Net Investment Income Covers Distributions for Third Consecutive Quarter  
Maintains Quality Portfolio and Achieves an Annualized Portfolio Yield of 15.5%

FARMINGTON, Conn., May 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:HRZN) (the "Company" or "Horizon"), a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and cleantech industries, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

First Quarter 2016 Highlights

• Earned net investment income of $4.4 million, or $0.38 per share, for the quarter
• Ended the quarter with an investment portfolio of $245.0 million
• Achieved an annualized portfolio yield of 15.5% for the quarter
• Increased net assets from operations by $1.4 million, or $0.12 per share, for the quarter
• Net asset value equaled $157.2 million, or $13.62 per share, at quarter end
• Total liquidity as of March 31, 2016 was $19.6 million
• Asset coverage for borrowed amounts of 244% as of March 31, 2016
• Floating rate loans comprised 95% of the outstanding principal of the loan portfolio as of March 31, 2016
• Funded $16.5 million in loans to five companies
• Experienced liquidity events from four portfolio companies
• At quarter end, held a portfolio of warrant and equity positions in 86 portfolio companies
• Declared distributions of $0.115 per share payable in each of July, August and September 2016, increasing cumulative declared distributions to $8.375 per share since going public in October 2010

"During the first quarter, we generated net investment income that exceeded our distributions and have now covered our distributions for three consecutive quarters," said Robert D. Pomeroy, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon. "Our success in the first quarter was a direct result of our maintaining the quality and size of our investment portfolio, achieving strong and consistent on-boarding yields over the past several quarters, and realizing positive liquidity events in the quarter. We also received proceeds in the quarter from our maturing warrant portfolio, as three of our portfolio companies completed M&A transactions during the quarter."

Mr. Pomeroy continued, "We believe the recently announced increase in Horizon's revolving credit facility will enhance the Company's ability to capitalize on market demand for Horizon's loan products. Our focus will remain on selectively originating high quality loans while benefitting from our existing investment portfolio, which we believe will generate net investment income to provide our shareholders with stable distributions. We hope to also generate additional upside for our shareholders with proceeds from our diverse warrant portfolio."

Operating Results
Total investment income was $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $7.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The year-over-year increase in total investment income is primarily due to higher interest income on investments resulting from the higher average size of the loan portfolio.

The Company's dollar-weighted average annualized portfolio yield on average loans for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was 15.5% and 15.0%, respectively.

Total expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 increased to $4.9 million, as compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Interest expense decreased year-over-year primarily due to a decrease in the effective cost of debt. Base management fee increased year-over-year primarily due to the higher average size of the investment portfolio.

Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $4.4 million, or $0.38 per share, as compared to $2.9 million, or $0.30 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the net realized loss on investments was approximately $2.0 million, or $0.17 per share, as compared to the net realized loss on investments of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The net realized loss on investments for the first quarter was primarily due to the resolution of one debt investment that was settled during the first quarter for a value of $0.5 million, which was the fair value of such debt investment as of December 31, 2015. 

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the net unrealized depreciation on investments was $1.0 million, or $0.09 per share, as compared to net unrealized appreciation on investments of $1.1 million, or $0.11 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Portfolio Summary and Investment Activity
As of March 31, 2016, the Company's debt portfolio consisted of 50 secured loans with an aggregate fair value of $238.4 million. In addition, the Company's total warrant, equity and other investments in 88 portfolio companies had an aggregate fair value of $6.6 million as of March 31, 2016. Total portfolio investment activity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

Net Asset Value
At March 31, 2016, the Company's net assets were $157.2 million, or $13.62 per share, as compared to $165.0 million, or $14.19 per share, as of March 31, 2015, and $159.8 million, or $13.85 per share, as of December 31, 2015.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $1.4 million, or $0.12 per share, and $3.8 million, or $0.39 per share, respectively.

Portfolio Asset Quality
The following table shows the classification of Horizon's loan portfolio at fair value by internal credit rating as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, Horizon's loan portfolio had a weighted average credit rating of 3.0 with 4 being the highest credit quality rating and 3 being the rating for a standard level of risk. A rating of 2 represents an increased level of risk and, while no loss is currently anticipated for a 2-rated loan, there is potential for future loss of principal. A rating of 1 represents a deteriorating credit quality and increased risk. As of March 31, 2016, there was one debt investment with an internal credit rating of 1, with a cost of $0.9 million and a fair value of $0.3 million. As of December 31, 2015, there was one debt investment with an internal credit rating of 1, with a cost of $2.7 million and a fair value of $0.5 million.

Liquidity Events
Horizon experienced liquidity events from four portfolio companies in the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Liquidity events for Horizon may consist of the sale of warrants or equity in portfolio companies, loan prepayments, sale of owned assets or receipt of success fees.

In January, Overture Networks, Inc. ("Overture") prepaid the outstanding principal balance of $6.9 million on its venture loan, plus interest, end-of-term payment and prepayment fee. As a result of the successful sale of Overture during the first quarter, Horizon also received total proceeds of $432,000 from the exercise and sale of warrants and a success fee.

In February, Horizon received proceeds of approximately $127,000 pursuant to its exercise and sale of warrants in Snagajob.com, Inc. Horizon continues to hold equity in Snagajob.com.

In March, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Sunesis") prepaid the outstanding principal balance of $1.2 million on its venture loan, plus interest and end-of-term payment. Horizon continues to hold warrants in Sunesis.

In March, Horizon received proceeds of approximately $318,000 pursuant to its exercise and sale of warrants in Lytx, Inc.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2016, the Company had $19.6 million in available liquidity, including cash and investments in money market funds totaling $17.6 million and $2.0 million in funds available under existing credit facility commitments.

As of March 31, 2016, there was $68.0 million outstanding under the $70 million revolving credit facility. The facility allows for an increase in the total loan commitment up to an aggregate commitment of $150 million.

Subsequent to quarter-end, on April 27, 2016, Horizon announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Horizon Credit II LLC, amended its syndicated revolving credit facility ("Credit Facility") led by KeyBank National Association ("Key"), increasing the size of the Credit Facility to $95 million by adding a new lender, with MUFG Union Bank, N.A., committing an additional $25 million. The Credit Facility continues to have an accordion feature which allows for an increase in the total loan commitment to $150 million. There can be no assurance that any additional lenders will make any commitments under the Credit Facility.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company's debt to equity leverage ratio was 70%, and the asset coverage ratio for borrowed amounts was 244%.

Monthly Distributions Declared in Second Quarter 2016
On April 28, 2016, the Company's board of directors declared monthly distributions of $0.115 per share payable in each of July, August and September 2016. The following table shows these monthly distributions, which total $0.345 per share:

After paying distributions of $0.345 per share and earning $0.38 per share for the quarter, the Company's undistributed spillover income as of March 31, 2016 was $0.14 per share. Spillover income includes any ordinary income and net capital gains from the preceding years that were not distributed during such years.

When declaring distributions, the Horizon board of directors reviews estimates of taxable income available for distribution, which may differ from consolidated net income under generally accepted accounting principles due to (i) changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation, (ii) temporary and permanent differences in income and expense recognition, and (iii) the amount of spillover income carried over from a given year for distribution in the following year. The final determination of taxable income for each tax year, as well as the tax attributes for distributions in such tax year, will be made after the close of the tax year.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its 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 89832550.

A live webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.horizontechfinance.com.

A replay of the call will be available through May 6, 2016. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 in the United States and (404) 537-3406 outside the United States, and then enter the access code 89832550. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days following the call.

About Horizon Technology Finance
Horizon Technology Finance Corporation is a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and cleantech industries. The investment objective of Horizon is to generate current income from the debt investments it makes and capital appreciation from the warrants it receives when making such debt investments. Headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, Horizon has regional offices in Walnut Creek, California and Reston, Virginia. Horizon's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "HRZN". To learn more, please visit www.horizontechfinance.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and 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. Horizon 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.

Contacts:



Horizon Technology Finance

Christopher M. Mathieu

Chief Financial Officer

(860) 676-8653

chris@horizontechfinance.com



Investor Relations and Media Contact:

The IGB Group

Scott Eckstein / Leon Berman

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

seckstein@igbir.com / lberman@igbir.com

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