Rand Capital Invested $2.1 Million in Third Quarter 2015; Net Asset Value Up 17% Over Prior-Year Third Quarter to $5.21 Per Share

  • Supports portfolio companies' growth with $1.6 million in follow-on capital
  • Added City Dining Cards to portfolio with $500,000 investment
  • Total assets were $43.2 million, up 14% from 2014 third quarter

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rand Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:RAND) ("Rand"), a business development company that makes venture capital investments in companies with emerging product, service or technology concepts, announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

Allen F. ("Pete") Grum, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rand Capital, commented, "We continue to advance our strategy to grow Rand Capital. In the first nine months of 2015, we have invested a record $6.9 million. We are actively reinvesting the gains realized from our successful portfolio exits into our growing portfolio companies, as well as new companies. We believe we are uniquely positioned to provide emerging companies with needed capital at a level that corresponds with their early stage requirements. We also are advantaged with a strong pipeline of opportunities in the underserved venture capital market of upstate NY."

The 10-year compound annual growth rate of Rand's net asset value per share is 12.8% through September 30, 2015.

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

  • Achieved $5.21 net asset value (NAV) per share at September 30, 2015, up $0.74 per share, or 17%, over September 30, 2014
     
  • Provided $1.6 million of follow-on investments in five portfolio companies; Majority of funds directed toward Chequed.com and GENICON
     
  • Made initial investment of $500,000 in City Dining Cards, an innovative customer-loyalty technology company founded in 2011
     
  • Investment portfolio fair value was $36.4 million at quarter end

Portfolio Demonstrates Continued Progress

Highlights of several of this quarter's largest investments follow:

  • New to the Rand portfolio, City Dining Cards (http://www.citydiningcards.com/) is a Buffalo-based, innovative customer-loyalty technology company operating in 20 markets across the US and Canada. It helps consumers discover the best locally-owned restaurants and businesses in their neighborhood, save money and earn rewards. Get the City Dining Cards app for free from the App Store.
     
  • Chequed.com (https://www.chequed.com/), a leading provider of cloud-based Predictive Talent Selection™ technology, recently combined with Assess Systems.  

An excellent strategic combination, the combined entity offers market-leading, next-generation Human Capital Management (HCM) software and services that provide cloud-based, data-driven hiring and talent management solutions. As Chequed.com's first institutional investor in November 2010, Rand provided an additional $500,000 in the quarter bringing its total investment to $2.1 million, the Company's fourth largest portfolio investment.    

  • GENICON (http://geniconendo.com/), an emerging leader in the design, production, and distribution of patented surgical instrumentation focused exclusively on laparoscopic surgery was named a Florida Companies to WatchSM for its expected significant growth over the next several years. New to Rand's portfolio in 2015, the current quarter's $500,000 investment follows Rand's initial $500,000 investment in April 2015.   

Additional follow-on investments were provided to OnCore Golf, Statisfy, and SciAps.

As of September 30, 2015, Rand's portfolio consisted of 32 businesses valued at $36.4 million. A diversified group of investments, the portfolio includes approximately 45% in manufacturing, 22% in software, 11% in healthcare and 22% in a diverse group of other industry categories. The portfolio is comprised of approximately 82% in equity investments and 18% in debt investments.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Rand is focused on increasing net asset value through capital appreciation and maintaining sufficient income to drive operational leverage.   

Cash on hand at September 30, 2015 was $4.8 million. The primary use of cash is for follow-on and new investments to grow the Company's portfolio and net asset value. 

The Board of Directors renewed its share buyback authorization through October 2016.  The Company currently holds 534,496 shares of Rand treasury stock and can purchase an additional 465,504 shares.

Strategy and Outlook

Rand's strategy is to continue expanding its net asset value by capitalizing on maturing investments and leveraging the returns to invest in early-stage companies with new or unique products or services that offer competitive advantage and strong growth potential. Its unique advantages are its willingness to provide a smaller check size, its network of investment partners and growing opportunities in the undercapitalized, but strengthening markets of upstate New York and surrounding regions.

Mr. Grum concluded, "We have investments in our portfolio that are reaching maturity and will potentially create additional liquidity for us.  We plan to reinvest those proceeds in our ever-growing pipeline of opportunities. We are especially excited to be able to support the renaissance currently occurring in the Upstate New York and surrounding regions, and the opportunity it presents to further accelerate Rand's growth."

ABOUT RAND CAPITAL

Rand Capital (NASDAQ:RAND) provides investors the ability to participate in venture capital opportunities through an investment in the Company's stock. Rand is a Business Development Company (BDC), and its wholly-owned subsidiary is licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). Rand focuses investments in early or expansion stage companies with strong leadership that are bringing to market new or unique products, technologies or services that have a high potential for growth.

Additional information can be found at the Company's website where it regularly posts information: www.randcapital.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future net asset value growth, investment returns and opportunities. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Corporation to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements, including general economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the valuation of the Corporation's portfolio, the timing and opportunity for investments or divestitures as well as conditions affecting the portfolio companies' markets, competitor responses, and market acceptance of their products and services and other factors disclosed in the Corporation's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, such forward looking statements should be regarded as the Corporation's current plans, estimates and beliefs. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Rand Capital Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
     
  September 30, December 31,
  2015 2014
ASSETS (Unaudited)  
Investments at fair value:    
Control investments (cost of $1,195,841 and $1,347,300, respectively)  $ 9,870,841  $ 10,022,300
Affiliate investments (cost of $18,579,796 and $15,188,935, respectively)  17,564,802  14,617,378
Non-affiliate investments (cost of $8,751,037 and $5,677,241, respectively)  8,933,066  5,665,698
Total investments, at fair value (cost of $28,526,674 and $22,213,476, respectively)  36,368,709  30,305,376
Cash  4,763,631  13,230,717
Interest receivable (net of allowance: $122,000 at 9/30/15 and $128,311 at 12/31/14)  209,216  165,094
Prepaid income tax  51,230  --
Other assets  1,768,320  1,824,800
Total assets  $ 43,161,106  $ 45,525,987
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (NET ASSETS)    
Liabilities:    
Debentures guaranteed by the SBA  $ 8,000,000  $ 8,000,000
Income tax payable  --  2,065,795
Deferred tax liability  1,868,534  1,838,351
Profit sharing and bonus payable - officers  194,740  953,490
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  104,653  290,646
Deferred revenue  30,597  24,264
Total liabilities  10,198,524  13,172,546
     
Stockholders' equity (net assets):    
Common stock, $.10 par; shares authorized 10,000,000; shares issued 6,863,034; shares outstanding of 6,328,538 as of 9/30/15 and 12/31/14  686,304  686,304
Capital in excess of par value  10,581,789  10,581,789
Accumulated net investment (loss)  (273,212)  (867,482)
Undistributed net realized gain on investments  18,463,557  18,290,374
Net unrealized appreciation on investments  4,951,635  5,109,947
Treasury stock, at cost; 534,496 shares at 9/30/15 and 12/31/14  (1,447,491)  (1,447,491)
Total stockholders' equity (net assets) (per share 9/30/15: $5.21, 12/31/14: $5.11)  32,962,582  32,353,441
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 43,161,106  $ 45,525,987
     
Rand Capital Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three Months and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)
     
     
  For the Quarter Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
  2015 2014 2015 2014
Investment income:        
Interest from portfolio companies:        
Control investments  $ 18,336  $ 26,660  $ 60,756  $ 88,419
Affiliate investments  100,678  122,113  312,329  375,486
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  61,312  57,576  176,534  136,920
Total interest from portfolio companies  180,326  206,349  549,619  600,825
         
Interest from other investments:        
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  3,529  2,326  18,719  10,523
Total interest from other investments  3,529  2,326  18,719  10,523
         
Dividend and other investment income:        
Control investments  460,947  351,380  1,364,306  1,034,361
Affiliate investments  65,810  --  124,239  90,065
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  --  --  --  2,531
Total dividend and other investment income  526,757  351,380  1,488,545  1,126,957
         
Fee income:        
Control investments  2,000  4,000  6,000  10,000
Affiliate investments  1,417  1,767  3,250  4,467
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  4,250  3,527  12,417  6,083
Total fee income  7,667  9,294  21,667  20,550
Total investment income  718,279  569,349  2,078,550  1,758,855
         
Operating expenses:        
Salaries  149,555  147,668  448,665  443,006
Bonus and profit sharing  --  --  --  (45,635)
Employee benefits  27,745  26,431  87,546  89,187
Directors' fees  37,950  14,250  89,000  88,500
Professional fees  33,702  25,724  127,204  126,236
Stockholders and office operating  41,716  23,789  156,830  109,439
Insurance  8,400  7,700  25,954  27,609
Corporate development  16,982  14,385  48,363  41,941
Other operating  3,099  2,385  8,973  5,641
   319,149  262,332  992,535  885,924
Interest on SBA obligations  77,569  69,243  229,460  195,660
Bad debt expense  --  --  --  6,311
Total operating expenses  396,718  331,575  1,221,995  1,087,895
Net investment income before income taxes  321,561  237,774  856,555  670,960
Income tax expense (benefit)  88,298  (5,762)  262,285  92,081
Net investment income  233,263  243,536  594,270  578,879
         
Net realized gain (loss) on investments:        
Affiliate investments  --  160,634  --  (617,619)
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  --  --  262,925  (446,939)
Net realized gain (loss) before income taxes  --  160,634  262,925  (1,064,558)
Income tax expense (benefit)  --  58,870  89,742  (363,356)
Net realized gain (loss) on investments  --  101,764  173,183  (701,202)
         
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation on investments:        
Control investments  --  5,336  --  5,336
Affiliate investments  (250,000)  --  (443,436)  29,980
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments  321,300  (195,157)  193,572  1,041,094
Change in unrealized appreciation before income taxes  71,300  (189,821)  (249,864)  1,076,410
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)  18,066  (67,963)  (91,552)  380,482
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation on investments  53,234  (121,858)  (158,312)  695,928
         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments  53,234  (20,094)  14,871  (5,274)
Net increase in net assets from operations  $ 286,497  $ 223,442  609,141  $ 573,605
Weighted average shares outstanding  6,328,538  6,407,199  6,328,538  6,408,763
Basic and diluted net increase in net assets from operations per share  $ 0.05  $ 0.03  $ 0.10  $ 0.09
         
CONTACT: Company:

         Allen F. ("Pete") Grum
         President and CEO
         Phone: 716.853.0802
         Email: pgrum@randcapital.com

         Investors:

         Deborah K. Pawlowski
         Kei Advisors LLC
         Phone: 716.843.3908
         Email: dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com
Source: Rand Capital Corporation