Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues, costs and expenses during the reporting period. Management evaluates these estimates and assumptions on a regular basis. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Investment Transactions

Loan originations are recorded on the date of the legally binding commitment. Realized gains or losses are recorded using the specific identification method as the difference between the net proceeds received, excluding prepayment fees, if any, and the amortized cost basis of the investment without regard to unrealized gains or losses previously recognized, and include investments written off during the period, net of recoveries. The net change in unrealized gains or losses primarily reflects the change in investment fair values as of the last business day of the reporting period and also includes the reversal of previously recorded unrealized gains or losses with respect to investments realized during the period.

Valuation of Investments

The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements is the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded.

The Company’s investments are carried at fair value in accordance with the 1940 Act and ASC 946 and measured in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs used to measure fair value, and provides disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires the Company to assume that each of the portfolio investments is sold in a hypothetical transaction in the principal or, as applicable, most advantageous market using market participant assumptions as of the measurement date. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal market that are independent, knowledgeable and willing and able to transact. The Company values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to a consistent valuation policy by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) in accordance with the provisions of ASC 820 and the 1940 Act.

The SEC adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 2a-5”), which establishes a framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. As adopted, Rule 2a-5 permits boards of directors to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions. The SEC also adopted Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 31a-4”), which provides the recordkeeping requirements associated with fair value determinations. While the Company's Board has not elected to designate a valuation

designee, the Company has adopted certain revisions to its valuation policies and procedures to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4.

While the Board is ultimately and solely responsible for determining the fair value of the Company’s investments, the Company has engaged independent valuation firms, on a discretionary basis, to provide the Company with valuation assistance with respect to its investments. Specifically, on a quarterly basis, the Company identifies portfolio investments with respect to which an independent valuation firm assists in valuing such investments. The Company selects these portfolio investments based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the potential for material fluctuations in valuation results, size, credit quality and the time lapse since the last valuation of the portfolio investment by an independent valuation firm.

Investments recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1 — Investments whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in an active market that the Company has the ability to access (examples include investments in active exchange-traded equity securities and investments in most U.S. government and agency securities).

Level 2 — Investments whose values are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the investment.

Level 3 — Investments whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement (for example, investments in illiquid securities issued by privately held companies). These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the investment.

Given the nature of lending to venture capital-backed growth-stage companies, 99.2%, based on fair value, of the Company’s investments in these portfolio companies are considered Level 3 assets under ASC 820 because there is no known or accessible market or market index for these investment securities to be traded or exchanged. Transfers between levels, if any, are recognized at the beginning of the period in which the transfers occur. The Company uses an internally developed portfolio investment rating system in connection with its investment oversight, portfolio management and analysis, and investment valuation procedures. This system takes into account both quantitative and qualitative factors of the portfolio companies. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, these estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been reported had a ready market for the investments existed, and it is reasonably possible that the difference could be material.

Debt Securities

The debt securities identified on the Consolidated Schedule of Investments are secured loans and equipment financings made to growth-stage companies. For portfolio investments in debt securities for which the Company has determined that third-party quotes or other independent pricing are not available, the Company generally estimates the fair value based on the assumptions that hypothetical market participants would use to value the investment in a current hypothetical sale using an income approach.

In its application of the income approach to determine the fair value of debt securities, the Company bases its assessment of fair value on projections of the discounted future free cash flows that the security will likely generate, including analyzing the discounted cash flows of interest and principal amounts for the security, as set forth in the associated loan and equipment financing agreements, as well as market yields and the financial position and credit risk of the portfolio company (the “Hypothetical Market Yield Method”). The discount rate applied to the future cash flows of the security is based on the calibrated yield implied by the terms of the Company’s investment adjusted for changes in market yields and performance of the subject company. The Company’s estimate of the expected repayment date of its loans and equipment financings securities is either the maturity date of the instrument or the anticipated pre-payment date, depending on the facts and circumstances. The Hypothetical Market Yield Method also considers changes in leverage levels, credit quality, portfolio company performance, market yield movements, and other factors. If there is deterioration in credit quality or if a security is in workout status, the Company may consider other factors in determining the fair value of the security, including, but not limited to, the value attributable to the security from the enterprise value of the portfolio company or the proceeds that would most likely be received in a liquidation analysis.

Equity Securities and Warrants

Often the Company is issued warrants by issuers as yield enhancements. These warrants are recorded as assets at estimated fair value on the grant date. The Company determines the cost basis of the warrants or other equity securities received based upon their respective fair values on the date of receipt in proportion to the total fair value of the debt and warrants or other equity securities received. Depending on the facts and circumstances, the Company generally utilizes a combination of one or several forms of the market approach and contingent claim analyses (a form of option analysis) to estimate the fair value of the securities as of the measurement date and determines the cost basis using a relative fair value methodology. As part of its application of the market approach, the Company estimates the enterprise value of a portfolio company utilizing customary pricing multiples, based on the development stage of the underlying issuers, or other appropriate valuation methods, such as considering recent transactions in the equity securities of the portfolio company or third-party valuations that are assessed to be indicative of fair value of the respective portfolio company. If appropriate, based on the facts and circumstances, the Company performs an allocation of the enterprise value to the equity securities utilizing a contingent claim analysis and/or other waterfall calculation by which it allocates the enterprise value across the portfolio company’s securities in order of their preference relative to one another.

Fair value estimates are made at discrete points in time based on relevant information. These estimates may be subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash, investments, receivables, payables, and other liabilities, approximate the fair values of such items due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Refer to “Note 4 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for further discussion.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consist of funds deposited with financial institutions and short-term (original maturity of three months or less) liquid investments in money market deposit accounts. Cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 assets and are valued using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the money market fund. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents consisted of $8.5 million and $4.8 million, respectively, of which $0.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively, was held in the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Institutional Fund with a yield between 3% - 6%. Cash held in demand deposit accounts may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured limit and therefore is subject to credit risk. All of the Company’s cash deposits are held at large, established, high credit quality financial institutions, and management believes that the risk of loss associated with any uninsured balances is remote. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any restricted cash.

Other Assets

Other assets generally consist of fixed assets net of accumulated depreciation, leasehold improvements net of accumulated depreciation, right-of-use assets, prepaid expenses, escrow receivables, deferred offering costs, and security deposits for operating leases.

Escrow Receivables

Escrow receivables are collected in accordance with the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement. Escrow balances are typically distributed over a period of one year and may accrue interest during the escrow period. Escrow balances are measured for collectability on at least a quarterly basis and fair value is determined based on the amount of the estimated recoverable balances and the contractual maturity date. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no material past due escrow receivables. As of September 30, 2024, the Company did not have any escrow receivables. The escrow receivable balance as of December 31, 2023 totaled $2.4 million and was measured at fair value and held in accordance with ASC 820.

Equity Offering Costs

Equity offering costs consist of fees and costs incurred in connection with the sale of the Company’s common stock, including legal, accounting and printing fees. These costs are deferred at the time of incurrence and are subsequently charged as a reduction to capital when the offering takes place or as shares are issued. Equity offering costs are periodically reviewed and expensed if the related registration is no longer active.

Security Deposits

Security deposits are collected upon funding equipment financings and are applied in lieu of regular payments at the end of the term.

Debt Financing Costs

The Company records costs related to the issuance of debt obligations as deferred debt financing costs. These costs are deferred and amortized using the straight-line method over the stated maturity life of the obligations. Debt financing costs related to secured or unsecured notes are netted with the outstanding principal balance on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Debt financing costs related to the KeyBank Credit Facility are recorded as deferred credit facility costs on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Income Recognition

Interest and Dividend Income

The Company recognizes interest income on an accrual basis and recognizes it as earned in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. Original issue discount (“OID”) initially includes the estimated fair value of detachable warrants obtained in conjunction with the origination of debt securities and is accreted into interest income over the term of the loan as a yield enhancement based on the effective yield method. In addition, the Company may also be entitled to an end-of-term (“EOT”) payment. EOT payments to be paid at the termination of the debt agreements are accreted into interest income over the contractual life of the debt based on the effective yield method. When a portfolio company pre-pays their indebtedness prior to the scheduled maturity date, the acceleration of the unaccreted OID and EOT payment is recognized as interest income.

The Company has a limited number of debt investments in its portfolio that contain a payment-in-kind (“PIK”) provision. Contractual PIK interest, which represents contractually deferred interest added to the loan balance that is generally due at the end of the loan term, is generally recorded on an accrual basis to the extent such amounts are expected to be collected. The Company will generally cease accruing PIK interest if there is insufficient value to support the accrual or management does not expect the portfolio company to be able to pay all principal and interest due. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded $1.6 million and $7.4 million, respectively, in PIK interest income. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded $2.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, in PIK interest income.

Income related to application or origination payments, including facility commitment fees, net of related expenses and generally collected in advance, is amortized into interest income over the contractual life of the loan.

The Company recognizes nonrecurring fees and additional OID and EOT payment received in consideration for contract modifications commencing in the quarter relating to the specific modification.

The Company records dividend income on an accrual basis to the extent amounts are expected to be collected. Dividend income is recorded when dividends are declared by the portfolio company or at such other time that an obligation exists for the portfolio company to make a distribution. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded $0.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively, in dividend income. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in dividend income.

Fee and Other Income

The Company recognizes one-time fee income, including, but not limited to, structuring fees, prepayment penalties, and exit fees related to a change in ownership of the portfolio company, as other income when earned. These fees are generally earned when the portfolio company enters into an equipment financing arrangement or pays off their outstanding indebtedness prior to the scheduled maturity. In addition, fee income may include fees for originations and administrative agent services rendered by the Company to the JV. Such fees are earned in the period that the services are rendered.

Non-Accrual Policy

When a debt security becomes 90 days or more past due, or if management otherwise does not expect that principal, interest, and other obligations due will be collected in full, the Company will generally place the debt security on non-accrual status and cease recognizing interest income on that debt security until all principal and interest due has been paid or the Company believes the borrower has demonstrated the ability to repay its current and future contractual obligations. Any uncollected interest is reversed from income in the period that collection of the interest receivable is determined to be doubtful. However, the Company may make exceptions to this policy if the investment has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

As of September 30, 2024, loans to three portfolio companies and equipment financings to two portfolio company were on non-accrual status, with a total cost of approximately $47.2 million, and a total fair value of approximately $22.2 million, or 1.4%, of the fair value of the Company’s debt investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2023, loans to three portfolio companies and equipment financings to two portfolio companies were on non-accrual status, with a total cost of approximately $60.8 million, and a total fair value of approximately $43.2 million, or 3.5%, of the fair value of the Company’s debt investment portfolio.

Net Realized Gains / (Losses)

Realized gains / (losses) are measured by the difference between the net proceeds from the sale or redemption of an investment or a financial instrument and the cost basis of the investment or financial instrument, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, and includes investments written off during the period net of recoveries and realized gains or losses from in-kind redemptions. Net proceeds exclude any prepayment penalties, exit fees, and OID and EOT acceleration. Prepayment penalties and exit fees received at the time of sale or redemption are included in fee income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. OID and EOT acceleration is included in interest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation / (Depreciation)

Net change in unrealized appreciation / (depreciation) reflects the net change in the fair value of the investment portfolio and financial instruments and the reclassification of any prior period unrealized appreciation or depreciation on exited investments and financial instruments to realized gains or losses.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has issued and may, from time to time, issue restricted stock to its officers and employees under the 2019 Trinity Capital Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan and to its non-employee directors under the Trinity Capital Inc. 2019 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans using the fair value method, as prescribed by ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. Accordingly, for restricted stock awards, the Company measures the grant date fair value based upon the market price of its common stock on the date of the grant and amortizes the fair value of the awards as stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term.

The Company has also adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which requires that all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on stock-based payment awards) be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and not delay recognition of a tax benefit until the tax benefit is realized through a reduction to taxes payable. Accordingly, the tax effects of exercised or vested awards are treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. Additionally, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.

Earnings Per Share

The Company's earnings per share (“EPS”) amounts have been computed based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, the unvested shares of restricted stock awarded pursuant to Trinity Capital’s equity compensation plans are participating securities and, therefore, are included in the basic earnings per share calculation. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations by the weighted average number of shares of common stock assuming all potential shares had been issued and the additional shares of common stock were dilutive. Diluted EPS, if any, reflects the potential dilution from the assumed conversion of the Company’s 6.00% Convertible Notes due 2025 (the “Convertible Notes”).

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be treated, currently qualifies, and intends to continue to qualify annually as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for U.S. federal tax purposes. In order to maintain its treatment as a RIC, the Company is generally required to distribute at least annually to its stockholders at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (which generally includes its net ordinary taxable income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses) and 90% of its net tax-exempt income (if any). The Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on these distributed amounts but will pay U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on any retained amounts.

The Company evaluates tax positions taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), as modified by ASC 946. Tax benefits of positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, or uncertain tax positions, would be recorded as tax expense in the current year. It is the Company’s policy to recognize accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company has no material uncertain tax positions as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. All the Company’s tax returns remain subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities.

Based on federal excise distribution requirements applicable to RICs, the Company will be subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on undistributed taxable income and gains unless the Company distributes in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income or gain realized, but not distributed, in the preceding years. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Company and on which the Company paid corporate income tax is considered to have been distributed. The Company, at its discretion, may determine to carry

forward taxable income or gain and pay a 4% excise tax on the amount by which it falls short of this calendar-year distribution requirement. If the Company chooses to do so, this generally will increase expenses and reduce the amount available to be distributed to stockholders. The Company will accrue excise tax on estimated undistributed taxable income and capital gains as required on an annual basis.

Distributions

Distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the record date. The amount of taxable income to be paid out as a distribution is determined by the Board each quarter and is generally based upon the earnings estimated by management. Capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually, although the Company may decide to retain all or some of those capital gains for investment and pay U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on those retained amounts. If the Company chooses to do so, this generally will increase expenses and reduce the amount available to be distributed to stockholders.