Mill City Ventures III, Ltd - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission File Number 814-00991

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(952) 479-1923

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes   ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). x Yes    ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨Yes   x No

As of October 30, 2020, Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. had 10,696,735 shares of common stock, and no other classes of capital stock, outstanding.

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

Index to Form 10-Q

for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2019

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2020

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION

In this report, we generally refer to Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. in the first person “we.” On occasion, we refer to our company in the third person as “Mill City Ventures” or the “Company.” The Company follows accounting and reporting guidance in Accounting Standards (“ASC”) 946.

We were incorporated in Minnesota in January 2006. On February 7, 2013, we filed Form N-54A to become a business development company (“BDC”) under the 1940 Act. We operated as a BDC until we withdrew our election to be treated as a BDC by filing a Form N-54C with SEC on December 27, 2019. As of the time of this filing, we remain a public reporting company that files periodic reports with the SEC, and we are seeking opportunities to invest in short-term non-bank lending and specialty finance. Nevertheless, any investment we make in business will be limited and structured in such a way as to ensure that no more than 40% of our total assets consist of investment securities.

Because we operated as a BDC or investment company from 2013 through December 27, 2019, the comparative financial statements for the periods during or ending on December 31, 2019 in this report reflect our operations as a business development company, or “BDC,” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). During that time, we were primarily focused on investing in or lending to privately held and small capitalization publicly traded U.S. companies, and making managerial assistance available to such companies. A majority of our investments by dollar amount were structured as purchases of preferred or common stock or loans evidenced by promissory notes that may have been convertible into stock by their terms or that may have been accompanied by the issuance to us of warrants or similar rights to purchase stock. Our investment objective was to generate income and capital appreciation that ultimately became realized gains.

NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation: Our accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.

The condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management and our independent board members to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and the differences could be material. For more information, see the “Valuation of portfolio investments” caption below, and “Note 4 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments” below. We present our financial statements as an investment company following accounting and reporting guidance in ASC 946.

Cash deposits: We maintain our cash balances in financial institutions and with regulated financial investment brokers. Cash on deposit in excess of FDIC and similar coverage is subject to the usual banking risk of funds in excess of those limits.

Valuation of portfolio investments: We carry our investments in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is generally based on quoted market prices provided by independent pricing services, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative price sources. In the absence of quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative price sources, investments were measured at fair value as determined by the Valuation Committee of our Board of Directors based on, among other things, the input of our executive management, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, and any independent third-party valuation experts that may have been engaged by management to assist in the valuation of our portfolio investments, but in all cases consistent with our written valuation policies and procedures.

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2020

Due to the inherent uncertainties of valuation, certain estimated fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been realized had a ready market for these investments existed, and these differences could be material. In addition, such investments are generally less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded it.

Income taxes: Due to our change in business model, we now account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements.   Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such determination, we consider all available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In the event we were to determine we would be able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their recorded amount, we would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.  We believe we have no significant unrecognized tax positions.  Our evaluation was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2016 through 2019, which are the tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of September 30, 2020.  We do not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next 12 months.

Prior to the business model change in 2019, we operated as a BDC under the 1940 Act.  As such, we planned to be taxed as a regulated investment company, or “RIC”. Compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs required us to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income to shareholders. Our intention was to distribute (or retain through a deemed distribution) all of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain, therefore we made no provision for income taxes prior to 2019. Book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder dividends and distributions and other permanent book and tax differences were reclassified to paid-in capital.  For more information of the current year provision, see Note 6, “Income Taxes.”

Revenue recognition: Realized gains or losses on the sale of investments are calculated using the specific investment method.

Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts from and premiums to par value on securities purchased are accreted or amortized, as applicable, into interest income over the life of the related security using the effective-yield method. The amortized cost of investments represents the original cost, adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, if any. Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest payments are past due 30 days or more, or when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full. Loan origination fees are recognized when loans are issued. Accrued and unpaid interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past-due principal and interest is paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. We may make exceptions to the policy described above if a loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded as dividend income on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly traded portfolio companies.

Certain investments may have contractual payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest or dividends. PIK represents accrued interest or accumulated dividends that are added to the loan principal or stated value of the investment on the respective interest- or dividend-payment dates rather than being paid in cash, and generally becomes due at maturity or upon being repurchased by the issuer. PIK interest or dividends is recorded as interest or dividend income, as applicable. If at any point we believe that PIK interest or dividends is not expected be realized, the PIK-generating investment will be placed on non-accrual status. Accrued PIK interest or dividends are generally reversed through interest or dividend income, respectively, when an investment in placed on non-accrual status.

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2020

Allocation of net gains and losses: All income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for any investment are allocated in a manner proportionate to the shares owned.

Allocation of net gains and losses: All income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for any investment are allocated in a manner proportionate to the shares owned.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements: In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This ASU removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Among other changes, entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements, but will be required to disclose the range and weighted average of significant observable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the ASU. The adoption of the ASU effective January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

NOTE 3 – INVESTMENTS

The following table shows the composition of our investment portfolio by major class, at amortized cost and fair value, as of September 30, 2020 (together with the corresponding percentage of the fair value of our total portfolio of investments):

The following table shows the composition of our investment portfolio by major class, at amortized cost and fair value, as of December 31, 2019 (together with the corresponding percentage of the fair value of our total portfolio of investments):

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2020

The following table shows the composition of our investment portfolio by industry grouping, based on fair value as of September 30, 2020:

The following table shows the composition of our investment portfolio by industry grouping, based on fair value as of December 31, 2019:

We do not “control,” and we are not an “affiliate” of (as each of those terms is defined in the 1940 Act), any of our portfolio companies as of September 30, 2020.

NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

General information: Accounting guidance establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework that prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability of inputs used in measuring investments at fair value. Observable inputs must be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based upon the best information available. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are to be categorized into one of the three hierarchy levels based on the relative observability of inputs used in the valuation. The three levels are defined as follows:

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2020

Level 3 valuation information: Due to the inherent uncertainty in the valuation process, the estimate of the fair value of our investment portfolio as of September 30, 2020 may differ materially from values that would have been used had a readily available market for the securities existed.

The following table presents the fair value measurements of our portfolio investments by major class, as of September 30, 2020, according to the fair value hierarchy:

The following table presents the fair value measurements of our portfolio investments by major class, as of December 31, 2019, according to the fair value hierarchy:

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending fair value balances for our Level 3 portfolio investment assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:

The net change in unrealized depreciation for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 attributable to Level 3 portfolio investments still held as of September 30, 2020 is $150,000.

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2020

The following table lists our Level 3 investments held as of September 30, 2020 and the unobservable inputs used to determine their valuation:

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending fair value balances for our Level 3 portfolio investment assets for the year ended December 31, 2019:

The net change in unrealized depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2019 attributable to Level 3 portfolio investments still held as of December 31, 2019 was $348,629, and is included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments on the statement of operations.

The following table lists our Level 3 investments held as of December 31, 2019 and the unobservable inputs used to determine their valuation:

NOTE 5 – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

From time to time we may hold investments in portfolio companies in which certain members of our management, our Board of Directors, or significant shareholders of ours, are also directly or indirectly invested. Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy to require our disclosure of these instances in our periodic filings with the SEC. Our related-party transactions requiring disclosure under this policy are:

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2020

NOTE 6 – INCOME TAXES

Prior to December 27, 2019, before we withdrew our election to be treated as a BDC, we planned to be taxed as a regulated investment company (RIC). Compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs required us to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income to shareholders. Our intention was to distribute (or retain through a deemed distribution) all of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain, therefore we have made no provision for income taxes prior to December 27, 2019. Ultimately, we never elected to be a RIC. As of December 27, 2019, we are a C-Corporation for tax purposes. Income taxes as of September 30, 2020 are described below.

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we maintained a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets of $384,059 and $446,000, respectively. Our determination of the realizable deferred tax assets requires the exercise of significant judgment, based in part on business plans and expectations about future outcomes. In the event the actual results differ from these estimates in future periods, we may need to adjust the valuation allowance, which could materially impact our financial position and results of operations. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in future periods. Because of the full valuation allowance, our effective tax rate is expected to be near 0% and therefore the income tax expense is not material for any period presented.

As of September 30, 2020, we had a federal NOL of approximately $298,065. The federal NOL may be carried forward to offset future taxable income, subject to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Certain NOLs will expire in years 2036 and 2037. Due to tax reform enacted in 2017, NOLs created after 2017 carry forward indefinitely. The estimated federal NOL that does not expire included in the total above is $356,000. States may vary in their treatment of post-2017 NOLs. We have state NOL carryforwards arising from both combined and separate filings. The state NOL carryforwards may expire in 2036 and 2037.

NOTE 7 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

At September 30, 2020, we had 10,696,735 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

On May 6, 2020, we repurchased and retired 100,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.50.

On May 19, 2020, we repurchased and retired 270,667 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.40.

On February 15, 2019, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a special cash dividend of $0.05 per common share. The dividend was paid on March 15, 2019 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 8, 2019.

NOTE 8 – PER-SHARE INFORMATION

Basic net gain per common share is computed by dividing net increase in net assets resulting from operations by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net gain (loss) per common share is set forth below:

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2020

We do not have any common stock equivalents outstanding during the periods presented.

NOTE 9 – OPERATING LEASES

On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842), and its amendments and elected the effective date transition method. We are subject to two non-cancelable operating leases for office space expiring March 31, 2022. These leases do not have significant lease escalations, holidays, concessions, leasehold improvements, or other build-out clauses. Further, the leases do not contain contingent rent provisions. The leases do not include options to renew.

Because our lease does not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate we would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of a lease. The weighted average discount rate as of December 31, 2019 was 4.5% and the weighted average remaining lease term is 2 years.

Under ASC 840, rent expense for office facilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $16,562 and $49,693, respectively. Rent expense for office facilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $16,384 and $57,250, respectively.

The components of our operating lease were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:

Variable lease costs consist primarily of property taxes, insurance and common area or other maintenance costs for our leased facility.

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2020

NOTE 10 – FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following is a schedule of financial highlights for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 through 2016:

NOTE 11 – GENERAL UNCERTAINTY

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. As a result, economic uncertainties and market volatility have arisen which are likely to negatively impact our investment valuations and net increase or decrease in net assets resulting from operations. Other financial impacts could occur though such potential impact is unknown at this time.

NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 26, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $400,000 of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.  Repurchases, if any, are expected to begin two complete trading days after the filing with the SEC of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2020, and may be completed in public or private transactions.  The repurchase program does not require the Company to acquire any specific number of shares, and may be suspended from time to time in accordance with the Company's insider trading policy and existing best practices, or it may be discontinued.  Repurchases completed under the program are expected to be funded from available working capital.

. 

Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. In addition, unless expressly stated otherwise, the comparisons presented in this MD&A refer to the same period in the prior year. Our MD&A is presented in seven sections:

OVERVIEW

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. was incorporated in the State of Minnesota on January 10, 2006. In this report, we generally refer to Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. in the first person “we.” On occasion, we refer to our company in the third person as “Mill City Ventures” or the “company.”

We provide non-bank lending and specialty finance to companies and individuals on both a secured and unsecured basis. The loans we provide typically have maturities that range from 9 to 12 months and may involve a pledge of collateral or, in the case of loans made to companies, personal guarantees by the principals of the borrower. Our loans may be made for real estate acquisitions, renovation and sale; other real estate projects; title loans; cash inventory needs; inventory financing, or for other purposes. We intend to remain opportunistic, however, and may engage in transactions that involve other rights (such as stock, warrants or other equity-linked investments) or that are structured differently or uniquely. Our business objective is to generate revenues from the interest and fees we charge, and capital appreciation from any related investments we make.

Our principal sources of income are interest, dividends and other fees associated with lending such as origination fees, closing fees or exit fees. We may also receive reimbursement of legal costs associated with loan documentation. Our statement of operations also reflect increases and decreases in the carrying value of our asset and investments (i.e. unrealized appreciation and depreciation). Our principal expenses relate to operating expenses, the largest components of which are generally professional fees, payroll, occupancy, and insurance expenses.

Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other publicly available information. All amounts herein are unaudited. In addition, the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in the context of this overview.

PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we made $7,655,802 of investments in portfolio companies and had $1,858,011 of redemptions and repayments, resulting in net investments at amortized cost of $7,200,566 at the end of the period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we made $875,160 of investments in portfolio companies and had $3,380,422 of redemptions and repayments, resulting in net investments at amortized cost of $7,555,775 at the end of the period.

Our portfolio composition by major class, based on fair value at September 30, 2020, was as follows: