CREDIT FACILITY

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

CREDIT FACILITY

CREDIT FACILITY

NOTE 9 — CREDIT FACILITY

On October 11, 2017, the Company entered into a senior secured revolving credit agreement, as amended, dated as of October 10, 2017, that was amended and restated on December 21, 2021, February 28, 2022, May 13, 2022, and November 21, 2023 with Zions Bancorporation, N.A., dba Amegy Bank and various other lenders (the “Credit Facility”).

The Credit Facility provides for borrowings up to a maximum of $260,000,000 on a committed basis with an accordion feature that allows the Company to increase the aggregate commitments up to $350,000,000, subject to new or existing lenders agreeing to participate in the increase and other customary conditions.

Pursuant to the Third Amendment and Commitment Increase to Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, the Credit Facility will bear interest, subject to the Company’s election, on a per annum basis equal to (i) term SOFR plus 2.50% (or 2.75% during certain periods in which the Company’s asset coverage ratio is equal to or below 1.90 to 1.00) plus a SOFR credit spread adjustment (0.10% for one-month term SOFR and 0.15% for three-month term SOFR), with a 0.25% SOFR floor, or (ii) 1.50% (or 1.75% during certain periods in which the Company’s asset coverage ratio is equal to or below 1.90 to 1.00) plus an alternate base rate based on the highest of the prime rate (subject to a 3% floor), Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and one-month term SOFR plus 1.00%. The Company pays unused commitment fees of 0.50% per annum on the unused lender commitments under the Credit Facility. Interest is payable monthly or quarterly in arrears. The commitment to fund the revolver expires on November 21, 2027, after which the Company may no longer borrow under the Credit Facility and must begin repaying principal equal to 1/12 of the aggregate amount outstanding under the Credit Facility each month. Any amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility will mature, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereunder will be due and payable, on November 21, 2028.

The Company’s obligations to the lenders are secured by a first priority security interest in its portfolio of securities and cash not held at the SBIC subsidiaries, but excluding short term investments. The Credit Facility contains certain covenants, including but not limited to: (i) maintaining a minimum liquidity test of at least $10,000,000, including cash, liquid investments and undrawn availability, (ii) maintaining an asset coverage ratio of at least 1.67 to 1.00, (iii) maintaining a minimum stockholder’s equity, and (iv) maintaining a minimum interest coverage ratio of at least 1.75 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance under the Credit Facility was $160,085,705 and $199,200,425, respectively. The carrying amount of the amount outstanding under the Credit Facility approximates its fair value. The fair value of the Credit Facility is determined in accordance with ASC 820, which defines fair value in terms of the price that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The fair value of the Credit Facility is estimated based upon market interest rates for our own borrowings or entities with similar credit risk, adjusted for nonperformance risk, if any. The Company has incurred costs of $6,630,390 in connection with the current Credit Facility, which are being amortized over the life of the facility. Additionally, $341,979 of costs from a prior credit facility will continue to be amortized over the life of the Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $3,520,929 and $1,515,144 of such prepaid loan structure fees and administration fees had yet to be amortized, respectively. These prepaid loan fees are presented on our Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a deduction from the debt liability.

The following is a summary of the Credit Facility, net of prepaid loan structure fees:

	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Credit Facility payable	$	160,085,705	$	199,200,425
Prepaid loan structure fees		(3,520,929)		(1,515,144)
Credit Facility payable, net of prepaid loan structure fees	$	156,564,776	$	197,685,281

Interest is paid monthly or quarterly in arrears. The following table summarizes the interest expense and amortized loan fees on the Credit Facility for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:

	For the year ended
	December 31, 2023			December 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
Interest expense	$	14,723,463		$	9,190,425		$	5,231,698
Loan fee amortization		657,323			567,375			519,653
Total interest and financing expenses	$	15,380,786		$	9,757,800		$	5,751,351
Weighted average interest rate		7.9	%		4.4	%		2.8	%
Effective interest rate (including fee amortization)		8.3	%		4.8	%		3.3	%
Average debt outstanding	$	186,144,622		$	204,276,134		$	176,870,712
Cash paid for interest and unused fees	$	14,523,350		$	9,034,765		$	5,271,348