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 2, 2012 (May 2, 2012)

 

 

Triangle Capital Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland  

814-00733

  06-1798488

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

3700 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 530, Raleigh, North Carolina   27612
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (919) 719-4770

Not Applicable

(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 (see General Instruction A.2 below):

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 2, 2012, Triangle Capital Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in these Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K, and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, are being furnished by the Company in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD and Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, insofar as they disclose historical information regarding the Company’s results of operations or financial condition as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

In accordance with General Instructions B.2 and B.6 of Form 8-K, the information included in these Items 2.02 and 7.01, and Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 2, 2012, at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved the Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan (the “Cash Incentive Plan”). The Cash Incentive Plan allows for the payment of performance-based compensation to certain executive officers of the Company to be exempt from the deduction limitation contained in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Cash Incentive Plan governs the payment of annual bonuses with respect to participating employees. The Board of Directors of the Company approved the Cash Incentive Plan subject to stockholder approval. A more detailed summary of the material terms of the Cash Incentive Plan appears on pages 43 to 45 of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012. The foregoing description of the amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Cash Incentive Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), in order to increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan from 900,000 to 2,400,000. At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved this amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan. A more detailed summary of the material terms of the Equity Incentive Plan appears on pages 46 to 50 of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012. The foregoing description of the amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amended Equity Incentive Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Following are descriptions of the matters voted on at the Annual Meeting and the final results of such voting:

Proposal 1 — Election of Directors

The following individuals, constituting all of the nominees named in the Company’s Proxy Statement, were elected as directors to serve until the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:

 

Director

   For      Withheld  

Garland S. Tucker, III

     16,221,185         486,025   

Brent P.W. Burgess

     15,891,486         815,724   

Steven C. Lilly

     15,560,688         1,146,522   

W. McComb Dunwoody

     16,215,832         491,378   

Mark M. Gambill

     16,206,764         500,446   

Benjamin S. Goldstein

     15,799,543         907,667   

Simon B. Rich, Jr.

     16,131,442         575,768   

Sherwood H. Smith, Jr.

     16,057,701         649,509   


Proposal 2 — Approval to Sell Securities Below Net Asset Value

A proposal to authorize the Company, pursuant to approval of its Board of Directors, to sell shares of its common stock or warrants, options or rights to acquire common stock during the next year at a price below the Company’s then current net asset value per share was approved. The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:

 

For    Against    Abstain
15,174,414    1,288,833    243,950

This proposal was also approved by the Company’s non-affiliated stockholders by a vote of 13,866,609 shares for, 1,288,833 shares against and 243,950 abstained. The number of votes cast in favor of this proposal represents a majority of outstanding voting securities of the Company and a majority of outstanding securities not held by affiliated persons, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Proposal 3 — Approval of Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan

The proposal to approve the Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan was approved. The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:

 

For    Against    Abstain
15,051,065    1,208,775    447,351

Proposal 4 — Approval to Increase the Maximum Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock Available for Issuance Under the Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

The proposal to approve an increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan was approved. The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:

 

For    Against    Abstain
14,789,621    1,589,523    328,049

The total number of votes cast on this proposal was 16,379,144, which represents over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

The disclosure obtained in Item 2.02 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits


Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished herewith to this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1†    Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan.
10.2†    Triangle Capital Corporation Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
99.1    Press Release dated May 2, 2012 of the Company.

 

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


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.

 

    Triangle Capital Corporation
Date: May 2, 2012     By:  

/s/ Steven C. Lilly

      Steven C. Lilly
      Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1†    Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan.
10.2†    Triangle Capital Corporation Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
99.1    Press Release dated May 2, 2012 of the Company.

 

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Exhibit 10.1

TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

2012 CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the Triangle Capital Corporation 2012 Cash Incentive Plan (the “ Umbrella Plan ”) is to advance the interests of Triangle Capital Corporation (the “ Company ”) and its stockholders by providing incentives in the form of cash bonus awards to certain officers and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Umbrella Plan is intended to enable the Company to attract and retain appropriate executive talent and to motivate such officers to manage and grow the Company’s business and to attain the performance goals articulated under the Umbrella Plan.

2. Definitions

(a) “ Award ” means a cash award granted pursuant to the Umbrella Plan.

(b) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.

(d) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor thereto or any other committee designated by the Board to assume the obligations of the Committee hereunder.

(e) “ Company ” means Triangle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation, and its Subsidiaries.

(f) “ Covered Officer ” shall mean at any date (i) any individual who, with respect to the previous taxable year of the Company, was a “covered employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that the term “Covered Officer” shall not include any such individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award under the Umbrella Plan or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected not to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award hereunder will be paid and (ii) any individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or with respect to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award hereunder will be paid.

(g) “ Effective Date ” means the date on which the Umbrella Plan takes effect in accordance with Section 12 hereof.

(h) “ Participant ” means an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Umbrella Plan pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

(i) “ Performance Period ” means the Company’s fiscal year or any portion (or multiples) thereof designated by the Committee as a Performance Period.

(j) “ Subsidiary ” means a subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (or any successor section thereto).


3. Administration

(a) General . The Umbrella Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to select the employees to be granted Awards under the Umbrella Plan, to determine the size and terms of an Award (subject to the limitations imposed on Awards in Section 5 below), to modify the terms of any Award that has been granted, to determine the time when Awards will be made, the amount of any payments pursuant to such Awards and the Performance Period to which they relate, to determine any employment restrictions on actual receipt of payments pursuant to Awards, to establish performance objectives in respect of such Performance Periods and to determine whether such performance objectives were attained. The Committee is authorized to interpret the Umbrella Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Umbrella Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Umbrella Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Umbrella Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Umbrella Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. Determinations made by the Committee under the Umbrella Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. The Committee shall have the right to deduct from any payment made under the Umbrella Plan any federal, state, local or foreign income or other taxes or obligations required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment.

(b) Covered Officers . Any discretion exercised under the Umbrella Plan affecting any Award to a Covered Officer shall be subject in all events to Section 162(m) of the Code, unless the Committee makes a specific determination that such Award is not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code.

4. Eligibility and Participation

The Committee shall determine the employees who shall be Participants for any Performance Period. The designation of Participants shall be made individually or by groups or classifications of employees, as the Committee deems appropriate.

5. Awards

(a) Scope . Each year the Committee will establish award opportunities and performance targets for Participants for the determination of potential awards hereunder. Award opportunities shall be set as a percentage of base salary. Following the close of a Performance Period, the Committee shall evaluate the Company’s actual performance against the performance targets to determine the actual bonus to be paid.

(b) Performance Goals . Awards to Participants shall be based solely upon the attainment of performance targets related to one or more performance goals selected by the Committee from among the goals specified below. For purposes of this Section 5 , the formula on which performance targets are based with respect to Awards under this Umbrella Plan shall be limited to one or more of the following Company, Subsidiary, operating unit or division financial performance measures:

 

   

total investment income;

 

   

total net investment income;

 

   

net investment income per share;

 

   

realized and unrealized gains and losses;

 

   

net increase in net assets resulting from operations per share;

 

   

overall credit performance of the investment portfolio;

 

   

liquidity;

 

   

operating efficiency performance;


   

growth and diversification of the overall investment portfolio;

 

   

sustaining and growing dividend distributions to stockholders;

 

   

return on average stockholders’ equity;

 

   

net asset value;

or any combination thereof. Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company or any Subsidiary, operating unit or division of the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, may exclude appropriate pre-determined line items of income or expense, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, stockholders’ equity and/or shares of common stock outstanding, or to assets or net assets. The Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under criteria set forth in this Section 5(b) to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset impairments or write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) any extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, and (vi) the effect of adverse or delayed federal, state or local governmental or regulatory action; provided that the Committee commits to make any such adjustments within the 90 day period set forth in Section 5(d) below.

(c) Maximum Award . With respect to any Covered Officer, the maximum annual amount of an Award hereunder shall be $3,000,000.

(d) Administration . To the extent necessary to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, with respect to grants of Awards to Covered Officers, no later than 90 days following the commencement of each Performance Period (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (1) select the performance goal or goals applicable to the Performance Period, (2) establish the various targets and bonus amounts which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (3) specify the relationship between performance goals and targets and the amounts to be earned by each Covered Officer for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved and the amounts, if any, payable to Covered Officers for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned by a Participant for a given Performance Period, the Committee shall have the right to adjust the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period; provided, that with respect to any Covered Officer, the Committee may exercise the discretion described in this sentence only to reduce the amount otherwise payable to such Covered Officer.

(e) Payment . The amount of the Award payable as determined by the Committee for the Performance Period shall be paid to the participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of the Performance Period, but in all events by such time as is necessary for the payment to qualify as a “short-term deferral” pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the United States Treasury Regulations; provided, that the Committee may provide for elective deferrals that comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Award payments shall be made in cash. Except as the Committee may otherwise determine in its sole and absolute discretion, termination of a Participant’s employment prior to the end of the Performance Period will result in the forfeiture of the award by the Participant, and no payments shall be made with respect thereto.

6. Amendments or Termination

The Committee may amend, alter or discontinue the Umbrella Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would impair any of the rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to a Participant under the Umbrella Plan without such Participant’s consent; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Umbrella Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements of any applicable law, rule or regulation.


7. No Right to Employment or Awards

Neither the Umbrella Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant or other person any right to continue to be employed by or perform services for the Company or any Subsidiary, and the right to terminate the employment of or performance of services by any Participant at any time and for any reason is specifically reserved to the Company and its Subsidiaries. No person shall have any claim to be granted any award and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment among Participants. The terms and conditions of awards, if any, need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

8. Offset of Awards

The Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce any amounts otherwise payable to any Participant hereunder in order to satisfy any liabilities owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the Participant, but only to the extent any such offset complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder.

9. Adjustments Upon Certain Events

In the event of any material change in the business assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company, any division or any Subsidiary, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may make such adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable as to any affected terms of outstanding Awards.

10. Miscellaneous Provisions

The Company is the sponsor and legal obligor under the Umbrella Plan and shall make all payments hereunder, other than any payments to be made by any of the Subsidiaries (in which case payment shall be made by such Subsidiary, as appropriate). The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to ensure the payment of any amounts under the Umbrella Plan, and the Participants’ rights to the payment hereunder shall be no greater than the rights of the Company’s (or Subsidiary’s) unsecured creditors. All expenses involved in administering the Umbrella Plan shall be borne by the Company.

11. Choice of Law

The Umbrella Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of Maryland.

12. Effectiveness of the Plan

The Umbrella Plan shall be effective as of the date of its adoption by the Committee, provided the Umbrella Plan is subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders.

Exhibit 10.2

TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

May 2, 2012 Restatement

Section 1. Purposes.

1.1 Generally . This plan shall be known as the “Triangle Capital Corporation Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of Triangle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), its Affiliates (as defined herein) and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining key officers, employees, and directors of, the Company and its Affiliates; (ii) motivating such individuals by means of individual performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals; (iii) encouraging ownership of stock in the Company by such individuals; and (iv) linking their compensation to the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders. With respect to any awards granted under the Plan that are intended to comply with the requirements of “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such requirements.

1.2 Amendment and Restatement . This Plan amends and restates the Triangle Capital Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan adopted February 13, 2007 (the “Prior Plan”) in its entirety. All Awards (as defined below) granted subsequent to the date of this Plan’s adoption by the Company’s stockholders shall be subject to the terms of this Plan.

Section 2. Definitions.

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “ 1940 Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(b) “ Affiliate ” shall mean any wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company.

(c) “ Award ” shall mean any Option or Restricted Share Award granted under the Plan, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant by the Board pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as the Board may establish or which are required by applicable legal requirements.

(d) “ Award Agreement ” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

(e) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f) “ Cause ” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) the engaging by the Participant in willful misconduct that is injurious to the Company or its Affiliates, or (ii) the embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or its Affiliates by the Participant. For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Any determination of Cause for purposes of the Plan or any Award shall be made by the Board in its sole discretion. Any such determination shall be final and binding on a Participant.


(g) “ Change in Control ” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, any of the following events:

(i) any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or an Affiliate thereof or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, becomes the beneficial owner of the Company’s securities having 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company (other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of business);

(ii) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor company or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Company’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

(iii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of each Director of the Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the Directors of the Company then still in office who were (i) Directors of the Company at the beginning of any such period, and (ii) not initially (a) appointed or elected to office as result of either an actual or threatened election and/or proxy contest by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board, or (b) designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in (i) or (ii) above or (iv) or (v) below;

(iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(v) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to an Affiliate).

(h) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(i) “ Committee ” shall mean a committee of two or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.3 .

(j) “ Covered Officer ” shall mean at any date (i) any individual who, with respect to the previous taxable year of the Company, was a “covered employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 162(m); provided, however, that the term “Covered Officer” shall not include any such individual who is designated by the Board, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected not to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company and (ii) any individual who is designated by the Board, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or with respect to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award will be paid or vested.

(k) “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board.

(l) “ Disability ” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a total and permanent disability under the Company’s then current long-term disability plan.

(m) “ Employee ” shall mean an officer or employee of the Company or of any Affiliate.

(n) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.


(o) “ Fair Market Value ” with respect to the Shares, shall mean, for purposes of a grant of an Award as of any date, (i) the closing sales price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), or any other such exchange on which the shares are traded, on such date, or in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported or (ii) in the event there is no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value as determined, in good faith, by the Board in its sole discretion (which, for purposes of Section 6.2 , will in no event will be less than the net asset value of such Shares on such date, as determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder), and for purposes of a sale of a Share as of any date, the actual sales price on that date.

(p) “ Incentive Stock Option ” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(q) “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Sections 6 or 9 of the Plan and is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(r) “ Non-Employee Director ” shall mean a Director who is not an officer or employee of the Company.

(s) “ Option ” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(t) “ Option Price ” shall mean the purchase price payable to purchase one Share upon the exercise of an Option.

(u) “ Participant ” shall mean any Employee or Director.

(v) “ Performance Award ” shall mean any Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

(w) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

(x) “ Restricted Share ” or “ Restricted Share Award ” shall mean any Share granted under Sections 7 or 9 of the Plan.

(y) “ Retirement ” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, retirement of a Participant from the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company retirement plan or, if a Participant is not covered by any such plan, retirement on or after such Participant’s 65th birthday.

(z) “ SEC ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

(aa) “ Section 16 ” shall mean Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

(bb) “ Section 162(m) ” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

(cc) “ Shares ” shall mean shares of the common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.

(dd) “ Substitute Awards ” shall mean Awards granted solely in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.


Section 3. Administration.

3.1 Administration by the Board . The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until it delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in Section 3.3 hereof.

3.2 Powers of the Board . The Board shall have the power, subject to the express provisions of the Plan and applicable law:

(a) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Awards; when and how each Award shall be granted and documented; what type or combination of types of Awards shall be granted; the provision of each Award granted, including the time or times when a Participant shall be permitted to exercise an Award; and the number of Shares with respect to which an Award shall be granted to each such Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing powers of the Board, any grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors under the Plan shall be automatic and shall not be changed without SEC approval, and the issuance of any Award to an Employee will be approved by the required majority, as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act, of the Company’s directors on the basis that such issuance is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

(b) To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award documentation, in such manner and to such extent as it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

(c) To amend the Plan or an Award as provided in Section 13 .

(d) To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 13 .

(e) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

3.3 Delegation to Committee . The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of three (3) or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board, other than the Board reference at the end of this sentence and Board references in the last sentence of this Section 3.3 shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.

3.4 Effects of Board’s Decision . Determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

Section 4. Shares Available For Awards.

4.1 Shares Available . Subject to the provisions of Section 4.5 hereof, the stock to be subject to Awards under the Plan shall be the Shares of the Company and the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 2,400,000. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award granted under this Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited, or if such an Award is settled for cash or otherwise terminates, expires unexercised or is canceled or settled without the delivery of Shares or with the delivery of a reduced number of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such settlement, reduction, forfeiture, termination, expiration or cancellation, shall again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. In the event that any Award granted hereunder is exercised through the delivery of Shares or in the event that withholding tax liabilities arising from such Award are satisfied by the withholding of Shares by the Company, the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be increased by the number of Shares so surrendered or withheld.


4.2 Limits on Grants of Individual Awards .

(a) No individual Participant shall be granted Options under the Plan in any calendar year that relate to more than 100,000 Shares.

(b) No individual Participant shall be granted Awards under the Plan relating to more than 25% of the Shares reserved for issuance.

4.3 Limits on Grants of Restricted Shares . The combined maximum amount of Restricted Shares that may be issued under the Plan will be 10% of the outstanding Shares on the Effective Date (as defined in Section 15.1 below) plus 10% of the number of Shares issued or delivered by the Company (other than pursuant to compensation plans) during the term of the Plan.

4.4 Limits on Number of Awards . The amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all of the Company’s outstanding warrants, options and rights, together with any Restricted Shares issued pursuant to the Plan, at the time of issuance shall not exceed 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, except that if the amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all of the Company’s outstanding warrants, options, and rights issued to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees, together with any Restricted Shares issued pursuant to the Plan, would exceed 15% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, then the total amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants, options, and rights, together with any Restricted Shares issued pursuant to the Plan, at the time of issuance shall not exceed 20% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company.

4.5 Adjustments . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares, then the Board shall in an equitable and proportionate manner (and, as applicable, in such manner as is consistent with Sections 422 and 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder and with Section 162(m)) either: (i) adjust any or all of (1) the aggregate number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan; (2) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan, provided that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number; (3) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award under the Plan (but only provided that the SEC has issued an exemptive order or the SEC’s staff has provided written confirmation allowing the Company to do so); and (4) the limits on the number of Shares that may be granted to Participants under the Plan in any calendar year; (ii) provide for an equivalent award in respect of securities of the surviving entity of any merger, consolidation or other transaction or event having a similar effect; or (iii) make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award.

4.6 Substitute Awards . Any Shares issued by the Company as Substitute Awards in connection with the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not reduce the Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

4.7 Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards . Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of issued Shares which have been reacquired by the Company.

4.8 No Grants in Contravention of 1940 Act . No Award may be granted under the Plan if the grant of such Award would cause the Company to violate Section 61(a)(3) of the Act, and, if otherwise approved for grant, shall be void and of no effect. The grants of Awards under the Plan to Non-Employee Directors shall be automatic and shall not be changed without SEC approval.


Section 5. Eligibility.

Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant; provided, however, that Non-Employee Directors shall only be eligible to receive Awards granted consistent with Section 9 .

Section 6. Stock Options.

6.1 Grant . The Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, the exercise price (subject to Section 6.2 below) and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option. The Board shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, and to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with Section 422 of the Code, as from time to time amended, and any regulations implementing such statute. A person who has been granted an Option under this Plan may be granted additional Options under the Plan if the Board shall so determine; provided, however, that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Employee during any calendar year (under all plans described in of Section 422(d) of the Code of the Employee’s employer corporation and its parent and Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

6.2 Price . The Board in its sole discretion shall establish the Option Price at the time each Option is granted. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option. Once established, the Option Price of any Option may not be changed absent an exemptive order from the SEC or written confirmation from its staff allowing the Company to do so.

6.3 Term . Subject to the Board’s authority under Section 3.2 and the provisions of Section 6.5, each Option and all rights and obligations thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Board and specified in the Award Agreement. The Board shall be under no duty to provide terms of like duration for Options granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date such Option was granted.

6.4 Exercise .

(a) Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. The Board shall have full and complete authority to determine, subject to Section 6.5 herein, whether an Option will be exercisable in full at any time or from time to time during the term of the Option, or to provide for the exercise thereof in such installments, upon the occurrence of such events and at such times during the term of the Option as the Board may determine.

(b) The Board may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal, state or foreign securities laws or the Code, as it may deem necessary or advisable. The exercise of any Option granted hereunder shall be effective only at such time as the sale of Shares pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or federal securities or other laws.

(c) An Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted thereunder for the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the Option, delivered to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to the Company at the direction of the Board of the amount of the Option Price for the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.

(d) Payment of the Option Price shall be made in cash or cash equivalents, or, at the discretion of the Board, (i) by transfer, either actually or by attestation, to the Company of Shares that have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such lesser period as may be permitted by the Board), valued at


the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of exercise (or next succeeding trading date, if the date of exercise is not a trading date), together with any applicable withholding taxes, such transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Board, or (ii) by a combination of such cash (or cash equivalents) and such Shares; provided, however, that the optionee shall not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant to successive, substantially simultaneous exercises of an Option or any other stock option of the Company. Subject to applicable securities laws, an Option may also be exercised by delivering a notice of exercise of the Option and simultaneously selling the Shares thereby acquired, pursuant to a brokerage or similar agreement approved in advance by proper officers of the Company, using the proceeds of such sale as payment of the Option Price, together with any applicable withholding taxes. Until the optionee has been issued the Shares subject to such exercise, he or she shall possess no rights as a stockholder with respect to such Shares.

6.5 Ten Percent Stock Rule . Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, if at the time an Option is otherwise to be granted pursuant to the Plan, the optionee or rights holder owns directly or indirectly (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) Shares of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company or its parent or Affiliate corporations (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code), then any Incentive Stock Option to be granted to such optionee or rights holder pursuant to the Plan shall satisfy the requirement of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code, and the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares of the Company, and such Option by its terms shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date such Option is granted.

Section 7. Restricted Shares.

7.1 Grant .

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan and other applicable legal requirements, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Shares shall be granted, the number of Restricted Shares to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Shares may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. The Restricted Share Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Board shall from time to time approve, which agreements shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions provided hereunder and any additional terms and conditions established by the Board that are consistent with the terms of the Plan.

(b) Each Restricted Share Award made under the Plan shall be for such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement containing the terms of such Restricted Share Award. Such agreement shall set forth a period of time during which the grantee must remain in the continuous employment of the Company in order for the forfeiture and transfer restrictions to lapse. If the Board so determines, the restrictions may lapse during such restricted period in installments with respect to specified portions of the Shares covered by the Restricted Share Award. The Award Agreement may also, in the discretion of the Board, set forth performance or other conditions that will subject the Shares to forfeiture and transfer restrictions. The Board may, at its discretion, waive all or any part of the restrictions applicable to any or all outstanding Restricted Share Awards.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) hereof, any grants of Restricted Shares to Non-Employee Directors under the Plan shall be automatic and shall not be changed without SEC approval.

7.2 Delivery of Shares and Transfer Restrictions . At the time of a Restricted Share Award, a certificate representing the number of Shares awarded thereunder shall be registered in the name of the grantee. Such certificate shall be held by the Company or any custodian appointed by the Company for the account of the grantee subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and shall bear such a legend setting forth the restrictions imposed thereon as the Board, in its discretion, may determine. The applicable Award Agreement will specify whether a grantee has the right to receive dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares prior to the lapsing of transfer restrictions. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the grantee shall have all other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such Shares, subject to the following restrictions: (i) the grantee shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the expiration of


the restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to such Shares; (ii) none of the Shares may be transferred except for disposition by gift, will or the laws of descent and distribution during such restricted period or until after the fulfillment of any such other restrictive conditions; and (iii) except as otherwise determined by the Board at or after grant, all of the Shares shall be forfeited and all rights of the grantee to such Shares shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in the continuous employment of the Company for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Shares were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Share Award are met. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any Shares, any other securities of the Company and any other property (except for cash dividends) distributed with respect to the Shares subject to Restricted Share Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as such restricted Shares.

7.3 Termination of Restrictions . At the end of the restricted period and provided that any other restrictive conditions of the Restricted Share Award are met, or at such earlier time as otherwise determined by the Board, all restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Share Award or in the Plan shall lapse as to the restricted Shares subject thereto, and a stock certificate for the appropriate number of Shares, free of the restrictions and restricted stock legend, shall be delivered to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.

Section 8. Performance Awards.

8.1 Grant . The Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees who shall receive a Performance Award, which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated in cash or Shares (including but not limited to Restricted Shares), (ii) valued, as determined by the Board, in accordance with the achievement of such Employees’ individual performance goals during such performance periods as the Board shall establish, and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Board shall determine.

8.2 Terms and Conditions . Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Board shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount and kind of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award, and may amend specific provisions of the Performance Award; provided, however, that such amendment may not adversely affect existing Performance Awards made within a performance period commencing prior to implementation of the amendment.

8.3 Payment of Performance Awards . Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with the procedures established by the Board, on a deferred basis. Termination of employment prior to the end of any performance period, other than for reasons of death or Disability, will result in the forfeiture of the Performance Award, and no payments will be made. An employee’s rights to any Performance Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of in any manner, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and/or except as the Board may determine at or after grant.

Section 9. Non-Employee Director Awards.

9.1 Each Non-Employee Director shall receive a grant of Restricted Shares at the beginning of each one-year term of service on the Board, for which forfeiture restrictions will lapse at the end of that year. The number of Restricted Shares granted to each Non-Employee Director shall be the equivalent of $30,000 worth of Shares based on the market value at the close of the NYSE on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Sections 9.2 and 9.3 below, the Board may provide that all or a portion of a Non-Employee Director’s annual retainer, meeting fees and/or other awards or compensation as determined by the Board, be payable (either automatically or at the election of a Non-Employee Director) in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Shares or unrestricted Shares; provided, however, that the Company has received an order from the SEC that permits such Award. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards, including the terms and conditions which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service as a member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion to administer such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.


9.2 Subject to applicable legal requirements and Section 9.3 below, the Board may also grant Awards to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to the terms of the Plan, including any Award described in Sections 6 or 7 above.

9.3 Any grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors under the Plan shall be automatic and shall not be changed without SEC approval.

Section 10. Provisions Applicable To Covered Officers And Performance Awards.

10.1 Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless the Board determines that a Performance Award to be granted to a Covered Officer should not qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m), Performance Awards granted to Covered Officers shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 10 . Accordingly, unless otherwise determined by the Board, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to such an Award does not comply or is inconsistent with Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Board discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable to a Covered Officer in connection with any such Award upon the attainment of the performance criteria established by the Board.

10.2 With respect to any Covered Officer, the maximum annual number of Shares in respect of which all Performance Awards may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan is 100,000 and the maximum amount of all Performance Awards that are settled in cash and that may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan in any year is $1,000,000.

10.3 To the extent necessary to comply with Section 162(m), with respect to grants of Performance Awards, no later than 90 days following the commencement of each performance period (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Board shall, in writing, (1) select the individual performance goal or goals applicable to the performance period, (2) establish the various targets and bonus amounts which may be earned for such performance period, and (3) specify the relationship between performance goals and targets and the amounts to be earned by each Covered Officer for such performance period. Following the completion of each performance period, the Board shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved and the amounts, if any, payable to Covered Officers for such performance period. In determining the amount earned by a Covered Officer for a given performance period, subject to any applicable Award Agreement, the Board shall have the right to reduce (but not increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Board may deem relevant in its sole discretion to the assessment of individual performance for the performance period.

Section 11. Termination Of Employment.

The Board shall have the full power and authority to determine the terms and conditions that shall apply to any Award upon a termination of employment with the Company and Affiliates, including a termination by the Company with or without Cause, by a Participant voluntarily, or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, and may provide such terms and conditions in the Award Agreement or in such rules and regulations as it may prescribe.

Section 12. Change In Control.

The Board may specify in the applicable Award Agreement at or after grant, or otherwise by resolution prior to a Change in Control, that all or a portion of the outstanding Awards shall vest, become immediately exercisable or payable and have all restrictions lifted upon a Change in Control.

Section 13. Amendment And Termination.

13.1 Amendments to the Plan . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement.


13.2 Amendments to Awards . Subject to the restrictions of Section 6.2 above and Section 13.5 below, the Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

13.3 Adjustments of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . The Board is hereby authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (and shall make such adjustments for events described in Section 4.5 hereof) affecting the Company or any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles.

13.4 Section 409A Compliance . No Award (or modification thereof) shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if one or more of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award would cause the Participant to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Code, the Board may reform such provision to maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

13.5 Exercise Price of Awards . Once established, the exercise price of an Award shall not be changed absent an exemptive order from the SEC or written confirmation from its staff that the Company may do so.

Section 14. General Provisions.

14.1 Limited Transferability of Awards . Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by gift, will or the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, no transfer or disposition of an Award shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the gift affidavit, will and/or such other evidence as the Board may deem necessary or appropriate to establish the validity of the transfer.

14.2 Dividends . In the sole and complete discretion of the Board, an Award may provide the Participant with dividends, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis. All dividends which are not paid currently may, at the Board’s discretion, accrue interest, be reinvested into additional Shares, or, in the case of dividends credited in connection with Performance Awards, be credited as additional Performance Awards and paid to the Participant if and when, and to the extent that, payment is made pursuant to such Award. The total number of Shares available for grant under Section 4 shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends that are reinvested into additional Shares or credited as Performance Awards.

14.3 No Rights to Awards . No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

14.4 Share Certificates . All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any state securities commission or regulatory authority, any stock exchange or other market upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.


14.5 Withholding . A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan, or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding or other tax-related obligations in respect of an Award, its exercise or any other transaction involving an Award, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Board may provide for additional cash payments to holders of Options to defray or offset any tax arising from the grant, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award.

14.6 Award Agreements . Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall be delivered to the Participant and may specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall prevail. The Board shall, subject to applicable law, determine the date an Award is deemed to be granted. The Board or, except to the extent prohibited under applicable law, its delegate(s) may establish the terms of agreements or other documents evidencing Awards under this Plan and may, but need not, require as a condition to any such agreement’s or document’s effectiveness that such agreement or document be executed by the Participant, including by electronic signature or other electronic indication of acceptance, and that such Participant agree to such further terms and conditions as specified in such agreement or document. The grant of an Award under this Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in this Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the agreement or other document evidencing such Award.

14.7 No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of Options or Restricted Shares.

14.8 No Right to Employment . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving an Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss an Employee from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement.

14.9 No Rights as Stockholder . Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until such person has become a holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Shares hereunder, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a stockholder in respect of such Restricted Shares.

14.10 Governing Law . The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

14.11 Severability . If any provision of the Plan or any Award is, or becomes, or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

14.12 Other Laws . The Board may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation (including applicable non-U.S. laws or regulations) or entitle the Company to recover the same under Exchange Act Section 16(b), and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.


14.13 No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

14.14 No Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Board shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

14.15 Headings . Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

14.16 1940 Act . No provision of this Plan shall contravene any portion of the 1940 Act, and in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan or any Award and the 1940 Act, the applicable section of the 1940 Act shall control and all Awards under the Plan shall be so modified. All Participants holding such modified Awards shall be notified of the changes to their Awards and such change shall be binding on such Participant.

Section 15. Term Of The Plan.

15.1 Effective Date . The Plan shall become effective upon approval by the stockholders of the Company and the Board; provided, however, that the Plan shall not be effective with respect to any Award to a Non-Employee Director or any award of Restricted Shares unless the Company has received an order from the SEC that permits such Award.

15.2 Expiration Date . No new Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

3700 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 530

Raleigh, NC 27612

TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2012 RESULTS

RALEIGH, NC – May 2, 2012, Triangle Capital Corporation (NYSE: TCAP) (“Triangle” or the “Company”), a leading provider of capital to lower middle market companies located throughout the United States, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2012.

Highlights

 

   

Total Investment Portfolio: $544.4 million

 

   

Total Net Assets: $412.1 million

 

   

Net Asset Value Per Share: $15.12

 

   

Weighted Average Yield on Debt Investments: 15.1%

 

   

Efficiency Ratio (G&A Expenses/Total Investment Income): 18.9%

 

   

Investment Portfolio Activity for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012

 

   

Cost of investments made during the period: $42.0 million

 

   

Sales, repayments and exits during the period: $8.3 million

 

   

Publicly announced investments made subsequent to quarter end: $48.5 million

 

   

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012

 

   

Total investment income: $19.1 million

 

   

Net investment income: $12.2 million

 

   

Net investment income per share: $0.49

 

   

Dividends paid per share: $0.47

 

   

Net unrealized gains: $0.6 million

 

   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations: $12.6 million

 

   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations per share: $0.50

In commenting on the Company’s results, Garland S. Tucker, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “2012 has been very active for Triangle in numerous respects. We completed our seventh public equity offering, our first public bond offering, and we originated approximately $90 million of investments in seven new portfolio companies. We continue to be pleased with the credit quality of our existing portfolio, and look forward to increasing our distributable income during the balance of 2012.”

First Quarter 2012 Results

Total investment income during the first quarter of 2012 was $19.1 million, compared to total investment income of $12.4 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 53.8%. The Company’s increase in investment income is primarily attributable to new portfolio investments made during 2011 and 2012 which resulted in an increase in total loan interest, fee, dividend and paid-in-kind interest income of approximately $6.7 million.

 


Net investment income during the first quarter of 2012 was $12.2 million, compared to net investment income of $7.9 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing an increase of 54.6%. The Company’s net investment income per share during the first quarter of 2012 was $0.49 based on a weighted average share count of 25,075,300 as compared to $0.47 during the first quarter of 2011, based on a weighted average share count of 16,848,570.

The Company’s net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $12.6 million during the first quarter of 2012, as compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $12.4 million during the first quarter of 2011. The Company’s net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $0.50 per share during the first quarter of 2012 based on a weighted average share count of 25,075,300, as compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $0.73 per share during the first quarter of 2011, based on a weighted average share count of 16,848,570.

The Company’s net asset value, or NAV, per share at March 31, 2012, was $15.12 as compared to $14.68 per share at December 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2012, the Company’s weighted average yield on its outstanding, currently yielding, debt investments was approximately 15.1%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $142.5 million.

Commenting on the Company’s liquidity position, Steven C. Lilly, Chief Financial Officer, stated, “Our ability to access the capital markets in multiple ways has been a strength for Triangle. In addition, our public offerings were well timed as we have already invested approximately 63% of the net offering proceeds, which positions us favorably as we move into the second quarter. Our liquidity at quarter-end, including funds available to us under our existing credit facility and undrawn SBA debentures, totaled approximately $228 million, which is a very comfortable number for us.”

The Company has a three-year senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a commitment of $75.0 million, an accordion feature which allows for an increase in the total loan size up to $90.0 million, and contains two one-year extension options bringing the total potential funding period to five years from closing. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had no outstanding debt under the Credit Facility.

During the first quarter of 2012, Triangle pre-paid $10.4 million in Small Business Administration (“SBA”) guaranteed debentures that bore interest at a weighted average interest rate of 6.2%. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding non-callable, fixed rate SBA guaranteed debentures totaling $213.9 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.76%

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company completed a public offering of 4.3 million shares of common stock with net proceeds of approximately $77.2 million.

Also during the first quarter of 2012, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of $69.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes. The notes will mature on


March 15, 2019, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company’s option on or after March 15, 2015. The notes bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per year payable quarterly on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2012.

Dividend and Distribution Information

On February 28, 2012, Triangle announced that its board of directors had declared a cash dividend of $0.47 per share. This was the Company’s twenty-first consecutive quarterly dividend since its initial public offering in February, 2007. The dividend was payable as follows:

Record Date: March 14, 2012

Payment Date: March 28, 2012

At the time of its IPO in February, 2007, Triangle adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) that provides for reinvestment of dividends on behalf of its stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. As a result, when the Company declares a cash dividend, stockholders who have not opted out of the DRIP will have their cash dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Company’s common stock, rather than receiving cash dividends.

When the Company declares and pays dividends, it determines the allocation of the distribution between current income, accumulated income and return of capital on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). At each year end, the Company is required for tax purposes to determine the dividend allocation based on tax accounting principles. Due to differences between GAAP and tax accounting principles, the portion of each dividend distribution that is ordinary income, capital gain or return of capital may differ for GAAP and tax purposes.

Recent Portfolio Activity

During the first quarter of 2012, Triangle made four new investments totaling approximately $41.0 million, two debt investments in existing portfolio companies totaling approximately $0.8 million, and one equity investment in an existing portfolio company of approximately $0.2 million. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company received two loan repayments at par totaling approximately $6.7 million and received normal principal repayments and partial loan prepayments totaling approximately $1.6 million.

New investment transactions which occurred during the first quarter of 2012 are summarized as follows:

In February, 2012, Triangle made a $6.3 million investment in Stella Environmental Services, LLC (“Stella”) consisting of subordinated debt with warrants. Stella, formerly a division of Sprint Logistics, is the leading operator of waste transfer stations and disposal logistics in the Houston area for municipal solid waste.

In March, 2012, Triangle made a $12.0 million investment in United Biologics, LLC (“United”) consisting of first lien debt and equity. United tests for and treats allergies using immunotherapy.


In March, 2012, Triangle made a $14.2 million investment in The Krystal Company (“Krystal”) consisting of subordinated debt and equity. Krystal is a quick serve restaurant with company-owned units and franchises throughout the country and is widely recognized for its well-known KRYSTAL Burgers.

In March, 2012, Triangle made an $8.5 million subordinated debt investment in ROM Corporation (“ROM”). ROM is the leading manufacturer of roll-up shutter doors for emergency vehicle storage compartments, emergency scene lighting products, truck and trailer access equipment such as ramps and steps, and other related emergency vehicle and industrial components.

Investments subsequent to quarter end are summarized as follows:

In April, 2012, Triangle made a $23.0 million investment in WSO Holdings, LP (“WSO”), consisting of subordinated debt and equity. WSO is a supplier of organic and natural sweeteners to retail, food service, and industrial food manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada.

In April, 2012, Triangle made a $7.0 million subordinated debt investment in Tomich Brothers, LLC (“Tomich”). Tomich is a processor and world-wide distributor of seafood indigenous to the waters of California.

In April, 2012, Triangle made an $18.5 million investment in Chromaflo Technologies, LLC (“Chromaflo”). Chromaflo develops, manufactures and distributes architectural and industrial colorants for the paint and coatings industries.

Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter 2012 Results

Triangle has scheduled a conference call to discuss first quarter results for Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

To listen to the call, please dial 877-312-5521 or 253-237-1143 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A taped replay will be made available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available until May 8, 2012. To access the replay, please dial 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 and enter the passcode 74677030.

Triangle’s quarterly results conference call will also be available via a live webcast on the investor relations section of its website at http://ir.tcap.com/events.cfm . Access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An archived webcast replay will be available on the Company’s website until May 31, 2012.

About Triangle Capital Corporation

Triangle Capital Corporation (www.TCAP.com) invests capital in established companies in the lower middle market to fund growth, changes of control and other corporate events. Triangle offers a wide variety of investment structures, and specializes in mezzanine financing with equity components. Triangle’s investment objective is to seek attractive returns by generating current income from debt investments and capital appreciation from equity related investments. Triangle’s investment philosophy is to partner with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors to provide flexible financing solutions. Triangle typically invests $5.0 million - $25.0 million per transaction in companies with annual revenues between $20.0 million and $200.0 million and EBITDA between $3.0 million and $20.0 million.


Triangle has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”). Triangle is required to comply with a series of regulatory requirements under the 1940 Act as well as applicable NYSE, federal and state laws and regulations. Triangle has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Failure to comply with any of the laws and regulations that apply to Triangle could have a material adverse effect on Triangle and its stockholders.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the Company’s control, and that the Company may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future and some of these uncertainties are enumerated in Triangle’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements are included in our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and shareholders may receive a hard copy of the completed audited financial statements free of charge upon request to the Company at 3700 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 530, Raleigh, NC 27612. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future.

Contacts

Sheri Blair Colquitt

Vice President, Investor Relations

919-719-4784

scolquitt@tcap.com

Steven C. Lilly

Chief Financial Officer

919-719-4789

slilly@tcap.com

#        #        #


TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     March 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 
     (Unaudited)         

Assets

     

Investments at fair value:

     

Non–Control / Non–Affiliate investments (cost of $424,962,392 and $389,312,451 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)

   $ 436,419,052       $ 396,502,490   

Affiliate investments (cost of $98,502,634 and $97,751,264 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)

     101,197,149         103,266,298   

Control investments (cost of $11,464,968 and $11,278,339 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)

     6,818,996         7,309,787   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments at fair value

     544,435,197         507,078,575   

Cash and cash equivalents

     142,514,158         66,868,340   

Interest and fees receivable

     2,745,074         1,883,395   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     470,126         623,318   

Deferred financing fees

     8,485,166         6,682,889   

Property and equipment, net

     60,611         58,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 698,710,332       $ 583,194,821   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 1,510,224       $ 4,116,822   

Interest payable

     1,205,864         3,521,932   

Taxes payable

     203,893         1,402,866   

Deferred income taxes

     775,953         628,742   

Borrowings under credit facility

     —           15,000,000   

Senior notes

     69,000,000         —     

SBA-guaranteed debentures payable

     213,871,133         224,237,504   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     286,567,067         248,907,866   

Net Assets

     

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share (150,000,000 shares authorized, 27,263,151 and 22,774,726 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)

     27,263         22,775   

Additional paid-in-capital

     396,320,487         318,297,269   

Investment income in excess of distributions

     6,054,619         6,847,486   

Accumulated realized gains on investments

     1,011,649         1,011,649   

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     8,729,247         8,107,776   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net assets

     412,143,265         334,286,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and net assets

   $ 698,710,332       $ 583,194,821   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value per share

   $ 15.12       $ 14.68   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2012
    Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2011
 

Investment income:

    

Loan interest, fee and dividend income:

    

Non–Control / Non–Affiliate investments

   $ 12,963,602      $ 8,749,449   

Affiliate investments

     2,717,149        1,374,243   

Control investments

     59,773        258,268   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total loan interest, fee and dividend income

     15,740,524        10,381,960   

Paid–in–kind interest income:

    

Non–Control / Non–Affiliate investments

     2,587,267        1,481,820   

Affiliate investments

     654,233        395,171   

Control investments

     19,971        65,297   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total paid–in–kind interest income

     3,261,471        1,942,288   

Interest income from cash and cash equivalent investments

     109,858        101,149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     19,111,853        12,425,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Interest and credit facility fees

     3,087,820        1,989,984   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     222,917        152,173   

General and administrative expenses

     3,607,267        2,397,523   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     6,918,004        4,539,680   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     12,193,849        7,885,717   

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     621,471        4,595,755   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net gain on investments before income taxes

     621,471        4,595,755   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     (205,043     (157,590

Income tax benefit

     7,231        27,359   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 12,617,508      $ 12,351,241   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income per share—basic and diluted

   $ 0.49      $ 0.47   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations per share—basic and diluted

   $ 0.50      $ 0.73   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.47      $ 0.42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic and diluted

     25,075,300        16,848,570   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


TRIANGLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Three Months
Ended

March 31, 2012
    Three Months
Ended

March 31, 2011
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 12,617,508      $ 12,351,241   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Purchases of portfolio investments

     (41,952,989     (68,275,512

Repayments received/sales of portfolio investments

     8,253,844        14,936,864   

Loan origination and other fees received

     666,420        1,466,292   

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     (768,682     (4,789,955

Deferred income taxes

     147,211        194,200   

Payment–in–kind interest accrued, net of payments received

     (2,704,362     (857,493

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     222,917        152,173   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     205,043        157,590   

Accretion of loan origination and other fees

     (476,512     (415,247

Accretion of loan discounts

     (374,341     (260,986

Accretion of discount on SBA-guaranteed debentures payable

     43,629        42,378   

Depreciation expense

     7,349        7,064   

Stock-based compensation

     648,750        414,329   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Interest and fees receivable

     (861,679     (532,986

Prepaid expenses

     153,192        (218,943

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (2,606,598     (1,341,160

Interest payable

     (2,316,068     (1,774,828

Deferred revenue

     —          5,287   

Taxes payable

     (1,198,973     (191,672
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (30,294,341     (48,931,364
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (9,656     (18,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (9,656     (18,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowings under SBA-guaranteed debentures payable

     —          21,600,000   

Repayments of SBA-guaranteed debentures payable

     (10,410,000     (9,500,000

Repayments of credit facility

     (15,000,000     —     

Proceeds from senior notes

     69,000,000        —     

Financing fees paid

     (2,230,237     (523,801

Proceeds from public stock offerings, net of expenses

     77,248,074        63,138,255   

Common stock withheld for payroll taxes upon vesting of restricted stock

     (897,637     (485,595

Cash dividends paid

     (11,760,385     (6,678,891
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     105,949,815        67,549,968   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     75,645,818        18,600,489   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     66,868,340        54,820,222   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 142,514,158      $ 73,420,711   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 5,289,789      $ 3,722,434