Hercules Capital, Inc., the largest and leading specialty finance provider to innovative, venture growth stage companies backed by some of the leading U.S. and top-tier venture capital and select private equity firms, was named 2018 Specialty Finance Lender of the Year, Americas by Private Debt Investor magazine.

Each year, the PDI Awards acknowledge the best firms and deals in the market. After initial nominations, readers vote on a select group of finalists in each category. In 2018, Hercules achieved another record year on multiple fronts and executed an impactful growth strategy, launching the Hercules SaaS Financing Group, acquiring the venture lending portfolio assets from Ares Capital Corporation as well as Gibraltar Business Capital’s asset-based lending and factoring solutions platform, and originating over a record $1.21 billion in investment commitments.

“Receiving the Private Debt Investor award for Specialty Finance Lender of the Year, Americas is an outstanding recognition especially after an amazing year of record setting achievements and tremendous corporate accomplishments,” said Manuel A. Henriquez, chairman and chief executive officer of Hercules. “Our team’s hard work and execution of our corporate initiatives, combined with our portfolio companies’ successes, propelled Hercules to new heights in 2018. We will continue to set the bar high as the capital provider of choice to some of the leading disruptive and innovative portfolio companies with complimentary strategic growth capital and the highest level of service in the industry.”

Private Debt Investor is a global independent publication based in London covering the private debt and private equity industries.