If we are unable to maintain diverse and robust sources of capital, our growth prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our business depends on maintaining diverse and robust sources of capital to originate loans. On January 3, 2022, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Eastman Investment, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and Lyle A. Berman, as trustee of the Lyle A. Berman Revocable Trust (collectively, the “Lenders”). Mr. Berman is a director of our company. Under the Loan Agreement, the Lenders made available to us a $5 million revolving line of credit for us to use in the ordinary course of our short-term specialty finance business. Amounts drawn under the Loan Agreement accrue interest at the per annum rate of 8%, and all our obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by a grant of a collateral security interest in substantially all of our assets. As a Lender, Mr. Berman is obligated to furnish only one-half of the aggregate $5 million available under the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement has a five-year term ending on January 3, 2027, at which time all amounts owing under the Loan Agreement will become due and payable; subject, however, to each Lender’s right, including Mr. Berman, to terminate the Loan Agreement, solely with respect to such Lender’s obligation to provide further credit, at any time after January 3, 2023. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”. We cannot be sure that this funding sources, or others, will continue to be available on reasonable terms or at all beyond the current maturity dates of our existing credit facilities.
Events of default or breaches of financial, performance or other covenants, or worse than expected performance of certain pools of loans underpinning our credit facilities, could reduce or terminate our access to funding from such facilities. The availability and capacity of sources of capital also depends on many factors that are outside of our control, such as credit market volatility and regulatory reforms. In the event that we do not maintain adequate sources of capital, we may not be able to maintain the necessary levels of funding to retain current loan volume, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our search for and ability to consummate specialty finance investment opportunities may be materially and adversely affected by COVID-19.
The global spread of the novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19 and its variants, declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, has resulted in governmental impositions of mandatory closures, quarantines and other restrictions on, or advisories with respect to, travel, business operations and public gatherings or interactions. It is unclear whether the pandemic may significantly worsen during the upcoming months, which may result in further restrictions on business, travel, and other activities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the domestic and global economies and financial markets, and the business of our potential borrowers could be materially and adversely affected, decreasing our appetite to consummate transactions that we might have otherwise concluded were attractive. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete an investment if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings or access a potential borrower’s personnel. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for new investment opportunities will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of domestic or global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate investments, or the operations of our potential and actual borrowers, may be materially adversely affected. Of course, materially adverse effects upon the operations of our actual borrowers could impair their ability to pay us all of the amounts owing to us, or to pay us in a timely manner.
Finally, our ability to consummate additional transactions may be dependent on our ability to raise equity and debt financing. This ability may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic may generally have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section by increasing their likelihood or amplifying their magnitude.
Changes in consumer finance and other applicable laws and regulations, as well as changes in government enforcement policies and priorities, may negatively impact the management of our business, results of operations, ability to offer certain products or the terms and conditions upon which they are offered, and ability to compete.
Consumer finance regulation is constantly changing, and new laws or regulations, or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, could have a materially adverse impact on our ability to operate as currently intended, and cause us to incur significant expense in order to ensure compliance. Federal and state financial services regulators are also enforcing existing laws, regulations, and