NII – Net Investment Income
NII for Q3 2023 was $76.8 million, or $0.52 per share, based on 146.9 million basic weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $50.0 million, or $0.39 per share, based on 127.5 million basic weighted average shares outstanding in Q3 2022. The increase is primarily attributable to a higher weighted average debt investment portfolio, an increase in core yields and elevated fee income from early payoffs between periods, offset by an increase in total net operating expenses.
Continued Credit Discipline and Strong Credit Performance
Hercules’ net cumulative realized gain/(loss) position, since its first origination activities in October 2004 through September 30, 2023, (including net loan, warrant and equity activity and excluding loss on debt extinguishment and other non-credit related losses) on investments totaled ($48.3) million, on a GAAP basis, spanning nearly 19 years of investment activities.
When compared to total net new debt investment commitments during the same period of $17.0 billion, the total realized gain/(loss) since inception of ($48.3) million represents approximately 28 basis points (“bps”), or 0.28%, of cumulative debt commitments, or an effective annualized loss rate of 1.5 bps, or 0.015%.
Realized Gains/(Losses)
During Q3 2023, Hercules had net realized losses of ($2.6) million comprised of net realized gains of $0.9 million due to the gain on investment funds and debt investments, offset by ($3.5) million due to the loss on equity and warrant investments.
Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)
During Q3 2023, Hercules recorded $(46.2) million of net unrealized depreciation, net of the impact of foreign currency movements. This is primarily attributable to $(30.4) million of net unrealized depreciation on debt investments, $(9.9) million of net unrealized depreciation attributable to valuation movements on publicly traded equity and warrant investments, $(0.3) million of net unrealized depreciation attributable to valuation movements in the privately held equity, warrant and investment funds, $(0.3) million of net unrealized depreciation attributable to net foreign exchange movements and $(0.8) million of depreciation of other investment related receivables. In addition, Hercules recorded ($4.5) million attributable to reversal of previous quarter appreciation upon a realization event.
Portfolio Asset Quality
As of September 30, 2023, the weighted average grade of the debt investment portfolio, at cost, was 2.28 compared to 2.24 as of June 30, 2023, based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest quality. Hercules’ policy is to generally adjust the credit grading down on its portfolio companies as they approach their expected need for additional growth equity capital to fund their respective operations for the next 9-14 months. Various companies in the Company’s portfolio will require additional rounds of funding from time to time to maintain their operations.
Additionally, Hercules may selectively downgrade portfolio companies from time to time if they are not meeting the Company’s financing criteria or are underperforming relative to their respective business plans.
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