 million and $26.4 million, respectively, or 10.70 % and 8.71 %, respectively, of the Company’s total loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value of approximately $236.3 million and $303.3 million, respectively, and is bifurcated between the current expected credit loss reserve (contra-asset) related to outstanding balances on loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value of approximately $25.1 million and $26.3 million, respectively, and a liability for unfunded commitments of approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The liability was based on the unfunded portion of the loan commitment over the full contractual period over which the Company is exposed to credit risk through a current obligation to extend credit. Management considered the likelihood that funding will occur and, if funded, the expected credit loss on the funded portion.
14
Activity related to the CECL Reserve for outstanding balances and unfunded commitments on the Company’s loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was as follows:
Outstanding (1) | Unfunded (2) | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in provision for current expected credit losses | |||||||||||||||||
| Write-offs | |||||||||||||||||
| Recoveries | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Outstanding (1) | Unfunded (2) | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| (Decrease) increase in provision for current expected credit losses | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Write-offs | |||||||||||||||||
| Recoveries | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
(1)As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the CECL Reserve related to outstanding balances on loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value is recorded within current expected credit loss reserve in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
(2)As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the CECL Reserve related to unfunded commitments on loans held at carrying value is recorded within current expected credit loss reserve as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company continuously evaluates the credit quality of each loan by assessing the risk factors of each loan and assigning a risk rating based on a variety of factors. Risk factors include property type, geographic and local market dynamics, physical condition, projected cash flow, loan structure and exit plan, loan-to-value ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio, project sponsorship, and other factors deemed necessary by the Company. Based on a 5-point scale, the Company’s loans are rated “1” through “5,” from less risk to greater risk, which ratings are defined as follows:
| Rating | Definition | ||||
| 1 | Very Low Risk — Materially exceeds performance metrics included in original or current credit underwriting and business plan | ||||
| 2 | Low Risk — Collateral and business performance exceeds substantially all performance metrics included in original or current credit underwriting and business plan | ||||
| 3 | Medium Risk — Collateral and business performance meets, or is on track to meet underwriting expectations; business plan is met or can reasonably be achieved | ||||
| 4 | High Risk/ Potential for Loss — Collateral performance falls short of underwriting, material differences from business plans, defaults may exist, or may soon exist absent material improvement. Risk of recovery of interest exists | ||||
| 5 | Impaired/ Loss Likely — Performance is significantly worse than underwriting with major variances from business plan observed. Loan covenants or financial milestones have been breached; exit from loan or refinancing is uncertain. Full recovery of principal is unlikely | ||||
The risk ratings are primarily based on historical data as well as taking into account future economic conditions.
15
As of September 30, 2024, the carrying value, excluding the CECL Reserve, of the Company’s loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value within each risk rating by year of origination is as follows:
| Risk Rating: | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7. INTEREST RECEIVABLE
The following table summarizes the interest receivable by the Company as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Interest receivable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| PIK receivable | |||||||||||
| Unused fees receivable | |||||||||||
| Total interest receivable | $ | $ | |||||||||
8. INTEREST RESERVE
At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had no zero 0.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of aggregate interest income was earned and disbursed from the interest reserves.
The following table presents changes in interest reserve as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning reserves | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| New reserves | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reserves disbursed | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ending reserves | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
9. DEBT
Revolving Credit Facility
On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into the Loan and Security Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, the other loan parties from time to time party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and the lead arranger, bookrunner and administrative agent party thereto, pursuant to which, the Company obtained a $60.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (as amended from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of April 29, 2025.
16
The Revolving Credit Facility contains aggregate commitments of $60.0 million from two FDIC-insured banking institutions (which may be increased to up to $100.0 million in aggregate, subject to available borrowing base and additional commitments) which may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, subject to a borrowing base based on eligible loan obligations held by the Company and subject to the satisfaction of other conditions provided under the Revolving Credit Facility. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at the greater of (1) the applicable base rate plus 0.50 % and (2) 4.50 %, as provided in the Revolving Credit Agreement, payable in cash in arrears. Upon entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company incurred a one-time commitment fee expense of approximately $0.5 million, which was included in prepaid expenses and other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the life of the facility. Commencing on the six-month anniversary of the closing date, the Revolving Credit Facility has an unused line fee of 0.25 % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears, which is included within interest expense in the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. Based on the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company’s estimated average cash balance will exceed the minimum balance required to waive the unused line fee and as such, the Company did not incur an unused line fee for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were $60.0 million and $42.0 million, respectively, and zero and $18.0 million was available for borrowing as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
The obligations of the Company under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by certain assets of the Company comprising of or relating to loan obligations designated for inclusion in the borrowing base. In addition, the Company is subject to various financial and other covenants, including: (1) liquidity of at least $5.0 million, (2) annual debt service coverage of at least 1.5 to 1.0 and (3) secured debt not to exceed 25 % of total consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries.
2027 Senior Notes
On November 3, 2021, the Company issued $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due in May 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”). The 2027 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 5.75 % per annum. Interest on the 2027 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, which began on May 1, 2022. The net proceeds from the offering were approximately $97.0 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering fees and expenses payable by the Company. The Company used the proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes (i) to fund loans related to unfunded commitments to existing borrowers, (ii) to originate and participate in commercial loans to companies operating in the cannabis industry that are consistent with the Company’s investment strategy and (iii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The terms of the 2027 Senior Notes are governed by an indenture, dated November 3, 2021, among us, as issuer, and TMI Trust Company, as trustee (the “Indenture”).
Under the Indenture, the Company is required to cause all of its existing and future subsidiaries to guarantee the 2027 Senior Notes, other than certain immaterial subsidiaries as set forth in the Indenture. TRS1 is currently a subsidiary guarantor under the Indenture.
Prior to February 1, 2027, the Company may redeem the 2027 Senior Notes in whole or in part, at a price equal to the greater of 100 % of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes being redeemed or a make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. On or after February 1, 2027, we may redeem the 2027 Senior Notes in whole or in part at a price equal to 100 % of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. The Indenture also requires us to offer to purchase all of the 2027 Senior Notes at a purchase price equal to 101 % of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest if a “change of control triggering event” (as defined in the Indenture) occurs.
The Indenture contains customary terms and restrictions, subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications, including restrictions on the Company’s ability to (1) incur additional indebtedness unless the Annual Debt Service Charge (as defined in the Indenture) is no less than 1.5 to 1.0, (2) incur or maintain total debt in an aggregate principal amount greater than 60 % of the Company’s consolidated Total Assets (as defined in the Indenture), (3) incur or maintain secured debt in an aggregate principal amount greater than 25 % of the Company’s consolidated Total Assets (as defined in the Indenture), and (4) merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of the Company’s assets. In addition, the Indenture also provides for customary events of default. If any event of default occurs, any amount then outstanding under the Indenture may immediately become due and payable. These events of default are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Indenture.
17
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company repurchased $10.0 million in principal amount of the Company’s 2027 Senior Notes at 77.4 % of par value, plus accrued interest. This resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $2.0 million, recorded within the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. No repurchases took place during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $90.0 million in principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes outstanding.
The 2027 Senior Notes are due on May 1, 2027. Scheduled principal payments on the 2027 Senior Notes as of September 30, 2024 are as follows:
| 2027 Senior Notes | |||||
| Year | |||||
| 2024 (remaining) | $ | ||||
| 2025 | |||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| 2028 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| Total principal | |||||
| Deferred financing costs included in senior notes | ( | ||||
| Total due senior notes, net | $ | ||||
The following tables reflect a summary of interest expense incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2027 Senior Notes | Revolving Credit Facility | Total Borrowings | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2027 Senior Notes | Revolving Credit Facility | Total Borrowings | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Unused fee expense | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
18
| Nine months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2027 Senior Notes | Revolving Credit Facility | Total Borrowings | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2027 Senior Notes | Revolving Credit Facility | Total Borrowings | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Unused fee expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following commitments to fund various investments:
| As of September 30, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Total original loan commitments | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Less: drawn commitments | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Total undrawn commitments | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
The Company from time to time may be a party to litigation in the normal course of business. As of September 30, 2024, the Company is not aware of any legal claims that could materially impact its business, financial condition or results of operations.
On March 17, 2023, the Company appointed Brandon Hetzel to serve as its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in place of Brett Kaufman, effective as of such date, with Mr. Kaufman’s employment with AFC Management, LLC, the Company’s external manager (the “Manager”), terminated, effective as of April 17, 2023 (the “Separation Date”). In connection with his termination, Mr. Kaufman received (i) (12) months’ worth of his current base salary, (ii) his annual target bonus, (iii) continued payment by our Manager of 100 % of the COBRA premiums for him and his dependents for a period of (12) months following his Separation Date, (iv) accelerated vesting of one (1 ) additional tranche of each of Mr. Kaufman’s outstanding equity awards, and (v) extension of the exercise period for Mr. Kaufman’s outstanding options until (1) year following the Separation Date, contingent on Mr. Kaufman executing and not revoking a release of claims in favor of the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded zero and approximately $0.7 million in severance expense within general and administrative expenses within the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations, respectively.
The Company provides loans to companies operating in the cannabis industry which involves significant risks, including the risk of strict enforcement against the Company’s borrowers on the federal illegality of cannabis, the Company’s borrowers’ inability to renew or otherwise maintain their licenses or other requisite authorizations for their cannabis operations, and such loans lack of liquidity, and the Company could lose all or part of any of the Company’s loans.
19
The Company’s ability to grow or maintain its business with respect to the loans it makes to companies operating in the cannabis industry depends on state laws pertaining to the cannabis industry. New laws that are adverse to the Company’s borrowers may be enacted, and current favorable state or national laws or enforcement guidelines relating to cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis may be modified or eliminated in the future, which would impede the Company’s ability to grow and could materially adversely affect the Company’s business.
Management’s plan to mitigate risks include monitoring the legal landscape as deemed appropriate. Also, should a loan default or otherwise be seized, the Company may be prohibited from owning cannabis assets and thus could not take possession of collateral, in which case the Company would look to sell the loan, which could result in the Company realizing a loss on the transaction.
11. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Series A Preferred Stock
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company has authorized 10,000 12.0 0.01 zero 125
The Series A Preferred Stock entitles the holders thereof to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 12.0 1,000
Upon written notice to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Stock as to the effective date of redemption, the Company may redeem the shares of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time for cash at a redemption price equal to $1,000
On June 30, 2024, the Company redeemed all 125 outstanding shares of its Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock was redeemed at a price of $1,000 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for redemption. As the shares were redeemed on June 30, 2024, there were no accrued and unpaid dividends.
Common Stock
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not
Shelf Registration Statement
On April 5, 2022, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264144) (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), which was declared effective on April 18, 2022. Under the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may, from time to time, issue and sell up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and rights (including as part of a unit) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock or preferred stock.
20
At-the-Market Offering Program (“ATM Program”)
On April 5, 2022, the Company entered into an Open Market Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities LLC, as Sales Agents, under which the Company may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million. Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the Sales Agents a commission of up to 3.0 % of the gross proceeds from each sale of common stock sold through the Sales Agents. Sales of common stock, if any, may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market” offerings, as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company sold an aggregate of 1,214,953 10.39 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $12.2 51.0 million.
As of September 30, 2024, the shares of common stock sold under the ATM Program are the only offerings that have been initiated under the Shelf Registration Statement.
Stock Incentive Plan
The Company has established a stock incentive compensation plan (the “2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan authorizes stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock bonuses, stock units and other forms of awards granted or denominated in the Company’s common stock or units of common stock. The 2020 Plan retains flexibility to offer competitive incentives and to tailor benefits to specific needs and circumstances. Any award may be structured to be paid or settled in cash. The Company has granted, and currently intends to continue to continue to grant, stock options and restricted stock awards to participants in the 2020 Plan, but it may also grant any other type of award available under the 2020 Plan in the future. Persons eligible to receive awards under the 2020 Plan include officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, directors of the Company, employees of the Manager and certain directors, consultants and other service providers to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
In January 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of restricted stock to the Company’s directors and certain officers, as well as certain employees of the Manager, with an aggregate of 209,397 shares of restricted stock granted to such eligible persons. The restricted stock granted in January 2024 under the 2020 Plan contain vesting periods that vary from immediately vested to vesting over a three-year period, with approximately 33 2,536,289 shares of common stock granted under the 2020 Plan, underlying 2,169,852 options and 366,437 shares of restricted stock.
In January 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of restricted stock to the Company’s directors and certain officers, as well as certain employees of the Manager, with an aggregate of 125,234 shares of restricted stock granted to such eligible persons. The restricted stock granted in January 2023 under the 2020 Plan contain vesting periods that vary from immediately vested to vesting over a three-year period, with approximately 33 1,159 shares of restricted stock to James C. Fagan in connection with his appointment to the Company’s Board of Directors, which vested upon the one-year anniversary of the grant date.
As of September 30, 2024, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the 2020 Plan (the “Share Limit”) equals 3,323,937 shares, which is an increase of 121,495 shares compared to June 30, 2024. The Share Limit increased during the third quarter of 2024 under the evergreen provision in the 2020 Plan in connection with the shares issued under the ATM Program during such time. Shares that are subject to or underlie awards that expire or, for any reason, are cancelled, terminated, forfeited, fail to vest or are not paid or delivered under the 2020 Plan will not be counted against the Share Limit and will again be available for subsequent awards under the 2020 Plan.
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Modification of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Outstanding at Spin-Off
Stock Options
On July 9, 2024, the Company completed the separation of its CRE portfolio through the Spin-Off of SUNS. As a result, the strike price for the outstanding stock options of the Company were adjusted to give effect to the Spin-Off. All adjustments were made with the intent to preserve the intrinsic value of each award immediately before and after the Spin-Off. The Company accounted for the modification as Type I modification (probable to probable). The number of awards remained constant, while the strike prices were modified to preserve the intrinsic value of each award. The modified stock option awards otherwise retained substantially the same terms and conditions, including term and vesting provisions. The fair value of such unvested stock option awards remained constant pre- and post-Spin-Off, resulting in no incremental compensation cost. The Company will recognize the remaining unrecognized compensation cost of the original stock option awards over the remaining vesting period.
The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value stock options in determining the stock-based compensation expense. The Company has elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur. Previously recognized compensation expense related to forfeitures are reversed in the period the nonvested awards are forfeited. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant. The expected dividend yield was based on the Company’s expected dividend yield at the grant date. Expected volatility is based on the estimated average volatility of similar companies due to the lack of historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock. The expected term for each award is based on the contractual term for all awards granted thus far under the 2020 Plan. Restricted stock grant expense is based on the Company’s stock price at the time of the grant and amortized over the vesting period.
The weighted-average exercise price of stock options have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the Spin-Off for all periods presented.
The following table presents the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes pricing model of options granted under the 2020 Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Assumptions: | Range | ||||
Expected term | |||||
| Expected volatility | |||||
| Expected dividend yield | |||||
| Risk-free interest rate | |||||
| Expected forfeiture rate | |||||
The modification date fair value of the stock options was determined using the Binomial-Lattice Model with the following assumptions on July 9, 2024:
Assumptions: | Range | ||||
Expected term | |||||
| Expected volatility | |||||
| Expected dividend yield | |||||
| Risk-free interest rate | |||||
| Expected forfeiture rate | |||||
As additional Company history and information is available, the Company determined the use of the Binomial-Lattice Model to be appropriate compared to the closed-form Black-Scholes model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the continuously compounded rates from the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of Spin-Off. The expected term is based on the remaining contractual term of each option’s life as of the date of Spin-Off. The expected dividend yield was based on the Company’s most recent quarterly dividend divided by the three-month average stock price as of the Spin-Off date, annualized. Expected volatility is based on the remaining contractual term-matched historical volatility. In cases where the look back period exceeds the trading history of the Company’s Common Stock, the Company’s entire trading history was used.
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Restricted Stock
Restricted stock awards originally granted under the 2020 Plan include awards granted to employees of the Company’s manager that perform shared functions pre- and post-Spin-Off. In connection with the Spin-Off transaction and as a result of the related modification, approximately 33 % of the remaining unrecognized compensation cost of unvested restricted stock awards will be recognized over the remaining vesting period of the Company’s former wholly-owned subsidiary, SUNS. The Company will recognize the remaining 67 % of unrecognized compensation cost of unvested restricted stock awards over the remaining vesting period.
The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense incurred by the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes the (i) non-vested options granted, (ii) vested options granted, (iii) exercised and (iv) forfeited options granted for the Company’s directors and officers and employees of the Manager as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Non-vested | |||||||||||
| Vested | |||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Balance | |||||||||||
The following tables summarize stock option activity as of and during the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Number of options | Weighted-average exercise price | Weighted-average remaining contractual term | Aggregate intrinsic value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable as of September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
The Company did not No
As of September 30, 2024, there was approximately $22.2 thousand of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.14 years.
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The following table summarizes restricted stock (i) granted, (ii) vested and (iii) forfeited for the Company’s directors and officers and employees of the Manager as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Balance | |||||||||||
The following tables summarize the restricted stock activity as of and during the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Number of shares of restricted stock | Weighted-average grant date fair value(1) | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Forfeited | |||||||||||
| Balance as of September 30, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||
(1)The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock awards is based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the remaining unvested restricted stock awards as of September 30, 2024 has been adjusted to give effect to the Spin-Off transaction, which was completed July 9, 2024.
The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $25.0 thousand. There were no 18,470 shares of restricted stock vested with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $16.24 . The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately $244.8 thousand.
The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $763.6 thousand. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 126,393 shares of restricted stock were granted with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $15.55 . During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 38,028 shares of restricted stock vested with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.97 . The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately $489.6 thousand.
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12. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following information sets forth the computations of basic and diluted weighted average earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid on preferred stock | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid on unvested restricted stock | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from discontinued operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common shareholders | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Divided by: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average unvested restricted stock and dilutive stock options | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total basic weighted average earnings per common share | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total diluted weighted average earnings per common share | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share was computed using the treasury stock method for stock options and restricted stock. Diluted weighted average earnings per common share excluded 1,499,235 and 1,499,235 weighted average unvested restricted stock and stock options due to anti-dilutive effect for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and 2,288,419 and 2,247,328 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
13. INCOME TAX
A TRS is an entity taxed as a corporation that has not elected to be taxed as a REIT, in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds equity, and that has made a joint election with such REIT to be treated as a TRS. A TRS generally may engage in any business, including investing in assets and engaging in activities that could not be held or conducted directly by the Company without jeopardizing its qualification as a REIT. A TRS is subject to applicable United States federal, state and local income tax on its taxable income. In addition, as a REIT, the Company also may be subject to a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between it and its TRS that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. The income tax provision is included in the line item income tax expense, including excise tax.
The income tax provision for the Company was approximately $0.4 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. The income tax provision for the Company was approximately $0.7 million and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 primarily related to activities of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary.
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The income tax provision for the Company and TRS1 consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current(1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excise tax | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense, including excise tax | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(1)During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred federal taxes of approximately $0.3 million and $0.6 million and state and local taxes of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred federal taxes of approximately $0.5 million and $0.7 million and state and local taxes of approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred a benefit of approximately $(8.0 ) thousand and $(8.0 ) thousand, respectively, for United States federal excise tax. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred no 4 % tax on the sum of a portion of the Company’s ordinary income and net capital gains not distributed during the period. If it is determined that an excise tax liability exists for the current period, the Company will accrue excise tax on estimated excess taxable income as such taxable income is earned. The expense is calculated in accordance with applicable tax regulations.
The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits and the Company does not expect that to change in the next 12 months.
14. FAIR VALUE
Loans Held for Investment
The Company’s loans are typically valued using a yield analysis, which is typically performed for non-credit impaired loans to borrowers where the Company does not own a controlling equity position. Alternative valuation methodologies may be used as appropriate, and can include a market analysis, income analysis, or recovery analysis. To determine fair value using a yield analysis, a current price is imputed for the loan based upon an assessment of the expected market yield for a similarly structured loan with a similar level of risk. In the yield analysis, the Company considers the current contractual interest rate, the maturity and other terms of the loan relative to risk of the company and the specific loan. A key determinant of risk, among other things, is the leverage through the loan relative to the enterprise value of the borrower. As loans held by the Company are substantially illiquid with no active loan market, the Company depends on primary market data, including newly funded loans, as well as secondary market data with respect to high-yield debt instruments and syndicated loans, as inputs in determining the appropriate market yield, as applicable.
The following tables present fair value measurements of loans held at fair value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Fair Value Measurement as of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loans held at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loans held at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
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The following table presents changes in loans that use Level 3 inputs as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Nine months ended September 30, 2024 | |||||
| Total loans using Level 3 inputs at December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||
| Change in unrealized gains (losses) on loans at fair value, net | ( | ||||
| Additional fundings | |||||
| Original issue discount and other discounts, net of costs | ( | ||||
| Loan repayments | ( | ||||
| Sale of loans | ( | ||||
| Accretion of original issue discount | |||||
| PIK interest | |||||
| Total loans using Level 3 inputs at September 30, 2024 | $ | ||||
The change in unrealized losses included in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations attributable to loans held at fair value, categorized as Level 3, held as of September 30, 2024 is $(14,081,406 ).
The following tables summarize the significant unobservable inputs the Company used to value the loans categorized within Level 3 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The tables are not intended to be all-inclusive, but instead capture the significant unobservable inputs relevant to the Company’s determination of fair values.
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unobservable Input | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value | Primary Valuation Techniques | Input | Estimated Range | Weighted Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | Recovery analysis | Recovery rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total investment | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unobservable Input | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value | Primary Valuation Techniques | Input | Estimated Range | Weighted Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | Recovery analysis | Recovery rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market approach | Revenue multiple | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total investments | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Changes in market yields, revenue multiples, and recovery rates may change the fair value of certain of the Company’s loans. Generally, an increase in market yields may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of the Company’s loans, while a decrease in revenue multiples and recovery rates may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of the Company’s loans.
Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of loans that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company’s loans may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company’s loans may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such loans and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize. Further, such loans are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If the Company was required to liquidate a loan in a forced or liquidation sale, it could realize significantly less than the value at which the Company has recorded it.
In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the loans may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these loans to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized at fair value in the balance sheets, for which it is practicable to estimate that value.
The following table details the book value and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments not recognized at fair value in the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||
| Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Financial assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Loans held for investment at carrying value | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Loan receivable held at carrying value | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Senior notes payable, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Estimates of fair value for cash and cash equivalents are measured using observable, quoted market prices, or Level 1 inputs. The Company’s loans held for investment are measured using unobservable inputs, or Level 3 inputs. The fair value of the Company’s 2027 Senior Notes is estimated using observable inputs based on the last available bid price in the market at the end of the period, or Level 2 inputs.
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Management Agreement
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Manager manages the loans and day-to-day operations of the Company, subject at all times to the further terms and conditions set forth in the Management Agreement and such further limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Company’s Board.
The Manager receives base management fees (the “Base Management Fee”) that are calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.375 % of the Company’s Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement), subject to certain adjustments, less 50 % of the aggregate amount of any other fees (“Outside Fees”), including any agency fees relating to our loans, but excluding the Incentive Compensation (as defined below) and any diligence fees paid to and earned by the Manager and paid by third parties in connection with the Manager’s due diligence of potential loans.
In addition to the Base Management Fee, the Manager is entitled to receive incentive compensation (the “Incentive Compensation” or “Incentive Fees”) under the Management Agreement. Under the Management Agreement, the Company pays Incentive Fees to the Manager based upon the Company’s achievement of targeted levels of Core Earnings. “Core Earnings” is defined in the Management Agreement as, for a given period, the net income (loss) for such period, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) the Incentive Compensation, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) any unrealized gains or losses or other non-cash items that are included in net income for the applicable reporting period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income and (v) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges, in each case after discussions between the Manager and the Company’s independent directors and approved by a majority of the independent directors.
The Incentive Compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $0.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The Incentive Compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately $2.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively.
The Company is required to pay all of its costs and expenses and reimburse the Manager or its affiliates for expenses of the Manager and its affiliates paid or incurred on behalf of the Company, excepting only those expenses that are specifically the responsibility of the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. With respect to certain office expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company and other funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates, such as rent, the Manager determines each fund’s pro rata portion of such expenses in an amount equal to the proportional amount of time employees of the Manager spent providing services to the Company, as reasonably stipulated by time sheets.
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The following table summarizes the related party costs incurred by the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliate Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Management fees | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Less: outside fees earned | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Base management fees | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incentive fees earned | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses reimbursable to Manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Amounts payable to the Company’s Manager as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were approximately $1.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively.
The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Castleground Holdings LLC (f/k/a Advanced Flower Capital Management, LLC) (the “Parent Manager”). Certain officers have ownership in the outstanding equity of the Parent Manager, including Leonard Tannenbaum, Chairman of the Board, Robyn Tannenbaum, President and Chief Investment Officer, Bernard Berman, a member of the Company’s Investment Committee, and Daniel Neville, Chief Executive Officer.
Due to Affiliate
Amounts due to an affiliate of the Company as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were approximately $20.6 thousand and $16.4 thousand, respectively.
Investments in Loans
From time to time, the Company may co-invest with other investment vehicles managed by the Manager or its affiliates, including the Manager, and their portfolio companies, including by means of splitting loans, participating in loans or other means of syndicating loans. The Company is not obligated to provide, nor has it provided, any financial support to the other managed investment vehicles. As such, the Company’s risk is limited to the carrying value of its investment in any such loan. Additionally, the Company’s Manager or its affiliates, including AFC Agent LLC (“AFC Agent”), may from time to time serve as administrative and collateral agent to the lenders under the Company’s loans. As of September 30, 2024, there were two co-invested loans held by the Company and affiliates of the Company.
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16. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The following table summarizes the Company’s dividends declared during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Declaration Date | Record Date | Payment Date | Per Common Share Distribution Amount | Total Distribution Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 3/2/2023 | 3/31/2023 | 4/14/2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 6/15/2023 | 6/30/2023 | 7/14/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 9/15/2023 | 9/30/2023 | 10/13/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 Period Subtotal | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 3/4/2024 | 3/31/2024 | 4/15/2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 6/13/2024 | 6/24/2024 | 7/15/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special cash dividend | 6/27/2024 | 7/8/2024 | 7/15/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular cash dividend | 9/13/2024 | 9/30/2024 | 10/15/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 Period Subtotal | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
On July 9, 2024, the Company announced the completion of the previously announced separation and Spin-Off of the Company’s CRE portfolio into an independent, publicly-traded REIT, SUNS. The Spin-Off was effected by the distribution of all of the outstanding shares of SUNS common stock to the Company’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 8, 2024 (the “Record Date”). The Company’s shareholders of record as of the Record Date received one share of SUNS common stock for every three shares of the Company’s common stock held as of the Record Date. The Spin-Off was completed July 9, 2024 (the “Distribution Date”). On the Distribution Date, SUNS became an independent, publicly-traded company, trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SUNS”. The Company retained no ownership interest in SUNS following the Spin-Off.
On the Distribution Date, the Company recognized a reduction to additional paid-in capital of approximately $114.8 million in connection with the Spin-Off related to the transfer of certain assets and liabilities associated with its CRE business to SUNS. In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company entered into several agreements with SUNS that govern the relationship between the Company and SUNS following the spin-off, including the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement. These agreements provide for the allocation between the Company and SUNS of the assets, liabilities and obligations (including, among others, investments, property and tax-related assets and liabilities) of the Company and its subsidiaries attributable to periods prior to, at and after the Spin-Off.
The operating results of the SUNS business through the date of the Spin-Off are reported in net income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. The related assets and liabilities are reported as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash flows from the Company’s discontinued operations are presented as such in the consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented.
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The following table summarizes the financial statement lines included in net income from discontinued operations, net of tax for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Increase) decrease in provision for current expected credit losses | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Spin-Off costs incurred were approximately $(15.6 ) thousand and $1.1 million, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, previous estimates for Spin-Off work performed were less than actuals, resulting in a credit to expense. Prior to the third quarter of 2024, Spin-Off costs were historically presented within professional fees in the consolidated statements of operations and are now included in the measurement and presentation of discontinued operations for all periods presented.
There were no assets or liabilities classified as discontinued operations as of September 30, 2024. The following table summarizes the financial statement lines of assets and liabilities classified as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2023:
| As of | ||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |||||||
| Total assets of discontinued operations | $ | |||||||
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | $ | |||||||
| Total liabilities of discontinued operations | $ | |||||||
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. There were no material subsequent events, other than those described below, that required disclosure in these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
In October 2024, the Company entered into a $41.0 million senior secured credit facility with Private Company R, which was fully funded at closing. The loan was originated at a discount of 2.0 % and matures November 1, 2027. The loan bears interest at SOFR plus a 7.5 % spread, subject to a SOFR floor of 4.5 %. The loan is secured by substantially all assets of the borrowers, including a first-lien mortgage on the owned real property and a senior lien against the borrower’s assets, operations and the value of its cannabis licenses. The loan is also guaranteed by certain direct or indirect shareholders of the borrowers. The proceeds of the loan will be used to, among other things, refinance existing debt and provide working capital.
In October 2024, the Company received a prepayment of approximately $0.9 million from Private Company L’s sale of certain collateral assets and a $17.8 thousand prepayment premium.
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In November 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase $10.0 million in outstanding principal amount of a senior secured term loan to Subsidiary of Public Company S, a publicly traded operator, at par from a third party lender and the Company expects to settle the transaction in the near future. The third party lender assigned all of its rights and obligations under such loan to the Company. The term loan under the Subsidiary of Public Company S Credit Facility accrues interest at a fixed rate per annum of 9.5 % and matures in August 2026.
In November 2024, in connection with its credit facility with Private Company P, the Company entered into a limited waiver and amendment to such facility to waive certain failures by Private Company P to pay monthly cash interest payments when due. In connection with the waiver and amendment, Private Company P will make a cash payment constituting the majority of such missed interest payments of approximately $0.3 million, with the remaining amount due capitalized into the loan balance. Cash interest payments on the facility will restart January 1, 2025.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”), filed by Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (f/k/a AFC Gamma, Inc.) (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”), and the information incorporated by reference in it, or made in other reports, filings with the SEC, press releases contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and we intend such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained therein. Some of the statements contained in this Quarterly Report, other than statements of current or historical facts, are forward-looking statements and are based on our current intent, belief, expectations and views of future events. The forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results or performance, and may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “can,” “continuing,” “may,” “aim,” “intend,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “should,” “seeks,” “likely to” or words or phrases of similar meaning. Specifically, this Quarterly Report includes forward-looking statements regarding (i) the conditions in the adult-use and medicinal cannabis markets and their impact on our business; (ii) our portfolio and strategies for the growth thereof; (iii) our working capital, liquidity and capital requirements; (iv) potential state and federal legislative and regulatory matters; (v) our expectations and estimates regarding certain tax, legal and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements and/or those of our borrowers; (vi) our expectations regarding our portfolio companies and their businesses, including demand, sales volume, profitability, and future growth; (vii) the amount, collectability and timing of cash flows, if any, from our loans; (viii) our expected ranges of originations and repayments; and (ix) estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our shareholders in the future.
These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views about future events, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from the future results and events expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our goals, and cause the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
•our business and investment strategy;
•the ability of our Manager to locate suitable loan opportunities for us and to monitor and actively manage our portfolio and implement our investment strategy;
•our expectations for origination targets and repayments;
•the allocation of loan opportunities to us by our Manager;
•our projected operating results;
•actions and initiatives of the U.S. or state governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies, including the fact that cannabis remains illegal under federal law and certain state laws;
•the estimated growth in and evolving market dynamics of the cannabis market;
•changes in general economic conditions, in our industry and in the commercial finance and real estate markets;
•the demand for cannabis cultivation and processing facilities;
•shifts in public opinion and state regulation regarding cannabis;
•the state of the U.S. economy generally or in specific geographic regions;
•the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets on our business;
•the amount, collectability and timing of our cash flows, if any, from our loans;
•our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements;
•our expected leverage;
•changes in the value of our loans;
•losses that may arise due to the concentration of our portfolio in a limited number of loans and borrowers;
•our expected investment and underwriting process;
•the rates of default or recovery rates on our loans;
•the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility;
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•the availability of investment opportunities for us within our investment guidelines;
•changes in interest rates and impacts of such changes on our results of operations, cash flows and the market value of our loans;
•interest rate mismatches between our loans and our borrowings used to fund such loans;
•the departure of any of the executive officers or key personnel supporting and assisting us from our Manager or its affiliates;
•impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance and similar matters;
•our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act (as defined below);
•our ability to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
•estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our shareholders in the future;
•our understanding of our competition;
•market trends in our industry, interest rates, real estate values, the securities markets or the general economy; and
•uncertainties as to the impact of the Spin-Off on our business.
Please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” located in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2024 and the risk factor described under Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could affect our future results. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this report and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except to the extent we are legally required to disclose certain matters in SEC filings or otherwise.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” in this Form 10-Q.
Overview
Advanced Flower Capital Inc. is an institutional lender that was founded in July 2020 by a veteran team of investment professionals. We primarily originate, structure, underwrite, invest in and manage senior secured loans and other types of mortgage loans and debt securities, with a specialization in loans to cannabis industry operators in states that have legalized medical and/or adult-use cannabis. Our investment guidelines primarily relate to deploying capital in attractive lending opportunities to state law-compliant cannabis operators, typically secured by real estate, cash flows and license value.
Our objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns over time through cash distributions and capital appreciation primarily by providing loans to real estate developers and state law compliant cannabis companies. The loans we originate are primarily structured as senior loans typically secured by real estate, equipment, cashflows and the value associated with licenses (where applicable) and/or other assets of the loan parties to the extent permitted by applicable laws and the regulations governing such loan parties. Some of our cannabis-related borrowers have their equity securities listed for public trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) in Canada and/or over-the-counter (“OTC”) in the United States.
As states continue to legalize cannabis for medical and adult-use, an increasing number of companies operating in the cannabis industry need financing. Due to the current capital constrained cannabis market, which does not typically have access to traditional bank financing, we believe we continue to be well positioned to act as a prudent financing source to cannabis industry operators given our stringent underwriting criteria, size and scale of operations and institutional infrastructure.
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We are a Maryland corporation and externally managed by AFC Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (our “Manager”), pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated January 14, 2021, by and between the Company and AFC Management, LLC (as amended from time to time, the “Management Agreement”). We commenced operations on July 31, 2020 and completed our initial public offering (“IPO”) in March 2021.
We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2020. We believe that we have qualified as a REIT and that our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT. However, no assurances can be given that our beliefs or expectations will be fulfilled, since qualification as a REIT depends on us continuing to satisfy numerous asset, income and distribution tests, which in turn depends, in part, on our operating results and ability to obtain financing. We also intend to operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, AFCG TRS1, LLC (“TRS1”), operates as a taxable REIT subsidiary (a “TRS”). TRS1 began operating in July 2021. The financial statements of TRS1 are consolidated within our consolidated financial statements.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”), and we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period. As a result, we will not be subject to the same implementation timing for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, which may make comparison of our financials to those of other public companies more difficult.
We could remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years from our initial public offering, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three-year period.
Spin-Off
On February 22, 2024, we announced a plan to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies - one focused on providing institutional loans to state law compliant cannabis operators in the U.S., the other an institutional commercial real estate lender focused on the Southern United States. Prior to the Spin-Off, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (“SUNS”) held our CRE portfolio as our wholly-owned subsidiary. On July 9, 2024, we completed the separation of our CRE portfolio through the spin-off of SUNS into an independent, publicly traded REIT (the “Spin-Off”) through a pro-rata distribution of all of the outstanding shares of SUNS common stock to our shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 8, 2024 (the “Record Date”). Our shareholders of record as of the Record Date received one share of SUNS common stock for every three shares of our common stock held as of the Record Date. We retained no ownership interest in SUNS following the Spin-Off. In connection with the Spin-Off, the operating results of the SUNS business through the date of the Spin-Off are reported in net income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. The related assets and liabilities are reported as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash flows from the Company’s discontinued operations are presented as such in the consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented.
Unless otherwise noted, all amounts, percentages and discussion below reflect only the results of operations and financial condition from our continuing operations.
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Developments During the Third Quarter September 30, 2024:
Updates to Our Loan Portfolio During the Third Quarter September 30, 2024
In July 2024, we received an approximately $10.0 million principal prepayment and a $0.2 million prepayment premium on our investment in Subsidiary of Public Company M. Following the prepayment, the aggregate outstanding principal balance on our investments in Subsidiary of Public Company M is approximately $2.8 million as of September 30, 2024.
In August 2024, we entered into the fourth amendment to the credit agreement with Private Company J, pursuant to which, we, among other things, amended certain financial covenants and increased the total aggregate commitment by an additional $5.5 million, of which we have funded $3.0 million as of September 30, 2024.
In August 2024, we entered into the second amendment to the credit agreement with Private Company N - Real Estate, which increased the total aggregate commitment by an additional approximately $1.8 million under the terms of the existing credit agreement. We have funded approximately $1.2 million of the increased commitment as of September 30, 2024.
In August 2024, we entered into a $11.0 million senior secured credit facility with Private Company Q. The loan was originated at a discount of 4.0% and matures September 1, 2028. The loan bears interest at SOFR plus an 8.75% spread, subject to a SOFR floor of 5.0%. As of September 30, 2024, approximately $5.2 million was drawn and the remainder is available to be drawn within two years of closing. The loan is secured by substantially all assets of Private Company Q. The proceeds of the loan will be used to, among other things, pay for transactional costs and expenses, general working capital and other general corporate purposes and to fund capital expenditures in accordance with the budget.
In August 2024, we entered into the first amendment to the credit agreement with Private Company P, which amended the interest payable for July 2024 and August 2024 to be paid in kind and payable in cash thereafter.
In September 2024, we purchased $4.6 million of outstanding principal of a third-party syndicate partner’s minority debt as part of the credit agreement with Private Company A for approximately $1.8 million. We now hold approximately $53.8 million of outstanding principal as of September 30, 2024.
In September 2024, we received a voluntary prepayment from Private Company L of approximately $1.5 million, recognizing $45.5 thousand in prepayment premium and $37.9 thousand in exit fees.
Spin-Off
On July 9, 2024, we completed the Spin-Off of SUNS, which held our CRE portfolio, into an independent, publicly traded REIT. See “—Spin-Off” above.
At-the-Market Offering Program
In April 2022, we filed our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, registering the offer and sale of up to $1.0 billion of securities (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement enables us to issue shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, as well as units that include one or more of such securities. The Shelf Registration Statement also included a prospectus for the ATM Program to sell up to an aggregate of $75.0 million of shares of our common stock that may be issued and sold from time to time under the Sales Agreement, dated April 5, 2022 (the “Sales Agreement”), with Jefferies LLC and Citizens JMP Securities LLC, as Sales Agents. Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, we have agreed to pay the Sales Agents a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of common stock under the Sales Agreement.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we sold an aggregate of 1,214,953 shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement at a weighted average price of $10.39 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $12.2 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s remaining authorization under the Sales Agreement was approximately $51.0 million.
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Dividends Declared Per Share
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we declared the following cash dividends:
| Date Declared | Payable to Shareholders of Record at the Close of Business on | Payment Date | Amount per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 2, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | April 14, 2023 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 11.5 | million | |||||||||||||||||||
| June 15, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | July 14, 2023 | 0.48 | 9.8 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
| September 15, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | October 13, 2023 | 0.48 | 9.8 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
2023 Period Subtotal | $ | 1.52 | $ | 31.1 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 4, 2024 | March 31, 2024 | April 15, 2024 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 9.9 | million | |||||||||||||||||||
| June 13, 2024 | June 24, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | 0.48 | 9.9 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
| June 27, 2024 | July 8, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | 0.15 | 3.1 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
| September 13, 2024 | September 30, 2024 | October 15, 2024 | 0.33 | 7.2 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
2024 Period Subtotal | $ | 1.44 | $ | 30.1 | million | |||||||||||||||||||||
In connection with the Spin-Off, we declared a one-time dividend of $0.15 per share of our common stock, which was paid on July 15, 2024 to shareholders of record as of July 8, 2024. The aggregate amount of the one-time dividend payment was approximately $3.1 million.
Recent Developments
In October 2024, we entered into a $41.0 million senior secured credit facility with Private Company R, which was fully funded at closing. The loan was originated at a discount of 2.0% and matures November 1, 2027. The loan bears interest at SOFR plus a 7.5% spread, subject to a SOFR floor of 4.5%. The loan is secured by substantially all assets of the borrowers, including a first-lien mortgage on the owned real property and a senior lien against the borrower’s assets, operations and the value of its cannabis licenses. The loan is also guaranteed by certain direct or indirect shareholders of the borrowers. The proceeds of the loan will be used to, among other things, refinance existing debt and provide working capital.
In October 2024, we received a prepayment of approximately $0.9 million from Private Company L’s sale of certain collateral assets and a $17.8 thousand prepayment premium.
In November 2024, we entered into an agreement to purchase $10.0 million in outstanding principal amount of a senior secured term loan to Subsidiary of Public Company S, a publicly traded operator, at par from a third party lender and we expect to settle the transaction in the near future. The third party lender assigned all of its rights and obligations under such loan to us. The term loan under the Subsidiary of Public Company S Credit Facility accrues interest at a fixed rate per annum of 9.5% and matures in August 2026.
In November 2024, in connection with its credit facility with Private Company P, we entered into a limited waiver and amendment to such facility to waive certain failures by Private Company P to pay monthly cash interest payments when due. In connection with the waiver and amendment, Private Company P will make a cash payment constituting the majority of such missed interest payments of approximately $0.3 million, with the remaining amount due capitalized into the loan balance. Cash interest payments on the facility will restart January 1, 2025.
Key Financial Measures and Indicators
As a commercial real estate finance company, we believe the key financial measures and indicators for our business are Distributable Earnings, book value per share and dividends declared per share.
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Non-GAAP Metrics
Distributable Earnings
In addition to using certain financial metrics prepared in accordance with GAAP to evaluate our performance, we also use Distributable Earnings to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current loan activity and operations. Distributable Earnings is a measure that is not prepared in accordance with GAAP. We use these non-GAAP financial measures both to explain our results to shareholders and the investment community and in the internal evaluation and management of our businesses. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors since these measures permit investors and shareholders to assess the overall performance of our business using the same tools that our management uses to evaluate our past performance and prospects for future performance. The determination of Distributable Earnings is substantially similar to the determination of Core Earnings under our Management Agreement, provided that Core Earnings is a component of the calculation of any Incentive Compensation earned under the Management Agreement for the applicable time period, and thus Core Earnings is calculated without giving effect to Incentive Compensation expense, while the calculation of Distributable Earnings accounts for any Incentive Compensation earned for such time period.
We define Distributable Earnings as, for a specified period, the net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) stock-based compensation expense, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains, losses or other non-cash items recorded in net income (loss) for the period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income (loss); provided that Distributable Earnings does not exclude, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as OID, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash, (iv) (decrease) increase in provision for current expected credit losses, (v) TRS (income) loss, net of any dividends received from TRS and (vi) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges, in each case after discussions between our Manager and our independent directors and after approval by a majority of such independent directors.
We believe providing Distributable Earnings on a supplemental basis to our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP is helpful to shareholders in assessing the overall performance of our business. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income, subject to certain adjustments, and to pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that we annually distribute less than 100% of such taxable income. Given these requirements and our belief that dividends are generally one of the principal reasons that shareholders invest in our common stock, we generally intend to attempt to pay dividends to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to such REIT taxable income, if and to the extent authorized by our Board. Distributable Earnings is one of many factors considered by our Board in authorizing dividends and, while not a direct measure of net taxable income, over time, the measure can be considered a useful indicator of our dividends.
Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered as a substitute for GAAP net income. We caution readers that our methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings may differ from the methodologies employed by other REITs to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures, and as a result, our reported Distributable Earnings may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other REITs.
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The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP net income to distributable earnings:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,383,734 | $ | 7,979,875 | $ | 17,775,739 | $ | 30,140,482 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to net income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 218,643 | 294,014 | 1,131,208 | 705,361 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gains) losses or other non-cash items | 4,621,702 | (787,799) | 9,655,396 | 1,152,810 | |||||||||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in provision for current expected credit losses(1) | 181,370 | 1,053,398 | (1,077,196) | 149,637 | |||||||||||||||||||
| TRS (income) loss, net of dividends | 840,556 | 1,399,920 | 1,147,554 | (716,684) | |||||||||||||||||||
| One-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Distributable earnings | $ | 7,246,005 | $ | 9,939,408 | $ | 28,632,701 | $ | 31,431,606 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | 20,684,149 | 20,324,125 | 20,493,375 | 20,315,162 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Distributable earnings per basic weighted average share | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.49 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||
(1) The provision for current expected credit losses above includes approximately zero and $71.9 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and zero for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, which is included in the net income from discontinued operations, net of tax financial statement line on the consolidated statement of operations.
Book Value Per Share
We believe that book value per share is helpful to shareholders in evaluating our growth as we scale our equity capital base and continue to invest in our target investments. The book value per share of our common stock as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was approximately $9.42 and $15.64, respectively. On July 9, 2024, we completed the Spin-Off of SUNS, which had a book value of approximately $114.8 million, or $5.55 per share, on the Distribution Date. In connection with the Spin-Off, we recognized a reduction to additional paid-in capital of approximately $114.8 million related to the transfer of certain assets and liabilities associated with our CRE business to SUNS.
Factors Impacting our Operating Results
The results of our operations are affected by a number of factors and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest margin, the market value of our assets and the supply of, and demand for, commercial real estate debt and other financial assets in the marketplace. Our net interest margin, which includes the accretion and amortization of OID, is recognized based on the contractual rate and the outstanding principal balance of the loans we originate. Interest rates will vary according to the type of loan, conditions in the financial markets, creditworthiness of our borrowers, competition and other factors, some of which cannot be predicted with any certainty. Our operating results may also be impacted by credit losses in excess of initial anticipations or unanticipated credit events experienced by our borrowers.
Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Our net income from continuing operations allocable to our common shareholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, was approximately $1.2 million and $14.9 million, or $0.05 and $0.71 per basic weighted average common share from continuing operations, respectively, compared to net income from continuing operations allocable to our common shareholders of approximately $8.0 million and $30.1 million, or $0.39 and $1.47 per basic weighted average common share from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
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Interest income decreased approximately $(6.3) million, or (37.8)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was driven by lower interest income of approximately ($4.8) million related to Private Company A and Private Company K on nonaccrual status for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, lower interest income of approximately ($4.1) million related to less capital deployed, partially offset by higher interest income of approximately $1.7 million related to Subsidiary of Private Company G received in cash, higher fee income of approximately $0.4 million driven by the prepayment of our investment in Subsidiary of Public Company M and higher OID income of approximately $0.4 million due to the acceleration of unaccreted OID related to the prepayment of our in investment in Subsidiary of Public Company M during the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. While Subsidiary of Private Company G is currently on nonaccrual and was on nonaccrual for two out of three months in the prior period, cash received exceeded prior year income for this borrower.
Interest income decreased approximately $(10.2) million, or (19.3)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was driven by lower interest income of approximately ($13.5) million driven by Subsidiary of Private Company G, Private Company K and Private Company A placed on nonaccrual status during fiscal year 2024, lower interest income of approximately ($4.4) million driven by less capital deployed relating to loan exits and prepayments, partially offset by higher fee income of approximately $3.7 million driven by loan exits and prepayments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and higher OID income of approximately $4.0 million due to the acceleration of unaccreted OID of current year loan exits and prepayments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
Interest expense increased approximately $39.8 thousand, or 2.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 due to an increase in borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility.
Interest expense decreased approximately $(27.7) thousand, or (0.6)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 driven by lower interest incurred on the 2027 Senior Notes due to a weighted average decrease in the 2027 Senior Notes principal outstanding of approximately $(2.5) million, or (2.7)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This relates to the repurchase of $10.0 million of our 2027 Senior Notes during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. No repurchases took place during the same period in 2024. This is partially offset by an increase in interest expense relating to the Revolving Credit Facility due to an increase in borrowings period over period.
Management fees decreased approximately $(0.2) million, or (22.7)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 driven by lower outside fees earned and lower equity attributable to the Spin-Off of SUNS completed on July 9, 2024. In connection with the Spin-Off, we recognized a reduction to additional paid-in capital of approximately $114.8 million. Incentive fees decreased approximately $(2.4) million, or (90.4)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, driven by lower Core Earnings (as defined in the Management Agreement).
Management fees increased approximately $0.1 million, or 3.5%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 driven by lower outside fees earned and offset by lower equity attributable to the Spin-Off of SUNS completed on July 9, 2024. In connection with the Spin-Off, we recognized a reduction to additional paid-in capital of approximately $114.8 million. Incentive fees decreased approximately $(2.3) million, or (28.7)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, driven by lower Core Earnings (as defined in the Management Agreement).
General and administrative expenses decreased approximately $(0.1) million, or (13.1)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023.
General and administrative expenses decreased approximately $(1.1) million, or (27.7)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to severance expense incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 attributable to the departure of our former Chief Financial Officer of approximately $0.7 million. No severance expense was incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Stock-based compensation decreased approximately $(0.1) million, or (25.6)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. This was driven by accelerated vesting of restricted stock awards in the prior period.
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Stock-based compensation increased approximately $0.4 million, or 60.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This was driven by additional equity awards granted in January 2024.
Professional fees increased approximately $0.1 million, or 41.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. Prior to the third quarter of 2024, Spin-Off costs were previously presented within professional fees in the consolidated statements of operations and are now included in the measurement and presentation of discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Professional fees increased approximately $0.1 million, or 8.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Prior to the third quarter of 2024, Spin-Off costs were previously presented within professional fees in the consolidated statements of operations and are now included in the measurement and presentation of discontinued operations for all periods presented.
The net change in realized gains (losses) on investments was approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, driven by the change in realized loss relating to the maturity of our loan to Public Company A without repayment in the prior period.
The net change in realized gains (losses) on investments was approximately $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, driven by the change in realized losses relating to separate sales of our investment in Subsidiary of Public Company M and realized loss relating to our loan to Public Company A during such periods.
Investments in loans held at fair value are recorded on the trade date at cost, which reflects the amount of principal funded net of any original issue discounts. An unrealized gain arises when the fair value of the loan portfolio exceeds its cost and an unrealized loss arises when the fair value of the loan portfolio is less than its cost. The net change in unrealized gain (loss) of approximately $(4.6) million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $(9.7) million and $(1.2) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was mainly driven by the sale of our loan with Private Company B with an unrealized loss that was recovered, maturity of our loan with Public Company A with an unrealized loss that was realized, as well as the net change in the valuation of the loans, which was impacted by changes in market yields, revenue multiples, and recovery rates.
The gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt was zero for both the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the three months ended September 30, 2023.
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt decreased approximately $(2.0) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was driven by the repurchase of $10.0 million of our 2027 Senior Notes during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. No repurchases took place during the same period in 2024.
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Provision for Current Expected Credit Losses
The provision for current expected credit losses decreased approximately $(0.9) million, or (82.8)%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The provision for current expected credit losses decreased approximately $(1.3) million, or (867.9)%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The balance as of September 30, 2024 was approximately $25.3 million, or 10.70%, of our total loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value balance of approximately $236.3 million and was bifurcated between (i) the current expected credit loss reserve (contra-asset) related to outstanding balances on loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value of approximately $25.1 million and (ii) a liability for unfunded commitments of approximately $0.2 million. The balance as of September 30, 2023 was approximately $14.4 million, or 4.66%, of our total loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value balance of approximately $310.1 million and was bifurcated between (i) the current expected credit loss reserve (contra-asset) related to outstanding balances on loans held at carrying value and loan receivable held at carrying value of approximately $14.3 million and (ii) a liability for unfunded commitments of approximately $0.2 million. The liability is based on the unfunded portion of loan commitments over the full contractual period over which we are exposed to credit risk through a current obligation to extend credit. Management considered the likelihood that funding will occur, and if funded, the expected credit loss on the funded portion. We continuously evaluate the credit quality of each loan by assessing the risk factors of each loan. The change in the provision for current expected credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was due to changes in macroeconomic factors, changes to the loan portfolio including new commitments and repayments, borrower payment status, and changes in other data points we use in estimating the reserve.
Loan Portfolio
The table below summarizes our total loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Borrower names have been kept confidential due to confidentiality agreement obligations.
| Loan Names | Original Funding Date(1) | Loan Maturity | AFC Loan, net of Syndication | % of Total AFC | Principal Balance as of 9/30/2024 | Cash Interest Rate | PIK | Fixed/ Floating | Amortization During Term | YTM (2)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Public Co. A - Equipment Loans(4) | 8/5/2019 | 3/31/2025 | $ | 4,000,000 | 1.1% | $ | 2,041,744 | 12.0% | N/A | Fixed | Yes | 8% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Private Co. A(5) | 5/8/2020 | 5/8/2024 | 85,285,000 | 24.4% | 53,818,300 | 13.0% | 2.5% | Fixed | No | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub of Private Co. G(6) | 4/30/2021 | 5/1/2026 | 73,500,000 | 21.0% | 79,215,888 | 12.5% | N/A | Fixed | No | 19% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. J | 8/30/2021 | 9/1/2025 | 28,500,000 | 8.2% | 23,258,785 | 16.8% | 2.0% | Floating | Yes | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Private Co. K(7) | 4/28/2022 | 5/3/2027 | 13,229,626 | 3.8% | 12,195,762 | 16.8% | 2.0% | Floating | Yes | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. L | 4/20/2022 | 5/1/2026 | 42,065,937 | 12.0% | 35,597,486 | 13.4% | N/A | Floating | Yes | 19% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sub of Public Co. M | 8/26/2022 | 8/27/2025 | 2,797,527 | 0.8% | 2,797,527 | 9.5% | N/A | Fixed | No | 23% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Private Co. M(8) | 7/31/2023 | 7/31/2026 | 30,000,000 | 8.7% | 30,499,498 | 9.0% | N/A | Fixed | Yes | 18% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. N - Real Estate | 3/22/2024 | 4/1/2028 | 19,327,505 | 5.6% | 18,717,068 | 12.8% | N/A | Floating | Yes | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. N - Non-Real Estate | 3/22/2024 | 4/1/2028 | 17,200,000 | 4.9% | 17,200,000 | 12.8% | N/A | Floating | Yes | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. O | 5/20/2024 | 6/1/2028 | 7,500,000 | 2.1% | 2,728,647 | 13.5% | N/A | Floating | Yes | 18% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Private Co. P(9) | 6/18/2024 | 7/1/2027 | 15,126,433 | 4.3% | 15,383,749 | 13.0% | N/A | Fixed | Yes | 16% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Co. Q | 8/16/2024 | 9/1/2028 | 11,000,000 | 3.1% | 5,208,468 | 13.8% | N/A | Floating | Yes | 17% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal(10) | $ | 349,532,028 | 100.0% | $ | 298,662,922 | 12.9% | 0.7% | 18% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wtd Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)All loans originated prior to July 31, 2020 were purchased from an affiliated entity at fair value which approximated accreted and/or amortized cost plus accrued interest on July 31, 2020.
(2)Estimated YTM includes a variety of fees and features that affect the total yield, which may include, but is not limited to, OID, exit fees, prepayment fees, unused fees and contingent features. OID is recognized as a discount to the funded loan principal and is accreted to income over the term of the loan. Loans originated before July 31, 2020 were acquired by us, net of unaccreted OID, which we accrete to income over the remaining term of the loan. In some cases, additional OID is recognized from additional purchase discounts attributed to the fair value of equity positions that were separated from the loans prior to our acquisition of such loans.
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The estimated YTM calculations require management to make estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the timing and amounts of loan draws on delayed draw loans, the timing and collectability of exit fees, the probability and timing of prepayments and the probability of contingent features occurring. For example, certain credit agreements contain provisions pursuant to which certain PIK interest rates and fees earned by us under such credit agreements will decrease upon the satisfaction of certain specified criteria which we believe may improve the risk profile of the applicable borrower. To be conservative, we have not assumed any prepayment penalties or early payoffs in our estimated YTM calculation. Estimated YTM is based on current management estimates and assumptions, which may change. Estimated YTM is calculated using the interest rate as of September 30, 2024 applied through maturity. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(3)Estimated YTM for the loan with Private Company A is enhanced by purchase discounts attributed to the fair value of equity warrants that were separated from the loan prior to our acquisition of such loan. The purchase discounts accrete to income over the respective remaining terms of the applicable loan.
(4)Effective October 1, 2022, Public Company A equipment loan receivable was placed on nonaccrual status.
(5)Cash interest and PIK interest rates for Private Company A represent a blended rate of differing cash interest and PIK interest rates applicable to each of the tranches to which the Company is a lender under the senior secured term loan credit facility with Private Company A (as may be amended, restated, and supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Private Company A Credit Facility”). In October 2023, AFC Agent delivered a notice of default to Private Company A based on certain financial and other covenant defaults and began charging additional default interest of 5.0%, beginning as of July 1, 2023, in accordance with the terms of the Private Company A Credit Facility. Effective March 1, 2024, Private Company A was placed on nonaccrual status. The maturity date passed on the credit facility to Private Company A without repayment. In November 2023, Private Company A was placed into receivership to maintain the borrower’s operations and maximize value for the benefit of its creditors. The court-appointed receiver is determining the amount of principal payments the borrower is able to repay either from operations or from sale of collateral assets on a monthly basis.
(6)Effective March 2024, pursuant to the forbearance agreement with Subsidiary of Private Company G, Subsidiary of Private Company G transitioned from a floating interest rate tied to U.S. prime rate to a fixed interest rate. Effective December 1, 2023, the Company placed the borrower on nonaccrual status.
(7)As amended by the forbearance agreement entered into in March 2024, between 20.0% and 80.0% of the monthly cash interest was paid in kind from December 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024. Effective December 1, 2023, the Company placed the borrower on nonaccrual status.
(8)Quarterly cash interest is paid in kind from closing to February 1, 2024 and then payable in cash thereafter.
(9)Pursuant to the first amendment to the credit agreement entered into in August 2024, interest was paid in kind from July 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024 and then payable in cash thereafter.
(10)The interest and PIK subtotal rates are weighted average rates.
Loans Held for Investment at Fair Value
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our portfolio included one and two loans held at fair value, respectively. The aggregate originated commitment under these loans was approximately $85.3 million and $94.2 million, respectively, and outstanding principal was approximately $53.8 million and $71.9 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we funded approximately $4.6 million in new loans and additional principal and received approximately $4.5 million of principal repayments of loans held at fair value and sold $19.3 million of the Company’s investment in Private Company B. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, none of our loans held at fair value had floating interest rates.
The following tables summarize our loans held at fair value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value(1) | Carrying Value(2) | Outstanding Principal(2) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loan | $ | 31,372,174 | $ | 50,950,868 | $ | 53,818,300 | 0.0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total loan held at fair value | $ | 31,372,174 | $ | 50,950,868 | $ | 53,818,300 | 0.0 | ||||||||||||||||
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| As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value(1) | Carrying Value(2) | Outstanding Principal(2) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | 61,720,705 | $ | 71,644,003 | $ | 71,883,402 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value | $ | 61,720,705 | $ | 71,644,003 | $ | 71,883,402 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||
(1)Refer to Note 14 to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements titled “Fair Value”.
(2)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of unaccreted OID and loan origination costs.
(3)As of September 30, 2024, the maturity date passed on the credit facility with Private Company A without repayment.
(4)Weighted average remaining life is calculated based on the fair value of the loans as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the weighted average remaining life only reflects the remaining life of the Private Company A Credit Facility.
The following table presents changes in loans held at fair value as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value at December 31, 2023 | $ | 71,883,402 | $ | (239,399) | $ | (9,923,298) | $ | 61,720,705 | |||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gains (losses) on loans at fair value, net | — | — | (9,655,396) | (9,655,396) | |||||||||||||||||||
| New fundings | 4,594,027 | (2,756,417) | — | 1,837,610 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion of original issue discount | — | 128,384 | — | 128,384 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | (4,509,069) | — | — | (4,509,069) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of loans | (19,284,846) | — | — | (19,284,846) | |||||||||||||||||||
| PIK interest | 1,134,786 | — | — | 1,134,786 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at fair value at September 30, 2024 | $ | 53,818,300 | $ | (2,867,432) | $ | (19,578,694) | $ | 31,372,174 | |||||||||||||||
Loans Held for Investment at Carrying Value
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our portfolio included eleven and nine loans held at carrying value, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate originated commitment under these loans was approximately $260.2 million and $333.1 million, respectively, and outstanding principal was approximately $242.8 million and $314.4 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we funded approximately $65.5 million of new loans and additional principal, had approximately $48.8 million of principal repayments of loans held at carrying value and sold $90.0 million in the aggregate of our investments in Subsidiary of Public Company H and Subsidiary of Public Company M. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, approximately 47% and 84%, respectively, of our loans held at carrying value had floating interest rates. As of September 30, 2024, these floating benchmark rates included one-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) subject to a weighted average floor of 3.6% and quoted at 4.8%.
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The following tables summarize our loans held at carrying value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding Principal(1) | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value(1) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | 242,802,878 | $ | (8,545,836) | $ | 234,257,042 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value | $ | 242,802,878 | $ | (8,545,836) | $ | 234,257,042 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding Principal(1) | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value(1) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior term loans | $ | 314,376,929 | $ | (13,111,531) | $ | 301,265,398 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value | $ | 314,376,929 | $ | (13,111,531) | $ | 301,265,398 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||||
(1)The difference between the Carrying Value and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans consists of unaccreted OID and loan origination costs.
(2)Weighted average remaining life is calculated based on the carrying value of the loans as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The following table presents changes in loans held at carrying value as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value at December 31, 2023 | $ | 314,376,929 | $ | (13,111,531) | $ | 301,265,398 | |||||||||||
| New fundings | 65,512,166 | (2,654,893) | 62,857,273 | ||||||||||||||
| Accretion of original issue discount | — | 6,968,926 | 6,968,926 | ||||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | (45,237,624) | — | (45,237,624) | ||||||||||||||
| Sale of loans | (90,000,000) | 251,662 | (89,748,338) | ||||||||||||||
| PIK interest | 1,664,028 | — | 1,664,028 | ||||||||||||||
| Loan amortization payments | (3,512,621) | — | (3,512,621) | ||||||||||||||
| Total loans held at carrying value at September 30, 2024 | $ | 242,802,878 | $ | (8,545,836) | $ | 234,257,042 | |||||||||||
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Loan Receivable Held at Carrying Value
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our portfolio included one loan receivable held at carrying value. The originated commitment under this loan was $4.0 million and outstanding principal was approximately $2.0 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
The following table presents changes in loans receivable as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| Principal | Original Issue Discount | Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||
| Total loan receivable held at carrying value at December 31, 2023 | $ | 2,041,744 | $ | (1,686) | $ | 2,040,058 | |||||||||||
| Loan repayments | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total loan receivable held at carrying value at September 30, 2024 | $ | 2,041,744 | $ | (1,686) | $ | 2,040,058 | |||||||||||
Collateral Overview
Our loans are typically secured by various types of assets of our borrowers, including real property and certain personal property, such as cashflows and the value associated with licenses (where applicable), equipment, and other assets to the extent permitted by applicable laws and the regulations governing our borrowers.
With respect to our loans to cannabis operators, we do not have liens on cannabis inventory and are generally restricted from taking ownership of state licenses by current statutory prohibitions and exchange listing standards. The documents governing our loans also include a variety of provisions intended to provide remedies against the value associated with licenses. For example, some loan documents require a grant of a security interest in all property of the entities holding licenses to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or regulations (or requiring regulatory approval), equity pledges of entities holding licenses, receivership remedies and/or other remedies to secure the value associated with the borrowers’ licenses. Upon default of a loan, we may seek to sell the loan to a third party or have an affiliate or a third party work with the borrower to have the borrower sell collateral securing the loan to a third party or institute a foreclosure proceeding to have such collateral sold, in each case, to generate funds towards the payoff of the loan. While we believe that the appraised value of any real estate assets or other collateral securing our loans may impact the amount of the recovery in each such scenario, the amount of any such recovery from the sale of such real estate or other collateral may be less than the appraised value of such collateral and the sale of such collateral may not be sufficient to pay off the remaining balance on the defaulted loan. Becoming the holder of a license through foreclosure or otherwise, the sale of a license or other realization of the value of licenses requires the approval of regulatory authorities. As of September 30, 2024, our portfolio of assets held outside of TRS1 had a weighted average real estate collateral coverage of approximately 1.0 times our aggregate committed principal amount of such loans, with the real estate collateral coverage for each of our loans measured as of the time of closing for such loan and based on various sources of data available at such time. We calculate our weighted average real estate collateral coverage by estimating the underlying value of our real estate collateral based on various objective and subjective factors, including, without limitation, third-party appraisals, total cost basis of the subject property and/or our own internal estimates.
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We may pursue a sale of a defaulted loan if we believe that a sale would yield higher proceeds or that a sale could be accomplished more quickly than a foreclosure proceeding while yielding proceeds comparable to what would be expected from a foreclosure sale. To the extent that we determine that the proceeds are more likely to be maximized through instituting a foreclosure sale or through taking title to the underlying collateral, we will be subject to the rules and regulations under state law that govern foreclosure sales and Nasdaq listing standards that do not permit us to take title to real estate while it is involved in commercial sales of cannabis. In addition, the sale of the collateral securing our loans may be difficult and even for loans to cannabis operators, the collateral securing our loans may be sold to a party outside of the cannabis industry. Therefore, any appraisal-based value of our real estate and other collateral may not equal the value of such collateral if it were to be sold to a third party in a foreclosure or similar proceeding. We may seek to sell a defaulted loan prior to commencing a foreclosure proceeding or during a foreclosure proceeding to a purchaser that is not required to comply with Nasdaq listing standards. We believe a third-party purchaser that is not subject to Nasdaq listing standards may be able to realize greater value from real estate and other collateral securing our loans with respect to loans to cannabis operators. However, we can provide no assurances that a third party would buy such loans or that the sales price of such loans would be sufficient to recover the outstanding principal balance, accrued interest, and fees. We will not own real estate as long as it is used in the commercial sale of cannabis due to current statutory prohibitions and exchange listing standards, which may delay or limit our remedies in the event that any of our borrowers default under the terms of their loans with us.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain our assets and operations, make distributions to our shareholders and meet other general business needs. We use significant cash to purchase our target investments, repay principal and interest on our borrowings, make distributions to our shareholders and fund our operations. The sources of financing for our target investments are described below.
Our primary sources of cash generally consist of unused borrowing capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility, the net proceeds of future debt or equity offerings, including in connection with the ATM Program, payments of principal and interest we receive on our portfolio of assets and cash generated from our operating results.
Our net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of approximately $19.3 million was less than our dividend payments of $32.8 million made during the same period due to earned OID of $7.1 million and PIK repayments of $5.5 million related to the exits from Private Company I, Private Company C and Private Company B during such period. OID relates to cash withheld by the Company upon funding of its investments and is included under the ‘Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity’ on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, all of our cash was unrestricted and totaled approximately $122.2 million and $90.4 million, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024, we believe that our cash on hand, capacity available under our line of credit and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to satisfy the operating requirements of our business through at least the next twelve months.
Capital Markets
Our Shelf Registration Statement became effective on April 18, 2022, allowing us to sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, up to $1.0 billion of our securities, including common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and rights (including as part of a unit) to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock. The specifics of any future offerings, along with the use of proceeds of any securities offered, will be described in detail in a prospectus supplement, or other offering materials, at the time of any offering. We may also access liquidity through our ATM Program, which was established in April 2022, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, up to $75.0 million of our common stock.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we sold an aggregate of 1,214,953 shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement at a weighted average price of $10.39 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $12.2 million. As of September 30, 2024, our remaining authorization under the Sales Agreement was approximately $51.0 million.
Subsequent to September 30, 2024, we sold an aggregate of 70,630 shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement at a weighted average price of $9.99 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $0.7 million. As of November 13, 2024, our remaining authorization under the Sales Agreement was approximately $50.3 million.
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We may seek to raise further equity capital and issue debt securities in order to fund our future investments in loans. As the cannabis industry continues to evolve and to the extent that additional states legalize cannabis, the demand for capital continues to increase as operators seek to enter and build out new markets. We expect the principal amount of the loans we originate for cannabis operators to increase. We also expect our expanded investment focus to require additional capital. As a result, we expect we will need to raise additional equity and/or debt funds to increase our liquidity in the near future.
Revolving Credit Facility
On April 29, 2022, we entered into the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2024, we had $60.0 million of borrowings outstanding and zero availability under our Revolving Credit Agreement, which may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, subject to a borrowing base based on eligible loan obligations held by us and subject to the satisfaction of other conditions provided under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains aggregate commitments of $60.0 million from two FDIC-insured banking institutions, which may be increased to up to $100.0 million in aggregate (subject to available borrowing base and additional commitments), and contains a maturity date of April 29, 2025. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at the greater of (1) the applicable base rate plus 0.50% and (2) 4.50%, as provided in the Revolving Credit Agreement, payable in cash in arrears. Upon entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement, we incurred a one-time commitment fee expense of approximately $0.5 million, which is amortized over the life of the facility. Commencing on the six-month anniversary of the closing date, the Revolving Credit Facility has an unused line fee of 0.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears, which is included within interest expense in our unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. Based on the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, our estimated average cash balance will exceed the minimum balance required to waive the unused line fee and as such, we did not incur an unused line fee for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Our obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by certain assets of ours comprising of or relating to loan obligations designated for inclusion in the borrowing base. In addition, we are subject to various financial and other covenants, including: (1) liquidity of at least $5.0 million, (2) annual debt service coverage of at least 1.50 to 1.0 and (3) secured debt not to exceed 25% of total consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries. To the best of our knowledge, as of September 30, 2024, we were in compliance in all material respects with all covenants contained in our Revolving Credit Agreement.
2027 Senior Notes
On November 3, 2021, we issued $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes. The 2027 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum. Interest on the 2027 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, which began on May 1, 2022. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes were approximately $97.0 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering fees and expenses payable by us. We used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes (i) to fund loans related to unfunded commitments to existing borrowers, (ii) to originate and participate in commercial loans to companies operating in the cannabis industry that are consistent with our investment strategy and (iii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The terms of the 2027 Senior Notes are governed by the Indenture. Under the Indenture governing the 2027 Senior Notes, we are required to cause all of our existing and future subsidiaries to guarantee the 2027 Senior Notes, other than certain immaterial subsidiaries as set forth in the Indenture. TRS1 is currently a subsidiary guarantor under the Indenture.
Prior to February 1, 2027, we may redeem the 2027 Senior Notes in whole or in part, at a price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes being redeemed or a make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. On or after February 1, 2027, we may redeem the 2027 Senior Notes in whole or in part at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. The Indenture also requires us to offer to purchase all of the 2027 Senior Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest if a “change of control triggering event” (as defined in the Indenture) occurs.
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The Indenture governing the 2027 Senior Notes contains customary terms and restrictions, subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications, including restrictions on our ability to (1) incur additional indebtedness unless the Annual Debt Service Charge (as defined in the Indenture) is no less than 1.5 to 1.0, (2) incur or maintain total debt in an aggregate principal amount greater than 60% of our consolidated Total Assets (as defined in the Indenture), (3) incur or maintain secured debt in an aggregate principal amount greater than 25% of our consolidated Total Assets (as defined in the Indenture); and (4) merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of our assets. In addition, the Indenture also provides for customary events of default. If any event of default occurs, any amount then outstanding under the Indenture may immediately become due and payable. These events of default are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Indenture. We were in compliance with the terms of the Indenture as of the date of this quarterly report.
The table below sets forth the material terms of our outstanding senior notes as of the date of this Quarterly Report:
| Senior Notes | Issue Date | Amount Outstanding | Interest Rate Coupon | Maturity Date | Interest Due Dates | Optional Redemption Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2027 Senior Notes | November 3, 2021 | $90.0 million | 5.75% | May 1, 2027 | May 1 and November 1 | February 1, 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Credit Facilities, Warehouse Facilities and Repurchase Agreements
In the future, we may also use other sources of financing to fund the origination or acquisition of our target investments, including other credit facilities and other secured and unsecured forms of borrowing. These financings may be collateralized or non-collateralized and may involve one or more lenders. We expect that these facilities will typically have maturities ranging from two to five years and may accrue interest at either fixed or floating rates.
Debt Service
As of September 30, 2024, we believe that our cash on hand, capacity available under our Revolving Credit Facility, and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months.
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities of continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
| September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations | $ | 16,064,202 | $ | 14,982,587 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations | $ | 99,298,100 | $ | 18,508,853 | |||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of continuing operations | $ | (70,885,129) | $ | (100,667,506) | |||||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities of Continuing Operations
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $16.1 million, compared to approximately $15.0 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of approximately $1.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to September 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in the change in unrealized (gains) losses on loans held at fair value of approximately $8.5 million, decrease in PIK interest of approximately $6.6 million, decrease in gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt of approximately $2.0 million, increase in interest reserve of approximately $4.1 million, increase in interest receivable of approximately $1.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in net income from continuing operations of approximately $(15.3) million, decrease in accrued management and incentive fees of approximately $(2.2) million, increase in provision for current expected credit losses of approximately $(1.3) million and increase in OID accretion of approximately $(2.7) million, respectively.
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Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities of Continuing Operations
Net cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $99.3 million, compared to approximately $18.5 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in net cash provided by investing activities of approximately $80.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to September 30, 2024 was primarily due to an decrease in issuance and fundings on loans of approximately $1.7 million, an increase in proceeds from the sale of loans of approximately $74.7 million and an increase in principal repayments of loans of approximately $3.3 million, respectively.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities of Continuing Operations
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $(70.9) million, compared to approximately $(100.7) million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of approximately $29.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to September 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility of $164.0 million, offset by an increase in repayments on the Revolving Credit Facility of $(86.0) million, an increase in proceeds from the ATM program of $12.3 million, a decrease in repayments of the 2027 Senior Notes of approximately $7.7 million, and an increase in cash distributions in connection with the Spin-Off of SUNS of approximately $(67.9) million, respectively.
Cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities of discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
| September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations | $ | 3,271,445 | $ | 7,767 | |||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities of discontinued operations | $ | (47,211,339) | $ | — | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities of Discontinued Operations
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $3.3 million, compared to approximately $7.8 thousand for the same period in 2023. The increase of approximately $3.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to September 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in net income from discontinued operations of $2.9 million and changes in working capital of $0.3 million, respectively.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities of Discontinued Operations
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $(47.2) million, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of zero for the same period in 2023. The decrease of net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations was primarily due to the issuance and fundings on loans of approximately $67.3 million, offset by principal repayments of loans of $15.1 million, respectively.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities of Discontinued Operations
There were no cash flows related to financing activities of discontinued operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Contractual Obligations, Other Commitments, and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2024 are as follows:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unfunded commitments | $ | 13,739,804 | $ | 5,791,532 | $ | 610,437 | $ | — | $ | 20,141,773 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 13,739,804 | $ | 5,791,532 | $ | 610,437 | $ | — | $ | 20,141,773 | |||||||||||||||||||
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As of September 30, 2024, all unfunded commitments were related to our total loan commitments and were available for funding in less than four years.
We also had the following contractual obligations as of September 30, 2024 relating to the 2027 Senior Notes:
| As of September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contractual obligations(1) | $ | 5,175,000 | $ | 100,350,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 105,525,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,175,000 | $ | 100,350,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 105,525,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) Amounts include projected interest payments during the period based on interest rates in effect as of September 30, 2024.
We may enter into certain contracts that may contain a variety of indemnification obligations. The maximum potential future payment amounts we could be required to pay under these indemnification obligations may be unlimited.
Off-balance sheet commitments consist of unfunded commitments on delayed draw loans. Other than as set forth in this Quarterly Report, we do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured investment vehicles, special purpose entities or variable interest entities, established to facilitate off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities or entered into any commitment or intend to provide additional funding to any such entities.
Leverage Policies
We currently do not intend to have leverage of more than one times equity. While we are required to maintain our leverage ratio in compliance with the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture, we expect to employ prudent amounts of leverage and, when appropriate, to use debt as a means of providing additional funds for the acquisition of loans, to refinance existing debt or for general corporate purposes. Leverage is primarily used to provide capital for forward commitments until additional equity is raised or additional medium- to long-term financing is arranged. This policy is subject to change by management and our Board.
Dividends
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes and, as such, intend to annually distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, prior to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding our net capital gain. If we distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income in any tax year (taking into account any distributions made in a subsequent tax year under Sections 857(b)(9) or 858 of the Code), we will pay tax at regular corporate rates on that undistributed portion. Furthermore, if we distribute less than the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for the calendar year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for the calendar year and (iii) any undistributed shortfall from our prior calendar year (the “Required Distribution”) to our shareholders during any calendar year (including any distributions declared by the last day of the calendar year but paid in the subsequent year), then we are required to pay non-deductible excise tax equal to 4% of any shortfall between the Required Distribution and the amount that was actually distributed. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our shareholders. The 90% distribution requirement does not require the distribution of net capital gains. However, if we elect to retain any of our net capital gain for any tax year, we must notify our shareholders and pay tax at regular corporate rates on the retained net capital gain. The shareholders must include their proportionate share of the retained net capital gain in their taxable income for the tax year, and they are deemed to have paid the REIT’s tax on their proportionate share of the retained capital gain. Furthermore, such retained capital gain may be subject to the nondeductible 4% excise tax. If we determine that our estimated current year taxable income (including net capital gain) will be in excess of estimated dividend distributions (including capital gains dividends) for the current year from such income, we will accrue excise tax on a portion of the estimated excess taxable income as such taxable income is earned.
To the extent that our cash available for distribution is less than the amount required to be distributed under the REIT provisions of the Code, we may be required to fund distributions from working capital or through equity, equity-related or debt financings or, in certain circumstances, asset sales, as to which our ability to consummate transactions in a timely manner on favorable terms, or at all, cannot be assured, or we may make a portion of the Required Distribution in the form of a taxable stock distribution or distribution of debt securities.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
As of September 30, 2024, there were no significant changes in or changes in the application of our critical accounting policies or estimates from those presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Risk Management
To the extent consistent with maintaining our REIT qualification and our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act, we seek to manage risk exposure by closely monitoring our portfolio and actively managing financing, interest rate, credit, prepayment and convexity (a measure of the sensitivity of the duration of a loan to changes in interest rates) risks associated with holding our portfolio. Generally, with the guidance and experience of our Manager:
•we manage our portfolio through an interactive process with our Manager and service our self-originated loans through our Manager’s servicer;
•we invest in a mix of floating- and fixed-rate loans to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with the financing of our portfolio;
•we actively employ portfolio-wide and asset-specific risk measurement and management processes in our daily operations, including utilizing our Manager’s risk management tools such as software and services licensed or purchased from third-parties and proprietary analytical methods developed by our Manager; and
•we seek to manage credit risk through our due diligence process prior to origination or acquisition and through the use of non-recourse financing, when and where available and appropriate. In addition, with respect to any particular target investment, prior to origination or acquisition our Manager’s investment team evaluates, among other things, relative valuation, comparable company analysis, supply and demand trends, shape-of-yield curves, delinquency and default rates, recovery of various sectors and vintage of collateral.
Changes in Fair Value of Our Assets
We generally hold our target investments as long-term loans; however, we may occasionally classify some of our loans as held for sale. We may carry our loans at fair value or carrying value in our consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, one and two of our loans held for investment were carried at fair value within loans held at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets, respectively, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings.
We evaluate our loans on a quarterly basis and fair value is determined by our Board through its independent Audit and Valuation Committee. We use an independent third-party valuation firm to provide input in the valuation of all of our unquoted investments, which we consider along with other various subjective and objective factors in making our evaluations.
Our loans are typically valued using a yield analysis, which is typically performed for non-credit impaired loans to borrowers. Alternative valuation methodologies may be used as appropriate, and can include a market analysis, income analysis, or recovery analysis. To determine fair value using a yield analysis, a current price is imputed for the loan based upon an assessment of the expected market yield for a similarly structured loan with a similar level of risk. In the yield analysis, we consider the current contractual interest rate, the maturity and other terms of the loan relative to risk of the borrower and the specific loan. A key determinant of risk, among other things, is the leverage through the loan relative to the enterprise value of the borrower. As loans held by us are substantially illiquid with no active transaction market, we depend on primary market data, including newly funded loans, as well as secondary market data with respect to high-yield debt instruments and syndicated loans, as inputs in determining the appropriate market yield, as applicable. Changes in market yields, recovery rates, and revenue multiples may change the fair value of certain of our loans. Generally, an increase in market yields may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of our loans, while a decrease in revenue multiples and recovery rates may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of our loans; however, this is mitigated to the extent our loans bear interest at a floating rate.
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Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of loans that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our loans may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of our loans may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such loans and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize. Further, such loans are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate our investment in a loan in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we had recorded such loan investment.
Changes in Market Interest Rates and Effect on Net Interest Income
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including fiscal and monetary policies and domestic and international economic and political considerations, as well as other factors beyond our control. We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our assets and our related financing obligations.
Our operating results depend in large part on differences between the income earned on our assets and our cost of borrowing. The cost of our borrowings generally will be based on prevailing market interest rates. During a period of rising interest rates, our borrowing costs generally will increase (a) while the yields earned on our leveraged fixed-rate loan assets will remain static, and (b) at a faster pace than the yields earned on our leveraged floating-rate loan assets, which could result in a decline in our net interest spread and net interest margin. The severity of any such decline would depend on our asset/liability composition at the time as well as the magnitude and duration of the interest rate increase. Further, an increase in short-term interest rates could also have a negative impact on the market value of our target investments. If any of these events happen, we could experience a decrease in net income or incur a net loss during these periods, which could adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations.
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks primarily relate to fluctuations in interest rates. Our loans are typically valued using a yield analysis, which is typically performed for non-credit impaired loans to borrowers. Alternative valuation methodologies may be used as appropriate, and can include a market analysis, income analysis, or recovery analysis. Changes in market yields, revenue multiples, and recovery rates may change the fair value of certain of our loans. Generally, an increase in market yields may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of our loans, while a decrease in revenue multiples and recovery rates may result in a decrease in the fair value of certain of our loans; however, this is mitigated to the extent our loans bear interest at a floating rate. As of September 30, 2024, a decrease of 50 bps or increase of 50 bps of the market yield would have resulted in a change in unrealized gain (loss) of approximately $0.3 million and $(0.3) million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, we had seven floating-rate loans, representing approximately 38% of our portfolio based on aggregate outstanding principal balances. These floating benchmark rates included one-month SOFR subject to a weighted average floor of 3.6% and quoted at 4.8%. We estimate that a hypothetical 100 basis points increase in the floating benchmark rate would result in an increase in annual interest income of approximately $1.1 million and a hypothetical 100 basis points decrease in the floating benchmark rate would result in a decrease in annual interest income of approximately $(0.4) million.
Interest Rate Cap Risk
Through our Manager, we originate both fixed and floating rate loans. These are assets in which the loans may be subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps and floors, which limit the amount by which the asset’s interest yield may change during any given period. However, our borrowing costs pursuant to our financing agreements may not be subject to similar restrictions. Therefore, in a period of increasing interest rates, interest rate costs on our borrowings could increase without limitation by caps, while the interest-rate yields on our floating-rate assets would effectively be limited. In addition, floating-rate assets may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. This could result in our receipt of cash income from such assets in an amount that is less than the amount that we would need to pay the interest cost on our related borrowings. These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during periods of rising interest rates, which would harm our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Interest Rate Mismatch Risk
We may fund a portion of our origination of loans, or of loans that we may in the future acquire, with borrowings that are based on various benchmarks, while the interest rates on these assets may be fixed or indexed to SOFR, or another index rate. Accordingly, any increase in an index rate will generally result in an increase in our borrowing costs that would not be matched by fixed-rate interest earnings and may not be matched by a corresponding increase in floating-rate interest earnings. Any such interest rate mismatch could adversely affect our profitability, which may negatively impact distributions to our shareholders.
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Our analysis of risks is based on our Manager’s experience, estimates, models and assumptions. These analyses rely on models which utilize estimates of fair value and interest rate sensitivity. Actual economic conditions or implementation of decisions by our Manager and our management may produce results that differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in our models and the projected results.
Credit Risk
We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with our loans and interest receivable. Our Manager seeks to mitigate this risk by seeking to originate loans, and may in the future acquire loans, of higher quality at appropriate prices given anticipated and unanticipated losses, by employing a comprehensive review and selection process and by proactively monitoring originated and acquired loans. Nevertheless, unanticipated credit losses could occur that could adversely impact our operating results.
We expect to be subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with holding our portfolio of loans. We will have exposure to credit risk on our commercial real estate loans and other targeted types of loans. Our Manager will seek to manage credit risk by performing deep credit fundamental analysis of potential assets and through the use of non-recourse financing, when and where available and appropriate.
Credit risk will also be addressed through our Manager’s ongoing review, and loans will be monitored for variance from expected prepayments, defaults, severities, losses and cash flow on a quarterly basis.
Other than the acquisition of our initial portfolio of loans and certain loan commitments relating to Private Company A, we, through our Manager, have originated substantially all of our loans and intend to continue to originate our loans, but we have previously and may in the future acquire loans from time to time. Our Investment Guidelines are not subject to any limits or proportions with respect to the mix of target investments that we make or that we may in the future acquire other than as necessary to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act and our qualification as a REIT. Our investment decisions will depend on prevailing market conditions and may change over time in response to opportunities available in different interest rate, economic and credit environments. As a result, we cannot predict the percentage of our capital that will be invested in any individual target investment at any given time.
Our loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024 was concentrated with the top three borrowers representing approximately 56.5% of the aggregate outstanding principal balances and approximately 57.5% of the total loan commitments. Additionally, the industry is experiencing significant consolidation, which we expect to increase, among cannabis operations and certain of our borrowers may combine, increasing the concentration of our borrower portfolio with those consolidated operators. Our largest credit facility represented approximately 26.5% of the aggregate outstanding principal balances of our portfolio and approximately 21.0% of our total loan commitments as of September 30, 2024. The borrower under this credit facility is a Subsidiary of Private Company G, a multi-state operator with real estate assets in several states, certain of which have been included as collateral in connection with the senior term loan. Our portion of the senior term loan provided to such borrower has a principal amount of $79.2 million outstanding as of September 30, 2024, which is fully funded. This senior term loan accrues interest at a fixed rate of 12.5%, a minimum portion of which is payable in cash pursuant to the excess cash flow sweep, and the remainder of which, if any, is paid in kind.
We primarily provide loans to companies operating in the cannabis industry which involves significant risks, including the risk of strict enforcement against our borrowers of the federal illegality of cannabis, our borrowers’ inability to renew or otherwise maintain their licenses or other requisite authorizations for their cannabis operations, and such loans lack of liquidity, and we could lose all or part of any of our loans.
Our ability to grow or maintain our core business depends on state laws pertaining to the cannabis industry. New laws that are adverse to our borrowers may be enacted, and current favorable state or national laws or enforcement guidelines relating to cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis may be modified or eliminated in the future, which would impede our ability to grow and could materially adversely affect our business.
Management’s plan to mitigate risks include monitoring the legal landscape as deemed appropriate. Also, should a loan default or otherwise be seized, we may be prohibited from owning cannabis assets and thus could not take possession of collateral, in which case we would look to sell the loan, which could result in us realizing a loss on the transaction.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q was made under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). Based upon this evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (a) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC rules and forms and (b) include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a‑15(f) and 15d‑15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings relating to claims arising from the ordinary course of business. Furthermore, third parties may try to seek to impose liability on us in connection with our loans. As of September 30, 2024, we were not subject to any material legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except as disclosed below, during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, there were no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in Item 1A - “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Maintenance of our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act may impose significant limits on our operations. Your investment return in our common stock may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
We intend to conduct our operations so that (i) we will be exempt from the provisions of the Investment Company Act pursuant to an exemption contained in Section 3(c)(5)(C) thereunder and (ii) any wholly owned or majority owned subsidiary does not come within the definition of an investment company or will be exempt from the provisions of the Investment Company Act pursuant to an exemption contained in Section 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5) or 3(c)(7) thereunder. The Investment Company Act provides certain protection to investors and imposes certain restrictions on registered investment companies (including, for example, limitations on the ability of registered investment companies to incur leverage), none of which will be applicable to us.
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The exemption contained in Section 3(c)(5)(C) is available for entities “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” On the basis of no-action letters and interpretive guidance provided by the SEC and its staff, this exemption generally requires that at least 55% of an entity’s assets be comprised of qualifying assets and at least 80% of such entity’s assets be comprised of qualifying assets and real estate-related assets (and no more than 20% of such entity’s assets may be comprised of non-qualifying or non-real estate-related assets). “Qualifying assets” for this purpose include, for example, certain mortgage loans, certain B-Notes and certain mezzanine loans that satisfy various conditions as interpreted by the SEC staff in various no-action letters and other SEC interpretive guidance. Investments that do not satisfy the “qualifying asset” conditions set forth in the relevant SEC staff no-action letters and other guidance, may be classified as real estate-related or non-real estate-related assets, depending upon applicable SEC guidance, if any. Pursuant to this guidance, and depending on the characteristics of the specific investments, certain mortgage loans, participations in mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, and mezzanine loans may not constitute qualifying assets and therefore our investments in these types of assets may be limited.
We classify our assets for purposes of our Section 3(c)(5)(C) exemption based upon no-action positions taken by the SEC staff and interpretive guidance provided by the SEC and its staff. These no-action positions are based on specific factual situations that may be substantially or entirely different from the factual situations we may face and a number of these no-action positions were issued more than twenty years ago. There may be no guidance from the SEC or its staff that applies directly to our factual situations and as a result we may have to apply SEC staff guidance that relates to other factual situations by analogy. No assurance can be given that the SEC or its staff will concur with our classification of our assets. In addition, the SEC or its staff may, in the future, issue further guidance that may require us to re-classify our assets for purposes of the Investment Company Act and/or adjust our strategy accordingly. If we are required to reclassify our assets, we may no longer be in compliance with the exemption from the definition of an investment company provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act. Any additional guidance from the SEC or its staff could further inhibit our ability to pursue our chosen strategies.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
56
Item 6. Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibits | ||||
Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2024, by and between Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) and Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on July 8, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 on January 22, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Articles of Amendment, dated March 10, 2022 (filed as Exhibit 3.1A to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K on March 10, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
| Articles of Amendment, dated October 22, 2024 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on October 22, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on October 22, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Indenture, dated as of November 3, 2021, by and between Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) and TMI Trust Company, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on November 3, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
| Form of 5.750% Senior Notes due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.2). | |||||
Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated February 22, 2024 by and between Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) and AFC Management, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1E to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 22, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2024, by and between Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.) and Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on July 8, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
Amendment Number Two to Loan and Security Agreement, dated July 18, 2024, by and among Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (formerly known as AFC Gamma, Inc.), the lenders party thereto, and the lead arranger, bookrunner and administrative agent party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.7B to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on August 7, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference). | |||||
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |||||
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |||||
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |||||
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |||||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | ||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | ||||
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
† The registrant has omitted portions of the referenced exhibit pursuant to Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K because such portions are both (i) not material and (ii) the type of information that the registrant customarily and actually treats as private and confidential.
57
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 13, 2024 | ||||||||
| ADVANCED FLOWER CAPITAL INC. | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Neville | |||||||
| Daniel Neville | ||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Brandon Hetzel | |||||||
| Brandon Hetzel | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||
58
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Daniel Neville, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Advanced Flower Capital Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 13, 2024 | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Neville | |||||||
| Daniel Neville | ||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Brandon Hetzel, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Advanced Flower Capital Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 13, 2024 | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Brandon Hetzel | |||||||
| Brandon Hetzel | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ending September 30, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Daniel Neville, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: November 13, 2024 | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Neville | |||||||
| Daniel Neville | ||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
*A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Advanced Flower Capital Inc. and will be retained by Advanced Flower Capital Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advanced Flower Capital Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ending September 30, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Brandon Hetzel, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: November 13, 2024 | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Brandon Hetzel | |||||||
| Brandon Hetzel | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||
*A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Advanced Flower Capital Inc. and will be retained by Advanced Flower Capital Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.