ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties, the risk factors set forth in the documents and reports previously filed with the SEC, and the risks described below before you make an investment decision regarding our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations.
Risks Related to Finance Receivables Segment
We may suffer losses on our principal invested in credit and royalty transactions.
Most of the assets of our Finance Receivables segment are, and are expected to continue to be, royalty streams or debt backed by royalty streams or revenue interests paid by small and middle-market life sciences businesses, which are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk of credit loss. In addition, we own royalties or invest in debt backed by royalties or revenue interests that are derived by pharmaceutical and biologic products that are early in their commercial launch, face intense competition or are subject to other risks, which similarly involve a high degree of risk of principal loss. If the underlying products do not generate anticipated revenues, we may suffer a loss of our investment.
In addition, the small- and middle-market companies that we target to advance debt are subject to a number of other significant risks, including:
• limited financial resources and potential inability to meet their obligations under their financial instruments that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of their assets or of any collateral with respect to any financial obligations and a reduction in the likelihood of our realization of any guarantees we may have obtained in connection with our investment;
• potentially shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;
• higher likelihood that they depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our partner company, and in turn, on us;
• less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, and may be engaged in changing businesses with products subject to a risk of obsolescence, thus requiring substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position;
• they operate in the life sciences industry, which is both highly competitive and subject to extensive regulatory oversight, and their products may be recalled or displaced by new products, or they may lose regulatory approval altogether;
• changes in laws and regulations, as well as their interpretations, may adversely affect their business, financial structure or prospects; and
• they may have difficulty accessing capital markets to meet future capital needs.
Under circumstances where a partner company does not achieve commercial success or achieves lower sales than we anticipate, and the partner company requires additional capital that other stakeholders are not willing or are otherwise unable to provide, we may determine it is in our best interest to advance additional capital to such partner company in order to preserve the partner company’s collateral value and protect our investment. Any additional capital that we decide to advance would be subject to additional risk. We could lose all of any additional investment. The realization of any of these risks may materially impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows.
We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities .
A large number of entities compete with us to advance capital to the companies our Finance Receivables segment targets. We compete with non-bank financial institutions, federal or state chartered banks, venture debt funds, venture capital funds, private equity funds, pharmaceutical royalty and other investment funds, business development companies, and investment banks. Additionally, because competition for investment opportunities generally has increased among alternative investment vehicles, particularly those seeking yield investments, such as hedge funds, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including investments in royalties and debt backed by royalties, which may overlap with our business strategy. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in our target markets has intensified, which is a trend we expect to continue.
Many of our Finance Receivables segment’s existing and potential competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more or deeper relationships with potential business partners than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the maintenance of an exception or exemption from regulation as an investment company, which may allow them more flexibility in advancing capital to companies we may also target, such as advancing debt capital that is not repaid by royalty streams or revenue interests. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of existing and increasing competition and our competitors’ ability to provide a total financing package solution, inclusive of both debt and equity capital, we may not be able to take of business from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be to identify and make investments that are consistent with our business objectives.
In addition, we do not seek to compete primarily based on the cost of the capital that we provide, and we believe that some of our competitors provide capital at rates that are comparable to or lower than the rates we offer. We may lose business opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may experience decreased net interest and royalty income and increased risk of credit loss.
Healthcare and life sciences industries are subject to extensive government regulation, litigation risk, reimbursement risk and certain other risks particular to those industries.
We have invested and plan to continue investing in cash flow streams produced by life sciences products that are subject to extensive regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), similar foreign regulatory authorities, and to a lesser extent, other federal and state agencies. If any of these products and the companies which manage such products fails to comply with applicable regulations, they could be subject to significant penalties and claims that could materially and adversely affect their sales levels and operations. Medical devices and drugs are subject to the expense, delay and uncertainty of the regulatory approval process in order to reach the market and, even if approved, these products may not be accepted in the marketplace. In addition, governmental budgetary constraints affecting the regulatory approval process, new laws, regulations or judicial interpretations of existing laws and regulations might adversely affect a partner company or product in this industry.
The products and services provided by pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies are generally subject to the ability to obtain and maintain adequate reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors for such products and services. The commercial success of such products and services could be compromised if governmental or third-party payors do not provide coverage and reimbursement, breach, rescind or modify their contracts or reimbursement policies or delay payments for such products and services.
Companies in the life sciences industry may also have a limited number of suppliers of necessary components or a limited number of manufacturers for their products, and therefore face a risk of disruption to their manufacturing process if they are unable to find alternative suppliers when needed.
Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect the operations of a partner company, which in turn, would impair our ability to timely collect principal and interest payments owed to us or decrease our royalty-related income.
The pharmaceutical industry is subject to numerous risks, including competition, extensive government regulation, product liability, patent exclusivity and commercial difficulties.
Our assets include royalties and royalty-linked debt that are paid on sales of pharmaceutical products, which are subject to numerous risks. The successful and timely implementation of the business model of our specialty pharmaceutical and drug discovery partner companies depends on their ability to adapt to changing technologies and introduce new products. As competitors continue to introduce competitive products, the ability of our partner companies to continue effectively marketing their existing product portfolio, and to develop and acquire innovative products and technologies that improve efficacy, safety, patients’ and clinicians’ ease of use and cost-effectiveness is important to the success of such partner companies. The success of new product offerings will depend on many factors, including the ability to properly anticipate and satisfy customer needs, obtain regulatory approvals on a timely basis, develop and manufacture products in an economical and timely manner, obtain or maintain advantageous positions with respect to intellectual
property, and differentiate products from competitors. Failure by our partner companies to successfully commercialize existing or planned products, or acquire other new products, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the ability of generic manufactures to invalidate a partner company’s patents protecting its products or to invalidate the patents supporting products in which we receive royalty-related income could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows depend on the accuracy of our management’s assumptions and estimates, and we could experience significant gains or losses if these assumptions and estimates differ significantly from actual results.
We make and rely on certain assumptions and estimates regarding many matters related to our businesses, including valuations, interest rates, investment returns, expenses, operating costs and tax liabilities. We also use these assumptions and estimates to make decisions crucial to our business operations. Similarly, our management teams make similar assumptions and estimates in planning and measuring the performance of our Finance Receivables segment. In addition, certain investments and other assets and liabilities of our Finance Receivables segment must be, or at our election are, measured at fair value, the determination of which involves the use of various assumptions and estimates and considerable judgment. The factors influencing these various assumptions and estimates cannot be calculated or predicted with certainty, and if our assumptions and estimates differ significantly from actual outcomes and results, our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.
We generally do not control our partner companies, and our partner companies may make decisions with which we don’t agree or that don’t serve our business or financial interests.
We generally only hold royalties, debt backed by royalties, and revenue interests that are issued by our partner companies. As such, we do not, and do not expect to, control any of our partner companies, even though we may have board representation or board observation rights, and the debt agreements may contain certain restrictive covenants that limit the business and operations of our partner companies. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a partner company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and the management of such company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve our interests. These business decisions or risks may lead to adverse business or financial consequences for our partner companies, which in turn could adversely affect the performance of our Finance Receivables segment.
If we make investments in unsecured debt backed by royalties or revenue interests, those investments might not generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations.
We may make investments in unsecured debt backed by royalties or revenue interests. Unsecured investments may be subordinated to other obligations of the obligor. Unsecured investments often reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the obligor or general economic conditions (including, for example, a substantial period of rising interest rates, inflation or declining earnings) or both may impair the ability of the obligor to make payment of principal and interest. If we make an unsecured investment in a partner company, that partner company may be highly leveraged, and its relatively high debt-to-equity ratio may increase the risk that its operations might not generate sufficient cash to service its debt obligations. In such cases we would not have any collateral to help secure repayment of the obligations owed to us.
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or those of the companies in our portfolio, which in turn could adversely impact the performance of our Finance Receivables segment.
Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. Although we assess our banking and customer relationships as we believe necessary or appropriate, our access to funding sources and other credit arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect us, the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry.
In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on acceptable terms or at all. Any decline in available funding or access to our cash and liquidity resources could, among other risks, adversely impact our ability to meet our operating expenses, financial obligations or fulfill our other obligations, result in breaches of our contractual obligations or result in violations of federal or state wage and hour laws. Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the factors described above or other related or similar factors not described above, could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Further, the performance of our Finance Receivables segment is substantially dependent upon the underlying performance of the companies in our portfolio, each of which is subject to the risks and factors discussed above. To the extent these companies are adversely impacted by developments in the financial services industry, the performance of our Finance Receivables segment would also be adversely impacted.
We may have limited access to information about privately-held royalty streams and companies in which we invest.
We invest primarily in privately-held royalties and debt backed by royalties or revenue interests issued by private companies. Generally, little public information exists about these royalty streams and private companies, and we are required to rely on the ability of our senior management to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these assets. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these assets, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investment.
Prepayments of our debt investments by our partner companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.
We are subject to the risk that the debt we advance to our partner companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we will generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending their future investment in new royalties or debt repaid by royalties or revenue interests issued by partner companies. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt that was prepaid and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future asset may also have lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our partner companies elect to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact our return on equity, which could result in a decline in the market price of our common stock.
Our quarterly and annual operating results are subject to fluctuation as a result of the nature of our business, and if we fail to achieve our investment objective, the market price of our common stock may decline.
We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly and annual operating results due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the interest rate payable on the debt assets that we acquire, the default rate on such assets, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, changes in our partner composition, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets, market volatility in our publicly traded securities and the securities of our partner companies, and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods. In addition, any of these factors could negatively impact our ability to achieve our business objectives, which may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Our investments in royalty-related transactions depend on third parties to market royalty-generating products.
Generally, royalties and the royalty-related income we expect to receive in the future will directly or indirectly depend upon the marketing efforts of third parties, particularly large pharmaceutical companies that license the right to manufacture and sell products from technology innovators in exchange for royalty payments from the licensees to the licensors, with whom we may transact. These licensees may be motivated to maximize income by allocating resources to other products, and in the future, may decide to focus less attention on the products that pay royalties in which we have an economic interest. In addition, there can be no assurance that any of the licensees have adequate resources and motivation to continue to produce, market and sell such products in which we have a royalty-related interest. Moreover, the license agreement creating the right to receive royalties may not have specific sales targets, and the licensee typically has exclusive or substantial discretion in determining its marketing plans and efforts. As a result, the licensee may not be restricted from abandoning a licensed product or from developing or selling a competitive product. In addition, in the event that a license expires or is terminated, we would be dependent upon the licensor of the license to find another marketing partner. There can be no assurance that another licensee could be found on terms, or at all, or that the licensor will be to assume marketing, sales and distribution responsibility for its own account. These factors may materially affect any of our future royalty-related assets.
Aside from any limited audit rights relating to the activities of the licensees that we may have in certain circumstances, we do not have the rights or ability to manage the operations of the licensees. Poor management of operations by the licensees could adversely affect the sales of products in which we have a royalty interest, and the payment of royalty-related income to us. In addition, we have limited information on the licensees’ operations. While we may be able to receive certain information relating to sales of the product in which we have a royalty-related interest through the exercise of the audit rights and review of royalty reports, we may not have the right to review or receive certain information relating to the marketed products, including the results of any studies conducted by the licensees or others or complaints from doctors or users of such products, that the licensees may have and that may impact sales levels. The market performance of such products, therefore, may be diminished by any number of factors relating to the licensees that are beyond our control.
Our Finance Receivables segment has a limited number of assets, which subjects our aggregate returns, and the value of our common stock, to a greater risk of significant loss if any of our debt securities declines in value or if any of our royalty investments substantially underperforms our expectations.
Our Finance Receivables segment’s total investment in companies may be significant, individually or in the aggregate. A consequence of our limited number of assets in our Finance Receivables segment is that the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if one or more of our significant partner company investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one significant investment, which may be more severe than if we had made smaller investments in more companies. Our financial results could be materially adversely affected if these partner companies or any of our other significant partner companies encounter financial difficulty and fail to repay their obligations or to perform as expected.
Our allowance for credit losses may prove inadequate.
The quality of our debt receivables depends on the credit-worthiness of our borrowers and their ability to fulfill their obligations to us. We maintain an allowance for credit losses on specific finance receivables to provide for credit defaults and non-performance. The amount of our allowance reflects management’s judgment of losses inherent in the portfolio. However, the economic environment is dynamic, and our portfolio credit quality could decline in the future.
Our allowance for credit losses may not keep pace with changes in the credit-worthiness of our partner companies or in collateral values. If the credit quality of our partner companies declines, if the risk profile of a market, industry, or group of partner companies changes significantly, or if the markets for finance receivables or other collateral deteriorates significantly, our allowance for credit losses may prove inadequate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
A rise in the reference rates could have an adverse impact on the ability of our partner companies to service their debt obligations to us.
Many of our debt transactions contain reference rate-based floating interest rates with minimum reference rate floors. The minimum reference rate floor insulates partner companies from an increase in the reference rate until the reference rate reaches the minimum floor threshold. If the reference rate increases above the floor rate, the net effect will be an increase in the interest cost to the borrower. Most of our borrower partners do not hedge their reference rate exposure, and as a result of an increase of reference rate above the minimum floor threshold, they will experience an increase in the effective interest rate of their debt obligations to us. If the reference rate increases materially, the increased cost of debt service will similarly increase materially. If our partner companies are not adequately capitalized or are unable to generate sufficient income from operations, the increased debt burden caused by increased referenced rates could materially and adversely affect the operations of a partner company, which in turn, would impair our ability to timely collect principal and interest payments owed to us.
Fluctuations in the price of our publicly traded equity holdings and the price at which we sell such holdings may affect the price of our common stock.
Our Finance Receivables segment may hold equity interests in companies that are publicly traded. Fluctuations in the market prices of our publicly traded equity holdings may affect the price of our common stock. Historically, the market prices of our publicly traded holdings have been highly volatile and subject to fluctuations unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance.
In addition, we may be unable to sell our holdings of public equities at then-quoted market prices. The trading volume and public float of the common stock of a publicly traded partner company may be small relative to our holdings. As a result, any significant open-market divestiture by us of our holdings in such a partner company, if possible at all, would likely have a material adverse effect on the market price of its common stock and on our proceeds from such a divestiture. Also, registration and other requirements under applicable securities laws and contractual restrictions may adversely affect our ability to dispose of our partner company holdings on a timely basis.
Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to manage future growth of our Finance Receivables segment effectively.
Our ability to achieve our business objectives depends on our ability to grow, which depends, in turn, on our Finance Receivables segment’s ability to continue to identify, analyze and invest in royalties and/or debt backed by royalties or revenue interests that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of our structuring of transactions and our access to financing on acceptable terms. As we continue to grow, we will need to continue to hire, train, supervise and manage new employees. Failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Pharmaceutical Development Segment
MOD3's technology or products could give rise to product liability claims.
While MOD3 does not have a commercial product, MOD3 business exposes us to the risk of product liability claims from human testing and the manufacturing of pharmaceutical tablets currently used in clinical trials. The administration of drugs to humans, whether in clinical trials or commercially, can result in product liability claims, even if MOD3 or MOD3 partners’ products are not actually at fault for causing an injury. Furthermore, MOD3 products may cause, or may appear to cause, adverse side effects or potentially dangerous drug interactions that we may not learn about or understand fully until the drug is actually manufactured and sold. Product liability claims can be expensive to defend and may result in large judgments against us. Even if a product liability claim is not successful, the adverse publicity, time and expense involved in such a claim may with our business. We may not have sufficient resources to or these . While we currently maintain product liability insurance coverage, the amount of coverage may not be sufficient to protect us or may be in the future on acceptable terms, if at all.
Because MOD3 is a biopharmaceutical company, its operations are subject to extensive government regulation.
Our research, development and production activities, as well as those of our collaborators and licensees, are subject to significant regulation by federal, state, local and foreign governmental authorities. The regulatory approval process for a pharmaceutical product requires substantial resources and may take many years. Our partners’ inability to obtain approvals or delays in obtaining approvals would adversely affect our ability to manufacture products, and to receive revenue from milestone payments, product sales or royalties. MOD3 present and future business is, and will continue to be, subject to various other laws, rules and/or regulations applicable to us as a result of our domestic and international business.
The FDA and other regulatory agencies may inspect the MOD3 production facility at any time to ensure compliance with current good manufacturing practice guidelines. These guidelines require that MOD3 conduct its production operations in strict compliance with established rules for manufacturing and quality controls. Any of these agencies can suspend production operations and product sales if they find significant or repeated deviations from these guidelines. A suspension would likely cause MOD3 to incur additional costs or delays in product development and manufacturing.
MOD3 relies on third parties to supply most of the necessary raw materials and supplies for the products we manufacture on behalf of our customers and our inability to obtain such raw materials or supplies may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our operations require various raw materials, including proprietary media, resins, buffers, and filters, in addition to numerous additional raw materials supplied primarily by third parties. We or our customers specify the raw materials and other items required to manufacture their product and, in some cases, specify the suppliers from whom we must purchase these raw materials. In certain instances, the raw materials and other items can only be supplied by a limited number of suppliers and, in some cases, a single source, or in limited quantities. If third-party suppliers do not supply raw materials or other items on a timely basis, it may cause a manufacturing run to be delayed or canceled which would adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, we do not have long-term supply contracts with any of our single source suppliers. If we experience difficulties acquiring sufficient quantities of required materials or products from our existing suppliers, or if our suppliers are found to be non-compliant with the FDA’s quality system regulation, Current Good Manufacturing Practices ("CGMPs") or other applicable laws or regulations, we would be required to find alternative suppliers. If our primary suppliers become unable or to perform, any resulting or in the supply of raw materials required to support our manufacturing of CGMP pharmaceutical-grade products would ultimately our manufacture of products for our customers, which could materially and affect our financial condition and operating results. Furthermore, third-party suppliers may to provide us with raw materials and other items that meet the qualifications and specifications required by us or our customers. If third-party suppliers are not to provide us with raw materials that meet our or our customers’ specifications on a timely basis, we may be to manufacture their product or it could prevent us from delivering products to our customers within required timeframes. Any such in delivering our products may create liability for us to our customers for of contract or cause us to experience order and of customers. In the event that we manufacture products with quality components and raw materials, we may become subject to product liability caused by raw materials or components from a third-party supplier or from a customer, or our customer may be required to its products from the market.
Risks Related to Our Business and Structure
Our ability to use NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be limited, and our future cash tax liability may increase.
As of December 31, 2025, we had Net Operating Loss ("NOL") carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes of $46.9 million. The U.S. federal NOL carryforwards, if not offset against future income, will expire by 2038. We may recognize additional NOLs in the future. In order to utilize the NOLs, we must generate taxable income that can offset such carryforwards.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” may be subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its pre-change NOL carryforward amounts to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate stock ownership of certain stockholders (generally 5% stockholders, applying certain look-through and aggregation rules) increases by more than 50% over such stockholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years). New issuances of our common stock, which is within our control, and purchases of our common stock in amounts greater than specified levels, which are beyond our control, could create an additional limitation on our ability to utilize our NOL carryforward amounts for tax purposes in the future. Limitations imposed on our ability to utilize NOL carryforward amounts could cause U.S. federal and state income taxes to be paid earlier than would be paid if such limitations were not in effect and could cause such NOL carryforward amounts to expire unused, in each case reducing or eliminating the expected benefit to us. Additionally, various states have similar limitations on the use of state NOLs following an ownership change.
If an ownership change occurs, the amount of the taxable income for any post-change year that may be offset by a pre-change loss is subject to an annual limitation that is cumulative to the extent it is not all utilized in a year. This limitation would be derived by multiplying the fair market value of our common stock as of the ownership change by the applicable federal long-term tax-exempt rate. To the extent that a company has a net unrealized built-in gain at the time of an ownership change, which is realized or deemed recognized during the five-year period following the ownership change, there is an increase in the annual limitation for each of the first five-years that is cumulative to the extent it is not all utilized in a year.
If an ownership change should occur in the future, our ability to use NOLs to offset future taxable income will be subject to an annual limitation and will depend on the amount of taxable income we generate in future periods. There is no assurance that we will be able to fully utilize our NOLs and we could be required to record an additional valuation allowance related to the amount of the NOLs that may not be realized, which could impact our results of operations.
Changes in tax law may adversely affect us or our investors.
The rules dealing with U.S. federal, state and local income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect us or holders of our common stock. In recent years, many such changes have been made, and changes are likely to continue to occur in the future.
It cannot be predicted whether, when, in what form or with what effective dates tax laws, regulations and rulings may be enacted, promulgated or issued, which could result in an increase in our or our shareholders’ tax liability or require changes in the manner in which we operate in order to minimize or mitigate any adverse effects of changes in tax law.
From time to time, we engage in acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures and may encounter difficulties in integrating and separating these businesses and therefore we may not realize the anticipated benefits.
We may seek growth opportunities through strategic acquisitions as well as evaluate our segments for potential divestitures to optimize our business footprint. The success of these transactions will depend on our ability to integrate or separate, as applicable, assets and personnel in these transactions and to cooperate with our strategic partners. We may encounter difficulties in integrating acquisitions with our operations as well as separating divested segments, and in managing strategic investments. Furthermore, we may not realize the degree, or timing, of benefits we anticipate when we first enter into a transaction.
We are dependent upon our key management personnel for our future success.
We depend on the diligence, skill and network of business contacts of our senior management and their access to the investment professionals and the information and deal flow generated by these investment professionals in the course of their investment and portfolio management activities. Our senior management team evaluates, negotiates, structures, closes, monitors and services our investments. Our success depends to a significant extent on the efforts, judgment, business relationships, personal reputations and continued service of our senior management team, and other key personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel or damage to their personal reputation could have a material adverse effect on our business. Accordingly, our retention of our key personnel and our success in recruiting additional personnel is crucial to our success. If our key personnel were to join or form a competitor, our business could similarly suffer a material adverse effect. In addition, we have very few employees, so the loss of any employee could be to our business. We do not carry any “key man” insurance that would provide us with proceeds in the event of the death or disability of any of our key personnel. We may also not in recruiting additional personnel because the market for qualified professionals is extremely competitive. Efforts to retain or attract key personnel may result in significant additional expenses, which could affect our .
Changes in our management may cause uncertainty in, or be disruptive to, our business.
Our success depends upon the continued services of executive officers and other key personnel, as well as their ability to effectively transition to their successors. Although we have endeavored to implement any management and director transition in a non-disruptive manner, such transitions might impact our business, and give rise to uncertainty among our customers, investors, vendors, employees and others concerning our future direction and performance, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and our ability to execute our business model.
In addition, because certain members of our management and Board have served in their respective capacities for only limited durations, we face the additional risks that these persons have limited familiarity with our past practices, our business and our industry and lack established track records in managing our business strategy.
Any future changes to the executive management team, including hires or departures, could cause further disruption to the business and have a negative impact on operating performance, while these operational areas are in transition. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to continue to find suitable successors to key roles as transitions occur or that any identified successor will be successfully integrated into its management team.
We also believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled technical, management personnel at all levels of the organization. Due to labor shortages and inflationary wage pressure, there is intense competition for qualified talent, which combined with the salary, benefits and other costs required to employ the right personnel, may make it difficult to achieve our financial goals. Consequently, we may not be successful in attracting, motivating and retaining such personnel, and our failure to do so could have a negative effect on our business including our ability to successfully develop, introduce, and market our products which may adversely impact our operating results, or financial condition.
Because we are relying on the exemptions from corporate governance requirements as a result of being a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards, you do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Because entities affiliated with Carlson Capital, L.P. (“Carlson”) control a majority of our common stock, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) listing standards. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, including (1) the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors, (2) the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities, and (3) the requirement that the board have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities. However, our Board of Directors is currently comprised of a majority of independent directors and we currently have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the majority of the members of such committee are independent directors. If we were to fully avail ourselves of the controlled company rules, you do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.
If we are unable to obtain additional debt or equity financing on commercially reasonable terms our business could be materially adversely affected.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $42.8 million of cash and cash equivalents plus $10.0 million available to be borrowed under our new credit facility with First Horizon Bank.
On June 28, 2023, we entered into a new Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among SWK Funding LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary (together with the Company, the “Borrower”), the lenders party thereto (“Lenders”), and First Horizon Bank as a Lender and Agent (the “Agent”). The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility with an initial maximum principal amount of $45.0 million. The Credit Agreement provides that we may request one or more incremental increases in an aggregate amount not to exceed $80.0 million, subject to the consent of the Agent and each Lender, at any time prior to the termination of the revolving credit period on June 28, 2026 (the “Commitment Termination Date”). The revolving credit period will be followed by a one-year amortization period, with the final maturity date of the Credit Agreement occurring on June 28, 2027.
On December 4, 2025, the Company and the Lenders entered into a Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), which amended the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2023, in order to reduce the aggregate commitments thereunder from $60.0 million to $10.0 million.
Our prior credit agreement with Cadence Bank was terminated in connection with the establishment of the new Credit Agreement.
On October 3, 2023, we completed a registered underwritten public offering of $30.0 million of our 9.00% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). On October 27, 2023, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional $2.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes will mature on January 31, 2027, unless earlier redeemed, and will bear interest at a rate of 9.00% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year and at maturity, commencing on December 31, 2023. We received net proceeds after discounts and commissions, but before expenses and fees, of approximately $31.9 million from the offering of the Notes.
If we are unable to enter into new debt or equity financing arrangements on commercially reasonable terms, our liquidity may be reduced significantly, and as a result, our ability to implement and grow our business strategy could be materially impacted.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our debt, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under such indebtedness, which may not be successful.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on, or to refinance our obligations under, the Notes or future indebtedness, will depend on our financial and operating performance and that of our subsidiaries, which, in turn, will be subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to financial and business factors, many of which may be beyond our control.
We may not maintain a level of cash flow from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or future indebtedness. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek to obtain additional equity capital or restructure the Notes or future indebtedness. In the future, our cash flow and capital resources may not be sufficient for payments of interest on, and principal of, our debt, and such alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness or obtain additional financing. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. We may not be able to consummate those sales, or if we do, at an opportune time, the proceeds that we realize may not be adequate to meet debt service obligations when due. Repayment of our indebtedness, to a certain degree, is also dependent on the generation of cash flows by our subsidiaries (none of which are currently guarantors) and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, loan, debt repayment, or otherwise. Our subsidiaries may not be to, or be permitted to, make distributions or other payments to us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness. Each of our subsidiaries is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, applicable U.S. and foreign legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. In the event that we do not receive distributions or other payments from our subsidiaries, we may be to make required payments on our indebtedness.
Our use of leverage may limit our operational flexibility and increase our overall risk, which may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Although the use of leverage may create an opportunity for increased returns for us, it also results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses and thus could negatively impact our business and results of operations and have important adverse consequences to our investments. Our current credit facility contains, and any future credit facility, if raised, would likely contain covenants that could restrict our operating flexibility, including covenants that, among others, could limit our ability to: (i) make distributions in certain circumstances, (ii) incur additional debt, and (iii) engage in certain transactions, which collectively may prevent us from entering into transactions which we may otherwise determine are beneficial to us, and which could negatively impact our business and results of operations. In addition, we expect we would need to secure such a credit facility through the pledging of substantially all of our assets, and if we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to meet principal and interest payments on such indebtedness, we would be subject to risk that the lender seizes our assets through an acceleration of the credit facility that could require of pledged collateral at inopportune times or at prices that are not to us and cause significant . If the lender and pledged collateral, such collateral will likely be sold at price levels. We will to realize the full value of such assets in a sale.
The liquidity, market price and volume of our stock are volatile.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq. The liquidity of our common stock may be adversely affected, and purchasers of our common stock may have difficulty selling our common stock, if our common stock does not continue to trade on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange. Nasdaq maintains certain minimum continued listing standards. If we are not able to continue to satisfy the continued listing standards, or qualify for an exemption to such standards, then we could be subject non-compliance status or de-listing.
We have in the past received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that we were not in compliance with Nasdaq's listing standards. While we have successfully regained compliance, we can provide no assurance that we will continue to maintain compliance with such standards.
The trading price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to quarter-to-quarter variations in our operating results and other events or factors. In addition, the U.S. stock markets have from time-to-time, experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price for many companies and which often have been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our securities.
Funds affiliated with Carlson can control or exert significant influence over our management and policies through their ownership of a large amount of our common stock.
As of December 31, 2025, Carlson owned in the aggregate 75.1% of our combined issued and outstanding common stock and unvested restricted stock. Due to the large percentage of ownership by funds affiliated with Carlson, they have the ability to control or exert significant influence over our management and policies, such as the election of our directors, the appointment of new management and the approval of any other action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including any amendments to our certificate of incorporation, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or other significant transaction. The investment objectives of Carlson and its affiliates may from time to time be different than or conflict with those of our other stockholders.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of a Stockholders’ Agreement entered into on February 27, 2023, between the Company and Carlson (as amended, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), Carlson has the right to approve specific transactions, including the incurrence of indebtedness over specified amounts, the sale of assets over specified amounts, declaration of dividends, loans, capital contributions to or investments in any third party over specified amounts, changes in the size of the board of directors and repurchases of common stock.
If there are substantial sales of shares of our common stock, the price of our common stock could decline.
The price of our common stock could decline if there are substantial sales of our common stock, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers, employees, and significant stockholders including funds associated with Carlson. Funds associated with Carlson own an aggregate of 75.1% (9,078,719 common shares). Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement entered into on February 27, 2023, and a Registration Rights Agreement entered into on September 6, 2013, between the Company and Carlson (the “Rights Agreement”), we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the SEC on February 3, 2020, which became effective on February 19, 2020, to register all of the common stock owned by Carlson for sale freely in the public market from time to time.
The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the sale of a substantial number of our shares of common stock in the public market or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares.
We have adopted provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and have entered into the Rights Agreement, which could delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company.
The board of directors has the authority to issue up to 5 million shares of preferred stock. Without any further vote or action on the part of the stockholders, the board of directors has the authority to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the preferred stock. This preferred stock, if issued, might have preference over and harm the rights of the holders of common stock. Although the ability to issue this preferred stock provides us with flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, it can also be used to make it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. We currently have no plans to issue preferred stock.
Additionally, the Rights Agreement is intended to protect our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards and contains provisions that make it difficult for a third party to acquire a significant number of shares of our common stock.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that may deter an unsolicited offer to purchase us. These provisions, coupled with the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, may delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest. In addition, directors are only removable by the affirmative vote of holder of at least two-thirds of all classes of voting stock. These factors may further delay or prevent a change of control of the Company.
If we were deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We have not been and do not intend to become registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the 1940 Act. We intend to conduct our business so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the 1940 Act.
Generally, a company will be determined to be an “investment company” if, absent an exclusion or exemption, it is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities or owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We refer to this investment company definition test as the “40% test.”
We do not hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily, or propose to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and believe that we are not engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. We believe that, for purposes of the 1940 Act, we are engaged primarily, through one or more of our subsidiaries, in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring certain obligations that represent part or all of the sales price of merchandise. Our subsidiaries that are so engaged rely on Section 3(c)(5)(A) of the 1940 Act, which, as interpreted by the SEC staff, requires each such subsidiary to invest at least 55% of its assets in “notes, drafts, acceptances, open accounts receivable and other obligations representing part of all of the sales price of merchandise, insurance and services,” which we refer to as the ICA Exception Qualifying Assets.
To ensure that we are not obligated to register as an investment company, we must not exceed the thresholds provided by the 40% test. For purposes of the 40% test, the term “investment securities” does not include U.S. government securities or securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, such as majority-owned subsidiaries that rely on Section 3(c)(6), which, based on the SEC staff’s interpretations, requires us to invest, either directly or through majority-owned subsidiaries, at least 55% of our assets in, as relevant here, businesses relying on Section 3(c)(5)(A). Therefore, the assets that we and our subsidiaries hold and acquire are limited by the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
If the SEC or its staff in the future adopts a contrary interpretation to that provided in the no-action letter to the predecessor of Royalty Pharma plc or otherwise restricts the conclusions in the SEC staff’s no-action letter such that royalty interests are no longer treated as ICA Exception Qualifying Assets for purposes of Section 3(c)(6), or the SEC or its staff in the future determines that the no-action letter does not apply to some or all types of royalty receivables relating to biopharmaceutical assets, our business could be materially and adversely affected. In particular, we would be required to register as an investment company. The requirements imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure and our ability to transact business with affiliates could make it impractical for us to continue our business as currently conducted. Our ceasing to not be deemed an investment company or to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company could materially and adversely affect the value of our common stock. In addition, we could be subject to legal actions by regulatory authorities and others and could be forced to dissolve.
In complying with Section 3(c)(5)(A), one of our subsidiaries, SWK Funding LLC (“SWK Funding”), relies on an interpretation that royalty interests that entitle an issuer to collect royalty receivables that are directly based on the sales price of specific biopharmaceutical products that use intellectual property covered by specific license agreements are ICA Exception Qualifying Assets under Section 3(c)(5)(A). This interpretation was promulgated by the SEC staff in a no-action letter issued to the predecessor of Royalty Pharma plc on August 13, 2010.
Our failure to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest could damage our reputation and adversely affect our businesses.
We increasingly confront potential conflicts of interest relating to our business, our investment or financing activities and our partner companies. Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that (i) we provide investment management services to more than one partner company, (ii) the partner companies we work with often have one or more overlapping investment or financing strategies, and (iii) we could choose to allocate an investment to more than one partner company or to ourselves. Also, the investment or financing strategies employed by us for current and future partner companies, or on our own behalf, could conflict with each other, and may adversely affect the prices and availability of other securities or instruments held by, or potentially considered for, one or more partner companies.
We currently operate without information barriers in our Finance Receivables segment that some other investment management firms implement to separate business units and/or to separate persons who make investment decisions from others who might possess material non-public information that could influence such decisions. Our executive officers, investment professionals or other employees may acquire confidential or material non-public information and, as a result, we may be restricted from initiating transactions in certain securities. Notwithstanding the maintenance of restricted securities lists and other internal controls, it is possible that the internal controls relating to the management of material non-public information could fail and result in us buying or selling a security while, at least constructively, in possession of material non-public information. Inadvertent trading on material non-public information could have adverse effects on our reputation, result in the imposition of regulatory or financial sanctions and, as a consequence, negatively impact our ability to provide our investment management services to our partner companies.
Appropriately dealing with conflicts of interest is complex and difficult and our reputation could be damaged if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with one or more potential or actual conflicts of interest. Regulatory scrutiny of, or litigation in connection with, conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our reputation which would materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions to our information technology systems, or the information systems of third parties whom we do business with, may compromise our information and expose us to liability that could adversely impact our financial condition, business operations, and reputation.
Our business operations rely upon information technology systems for data processing, storage, and reporting. Our information technology systems, along with those of the third parties whom we rely on, are potentially vulnerable to a variety of evolving cybersecurity threats that may expose our data to unauthorized persons or otherwise compromise its integrity. These threats may include, but are not limited to, social-engineering attacks (including phishing attacks), business email compromise, online and offline fraud, malicious code (such as viruses and worms), malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), employee or third party vendor misconduct, denial-of-service attacks, access attacks (such as credential stuffing), ransomware attacks, data breaches, supply-chain attacks, and software bugs as well as cybersecurity resulting from human , events (such as fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes), of data or other information technology assets, and technological , and may be or facilitated by Artificial Intelligence (“AI”). Further, attempts to or access to our and our third party vendors’ information systems from third parties or insider may incorporate widely varying and frequently changing tactics, which may be or facilitated by AI. We expend resources trying to protect cybersecurity to our information technology systems. Additionally, certain data privacy and security laws, as well as industry practice standards, may require us to implement and maintain additional cybersecurity measures.
Cybersecurity threat actors and their techniques change frequently, are often sophisticated in nature, and may not be detected until after a cybersecurity incident has occurred. While we have implemented cybersecurity measures designed to protect our information technology systems as well as the confidential and sensitive data in our possession, there can be no assurance that these measures will be adequate to detect, prevent, or adequately address any cybersecurity incident or data breach that we may face. Additionally, the third parties with whom we do business may be sources or targets of cybersecurity attacks or other technological risks. While we engage in actions to reduce our exposure to third-party risks, we cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by these third parties and ongoing threats may result in unauthorized access, loss, exposure or destruction or misuse of data, or other cybersecurity incidents, with increased costs and other consequences, including those described above.
We and certain of our service providers have in the past and may in the future experience cybersecurity threats and incidents, including incidents related to social engineering, business compromise, and wire fraud. For example, in January 2025, an employee’s business email account was compromised by an unauthorized third party, and a borrower payment was fraudulently re-directed. If we, or a third party upon whom we rely, experience a cybersecurity incident or are perceived to have experienced a cybersecurity incident, we may experience adverse consequences. These consequences may affect our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition and can include: government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive data (including personal data); (including class ); indemnification obligations; publicity; reputational ; monetary fund diversions; in our operations (including availability of data); financial ; and other similar . To the extent that any or cybersecurity were to result in a of, or to, a counterparties’ data or applications, or disclosure or of confidential or proprietary information, our partners’ operations may be , and the development and commercialization of their products, development-stage product candidates, and technologies could be . Further, our insurance coverage may not be adequate or sufficient in type or amount to protect us from or to mitigate liabilities arising out of our privacy and security practices.
We, and our service providers, are subject to a variety of stringent and evolving privacy and data security laws, regulations, and other obligations related to privacy and data security. Any actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could expose us to significant fines or other penalties and otherwise harm our business and operations.
In the U.S., there are numerous federal and state privacy and data security laws and regulations governing the collection, use, disclosure and protection of personal information, including security breach notification laws and consumer protection laws. Each of these laws is subject to varying interpretations and is constantly evolving. For example, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure may constitute unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Act, 15 U.S.C § 45(a). The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities.
Further, regulators and legislators in the U.S. are increasingly scrutinizing and restricting certain personal data transfers and transactions involving foreign countries. For example, the Department of Justice’s January 8, 2025, rule on “Preventing Access to U.S. Sensitive Personal Data and Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern or Covered Persons,” prohibits data brokerage transactions involving certain sensitive personal data categories, including health data, genetic data, and biospecimens, to countries of concern, including China. The regulations also restrict certain investment agreements, employment agreements and vendor agreements involving such data and countries of concern, absent specified cybersecurity controls. Actual or alleged violations of these regulations may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, and may result in exclusion from participation in federal and state programs.
Numerous states now have comprehensive privacy laws, adding complexity, variation in requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk requiring additional investment of resources in compliance programs. For example, the Company may be subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which creates individual privacy rights and places stringent privacy and security obligations on businesses covered by the law including obligations to provide detailed disclosures to California consumers about their data collection, use and sharing practices and provide such consumers with ways to opt out of certain uses of sensitive personal information, including health information. It also provides for civil penalties for violations and allows for a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. Failure to comply with the CCPA or other data processing or security laws, or any changes in these laws, could adversely impact the Company’s business and its business plans. Similar laws have been passed in numerous other states, potentially creating conflicting requirements that would make compliance . In addition to these comprehensive consumer privacy laws and proposals, a number of other states have passed or proposed more limited privacy laws that focus on specific privacy issues such as biometric data and the privacy of health and medical information, such as Washington state’s My Health My Data Act, which went into effect in March 2024. These various privacy and data security laws may impact our business activities, relationships with business partners and ultimately the marketing and distribution of our services.
AI presents risks and challenges that can impact our business including by posing security risks to our confidential information, proprietary information, and personal data.
Issues in the development and use of AI, combined with an uncertain regulatory environment, may result in reputational harm, liability, or other adverse consequences to our business operations. As with many technological innovations, AI presents risks and
challenges that could impact our business. Use of AI technology could pose cybersecurity, data privacy, IT, intellectual property, regulatory, legal, operational, competitive, reputational and other risks and challenges that could affect our business. Specifically, risks related to accuracy, bias, AI hallucinations, discrimination, harmful content, misinformation, fraud, scams, targeted attacks (including model poisoning or data poisoning), surveillance, data leakage, inequality, environmental harms, and other harms may flow from our development, use, or deployment of AI technologies.
The rapid evolution of AI will require the application of significant resources to design, develop, test and maintain such systems to help ensure that AI is implemented in accordance with applicable law and regulation and in a socially responsible manner and to minimize any real or perceived unintended harmful impacts. The use of certain AI technology can give rise to intellectual property risks, including by disclosing or otherwise compromising our confidential or proprietary intellectual property and intellectual property infringement, or by undermining our ability to assert or defend ownership rights in intellectual property created with the assistance of AI tools.
We may adopt and integrate generative AI tools into our systems for specific use cases reviewed by legal and information security. Our vendors may incorporate generative AI tools into their offerings without disclosing this use to us, and the providers of these generative AI tools may not meet existing or rapidly evolving regulatory or industry standards with respect to privacy and data protection and may inhibit our or our vendors’ ability to maintain an adequate level of service and experience. If we, our vendors, or our third-party partners experience an actual or perceived breach or privacy or security incident because of the use of generative AI, we may lose valuable intellectual property and confidential information and our reputation and the public perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed. Further, bad actors around the world use increasingly sophisticated methods, including the use of AI, to engage in illegal activities involving the theft and misuse of personal information, confidential information, and intellectual property. In addition, the use of generative AI models in our internal or third-party systems may create new attack surfaces or methods for , which could impact us and our vendors. Any of these outcomes could our reputation, result in the of property and information, and impact our business.
A growing number of legislators and regulators are adopting laws and regulations and have focused enforcement efforts on the adoption of AI and use of such technologies in compliance with ethical standards and societal expectations. These developments may increase our compliance burden and costs in connection with use of AI and lead to legal liability if we fail to meet evolving legal standards or if use of such technologies results in harms or other causes of action we did not predict. For example, the EU began implementing the Artificial Intelligence Act (“AI Act”) on August 1, 2024, with a significant part of the law scheduled to come into effect in August 2026. As currently enacted, the AI Act, which may be amended as part of the EU’s Digital Omnibus, imposes significant obligations on providers and deployers of AI systems, and encourages providers and deployers of AI systems to account for EU ethical principles in their development and use of these systems. The scope of requirements depends on judicial interpretations and forthcoming legislative amendments, and non-compliance can lead to significant fines.
In the U.S., the AI regulatory environment is complex and uncertain. Over the past year, states have advanced, and in some cases passed, dozens of laws focusing on AI governance and regulation, including on deployment of AI in healthcare settings. In addition, various federal regulators have issued guidance and focused enforcement efforts on the use of AI in regulated sectors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for example, issued guidance on the use of AI in medical devices, requiring detailed risk management and review processes to obtain approvals. At the federal level, the Trump Administration has endorsed a federal moratorium on the enforcement of state AI laws, including through a December 11, 2025, executive order on “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.” So far, these efforts have not been successful at curtailing state action on AI regulation, contributing to a complicated legislative patchwork, which may be litigated in state and federal courts. If we develop or use AI systems governed by these laws or regulations, we will need to meet higher standards of data quality, transparency, monitoring and human oversight, and we would need to adhere to specific and potentially burdensome and ethical, accountability, and administrative requirements, with the potential for significant enforcement or in the event of any perceived non-compliance.
Risks Associated with Investments in the Health Care and Life Sciences Industries
Public health epidemics, pandemics or outbreaks could adversely affect our and our partner companies’ businesses.
Public health epidemics, pandemics or outbreaks, and the resulting business or economic disruptions resulting therefrom, could adversely impact our and our partner companies’ businesses as well as our ability to raise capital. An impact of such global health crisis would likely result in significant disruptions to the global economy, capital markets, and social, economic and labor instability in the countries in which we or our partner companies operate.
A global health crisis would likely impact the ability of our borrowers and the marketers of products upon which we derive our royalty income to raise capital in order to fund and conduct their operations. Disruptions to our partner companies, including as a result of global supply chain disruptions, would impair their ability to fulfill their obligations to us and may result in defaults in obligations to us. Impacts of supply chain disruptions may increase the risk of delinquencies, defaults, declining collateral values associated with our existing loans, and impairments or losses on our loans. Any such impairment may increase our credit risk and adversely affect the assets and results of operations of our Finance Receivables segment.
Any abrupt and substantial change in economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments. Any sustained disruption in the capital markets could negatively impact our and our partner companies’ ability to raise capital.
Economic recessions or downturns could impair the ability of our partner companies to repay loans, which, in turn, could increase our non- performing assets, decrease the value of our assets, reduce our volume of new loans and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
General economic conditions may affect our activities and the operation and value of the assets of our Finance Receivables segment. Economic slowdowns or recessions may result in a decrease of institutional equity investment, which would limit our lending opportunities. Furthermore, many of our partner companies are susceptible to economic or industry centric slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our debt investments during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase, and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease, during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of collateral securing some of our debt investments and the value of our equity investments. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a material decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions could also increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us.
A partner company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the partner company’s ability to meet its obligations under the loans that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to recover our investment upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting partner company. These events could harm our financial condition and operating results.
A period of market disruption may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, unfavorable economic conditions, including rising interest rates, may also increase our funding costs, limit our access to capital markets or negatively impact our ability to obtain financing, particularly from the debt markets.
Some of our partner companies may be unable to protect their proprietary rights and may infringe on the proprietary rights of others.
Our partner companies assert various forms of intellectual property protection. Intellectual property may constitute an important part of partner company assets and competitive strengths, particularly for royalty monetization transactions. Federal law, most typically copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret laws, generally protects intellectual property rights. Although we expect that our partner companies will take reasonable efforts to protect the rights to their intellectual property, third parties may develop similar intellectual property independently or attempt to abandon intellectual property licenses if it is determined such intellectual property from a partner company is no longer needed. Moreover, the complexity of international trade secret, copyright, trademark and patent law, coupled with the limited resources of our partner companies and the demands of quick delivery of products and services to market, create a risk that partner company efforts to prevent misappropriation of their technology will prove inadequate.
Some of our partner companies also license intellectual property from third parties and it is possible that they could become subject to infringement actions based upon their use of the intellectual property licensed from those third parties. Our partner companies generally obtain representations as to the origin and ownership of such licensed intellectual property. However, this may not adequately protect them. Any claims against our partner companies’ proprietary rights, with or without merit, could subject the companies to costly litigation and divert their technical and management personnel from other business concerns. If our partner companies incur costly litigation and their personnel are not effectively deployed, the expenses and losses incurred by our partner companies will increase and their profits, if any, will decrease.
Third parties have and may assert infringement or other intellectual property claims against our partner companies based on their patents or other intellectual property rights. Although we are not aware that any of our partner companies’ products might infringe any third party’s patents, they may have to pay substantial damages, possibly including treble damages, if it is ultimately determined that they do. They may have to obtain a license to sell their products if it is determined that their products infringe on another person’s intellectual property. Our partner companies might be prohibited from selling their products before they obtain a license, which, if available at all, may require them to pay substantial royalties. Even if infringement claims against our partner companies are without merit, defending these types of lawsuits takes significant time, is expensive and may divert management attention from other business .
Future legislation, and/or regulations and policies adopted by the FDA or other U.S. or foreign regulatory authorities may increase the time and cost required by some of our partner companies to conduct and complete clinical trials for the product candidates that they develop, and there is no assurance that these companies will obtain regulatory approval to market and commercialize their products in the U.S. and in foreign countries.
The FDA and other foreign and U.S. regulatory authorities have established regulations, guidelines and policies to govern the drug development and approval process which affect some of our partner companies. Any change in regulatory requirements due to the adoption by the FDA and/or foreign or other U.S. regulatory authorities of new legislation, regulations, or policies may require some of our partner companies to amend existing clinical trial protocols or add new clinical trials to comply with these changes. Such amendments to existing protocols and/or clinical trial applications or the need for new ones, may significantly impact the cost, timing and completion of the clinical trials.
In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s and other authorities approval processes may significantly delay or prevent regulatory approval, as well as impose more stringent product labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements. Foreign regulatory authorities may also increase their scrutiny of approval processes resulting in similar delays. Increased scrutiny and approval processes may limit the ability of our partner companies to market and commercialize their products in the U.S. and in foreign countries.
The development of products by life science companies requires significant research and development, clinical trials and regulatory approvals.
The development of products by life science companies requires significant research and development, clinical trials and regulatory approvals. In addition, similar activities and costs may be required to support products that have already been commercialized. The results of product development efforts may be affected by a number of factors, including the ability to innovate, develop and manufacture new products, complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals and reimbursement in the U.S. and abroad, or gain and maintain market approval of products. In addition, regulatory review processes by U.S. and foreign agencies may extend longer than anticipated as a result of decreased funding and tighter fiscal budgets. Further, patents attained by others can preclude or delay the commercialization of a product. There can be no assurance that any products now in development will achieve technological feasibility, obtain regulatory approval, or gain market acceptance. Failure can occur at any point in the development process, including after significant funds have been invested. Products may fail to reach the market or may have only limited commercial because of efficacy or safety , to clinical outcomes, to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, to market adoption, limited scope of approved uses, costs to manufacture, the to establish or maintain intellectual property rights, or the of intellectual property rights of others. by our partner companies to commercialize pipeline products in which we have an economic interest could have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in healthcare laws and other regulations applicable to some of our partner companies’ businesses may constrain their ability to offer their products and services.
Changes in healthcare or other laws and regulations applicable to the businesses of some of our partner companies may occur that could increase their compliance and other costs of doing business, require significant systems enhancements, or render their products or services less profitable or obsolete, any of which could have a material adverse effect on their results of operations. There has also been an increased political and regulatory focus on healthcare laws in recent years, and new legislation could have a material effect on the business and operations of some of our partner companies.
We also anticipate that Congress, state legislatures, and third-party payors may continue to review and assess alternative healthcare delivery and payment systems and may in the future propose and adopt legislation or policy changes or implementations effecting additional fundamental changes in the healthcare delivery system. We cannot assure you as to the ultimate content, timing, or effect of changes, nor is it possible at this time to estimate the impact of any such potential legislation on certain of our partner companies, our business model, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
The potential inability of our partner companies’ and counterparties to charge desired prices with respect to prescription drugs could impact their revenues and in turn their ability to repay us or the magnitude of their royalty payments to us.
Our partner companies, as well as the value of our pharmaceutical royalties, are subject to risks associated with the pricing for prescription drugs. It is uncertain whether pharmaceutical products will continue to utilize established prescription drug pricing methods, or whether other pricing benchmarks will be adopted for establishing prices within the industry. Legislation may lead to changes in the pricing for Medicare and Medicaid programs. Regulators have conducted investigations into the use of prescription drug pricing methods for federal program payment, and whether such methods have inflated drug expenditures by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Federal and state proposals have sought to change the basis for calculating payment of certain drugs by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. We cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any such legislation or executive action or the impact of potential legislation or executive action on us. Any changes to the method for calculating prescription drug costs may reduce the revenues of our partner companies operating in the pharmaceutical industry, which could in turn impair their ability to timely make any principal and interest payments owed to us. Additionally, any such changes to pharmaceutical product reimbursement similarly could reduce the revenues of the pharmaceutical products from which we receive royalties.
Risks Relating to the Mergers
Stockholders will experience a reduction in percentage ownership and voting power in the combined company as a result of the Mergers.
Our stockholders will experience a reduction in their percentage ownership interests and effective voting power in respect of the combined company relative to their percentage ownership interests in the Company prior to the Mergers unless they hold a comparable or greater percentage ownership in RWAY (as defined below). Consequently, our stockholders should generally expect to exercise less influence over the management and policies of the combined company following the Mergers than they currently exercise over the management and policies of the Company.
In addition, prior to completion of the Mergers, subject to certain restrictions in the Merger Agreement and certain restrictions under the 1940 Act for issuances at prices below the then-current NAV per share of RWAY common stock and the Company’s common stock, RWAY and the Company may issue additional shares of RWAY common stock and Company common stock, respectively, which would further reduce the percentage ownership of the combined company to be held by current RWAY stockholders and Company stockholders.
The announcement and pendency of the Mergers could adversely affect our businesses, financial results and operations.
The announcement and pendency of the Mergers could cause disruptions in, and create uncertainty surrounding, our business, including affecting relationships with existing and future borrowers, which could have a significant negative impact on future revenues and results of operations, regardless of whether the Mergers are completed. In addition, we have diverted, and will continue to divert, management resources towards the completion of the Mergers, which could have a negative impact on future revenues and results of operations.
We are also subject to the restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to the completion of the Mergers set forth in the Merger Agreement. Generally, these restrictions will require us to conduct its business only in the ordinary course and subject to specific limitations, including, among other things, certain restrictions on their ability to make certain investments and acquisitions, sell, transfer or dispose of assets, amend organizational documents and enter into or modify certain material contracts. These restrictions could prevent us from pursuing otherwise attractive business opportunities, industry developments and future opportunities and may otherwise have a significant negative impact on future investment income and results of operations.
If the Mergers do not close, we will not benefit from the expenses they have incurred in pursuit of the Mergers.
The Mergers may not be completed. If the Mergers are not completed, we will have incurred substantial expenses for which no ultimate benefit will have been received. We have incurred out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the Mergers for investment banking, legal and accounting fees and financial printing and other related charges, much of which will be incurred even if the Mergers are not completed.
The termination of the Merger Agreement could negatively impact our business.
If the Merger Agreement is terminated, there may be various consequences, including:
• our businesses may have been adversely impacted by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the Mergers, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the Mergers;
• we may not be able to find a party willing to pay an equivalent or more attractive price than the price RWAY agreed to pay in the Mergers; and
• we would not realize the anticipated benefits of the Mergers.
The Merger Agreement limits our ability to pursue alternatives to the Mergers.
The Merger Agreement includes restrictions on our ability to solicit proposals for alternative transactions or engage in discussions regarding such proposals, subject to exceptions and termination provisions, which could have the effect of discouraging such proposals from being made or pursued.
The Mergers are subject to closing conditions, including approval by Company stockholders, that, if not satisfied or (to the extent legally allowed) waived, will result in the Mergers not being completed, which may result in material adverse consequences to the business and operations of RWAY and the Company.
The Mergers are subject to closing conditions, including approval of our stockholders that, if not satisfied or (to the extent legally allowed) waived, will prevent the Mergers from being completed. The closing condition that our stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement may not be waived under applicable law and must be satisfied for the Mergers to be completed. If our stockholders do not approve the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Mergers are not completed, the resulting failure of the Mergers could have a material adverse impact on our business and operations. In addition to the required approvals of our stockholders, the Mergers are subject to a number of other conditions beyond our control that may prevent, delay or otherwise materially adversely affect completion of the Mergers. We cannot predict whether and when these other conditions will be satisfied. The failure to complete the Mergers would result in us and our stockholders, failing to realize the anticipated benefits of the Mergers.
We will be subject to operational uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the Mergers are pending.
Uncertainty about the effect of the Mergers may have an adverse effect on the Company and, consequently, on the combined company following completion of the Mergers. These uncertainties may cause those that deal with the Company to seek to change their existing business relationships. In addition, the Merger Agreement restricts us from taking actions that it might otherwise consider to be in its best interest. These restrictions may prevent us from pursuing certain business operations that may arise prior to the completion of the Mergers.
Litigation filed against RWAY or the Company in connection with the Mergers could result in substantial costs and could delay or prevent the Mergers from being completed.
From time to time, RWAY and the Company may be subject to legal actions, including securities class action lawsuits and derivative lawsuits, as well as various regulatory, governmental and law enforcement inquiries, investigations and subpoenas in connection with the Mergers. These or any similar securities class action lawsuits and derivative lawsuits, regardless of their merits, may result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. For example, in March 2026, purported individual shareholders filed complaints against the Company in two separate cases in New York state court in connection with the Mergers. For more information, see Item 3 " Legal Proceedings ." An adverse judgment in such cases could have a negative impact on the liquidity and financial condition of RWAY, the Company or the combined company following the Mergers or could prevent the Mergers from being completed.
The Mergers may trigger certain “change of control” provisions and other restrictions in our contracts, and the failure to obtain any required consents or waivers could adversely impact the combined company.
Certain our agreements or those of our affiliates may require by their terms the consent or waiver of one or more counterparties in connection with the Mergers. The failure to obtain any such consent or waiver may permit such counterparties to terminate, or otherwise increase their rights or our obligations under, any such agreement because the Mergers or other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement may violate an anti-assignment, change of control or similar provision relating to any of such transactions. If this occurs, RWAY may have to seek to replace that agreement with a new agreement or seek an amendment to such agreement. Neither we nor RWAY can assure you that RWAY will be able to replace or amend any such agreement on comparable terms or at all.
If any such agreement is material, the failure to obtain consents, amendments or waivers under, or to replace on similar terms or at all, any of these agreements could adversely affect the financial performance or results of operations of the combined company following the Mergers, including preventing RWAY from operating a material part of our business.
In addition, the consummation of the Mergers may violate, conflict with, result in a breach of provisions of, or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination, cancellation, acceleration or other change of any right or obligation (including any payment obligation) under, certain of our agreements. Any such violation, conflict, breach, loss, default or other effect could, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, assets or business of the combined company following completion of the Mergers.
The shares of RWAY common stock to be received by our stockholders as a result of the Mergers will have different rights associated with them than our shares of common stock currently held by them.
The rights associated with our common stock are different from the rights associated with RWAY common stock. See the section entitled “ Comparison of RWAY and SWK Stockholder Rights ” on our joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026.
Our stockholders may receive a form or combination of consideration different from what they elect.
Each holder of our common stock is entitled to make an election (an “Election”) to receive, with respect to all or any portion of such shares held by such holder, the Per Share Cash Consideration (as defined the Merger Agreement). With respect to each share held by a record holder of shares of our common stock with respect to which such holder does not make an Election, such holder will receive the Per Share Stock Consideration; provided, that with respect to any record holder of shares of our common stock who at the record date who does not make an Election with respect to any shares held by such holder (such holder, a “Non-Election Holder”), such holder will have been deemed to have made an Election with respect to a percentage of the total shares of our common stock held by such Non-Election Holder equal to a number, the numerator of which will be the Aggregate Cash Consideration (as defined and calculated in accordance with the Merger Agreement), and the denominator of which will be the Closing Company Net Asset Value (as defined the Merger Agreement).
If, after giving effect to the Elections, the aggregate number of shares of RWAY common stock to be issued by RWAY in the First Merger (the “Proposed Aggregate Stock Issuance Amount”) exceeds the Total Stock Consideration (as defined and calculated in accordance with the Merger Agreement), then the number of non-electing shares will be reduced (without any action on the part of any holder of our common stock) by converting non-electing shares into electing shares until the Proposed Aggregate Stock Issuance Amount is equal to the Total Stock Consideration (determined on a whole-share basis). Any such reduction in the number of non-electing shares shall be applied among all stockholders, pro rata based on the aggregate number of non-electing shares held by each such stockholder in proportion to the total number of non-electing shares.
If, after giving effect to the Elections, the aggregate amount of cash (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, cash in lieu of fractional shares) to be issued by RWAY in the First Merger (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Guaranteed Cash Payment (the “Proposed Cash Consideration”)) exceeds the Aggregate Cash Consideration, then the number of electing shares shall be reduced (without any action on the part of any holder of our common stock) by converting electing shares into non-electing shares until the Proposed Cash Consideration is equal to the Aggregate Cash Consideration (determined on a whole-share basis). Any such reduction in the number of electing shares shall be applied among all stockholders, pro rata based on the aggregate number of electing shares held by each such stockholder in proportion to the total number of electing shares.
The market price of RWAY common stock will continue to fluctuate after the Mergers.
Upon completion of the Mergers and subject to our stockholder’s election, our stockholders will become holders of RWAY common stock. The market price of the common stock of the combined company may continue to fluctuate, potentially significantly, following completion of the Mergers, including for the reasons described above. As a result, our former stockholders could lose some or all of the value of their investment in RWAY common stock. In addition, any significant price or volume fluctuations in the stock market generally could have a material adverse effect on the market for, or liquidity of, the RWAY common stock received in the Mergers, regardless of the combined company’s actual operating performance.
The fair value of our investments may not align with the figures reported in the pro forma filings by RWAY or in our Proxy Statement filed on March 3, 2026
We do not calculate or report NAV in the manner of a Business Development Company (“BDC”) or Investment Company. All of the figures reported in RWAY’s filings with the SEC portfolio or in our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 3, 2026 with respect to us and our investments were prepared solely for purposes of the financial analyses described therein or the disclosure obligations applicable to RWAY as an investment company and are not a substitute for the GAAP metrics used by us historically or in this Annual Report.
