UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-22853

 

StoneCastle Financial Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

152 West 57th Street, 35th Floor

New York, NY

 

10019

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Joshua S. Siegel

StoneCastle Financial Corp.

152 West 57th Street, 35th Floor

New York, NY  10019

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Copies of Communications to:

John P. Falco, Esq.

Pepper Hamilton LLP

3000 Two Logan Square / Eighteenth and Arch Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2799

(215) 981-4659

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 354-6500

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

December 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

June 30, 2019

 

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 


 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 


Semi-Annual Report

June 30, 2019
(unaudited)

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of StoneCastle Financial Corp.'s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the StoneCastle Financial Corp. electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank). You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you have any questions, please contact our Investor Relations Department at (212) 354-6500, ext. 324.

Copies of all shareholder reports can be found at http://ir.stonecastle-financial.com/financial-information/annual-reports

NASDAQ BANX

stonecastle-financial.com



STONECASTLE FINANCIAL CORP.

Table of Contents

   

Page

 

Schedule of Investments

   

2

   

Geographic Distribution of Bank Issuers

   

6

   

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

   

7

   

Statement of Operations

   

8

   

Statements of Changes In Net Assets

   

9

   

Statement of Cash Flows

   

10

   

Financial Highlights

   

12

   

Notes to Financial Statements

   

14

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

25

   

Tax Information

   

27

   

Additional Information

   

27

   

Results of Stockholders Meeting

   

28

   

Management

   

29

   

Privacy Notice

   

34

   


StoneCastle Financial Corp.

Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

As of June 30, 2019

Company(1)

 

Investment

  # of
Shares/Par
Amount ($)(2)
 

Fair Value(3)

 

Term Loans – 13.9%

 

Banking – 13.9%

 
American Capital Bancorp
  
  Subordinated Term Loan,
9.00%, 4/1/2028
 

$

7,000,000

   

$

7,000,000

   
Big Poppy Holdings, Inc.
  
  Subordinated Term Loan,
6.50%, 7/1/2027
 

$

3,500,000

     

3,465,000

   
TransPecos Financial Corp.
  
  Senior Term Loan,
9.00%, 10/1/2028
 

$

4,000,000

     

4,000,000

   
Tulsa Valley Bancshares
  
  Subordinated Term Loan,
6.375%, 12/31/2028*
 

$

1,700,000

     

1,674,500

   
Young Partners, L.P.
  
  Secured Term Loan,
10.50%, 11/9/2020
 

$

4,565,000

     

3,809,493

   
    Total Term Loans
(Cost $20,183,586)
       

19,948,993

   

Debt Securities – 4.7%

 

Banking – 4.7%

 
MMCapS Funding I, Ltd. /
MMCapS Funding I, Inc.
  Fixed Rate Senior Notes,
8.04%, 6/8/2031, 144A(4)
 

$

4,307,097

     

3,521,052

   
Preferred Term Securities,
Ltd. / Preferred Term
Securities, Inc.
  Fixed Rate Mezzanine Notes, 9.74%,
9/15/2030, 144A(4)
  
 

$

3,085,198

     

3,143,045

   
    Total Debt Securities
(Cost $6,577,942)
       

6,664,097

   

Trust Preferred Securities – 14.0%

 

Banking – 14.0%

 
Central Trust Company
Capital Trust I.
  Junior Subordinated Debt (Trust
Preferred Security), 10.25%, 7/25/2031
 

$

2,500,000

     

2,506,250

   
First Alliance Capital Trust I
  
  Junior Subordinated Debt (Trust
Preferred Security), 10.25%, 7/25/2031
 

$

6,500,000

     

6,516,250

   
M&T TPS LLC
  
  Trust Preferred Security, Series 2015-1
9.74%, Note, 9/30/2030, 144A(4)
 

$

2,395,023

     

2,406,998

   
Mercantil TPS LLC
  
  Trust Preferred Security Series 2015-1
9.74%, Note, 9/30/2030, 144A(4)
 

$

4,490,669

     

4,490,669

   
National Bank of
Indianapolis TPS LLC
  Trust Preferred Security, Series 2015-1
9.74%, Note, 9/30/2030, 144A(4)
 

$

4,041,603

     

4,041,603

   
    Total Trust Preferred Securities
(Cost $20,357,325)
       

19,961,770

   

See notes to Financial Statements

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
2



Company(1)

 

Investment

  # of
Shares/Par
Amount ($)(2)
 

Fair Value(3)

 

Credit Securitizations – 32.5%

 

Banking – 32.5%

 
Community Funding CLO,
Ltd.
  Preferred Shares(5) (Estimated effective
yield 10.37%), 144A(4)
 

$

45,500,000

   

$

44,897,125

   
U.S. Capital Funding I, Ltd. /
U.S. Capital Funding I,
Corp.
  Subordinate Income Note, (Estimated
effective yield 17.94%), 5/1/2034,
144A(4)
 

$

4,700,000

     

1,645,000

   
    Total Credit Securitizations
(Cost $46,653,797)
       

46,542,125

   

Pooled Equity Interest – 15.1%

 

Banking – 15.1%

 
Community Funding 2018,
LLC.
  Preferred Shares(5) (Estimated effective
yield 9.34%), 144A(4)
 

$

22,860,000

     

21,599,271

   
    Total Pooled Equity Interest
(Cost $22,346,608)
       

21,599,271

   

Preferred Stocks – 18.9%

 

Banking – 18.9%

 
Fidelity Federal Bancorp
  
  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, Series A, 9%
 

$

4,439,000

     

4,439,000

   
Fidelity Federal Bancorp
  
  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, Series B, 9%
 

$

51,000

     

51,000

   
First Marquis Holdings, LLC.
  
  
  Variable Rate Perpetual Preferred
Stock (Estimated effective yield
13.15%)(5)(6)
 

$

6,550,000

     

7,774,850

   
Katahdin Bankshares
Corporation
  Floating Rate Non-Cumulative
Preferred Stock, Series D, 8.75%
 

$

10,000,000

     

9,900,000

   
The Queensborough
Company
  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, Series A, 9%
 

$

2,670,000

     

2,643,300

   
The Queensborough
Company
  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, Series B, 9%
 

$

94,000

     

93,060

   
TriState Capital Holdings
  
  Fixed / Floating Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, 6.75% (TSCAP)
 

$

80,000

     

2,144,000

   
    Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $25,800,044)
       

27,045,210

   

Common Stocks – 2.3%

 

Banking – 2.3%

 
Happy Bancshares, Inc.
  
  Equity Security - Private Placement,
144A(4)(6)(7)
   

44,000

     

2,002,000

   

Howard Bancorp, Inc.

 

Equity Security (HBMD)(7)

   

83,119

     

1,260,913

   
    Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,004,317)
       

3,262,913

   

See notes to Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Report | StoneCastle Financial Corp.
3



Company(1)

 

Investment

  # of
Shares/Par
Amount ($)(2)
 

Fair Value(3)

 

Exchange Traded Fund – 13.8%

 

Diversified Financial Services – 13.8%

 
iShares S&P U.S. Preferred
Stock Index Fund
  iShares U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund -
Exchange Traded Fund (PFF)
   

535,100

   

$

19,718,435

   
    Total Exchange Traded Fund
(Cost $20,064,987)
       

19,718,435

   
    Total Long Term Investments
(Cost $163,988,606)
       

164,742,814

   

Money Market Fund – 0.3%

 
Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Treasury
Portfolio
  Institutional Share Class - Money Market
Mutual Fund (MISXX) 2.25%
  
   

373,030

     

373,030

   
    Total Money Market Fund
(Cost $373,030)
       

373,030

   
    Total Investments
(Cost $164,361,636)(8)(9)† - 115.5%
       

165,115,844

   
    Other assets and liabilities, net -
(15.5)%(10)
       

(22,178,507

)

 
   

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

     

$

142,937,337

   

(1)  We do not "control" and are not an "affiliate" of any of our investments, each as defined in the Investment Company Act (the "1940 Act").

(2)  $ represents security position traded in par amount.

(3)  Fair Value is determined in good faith in accordance with the Company's valuation policy and is reviewed and accepted by the Company's Board of Directors.

(4)  Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.

(5)  The preferred shares are considered an equity position. Equity investments are entitled to recurring distributions which are generally equal to the remaining cash flow of the payments made by the underlying company's securities less contractual payments to debt holders and company expenses. The estimated effective yield indicated is based upon a current projection of the amount and timing of these recurring distributions and the estimated amount of repayment of principal upon termination. Such projections are periodically reviewed and adjusted as needed. The estimated effective yield may ultimately not be realized.

(6)  Investments determined using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The value of such securities is $9,776,850 or 6.8% of net assets.

(7)  Currently non-income producing security.

(8)  Investments are income producing assets unless otherwise noted by footnote (7)

(9)  Cost values reflect accretion of original issue discount or market discount, and amortization of premium.

(10)  Includes $24,000,000 in bank loans from Texas Capital Bank.

*  The estimated effective yield including structuring fees paid annually through maturity of 2028 is 9.60%.

†  As of June 30, 2019, the cost basis of investment securities owned was substantially identical for both book and tax purposes. Gross unrealized appreciation of investments was $3,418,085 and gross unrealized depreciation was $2,663,877 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $754,208.

See notes to Financial Statements

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
4



Additional Information

The following is a listing of the underlying unsecured loans, subordinated debentures and notes that were made by Community Funding CLO, Ltd. See Notes to Financial Statements for additional information on StoneCastle Financial Corp's. investment in Community Funding CLO, Ltd.

Bank Name

  Principal
Amount
 

State

 
Progress Financial
Corporation
 

$

5,500,000

   

Alabama

 
Cornerstone
Community
Bancorp
   

5,000,000

   

California

 
Bankwell Financial
Group
   

7,500,000

   

Connecticut

 

SBT Bancorp, Inc.

   

7,500,000

   

Connecticut

 
Biscayne Bancshares,
Inc.
   

7,500,000

   

Florida

 

Idaho Trust Bancorp

   

5,000,000

   

Idaho

 
Bancorp Financial,
Inc.
   

12,500,000

   

Illinois

 
Market Street
Bancshares, Inc.
   

7,500,000

   

Illinois

 

First Internet Bancorp

   

10,000,000

   

Indiana

 
Treynor Bancshares,
Inc.
   

12,500,000

   

Iowa

 
Freedom Bancshares,
Inc.
   

2,000,000

   

Kansas

 
Williams Holding
Company, Inc.
   

1,000,000

   

Kansas

 

CB&T Holding Corp.

   

12,500,000

   

Louisiana

 

Delmar Bancorp

   

2,000,000

   

Maryland

 

Citizens Bancshares

   

12,500,000

   

Missouri

 

First Bancshares, Inc.

   

2,500,000

   

Missouri

 
Security State
Bancshares, Inc.
   

12,500,000

   

Missouri

 
Glacier Bancorp,
Inc.
   

7,500,000

   

Montana

 
First State
Holding Co.
   

9,350,000

   

Nebraska

 

Bank Name

  Principal
Amount
 

State

 
Lakeland Bancorp,
Inc.
 

$

7,500,000

   

New Jersey

 
Country Bank
Holding Co., Inc.
   

7,500,000

   

New York

 
Pathfinder
Bancorp, Inc.
   

10,000,000

   

New York

 
Quontic Bank
Holdings
Corporation
   

3,000,000

   

New York

 
MidWest
Community
Financial Corp.
   

7,500,000

   

Oklahoma

 
Myers BancShares,
Inc.
   

10,000,000

   

Oklahoma

 

First Resource Bank

   

2,000,000

   

Pennsylvania

 

Victory Bancorp, Inc.

   

5,000,000

   

Pennsylvania

 
Sandhills Holding
Company, Inc.
   

8,500,000

   

South Carolina

 
First Citizens
Bancshares, Inc.
   

10,000,000

   

Texas

 
Happy Bancshares,
Inc.
   

7,500,000

   

Texas

 
Linden Bancshares,
Inc.
   

4,000,000

   

Texas

 
First National
Corporation
   

5,000,000

   

Virginia

 

FS Bancorp. Inc.

   

10,000,000

   

Washington

 
Partnership
Community
Bancshares
   

7,000,000

   

Wisconsin

 

Total

 

$

246,850,000

       

The following is a listing of the underlying unsecured loans that were made by Community Funding 2018, LLC. See Notes to Financial Statements for additional information on StoneCastle Financial Corp's. investment in Community Funding 2018, LLC.

Bank Name

  Principal
Amount
 

State

 
Big Poppy Holdings,
Inc.
 

$

9,000,000

   

California

 
Freeport Bancshares,
Inc.
   

3,150,000

   

Illinois

 
Fidelity Federal
Bancorp
   

8,000,000

   

Indiana

 

Halbur Bancshares

   

3,000,000

   

Iowa

 

Vintage Bancorp

   

3,000,000

   

Kansas

 

Delmar Bancorp

   

4,500,000

   

Maryland

 

Bank Name

  Principal
Amount
 

State

 

First Bancshares

 

$

10,000,000

   

Mississippi

 
MidWest Regional
Bank
   

5,000,000

   

Missouri

 

Lincoln Park Bancorp

   

5,000,000

   

New Jersey

 

MidWest Community

   

2,500,000

   

Oklahoma

 

Peoples Bancshares

   

4,000,000

   

Virginia

 

Total

 

$

57,150,000

       

See notes to Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Report | StoneCastle Financial Corp.
5



StoneCastle Financial Corp.

As of June 30, 2019

Geographic Distribution of Bank Issuers(1) (unaudited)

State

  % of Total
Investments(2)
 

Alabama

   

1.18

%

 

Arkansas

   

0.30

%

 

California

   

4.13

%

 

Connecticut

   

3.21

%

 

Florida

   

9.37

%

 

Georgia

   

0.59

%

 

Idaho

   

1.07

%

 

Illinois

   

5.31

%

 

Indiana

   

7.16

%

 

Iowa

   

3.29

%

 

Kansas

   

1.26

%

 

Kentucky

   

0.23

%

 

Louisiana

   

3.13

%

 

Maine

   

2.15

%

 

Maryland

   

5.94

%

 

Massachusetts

   

0.23

%

 

Michigan

   

0.89

%

 

State

  % of Total
Investments(2)
 

Mississippi

   

2.05

%

 

Missouri

   

7.75

%

 

Montana

   

1.61

%

 

Nebraska

   

2.46

%

 

New Jersey

   

2.63

%

 

New York

   

8.91

%

 

North Dakota

   

0.38

%

 

Ohio

   

0.23

%

 

Oklahoma

   

5.08

%

 

Pennsylvania

   

2.42

%

 

South Carolina

   

1.82

%

 

Texas

   

8.02

%

 

Virginia

   

2.20

%

 

Washington

   

2.52

%

 

West Virginia

   

0.68

%

 

Wisconsin

   

1.80

%

 
     

100.00

%

 

(1)  The term "Bank Issuers" as used herein refers to banks or holding companies thereof and includes issuers in which we have direct and indirect investments. Includes Community Funding CLO, Ltd., Community Funding 2018, LLC., U.S. Capital Funding I, Preferred Term Securities, Inc. and MMCap Funding I, Inc.

(2)  For purposes of this table the calculation of the percentage of total Long-Term Investments are based on the Bank Issuers in which SCFC directly and indirectly holds investments. With respect to direct investments that are secured by obligations issued by Bank Issuers (each a "Secured Bond"), the percentage was calculated by prorating the market value of the Secured Bond among the obligations issued by the underlying Bank Issuers that collateralize such Secured Bond and dividing each such amount by total Long-Term Investments.

See notes to Financial Statements

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
6



Financial Statements

Statement of Assets and Liabilities As of June 30, 2019 (unaudited)

Assets

 

Investments in securities, at fair value (Cost $164,361,636)

 

$

165,115,844

   

Cash (see Note 7)

   

159,250

   

Interest and dividends receivable

   

2,226,763

   

Prepaid assets

   

651,965

   

Total assets

   

168,153,822

   

Liabilities

 

Loan payable (see Note 7)

   

24,000,000

   

Investment advisory fees payable

   

733,082

   

Loan interest payable

   

3,672

   

Directors' fees payable

   

5,876

   

Accrued expenses payable

   

473,855

   

Total liabilities

   

25,216,485

   

Net Assets

 

$

142,937,337

   

Net assets consist of:

 

Common stock, at par ($0.001 per share)

 

$

6,557

   

Paid-in capital

   

143,826,543

   

Total distributable earnings (loss)

   

(895,763

)

 

Net Assets

 

$

142,937,337

   

Net asset value per share

 

Common Stock Shares Outstanding

   

6,557,261

   

Net asset value per common share

 

$

21.80

   

Market price per share

 

$

21.81

   

Market price premium to net asset value per share

   

0.05

%

 

See notes to Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Report | StoneCastle Financial Corp.
7



Statement of Operations For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 (unaudited)

This Statement of Operations summarizes the Company's investment income earned and expenses incurred in operating the Company. It also shows net gains (losses) for the period stated.

Investment Income

 

Interest

 

$

5,883,397

   

Dividends

   

2,147,433

   

Origination fee income (Note 9)

   

54,654

   

Other income (Note 9)

   

193,503

   

Total investment income

   

8,278,987

   

Expenses

 

Investment advisory fee

   

1,516,261

   

Interest expense

   

889,579

   

Professional fees

   

203,546

   

Transfer agent, custodian fees and administrator fees

   

123,395

   

Directors' fees

   

115,794

   

Bank Fees

   

76,268

   

ABA marketing and licensing fees

   

74,309

   

Investor relations fees

   

61,392

   

Delaware franchise tax

   

44,114

   

Insurance expense

   

35,704

   

Valuation service fees

   

31,694

   

Printing fees

   

23,158

   

Miscellaneous fees (proxy, rating agency, etc.)

   

135,699

   

Total expenses

   

3,330,913

   

Net investment income

   

4,948,074

   

Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments

 

Net realized loss on investments

   

(201,348

)

 

Net change in net unrealized appreciation on investments

   

2,649,878

   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

   

2,448,530

   

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

 

$

7,396,604

   

See notes to Financial Statements

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
8



Statements of Changes In Net Assets

These statements of changes in net assets show how the value of the Company's net assets has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses, any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of Company share transactions.

    For the
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2019
(unaudited)
  For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

From Operations

 

Net investment income

 

$

4,948,074

   

$

10,690,600

   

Net realized loss on investments

   

(201,348

)

   

(1,421,922

)

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

   

2,649,878

     

764,528

   
Net increase in net assets resulting
from operations
   

7,396,604

     

10,033,206

   

Distributions to shareholders

 

From total distributable earnings

   

(4,980,907

)

   

(10,869,201

)

 

Total distributions

   

(4,980,907

)

   

(10,869,201

)

 

From Company share transactions

 

Reinvestment of distributions

   

142,019

     

166,118

   
Increase in net assets resulting from Company
share transactions
   

142,019

     

166,118

   

Total increase/(decrease)

   

2,557,716

     

(669,877

)

 

Net assets

 

Beginning of period

   

140,379,621

     

141,049,498

   

End of period

 

$

142,937,337

   

$

140,379,621

   

Shares outstanding

 

Beginning of period

   

6,550,110

     

6,542,289

   

Reinvestment of distributions

   

7,151

     

7,821

   

End of period

   

6,557,261

     

6,550,110

   

See notes to Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Report | StoneCastle Financial Corp.
9



Statement of Cash Flow

This Statement of Cash Flows shows cash flow from operating and financing activities for the period stated.

    For the
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2019
(unaudited)
 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

 

$

7,396,604

   
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets from
operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

Purchase of investment securities

   

(6,038,998

)

 

Proceeds from sales and redemption of investment securities

   

32,021,975

   

Net proceeds of short-term investments

   

635,070

   

Net realized loss on investments

   

201,348

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

   

(2,649,878

)

 

Net accretion of discount

   

(214,864

)

 

Decrease in receivable for investment securities redeemed

   

428,000

   

Decrease in prepaid expenses

   

175,701

   

Decrease in interest receivable and dividends receivable

   

829,529

   

Decrease in advisory fees payable

   

(138,199

)

 

Decrease in loan interest payable

   

(72,445

)

 

Decrease in Directors' fees payable

   

(7,449

)

 

Increase in accrued fees payable

   

6,467

   

Net cash provided by operating activities

   

32,572,861

   

Cash flows from financing activities

 

Decrease in loan payable

   

(27,000,000

)

 

Cash distributions to shareholders

   

(8,244,945

)

 

Net cash used by financing activities

   

(35,244,945

)

 

Net decrease in cash

   

(2,672,084

)

 

Cash:

 

Beginning of period

   

2,831,334

   

End of period

 

$

159,250

   

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

962,024

   

Distributions reinvested

 

$

142,019

   

See notes to Financial Statements

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Financial Highlights

The financial highlights show how the Company's net asset value for a common stock share has changed during the period.

    For the
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2019
(unaudited)
  For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2018
  For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
 

Per share operating performance

 

Net Asset value, beginning of period

 

$

21.43

   

$

21.56

   

$

21.22

   

Net investment income1

   

0.76

     

1.63

     

1.58

   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments1

   

0.37

     

(0.10

)

   

0.26

   

Offering costs1

   

     

     

   

Total from investment operations

   

1.13

     

1.53

     

1.84

   

Less distributions to shareholders

 

From net investment income

   

(0.76

)

   

(1.66

)

   

(1.50

)

 

Return of capital

   

     

     

   

Total distributions

   

(0.76

)

   

(1.66

)

   

(1.50

)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

21.80

   

$

21.43

   

$

21.56

   

Per share market value, end of period

 

$

21.81

   

$

19.30

   

$

20.13

   

Total investment return based on market value2

   

17.16

%*

   

3.84

%

   

16.21

%

 

Total investment return based on net asset value2

   

5.47

%*

   

7.65

%

   

9.62

%

 

Ratios and supplemental data

 

Net assets end of period (in millions)

 

$

142.9

   

$

140.4

   

$

141.0

   

Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets):

 

Expenses before waivers and/or recoupment, if any3

   

4.74

%**

   

5.01

%

   

4.93

%

 

Expenses after waivers and/or recoupment, if any4,5

   

4.74

%**

   

4.95

%

   

5.01

%

 

Net investment income6

   

7.04

%**

   

7.52

%

   

7.39

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

3

%*

   

30

%

   

16

%

 

Revolving credit agreement

 

Total revolving credit agreement outstanding (000s)

 

$

24,000

   

$

51,000

   

$

25,750

   

Asset Coverage per $1,000 for revolving credit agreement7

   

6,956

     

3,753

     

6,478

   

1  The net investment income, unrealized gain/(loss) on investments and offering costs per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.

2  Based on share market price and reinvestment of distributions at the price obtained under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Total return does not include sales load and offering expenses.

3  Ratio of expenses before waivers or recapture, if any to managed assets equals 3.69%, 3.83%, 3.67%, 3.58% and 3.62% for the period ended June 30, 2019 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

4  Ratio of expenses after waivers or recapture, if any to managed assets equals 3.69%, 3.78%, 3.73%, 3.52% and 3.35% for the period ended June 30, 2019 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

5  Excluding interest expense, net operating expenses would have been 3.47%, 3.61%, 3.75%, 3.74% and 3.54% for the period ended June 30, 2019 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

6  Ratio of net investment income to managed assets equals 5.49%, 5.74%, 5.51%, 5.23% and 4.88% for the period ended June 30, 2019 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

7  Calculated by subtracting the Company's total liabilities (excluding the loan) from the Company's total assets and dividing that amount by the loan outstanding in 000's.

*  Not-annualized.

**  Annualized.

See notes to Financial Statements

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
12



    For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
  For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
  For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Per share operating performance

 

Net Asset value, beginning of period

 

$

21.62

   

$

21.86

   

$

23.07

   

Net investment income1

   

1.56

     

1.44

     

0.84

   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments1

   

(0.50

)

   

(0.17

)

   

0.01

   

Offering costs1

   

     

     

(0.06

)

 

Total from investment operations

   

1.06

     

1.27

     

0.79

   

Less distributions to shareholders

 

From net investment income

   

(1.46

)

   

(1.29

)

   

(1.22

)

 

Return of capital

   

     

(0.22

)

   

(0.78

)

 

Total distributions

   

(1.46

)

   

(1.51

)

   

(2.00

)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

21.22

   

$

21.62

   

$

21.86

   

Per share market value, end of period

 

$

18.69

   

$

16.30

   

$

19.47

   

Total investment return based on market value2

   

24.45

%

   

(8.68

)%

   

(13.59

)%

 

Total investment return based on net asset value2

   

6.53

%

   

7.88

%

   

3.28

%

 

Ratios and supplemental data

 

Net assets end of period (in millions)

 

$

138.6

   

$

140.8

   

$

142.1

   

Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets):

 

Expenses before waivers and/or recoupment, if any3

   

5.02

%

   

4.87

%

   

3.73

%

 

Expenses after waivers and/or recoupment, if any4,5

   

4.94

%

   

4.50

%

   

3.73

%

 

Net investment income6

   

7.33

%

   

6.56

%

   

3.41

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

34

%

   

101

%

   

30

%

 

Revolving credit agreement

 

Total revolving credit agreement outstanding (000s)

 

$

61,500

   

$

25,000

   

$

22,500

   

Asset Coverage per $1,000 for revolving credit agreement7

   

3,253

     

6,631

     

7,317

   

See notes to Financial Statements

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13



Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1 — Organization

StoneCastle Financial Corp. ("SCFC" or the "Company") is a Delaware corporation registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "Investment Company Act") which commenced investment operations on November 13, 2013. In addition, SCFC has elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code''). As an investment company, the Company follows the accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 "Financial Services — Investment Companies."

SCFC's primary investment objective is to provide stockholders with current income, and to a lesser extent capital appreciation. We attempt to achieve our investment objectives through investments in preferred equity, subordinated debt, convertible securities and, to a lesser extent, common equity primarily in the U.S. community bank sector. We may also invest in similar securities of larger U.S. domiciled banks and companies that provide goods and/or services to banking companies. Together with banks, we refer to these types of companies as banking-related and intend, under normal circumstances, to invest at least 80% of the value of our net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in such businesses. There is no guarantee that we will achieve our investment objective.

Note 2 — Significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by SCFC in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of the financial statements is in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S.GAAP") and requires the Board of Directors, inclusive of the sub-committees, and the Advisor to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — SCFC considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Investment Valuation — The most significant estimates made in the preparation of the Company's financial statements are the valuation of equity and debt investments and the effective yield calculation with respect to certain debt securities, as well as the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded. The Company believes that there is no single definitive method for determining fair value in good faith. As a result, determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments that SCFC makes. The Company is required to specifically fair value each individual investment on a quarterly basis.

The Company complies with ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure, which establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. ASC 820-10 clarified the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their

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14



disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. the "exit price") in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820-10 also establishes the following three-tier fair value hierarchy:

•  Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access;

•  Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an active market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, and similar data; and

•  Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability to the extent that relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions that a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and that would be based on the best information available.

To the extent securities owned by the Company are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Securities traded on inactive markets or valued by reference to similar instruments are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors including the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Those estimated values do not necessarily represent the amounts that may be ultimately realized due to the occurrence of future circumstances that cannot be reasonably determined. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by SCFC in determining fair value is greatest for securities categorized in Level 3. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure. Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, SCFC's own assumptions are set to reflect those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. SCFC uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many securities. This condition could cause a security to be reclassified to a lower level within the fair value hierarchy.

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15



SCFC will determine fair value of its assets and liabilities in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by its Board of Directors. The Company may utilize the services of one or more regionally or nationally recognized independent valuation firms to help it determine the value of each investment for which a market price is not available. SCFC's Board will also review valuations of such investments provided by the Advisor. Securities for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued at "market value." If a market value cannot be obtained or if SCFC's Advisor determines that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent a fair value as of the measurement date (due to a significant development subsequent to the time its price is determined or otherwise), fair value shall be determined pursuant to the methodologies established by our Board of Directors. In making these determinations, the Company may engage an independent valuation firm from time to time to assist in determining the fair value of our investments. The methods for valuing these investments may include fundamental analysis, discounts from market prices of similar securities, purchase price of securities, subsequent private transactions in the security or related securities, or discounts applied to the nature and duration of restrictions on the disposition of the securities, as well as a combination of these and other factors.

Credit Securitization and Pooled Equity Interests — SCFC may acquire equity or preferred equity in credit securitizations or other structured financings. In valuing such investments, SCFC attempts to obtain a minimum of two marks provided by recognized industry brokers as a primary source, supplemented by actual trades executed in the market at or around period-end, as well as the marks provided by the broker who arranges transactions in such investment vehicles. Any event adversely affecting the value of such credit securitizations and other structured financings, including events that impact the value of the underlying collateral held by such vehicles, would be magnified to the extent leverage is utilized. SCFC's investment in credit securitization and other structured financings that utilize leverage may make it more likely that substantial changes in the Company's net asset value ("NAV") will occur.

The fair value of the credit securitization is determined using market price quotations (where observable) and other observable market inputs. When using market price quotations from brokers, fair value is calculated using the average of two or more indicative broker quotes obtained as of the valuation date. When quotations are unobservable, internal valuation models (typically including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable analysis) are employed. Credit securitizations are generally categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the fair value hierarchy, depending on the availability of broker quotes and observable inputs. At June 30, 2019, SCFC's investment in Community Funding CLO, Ltd. was valued on the basis of the average of two broker quotes.

Service fees are paid to StoneCastle Investment Management, LLC, an affiliate of StoneCastle Asset Management, StoneCastle Financial Corp.'s advisor. StoneCastle Asset Management, LLC ("The Servicer") rebates the entire service fee to SCFC quarterly. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 this amounted to $124,111 relating to Community Funding CLO, Ltd and $85,490 relating to Community Funding 2018, LLC.

Preferred and Trust Preferred Securities. The fair value of preferred securities and trust preferred securities is generally determined using market price quotations (where observable) and other observable market inputs (including recently executed transactions).When using market price quotations from brokers, fair value is calculated using the average of two or more indicative broker quotes obtained as of the valuation date. When quotations are unobservable, internal valuation models (typically including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable analysis) are employed. Perpetual preferred securities are generally

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16



categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the fair value hierarchy, depending on the availability of observable inputs.

Debt Securities. Under procedures established by our Board of Directors, we value secured debt, unsecured debt, senior term loans, subordinated term loans and other debt securities, for which market quotations are readily available, at such market quotations (unless they are deemed not to represent fair value). We attempt to obtain market quotations from at least two brokers if available. If not available or when market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value, we typically utilize independent third party valuation firms to assist us in determining fair value. Our independent valuation firms consider observable market inputs together with significant unobservable inputs in arriving at their valuation recommendations for such Level 2 and Level 3 categorized assets. Investments that are not publicly traded or whose market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our Board of Directors. Such determination of fair values may involve subjective judgments and estimates.

Equity Securities. SCFC may invest in equity securities (including exchange traded funds) for which bid and ask prices can be observed in the marketplace. Bid prices reflect the highest price that the marketplace participants are willing to pay for an asset. Ask prices represent the lowest price that the marketplace participants are willing to accept for an asset. The Company's policy for listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date is generally to value the security using the last reported "bid" price if held long, and last reported "ask" price if sold short. Equity securities are generally categorized as Level 1 or 2 in the fair value hierarchy, depending on trading volume levels.

The Company's assets measured at fair value subject to the disclosure requirements of ASC 820-10-35 at June 30, 2019, were as follows:

    TOTAL FAIR
VALUE AT 6-30-19
  LEVEL 1
QUOTED PRICE
  LEVEL 2
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS
  LEVEL 3
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
 

Term Loans

 

$

19,948,993

   

$

   

$

19,948,993

   

$

   

Debt Securities

   

6,664,097

     

     

6,664,097

     

   

Trust Preferred Securities

   

19,961,770

     

     

19,961,770

     

   

Credit Securitizations

   

46,542,125

     

     

46,542,125

     

   

Pooled Equity Interest

   

21,599,271

     

     

21,599,271

     

   

Preferred Stocks

   

27,045,210

     

     

19,270,360

     

7,774,850

   

Common Stocks

   

3,262,913

     

1,260,913

     

     

2,002,000

   

Exchange Traded Fund

   

19,718,435

     

19,718,435

     

     

   

Money Market Fund

   

373,030

     

373,030

     

     

   

Total Investments in Securities

 

$

165,115,844

   

$

21,352,378

   

$

133,986,616

   

$

9,776,850

   

Semi-Annual Report | StoneCastle Financial Corp.
17



The Level 3 categorized assets listed above have been valued via the use of a) independent third party valuation firms, or, b) fair valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. GAAP requires SCFC to present reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfer in and out between levels are based on values at the end of the period. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented below:

    TERM
LOAN
  COMMON
STOCK
  PREFERRED
STOCK
 

TOTAL

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

$

1,649,000

   

$

1,870,000

   

$

7,550,840

   

$

11,069,840

   

Realized gains including earnings

   

     

     

     

   
Unrealized appreciation/
(depreciation) on investments
   

     

132,000

     

224,010

     

356,010

   

Purchases

   

     

     

     

   

Sales

   

     

     

     

   

Transfers in

   

     

     

     

   

Transfers out

   

(1,649,000

)

   

     

     

(1,649,000

)

 

Balance at June 30, 2019

 

$

   

$

2,002,000

(1)

 

$

7,774,850

(2)

 

$

9,776,850

   

(1)  Value based on offering price.

(2)  Value based on discount for transaction costs.

The change in unrealized appreciation on Level 3 securities still held as of June 30, 2019 was $356,010.

    FAIR VALUE AT
6/30/2019
  VALUATION
TECHNIQUES
  UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
 

ASSUMPTIONS

  IMPACT TO
VALUATION FROM AN
INCREASE TO INPUT
 

Preferred Stock

 

$

7,774,850

 

Prior Transaction Analysis

 

Discount for transaction costs

 

3.00

%

 

Increase in unobservable input will decrease the value.

 

Common Stock

 

$

2,002,000

 

Prior Transaction Analysis

 

Offering Price

 

$

45.50

 

Increase in unobservable input will increase the value.

 

  

 

$

9,776,850

                 

Securities Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses — Securities transactions are recorded on trade date for accounting and financial statement preparation purposes. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums are recorded on a daily basis using the effective yield method except for short term securities, which records discounts and premiums on a straight-line basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

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18



Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly. Distributions, if any, of net short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss) realized by SCFC, after deducting any available capital loss carryovers are declared and paid to shareholders at least annually. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These differences include the treatment of non-taxable dividends, losses deferred due to wash sales and excise tax regulations. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications within the components of net assets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement — In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-13 "Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement" which modifies disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance to the Funds.

Note 3 — Investment Advisory Fee and Other Fee Arrangements

StoneCastle Asset Management, LLC ("Advisor"), a subsidiary of StoneCastle Partners, LLC ("StoneCastle Partners"), serves as investment advisor to SCFC pursuant to a management agreement with SCFC (the "Management Agreement"). For its services as the investment advisor, SCFC pays the Advisor a fee at the annual rate of 1.75% of total assets. SCFC will pay the management fee quarterly in arrears, and it will be equal to 0.4375% (1.75% annualized) of our assets at the end of such quarter, including cash and cash equivalents and assets purchased with borrowings.

SCFC currently pays each Director who is not an officer or employee of the Advisor a fee of $55,000 per annum, plus $1,500 for each in-person meeting of the Board of Directors or committee meeting. The chairman of SCFC's audit committee, nominating committee and the Lead Independent Director are each paid an additional $10,000 per year. Directors do not receive any pension or retirement plan benefits and are not part of any profit sharing plan. Interested Directors do not receive any compensation from SCFC. SCFC has incurred $115,794 of Directors fees for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Note 4 — Purchases and Sales and Redemptions of Securities

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, (i) the cost of purchases was $6,038,998 (ii) the sales and redemptions of securities was $32,021,975.

Note 5 — Federal Tax Information

The Company intends to operate so as to qualify to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, as such, to not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its taxable income and gains distributed to stockholders. To qualify for RIC tax treatment, SCFC is required to distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income, as defined by the Code.

Because federal income tax regulations differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital

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19



accounts in the financial statement to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

SCFC has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires SCFC to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. SCFC has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, SCFC is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of December 31, 2018, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

Capital Loss Carryforwards

 

($

1,498,417

)

 

Unrealized Depreciation

   

(1,895,670

)

 

Undistributed income

   

82,627

   

Total

 

($

3,311,460

)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the tax character of distributions paid by the Company was $9,949,214 of ordinary income dividends. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the tax character of distributions paid by the Company was $9,735,512 of ordinary income dividends. Distributions from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income for federal tax purposes.

The Company declared a $0.52 per share dividend on December 7, 2018 and a $0.38 per share dividend on March 8, 2019 and June 6, 2019, which was paid on January 2, 2019, March 26, 2019 and June 26, 2019, respectively.

At June 30, 2019, the federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by SCFC were as follows:

Federal tax cost

 

$

164,361,636

   

Gross unrealized appreciation

   

3,418,085

   

Gross unrealized depreciation

   

(2,663,877

)

 

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$

754,208

   

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, SCFC may elect to treat certain capital losses up to and including December 31 as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the period after October 31, 2018 and ending December 31, 2018, any amount of losses elected within the tax year will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2018, SCFC had no ordinary income or long-term capital loss deferrals.

Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carry forwards as of December 31, 2018 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. SCFC is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred for an unlimited period. Additionally, capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either

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short-term or long-term capital losses. For the year ended December 31, 2018, SCFC had capital loss carryforwards of $1,498,417 of which $900,957 are short-term and $597,460 long-term losses.

Note 6 — Risk Considerations

Risks are inherent in all investing. The following summarizes some, but not all, of the risks that should be considered for the Company. For additional information about the risks associated with investing in the Company, please see the Company's prospectus as well as other Company regulatory filings.

Investment and Market Risk — An investment in the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal invested. Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Company dividends and distributions. The Company expects to utilize leverage, which will magnify investment risk.

Preferred and Debt Securities Risk — Preferred and debt securities in which the Company invests are subject to various risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, call/prepayment risk and reinvestment risk. In addition, preferred securities are subject to certain other risks, including deferral and omission risk, subordination risk, limited voting rights risk and special redemption rights risk.

Credit Risk — The Company is subject to credit risk, which is the risk that an issuer of a security may be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer's ability or willingness to make such payments.

Leverage Risk — The use of leverage by the Company can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains from the securities and investments purchased with leverage proceeds do not cover the cost of leverage, the return on the Common Shares will be less than if leverage had not been used. Moreover, leverage involves risks and special considerations for holders of Common Shares including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage, and the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on reverse repurchase agreements, borrowings and short-term debt or in the dividend rates on any preferred shares issued by the Company will reduce the return to the holders of Common Shares or will result in fluctuations in the dividends paid on the Common Shares. There is no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful. See Note 7 for additional information on leverage.

Call/Prepayment and Reinvestment Risk — If an issuer of a security exercises an option to redeem its issue at par or prepay principal earlier than scheduled, the Company may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares' market price or the overall return of the Company.

Risks of Concentration in the Banking industry/Financial Sector — Because the Company concentrates in the banking industry and may invest up to 100% of its managed assets in the banking industry and financials sector, it will be more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting the banking industry and financials sector, such as changes in interest rates, loan concentration and competition.

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Regulatory Risk — Financial institutions, including community banks, are subject to various state and federal banking regulations that impact how they conduct business, including but not limited to how they obtain funding. Changes to these regulations could have an adverse effect on their operations and operating results and our investments. We expect to make long-term investments in financial institutions that are subject to various state and federal regulations and oversight. Congress, state legislatures and the various bank regulatory agencies frequently introduce proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry in response to the Dodd-Frank Act, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "CFPB") rulemaking or otherwise. The likelihood and timing of any proposals or legislation and the impact they might have on our investments in financial institutions affected by such changes cannot be determined and any such changes may be adverse to our investments. Federal banking regulators recently proposed amended regulatory capital regulations in response to The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") and Basel Ill protocols which would impose even more stringent capital requirements. In the event that a regulated bank falls below certain capital adequacy standards, it may become subject to regulatory intervention including, but not limited to, being placed into a FDIC-administered receivership or conservatorship. The effect of inadequate capital can have a potentially adverse consequence on the institution's financial condition, its ability to operate as a going concern and its ability to operate as a regulated financial institution and may have a material adverse impact on our investments.

Interest Rate Risk — The Company is subject to interest rate risk, which is the risk that the preferred and debt securities in which the Company invests will decline in value because of rising market interest rates.

Convertible Securities/Contingent Convertible Securities Risk — The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stock. Contingent convertible securities provide for mandatory conversion into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances. Since the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero; and conversion would deepen the subordination of the investor, hence worsening standing in a bankruptcy. In addition, some such instruments have a set stock conversion rate that would cause a reduction in value of the security if the price of the stock is below the conversion price on the conversion date.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities Risk — Investment of the Company's assets in illiquid and restricted securities may restrict the Company's ability to take advantage of market opportunities. Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Company believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid and restricted securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Company pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Illiquid and restricted securities are also more difficult to value, especially in challenging markets. The risks associated with illiquid and restricted securities may be particularly acute in situations in which the Company's operations require cash and could result in the Company borrowing to meet its short-term needs or incurring losses on the sale of illiquid or restricted securities.

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Note 7 — Revolving Credit Agreement

On June 9, 2014, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Texas Capital Bank, N.A. (collectively, the "Syndicates") to borrow up to $45,000,000. On January 16th, 2015 the Company closed an additional $25 million on the Credit Agreement, which increased the maximum borrowing amount to $70 million.

On May 25, 2017, the Company amended its Credit Agreement to the following terms:

•  The Facility is now solely funded by Texas Capital Bank, located in Dallas, Texas.

•  The cost of the Facility has decreased to a significantly lower credit spread of LIBOR +2.35%, down from LIBOR +2.85%.

•  The maturity date of the facility has been extended for five years to May 16, 2022.

•  The size of the Facility has been adjusted from $70 million to $62 million, reflecting the maximum amount the Company can borrow based on current assets and internal guidelines.

•  In the prior facility, the Company was required to maintain a deposit account of $3.5 million of cash with the lead lender. The $3.5 million account is no longer required.

The Facility is rated "A3" by Moody's Investor Services. The Facility remains secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.

As of June 30, 2019, $24,000,000 has been committed and drawn and is at fair value. Such borrowings constitute financial leverage. The Agreement has a five year term and a stated maturity of May 2022 and was priced at LIBOR +2.35%. The Company is charged a fee of 0.50% on any undrawn commitment balance. The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, negative covenants and default provisions, including covenants that limit the Company's ability to incur additional debt or consolidate or merge into or with any person, other than as permitted, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of its assets. The covenants also impose on the Company asset coverage requirements, which are more stringent than those imposed on the Company by the Investment Company Act, as well as the Company's policies. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the average daily loan balance was $35,207,182 at a weighted average interest rate of 4.87%. With respect to these borrowings, interest of $889,579 is included in the Statement of Operations.

Note 8 — Indemnification

In the normal course of business, SCFC may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. SCFC's maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against SCFC in the future, and therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

Under the SCFC's organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to SCFC.

Note 9 — Origination Fees and Other Income

Includes closing fees (or origination fees or structuring fees) associated with investments in portfolio companies. Such fees are normally paid at closing of the Company's investments,

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are fully earned and non-refundable, and are generally non-recurring. Other Income includes service fees earned from the Community Funding CLO, Ltd. credit securitization and due diligence fees. SCFC had closing fee income of $54,654 and other income of $193,503 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Note 10 — Capital Share Transactions

As of June 30, 2019, 50,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value capital stock were authorized. Of the authorized shares, SCFC is authorized to issue 40,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Prior to commencement of operations on November 13, 2013, SCFC issued 4,001 shares of common stock. On November 13, 2013, SCFC sold 4,400,000 shares of our common stock via an initial public offering at a price of $25.00 per share. On December 3, 2013 and December 11, 2013 SCFC sold an additional 125,000 shares and 167,047 shares, respectively, of our common stock at a public offering price of $25.00 per share pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of the over-allotment option. On November 7, 2014, SCFC sold an additional 1,600,000 shares via an initial public offering at a price of $23.00 per share. On December 2, 2014, SCFC sold an additional 202,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $23.00 per share pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of the over-allotment option. Total shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2019 were 6,557,261.

Note 11 — Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the company and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Note 12 — Contingencies

In May 2019, StoneCastle Financial Corp., StoneCastle Asset Management LLC, and several related entities were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by Island Intellectual Property in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants committed patent violations and certain other claims related to intellectual property rights. Although StoneCastle Financial Corp. and StoneCastle Asset Management are named as defendants, the complaint does not allege any specific actions undertaken by StoneCastle Financial Corp. or StoneCastle Asset Management. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on August 5, 2019. The court has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss, and the lawsuit remains pending. The outcome of the lawsuit and its impact, if any, on StoneCastle Financial Corp. cannot be predicted with certainty.

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Dividends and Distributions

Dividends and Distributions

Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, will be made at least annually. It is the Company's policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to "regulated investment companies" or "RICs" and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of dividend distributions, the Company may at times pay out more or less than distributable income earned in any particular quarter. The Company's current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report. The character and timing of dividends and distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Summary of Dividends Declared in 2019

Period

  Amount
Declared
 
1st Quarter 2019  

$

0.38

   
2nd Quarter 2019  

$

0.38

   
   

$

0.76

   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

We have a common stock dividend reinvestment plan for our stockholders. Our plan is implemented as an "opt out" dividend reinvestment plan. As a result, if a stockholder participates in our Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("Plan") all distributions will automatically be reinvested in additional common stock (unless a stockholder is ineligible or elects otherwise). If a stockholder opts out of the Plan, such stockholder will receive distributions in cash. If a stockholder holds shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, the stockholder may not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those of the Plan.

In the case that newly issued shares of our common stock are used to implement the Plan, the number of shares of common stock to be delivered to a participating stockholder shall be determined by (i) dividing the total dollar amount of the dividends payable to such stockholder by (ii) 97% of the average market prices per share of common stock at the close of regular trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the five trading days immediately prior to the valuation date to be fixed by our Board of Directors.

In the case that shares repurchased on the open market are used to implement the Plan, the number of shares of common stock to be delivered to a participating stockholder shall be determined by dividing (i) the total dollar amount of the dividends payable to such stockholder by (ii) the weighted average purchase price of such shares.

We intend to use primarily newly issued shares to implement the dividend reinvestment plan (so long as we are trading at a premium to net asset value). If our shares are trading at a significant enough discount to net asset value and we are otherwise permitted under

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applicable law to purchase such shares, we intend to purchase shares in the open market in connection with our obligations under our dividend reinvestment plan. However, we reserve the right to issue new shares of our common stock in connection with our obligations under the dividend reinvestment plan even if our shares are trading below net asset value. Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that a stockholder does not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Capital gains and income are realized although cash is not received by the stockholder.

For further information or to opt-out of or withdraw from the Plan, contact the Plan Agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. by writing to 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

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Tax Information

For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Company, if any, paid during its taxable year ended December 31, 2018.

32.46% of ordinary income dividends paid qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the "Act"), 32.46% of ordinary dividends paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 are designated as "qualified dividend income," as defined in the Act, and are subject to reduced tax rates.

Eligible shareholders were mailed a 2018 Form 1099-DIV in early 2019. This reflected the tax character of all distributions paid in calendar year 2018.

Additional Information

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Company files their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Company's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company's Form N-Q may also be obtained upon request and without charge by calling Investor Relations (212) 354-6500 or on the Company's website at www.StoneCastle-Financial.com.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the policies and procedures that the Company uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling Investor Relations (212) 354-6500; (2) at www.StoneCastle-Financial.com; and (3) on the SEC's website at http:// www.sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

Information about how the Company voted proxies relating to securities held in the Company's portfolio during the Annual period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at www.StoneCastle-Financial.com or by calling Investor Relations (212) 354-6500 and (2) on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

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Results of Stockholders Meeting

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of StoneCastle Financial Corp (the "Company") was held on June 4, 2019. A description of the proposal and number of shares voted at the Meeting are as follows:

Proposal 1:

To elect two Class I Directors of the Company, each to serve for a term ending at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and when his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

    Voted
For
 

Withheld

 

Alan Ginsberg

   

5,732,404

     

144,358

   

Proposal 2*:

The Board to approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which the Company would be reorganized into a newly formed Delaware statutory trust.

For  

Against

 

Abstain

 

Non Votes

 
  1,617,780      

45,038

     

68,189

     

4,145,755

   

*  Proposal 2 was not approved since the required number of votes was not obtained.

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Management

Board of Directors and Executive Officers

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors provides broad supervision over our affairs, including supervision of the duties performed by our Advisor. Our Advisor is responsible for our day-to-day operations. The names, ages and addresses of our directors and officers and specified employees of our Advisor, together with their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, are set forth below. Each director and officer will hold office for the term to which he is elected and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies, or until he resigns or is removed in the manner provided by law. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each director is c/o StoneCastle Partners, 152 West 57th Street, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10019. Our board of directors will initially consist of three directors who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act")) of our Advisor or its affiliates and two directors who are "interested persons." Our directors who are not interested persons are also independent pursuant to the NASDAQ stock exchange listing standards, and we refer to them as "independent directors. "We refer to the directors who are "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) are referred to below as "interested directors." Under our certificate of incorporation, the board is divided into three classes. Each class of directors will hold office for a three-year term. However, the initial members of the three classes have initial terms of one, two and three years, respectively. At each annual meeting of our stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at such meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Interested Directors

Name

 

Age

  Position(s) Held with
Company
  Term
End
  Principal Occupation(s)
Last 5 Years
  Other Directorships
Last 5 Years
 

Joshua Siegel

 

48

 

Director, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer

 

2021

 

Managing Partner and CEO of StoneCastle Partners, LLC

 

StoneCastle Partners, LLC; StoneCastle Cash Management, LLC

 

George Shilowitz

 

54

 

Director & President

 

2019

 

Managing Partner and Co-CEO of StoneCastle Partners, LLC; Senior Portfolio Manager of StoneCastle Partners, LLC

 

StoneCastle Partners, LLC

 

Independent Directors

Name

 

Age

  Position(s) Held with
Company
  Term
End
  Principal Occupation(s)
Last 5 Years
  Other Directorships
Last 5 Years
 

Alan Ginsberg

 

57

 

Director, Chairman of Audit Committee

 

2022

 

Senior Advisor from 2010-2013; Managing Director Barclays Bank 8/2017 — Present

 

External Advisory Board of Peabody Museum at Yale University

 

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Name

 

Age

  Position(s) Held with
Company
  Term
End
  Principal Occupation(s)
Last 5 Years
  Other Directorships
Last 5 Years
 

Emil Henry

 

58

 

Director, Member of Audit Committee and Lead Independent Director

 

2021

 

CEO and Founder of Tiger Infrastructure Partners

 

Chairman, Board of Director of Tiger Cool Express, Hudson Fiber Network, Easterly Government Properties, American National

 

Clara Miller

 

69

 

Director, Member of Audit Committee

 

2019

 

Non-Profit Finance Fund 1984 to 2010; President, The F.B. Heron Foundation 2011 to 2017

 

GuideStar, The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and Family Independence Initiative

 

Executive Officers Who are not Directors

Name

 

Age

  Position(s) Held with
Company
  Term
Served
  Principal Occupation(s)
Last 5 Years
 

Patrick J. Farrell

 

59

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Since April 1, 2014

 

Chief Financial Officer of StoneCastle Partners, LLC from April 2014 to date

 

Rachel Schatten

 

48

 

General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary

 

Since July 2013

 

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Hardt Group, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of StoneCastle Partners, LLC

 

Biographical Information

Interested Directors

The following sets forth certain biographical information for our Interested Directors. An Interested Director is an "interested person" as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act:

Joshua S. Siegel. Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board. Mr. Siegel is the founder and Managing Partner of StoneCastle Partners and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. With over two decades of experience in financial services, 19 of which have been spent advising clients and investing in financial institutions or assets, he is widely regarded as a leading expert and investor in the banking industry and is often quoted in financial media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, American Banker, and CNN Money. In addition, he speaks frequently at industry events, including those hosted by the American Bankers Association, Conference of State Bank Supervisors, FDIC, Federal Reserve Bank and SNL Financial. A creative instructor with a passion for teaching, Mr. Siegel has regularly been invited to educate government regulators about the specialized community banking sector. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at the Columbia Business School in New York City. Immediately prior to co-founding StoneCastle, Mr. Siegel was a co-founder and Vice President of the Global Portfolio Solutions Group at Citigroup, a group organized to finance portfolios of financial assets for corporations and to invest in the sector as a principal and market maker. He later assumed responsibility for developing new products, including pooled investment strategies for the community banking sector. Mr. Siegel originally joined Salomon Brothers in 1996 (which was merged into Travelers in 1998 and into Citigroup in 1999) in the tax and lease division, providing financing and advisory services to government-sponsored enterprises and Fortune 500 corporations. Prior to his tenure at Citigroup, Mr. Siegel worked at Sumitomo Bank where he served as a corporate lending officer, as a banker managing equipment lease

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and credit derivative transactions, and as a member of the New York Credit Committee and at Charterhouse, carrying out merchant banking and private equity transactions. Mr. Siegel has provided strategic advice to the Global Food Banking Network. He also provides annual economic support to Prep for Prep to make sure academic brilliance is recognized and nurtured without regard to a student's economic, demographic or sociological impediments. He holds a B.S. in Management and Accounting from Tulane University.

George Shilowitz. President and Director. Mr. Shilowitz is a Managing Partner and Co-CEO of StoneCastle Partners and serves as the Senior Portfolio Manager of StoneCastle Partners. Mr. Shilowitz has two decades of fixed income and principal investment experience. Mr. Shilowitz worked with StoneCastle since its founding in 2003 and became a partner in 2007. Prior to joining StoneCastle, Mr. Shilowitz was a senior executive at Shinsei Bank and participated in its highly successful turnaround, sponsored by J.C. Flowers & Co. and Ripplewood Partners. At Shinsei, Mr. Shilowitz managed various business units, including Merchant Banking and Principal Finance and was the President of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shinsei Capital (USA) Limited. Prior to Shinsei, Mr. Shilowitz was a senior member of the Principal Transactions Group at Lehman Brothers in Asia from 1997-2000, focusing on proprietary investments and debt portfolio acquisitions from distressed financial institutions. From 1995-1997, he was a member of Salomon Brothers' asset finance group where he met and first collaborated with Mr. Siegel. Mr. Shilowitz began his career in 1991 at First Boston Corporation (now Credit Suisse) as a member of the fixed income mortgage arbitrage group and also held positions in the financial engineering group and in asset finance investment banking where he focused on banks and specialty finance companies. He holds a B.S. in Economics from Cornell University.

Independent Directors

The following sets forth certain biographical information for our Independent Directors. Independent Directors are not "interested persons" of StoneCastle Financial Corp., as defined by the 1940 Act:

Alan Ginsberg. Mr. Ginsberg has more than 30 years of experience in providing financial advisory services to financial institutions. Mr. Ginsberg began his investment banking career at Salomon Brothers Inc. in 1983, followed by being a key member of a group that moved to UBS Financial Services Inc. in 1995 and to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 1998. He remained at DLJ through the merger with Credit Suisse First Boston until 2004, when he was recruited to Head HSBC Bank USA's Financial Institutions Group Americas, remaining there until mid-2006. Following HSBC, Mr. Ginsberg was a senior member of the Banc of America Securities Financial Institutions Group. Currently, Mr. Ginsberg is a Managing Director of Barclay's and has advised on more than 70 strategic transactions and advisory assignments during his tenure as an investment banker. Mr. Ginsberg received his B.A. in Economics from Yale University. He currently serves on Yale's Peabody Museum Advisory Board, and he served as a Senior Advisor to StoneCastle Partners from 2010 until May 2013.

Emil W. Henry, Jr. Mr. Henry is the CEO and Founder of Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm focused on infrastructure investment opportunities. Prior to founding Tiger Infrastructure Partners, he was Global Head of the Lehman Brothers Private Equity Infrastructure businesses, where he oversaw global infrastructure investments. In 2005, Mr. Henry was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions by the President of the United States. Until his departure in 2007, he was a key advisor to two

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Treasury Secretaries on economic, legislative and regulatory matters affecting U.S. financial institutions and markets. Before joining the Treasury, Mr. Henry was a partner of Gleacher Partners LLC, an investment banking and investment management firm, where heserved as Chairman of Asset Management, and Managing Director, and where he oversaw the firm's investment activities. Mr. Henry began the formative part of his career at Morgan Stanley in the mid-1980s in that firm's merchant banking arm where he executed management buyouts for Morgan Stanley's flagship private equity fund. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.

Clara Miller. Clara Miller is President Emerita of the Heron Foundation, which helps people and communities help themselves out of poverty. She was President of Heron from 2011 through 2017. Prior to assuming Heron's presidency, Miller was President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund which she founded and ran from 1984 through 2010. Miller serves on the boards of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Family Independence Initiative, and StoneCastle Financial Corp. She is a board member of the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and is a Bridgespan Fellow. In 2017 she was named Social Innovator of the Year by the University of New Hampshire. In 1996, Miller was appointed by President Clinton to the U.S. Treasury's first Community Development Advisory Board for the then-newly-created Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. She later became its Chair. She chaired the Opportunity Finance Network board for six years and was a member of the Community Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for eight years. Ms. Miller speaks and writes extensively and has been published in The Financial Times, Medium, The Atlantic Blog, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Nonprofit Quarterly and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. She has spoken recently at Aspen Ideas Festival, Sciences Po, Oxford Saïd Business School, Bloomberg L.P., SOCAP, and Mission Investors Exchange.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Patrick J. Farrell. Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Farrell has over 30 years of hands-on management experience in finance and accounting, specifically focused on domestic and offshore mutual funds, bank deposit account programs, investment advisory and broker dealer businesses. Prior to joining StoneCastle Partners as Chief Financial Officer in February 2014, Mr. Farrell was CFO/COO of the Emerging Managers Group, L.P., a specialty asset management firm focused on offshore mutual funds. Prior to that, Mr. Farrell was CFO at Reserve Management, where he oversaw all financial activities for the company. Earlier in his career, he held financial positions at Lexington Management, Drexel Burnham, Alliance Capital and New York Life Investment Management, all focused on investment advisory and mutual fund activities. He began his career at Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. Mr. Farrell holds a B.S. in Business Administration-Accounting from Manhattan College. Mr. Farrell is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Rachel Schatten. General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary. Ms. Schatten had over 12 years of investment adviser experience prior to joining StoneCastle Partners as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer in 2013. From 2004 to 2013, she served as the U.S. General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of a subsidiary of Hardt Group Investments AG, an international fund of funds, and the General Securities Principal of its affiliated broker-dealer since its inception through its subsequent sale. Prior to her tenure at the Hardt Group, Ms. Schatten was an Associate in the investment management group of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, where she counseled investment advisers on developing and

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structuring new hedge funds, including domestic and offshore entities, master feeder funds, and funds of funds. She holds Series 7, 63 and 24 licenses and is admitted to practice law in New York. She graduated Cum Laude from Albany Law School of Union University, where she was an associate editor of the Albany Law Review and a member of the Justinian Society.

Additional information regarding the Directors of StoneCastle Financial Corp. can be found in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-373-6374 and is also available on the Company's website at http://www.stonecastle-financial.com

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Privacy Notice

StoneCastle Financial Corp. ("we" or "us") is committed to maintaining your right to privacy. Protecting the information we receive as part of our relationship with you is of primary importance to us. Please take the time to read and understand the privacy policies and procedures that we have implemented to safeguard your nonpublic personal information.

Information We Collect

We must collect certain personally identifiable financial information about our customers to provide financial services and products. Nonpublic personal information means personally identifiable financial information and any list, description or other grouping of consumers that is derived using any personally identifiable financial information that is not publicly available. The personally identifiable financial information that we gather during the normal course of doing business with you may include:

1. information we receive from you on applications or other forms;

2. information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others;

3. information collected through the Internet; and

4. information we receive from a consumer reporting agency.

Information We Use

The information that we collect and store relating to you is primarily used to enable us to provide our services to you in the best possible manner. In addition, we may use the information for the following purposes:

1. To provide you with information relating to us;

2. To provide third parties with statistical information about the users of our website;

3. To monitor and conduct an analysis of our Website traffic and usage patterns; and

4. To analyze trends.

Information We Disclose

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted or required by law, or as necessary to provide services to you. We may disclose all of the information we collect, as described above, to certain nonaffiliated third parties such as attorneys, accountants, auditors, regulators and persons or entities that are assessing our compliance with industry standards. We enter into contractual agreements with all nonaffiliated third parties that prohibit such third parties from disclosing or using the information other than to carry out the purposes for which we disclose the information.

If you have questions or comments about our privacy practices, please call us at (212) 354 6500.

StoneCastle Financial Corp. | Semi-Annual Report
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StoneCastle Financial Corp.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Interested Directors(1)

Joshua S. Siegel, Chairman of the Board of Directors

George Shilowitz

Independent Directors

Alan Ginsberg

Emil Henry, Jr.

Clara Miller

OFFICERS

Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer

George Shilowitz, President

Patrick J. Farrell, Chief Financial Officer

Rachel Schatten, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

StoneCastle Asset Management LLC
152 West 57th St, 35th Floor
New York, NY 10019

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
50 South 16th Street, Suite 2900
Philadelphia, PA 19102

TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021

(1) As defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.



 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)               Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b)               Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

(a)                                 Not applicable.

 


 

(b)                                 There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)         The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

(b)         There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

[Note that until the date that the registrant has filed its first report on Form N-PORT (17 CFR 270.150), the registrant’s disclosures required by this Item are limited to any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.]

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 


 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)                  Not applicable.

 

(a)(2)                  Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

[Note that until the date that the registrant has filed its first report on Form N-PORT (17 CFR 270.150), in the certification required by Item 13(a)(2), the registrant’s certifying officers must certify that they have disclosed in the report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.]

 

(a)(3)                  Not applicable.

 

(a)(4)                  Not applicable.

 

(b)                                 Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)

 

StoneCastle Financial Corp.

 

 

 

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

/s/ Joshua S. Siegel

 

 

Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer

& Chairman of the Board

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 8, 2019

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

/s/ Joshua S. Siegel

 

 

Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer

& Chairman of the Board

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 8, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

/s/ Patrick J. Farrell

 

 

Patrick J. Farrell, Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 8, 2019

 

 

 

 

 


* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.

 


Exhibit 99.CERT

 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

I, Joshua S. Siegel, certify that:

 

1.                                      I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of StoneCastle Financial Corp.;

 

2.                                      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                      The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)         Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has

 


 

materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                      The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)         All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

August 8, 2019

 

/s/ Joshua S. Siegel

 

 

Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

& Chairman of the Board

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 


 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

I, Patrick J. Farrell, certify that:

 

1.                                      I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of StoneCastle Financial Corp.;

 

2.                                      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                      The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)         Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 


 

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                      The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)         All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

August 8, 2019

 

/s/ Patrick J. Farrell

 

 

Patrick J. Farrell, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(principal financial officer)

 


Exhibit 99.906CERT

 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

I, Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of StoneCastle Financial Corp. (the “Registrant”), certify that:

 

1.                          The Form N-CSR of the Registrant (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

2.                          The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

 

Date:

August 8, 2019

 

/s/ Joshua S. Siegel

 

 

Joshua S. Siegel, Chief Executive Officer
& Chairman of the Board
(principal executive officer)

 

I, Patrick J. Farrell, Chief Financial Officer of StoneCastle Financial Corp. (the “Registrant”), certify that:

 

1.                          The Form N-CSR of the Registrant (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

2.                          The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

 

Date:

August 8, 2019

 

/s/ Patrick J. Farrell

 

 

Patrick J. Farrell, Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)