UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 9, 2023, Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On May 9, 2023, the Company disseminated a presentation to be used in connection with its conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, which will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (eastern time). A copy of the presentation has been posted to the Company’s Investor Relations page of its website and is included herewith as Exhibit 99.2, and by this reference incorporated herein.
The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information provided herein shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release, dated May 9, 2023. | |
99.2 | First Quarter 2023 Earnings Supplemental Presentation, dated May 9, 2023. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
1
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC. | |||
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Anthony Cappell | |
Name: | Anthony Cappell | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 99.1
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Announces First Quarter 2023 Financial Results
CHICAGO— (May 9, 2023) Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ: REFI) (“Chicago Atlantic” or the “Company”), a commercial real estate finance company, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
John Mazarakis, Executive Chairman of Chicago Atlantic, noted, “The better-than-anticipated results reflect the benefit of four principal paydowns during the quarter and the timing of our redeployment of the proceeds. We are entering what we believe will be a period of favorable demand for capital from a proven lending platform such as ours. With our fortress balance sheet, we have purposefully reined in our originations to continue to focus on higher yielding investments and funding vertically integrated operators with the strongest credit profile.”
Tony Cappell, Chief Executive Officer, added, “Our portfolio has continued to perform well with the percentage of floating rate loans increasing to 88%, the weighted average yield to maturity remaining above 19% and our loan to values well below the rest of the lenders in the industry. The balance sheet is under levered, and we have over $50 million of liquidity available to selectively fund the best operators in the cannabis industry.”
Portfolio Performance
● | As of March 31, 2023, total loan commitments of approximately $328.1 million ($313.9 million funded, $14.2 million in future fundings) across 24 portfolio companies. | |
● | Weighted average yield to maturity was approximately 19.4% as of March 31, 2023 compared with approximately 19.7% as of December 31, 2022. | |
● | Real estate collateral coverage was 1.6x compared with 1.7x as of December 31, 2022. | |
● | Loan to enterprise value (calculated as outstanding principal balance divided by total value of collateral) was approximately 41.0% and 44.1% as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | |
● | The percentage of loans which bear a variable interest rate increased to 88.0% as of March 31, 2023 compared with 83.1% as of December 31, 2022. |
Investment Activity
● | During the first quarter, Chicago Atlantic had total gross originations of $34.1 million, of which $33.3 million and $0.8 million were funded to new borrowers and an existing borrower, respectively. New originations were offset by principal repayments of $59.2 million, of which $57.8 million was attributable to unscheduled early repayments and sales. | |
● | On February 15, 2023, the Company completed a direct offering of 395,779 shares of common stock to institutional investors at a price of $15.16 per share, raising net proceeds of approximately $6 million. The Company completed the offering without the use of underwriters or placement agents. | |
● | On February 27, 2023, the Company extended the maturity date of its revolving credit facility to December 2024, and maintained its one-year extension option, subject to customary conditions. The Company currently has total liquidity of approximately $52.6 million, comprised of $3.1 million in cash and $49.5 million of availability under the credit facility. |
Dividends
● | On April 14, 2023, Chicago Atlantic paid a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.47 per share of common stock for the first quarter of 2023 to common stockholders of record on March 31, 2023. |
First Quarter 2023 Financial Results
● | Net interest income of approximately $14.9 million, representing a sequential increase of 1.0%; primarily due to approximately $1.0 million of interest income from prepayment fees and acceleration of original issue discounts, the increase in the prime rate from 7.50% to 8.00%, and improved yield terms on facilities amended and/or restructured during the quarter. These increases were partially offset by the impact of timing of early principal repayments. | |
● | Total expenses of approximately $4.1 million before provision for current expected credit losses, representing a sequential decrease of 18.0%; primarily attributable to a $1.2 million decrease in net management and incentive fees. | |
● | Net Income of approximately $10.7 million, or $0.60 per weighted average diluted common share, representing a sequential increase of 46.3%. | |
● | The total reserve for current expected credit losses of $4.1 million increased sequentially by $0.1 million and amounts to approximately 1.3% of the portfolio principal balance of $320.2 million as of March 31, 2023. | |
● | Distributable Earnings of approximately $11.1 million, or $0.62 per weighted average diluted common share, representing a sequential increase of 10.6%. | |
● | Book value per common share of $15.04 as of March 31, 2023 compared with $14.86 as of December 31, 2022, primarily due to first quarter distributable earnings in excess of the regular quarterly dividend of $0.47. | |
● | As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $37.5 million outstanding on its $92.5 million secured credit facility, resulting in a leverage ratio (debt to book equity) of approximately 14%. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company has borrowed an incremental $5.5 million on the credit facility. |
2023 Outlook
Chicago Atlantic affirmed its 2023 outlook previously issued on March 9, 2023.
Conference Call and Quarterly Earnings Supplemental Details
The Company will host a conference call later today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may access the conference call live via webcast on Chicago Atlantic’s investor relations website or may participate via telephone by registering using this online form. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that can be used to access the call. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for at least 30 days.
Chicago Atlantic posted its First Quarter 2023 Earnings Supplemental on the Investor Relations page of its website. Chicago Atlantic routinely posts important information for investors on its website, www.refi.reit. The Company intends to use this website as a means of disclosing material information, for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD and to post and update investor presentations and similar materials on a regular basis. The Company encourages investors, analysts, the media and others interested in Chicago Atlantic to monitor the Investor Relations page of its website, in addition to following its press releases, SEC filings, publicly available earnings calls, presentations, webcasts and other information posted from time to time on the website. Please visit the IR Resources section of the website to sign up for email notifications.
About Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc.
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ: REFI) is a market-leading commercial mortgage REIT utilizing significant real estate, credit and cannabis expertise to originate senior secured loans primarily to state-licensed cannabis operators in limited-license states in the United States. REFI is part of the Chicago Atlantic platform, which has over 40 employees and has deployed over $1.8 billion across more than 50 loans.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our current views and projections with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “guidance,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including statements about our future growth and strategies for such growth, are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions and are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our filings with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Tripp Sullivan
SCR Partners
(615) 942-7077
IR@REFI.reit
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CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2023 (unaudited) | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Loans held for investment | $ | 316,226,144 | $ | 339,273,538 | ||||
Current expected credit loss reserve | (4,051,934 | ) | (3,940,939 | ) | ||||
Loans held for investment at carrying value, net | 312,174,210 | 335,332,599 | ||||||
Cash | 4,640,905 | 5,715,827 | ||||||
Interest receivable | 4,159,748 | 1,204,412 | ||||||
Other receivables and assets, net | 1,668,629 | 1,018,212 | ||||||
Related party receivables | 237,885 | - | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 322,881,377 | $ | 343,271,050 | ||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Revolving loan | $ | 37,500,000 | $ | 58,000,000 | ||||
Dividend payable | 8,667,701 | 13,618,591 | ||||||
Management and incentive fees payable | 2,138,005 | 3,295,600 | ||||||
Related party payable | 1,270,126 | 1,397,515 | ||||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | 962,153 | 1,058,128 | ||||||
Interest reserve | 220,064 | 1,868,193 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | 50,758,049 | 79,238,027 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 18,088,683 and 17,766,936 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 180,887 | 176,859 | ||||||
Additional paid-in-capital | 274,925,072 | 268,995,848 | ||||||
Accumulated earnings (deficit) | (2,982,631 | ) | (5,139,684 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 272,123,328 | 264,033,023 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 322,881,377 | $ | 343,271,050 |
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CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
For the three months ended | For the three months ended | For the three months ended | ||||||||||
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 16,527,304 | $ | 15,993,588 | $ | 9,833,053 | ||||||
Interest expense | (1,618,296 | ) | (1,230,966 | (72,268 | ) | |||||||
Net interest income | 14,909,008 | 14,762,622 | 9,760,785 | |||||||||
Expenses | ||||||||||||
Management and incentive fees, net | 2,138,005 | 3,295,600 | 671,505 | |||||||||
Provision for current expected credit losses | 96,119 | 2,483,512 | 51,343 | |||||||||
General and administrative expense | 1,274,825 | 1,118,171 | 556,141 | |||||||||
Professional fees | 569,375 | 502,355 | 556,904 | |||||||||
Stock based compensation | 138,335 | 107,267 | 120,940 | |||||||||
Total expenses | 4,216,659 | 7,506,905 | 1,956,833 | |||||||||
Net Income before income taxes | 10,692,349 | 7,255,717 | 7,803,952 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | - | - | - | |||||||||
Net Income | $ | 10,692,349 | $ | 7,255,717 | $ | 7,803,952 | ||||||
Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share) | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.44 | ||||||
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.44 | ||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) | 17,879,444 | 17,657,913 | 17,641,090 | |||||||||
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) | 17,960,103 | 17,742,065 | 17,737,975 |
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Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings
In addition to using certain financial metrics prepared in accordance with GAAP to evaluate our performance, we also use Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings to evaluate our performance. Each of Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a measure that is not prepared in accordance with GAAP. We define Distributable Earnings as, for a specified period, the net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains, losses or other non-cash items recorded in net income (loss) for the period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income (loss); provided that Distributable Earnings does not exclude, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as OID, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash, (iv) provision for current expected credit losses and (v) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges, in each case after discussions between our Manager and our independent directors and after approval by a majority of such independent directors. We define Adjusted Distributable Earnings, for a specified period, as Distributable Earnings excluding certain non-recurring organizational expenses (such as one-time expenses related to our formation and start-up).
We believe providing Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings on a supplemental basis to our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP is helpful to stockholders in assessing the overall performance of our business. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income and to pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that we annually distribute less than 100% of such taxable income. Given these requirements and our belief that dividends are generally one of the principal reasons that stockholders invest in our common stock, we generally intend to attempt to pay dividends to our stockholders in an amount equal to our net taxable income, if and to the extent authorized by our Board. Distributable Earnings is one of many factors considered by our Board in authorizing dividends and, while not a direct measure of net taxable income, over time, the measure can be considered a useful indicator of our dividends.
In our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we defined Distributable Earnings so that, in addition to the exclusions noted above, the term also excluded from net income Incentive Compensation paid to our Manager. We believe that revising the term Distributable Earnings so that it is presented net of Incentive Compensation, while not a direct measure of net taxable income, over time, can be considered a more useful indicator of our ability to pay dividends. This adjustment to the calculation of Distributable Earnings has no impact on period-to-period comparisons.
Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings should not be considered as substitutes for GAAP net income. We caution readers that our methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings may differ from the methodologies employed by other REITs to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures, and as a result, our reported Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other REITs.
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For the three months ended | For the three months ended | For the three months ended | ||||||||||
March
31, 2023 | December
31, 2022 | March
31, 2022 | ||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 10,692,349 | 7,255,717 | 7,803,952 | ||||||||
Adjustments to net income | ||||||||||||
Non-cash equity compensation expense | 138,335 | 107,267 | 120,940 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 167,304 | 183,820 | 72,268 | |||||||||
Provision for current expected credit losses | 96,119 | 2,483,512 | 51,343 | |||||||||
Distributable Earnings | 11,094,107 | 10,030,316 | 8,048,503 | |||||||||
Adjustments to Distributable Earnings | - | - | - | |||||||||
Adjusted Distributable Earnings | 11,094,107 | 10,030,316 | 8,048,503 | |||||||||
Basic distributable earnings per common share (in dollars per share) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.46 | ||||||
Diluted distributable earnings per common share (in dollars per share) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.46 | ||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) | 17,879,444 | 17,657,913 | 17,641,090 | |||||||||
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) | 17,960,103 | 17,742,065 | 17,737,975 |
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Exhibit 99.2
First Quarter 2023 Earnings Supplemental May 9, 2023
This presentation contains forward - looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 , regarding future events and the future results of the Company that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections about the industry in which the Company operates and the beliefs and assumptions of the management of the Company . Words such as “address,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “develop,” “estimate,” “expect,” “further,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward - looking statements . Such statements reflect the current views of the Company and its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward - looking statements . This presentation has been prepared by the Company based on information it has obtained from sources it believes to be reliable . Summaries of documents contained in this presentation may not be complete . The Company does not represent that the information herein is complete . The information in this presentation is current only as of March 31 , 2023 , or such other date noted in this presentation, and the Company’s business or financial condition and other information in this presentation may change after that date . The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward - looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance occurring after the date of this presentation or currently unknown facts or conditions . You are urged to review and carefully consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission . Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others : the Company’s business and investment strategy ; the impact of COVID - 19 on the Company’s business and the global economy ; the war between Russia and the Ukraine and market volatility resulting from such conflict ; the ability of Chicago Atlantic REIT Manager, LLC (the “Manager”) to locate suitable loan opportunities for the Company, monitor and actively manage the Company’s loan portfolio and implement the Company’s investment strategy ; allocation of loan opportunities to the Company by the Manager ; the Company’s projected operating results ; actions and initiatives of the U . S . or state governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies, including the fact that cannabis remains illegal under federal law ; the estimated growth in and evolving market dynamics of the cannabis market ; the demand for cannabis cultivation and processing facilities ; shifts in public opinion regarding cannabis ; the state of the U . S . economy generally or in specific geographic regions ; economic trends and economic recoveries ; the amount and timing of the Company’s cash flows, if any, from the Company’s loans ; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements ; the Company’s expected leverage ; changes in the value of the Company’s loans ; the Company’s expected portfolio of loans ; the Company’s expected investment and underwriting process ; rates of default or decreased recovery rates on the Company’s loans ; the degree to which any interest rate or other hedging strategies may or may not protect the Company from interest rate volatility ; changes in interest rates and impacts of such changes on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and the market value of the Company’s loans ; interest rate mismatches between the Company’s loans and the Company’s borrowings used to fund such loans ; the departure of any of the executive officers or key personnel supporting and assisting the Company from the Manager or its affiliates ; impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance and similar matters ; the Company’s ability to maintain the Company’s exclusion or exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act ; the Company’s ability to qualify and maintain the Company’s qualification as a REIT for U . S . federal income tax purposes ; estimates relating to the Company’s ability to make distributions to its stockholders in the future ; the Company’s understanding of its competition ; and market trends in the Company’s industry, interest rates, real estate values, the securities markets or the general economy . Market and Industry Data In this presentation, the Company relies on and refers to certain information and statistics obtained from third - party sources which it believes to be reliable, including reports by market research firms . The Company has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any such third - party information . Because the cannabis industry is relatively new and rapidly evolving, such market and industry data may be subject to significant change in a relatively short time period . Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 2 Important Disclosure Information
▪ Successful IPO in December 2021 (NASDAQ: REFI) ▪ Track record of identifying market inefficiencies, particularly where risk is fundamentally mispriced ▪ Ability to redeploy capital quickly ▪ Access to Sponsor’s leading cannabis lending platform as lead or co - lead ▪ Proprietary sourcing network and direct originations team ▪ Experienced and robust origination team responsible for sourcing and closing over $1.9B in credit facilities since 2019 ▪ Sizable and growing loan portfolio offering compelling risk - adjusted returns ▪ Diversified across operators, geographies and asset types with strong real estate collateral coverage as well as additional collateral Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 3 Company Overview $600+mm near - term pipeline under evaluation (1) $1.9B in loans closed since platform inception (1) 53 cannabis loans closed across platform (1) $328.0mm current commitments (2) with substantial pipeline 19.4% gross portfolio yield (2) 1.6x real estate collateral coverage in current portfolio (2) Note: (1) As of May 1, 2023 (2) As of March 31, 2023
Investment Highlights Pioneer in cannabis lending with first - mover advantage Proprietary and extensive deal sourcing capabilities Differentiated investment approach Compelling opportunity in rapidly growing cannabis market Lender of choice to leading cannabis operators Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 4
Industry - Leading Management and Investment Team Deep Cannabis, Credit and Real Estate Expertise With Entrepreneurial Approach Peter Sack (1) Co - President ▪ Former Principal at BC Partners Credit, leading their cannabis practice ▪ Underwritten $138mm in cannabis credit transactions ▪ Former private equity investor, focusing on distressed industrial opportunities ▪ MBA from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and BA from Yale University Phil Silverman Inter i m CFO ▪ Finance and accounting expert, with over 10 years of experience, focusing on financial reporting, operations, and internal controls within the asset management industry ▪ Previously served as CFO of Chicago Atlantic Group, LLC., the Company’s Sponsor, since January 2021 ▪ B.S in Finance from Indiana University and is CPA certified Andreas Bodmeier (1) Co - President and CIO ▪ Underwritten over $500mm in cannabis credit transactions ▪ Former Principal of consulting firm focused on FX and commodity risk management ▪ Former Senior Advisor, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services ▪ PhD in Finance and MBA from Chicago Booth and MSc from Humboldt University (Berlin) John Mazarakis (1) Executive Chairman ▪ Originated over $500mm in cannabis credit transactions ▪ Developed and owns over 1mm sf of real estate across 4 states ▪ Founded restaurant group with 30 + units and 1 , 200 + employees ▪ MBA from Chicago Booth and BA from University of Delaware Tony Cappell (1) CEO ▪ Debt investor with over 15 years of experience, beginning at Wells Fargo Foothill ▪ Completed over 150 deals, comprising over $5bn in total credit ▪ Former Managing Director and Head of Underwriting at Stonegate Capital ▪ MBA from Chicago Booth and BA from University of Wisconsin 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F C O M B I N E D E X P E R I E N C E A N D O V E R $ 8 B I L L I O N I N R E A L E S T A T E A N D C O M M E R C I A L C R E D I T Note: (1) Denotes member of Investment Committee Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 5
Veteran Independent Directors Significant Public Board, REIT, Financial and Corporate Governance Expertise Michael Steiner ▪ Current investor in Chicago Atlantic ▪ Founder and President of Service Energy and Petroleum Equipment, which are engaged in distribution of petroleum products ▪ Expert in highly regulated industries ▪ BA in History from Wake Forest University and MBA from University of Delaware Donald Gulbrandsen ▪ Current investor in Chicago Atlantic ▪ Founder and CEO of Gulbrandsen Companies, a holding company for specialty chemical manufacturing companies ▪ Products sold in over 45 countries ▪ Over 900 employees in 7 facilities worldwide ▪ BS in Chemical Engineering and BA in History from Cornell University Brandon Konigsberg ▪ Former CFO at J.P. Morgan Securities and Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase ▪ Current member of board of directors of GTJ REIT, SEC - registered equity REIT ▪ Former auditor at Goldstein, Golub and Kessler ▪ CPA and BA in Accounting from University of Albany and MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business Jason Papastavrou ▪ Lead Independent Director ▪ Founder and CIO of ARIS Capital Management ▪ Current member of board of directors of GXO Logistics (NYSE:GXO); and, previous board member of XPO Logistics (NYSE:XPO) and United Rentals (NYSE:URI) ▪ BS in Mathematics and MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT Fredrick C. Herbst ▪ A u di t Co m m i tt e e Cha i r ▪ Former CFO of Ready Capital (NYSE:RC) and Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR), two publicly traded, commercial mortgage REITs ▪ Former Managing Director of Waterfall Asset Management ▪ Former CFO of Clayton Holdings and The Hurst Companies ▪ CPA and BA in Accounting f rom W i tt e n b erg Un iv er s i ty Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 6
Investment Portfolio Activity $281.5 $331.9 $330.4 $336.3 $313.7 $39.6 $25.2 $18.5 $15.0 $14.2 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q1 2023 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Drawn Future Funding C O M M I T M E N T S (in millions) $321.1 $357.1 $348.9 $ 3 5 1 .3 Weighted average yield to maturity of ~19.4% as of March 31, 2023 $328.1 Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 7
Portfolio Diversity Our portfolio is diversified across operators, geographies, and asset types P R I N C I P A L O U T S T A N D I N G ( 1 ) By Loan By Location 82.8% 17.2% Retail/Industrial I n d ust r i al By Real Estate Collateral Type $320M Note: (1) As of March 31, 2023 6% 15% 8% 20% 18% 5% 6% 2% 7% 5% 5% Florida M a s s ach u s e tts Nevada West Virginia 2% Arizona Maryland Missouri P e n n s y l v a n i a Illinois Mi c h i g an Ohio Other $320M 45.9% 25.7% 28.4% Top 5 Loans Next 5 Loans Remaining Loans (14) Top 10 Loans = 71.6% of principal outstanding Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 8 Avg Loan Size = 4.2%
Portfolio Diversity (Continued) Our portfolio is diversified across operators, geographies, and asset types P R I N C I P A L O U T S T A N D I N G ( 1 ) By Operator Integration By Construction Component 55.6% 44 . 4 % Construction No Construction $320M Note: (1) As of March 31, 2023 (2) SSO = single state operator, MSO = multi - state operator 89.6% 10 . 4 % Vertical Non - Vertical $320M Percentage of Real Estate Collateral by State and Operator Type (2) 0. 0 % 5 . 0 % 1 0 .0 % 1 5 .0% 2 0 .0 % 2 5 .0 % 3 0 .0% P A M D MO IL A Z M I M A WV O H FL SSO MSO Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 9
Loan Collateral Coverage 41% loan to enterprise value and 1.6x real estate collateral coverage R E A L E S T A T E C O L L A T E R A L C O V E R A G E ( 2 ) 1 - 1.5x 1.5 - 2x Portfolio Weighted Average (1.6x) P R I N C I P A L B Y L T E V R A T I O ( 1 ) < . 5 x .5 - 1x >2 x 13% 29% (1) Our loans to owner operators in the state - licensed cannabis industry are secured by additional collateral, including personal and corporate guarantee(s), where applicable subject to local laws and regulations. Loan to enterprise value ratio (LTEV) is calculated as total loan principal outstanding divided by total value of collateral . (2) See page 18 for real estate collateral coverage by loan. Expressed as percentage of total carrying value of $316.2 million as of March 31, 2023. 29% 21% $ - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 10 $20,000,000 $40,000,000 $60,000,000 $80,000,000 $100,000,000 $120,000,000 $140,000,000 $160,000,000 20%< 21 - 40% 41 - 60% Portfolio Weighted Average (41.0%) 6 1 - 8 0% > 8 0 % 8%
Portfolio Overview (as of March 31, 2023) Loan Initial Funding Date(1) M at uri t y Date(2) Total C ommi t m e n t(3 ) Princip a l Balance as of 3/31/20232 Percentage of Our Loan Portfolio Future Fundings Interest Rate(4) Periodic P a y m e n t(5 ) YTM IR R(6 ) 1 10/27/22 10/30/26 $ 30,000,000 $ 30,000,000 9.2% $ - P + 6.50%(7) I/O 16.8% 2 3/5/21 12/31/24 $ 35,891,667 $ 37,596,132 11.8% $ - P + 6.65% Cash(7)(8), 4.25% PIK P&I 18.0% 3 3/25/21 11/29/24 $ 20,105,628 $ 20,942,803 6.5% $ - 13.91% Cash, 2.59% PIK(10) P&I 22.8% 4 4/19/21 12/31/23 $ 12,900,000 $ 12,075,490 3.8% $ - 18.72%(7)(8)(9) P&I 24.5% 5 4/19/21 4/30/25 $ 3,500,000 $ 2,666,000 0.8% $ 834,000 P + 12.25%(7) P&I 22.8% 6 8/20/21 2/20/24 $ 6,000,000 $ 4,275,000 1.4% $ 1,500,000 P + 9.00% Cash (7), 2.5% PIK P&I 21.1% 7 8/24/21 6/30/25 $ 25,000,000 $ 25,623,762 8.0% $ - P + 6.00% Cash(7), 2.5% PIK P&I 18.1% 8 9/1/21 9/1/24 $ 9,500,000 $ 10,535,399 3.3% $ - 19.25% PIK P&I 25.8% 9 9/3/21 6/30/24 $ 15,000,000 $ 16,013,359 5.1% $ - P + 10.75% Cash(7), 6% PIK P&I 19.0% 10 9/20/21 9/30/24 $ 470,411 $ 235,205 0.1% $ - 11.00% P&I 21.4% 11 9/30/21 9/30/24 $ 32,000,000 $ 32,809,285 10.2% $ - P + 8.75% Cash(7), 2% PIK I/O 21.7% 12 11/8/21 10/31/24 $ 13,574,667 $ 13,038,000 4.1% $ - P + 9.25% Cash(7) P&I 19.7% 13 11/22/21 11/1/24 $ 13,100,000 $ 13,166,720 4.1% $ - P + 6.00% Cash(7), 1.5% PIK I/O 18.5% 14 12/27/21 12/27/26 $ 5,000,000 $ 5,194,514 1.6% $ - P + 12.25 % C a s h (7) , 2.5 % P I K P&I 23.5% 15 12/29/21 12/29/23 $ 6,000,000 $ 3,835,398 1.2% $ 2,400,000 P + 7.50% Cash,(7) 5% PIK I/O 26.9% 16 12/30/21 12/31/24 $ 13,000,000 $ 7,050,000 2.2% $ 5,500,000 P + 9.25%(7) I/O 22.5% 17 1/18/22 1/31/25 $ 15,000,000 $ 15,000,000 4.7% $ - P + 4.75%(7) P&I 14.1% 18 2/3/22 2/28/25 $ 11,662,050 $ 12,677,075 4.0% $ - P + 6.00% Cash(7), 5% PIK P&I 21.5% 19 3/11/22 8/29/25 $ 20,000,000 $ 20,637,961 6.5% $ - 11.00% Cash, 3% PIK P&I 15.5% 20 5/9/22 5/30/25 $ 17,000,000 $ 17,425,500 5.5% $ - 11.00% Cash, 2% PIK P&I 14.7% 21 7/1/22 6/30/26 $ 9,000,000 $ 5,114,907 1.6% $ 4,000,000 P + 8.50% Cash(7), 3% PIK P&I 26.4% 22 1/24/23 1/24/26 $ 11,250,000 $ 11,278,897 3.4% $ - P + 5.75% Cash(7), 1.4% PIK P&I 19.9% 23 3/27/23 3/31/26 $ 2,000,000 $ 2,000,000 0.6% $ - P + 7.50% (7) P&I 18.3% 24 3/31/23 9/27/26 $ 1,000,000 $ 1,000,000 0.3% $ - P + 10.50%(7) P&I 21.2% Subtotal $ 327,954,423 $ T 320,191,407 otal Com 100.0% m itm e nt $ : $3 14,234,000 28.0M 17.6% Wtd. Average 19.4% Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 11
Portfolio Overview (continued) Notes: Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 12 (1) All loans originated prior to April 1, 2021 were purchased from affiliated entities at fair value plus accrued interest on or subsequent to April 1, 2021 (2) Certain loans are subject to contractual extension options and may be subject to performance based or other conditions as sti pulated in the loan agreement. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities stated herein as certain borrowers may have the right to prepay with or without paying a prepayment penalty. The Company may also extend contractual maturities and amend other terms of the loans in connection with loan modifications. (3) Total Commitment excludes future amounts to be advanced at sole discretion of the lender. (4) "P" = prime rate and depicts floating rate loans that pay interest at the prime rate plus a specific percentage; "PIK" = paid in kind interest. (5) P&I = principal and interest. I/O = interest only. P&I loans may include interest only periods for a portion of the loan term. (6) Estimated YTM includes a variety of fees and features that affect the total yield, which may include, but is not limited to, OID, exit fees, prepayment fees, unused fees and contingent features. OID is recognized as a discount to the funded loan principal and is accreted to income over the term of the loan. The estimated YTM calculations require management to make estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the timing and amounts of loan draws on delayed draw loans, the timing and collectability of exit fees, the probability and timing of prepayments and the probability of contingent features occurring. For example, certain credit agreements contain provisions pursuant to which certain PIK interest rates and fees earned by us under such credit agreements will decrease upon the satisfaction of certain specified criteria which we believe may improve the risk profile of the applicable borrower. To be conservative, we have not assumed any prepayment penalties or early payoffs in our estimated YTM calculation. Estimated YTM is based on current management estimates and assumptions, which may change. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. (7) This Loan is subject to prime rate floor. (8) This Loan is subject to an interest rate cap. (9) The aggregate loan commitment to Loan #4 includes a $10.9 million initial commitment which has a base interest rate of 15.00% and a second commitment of $2.0 million which has an interest rate of 39%. The statistics presented reflect the weighted average of the terms under all advances for the total aggregate loan commitment. (10 ) The aggregate loan commitment to Loan #3 includes $15.9 million advanced which has a base interest rate of 13.625%, 2.75% PIK and a second commitment of $4.2 million which has an interest rate of 15.00%, 2.00% PIK. The statistics presented reflect the weighted average of the terms under all advances for the total aggregate loan commitment.
Loan Origination Pipeline Driven by proprietary deal sourcing Total current pipeline of $600+mm 1 ▪ Continued legalization at the state level creates a new influx of opportunities ▪ Increase in M&A activity requires additional debt financing ▪ Robust set of profitable operators and refinancing opportunities Note: (1) As of May 1, 2023 Over 500 Qualified Deals Sourced and Reviewed $600+mm 1 in Potential Fundings $170mm+ 1 Terms Issued Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 13
$7.4 $11.2 $13.4 $18.2 $21.8 $25.0 $27.4 $5.9 $9.1 $11.5 $13.0 $14.0 $14.8 $15.5 2 0 19 2 0 20 2 0 2 3 E 2 0 2 4 E 2025E 2021E 2022E Adult - Use Sales Medical Sales $13 .2 $20 .3 $24 .9 $31 .2 $35 .7 $39 .7 $42.9 Note: (1) Per New Frontier Data U . S . C A N N A B I S S A L E S (1) M A R K E T D R I V E R S Compelling Market Opportunity ▪ Sales of the U.S. cannabis industry expected to rival beer ($100bn), spirits ($97bn) and wine ($62bn) by 2030 ▪ Continued legalization at state level expected to drive continued demand for capital ▪ Highly fragmented industry ripe for consolidation ▪ State and local governments deemed cannabis essential businesses during pandemic ▪ Wave of East Coast Legalization Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 14 ($ in billions)
Note: (1) Per MJBiz Daily, as of May 2023 Compelling Market Opportunity L E G I S L A T I V E T A I L W I N D S C U R R E N T L E G A L I Z A T I O N (1) : 4 0 S T A T E S ▪ Continued state - level legalization, including transition from medical to adult - use cannabis. ▪ Adult - use sales have begun in Missouri and Connecticut ▪ Thus far in 2023, adult - use cannabis has been legalized in Delaware, while medicinal cannabis has been legalized in Kentucky. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 15
Shorter loan durations Better diversification Lower LTVs Deal leads Ability to upsize Close relationships with management teams We negotiate the deal REIT shares 50% of the origination fee Underwrite enterprise value in the borrowers Our borrower’s only source of debt Competitive Landscape C O M P E T I T O R S : G R O U P S M ort ga ge REITs BDCs Sale/ Le ase ba c k REITs Cannabi s - Focused Lenders C o mmunity Banks Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 16 C O M P E T I T I V E A D V A N T A G E S
Q1 2023 Financial Overview Appendix Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 17
Collateral Overview (as of March 31, 2023) Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 18 Loan Investment (1 ) Location Prope rt y Type Princip a l Balance as of 3/31/2023 Impli e d Rea l Estate Collateral for REIT (2) Our Real Estate Collateral Coverage as of 3/31/2023 (4) 1 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 30,000,000 $ 5,326,286 0.2x 2 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Michigan Retail/Industrial $ 37,596,132 $ 60,451,600 1.6x 3 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 20,942,803 $ 20,666,650 1.0x 4 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Arizona Industrial $ 12,075,490 $ 23,900,000 2.0x 5 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Massachusetts Retail/Industrial $ 2,666,000 $ 900,000 0.3x 6 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Michigan Retail/Industrial $ 4,275,000 $ 14,800,000 3.5x 7 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 25,623,762 $ 60,034,121 2.3x 8 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) W e st Vi rg inia Retail/Industrial $ 10,535,399 $ 15,360,000 1.5x 9 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Pennsylvania Retail/Industrial $ 16,013,359 $ 16,750,000 1.0x 10 Senior Loan (3) Michigan Retail $ 235,205 $ 5,730,000 24.4x 11 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Maryland Industrial $ 32,809,285 $ 33,440,000 1.0x 12 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 13,038,000 $ 17,789,062 1.4x 13 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Michigan Retail/Industrial $ 13,166,720 $ 40,887,132 3.1x 14 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 5,194,514 $ - 0.0x 15 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Michigan Retail/Industrial $ 3,835,398 $ 9,760,000 2.5x 16 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Multi - State Retail/Industrial $ 7,050,000 $ 3,500,000 0.5x 17 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Florida Retail/Industrial $ 15,000,000 $ 37,525,000 2.5x 18 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Ohio Retail/Industrial $ 12,677,075 $ 32,790,000 2.6x 19 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Florida Retail/Industrial $ 20,637,961 $ 28,000,000 1.4x 20 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan (3) Missouri Retail/Industrial $ 17,425,500 $ 27,580,000 1.6x 21 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Illinois Retail/Industrial $ 5,114,907 $ 10,400,000 2.0x 22 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Maryland Retail/Industrial $ 11,278,897 $ 33,600,000 3.0x 23 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Arizona Retail/Industrial $ 2,000,000 $ - 0.0x 24 Senior Real Estate Corporate Loan Oregon Retail/Industrial $ 1,000,000 $ 3,600,000 3.6x $ 320,191,407 $ 502,699,581 1.6x
Collateral Overview (continued) Notes: Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 19 (1) Senior Real Estate Corporate Loans are structured as loans to owner operators secured by real estate. Senior Loans are loans to a property owner and leased to third party tenant. (2) Real estate is based on appraised value as is, or on a comparable cost basis, as completed. The real estate values shown in the collateral table are estimates by a third - party appraiser of the market value of the subject real property in its current physical condition, use, and zoning as of the appraisal date. The appraisals assume that the highest and best use is use as a cannabis cultivator or dispensary, as applicable. The appraisals recognize that the current use is highly regulated by the state in which the property is located; however, there are sales of comparable properties that demonstrate that there is a market for such properties. The appraisals utilize these comparable sales for the appraised property’s value in use. For properties used for cannabis cultivation, the appraisals use similar sized warehouses in their conclusion of the subject’s “as - is” value without licenses to cultivate cannabis. However, the appraised value is assumed to be realized from a purchase by another state - licensed cannabis operator or a third party purchaser that would lease the subject property to a state - licensed cannabis operator. The regulatory requirements related to real property used in cannabis - related operations may cause significant delays or difficulties in transferring a property to another cannabis operator, as the state regulator may require inspection and approval of the new tenant/user. Further, the value is also determined using the income approach, based on market lease rates for comparable properties, whether dispensaries or cultivation facilities. It indicates the value to a third - party owner that leases to a dispensary or cultivation facility. Finally, the appraisal contains a value based on the cost for another operator to construct a similar facility, which we refer to as the “cost approach.” We believe the cost approach provides an indication of what another state - licensed operator would pay for a separate facility instead of constructing it itself. The appraisal’s opinion of value reflects current conditions and the likely actions of market participants as of the date of appraisal. It is based on the available information gathered and provided to the appraiser, and does not predict future performance. Changing market or property conditions can and likely will have an effect on the subject’s value. (3) Certain affiliated co - lenders subordinated their interest in the real estate collateral to the Company, thus increasing the collateral coverage for the applicable loan. (4) The real estate collateral coverage ratio represents a weighted portfolio average real estate collateral coverage ratio.
Balance Sheet Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 20 March 31, 2023 (unaudited) December 31, 2022 Assets Loans held for investment $ 316,226,144 $ 339,273,538 Current expected credit loss reserve (4,051,934) (3,940,939) Loans held for investment at carrying value, net 312,174,210 335,332,599 Cash 4,640,905 5,715,827 Interest receivable 4,159,748 1,204,412 Other receivables and assets, net 1,668,629 1,018,212 Related party receivables 237,885 - Total Assets $ 322,881,377 $ 343,271,050 Liabilities Revolving loan $ 37,500,000 $ 58,000,000 Dividend payable 8,667,701 13,618,591 Management and incentive fees payable 2,138,005 3,295,600 Related party payable 1,270,126 1,397,515 Accounts payable and other liabilities 962,153 1,058,128 Interest reserve 220,064 1,868,193 Total Liabilities 50,758,049 79,238,027 Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) Stockholders' equity Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 18,088,683 and 17,766,936 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 180,887 176,859 Addit i onal pai d - in - c ap i tal 274,925,072 268,995,848 Accumulated earnings (deficit) (2,982,631) (5,139,684) Total stockholders' equity 272,123,328 264,033,023 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 322,881,377 $ 343,271,050
Statement of Operations Three months ended March 31, 2023 (unaudited) Three months ended December 31, 2022 (unaudited) Revenues Interest income $ 16,527,304 $ 15,993,588 Interest expense (1,618,296) (1,230,966) Net interest income 14,909,088 14,762,622 Expenses Management and incentive fees, net 2,138,005 3,295,600 Provision for current expected credit losses 96,119 2,483,512 General and administrative expense 1,274,825 1,118,171 Professional fees 569,375 502,355 Stock based compensation 138,335 107,267 Total expenses 4,216,659 7,506,905 Net Income before income taxes 10,692,349 7,255,717 Income tax expense - x - x Net Income $ 10,692,349 $ 7,255,717 Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share) $ 0.60 $ 0.41 Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) $ 0.60 $ 0.41 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) 17,879,444 17,657,913 Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) 17,960,103 17,742,065 Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 21
Reconciliation of Distributable Earnings and Adjusted Distributable Earnings to GAAP Net Income Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 22 Three Months ended March 31, 2023 (unaudited) Three Months ended December 31, 2022 (unaudited) Net Income $ 10,692,349 $ 7,255,717 Adjustments to net income Non - cash equity compensation expense 138,335 107,267 Depreciation and amortization 167,304 183,820 Provision for current expected credit losses 96,119 2,483,512 Distributable Earnings 11,094,107 10,030,316 Adjustments to Distributable Earnings - - Adjusted Distributable Earnings 11,094,107 10,030,316 Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) 17,879,444 17,657,913 Adjusted Distributable Earnings per Weighted Average Share $ 0.62 $ 0.57 Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) 17,960,103 17,742,065 Adjusted Distributable Earnings per Weighted Average Share $ 0.62 $ 0.57
Annual Base Management Fee (on Equity) 1.5% Origination Fees (Rebated to REIT) 50.0% Incentive Compensation Terms: Incentive Fees (of Core Earnings) 20.0% Hurdle Amount (on Avg. Equity); No Catch - up Provision 8.0% Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. | 23 External Manager ▪ Externally - managed by Chicago Atlantic REIT Manager, LLC, a subsidiary of C hicago Atlantic Group, LLC ▪ John Mazarakis (Executive Chairman), Tony Cappell (CEO) and Andreas Bodmeier (Co - President & CIO) control and beneficially own the Manager ▪ The Manager is comprised of an experienced team of investment professionals, who currently manage several externally - managed vehicles with over $ 700 mm in additional assets – Synergies from over 30 professionals, spanning real estate credit, asset - based lending and real estate private equity, as well as robust accounting and compliance functions Management Agreement Overview Management Agreement and Equity Incentive Plan ▪ Initial term of three years ▪ Following the initial term, the agreement automatically renews every year for an additional one - year period, unless Chicago Atlantic or the Manager elects not to renew ▪ Shareholder - friendly management agreement: ▪ 8.5% equity incentive plan: – 0.5 % granted at completion of IPO – 8% granted at discretion of Board based on Company performance after IPO M A N A G E M E N T F E E S