SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Series A Preferred Stock As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has authorized 10,000 preferred shares and issued 125 of the preferred shares designated as 12.0% Series A Cumulative Non-Voting Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). The Series A Preferred Stock entitles the holders thereof to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 12.0% of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon. The Company generally may not declare or pay, or set apart for payment, any dividend or other distribution on any shares of the Company’s stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends, including the Company’s common stock, or redeem, repurchase or otherwise make payments on any such shares, unless full, cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or set apart for payment for all past dividend periods. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights except in limited circumstances, including certain amendments to the Company’s charter and the authorization or issuance of equity securities senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into shares of any other class or series of our stock. The Series A Preferred Stock is senior to all other classes and series of shares of the Company’s stock as to dividend and redemption rights and rights upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution and winding up. 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 per share, for a total of $125,000 for the 125 shares outstanding, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon up to and including the date fixed for redemption. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed shall no longer be deemed outstanding shares of the Company and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate. Common Stock On January 10, 2022, the Company completed an underwritten offering of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, at a price to the public of $20.50 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering were $61.5 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, a structuring fee and offering expenses payable by the Company. In connection with the offering, the underwriters were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. On January 14, 2022, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option with respect to 291,832 shares of common stock, which was completed on January 19, 2022. The underwriting commissions of approximately $3.5 million were reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in capital in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. The Company incurred approximately $1.0 million of expenses in connection with the offering. After giving effect to the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, the total number of shares sold by the Company in the public offering was 3,291,832 shares and total gross proceeds, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, a structuring fee and other offering expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $67.5 million. The net proceeds to the Company totaled approximately $63.0 million. Pursuant to the Articles of Amendment, dated March 10, 2022, the Company increased the number of authorized shares of common stock to 50,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value per share. 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. 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 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 six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not sell any shares of the Company’s common stock under the Sales Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2022 , the Company sold an aggregate of 621,398 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Sales Agreement at an average price of $18.30 per share generating net proceeds of approximately $10.4 million . As of June 30, 2023 , the shares of common stock sold under the ATM Program are the only offerings that have been initiated under the Shelf Registration Statement. Share Repurchase Program On June 13, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock (the “Repurchase Program”). The timing, price, and volume of repurchases will be based on the Company’s stock price, general market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The repurchase of the Company’s common stock may be made from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company expects to finance any share repurchases under the Repurchase Program using cash on hand, capacity available under our line of credit and cash flows from operations. The Repurchase Program may be discontinued, modified or suspended at any time. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock pursuant to the Repurchase Program. 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, and currently intends to continue to grant stock options 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 and consultants and other service providers to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of restricted stock and stock options to the Company’s directors and officers, as well as employees of the Manager. In January 2022, the Company granted an aggregate of 8,296 shares of restricted stock and 742,000 stock options to certain of our officers and other eligible persons. The restricted stock granted in January 2022 under the 2020 Plan vests over a four-year period with approximately 33% vesting on each of the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the vesting commencement date. The stock options granted in January 2022 under the 2020 Plan have a strike price of $20.18 and contain vesting periods that vary from immediately vested to vesting over a four-year period. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of restricted stock to the Company’s directors and officers, as well as certain employees of the Manager. In January 2023, the Company granted an aggregate of 125,234 shares of restricted stock to certain of our directors, officers and other 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% vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the vesting commencement date. On June 20, 2023, the Company granted 1,159 shares of restricted stock to James C. Fagan in connection with his recent appointment to the Company’s Board of Directors, which will vest upon the one-year anniversary of the grant date. As of June 30, 2023, there were 2,431,212 shares of common stock granted under the 2020 Plan, underlying 2,274,172 options and 157,040 shares of restricted stock. As of June 30, 2023, 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 2,793,288 shares, which is consistent with the Share Limit at March 31, 2023 . Shares that are subject to or underlie awards that expire or for any reason are cancelled, terminated, forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason 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. 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 June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022: As of As of Non-vested 232,489 293,420 Vested 2,142,143 2,081,212 Exercised (5,511) (5,511) Forfeited (95,849) (88,749) Balance 2,273,272 2,280,372 The Company uses 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 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. 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 stock-based compensation expense for the Company was approximately $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, and approximately $0.1 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The following table presents the assumptions used in the option pricing model of options granted under the 2020 Plan: Assumptions Range Expected volatility 40% - 50% Expected dividend yield 10% - 20% Risk-free interest rate 0.5% - 2.0% Expected forfeiture rate 0% The following tables summarize stock option activity during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022: Three months ended Weighted-average Balance as of March 31, 2023 2,280,372 $ 1.21 Granted — — Exercised — — Forfeited (7,100) 1.35 Balance as of June 30, 2023 2,273,272 $ 1.21 Three months ended Weighted-average Balance as of March 31, 2022 2,321,106 $ 1.21 Granted — — Exercised — — Forfeited (5,000) 1.43 Balance as of June 30, 2022 2,316,106 $ 1.21 Six months ended Weighted-average Balance as of December 31, 2022 2,280,372 $ 1.21 Granted — — Exercised — — Forfeited (7,100) 1.35 Balance as of June 30, 2023 2,273,272 $ 1.21 Six months ended Weighted-average Balance as of December 31, 2021 1,604,236 $ 1.08 Granted 742,000 1.46 Exercised — — Forfeited (30,130) 1.05 Balance as of June 30, 2022 2,316,106 $ 1.21 The following table summarizes the restricted stock (i) granted, (ii) vested and (iii) forfeited for the Company’s directors and officers and employees of the Manager as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022: As of As of Granted 190,974 64,581 Vested (19,558) — Forfeited (33,934) (1,238) Balance 137,482 63,343 The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock awards is based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. The following tables summarize the restricted stock activity during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022: Three months ended Weighted-average value at award date Balance as of March 31, 2023 185,366 $ 17.19 Granted 1,159 12.94 Vested (16,347) 20.39 Forfeited (32,696) 20.39 Balance as of June 30, 2023 137,482 $ 16.06 Three months ended Weighted-average value at award date Balance as of March 31, 2022 64,581 $ 20.40 Granted — — Vested — — Forfeited — — Balance as of June 30, 2022 64,581 $ 20.40 Six months ended Weighted-average value at award date Balance as of December 31, 2022 63,343 $ 20.40 Granted 126,393 15.55 Vested (19,558) 19.60 Forfeited (32,696) 20.39 Balance as of June 30, 2023 137,482 $ 16.06 Six months ended Weighted-average value at award date Balance as of December 31, 2021 56,285 $ 20.43 Granted 8,296 20.18 Vested — — Forfeited — — Balance as of June 30, 2022 64,581 $ 20.40 |