FARMINGTON, Conn., Nov. 8, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (Nasdaq:HRZN) (the "Company" or "Horizon"), a leading specialty finance company that provides secured loans to venture capital and private equity backed development-stage companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and clean-tech industries, today announced its financial results and declared a cash dividend for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Third Quarter 2011 Highlights

• Declared a third quarter dividend of $0.45 per share, a 12.5% increase from previous payout
• Increase in net assets from operations was $2.8 million, or $0.36 per share
• Net investment income was $3.0 million, or $0.39 per share
• Net asset value equaled $132.4 million, or $17.36 per share
• Ended the quarter with an investment portfolio of $180.2 million
• Portfolio weighted average yield was 14.2%
• Unfunded loan approvals and commitments ("Committed Backlog") totaled $18.7 million
• Completed $150 million accordion credit facility with initial $75 million commitment

Robert D. Pomeroy, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "During the third quarter, Horizon posted strong financial results as we benefitted from our fully invested balance sheet consisting of quality, high yielding assets. We have maintained a disciplined approach to investment, capitalizing on select opportunities within our target markets. As a result, we have generated a stable stream of interest income and realized significant warrant gains in a challenging economic environment."

Mr. Pomeroy added, "Based on the continued execution of management's investment strategy, we are pleased to once again increase our quarterly dividend. Horizon's third quarter dividend of $0.45 per share represents an increase of 12.5% from our previous payout and marks our second consecutive quarterly increase. In maintaining our commitment to provide shareholders with increasing dividends over time, we have now declared a cumulative dividend of $1.40 per share since going public approximately one year ago. Our new quarterly payout is consistent with our current level of net investment income and reflects our cumulative realized warrant gains since our IPO. We are focused on expanding our leadership position in the venture lending industry and generating strong returns as we have consistently done in the past."

Operating Results

Total investment income increased 24.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $6.4 million, as compared to $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The year-over-year increase in investment income is primarily due to the increased average size of the Company's loan portfolio. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, total investment income primarily consisted of $6.1 million in interest income from investments, which included $0.5 million in income from the amortization of discounts and origination fees on investments.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, total investment income increased to $17.9 million as compared to $13.3 million in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, total investment income consisted primarily of $16.9 million in interest income from investments, which included $1.3 million in income from the amortization of discounts and origination fees on investments. Other investment income was primarily comprised of a one-time success fee received upon the completion of an acquisition of one of Horizon's portfolio companies.

The Company's dollar-weighted average annualized portfolio yield on average loans, excluding warrant gains, was 14.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and 15.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Company's dollar-weighted average annualized portfolio yield on average loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010 was 14.6% and 14.3%, respectively.

Total expenses were $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Total expenses consisted principally of interest expense and management and incentive fees. Performance based incentive fees for the three months ended September 30, 2011 totaled approximately $0.6 million, compared to no incentive fees for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Professional fees and general and administrative expenses increased year-over-year primarily due to the cost associated with operating as a public company. Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $10.7 million versus $5.4 million in the year-earlier period.

Net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $3.0 million, or $0.39 per share, as compared to net investment income of $3.3 million in the year-earlier period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, net investment income was $7.2 million and $7.9 million, respectively.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the net unrealized depreciation on investments was $0.2 million as compared to a net unrealized appreciation on investments of $1.7 million in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the net unrealized depreciation on investments was $2.5 million as compared to a net unrealized appreciation on investments of $1.5 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010. The net unrealized depreciation on investments was primarily due to the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation on warrant investments that were realized during the first half of 2011.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $2.8 million and $5.3 million, respectively. For both the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $10.2 million.

Portfolio Summary and Investment Activity

As of September 30, 2011, the Company's debt portfolio consisted of 37 secured loans with an aggregate fair value of $174.4 million. In addition, the Company's warrant portfolio of investments had an aggregate fair value of $5.1 million as of September 30, 2011.

Total portfolio investment activity as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

Portfolio Asset Quality

As of September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company's loan portfolio had a weighted average credit rating of 3.2, with 4 being the highest credit quality rating and 3 being the rating for a standard level of risk. A rating of 2 or 1 represents a deteriorating credit quality and increased risk. The Company did not have any investments on non-accrual status as of these dates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2011, Horizon had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $32.6 million.

On July 14, 2011, the Company closed a new credit facility of up to $150 million with an initial commitment of $75 million from Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC). The credit facility will be used to leverage new and existing investments and contains an "accordion" feature that allows additional lenders to join the facility with increased commitments up to an aggregate of $150 million. The new credit facility complements the Company's existing WestLB credit facility, which continues to provide leverage to the Company through March 2015. 

Third Quarter 2011 Dividend

On November 8, 2011, Horizon's Board of Directors declared a third quarter dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on November 30, 2011 to stockholders of record on November 23, 2011. The Company expects the dividend to be paid from taxable earnings with specific tax characteristics reported to stockholders after the end of the 2011 calendar year.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the latest corporate developments and financial results. The dial-in number for callers in the U.S. is (877) 677-9112 and the dial-in number for international callers is (708) 290-1396. The access code for all callers is 17454274. A live webcast will also be available on the Company's website at www.horizontechnologyfinancecorp.com. 

A replay of the call will be available through November 16, 2011. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 in the U.S. and (404) 537-3406 outside the U.S., and then enter the access code 17454274. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days following the call.

About Horizon Technology Finance Corporation

Horizon Technology Finance Corporation is a closed-end investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company provides secured loans to development-stage companies backed by established venture capital and private equity firms within the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and clean-tech industries. The investment objective of Horizon Technology Finance is to maximize total risk-adjusted returns by generating current income from a portfolio of directly originated secured loans as well as capital appreciation from warrants to purchase the equity of portfolio companies. Headquartered in Farmington, CT, with a regional office in Walnut Creek, CA, the Company is externally managed by its investment advisor, Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC. To learn more, please visit www.horizontechnologyfinancecorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements," which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

CONTACT: Horizon Technology Finance Corporation

         Christopher M. Mathieu

         Chief Financial Officer

         (860) 676-8653

         chris@horizontechfinance.com



         Investor Relations and Media Contacts:

         The IGB Group

         Leon Berman / Michael Cimini

         (212) 477-8438 / (212) 477-8261

         lberman@igbir.com  / mcimini@igbir.com

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