Rand Capital : May 4, 2016_- Rand Capital Reports First Quarter 2016 Net Asset Value of $5.31 Per Share

Microsoft Word - 20160504 RAND Q1 2016 Financial Results Release FINAL NEWS RELEASE

2200 Rand Building • Buffalo, New York 14203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rand Capital Reports First Quarter 2016 Net Asset Value of $5.31 per Share

• Invested $1.65 million during the quarter. Added one new portfolio company. Provided follow-on funding for three other portfolio companies
• Received proceeds, net of escrow, of $13.8 million from sale of Gemcor

  BUFFALO, NY, May 4, 2016 -- Rand Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: RAND) ("Rand"), a venture capital company that makes primarily equity investments in companies with emerging product, service or technology concepts, announced its results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

  Allen F. ("Pete") Grum, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rand Capital, commented, "The Gemcor sale transaction was a major milestone for Rand. We believe this exit substantiates our strategy and capabilities. We are an active, involved investor in our portfolio companies and a patient provider of capital. We realized an annual internal rate of return of approximately 64% on this asset, which we had nurtured for nearly 12 years. The proceeds provide us with new capital to put to work for the benefit of our portfolio of growing enterprises, as well as new investment opportunities."

  First Quarter Highlights

  • Reported $5.31 net asset value (NAV) per share at March 31, 2016, up $0.17 per share, or 3%, over March 31, 2015

  • Closed on sale of largest portfolio company, Gemcor, expected to yield gross proceeds of

    $15.2 million, amounting to approximately $10 million after deducting taxes and expenses

  • Invested $200,000 in ClearView Social, Inc. during the quarter, a new addition to the Rand portfolio

  • Supported existing portfolio companies with $1.45 million of investments during the quarter:

    • Genicon, Inc. $1.0 million

    • Empire Genomics, LLC $0.3 million

    • OnCore Golf Technology, Inc. $0.15 million

  • Portfolio fair value was $25.7 million and cash was $17.9 million at the end of the 2016 first quarter

    Portfolio Continues to Evolve

  • Portfolio value declined $11.2 million and cash increased $12.1 million during the quarter, driven by the Gemcor exit. Cash proceeds, net of a $1.4 million escrow, were

    $13.8 million, pre-tax. The available cash balance after taxes will be used primarily to fund additional new and follow-on investments.

  • ClearView Social (http://clearviewsocial.com/), a new investment this quarter, is a global internet solution for law firms to share legal content with their lawyers' networks, helping to grow their businesses. Rand's $200,000 investment was part of a $500,000 raise for ClearView's seed financing round.

  • Genicon (http://geniconendo.com/) is an emerging leader in the design, production, and distribution of patented surgical instrumentation focused exclusively on laparoscopic surgery. Rand's $1.0 million senior term loan investment in the first quarter represents its third tranche, bringing its total investment to $2.0 million at the end of the quarter, with an additional $100,000 investment in April 2016.

  • Empire Genomics (http://www.empiregenomics.com/), a molecular diagnostics company, offers comprehensive assay services for diagnosing and guiding patient therapeutic treatments. Rand provided a $300,000 senior secured convertible note in the first quarter to Empire Genomics. This brings Rand's total investment in the company to $900,000 at March 31, 2016.

  • Rheonix (http://www.rheonix.com/), another growing company within the Rand portfolio, develops fully automated molecular testing solutions. Rheonix recently announced a new system that will improve HIV testing by detecting early, acute HIV infection and addressing the well-known "seroconversion window" when antibodies are not yet detectable. This early detection eliminates the need for multiple patient visits to health care providers. Rheonix represents 8.7% of Rand's net assets and is its largest portfolio investment at March 31, 2016, valued at $2.9 million.

As of March 31, 2016, Rand's portfolio consisted of 32 active businesses. The portfolio is comprised of approximately 75% in equity investments and 25% in debt investments.

Strategy and Outlook

Rand's strategy is to grow net asset value by capitalizing on maturing investments and leveraging those returns for further investment. Rand invests in primarily early-stage companies with new or unique products or services that offer competitive advantage and compelling future potential.

Mr. Grum concluded, "The Gemcor exit provides funds to further invest in our existing portfolio companies and new investment prospects. To continue the strong NAV per share expansion we have been producing, we have also been broadening our investor partner network and geographic reach. Our goal over the next five years is to replicate the nearly 10% net asset value per share, average annual growth, that we realized over the past five years. We believe we are well positioned to do that and are committed to being proactive about keeping our investors informed of the progress of our portfolio companies that will drive this result."

ABOUT RAND CAPITAL

Rand Capital (NASDAQ: RAND) provides investors the ability to participate in venture capital opportunities through an investment in the Company's stock. Rand is a Business Development Company (BDC), and its wholly-owned subsidiary is licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). Rand focuses its investments in early or expansion stage companies with strong leadership that are bringing to market new or unique products, technologies or services that have a high potential for growth. Additional information can be found at the Company's website where it regularly posts information: www.randcapital.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future net asset value growth, investment returns and opportunities as well as Rand's plans for utilizing proceeds from sales of portfolio companies when and if received. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such

statements, including general economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the portfolio companies' markets, competitor responses, and market acceptance of their products and services and other factors disclosed in the Corporation's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, such forward looking statements should be regarded as the Corporation's current plans, estimates and beliefs. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.

Contacts:

Company: Investors:

Allen F. ("Pete") Grum Deborah K. Pawlowski

President and CEO Kei Advisors LLC

Phone: 716.853.0802 Phone: 716.843.3908

Email: pgrum@randcapital.com Email: dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Rand Capital Corporation and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

ASSETS

Investments at fair value:

March 31,

2016 December 31,

(Unaudited) 2015

Control investments (cost of $99,500 and $1,141,472, respectively)........................... $

1,512,000 $

13,916,472

Affiliate investments (cost of $19,013,217 and $17,663,217, respectively).................. Non-affiliate investments (cost of $8,911,074 and $8,606,053, respectively)...............

Total investments, at fair value (cost of $28,023,791 and $27,410,742,

15,589,419 14,662,219

8,558,730 8,253,709

respectively)......................................................................................................................	25,660,149	36,832,400
Cash .....................................................................................................................................	17,945,585	5,844,795
Interest receivable (net of allowance: $122,000 at 3/31/16 and 12/31/15)............................	208,934	215,224
Deferred tax asset.................................................................................................................	527,511	-
Prepaid income taxes............................................................................................................	-	65,228
Other assets..........................................................................................................................	1,628,879	1,604,413
Total assets............................................................................................................	$ 45,971,058	$ 44,562,060

LIABILIT IES AND ST OCKHOLDERS' EQUIT Y (NET ASSET S)

Liabilities:
Debentures guaranteed by the SBA (net of debt issuance costs).......................................	$ 7,807,223	$ 7,800,373
Income tax payable................................................................................................................	2,686,997	-
Deferred tax liability...............................................................................................................	-	2,361,186
Profit sharing and bonus payable..........................................................................................	1,593,659	282,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses............................................................................	208,719	238,911
Deferred revenue...................................................................................................................	38,320	25,930
Total liabilities...........................................................................................................	12,334,918	10,708,400

Stockholders' equity (net assets):

Common stock, $.10 par; shares authorized 10,000,000; shares issued 6,863,034;

shares outstanding of 6,328,538 as of 3/31/16 and 12/31/15.........................................	686,304	686,304
Capital in excess of par value...............................................................................................	10,581,789	10,581,789
Accumulated net investment loss.........................................................................................	(1,106,558)	(24,580)
Undistributed net realized gain on investments....................................................................	26,495,753	18,262,401
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on investments..................................................	(1,573,657)	5,795,237
Treasury stock, at cost; 534,496 shares as of 3/31/16 and 12/31/15.................................	(1,447,491)	(1,447,491)
Total stockholders' equity (net assets) (per share 3/31/16: $5.31, 12/31/15: $5.35)...................................................................................................	33,636,140	33,853,660
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity...........................................................	$ 45,971,058	$ 44,562,060