(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSXV: PTF) Pender Growth Fund Inc. (the“Company”) today announced its financial and operational results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
Net loss was $8,520,121 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 (September 30, 2021 – Net income $75,339,050) primarily the result of negative investment performance in the quarter. Net loss per Share for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $1.12 (September 30, 2021 – Net income per Share $9.89). Shareholders' equity per Class C common share (“Share”) was $10.46 as at September 30, 2022 (December 31, 2021 – $26.08). The Company's total shareholders' equity was $79.3 million as at September 30, 2022, a decrease from December 31, 2021 ($198.6 million) resulting primarily from a decline in market prices of public company shares during the period. Shares outstanding were 7,582,329 as at September 30, 2022, a decrease from December 31, 2021 (7,616,529) as a result of share repurchases under the Company's Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”), which was renewed on February 14, 2022. At September 30, 2022, 81.1% of the investment portfolio was made up of private companies and 18.9% of public companies. However, taken together with the Company's indirect exposure to public companies through its investment in Pender Private Investments Inc. (“PPI”) and Pender Private Debt Opportunities Fund I Limited Partnership (“PPDF”) , public companies make up 86.2% of the Company's holdings. Management Expense Ratio (“MER”) excluding performance fees was 2.35% for the three months ended September 30, 2022, an improvement by 1.95% compared to the third quarter of 2021.
PERFORMANCE
(Based on Shareholders' Equity) | 3 Month | 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | Since
Inception |
| Class C | -9.7% | 14.5% | 38.5% | 18.3% | 20.8% |
The Company's portfolio is materially concentrated in the shares of one publicly listed Portfolio Company, Copperleaf Technologies Inc. (“Copperleaf”). At September 30, 2022, considering both its direct investment and its indirect investment through its holding of shares of PPI, the Company held 6,762,065 shares of Copperleaf with a value of $42,465,767, which is 53.5% of the Company's total shareholders' equity of $79,305,495 (December 31, 2021 – 7,455,638 Shares with a value of $177,816,957 which was 90% of the Company's total shareholders' equity of $198,643,655).
During 2021, Copperleaf became publicly listed and its closing price at December 31, 2021 was $23.85 per share. This resulted in a substantial direct and indirect unrealized gain under IFRS. Those unrealized gains were a major factor in the 2021 increase in the Company's shareholders' equity, which went from $47.3 million at the beginning of 2021 to $198.6 million at December 31, 2021.
As at September 30, 2022, the closing price of Copperleaf was $6.28 per share, a decrease of $17.57 per share from its December 31, 2021 closing price of $23.85 that resulted in a large reversal of the unrealized appreciation that had been recorded on the Company's holdings of Copperleaf in 2021, which was a major factor in the $119,338,160 (60.1%) decrease in the Company's total shareholders' equity, which went from $198,643,655 or $26.08 per share at December 31, 2021 to $79,305,495 or $10.46 per share at September 30, 2022.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold a total of 745,532 shares from its direct and indirect holdings of Copperleaf. In November 2022, shares of Copperleaf were trading below $3.50 per share, significantly below their September 30, 2022 closing price of $6.28 per share. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to realize the value of this investment.
Portfolio Highlights
The move by central banks to taper monetary and fiscal stimulus and raise interest rates to control inflation, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 global health pandemic led to concerns about the outlook for economic growth and created volatility in equities as the uncertainty added by these developments were digested. We believe that the Company continues to be well-positioned today to pursue its investment objectives despite current market volatility and valuations in micro and small cap stocks in North America.
As always, this quarter we worked closely with our private portfolio companies and certain of our public portfolio companies.
Significant Equity Investments & Recent Developments
Pender Private Investments Inc.
At September 30, 2022, the Company held approximately 98% of the Legacy Shares of PPI, formerly the Working Opportunity Fund (EVCC) Ltd. (“WOF”). These shares were acquired in May 2021 from shareholders of WOF (“Exiting Shareholders”) under the previously announced transaction (the“WOF” Transaction”) and in transactions subsequent to May 2021.
Copperleaf Technologies Inc.
At September 30, 2022, the Company held 9.6% of Copperleaf's issued and outstanding shares, both directly and through its investment in PPI. The value of the Company's direct and indirect holdings of Copperleaf was $42,465,767 at September 30, 2022, which is 53.5% of the Company's total shareholders' equity.
D-Wave Quantum Inc.
On August 8, 2022, D-Wave announced the completion of its previously announced intention to list on the New York Stock Exchange following a business combination with DPCM Capital, Inc. and D-Wave Systems Inc., as a publicly traded SPAC named D-Wave Quantum Inc., under the symbol QBTS. The Company holds shares of D-Wave both directly and indirectly, through Pender Private Investments Inc., and all of its shares are subject to a lock up period1. There is no guarantee that the value of D-Wave shares will be realized after the expiration of the lock up period.
Other Highlights
We continued to acquire shares of the Company in the market under our NCIB because we believe the shares are trading at a discount to their intrinsic value. On February 14, 2022, the Company launched a new NCIB, under which the Company may purchase a maximum of 678,839 shares, or 10% of the Company's public float on launch date, during the one-year period ending February 13, 2023.
We encourage you to refer to the Company's MD&A and quarterly unaudited financial statements for September 30, 2022, the annual audited financial statements for the year-ended December 31, 2021, as well as other disclosures available under the Company's profile at for additional information.
About the Company
Pender Growth Fund Inc is an investment firm. Its investment objective is to achieve long-term capital growth. The Company utilizes its small capital base and long-term horizon to invest in unique situations, primarily small cap, special situations, and illiquid public and private companies. The firm invests in public and private companies based primarily in Canada and the U.S., principally in the technology sector. It trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol“PTF” and posts its NAV on its website, generally within five business days of each month end.
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