Runway Growth Capital LLC (“Runway”, the “Registrant”, “we”, “our” and “us”) is a
Delaware limited liability company that was formed in 2015. Runway is an SEC-registered
investment adviser that is controlled, principally owned and led by David R. Spreng.
Runway provides investment management services to its advisory clients, which may
include privately offered investment funds (“Private Funds”), joint ventures, separately
managed accounts (“SMAs”), investment companies registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), closed-end management investment
companies electing to be regulated as “business development companies” under the 1940
Act (“BDCs” and, together with investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, “1940
Act Funds”), other institutional clients and other types of funds and accounts (collectively,
the “Clients”). Our three current Clients are Runway Growth Finance L.P., a private fund
(the “Fund”), an SMA (the “Runway SMA”), and a BDC (the “Runway BDC”). Any
third-party investors that directly invest in any of our Clients are referred to as “Investors”
in this brochure.
Our current advisory services are tailored to the needs of our Clients, based on the
investment policies and restrictions contained in applicable Client private placement
memoranda, articles of incorporation, limited partnership agreements, investment
management agreements, and other governing documents (the “Governing Documents”).
Clients may impose restrictions or limitations on investing in certain securities or types of
securities.
We typically invest in what we believe to be high growth-potential, private companies. We
primarily originate our own investments in senior secured first-lien term loans and other
debt investments. We also invest in equity securities generally acquired in connection with
debt financing transactions. We focus on lending to companies in the technology, life
sciences, healthcare information and services, business services and other industries we
believe have high-growth potential. The technology sectors we focus on include, but may
not be limited to, communications, networking, data storage, software, cloud computing,
semiconductor, power management, internet and media and consumer-related technologies.
The life science sectors we focus on generally include biotechnology, drug discovery, drug
delivery, bioinformatics and medical devices. The healthcare information and services
sectors we focus on include diagnostics, medical-record services and software and other
healthcare-related services and technologies that seek to improve efficiency and quality of
administered healthcare.
We generally categorize our investments into two strategies: Sponsored Growth Lending
and Non-Sponsored Growth Lending.
Sponsored Growth Lending. Our Sponsored Growth Lending strategy generally includes
loans to private companies that are already backed by established venture capital
and private
equity firms. Our Sponsored Growth Lending investments will also typically include the
receipt of warrants and/or other equity from these borrowers in connection with our Clients
making a loan. We refer to these target borrowers as “venture-backed companies.” We
target venture-backed companies at all stages of development, excluding seed stage. Certain
companies we invest in may be in the early stages of the revenue growth cycle, and we may
invest in certain companies, particularly in the life sciences sector, that are in the pre-
revenue stage. To a limited extent, we also selectively lend to publicly traded companies
with venture capital ownership.
Non-Sponsored Growth Lending. Our Non-Sponsored Growth Lending strategy generally
includes loans to fast-growing private companies that are not backed by a professional
equity investor sponsor, a venture capital firm or a private equity firm. These companies are
funded instead by entrepreneurs themselves and/or no longer require institutional equity
investment. We refer to these target borrowers as “non-sponsored growth companies.” As
opposed to Sponsored Growth Lending, in the case of Non-Sponsored Growth Lending, we
generally target companies with annual revenues of at least $20 million per year, with the
exception of certain commercial life science companies. To a limited extent, we also
selectively provide non-sponsored growth loans to publicly traded companies.
In addition to our core strategies of originating investments in venture-backed companies
and non-sponsored growth companies, we may also opportunistically participate in the
secondary markets for debt and equity interests in venture-backed companies and non-
sponsored growth companies.
We do not participate in any wrap fee program.
As of December 31, 2023, our regulatory assets under management (“RAUM”) were
approximately $1,418,987,297 consisting of approximately $1,069,978,737, and
$192,308,560 in total assets of Runway BDC and the Fund, respectively, and $106,700,000
and $50,000,000 in uncalled capital commitments of the Fund, and Runway SMA,
respectively.
Firm Overview
We are controlled and led by David R. Spreng, our founder and Chief Executive Officer.
We are supported by a team of dedicated investment, finance, marketing and operations
professionals with venture and growth company experience. Our investment team has
experience in leveraged lending, including venture lending, as well as private equity
investing, and have ongoing working relationships with financial sponsors. Our senior
investment professionals have been active participants in the primary and secondary
leveraged credit markets throughout their careers. They have managed portfolios of senior
loans, subordinated securities, distressed debt, and equity investments as well as other
investment types and have managed assets during various stages of economic cycles as
well as several market disruptions.