8-K
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 07, 2024 (May 7, 2024)

 

 

Runway Growth Finance Corp.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Maryland

814-01180

47-5049745

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

205 N. Michigan Ave.

Suite 4200

 

Chicago, Illinois

 

60601

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (312) 698-6902

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 


Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

RWAY

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market

7.50% Notes due 2027

 

RWAYL

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market

8.00% Notes due 2027

 

RWAYZ

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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.

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 7, 2024 Runway Growth Finance Corp. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including the information set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise. The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated May 7, 2024.

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 


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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Runway Growth Finance Corp.

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 7, 2024

By:

/s/ Thomas B. Raterman

 

 

 

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary

 


EX-99.1

Runway Growth Finance Corp. Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Delivered Total and Net Investment Income of $40.0 million and $18.7 million, Respectively

Investment Portfolio of $1.0 billion

Chairman, President and CEO David Spreng Returns from Medical Leave

Conference Call Today, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 7, 2024—Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY) (“Runway Growth” or the “Company”), a leading provider of flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company also announced that David Spreng will resume his full responsibilities as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective today, May 7, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

Total investment income of $40.0 million
Net investment income of $18.7 million, or $0.46 per share
Net asset value of $13.36 per share
Dollar-weighted annualized yield on debt investments of 17.4% for the quarter
Two investments completed in new and existing portfolio companies, representing $25.0 million in funded loans and other investments
Aggregate proceeds of $34.4 million received from principal prepayments, and $0.4 million received from scheduled amortization

Second Quarter 2024 Distributions

Declared second quarter 2024 regular dividend of $0.40 per share
Declared second quarter 2024 supplemental dividend of $0.07 per share

“In the first quarter, Runway Growth delivered solid financial performance, generated increased pipeline activity, as well as enhanced revenue and lead generation opportunities through the establishment of our joint venture with Cadma Capital Partners,” said David Spreng, Founder and CEO of Runway Growth. “As the current venture ecosystem continues to evolve, we are employing prudent selectivity and underwriting rigor as we look to deploy our ample dry powder in the coming quarters. Maintaining and enhancing credit quality is our primary priority as we have continued confidence in our portfolio’s earnings power and ability to provide consistent distributions to our shareholders. Looking ahead, our team will maintain this level of discipline as we seek to partner with best-in-class companies in the industries we know best, and deliver sustainable risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders.”

First Quarter 2024 Operating Results

Total investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $40.0 million, compared to $39.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Net investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $18.7 million, or $0.46 per share, compared to $18.2 million, or $0.45 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

The Company's dollar-weighted annualized yield on average debt investments for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, was 17.4%. The Company calculates the yield on dollar-weighted debt investments for any period measured as (1) total


investment-related income during the period divided by (2) the daily average of the fair value of debt investments outstanding during the period.

Total operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 were $21.3 million, compared to $21.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Net realized loss on investments was $0 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to a net realized loss of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, net change in unrealized loss on investments was $6.6 million, compared to a net change in unrealized loss on investments of $5.1 million for the comparable prior year period.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

As of March 31, 2024, Runway Growth’s investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of approximately $1.02 billion in 53 portfolio companies, and was comprised of approximately $969.6 million in term loans, 98.5% of which are senior secured loans and $46.8 million in warrants and other equity-related investments.

During the first quarter of 2024, Runway Growth completed two investments in new and existing portfolio companies, representing $24.6 million in funded loans, net of upfront loan origination fees.

Total portfolio investment activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023 was as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Beginning investment portfolio

$

 

1,067,009

 

 

$

 

1,126,309

 

Purchases of investments

 

 

24,642

 

 

 

 

12,871

 

Purchases of U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,974

 

PIK interest

 

 

4,176

 

 

 

 

3,755

 

Sales and prepayments of investments

 

 

(34,449

)

 

 

 

(10,192

)

Scheduled repayments of investments

 

 

(413

)

 

 

 

(4,007

)

Sales and maturities of U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

(42,029

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of fixed income premiums or accretion of discounts

 

 

4,013

 

 

 

 

2,868

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,178

)

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

(6,617

)

 

 

 

(5,084

)

Ending investment portfolio

$

 

1,016,332

 

 

$

 

1,160,316

 

 

Net Asset Value

As of March 31, 2024, net asset value (“NAV’”) per share was $13.36, compared to $14.07 as of March 31, 2023. Total net assets at the end of the first quarter was $529.5 million, down 7% from $569.8 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $12.0 million, or $0.30 per share, compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $12.0 million, or $0.30 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $319.9 million in available liquidity, including unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $6.9 million and $313.0 million in available borrowing capacity under the Company’s credit facility, subject to existing terms, advance rates and regulatory and covenant requirements.

The Company ended the quarter with a core leverage ratio of approximately 91%, compared to 95% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

 


Distributions

On April 30, 2024, the Company’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly distribution of $0.40 per share for the second quarter of 2024, payable on May 24, 2024, to stockholders of record as of May 10, 2024. In addition, the Company’s board of directors declared a supplemental distribution of $0.07 per share for the second quarter of 2024 that is also payable on May 24, 2024 to stockholders of record as of May 10, 2024.

Share Repurchase Program

On November 2, 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved a share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”) under which the Company may repurchase up to $25.0 million of its outstanding common stock. Under the Share Repurchase Program, purchases may be made at management’s discretion from time to time in open-market transactions, in accordance with all applicable securities laws and regulations.

Recent Developments

The Company evaluated events subsequent to March 31, 2024 through May 7, 2024, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

On April 26, 2024 Echo360 Inc. prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $25.3 million on the Company's senior secured loan.

On April 30, 2024, the board of directors declared a regular quarterly distribution of $0.40 per share and a supplemental distribution of $0.07 per share for stockholders of record on May 10, 2024 payable on or before May 24, 2024

On April 30, 2024, following his return from temporary medical leave and upon the approval of the Company's board of directors, Mr. Spreng, was reinstated as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.

For the period commencing March 31, 2024 through May 7, 2024, the Company repurchased 183,702 shares under the Share Repurchase Program.

 

Conference Call

Runway Growth will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, financial results at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. To participate in the conference call or webcast, participants should register online at the Runway Investor Relations website. The earnings call can also be accessed through the following links:

Conference Call
Webcast

A live webcast will be available in the investor section of the Company’s website, and will be archived for 90 days following the call.

 

About Runway Growth Finance Corp.

Runway Growth is a growing specialty finance company focused on providing flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Runway Growth is a closed-end investment fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Runway Growth is externally managed by Runway Growth Capital LLC, an established registered investment advisor that was formed in 2015 and led by industry veteran David Spreng. For more information, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.


Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Runway Growth’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Runway Growth undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

 


Important Disclosures

Strategies described involve special risks that should be evaluated carefully before a decision is made to invest. Not all of the risks and other significant aspects of these strategies are discussed herein. Please see a more detailed discussion of these risk factors and other related risks in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K in the section entitled “Risk Factors”, which may be obtained on the Company’s website, www.runwaygrowth.com, or the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

IR Contacts:

Stefan Norbom, Prosek Partners, snorbom@prosek.com

Thomas B. Raterman, Acting President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, tr@runwaygrowth.com

 

 


RUNWAY GROWTH FINANCE CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

March 31, 2024

 

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-control/non-affiliate investments at fair value (cost of $1,002,897 and $1,005,024, respectively)

 

$

 

965,397

 

 

$

 

972,604

 

Affiliate investments at fair value (cost of $58,942 and $58,861, respectively)

 

 

 

49,985

 

 

 

 

51,456

 

Control investments at fair value (cost of $950 and $950, respectively)

 

 

 

950

 

 

 

 

950

 

Investment in U.S. Treasury Bills at fair value (cost of $0 and $42,014, respectively)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41,999

 

Total investments at fair value (cost of $1,062,789 and $1,106,849, respectively)

 

 

 

1,016,332

 

 

 

 

1,067,009

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

6,915

 

 

 

 

2,970

 

Interest and fees receivable

 

 

 

6,846

 

 

 

 

8,269

 

Other assets

 

 

 

845

 

 

 

 

905

 

Total assets

 

 

 

1,030,938

 

 

 

 

1,079,153

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility

 

 

 

237,000

 

 

 

 

272,000

 

2026 Notes

 

 

 

95,000

 

 

 

 

95,000

 

2027 Notes

 

 

 

152,250

 

 

 

 

152,250

 

Unamortized deferred debt costs

 

 

 

(8,336

)

 

 

 

(9,172

)

Total debt, less unamortized deferred debt costs

 

 

 

475,914

 

 

 

 

510,078

 

Incentive fees payable

 

 

 

13,836

 

 

 

 

12,500

 

Interest payable

 

 

 

7,935

 

 

 

 

6,764

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

 

3,784

 

 

 

 

2,740

 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

501,469

 

 

 

 

532,082

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value

 

 

 

414

 

 

 

 

414

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

605,108

 

 

 

 

605,110

 

Distributable earnings (losses)

 

 

 

(54,628

)

 

 

 

(47,637

)

Treasury stock

 

 

 

(21,425

)

 

 

 

(10,816

)

Total net assets

 

$

 

529,469

 

 

$

 

547,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of common stock outstanding ($0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

 

 

 

39,622,162

 

 

 

 

40,509,269

 

Net asset value per share

 

$

 

13.36

 

 

$

 

13.50

 

 


RUNWAY GROWTH FINANCE CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Investment income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From non-control/non-affiliate investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

$

 

34,455

 

 

$

 

34,853

 

Payment-in-kind interest income

 

 

 

4,207

 

 

 

 

3,796

 

Dividend income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

324

 

Fee income

 

 

 

620

 

 

 

 

45

 

From affiliate investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

599

 

 

 

 

292

 

Other income

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

 

 

Total investment income

 

 

 

40,009

 

 

 

 

39,310

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management fees

 

 

 

3,952

 

 

 

 

3,959

 

Incentive fees

 

 

 

4,668

 

 

 

 

4,563

 

Interest and other debt financing expenses

 

 

 

10,860

 

 

 

 

10,920

 

Professional fees

 

 

 

662

 

 

 

 

548

 

Administration agreement expenses

 

 

 

564

 

 

 

 

583

 

Insurance expense

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

 

268

 

Tax expense

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

50

 

Other expenses

 

 

 

429

 

 

 

 

173

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

 

21,345

 

 

 

 

21,064

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

18,664

 

 

 

 

18,246

 

Net realized and net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on non-control/non-affiliate investments, including U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,178

)

Net realized gain (loss) on investments, including U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,178

)

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on non-control/non-affiliate investments, including U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

 

(5,065

)

 

 

 

(1,421

)

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on affiliate investments

 

 

 

(1,552

)

 

 

 

(5,986

)

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on control investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,323

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, including U.S. Treasury Bills

 

 

 

(6,617

)

 

 

 

(5,084

)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

(6,617

)

 

 

 

(6,262

)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

 

$

 

12,047

 

 

$

 

11,984

 

Net investment income per common share (basic and diluted)

 

$

 

0.46

 

 

$

 

0.45

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations per common share (basic and diluted)

 

$

 

0.30

 

 

$

 

0.30

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted)

 

 

 

40,392,255

 

 

 

 

40,509,269