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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - PhenixFIN Corp | exhibit321093017.htm |
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - PhenixFIN Corp | exhibit312093017.htm |
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - PhenixFIN Corp | exhibit311093017.htm |
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - PhenixFIN Corp | exhibit211093017.htm |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One) | |
ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 | |
or | |
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 1-35040
MEDLEY CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware | 27-4576073 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
Incorporation or Organization) | Identification No.) | |
280 Park Avenue, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10017 | 10017 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(212) 759-0777
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | The New York Stock Exchange | |
6.500% Notes due 2021 | The New York Stock Exchange | |
6.125% Notes due 2023 | The New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨No ý
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. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ý Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨ Emerging growth company ¨
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes ¨ No ý
The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of March 31, 2017 was $394,488,948. The Registrant had 54,474,211 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding as of December 6, 2017.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the registrant’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Such proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days following the end of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.
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MEDLEY CAPITAL CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
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PART I
In this annual report on Form 10-K, except as otherwise indicated, the terms:
• | “we”, “us”, “our”, “Medley Capital” and the “Company” refer to Medley Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries for the periods after our consummation of the formation transaction and to Medley Capital BDC LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the periods prior to our consummation of the formation transaction described elsewhere in this Form 10-K; |
• | “MCC Advisors” and the “Adviser” refer to MCC Advisors LLC, our investment adviser; MCC Advisors is a majority owned subsidiary of Medley LLC, which is controlled by Medley Management Inc., a publicly traded asset management firm, which in turn is controlled by Medley Group LLC, an entity wholly-owned by the senior professionals of Medley LLC; and |
• | “Medley” refers, collectively, to the activities and operations of Medley Capital LLC, Medley LLC, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group LLC, MCC Advisors, associated investment funds and their respective affiliates. |
Item 1. Business
GENERAL
Medley Capital Corporation is a non-diversified closed end management investment company incorporated in Delaware that has elected to be treated and is regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). We completed our initial public offering (“IPO”) and commenced operations on January 20, 2011. The Company has elected and qualified to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with our first taxable year as a corporation, and we intend to continue to operate in a manner so as to maintain our RIC tax treatment. We are externally managed and advised by our investment adviser, MCC Advisors, pursuant to an investment management agreement.
Our investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by lending directly to privately held middle market companies, primarily through directly originated transactions to help these companies expand their business, refinance and make acquisitions. Our investment portfolio generally consists of senior secured first lien term loans and senior secured second lien term loans. In connection with some of our investments, we receive warrants or other equity participation features which we believe will increase the total investment returns.
We believe the middle-market private debt market is undergoing structural shifts that are creating significant opportunities for non-bank lenders and investors. The underlying drivers of these structural changes include: reduced participation by banks in the private debt markets, particularly within the middle-market, and demand for private debt created by committed and uninvested private equity capital. We focus on taking advantage of this structural shift by lending directly to companies that are underserved by the traditional banking system and generally seek to avoid broadly marketed investment opportunities. We source investment opportunities primarily through direct relationships with financial sponsors, as well as financial intermediaries such as investment banks and commercial banks. As a leading provider of private debt, Medley is often sought out as a preferred financing partner.
Our investment activities are managed by our investment adviser, MCC Advisors, which is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. MCC Advisors is an affiliate of Medley and has offices in New York and San Francisco. Our Investment Team, which is provided for by MCC Advisors, is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, conducting industry research, performing diligence on potential investments, structuring our investments and monitoring our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. MCC Advisors’ team draws on its expertise in lending to predominantly privately held borrowers in a range of sectors, including industrials, and transportation, energy and natural resources, financials and real estate. In addition, MCC Advisors seeks to diversify our portfolio of loans by company type, asset type, transaction size, industry and geography.
Our Investment Team has on average over 20 years of experience in the credit business, including originating, underwriting, principal investing and loan structuring. Our Advisor, through Medley, has access to 88 employees, including over 44 investment, origination and credit management professionals, and over 44 operations, marketing and distribution professionals, each with extensive experience in their respective disciplines. We believe that MCC Advisors’ disciplined and consistent approach to origination, portfolio construction and risk management should allow it to achieve compelling risk-adjusted returns for Medley Capital.
MCC Advisors also serves as our administrator and provides us with office space, equipment and other office services. The responsibilities of our administrator include overseeing our financial records, preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and generally monitoring the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others.
As a BDC, we are required to comply with regulatory requirements, including limitations on our use of debt. We are permitted to, and expect to continue to, finance our investments through borrowings. However, as a BDC, we are only generally allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% after such borrowing. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on our assessment of market conditions and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing.
Opportunities for co-investments may arise when MCC Advisors or an affiliated investment adviser becomes aware of investment opportunities that may be appropriate for the Company and other clients or affiliated funds. The Company obtained an exemptive order from the SEC on November 25, 2013 (the “Prior Exemptive Order”). On March 29, 2017, the Company, MCC Advisors and certain other affiliated funds and investment advisers received an exemptive order (the “Exemptive Order”) that supersedes the Prior Exemptive Order and allows affiliated registered investment companies to participate in co-investment transactions with us that would otherwise have been prohibited under Section 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d-1 thereunder. On October 4, 2017, the Company, MCC Advisors and certain of our affiliates received an exemptive order that supersedes the Exemptive Order (the “New Exemptive Order”) and allows, in addition to the entities already covered by the Exemptive Order, Medley LLC and its subsidiary, Medley Capital LLC, to the extent they hold financial assets in a principal capacity, and any direct or indirect, wholly- or majority-owned subsidiary of
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Medley LLC that is formed in the future, to participate in co-investment transactions with us that would otherwise be prohibited by either or both of Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act. The terms of the New Exemptive Order are otherwise substantially similar to the Exemptive Order. Co-investment under the Exemptive Order is subject to certain conditions, including the condition that, in the case of each co-investment transaction, our board of directors determines that it would to be in our best interest to participate in the transaction. However, neither we nor the affiliated funds are obligated to invest or co-invest when investment opportunities are referred to us or them.
In situations where co-investment with other funds managed by MCC Advisors or its affiliates is not permitted or appropriate, such as when there is an opportunity to invest in different securities of the same issuer or where the different investments could be expected to result in a conflict between our interests and those of other MCC Advisors clients, MCC Advisors will need to decide which client will proceed with the investment. MCC Advisors will make these determinations based on its policies and procedures, which generally require that such opportunities be offered to eligible accounts on an alternating basis that will be fair and equitable over time. Moreover, except in certain circumstances, we will be unable to invest in any issuer in which a fund managed by MCC Advisors or its affiliates has previously invested. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers or directors or their affiliates.
On March 26, 2013, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Medley SBIC LP (“SBIC LP”), a Delaware limited partnership, received a license from the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to operate as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) under Section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958, as amended.
The SBIC license allows SBIC LP to obtain leverage by issuing SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the issuance of a capital commitment by the SBA and other customary procedures. SBA-guaranteed debentures are non-recourse, interest-only debentures with interest payable semi-annually and have a ten year maturity. The principal amount of SBA-guaranteed debentures is not required to be paid prior to maturity but may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The interest rate of SBA-guaranteed debentures is fixed on a semi-annual basis at a market-driven spread over U.S. Treasury Notes with 10-year maturities. The SBA, as a creditor, will have a superior claim to SBIC LP’s assets over our stockholders in the event we liquidate SBIC LP or the SBA exercises its remedies under the SBA-guaranteed debentures issued by SBIC LP upon an event of default.
SBA regulations currently limit the amount that SBIC LP may borrow to a maximum of $150 million when it has at least $75 million in regulatory capital, receives a capital commitment from the SBA and has been through an examination by the SBA subsequent to licensing.
On November 16, 2012, we obtained an exemptive order from the SEC to permit us to exclude the debt of SBIC LP guaranteed by the SBA from our 200% asset coverage test under the 1940 Act. The exemptive order provides us with increased flexibility under the 200% asset coverage test by permitting us to borrow, through SBIC LP, up to $150 million more than we would otherwise be able to absent the receipt of this exemptive order.
Our principal executive office is located at 280 Park Avenue, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10017 and our telephone number is (212) 759-0777.
Formation Transactions
Medley Capital BDC LLC (the “LLC”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on April 23, 2010.
Prior to the pricing of our IPO, Medley Opportunity Fund LP (“MOF LP”), a Delaware limited partnership, and Medley Opportunity Fund, Ltd. (“MOF LTD”), a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability company, transferred all of their respective interests in six loan participations in secured loans to middle market companies with a combined fair value, plus payment-in-kind interest and accrued interest thereon, of approximately $84.95 million (the “Loan Assets”) to MOF I BDC LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MOF I BDC”) in exchange for membership interests in MOF I BDC. As a result, MOF LTD owned approximately 90% of the outstanding MOF I BDC membership interests and MOF LP owned approximately 10% of the outstanding MOF I BDC membership interests. On January 18, 2011, each of MOF LTD and MOF LP contributed their respective MOF I BDC membership interests to the LLC in exchange for LLC membership interests. As a result, MOF I BDC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the LLC.
On January 18, 2011, the LLC converted into Medley Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation. As a result, MOF LTD and MOF LP’s LLC membership interests were exchanged for 5,759,356 shares of the Company’s common stock at $14.75 per share. On January 20, 2011, the Company filed an election to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act.
On January 20, 2011, we priced our IPO and sold 11,111,112 shares of common stock at $12.00 per share. On February 24, 2011, an additional 450,000 shares of our common stock were issued at a price of $12.00 per share pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Net of underwriting fees and estimated offering costs, the Company raised a total of approximately $129.6 million. Our shares began trading on January 20, 2011 on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MCC.”
Investment Process Overview
We view our investment process as consisting of three distinct phases described below:
Sourcing and Origination MCC Advisors sources investment opportunities through access to a network of contacts developed in the financial services and related industries by Medley. It is the Adviser’s responsibility to identify specific opportunities, to refine opportunities through rigorous due diligence of the underlying facts and circumstances while remaining flexible and responsive to client’s needs. With a total of over 44 investment professionals in the New York and San Francisco offices involved in sourcing and origination for MCC Advisors, each investment professional is able to maintain long-standing relationships and responsibility for a specified market. Each quarter, these origination efforts attract hundreds of inquiries from potential middle market borrowers.
An investment pipeline is maintained to manage all prospective investment opportunities and is reviewed weekly by the Investment Committee of MCC Advisors (“Investment Committee”). The purpose of the investment pipeline, which is comprised of all prospective investment opportunities at various stages of due diligence and approval, is to evaluate, monitor and approve all of our investments, subject to the oversight of our Investment Committee.
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Credit Evaluation We utilize a systematic, consistent approach to credit evaluation developed by Medley, with a particular focus on determining the value of a business in a downside scenario. The key criteria that we consider and attributes that we seek include: (i) strong and resilient underlying business fundamentals; (ii) a substantial equity cushion in the form of capital ranking junior in the right of payment to our investment; (iii) sophisticated management teams with a minimum operating history of two years; (iv) a conclusion that overall downside risk is manageable; (v) collateral support in the form of accounts receivable, inventory, machinery, equipment, real estate, IP, overall enterprise value and other assets; and (vi) limited requirements for future financing beyond the proposed commitment. The first review of an opportunity is conducted using the above-mentioned analysis to determine if the opportunity meets MCC Advisors general investment criteria. The next three reviews performed by the Investment Committee include the following: (1) an Early Read Memo, (2) a Green Light Memo, and (3) Investment Committee approval memo. MCC Advisors maintains a rigorous in-house due diligence process. Prior to making each investment, MCC Advisors subjects each potential portfolio company to an extensive credit review process, including analysis of market and operational dynamics as well as both historical and projected financial information. Areas of additional focus include management or sponsor experience, industry and competitive dynamics, and tangible asset values. Background checks and tax compliance checks are typically required on all portfolio company management teams.
Our due diligence process typically entails:
• | negotiation and execution of a term sheet; |
• | on-site visits; |
• | interviews with management, employees, customers and vendors; |
• | review of loan documents and material contracts, as applicable; |
• | obtaining background checks on all principals/partners/founders; |
• | completing customer and supplier calls; |
• | review of tax and accounting issues related to a contemplated capital structure; |
• | developing a financial model with sensitivity analysis that includes a management case, expected case and downside case; |
• | receiving third party reports such as environmental, appraisal and consulting reports, as applicable. |
Monitoring MCC Advisors views active portfolio monitoring as a vital part of our investment process. MCC Advisors utilizes a best-practice investment management system called Black Mountain (“BMS”), which maintains a centralized, dynamic electronic reporting system which houses, organizes and archives all portfolio data by investment. This is the primary system that tracks all changes to investment terms and conditions. On a quarterly basis, the asset management team produces a report from BMS for each investment within the portfolio by summarizing the investment’s general information, terms and structure, financial performance, covenant package, and business updates. This feature enables MCC Advisors to track the history of every investment, while maintaining access to the most recent reporting information available, ensuring accurate reporting of the investment.
MCC Advisors will typically require portfolio companies to adhere to certain affirmative covenants requiring the following reports:
| monthly financial statements | | annual audits and management letters |
| monthly covenant certificates | | quarterly industry updates |
| monthly management discussion & analysis | | quarterly customer and supplier concentration updates |
| monthly bank statements | | quarterly backlog/pipeline reports |
| annual insurance certificates | | annual budgets and forecasts. |
MCC Advisors holds quarterly portfolio reviews where the Investment Committee reviews each transaction in detail and reassesses the risk rating presently assigned.
Rating Criteria In addition to external risk management research and internal monitoring tools, we use an investment rating system to characterize and monitor the credit profile and our expected level of returns on each investment in our portfolio. We use a five-level numeric rating scale. The following is a description of the conditions associated with each investment rating:
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Credit Rating | Definition | ||
1 | Investments that are performing above expectations. | ||
2 | Investments that are performing within expectations, with risks that are neutral or favorable compared to risks at the time of origination. | ||
All new loans are rated ‘2’. | |||
3 | Investments that are performing below expectations and that require closer monitoring, but where no loss of interest, dividend or principal is expected. | ||
Companies rated ‘3’ may be out of compliance with financial covenants, however, loan payments are generally not past due. | |||
4 | Investments that are performing below expectations and for which risk has increased materially since origination. | ||
Some loss of interest or dividend is expected but no loss of principal. | |||
In addition to the borrower being generally out of compliance with debt covenants, loan payments may be past due (but generally not more than 180 days past due). | |||
5 | Investments that are performing substantially below expectations and whose risks have increased substantially since origination. | ||
Most or all of the debt covenants are out of compliance and payments are substantially delinquent. | |||
Some loss of principal is expected. |
Investment Committee
The purpose of the Investment Committee, which is comprised of a minimum of three members selected from senior members of MCC Advisors’ Investment Team, is to evaluate and approve all of our investments. The Investment Committee process is intended to bring the diverse experience and perspectives of the committee’s members to the analysis and consideration of each investment. The Investment Committee serves to provide investment consistency and adherence to our core investment philosophy and policies. The Investment Committee also determines appropriate investment sizing and suggests ongoing monitoring requirements.
In addition to reviewing investments, Investment Committee meetings serve as a forum to discuss credit views and outlooks. Potential transactions and deal flow are reviewed on a regular basis. Members of the investment team are encouraged to share information and views on credits with the Investment Committee early in their analysis. We believe this process improves the quality of the analysis and assists the investment team members to work more efficiently.
Each transaction is presented to the Investment Committee in a formal written report. All of our new investments and the exit or sale of an existing investment must be approved by a majority vote of the Investment Committee, although unanimous agreement is sought.
Investment Structure
Once we have determined that a prospective portfolio company is suitable for investment, we work with the management of that company and its other capital providers to structure an investment. We negotiate among these parties to agree on how our investment is expected to perform relative to the other capital in the portfolio company’s capital structure.
We structure our investments, which typically have maturities of three to seven years, as follows:
Senior Secured First Lien Term Loans We structure these investments as senior secured loans. We obtain security interests in the assets of the portfolio companies that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of such loans. This collateral generally takes the form of first-priority liens on the assets of the portfolio company borrower. Our senior secured loans may provide for amortization of principal with the majority of the amortization due at maturity.
Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loans We structure these investments as junior, secured loans. We obtain security interests in the assets of these portfolio companies that serves as collateral in support of the repayment of such loans. This collateral generally takes the form of second-priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company. These loans typically provide for amortization of principal in the initial years of the loans, with the majority of the amortization due at maturity.
Senior Secured First Lien Notes We structure these investments as senior secured loans. We obtain security interests in the assets of these portfolio companies that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of such loans. This collateral generally takes the form of priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company. These loans typically have interest-only payments (often representing a combination of cash pay and payment-in-kind, or ("PIK")
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interest), with amortization of principal due at maturity. PIK interest represents contractually deferred interest added to the loan balance that is generally due at the end of the loan term and recorded as interest income on an accrual basis to the extent such amounts are expected to be collected.
Warrants and Minority Equity Securities In some cases, we may also receive nominally priced warrants or options to buy a minority equity interest in the portfolio company in connection with a debt investment. As a result, as a portfolio company appreciates in value, we may achieve additional investment return from this equity interest. We may structure such warrants to include provisions protecting our rights as a minority-interest holder, as well as a “put,” or right to sell such securities back to the issuer, upon the occurrence of specified events. In many cases, we may also seek to obtain registration rights in connection with these equity interests, which may include demand and “piggyback” registration rights.
Unitranche Loans We structure our unitranche loans, which combine the characteristics of traditional senior secured first lien term loans and subordinated notes as senior secured loans. We obtain security interests in the assets of these portfolio companies that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of these loans. This collateral generally takes the form of first-priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company. Unitranche loans typically provide for amortization of principal in the initial years of the loans, with the majority of the amortization due at maturity.
Unsecured Debt We structure these investments as unsecured, subordinated loans that provide for relatively high, fixed interest rates that provide us with significant current interest income. These loans typically have interest-only payments (often representing a combination of cash pay and payment-in-kind, or PIK interest), with amortization of principal due at maturity. Subordinated notes generally allow the borrower to make a large lump sum payment of principal at the end of the loan term, and there is a risk of loss if the borrower is unable to pay the lump sum or refinance the amount owed at maturity. Subordinated notes are generally more volatile than secured loans and may involve a greater risk of loss of principal. Subordinated notes often include a PIK feature, which effectively operates as negative amortization of loan principal.
We tailor the terms of each investment to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and the prospective portfolio company, negotiating a structure that protects our rights and manages our risk while creating incentives for the portfolio company to achieve its business plan and improve its operating results. We seek to limit the downside potential of our investments by:
• | selecting investments that we believe have a low probability of loss of principal; |
• | requiring a total return on our investments (including both interest and potential equity appreciation) that we believe will compensate us appropriately for credit risk; and |
• | negotiating covenants in connection with our investments that afford our portfolio companies as much flexibility in managing their businesses as possible, consistent with the preservation of our capital. Such restrictions may include affirmative and negative covenants, default penalties, lien protection, change of control provisions and board rights, including either observation or rights to a seat on the board of directors under some circumstances. |
We expect to hold most of our investments to maturity or repayment, but we may realize or sell some of our investments earlier if a liquidity event occurs, such as a sale or recapitalization transaction, or the worsening of the credit quality of the portfolio company.
Managerial Assistance
As a BDC, we offer, and must provide upon request, managerial assistance to certain of our portfolio companies. This assistance could involve, among other things, monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance. MCC Advisors provides such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance. We may receive fees for these services and will reimburse MCC Advisors, as our administrator, for its allocated costs in providing such assistance, subject to the review and approval by our board of directors, including our independent directors.
Leverage
Through our Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement, as amended (the ‘‘Term Loan Facility’’) and Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended (the ‘‘Revolving Credit Facility’’ and, collectively with the Term Loan Facility, as amended, the ‘‘Facilities’’), we borrow funds to make additional investments, a practice known as ‘‘leverage,’’ to attempt to increase return to our common stockholders. The amount of leverage that we employ at any particular time will depend on our investment advisers’ and our board of directors’ assessments of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. As of December 7, 2017, total commitments under the Facilities are $302.0 million, comprised of $200.0 million committed to the Revolving Credit Facility and $102.0 million committed to the Term Loan Facility. With these additional commitments, the Company has exercised the aggregate accordion feature permitting subsequent increases to the Facilities up to an aggregate maximum amount of $600.0 million. We are also subject to certain regulatory requirements relating to our borrowings. For a discussion of such requirements, see ‘‘Regulation — Senior Securities’’ and ‘‘Regulation — Small Business Investment Company Regulations.’’
We may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase our common stock through cash purchases, as well as retire, cancel or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual and regulatory restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Competition
Our primary competitors to provide financing to private middle-market companies are public and private funds, commercial and investment banks, commercial finance companies, other BDCs, SBICs and private equity and hedge funds. Some competitors may have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider
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a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC or to the distribution and other requirements we must satisfy to maintain our favorable RIC tax status.
Employees
We do not have any employees. Our day-to-day investment operations are managed by our investment adviser. Our investment adviser employs a total of over 44 investment professionals, including its principals. In addition, we reimburse our administrator for the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations under an administration agreement, including the compensation of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer, and their staff.
Administration
We have entered into an administration agreement, pursuant to which MCC Advisors furnishes us with office facilities, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services at such facilities. Under our administration agreement, MCC Advisors performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC.
Information Available
We maintain a website at http://www.medleycapitalcorp.com. We make available, free of charge, on our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this annual report on Form 10-K or any other report we file with the SEC.
INVESTMENTS
We have built a diverse portfolio that includes senior secured first lien term loans, senior secured second lien term loans, unitranche, senior secured first lien notes, subordinated notes and warrants and minority equity securities by investing approximately $10 million to $50 million of capital, on average, in the securities of middle-market companies.
The following table shows the portfolio composition by industry grouping at fair value at September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
Fair Value | Percentage | |||||
Services: Business | $ | 142,912 | 17.1 | % | ||
Construction & Building | 130,633 | 15.6 | ||||
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | 67,301 | 8.0 | ||||
Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 63,491 | 7.6 | ||||
Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | 63,012 | 7.5 | ||||
Multisector Holdings | 56,138 | 6.7 | ||||
Energy: Oil & Gas | 54,800 | 6.5 | ||||
Aerospace & Defense | 53,650 | 6.4 | ||||
Automotive | 38,434 | 4.6 | ||||
Containers, Packaging & Glass | 38,086 | 4.6 | ||||
High Tech Industries | 25,809 | 3.1 | ||||
Metals & Mining | 21,127 | 2.5 | ||||
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber | 20,012 | 2.4 | ||||
Beverage & Food | 16,118 | 1.9 | ||||
Capital Equipment | 13,180 | 1.6 | ||||
Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | 8,384 | 1.0 | ||||
Services: Consumer | 7,967 | 1.0 | ||||
Wholesale | 7,067 | 0.8 | ||||
Retail | 3,584 | 0.4 | ||||
Media: Advertising, Printing & Publishing | 2,955 | 0.4 | ||||
Environmental Industries | 1,330 | 0.2 | ||||
Consumer goods: Durable | 850 | 0.1 | ||||
Consumer goods: Non-durable | 151 | 0.0 | ||||
Total | $ | 836,991 | 100.0 | % |
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The following table shows the portfolio composition by industry grouping at fair value at September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands):
Fair Value | Percentage | |||||
Services: Business | $ | 123,703 | 13.5 | % | ||
Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 96,207 | 10.5 | ||||
Construction & Building | 91,087 | 10.0 | ||||
Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | 68,605 | 7.5 | ||||
Automotive | 60,303 | 6.6 | ||||
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | 57,041 | 6.2 | ||||
Energy: Oil & Gas | 52,646 | 5.8 | ||||
Aerospace & Defense | 51,656 | 5.6 | ||||
Telecommunications | 44,015 | 4.8 | ||||
Containers, Packaging & Glass | 42,197 | 4.6 | ||||
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber | 32,640 | 3.6 | ||||
Multisector Holdings | 31,252 | 3.4 | ||||
Beverage & Food | 30,225 | 3.3 | ||||
Capital Equipment | 29,756 | 3.3 | ||||
Consumer goods: Durable | 24,696 | 2.7 | ||||
Metals & Mining | 20,246 | 2.2 | ||||
High Tech Industries | 14,489 | 1.6 | ||||
Retail | 12,565 | 1.4 | ||||
Services: Consumer | 9,440 | 1.0 | ||||
Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | 7,832 | 0.9 | ||||
Consumer goods: Non-durable | 7,208 | 0.8 | ||||
Wholesale | 6,375 | 0.7 | ||||
Total | $ | 914,184 | 100.0 | % |
The following table sets forth certain information as of September 30, 2017, for each portfolio company in which we had an investment. Other than these Investments, our only formal relationship with our portfolio companies is the managerial assistance that we provide upon request and the board observer or participation rights we may receive in connection with our investment.
Name of Portfolio Company | Sector | Security Owned by Us | Maturity | Interest Rate(1) | Principal Due at Maturity | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | |||||||||||||
3SI Security Systems, Inc. | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 6/16/2023 | 7.56 | % | $ | 17,500,000 | $ | 17,500,000 | 3.8 | % | |||||||||
AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan A | 9/30/2021 | 6.30 | % | 8,984,232 | 8,984,232 | 2.0 | % | |||||||||||
AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan B | 9/30/2021 | 9.30 | % | 19,746,290 | 19,746,290 | 4.3 | % | |||||||||||
AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Revolving Credit Facility | 9/30/2021 | 6.30 | % | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 7/22/2020 | 10.00 | % | 8,340,525 | 8,340,525 | 1.8 | % | |||||||||||
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | Preferred Equity Series A | 1,600,000 | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | Preferred Equity Series AA | 800,000 | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | Preferred Equity Series AAA | 363,200 | 43,200 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Media: Broadcasting & Subscription | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % |
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Name of Portfolio Company | Sector | Security Owned by Us | Maturity | Interest Rate(1) | Principal Due at Maturity | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | |||||||||||||
Accupac, Inc. | Containers, Packaging & Glass | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/14/2023 | 5.74 | % | 9,887,670 | 9,887,670 | 2.2 | % | |||||||||||
Advanced Diagnostic Holdings, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 12/11/2020 | 9.82 | % | 14,776,537 | 14,776,537 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||||
American Dental Partners, Inc. | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 9/25/2023 | 9.83 | % | 6,500,000 | 6,578,000 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||
Autosplice, Inc. | High Tech Industries | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 6/30/2019 | 9.30 | % | 14,262,133 | 14,342,001 | 3.1 | % | |||||||||||
Avantor Performance Materials Holdings, LLC | Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 3/10/2025 | 9.49 | % | 1,000,000 | 1,020,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
Barry's Bootcamp Holdings, LLC | Services: Consumer | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 7/14/2022 | 7.83 | % | 7,628,570 | 7,628,570 | 1.7 | % | |||||||||||
Barry's Bootcamp Holdings, LLC | Services: Consumer | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 7/14/2022 | 7.83 | % | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
Barry's Bootcamp Holdings, LLC | Services: Consumer | Revolving Credit Facility | 7/14/2022 | 7.83 | % | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
Be Green Packaging, LLC | Containers, Packaging & Glass | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 4/24/2020 | 10.31 | % | 7,700,893 | 7,375,190 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||
Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 4/24/2020 | 10.31 | % | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Revolving Credit Facility | 4/24/2020 | 10.31 | % | 376,360 | 343,324 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
Brantley Transportation LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 8/2/2017 | 12.00 | % | 11,355,575 | 7,719,520 | 1.7 | % | |||||||||||
Brantley Transportation LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw | 8/2/2017 | 6.24 | % | 668,105 | 668,105 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
Brantley Transportation LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Capstone Nutrition | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/25/2020 | 13.81 | % | 26,124,967 | 18,002,715 | 3.9 | % | |||||||||||
Capstone Nutrition | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw | 9/25/2020 | 13.81 | % | 11,304,251 | 7,789,760 | 1.7 | % | |||||||||||
Capstone Nutrition | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Capstone Nutrition | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Central States Dermatology Services, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 4/20/2022 | 7.83 | % | 1,087,248 | 1,087,248 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
Central States Dermatology Services, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 4/20/2022 | 7.83 | % | 155,930 | 155,930 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
Comfort Holding, LLC | Consumer goods: Durable | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 2/3/2025 | 11.23 | % | 1,000,000 | 850,200 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
CP OPCO, LLC | Services: Consumer | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan B | 3/31/2019 | 9.75 | % | 1,244,335 | 338,459 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
CP OPCO, LLC | Services: Consumer | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan C | 3/31/2019 | 12.75 | % | 9,088,659 | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
CP OPCO, LLC | Services: Consumer | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan D | 3/31/2019 | 10.75 | % | 5,297,476 | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
CP OPCO, LLC | Services: Consumer | Preferred Equity | 3/31/2019 | 7.75 | % | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
CP OPCO, LLC | Services: Consumer | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
CPI International, Inc. | Aerospace & Defense | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 7/26/2025 | 8.49 | % | 5,000,000 | 4,975,000 | 1.1 | % |
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Name of Portfolio Company | Sector | Security Owned by Us | Maturity | Interest Rate(1) | Principal Due at Maturity | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | |||||||||||||
Crow Precision Components, LLC | Aerospace & Defense | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/30/2019 | 9.80 | % | 13,277,500 | 13,246,962 | 2.9 | % | |||||||||||
Crow Precision Components, LLC | Aerospace & Defense | Equity | — | 273,808 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
CT Technologies Intermediate Holdings, Inc. | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 12/1/2022 | 10.24 | % | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan A | 11/10/2019 | 10.00 | % | 4,005,143 | 4,005,143 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan B | 11/10/2019 | 12.50 | % | 14,732,716 | 14,732,716 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||||
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan C | 11/10/2019 | 13.75 | % | 12,751,998 | 6,375,999 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan D | 11/10/2019 | 14.75 | % | 11,956,119 | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Dream Finders Homes, LLC | Construction & Building | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan B | 10/1/2018 | 15.80 | % | 3,460,972 | 3,495,581 | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||
Dream Finders Homes, LLC | Construction & Building | Preferred Equity | 8.00 | % | 3,571,500 | 3,571,500 | 0.8 | % | ||||||||||||
Dynamic Energy Services International LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 6/6/2018 | 14.68 | % | 18,201,153 | 15,492,821 | 3.4 | % | |||||||||||
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc. | Capital Equipment | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 7/18/2025 | 8.56 | % | 1,519,149 | 1,503,957 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc. | Capital Equipment | Senior Secured Second Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 7/18/2025 | 8.58 | % | 21,702 | 19,894 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
FKI Security Group, LLC | Capital Equipment | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 3/30/2020 | 9.80 | % | 11,656,250 | 11,656,250 | 2.5 | % | |||||||||||
Footprint Acquisition, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 2/27/2020 | 9.24 | % | 5,117,626 | 5,117,626 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||
Footprint Acquisition, LLC | Services: Business | Preferred Equity | 8.75 | % | 6,124,188 | 5,427,255 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Footprint Acquisition, LLC | Services: Business | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Freedom Powersports, LLC | Automotive | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/26/2019 | 11.50 | % | 12,410,000 | 12,517,967 | 2.7 | % | |||||||||||
Friedrich Holdings, Inc. | Construction & Building | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 2/7/2023 | 8.25 | % | 10,000,000 | 10,094,000 | 2.2 | % | |||||||||||
Global Accessories Group, LLC | Consumer goods: Non-durable | Equity | — | 151,339 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Harrison Gypsum, LLC | Construction & Building | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 12/21/2018 | 11.00 | % | 52,137,471 | 50,667,194 | 11.0 | % | |||||||||||
Heligear Acquisition Co. | Aerospace & Defense | Senior Secured First Lien Note | 10/15/2019 | 10.25 | % | 20,000,000 | 20,478,000 | 4.4 | % | |||||||||||
Imagine! Print Solutions LLC | Media: Advertising, Printing & Publishing | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 6/21/2023 | 10.09 | % | 3,000,000 | 2,955,000 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||
Impact Sales, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 12/30/2021 | 8.30 | % | 2,605,312 | 2,621,986 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||
Impact Sales, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 12/30/2021 | 8.30 | % | 119,711 | 125,307 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
InterFlex Acquisition Company, LLC | Containers, Packaging & Glass | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 8/18/2022 | 9.24 | % | 14,812,500 | 14,812,500 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||||
JD Norman Industries, Inc. | Automotive | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 3/6/2019 | 13.49 | % | 20,100,000 | 20,071,860 | 4.4 | % | |||||||||||
JFL-NGS Partners, LLC | Construction & Building | Preferred Equity - A-2 Preferred | 3.00 | % | 30,552,190 | 30,552,190 | 6.6 | % |
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Name of Portfolio Company | Sector | Security Owned by Us | Maturity | Interest Rate(1) | Principal Due at Maturity | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | |||||||||||||
JFL-NGS Partners, LLC | Construction & Building | Preferred Equity - A-1 Preferred | 3.00 | % | 3,953,700 | 3,953,700 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||||
JFL-NGS Partners, LLC | Construction & Building | Equity | — | 63,603 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
L & S Plumbing Partnership, Ltd. | Construction & Building | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 2/15/2022 | 9.82 | % | 21,234,375 | 21,412,744 | 4.7 | % | |||||||||||
Lighting Science Group Corporation | Containers, Packaging & Glass | Senior Secured Second Lien Term | 2/19/2019 | 13.32 | % | 13,865,893 | 13,386,133 | 2.9 | % | |||||||||||
Lighting Science Group Corporation | Containers, Packaging & Glass | Warrants | 2/19/2024 | — | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||
MCC Senior Loan Strategy JV I LLC | Multisector Holdings | Equity | — | 56,137,946 | 12.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Merchant Cash and Capital, LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan | 5/31/2017 | 16.00 | % | 4,915,635 | 4,915,635 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||
Merchant Cash and Capital, LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 5/4/2017 | 17.00 | % | 15,519,966 | 7,759,983 | 1.7 | % | |||||||||||
Nation Safe Drivers Holdings, Inc. | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 9/29/2020 | 10.00 | % | 35,278,846 | 35,278,846 | 7.7 | % | |||||||||||
NVTN LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 11/9/2020 | 5.24 | % | 3,505,990 | 3,505,990 | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||
NVTN LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan B | 11/9/2020 | 10.49 | % | 10,604,502 | 10,604,502 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||
NVTN LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan C | 11/9/2020 | 13.24 | % | 6,518,046 | 6,518,046 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||
NVTN LLC | Hotel, Gaming & Leisure | Equity | — | 9,550,922 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
OmniVere, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 5/5/2019 | 14.32 | % | 25,470,636 | 24,500,205 | 5.3 | % | |||||||||||
OmniVere, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 5/5/2019 | 8.00 | % | 1,409,669 | 1,409,669 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||
OmniVere, LLC | Services: Business | Unsecured Debt | 7/24/2025 | 8.00 | % | 26,666,961 | — | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||
OmniVere, LLC | Services: Business | Equity | — | — | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Oxford Mining Company, LLC | Metals & Mining | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 12/31/2018 | 12.83 | % | 21,127,331 | 21,127,331 | 4.6 | % | |||||||||||
Path Medical, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 10/11/2021 | 10.80 | % | 8,459,113 | 8,503,947 | 1.8 | % | |||||||||||
Path Medical, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan A | 10/11/2021 | 10.80 | % | 2,808,500 | 2,823,385 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||
Path Medical, LLC | Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | Warrants | 1/9/2027 | — | 83,018 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||
Point.360 | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 7/8/2020 | 7.32 | % | 2,085,870 | 1,844,534 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||
Point.360 | Services: Business | Equity | — | 38,343 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Point.360 | Services: Business | Warrants | 7/8/2020 | — | 21,103 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||
Prince Mineral Holding Corp. | Wholesale | Senior Secured First Lien Note | 12/15/2019 | 11.50 | % | 6,800,000 | 7,066,560 | 1.5 | % | |||||||||||
Reddy Ice Corporation | Beverage & Food | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 11/1/2019 | 10.81 | % | 17,000,000 | 16,117,700 | 3.5 | % | |||||||||||
SavATree, LLC | Environmental Industries | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 6/2/2022 | 6.58 | % | 1,330,000 | 1,330,000 | 0.3 | % |
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Name of Portfolio Company | Sector | Security Owned by Us | Maturity | Interest Rate(1) | Principal Due at Maturity | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | |||||||||||||
Sendero Drilling Company, LLC | Energy: Oil & Gas | Warrants | 3/18/2019 | — | 2,188,676 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Seotowncenter, Inc. | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/11/2019 | 10.30 | % | 23,697,976 | 23,697,976 | 5.1 | % | |||||||||||
Seotowncenter, Inc. | Services: Business | Equity | — | 419,731 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
SFP Holding, Inc. | Construction & Building | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/1/2022 | 7.57 | % | 6,222,222 | 6,222,222 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||
SFP Holding, Inc. | Construction & Building | Equity | — | 600,000 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Ship Supply Acquisition Corporation | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 7/31/2020 | 9.31 | % | 7,648,798 | 7,337,492 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||
SMART Financial Operations, LLC | Retail | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 11/22/2021 | 11.32 | % | 2,775,000 | 2,848,500 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||
SMART Financial Operations, LLC | Retail | Equity | — | 735,000 | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
SRS Software, LLC | High Tech Industries | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 2/17/2022 | 8.33 | % | 7,462,500 | 7,527,424 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||
Stancor, Inc. | Services: Business | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 8/19/2019 | 9.74 | % | 4,346,364 | 4,346,364 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
Stancor, Inc. | Services: Business | Equity | — | 205,775 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Starfish Holdco, LLC | High Tech Industries | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 8/18/2025 | 10.31 | % | 4,000,000 | 3,940,000 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
Taylored Freight Services, LLC | Services: Business | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 11/1/2017 | 13.00 | % | 14,895,052 | 14,895,052 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||||
The Plastics Group, Inc. | Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 2/28/2019 | 13.00 | % | 21,755,233 | 18,992,318 | 4.1 | % | |||||||||||
Trans-Fast Remittance LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 12/2/2021 | 9.24 | % | 3,567,857 | 3,661,282 | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||
Trans-Fast Remittance LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Revolving Credit Facility | 12/2/2021 | 9.24 | % | 1,875,000 | 1,875,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||
URT Acquisition Holdings Corporation | Services: Business | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 5/2/2022 | 10.00 | % | 14,966,563 | 14,966,563 | 3.3 | % | |||||||||||
URT Acquisition Holdings Corporation | Services: Business | Preferred Equity | 12.00 | % | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||||||
URT Acquisition Holdings Corporation | Services: Business | Equity | — | 12,937,518 | 2.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
US Multifamily, LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 9/10/2019 | 10.00 | % | 6,670,000 | 6,670,000 | 1.5 | % | |||||||||||
US Multifamily, LLC | Banking, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | Equity | — | 3,330,000 | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||||||
Velocity Pooling Vehicle, LLC | Automotive | Senior Secured First Lien Term Loan | 5/14/2021 | 5.50 | % | 1,958,668 | 1,091,958 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
Velocity Pooling Vehicle, LLC | Automotive | Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan | 5/13/2022 | 8.67 | % | 24,000,000 | 4,080,000 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
Watermill-QMC Midco, Inc. | Automotive | Equity | — | 672,213 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Wheels Up Partners LLC | Aerospace & Defense | Senior Secured First Lien Delayed Draw | 10/15/2021 | 9.85 | % | 14,676,659 | 14,676,659 | 3.2 | % |
(1) | All interest is payable in cash and/or PIK, and all London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") represents 1, 3, and 6 Month LIBOR unless otherwise indicated. For each debt investment, we have provided the current interest rate as of September 30, 2017. |
14
As of September 30, 2017, our income-bearing investment portfolio, which represented nearly 80.9% of our total portfolio, had a weighted average yield based upon cost of our portfolio investments of approximately 10.8%, and 83.5% of our income-bearing investment portfolio bore interest based on floating rates, such as LIBOR, and 16.5% bore interest at fixed rates. As of September 30, 2017, the weighted average yield based upon cost of our total portfolio was approximately 8.7%. The weighted average yield on income producing investments is computed based upon a combination of the cash flows to date and the contractual interest payments, principal amortization and fee notes due at maturity without giving effect to closing fees received, base management fees, incentive fees or general fund related expenses. Each floating rate loan uses LIBOR as its floating rate index. For each floating rate loan, the projected fixed-rate equivalent coupon rate used to forecast the interest cash flows was calculated by adding the interest rate spread specified in the relevant loan document to the fixed-rate equivalent LIBOR rate, duration-matched to the specific loan, adjusted by the LIBOR floor and/or cap in place on that loan.
Overview of Portfolio Companies
Set forth below is a brief description of the business of our portfolio companies as of September 30, 2017
Portfolio Company | Brief Description of Portfolio Company | |
3SI Security Systems, Inc. | 3SI Security Systems, Inc., headquartered in Malvern, PA, provides, monitors and services a comprehensive range of technologically-advanced asset tracking and tracing solutions primarily for financial institutions, retail and law enforcement organizations. | |
AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC | AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC (“AAR”) provides field support services to oil and gas independent producers, drilling companies and midstream companies in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, with headquarters in the heart of the Wattenberg region in Greeley, CO. AAR builds, repairs, modifies and maintains oil and gas production equipment, sites, wells and pipelines. | |
Access Media Holdings, LLC | Access Media Holdings, LLC (d/b/a Access Media 3, Inc.) headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, is a triple-play provider of digital satellite television, high speed internet and voice services to the residential multi-dwelling unit market in the United States. | |
Accupac, Inc. | Accupac, Inc., headquartered in Mainland, PA, is a contract manufacturer and packager of liquids, lotions, gels, and creams selling to the over-the counter and prescription markets. | |
Advanced Diagnostic Holdings, LLC | Advanced Diagnostic Holdings, LLC, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Tampa, FL, is a provider of specialty neuro and musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging services to physicians and chiropractors. | |
American Dental Partners, Inc. | American Dental Partners, Inc., founded in 1995 and headquartered in Wakefield, MA, provides dental groups with critical administrative functions, enabling dentists to focus on clinical care. | |
Autosplice, Inc. | Autosplice, Inc. (“Autosplice”), founded in 1954 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, is a global supplier of highly engineered, mission-critical electrical interconnectors to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Autosplice serves a wide variety of end-markets, providing the automotive, industrial, telecommunications, medical, transportation, consumer, and other applications. | |
Avantor Performance Materials Holdings, LLC | Avantor Performance Materials Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Center Valley, PA, is a global market leader in Life Sciences, focused on the development, manufacture and marketing of customized specialty products used in the production of biopharmaceuticals as well as research and disease diagnoses. | |
Barry's Bootcamp Holdings, LLC | Barry’s Bootcamp Holdings, LLC, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, is a leading boutique fitness studio operator offering hour-long workouts that focus on high-intensity interval training, cardio, and strength training. | |
Be Green Packaging, LLC | Be Green Packaging, LLC, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Thousand Oaks, CA, designs and manufactures sustainable, tree-free, molded fiber products and packaging for the food service and consumer packaged goods end markets. | |
Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC | Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Los Altos, CA, operates restaurants across six states including California, Arizona, Alaska, New Mexico, Washington, and Hawaii. | |
Brantley Transportation LLC | Brantley Transportation LLC, (“Brantley”) based in Monahans, TX, was founded more than 50 years ago and is a provider of mission-critical transportation services to energy producers and drilling companies in the upstream and midstream energy markets. Brantley leverages its fleet of trucks, trailers, cranes and related specialized heavy equipment to provide its customers with customized services involving drilling rig transportation and field services, which includes the disassembly, transportation, and reassembly of drilling rigs and related equipment as well as production services. | |
Capstone Nutrition | Capstone Nutrition ("Capstone") which is headquartered in Ogden, UT is a pure-play developer and manufacturer in the nutrition industry. Since 1992, Capstone has been developing, producing, and packaging capsule, tablet, and powder products for a variety of customers in the United States and Internationally. | |
Central States Dermatology Services, LLC | Central States Dermatology Services, LLC, headquartered in Dayton, OH, serves dermatology clinics throughout Ohio. | |
Comfort Holding, LLC | Comfort Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Red Bank, NJ, is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative Flexible Polyurethane Foam products, primarily for use in the bedding industry. | |
CP OPCO, LLC | CP OPCO, LLC, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Inglewood, CA, offers a broad portfolio of event rental products and temporary structures with value-added event services. | |
CPI International, Inc. | CPI International, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. develops and manufactures microwave, radio frequency, power, and control products for critical communications, defense and medical applications. | |
Crow Precision Components, LLC | Crow Precision Components, LLC is a Fort Worth, TX based forger of aluminum and steel used for mission critical aircraft components, among other end markets. |
15
Portfolio Company | Brief Description of Portfolio Company | |
CT Technologies Intermediate Holdings, Inc. | CT Technologies Intermediate Holdings, Inc, founded in 1976 and located in Alpharetta, GA, is a provider of outsourced release-of-information services, which involves the interaction between healthcare providers, who possess protected medical information, and authorized requestors, who are entitled to receive that information for various commercial, legal, or personal purposes. | |
DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc. | DHISCO Electronic Distribution, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, TX, is a full service platform that assists lodging providers in the distribution of hotel information to end consumers through various distribution channels. | |
Dream Finders Homes, LLC | Dream Finders Homes, LLC ("DFH"), founded in 2009 and headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, is a residential homebuilder currently operating in the greater Jacksonville, FL market. DFH builds both single-family homes and townhomes, and is developing and building units in a number of attractive communities across Clay County, St. John’s County, and Nassau County. | |
Dynamic Energy Services International LLC | Dynamic Energy Services International LLC, headquartered in Wayne, PA, is a provider of full-service fabrication, construction and maintenance services to a broad range of worldwide markets including oil and gas, industrial and petrochemical markets. | |
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc. | Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, designs and assembles packaging, material handling and food processing equipment for a number of industries, including food and beverage, consumer products, e-commerce and distribution, retail, and agriculture and produce. | |
FKI Security Group, LLC | FKI Security Group, LLC, founded in 1951 and headquartered in New Albany, IN, is a global manufacturer and national service provider of security, safety and asset protection products used in a variety of industries, including the financial services, government, retail, education, and medical end markets. | |
Footprint Acquisition, LLC | Footprint Acquisition, LLC, headquartered in Lisle, IL, is a provider of in store merchandising and logistics solutions to major retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers. | |
Freedom Powersports, LLC | Freedom Powersports, LLC, headquartered in Weatherford, TX and founded in 2013, is a powersports dealer with locations in Texas, Georgia and Alabama. | |
Friedrich Holdings, Inc. | Friedrich Holdings, Inc., founded in 1883 and headquartered in San Antonio, TX, engineers and manufactures high-performance in-room air conditioning products. | |
Global Accessories Group, LLC | Global Accessories Group, LLC, headquartered in New York City, designs, manufactures, and sells custom-themed jewelry and accessory collections. These collections are tailored to leading retailers in the specialty, department store, off-price and juniors markets. | |
Harrison Gypsum, LLC | Harrison Gypsum, LLC, (“Harrison”) founded in 1955 and headquartered in Norman, OK, mines and processes gypsum and plaster in OK and TX. Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits and primarily used to create drywall as a finish in walls and ceilings. Harrison has successfully been able to develop and market gypsum to a diverse set of end markets, including building products, oil and gas, infrastructure, food/pharmaceuticals, in addition to other industries and associated freight, with products such as fines, filler, plaster, retarder rock, food/pharmaceutical grade gypsum and road rock. | |
Heligear Acquisition Co. | Heligear Acquisition Co. (d/b/a Northstar Aerospace, Inc) headquartered in Bedford Park, IL is an independent manufacturer of flight-critical aerospace gears and power transmission systems for domestic and international military and commercial aircraft applications. | |
Imagine! Print Solutions LLC | Imagine! Print Solutions LLC., founded in 1988 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, is a provider of in-store marketing solutions in North America providing comprehensive in-store, point-of-purchase / point of sale marketing campaigns. | |
Impact Sales, LLC | Impact Sales, LLC is a Boise, Idaho based sales and marketing agency providing outsourced sales, marketing and merchandising services to consumer packaged goods manufacturers. | |
InterFlex Acquisition Company, LLC | InterFlex Acquisition Company, LLC, headquartered in Wilkesboro, NC, is a comprehensive provider of specialized printed and converted flexible packaging solutions for food and consumer packaged goods producers throughout the USA and UK. | |
JD Norman Industries, Inc. | JD Norman Industries, Inc., founded in 2004 and headquartered in Addison, IL, is a manufacturer of engineered value-added metal components and systems including stampings, wire forms, machined components, coiled springs, and assemblies. | |
JFL-NGS Partners, LLC | JFL-NGS Partners, LLC (d/b/a NorthStar Group Services, Inc.), is a one-stop provider of demolition and environmental remediation services including demolition, asset & scrap recovery, abatement of asbestos, lead, and mold, and disaster response. | |
L & S Plumbing Partnership, Ltd. | L & S Plumbing Partnership, Ltd, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Richardson, TX, is a provider of plumbing, electrical and HVAC installation services for new single family home development in Texas. | |
Lighting Science Group Corporation | Lighting Science Group Corporation (“LSG”), headquartered in Satellite Beach, FL, is one of the world’s light emitting diode (“LED”) lighting technology companies. LSG designs, develops and markets general illumination products that exclusively use LEDs as their light source. The LSG’s broad product portfolio includes LED-based retrofit lamps (replacement bulbs) used in existing light fixtures as well as purpose-built LED-based luminaires (light fixtures). | |
MCC Senior Loan Strategy JV I LLC | MCC Senior Loan Strategy JV I LLC commenced operations on July 15, 2015 and generates current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in the debt of privately-held middle market companies in the United States with a focus on senior secured first lien term loans (see Note 3 "Investments" in Item 8. "Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"). | |
Merchant Cash and Capital, LLC | Merchant Cash and Capital, LLC, founded in 2005 and headquartered in New York, NY, is a specialty finance firm that provides cash advances to merchants by purchasing a percentage of the merchant‘s future credit card receivables at a discount. | |
Nation Safe Drivers Holdings, Inc. | Nation Safe Drivers Holdings, Inc. headquartered in Boca Raton, FL is a provider of towing and roadside assistance services as well as supplemental insurance related products. |
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Portfolio Company | Brief Description of Portfolio Company | |
NVTN LLC | NVTN LLC (d/b/a “Dick’s Last Resort”), established in 1985 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, operates company owned restaurants and earns a licensing fee on licensed restaurants located throughout the United States. Dick’s Last Resort has developed an identifiable brand for its unique casual dining restaurant concept that targets tourists and business travelers in high foot traffic locations. | |
OmniVere, LLC | OmniVere, LLC headquartered in Chicago, IL is a full service eDiscovery company that serves as a true end-to-end service provider in the eDiscovery industry. | |
Oxford Mining Company, LLC | Oxford Mining Company, LLC (d/b/a Westmoreland Resource Partners, L.P.), headquartered in Columbus, OH, is a producer of high-value thermal coal and surface-mined coal. | |
Path Medical, LLC | Path Medical, LLC, founded in 1993, is a provider of fully-integrated acute trauma treatment and diagnostic imaging solutions to patients injured in automobile and non-work related accidents throughout Florida. | |
Point.360 | Point.360 (OTC: PTSX) headquartered in Los Angeles, CA is a publicly traded, full-service content management company with several facilities strategically located throughout Los Angeles supporting all aspects of postproduction. | |
Prince Mineral Holding Corp. | Prince Mineral Holding Corp. (“Prince Mineral") headquartered in New York, NY is a global value-added distributor of specialty mineral products and niche industrial additives. Prince Mineral sources, processes and distributes its products for use in brick, glass, agriculture, foundry, refractory and steel, oil and gas and coal end markets. | |
Reddy Ice Corporation | Reddy Ice Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, TX is a manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice in the USA. | |
SavATree, LLC | SavATree LLC, headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, is a leading provider of residential tree and shrub maintenance, professional lawn care, and outdoor residential services with over twenty branches throughout the Eastern and Midwestern regions of the United States. | |
Sendero Drilling Company, LLC | Sendero Drilling Company, LLC, founded in 2010 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources, is a land drilling contractor headquartered in San Angelo, TX. | |
Seotowncenter, Inc. | Seotowncenter, Inc., founded in 2009 and based in Lehi, UT, is a tech-enabled business services company that delivers white label search engine optimization and local search and digital campaign fulfillment to the small and midsize business market. | |
SFP Holding, Inc. | SFP Holdings, Inc., founded in 1999 and headquartered in St. Paul, MN, is a provider of fire and life safety security systems. | |
Ship Supply Acquisition Corporation | Ship Supply Acquisition Corporation, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Miami, FL, is a logistics services business that provides products and maritime services for commercial and military marine vessels through four segments: (i) global logistics services, (ii) comprehensive husbandry services, (iii) full service vessel management to large passenger-carrying vessels, and (iv) fuel broker services. | |
SMART Financial Operations, LLC | SMART Financial Operations, LLC, headquartered in Orlando, FL, is a specialty retail platform initially comprised of three distinct retail pawn store chains and a pawn industry consulting firm. | |
SRS Software, LLC | SRS Software, LLC, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Montvale, NJ, is a leading provider of electronic health record and health information technology to high volume, specialty physicians. | |
Stancor, Inc. | Stancor, Inc., founded in 1985 and based out of Monroe, CT, is a designer and manufacturer of electric submersible pumps, control, accessories, and parts. | |
Starfish Holdco, LLC | Starfish Holdco, LLC (d/b/a Syncsort) through its subsidiaries will be a global software company specializing in Big Data, high speed sorting products, data protection, data quality and integration software and services, for mainframe, power systems and open system environments to enterprise customers. | |
Taylored Freight Services, LLC | Taylored Freight Services, LLC, founded in 1992 and based in Los Angeles, CA, is a port-based, third-party logistics provider that specializes in warehousing, fulfillment, transportation and related value-added services to support the global supply chains of manufacturers and importers of apparel, accessories, toys and sporting goods. | |
The Plastics Group, Inc. | The Plastics Group, Inc. ("TPG"), founded in 1997 and based in Willowbrook, IL, is a full-service manufacturer of blow molded plastic components and systems for a targeted set of growing applications and end markets. TPG operates two complementary businesses: a custom business serving original equipment manufacturer customers and a proprietary line of consumer products sold through retailers and distributors. | |
Trans-Fast Remittance LLC | Trans-Fast Remittance LLC, founded in 1988 and based in New York, NY, is a cross-border money remittance provider. | |
URT Acquisition Holdings Corporation | URT Acqusition Holdings Corporation (d/b/a United Road Towing or “URT”) headquartered in Moneka, IL is an integrated towing company in the United States. URT provides a complete range of towing, vehicle storage and vehicle auction services. | |
US Multifamily, LLC | US Multifamily, LLC (“US Multifamily”) is a real estate private equity firm headquartered in Atlantic Beach, FL, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. US Multifamily is focused on distressed multifamily assets primarily located in the Southeastern region of the United States. | |
Velocity Pooling Vehicle, LLC | Velocity Pooling Vehicle, LLC, headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, is a manufacturer comprised of a group of highly recognizable brands serving nearly all product categories in the powersports aftermarket industry and a distributor of proprietary and sourced brands to a variety of dealers and retailers. | |
Watermill-QMC Midco, Inc. | Watermill-QMC Midco, Inc. (d/b/a Quality Metalcraft, Inc.), founded in 1964 and headquartered in Livonia, MI, is a provider of complex assemblies for specialty automotive production, prototype and factory assist applications. | |
Wheels Up Partners LLC | Wheels Up Partners LLC, founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York, NY, is the first membership based private aviation club. |
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THE ADVISER
MCC Advisors serves as our investment adviser and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). Subject to the overall supervision of our board of directors, MCC Advisors manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment advisory and management services to us pursuant to an investment management agreement by and between the Company and MCC Advisors.
Investment Management Agreement
Under the terms of our investment management agreement, MCC Advisors:
• | determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes; |
• | identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments we make (including performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies); and |
• | executes, closes, monitors and administers the investments we make, including the exercise of any voting or consent rights. |
MCC Advisors’ services under the investment management agreement are not exclusive, and it is free to furnish similar services to other entities so long as its services to us are not impaired.
Pursuant to our investment management agreement, we pay MCC Advisors a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of a base management fee and a two-part incentive fee.
On December 3, 2015, MCC Advisors recommended and, in consultation with the Board, agreed to reduce fees under the investment management agreement. Beginning January 1, 2016, the base management fee was reduced to 1.50% on gross assets above $1 billion. In addition, MCC Advisors reduced its incentive fee from 20% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over an 8% hurdle, to 17.5% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over a 6% hurdle. Moreover, the revised incentive fee includes a netting mechanism and is subject to a rolling three-year look back from January 1, 2016 forward. Under no circumstances will the new fee structure result in higher fees to MCC Advisors than fees under the prior investment management agreement.
The following discussion of our base management fee and two-part incentive fee reflect the terms of the fee waiver agreement executed by MCC Advisors on February 8, 2016 (the “Fee Waiver Agreement”). The terms of the Fee Waiver Agreement are effective as of January 1, 2016, and are a permanent reduction in the base management fee and incentive fee on net investment income payable to MCC Advisors for the investment advisory and management services it provides under the investment management agreement. The Fee Waiver Agreement does not change the second component of the incentive fee, which is the incentive fee on capital gains.
Base Management Fee
For providing investment advisory and management services to us, MCC Advisors receives a base management fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% (0.4375% per quarter) of up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s gross assets and 1.50% (0.375% per quarter) of any amounts over $1.0 billion of the Company’s gross assets, and is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee will be calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters and will be appropriately pro-rated for any partial quarter.
Incentive Fee The incentive fee has two components, as follows:
Incentive Fee Based on Income
The first component of the incentive fee is payable quarterly in arrears and is based on our pre-incentive fee net investment income earned during the calendar quarter for which the incentive fee is being calculated. MCC Advisors is entitled to receive the incentive fee on net investment income from us if our Ordinary Income (as defined below) exceeds a quarterly “hurdle rate” of 1.5%. The hurdle amount is calculated after making appropriate adjustments to the Company’s net assets, as determined as of the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter, in order to account for any capital raising or other capital actions as a result of any issuances by the Company of its common stock (including issuances pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan), any repurchase by the Company of its own common stock, and any dividends paid by the Company, each as may have occurred during the relevant quarter.
Beginning with the calendar quarter that commenced on January 1, 2016, the incentive fee on net investment income will be determined and paid quarterly in arrears at the end of each calendar quarter by reference to our aggregate net investment income, as adjusted as described below, from the calendar quarter then ending and the eleven preceding calendar quarters (or if shorter, the number of quarters that have occurred since January 1, 2016). We refer to such period as the “Trailing Twelve Quarters.”
The hurdle amount for the incentive fee on net investment income is determined on a quarterly basis, and is equal to 1.5% multiplied by the Company’s net asset value at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The hurdle amount is calculated after making appropriate adjustments to the Company’s net assets, as determined as of the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter, in order to account for any capital raising or other capital actions as a result of any issuances by the Company of its common stock (including issuances pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan), any repurchase by the Company of its own common stock, and any dividends paid by the Company, each as may have occurred during the relevant quarter. The incentive fee for any partial period will be appropriately prorated. Any incentive fee on net investment income will be paid to MCC Advisors on a quarterly basis, and will be based on the amount by which (A) aggregate net investment income (“Ordinary Income”) in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds (B) the hurdle amount for such Trailing Twelve Quarters. The amount of the excess of (A) over (B) described in this paragraph for such Trailing Twelve Quarters is referred to as the “Excess Income Amount.” For the avoidance of doubt,
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Ordinary Income is net of all fees and expenses, including the base management fee but excluding any incentive fee on Pre-Incentive Fee net investment income or on the Company’s capital gains.
Quarterly Incentive Fee Based on Net Investment Income
The incentive fee on net investment income for each quarter is determined as follows:
· No incentive fee on net investment income is payable to MCC Advisors for any calendar quarter for which there is no Excess Income Amount;
· 100% of the Ordinary Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle amount, but is less than or equal to an amount, which we refer to as the “Catch-up Amount,” determined as the sum of 1.8182% multiplied by the Company’s net assets at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter, as adjusted as noted above, comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters is included in the calculation of the incentive fee on net investment income; and
· 17.5% of the Ordinary Income that exceeds the Catch-up Amount is included in the calculation of the incentive fee on net investment income.
The amount of the incentive fee on net investment income that will be paid to MCC Advisors for a particular quarter will equal the excess of the incentive fee so calculated minus the aggregate incentive fees on net investment income that were paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or the portion thereof) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters but not in excess of the Incentive Fee Cap (as described below).
The incentive fee on net investment income that is paid to MCC Advisors for a particular quarter is subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”). The Incentive Fee Cap for any quarter is an amount equal to (a) 17.5% of the Cumulative Net Return (as defined below) during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (b) the aggregate incentive fees on net investment income that were paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or the portion thereof) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters.
“Cumulative Net Return” means (x) the Ordinary Income in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (y) any Net Capital Loss (as described below), if any, in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is zero or a negative value, the Company will pay no incentive fee on net investment income to MCC Advisors for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is a positive value but is less than the incentive fee on net investment income that is payable to MCC Advisors for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, the Company will pay an incentive fee on net investment income to MCC Advisors equal to the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is equal to or greater than the incentive fee on net investment income that is payable to MCC Advisors for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, the Company will pay an incentive fee on net investment income to MCC Advisors, calculated as described above, for such quarter without regard to the Incentive Fee Cap.
“Net Capital Loss” in respect of a particular period means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses, whether realized or unrealized, and dilution to the Company’s net assets due to capital raising or capital actions, in such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains, whether realized or unrealized and accretion to the Company’s net assets due to capital raising or capital action, in such period.
Dilution to the Company’s net assets due to capital raising is calculated, in the case of issuances of common stock, as the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted over the transaction price per share, multiplied by the number of shares issued. Accretion to the Company’s net assets due to capital raising is calculated, in the case of issuances of common stock (including issuances pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan), as the excess of the transaction price per share over the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted, multiplied by the number of shares issued. Accretion to the Company’s net assets due to other capital action is calculated, in the case of repurchases by the Company of its own common stock, as the excess of the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted over the transaction price per share multiplied by the number of shares repurchased by the Company.
For the avoidance of doubt, the purpose of the new incentive fee calculation under the Fee Waiver Agreement is to permanently reduce aggregate fees payable to MCC Advisors by the Company, effective as of January 1, 2016. In order to ensure that the Company will pay MCC Advisors lesser aggregate fees on a cumulative basis, as calculated beginning January 1, 2016, at the end of each quarter, we also calculate the base management fee and incentive fee on net investment income owed by the Company to MCC Advisors based on the formula in place prior to January 1, 2016. If, at any time beginning January 1, 2016, the aggregate fees on a cumulative basis, as calculated based on the formula in place after January 1, 2016, would be greater than the aggregate fees on a cumulative basis, as calculated based on the formula in place prior to January 1, 2016, MCC Advisors shall only be entitled to the lesser of those two amounts.
The second component of the incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment management agreement as of the termination date) and equals 20.0% of our cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less cumulative realized capital losses, unrealized capital depreciation (unrealized depreciation on a gross investment-by-investment basis at the end of each calendar year) and all capital gains upon which prior performance-based capital gains incentive fee payments were previously made to the investment adviser.
Under GAAP, the Company calculates the second component of the incentive fee as if the Company had realized all assets at their fair values as of the reporting date. Accordingly, the Company accrues a provisional capital gains incentive fee taking into account any unrealized gains or losses. As the provisional capital gains incentive fee is subject to the performance of investments until there is a realization event, the amount of the provisional capital gains incentive fee accrued at a reporting date may vary from the capital gains incentive that is ultimately realized and the differences could be material.
For the year ended September 30, 2017, the Company incurred net base management fees payable to MCC Advisors of $17.7 million and $0.9 million of incentive fees related to pre-incentive fee net investment income.
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The following is a graphical representation of the calculation of the income-related portion of the incentive fee effective as of January 1, 2016 pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement:
Pre-incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(Expressed as a Percentage of the Value of Net Assets)
Examples of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculation
Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee:
• | Quarter 1 |
• | Net Asset Value at the start of Quarter 1 = $100.0 million (1 million shares) |
• | Quarter 1 Ordinary Income = $5.0 million |
• | Quarter 1 Issue 1 million shares at $101 per share = $1.0 million |
• | Quarter 1 Capital Gain = $1.0 million |
• | Quarter 1 Hurdle Amount = $1.5 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.5% hurdle rate) |
• | Quarter 1 Catchup Amount = $1.81818 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.81818% rate) |
• | Quarter 2 |
• | Net Asset Value at the start of Quarter 2 = $100.0 million (1 million shares) |
• | Quarter 2 Ordinary Income = $1.5 million |
• | Quarter 2 Capital Gain = $1.0 million |
• | Quarter 2 Hurdle Amount = $1.5 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.5% hurdle rate) |
• | Quarter 2 Catchup Amount = $1.81818 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.81818% rate) |
• | Quarter 3 |
• | Net Asset Value at the start of Quarter 3 = $100.0 million (1 million shares) |
• | Quarter 3 Ordinary Income = $4.0 million |
• | Quarter 3 Repurchase 500,000 shares at $99 per share = $0.50 million |
• | Quarter 3 Capital Loss = ($8.0) million |
• | Quarter 3 Hurdle Amount = $1.5 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.5% hurdle rate) |
• | Quarter 3 Catchup Amount = $1.81818 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.81818% rate) |
• | Quarter 4 |
• | Net Asset Value at the start of Quarter 4 = $100.0 million (1 million shares) |
• | Quarter 4 Ordinary Income = $4.0 million |
• | Quarter 4 Capital Gain = $3.0 million |
• | Quarter 4 Hurdle Amount = $1.5 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.5% hurdle rate) |
• | Quarter 4 Catchup Amount = $1.81818 million (calculated based on a quarterly 1.81818% rate) |
Determination of Incentive Fee Based on Income:
In Quarter 1, the Ordinary Income of $5.0 million exceeds the Hurdle Amount of $1.50 million and the Catchup Amount of $1.8182 million. There is $2 million of Net Capital Gains, including a capital gain of $1 million and accretion to the Company’s net asset value of $1 million as a result of issuing shares at a transaction price that exceeds the net asset value per share. As a result, an Incentive Fee based on income of $875,000 ((100% of $318,182) + (17.5% of $3,181,818)) is payable to our investment adviser for Quarter 1.
In Quarter 2, the Quarter 2 Ordinary Income of $1.50 million does not exceed the Quarter 2 Hurdle Amount of $1.50 million, but the aggregate Ordinary Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $6.50 million exceeds the aggregate Hurdle Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $3.0 million and the aggregate Catchup Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $3.6364 million. There are no Net Capital Losses. As a result, an Incentive Fee based on income of $262,500 ($1,137,500 (100% of $636,364) + (17.5% of 2,863,636) minus $875,000 paid in Quarter 1) would be payable to our investment adviser for Quarter 2.
In Quarter 3, the aggregate Ordinary Income of the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $10.5 million exceeds the aggregate Hurdle Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $4.5 million and the aggregate Catchup Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $5.4545 million. However, there is an aggregate Net Capital Loss of ($4.5) million for the Trailing Twelve Quarters. As a result, the Incentive Fee Cap would apply. The Incentive Fee Cap equals $(87,500), calculated as follows:
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(17.5% x ($10.5 million minus $4.5 million)) minus $1,137,500 paid in Quarters 1 and 2. Because the Incentive Fee Cap is a negative value, there is no Incentive Fee based on income payable to the adviser for Quarter 3.
In Quarter 4, the aggregate Ordinary Income of the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $14.50 million exceeds the aggregate Hurdle Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $6.0 million and the aggregate Catchup Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters of $7.2727 million. The calculation of the Incentive Fee based on income would be $1.40 million ($2,537,500 (100% of $1,272,727) + (17.5% of $7,227,272) minus $1,137,500 million paid in Quarters 1 and 2). However, there is an aggregate Net Capital Loss of $(1.50) million for the Trailing Twelve Quarters. As a result, the Incentive Fee Cap would apply. The Incentive Fee Cap equals $1,137,500 calculated as follows:
(17.5% X ($14.5 million minus $1.5 million)) minus $1,137,500. Because the Incentive Fee Cap is positive but less than the Incentive Fee based on Income of $1.40 million calculated prior to the Incentive Fee Cap, an Incentive Fee based on Income of $1,137,500 is payable to our investment adviser for Quarter 4.
Example 2: Capital Gains Portion of Incentive Fee:
Alternative 1:
Assumptions
Year 1: $20 million investment made in Company A (“Investment A”), and $30 million investment made in Company B (“Investment B”)
Year 2: Investment A sold for $50 million and fair market value, or FMV, of Investment B determined to be $32 million
Year 3: FMV of Investment B determined to be $25 million
Year 4: Investment B sold for $31 million
The capital gains portion of the incentive fee would be:
Year 1: None
Year 2: Capital gains incentive fee of $6.0 million ($30 million realized capital gains on sale of Investment A multiplied by 20.0%)
Year 3: None; $5.0 million (20.0% multiplied by ($30 million cumulative capital gains less $5 million cumulative capital depreciation)) less $6.0 million (previous capital gains fee paid in Year 2) (the $1.0 million difference would not be deducted from future capital gains incentive fees)
Year 4: Capital gains incentive fee of $200,000; $6.2 million ($31 million cumulative realized capital gains multiplied by 20.0%) less $6.0 million (capital gains fee paid in Year 2)
Alternative 2:
Assumptions
Year 1: $20 million investment made in Company A (“Investment A”), $30 million investment made in Company B (“Investment B”) and $25 million investment made in Company C (“Investment C”)
Year 2: Investment A sold for $50 million, FMV of Investment B determined to be $25 million and FMV of Investment C determined to be $25 million
Year 3: FMV of Investment B determined to be $27 million and Investment C sold for $30 million
Year 4: FMV of Investment B determined to be $35 million
Year 5: Investment B sold for $20 million
The capital gains portion of the incentive fee would be:
Year 1: None
Year 2: Capital gains incentive fee of $5.0 million; 20.0% multiplied by $25 million ($30 million realized capital gains on Investment A less $5 million unrealized capital depreciation on Investment B)
Year 3: Capital gains incentive fee of $1.4 million; $6.4 million (20.0% multiplied by $32 million ($35 million cumulative realized capital gains less $3 million unrealized capital depreciation on Investment B)) less $5.0 million capital gains fee received in Year 2
Year 4: None
Year 5: None; $5.0 million of capital gains incentive fee (20.0% multiplied by $25 million (cumulative realized capital gains of $35 million less realized capital losses of $10 million)) less $6.4 million cumulative capital gains fee paid in Year 2 and Year 3 (the $1.4 million difference would not be deducted from future capital gains incentive fees)
As noted above, in order to ensure that the Company will pay MCC Advisors a lesser base management fee and incentive fee on net investment income on a cumulative basis, as calculated beginning January 1, 2016, the Company will, at the end of each quarter, also calculate the base management fee and incentive fee on net investment income owed by the Company to MCC Advisors based on the formula in place prior to the Fee Waiver Agreement, and pay lesser of those two amounts. Set forth below is a description of the base management fee and the incentive fee on net investment income payable to MCC Advisors prior to the Fee Waiver Agreement.
Base Management Fee — Prior to Fee Waiver Agreement
The base management fee was calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of our gross assets, and is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is based on the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters.
Incentive Fee — Prior to Fee Waiver Agreement
The incentive fee based on net investment income was calculated as 20.0% of the amount, if any, by which our pre-incentive fee net investment income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets calculated as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the calendar quarter for which the incentive fee is being calculated, exceeds a 2.0% (which is 8.0% annualized) hurdle rate but also includes a “‘catch-up’ provision. Under this provision, in any calendar quarter, our investment adviser receives no incentive fee until our net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 2.0%, but then receives, as a “catch-up”, 100% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5%. The effect of this provision is that, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds
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2.5% in any calendar quarter, our investment adviser will receive 20% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply. For this purpose, pre-incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter including the base management fee, expenses payable under the administration agreement, and any interest expense and any dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee. Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash.
Payment of Our Expenses
All investment professionals and staff of MCC Advisors, when, and to the extent, engaged in providing investment advisory and management services to us, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, is provided and paid for by MCC Advisors. We bear all other costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including those relating to:
• | our organization and continued corporate existence; |
• | calculating our net asset value (“NAV”) (including the cost and expenses of any independent valuation firms); |
• | expenses, including travel expense, incurred by MCC Advisors or payable to third parties performing due diligence on prospective portfolio companies, monitoring our investments and, if necessary, enforcing our rights; |
• | interest payable on debt incurred to finance our investments; |
• | the costs of all offerings of common shares and other securities; |
• | the base management fee and any incentive management fee; |
• | distributions on our shares; |
• | administration fees payable under our administration agreement; |
• | the allocated costs incurred by MCC Advisors as our administrator in providing managerial assistance to those portfolio companies that request it; |
• | amounts payable to third parties relating to, or associated with, making investments; |
• | transfer agent and custodial fees; |
• | all registration and listing fees; |
• | U.S. federal, state and local taxes; |
• | independent directors’ fees and expenses; |
• | costs of preparing and filing reports or other documents with the SEC or other regulators; |
• | the costs of any reports, proxy statements or other notices to our stockholders, including printing costs; |
• | our fidelity bond; |
• | directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums; |
• | indemnification payments; |
• | direct costs and expenses of administration, including audit and legal costs; and |
• | all other expenses reasonably incurred by us or MCC Advisors in connection with administering our business, such as the allocable portion of overhead under our administration agreement, including rent and other allocable portions of the cost of our officers and their respective staffs (including travel expenses). |
We reimburse MCC Advisors for costs and expenses incurred for office space rental, office equipment and utilities allocable to the performance by MCC Advisors of its duties under the administration agreement, as well as any costs and expenses incurred relating to any non-investment advisory, administrative or operating services provided to us or in the form of managerial assistance to portfolio companies that request it.
From time to time, MCC Advisors pays amounts owed by us to third party providers of goods or services. We subsequently reimburse MCC Advisors for such amounts paid on our behalf.
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Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
The investment management agreement provides that MCC Advisors and its officers, directors, employees and affiliates are not liable to us or any of our stockholders for any act or omission by it or its employees in the supervision or management of our investment activities or for any loss sustained by us or our stockholders, except that the foregoing exculpation does not extend to any act or omission constituting willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations under the investment management agreement. The investment management agreement also provides for indemnification by us of MCC Advisors’ members, directors, officers, employees, agents and control persons for liabilities incurred by it in connection with their services to us, subject to the same limitations and to certain conditions.
Duration and Termination
The investment management agreement was initially approved by our board of directors on November 3, 2010 and was executed on January 11, 2011. Pursuant to its terms and under the 1940 Act, the investment management agreement had an initial two year term, and then was subject to an annual approval by our board of directors. Unless terminated earlier as described below, it will continue in effect from year to year if approved annually by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not interested persons. The investment management agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. The investment management agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the other. See “Risks — Risks Related to Our Business — We are dependent upon senior management personnel of MCC Advisors for our future success, and if MCC Advisors is unable to retain qualified personnel or if MCC Advisors loses any member of its senior management team, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.”
Annual Board Approval of the Investment Management Agreement
Our board of directors held an in-person meeting on December 5, 2017, in order to consider the annual approval and continuation of our investment management agreement. In its consideration of the investment management agreement, the board of directors focused on information it had received relating to, among other things: (a) the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services to be provided to us by our investment adviser, MCC Advisors; (b) the investment performance of MCC Advisors; (c) comparative data with respect to advisory fees or similar expenses paid by other business development companies with similar investment objectives; (d) our projected operating expenses and expense ratio compared to business development companies with similar investment objectives; (e) any existing and potential sources of indirect income to MCC Advisors, in its capacity as our investment adviser or in its capacity as our administrator, from its relationships with us and the profitability of those relationships; (f) information about the services to be performed and the personnel performing such services under the investment management agreement; (g) the organizational capability and financial condition of MCC Advisors and its affiliates; and (h) various other factors.
Based on the information reviewed and the discussions, the board of directors, including a majority of the non-interested directors, concluded that the investment management fee rates and terms are reasonable in relation to the services to be provided and approved the investment management agreement as being in the best interests of our stockholders. Specifically, the board of directors approved the extension of the investment management agreement for an additional period of one year beginning on January 19, 2018.
Notwithstanding the approval noted above, on December 3, 2015, MCC Advisors recommended and, in consultation with the Board, agreed to reduce fees under the investment management agreement. As of January 1, 2016, the base management fee was reduced to 1.50% on gross assets above $1 billion. In addition, MCC Advisors reduced its incentive fee from 20% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over an 8% hurdle, to 17.5% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over a 6% hurdle. Moreover, the revised incentive fee includes a netting mechanism and is subject to a rolling three-year look back from January 1, 2016 forward. Under no circumstances will the new fee structure result in higher fees to MCC Advisors than fees under the prior investment management agreement.
Administration Agreement
On January 19, 2011, the Company entered into an administration agreement with MCC Advisors. Pursuant to this agreement, MCC Advisors furnishes us with office facilities and equipment, clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services related to the operations of the Company. We reimburse MCC Advisors for our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by it performing its obligations under the administration agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the cost of certain of our officers and their respective staff. From time to time, our administrator may pay amounts owed by us to third-party service providers and we will subsequently reimburse our administrator for such amounts paid on our behalf. For the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015, we incurred $3.8 million, $3.9 million and $4.1 million in administrator expenses, respectively.
Our board of directors approved the continuation of our administration agreement on December 5, 2017, which extended the term of the agreement for an additional period of one year beginning on January 19, 2018. Based on the information relating to the terms of the Administration Agreement and the discussions held, our board of directors, including a majority of the non-interested directors, approved the Administration Agreement as being in the best interests of our stockholders. The administration agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days' written notice to the other party.
License Agreement
We have entered into a license agreement with Medley Capital LLC under which Medley Capital LLC has agreed to grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “Medley”. Under this agreement, we will have a right to use the “Medley” name for so long as MCC Advisors or one of its affiliates remains our investment adviser. Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to the “Medley” name. This license agreement will remain in effect for so long as the investment management agreement with MCC Advisors is in effect.
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REGULATION
General
We have elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to transactions between BDCs and their affiliates (including any investment advisers or sub-advisers), principal underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters and requires that a majority of the directors be persons other than “interested persons”, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. In addition, the 1940 Act provides that we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw our election as, a BDC unless approved by “a majority of our outstanding voting securities.”
We may invest up to 100% of our assets in securities acquired directly from issuers in privately negotiated transactions. We do not intend to acquire securities issued by any investment company that exceed the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. Under these limits, except for registered money market funds we generally cannot acquire more than 3% of the voting stock of any investment company, invest more than 5% of the value of our total assets in the securities of one investment company or invest more than 10% of the value of our total assets in the securities of more than one investment company. With regard to that portion of our portfolio invested in securities issued by investment companies, it should be noted that such investments might subject our stockholders to additional expenses. None of our investment policies are fundamental and any may be changed without stockholder approval.
Qualifying Assets
Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as qualifying assets, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the company’s total assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are the following:
(1) | Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an eligible portfolio company, or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an eligible portfolio company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An eligible portfolio company is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which: |
• | is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States; |
• | is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the Company) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and |
• | satisfies either of the following: |
▪ | has a market capitalization of less than $250 million or does not have any class of securities listed on a national securities exchange; or |
▪ | is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC, the BDC actually exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of the eligible portfolio company, and, as a result thereof, the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the eligible portfolio company. |
(2) | Securities of an eligible portfolio company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and we already own 60% of the outstanding equity of the eligible portfolio company. |
(3) | Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities. |
(4) | Securities of any eligible portfolio company which we control. |
(5) | Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements. |
(6) | Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. |
The regulations defining and interpreting qualifying assets may change over time. We may adjust our investment focus needed to comply with and/or take advantage of any regulatory, legislative, administrative or judicial actions in this area.
Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies
A BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in “Regulation — Qualifying Assets” above. However, in order to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70% test, the BDC must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities (other than small and solvent companies described above) significant managerial assistance. Where the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, the BDC will satisfy this test if one of the other persons in the group makes available such managerial assistance. Making available managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC, through its directors, officers or employees, offers to provide, and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company.
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Temporary Investments
Pending investment in other types of “qualifying assets”, as described above, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. Typically, we will invest in highly rated commercial paper, U.S. Government agency notes, U.S. Treasury bills or in repurchase agreements relating to such securities that are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor, such as us, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, certain diversification tests in order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes will typically require us to limit the amount we invest with any one counterparty. Our investment adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions.
Senior Securities
We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 200% immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any preferred stock or publicly traded debt securities are outstanding, we may be prohibited from making distributions to our stockholders or the repurchasing of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Business—If we use borrowed funds to make investments or fund our business operations, we will be exposed to risks typically associated with leverage which will increase the risk of investing in us.”
On March 26, 2013, our wholly-owned subsidiary, SBIC LP, received a SBIC license from the SBA. In anticipation of receiving an SBIC license, on November 16, 2012, we obtained an exemptive order from the SEC to permit us to exclude the debt of SBIC LP guaranteed by the SBA from from the 200% asset coverage ratio we are required to maintain under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to the 200% asset coverage ratio limitation, we are permitted to borrow one dollar for every dollar we have in assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by debt securities issued by us or loans obtained by us.
The exemptive order provides us with increased flexibility under the 200% asset coverage test by permitting SBIC LP to borrow up to $150 million (the maximum amount of SBA-guaranteed debentures an SBIC may currently have outstanding once certain conditions have been met) more than we would otherwise be able to absent the receipt of this exemptive order. As a result, we would, in effect, be permitted to have a lower asset coverage ratio than the 200% asset coverage ratio limitation under the 1940 Act. For example, we would be able to borrow up to $150 million more than the approximately $403.7 million permitted under the asset coverage ratio limit as of September 30, 2017. For additional information on SBA regulations that will affect our access to SBA-guaranteed debentures, see ‘‘Risk Factors —Risks Relating to Our Business". Our SBIC subsidiary is subject to SBA regulations, and any failure to comply with SBA regulations could have an adverse effect on our operations. SBA regulations currently limit the amount that the SBIC LP may borrow to a maximum of $150 million when it has at least $75 million in regulatory capital, receives a capital commitment from the SBA and has been through an examination by the SBA subsequent to licensing.
Code of Ethics
We and MCC Advisors have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to each code may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the code’s requirements. You may read and copy the code of ethics at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. In addition, the code of ethics is available at our website, www.medleycapitalcorp.com, and is available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of the code of ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Privacy Policy
We are committed to maintaining the privacy of stockholders and to safeguarding our non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.
Generally, we do not receive any nonpublic personal information relating to our stockholders, although certain nonpublic personal information of our stockholders may become available to us. We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our stockholders or former stockholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service stockholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).
We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about our stockholders to our investment adviser’s employees with a legitimate business need for the information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the nonpublic personal information of our stockholders.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
We have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to MCC Advisors. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of MCC Advisors are set forth below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by MCC Advisors and our independent directors, and, accordingly, are subject to change.
MCC Advisors is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, MCC Advisors will have fiduciary duties to us. As part of this duty, MCC Advisors recognizes that it must vote client securities in a timely manner free
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of conflicts of interest and in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. MCC Advisors’ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures have been formulated to ensure decision-making consistent with these fiduciary duties.
These policies and procedures for voting proxies for our investment advisory clients are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.
Proxy Policies
MCC Advisors evaluates routine proxy matters, such as proxy proposals, amendments or resolutions on a case-by-case basis. Routine matters are typically proposed by management and MCC Advisors will normally support such matters so long as they do not measurably change the structure, management control, or operation of the corporation and are consistent with industry standards as well as the corporate laws of the state of incorporation.
MCC Advisors also evaluates non-routine matters on a case-by-case basis. Non-routine proposals concerning social issues are typically proposed by stockholders who believe that the corporation’s internally adopted policies are ill-advised or misguided. If MCC Advisors has determined that management is generally socially responsible, MCC Advisors will generally vote against these types of non-routine proposals. Non-routine proposals concerning financial or corporate issues are usually offered by management and seek to change a corporation’s legal, business or financial structure. MCC Advisors will generally vote in favor of such proposals provided the position of current stockholders is preserved or enhanced. Non-routine proposals concerning stockholder rights are made regularly by both management and stockholders. They can be generalized as involving issues that transfer or realign board or stockholder voting power. MCC Advisors typically would oppose any proposal aimed solely at thwarting potential takeovers by requiring, for example, super-majority approval. At the same time, MCC Advisors believes stability and continuity promote profitability. MCC Advisors’ guidelines in this area seek a balanced view and individual proposals will be carefully assessed in the context of their particular circumstances.
If a vote may involve a material conflict of interest, prior to approving such vote, MCC Advisors must consult with its chief compliance officer to determine whether the potential conflict is material and if so, the appropriate method to resolve such conflict. If the conflict is determined not to be material, MCC Advisors’ employees shall vote the proxy in accordance with MCC Advisors’ proxy voting policy.
Proxy Voting Records
You may obtain information about how we voted proxies by making a written request for proxy voting information to:
Chief Compliance Officer
Medley Capital Corporation
280 Park Avenue, 6th Floor East
New York, NY 10017
Other
Under the 1940 Act, we are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below NAV per share. We may, however, issue and sell our common stock, at a price below the current NAV of the common stock, or issue and sell warrants, options or rights to acquire such common stock, at a price below the current NAV of the common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in our best interest and in the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders have approved our policy and practice of making such sales within the preceding 12 months. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price which, in the determination of our board of directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities. However, we currently do not have the requisite stockholder approval, nor do we have any current plans to seek stockholder approval, to sell or issue shares of our common stock at a price below NAV per share.
In addition, at our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders we received approval from our stockholders to authorize us, with the approval of our board of directors, to issue securities to, subscribe to, convert to, or purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in one or more offerings, subject to certain conditions as set forth in the proxy statement. Such authorization has no expiration.
We expect to be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.
We are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect us against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.
We and MCC Advisors adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws, and will review these policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation. We and MCC Advisors have designated a chief compliance officer to be responsible for administering the policies and procedures.
Small Business Investment Company Regulations
On March 26, 2013, our wholly-owned subsidiary, SBIC LP, a Delaware limited partnership, received a license from the SBA to operate as a SBIC under Section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958, as amended.
The SBIC license allows the SBIC LP to obtain leverage by issuing SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the issuance of a capital commitment by the SBA and other customary procedures. SBA-guaranteed debentures are non-recourse, interest only debentures with interest payable semi-annually and have a ten year maturity. The principal amount of SBA-guaranteed debentures is not required to be paid prior to maturity but may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The interest rate of SBA-guaranteed debentures is fixed on a semi-annual basis at a market-driven spread over U.S. Treasury Notes with
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10-year maturities. The SBA, as a creditor, will have a superior claim to the SBIC LP’s assets over our stockholders in the event we liquidate the SBIC LP or the SBA exercises its remedies under the SBA-guaranteed debentures issued by the SBIC LP upon an event of default.
SBICs are designed to stimulate the flow of private equity capital to eligible small businesses. Under SBA regulations, SBICs may make loans to eligible small businesses, invest in the equity securities of such businesses and provide them with consulting and advisory services. SBA regulations currently limit the amount that an SBIC may borrow up to a maximum of $150 million when it has at least $75 million in regulatory capital, receives a capital commitment from the SBA and has been through an examination by the SBA subsequent to licensing.
Under present SBA regulations, eligible small businesses generally include businesses that (together with their affiliates) have a tangible net worth not exceeding $19.5 million and have average net income after U.S. federal income taxes not exceeding $6.5 million (average net income to be computed without benefit of any carryover loss) for the two most recent fiscal years. In addition, an SBIC must devote 25% of its investment activity to “smaller” concerns as defined by the SBA. A smaller concern generally includes businesses that have a tangible net worth not exceeding $6 million and have average annual net income after U.S. federal income taxes not exceeding $2 million (average net income to be computed without benefit of any net carryover loss) for the two most recent fiscal years. SBA regulations also provide alternative industry size standard criteria to determine eligibility for designation as an eligible small business or smaller concern, which criteria depend on the primary industry in which the business is engaged and are generally based on the number of employees or gross revenue. However, once an SBIC has invested in a company, it may continue to make follow-on investments in the company, regardless of the size of the company at the time of the follow-on investment, up to the time of the company’s initial public offering, if any.
The SBA prohibits an SBIC from providing funds to small businesses for certain purposes, such as relending or investing outside the United States, to businesses engaged in a few prohibited industries and to certain “passive” ( i.e. , non-operating) companies. In addition, without prior SBA approval, an SBIC may not invest an amount equal to more than approximately 30% of the SBIC’s regulatory capital in any one company and its affiliates.
The SBA places certain limitations on the financing terms of investments by SBICs in portfolio companies (such as limiting the permissible interest rate on debt securities held by an SBIC in a portfolio company). Although prior regulations prohibited an SBIC from controlling a small business concern except in limited circumstances, regulations adopted by the SBA in 2002 now allow a SBIC to exercise control over a small business for a period of up to seven years from the date on which the SBIC initially acquires its control position. This control period may be extended for an additional period of time with the SBA’s prior written approval.
The SBA restricts the ability of an SBIC to provide financing to an "associate" as defined under the SBIC regulations, without a prior written exemption from the SBA. The SBA also prohibits, without prior SBA approval, a “change of control” of an SBIC or transfers that would result in any person (or a group of persons acting in concert) owning 10% or more of a class of capital stock of a licensed SBIC. A “change of control” is any event which would result in the transfer of the power, direct or indirect, to direct the management and policies of an SBIC, whether through ownership, contractual arrangements or otherwise.
An SBIC (or group of SBICs under common control) may generally have outstanding debentures guaranteed by the SBA in amounts up to twice the amount of the privately raised funds of the SBIC(s). Debentures guaranteed by the SBA have a maturity of ten years, require semi-annual payments of interest and do not require any principal payments prior to maturity. The SBA, as a creditor, will have a superior claim to our SBIC subsidiary’s assets over our stockholders in the event we liquidate our SBIC subsidiary or the SBA exercises its remedies under the SBA-guaranteed debentures issued by our SBIC subsidiary upon an event of default.
SBICs must invest idle funds that are not being used to make loans in investments permitted under SBIC regulations in the following limited types of securities: (1) direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the U.S. government, which mature within 15 months from the date of the investment; (2) repurchase agreements with federally insured institutions with a maturity of seven days or less (and the securities underlying the repurchase obligations must be direct obligations of or guaranteed by the federal government); (3) certificates of deposit with a maturity of one year or less, issued by a federally insured institution; (4) a deposit account in a federally insured institution that is subject to a withdrawal restriction of one year or less; (5) a checking account in a federally insured institution; or (6) a reasonable petty cash fund.
SBICs are periodically examined and audited by the SBA’s staff to determine their compliance with SBA regulations and are periodically required to file certain forms with the SBA. If an SBIC fails to comply with applicable SBA regulations, the SBA could, depending on the severity of the violation, limit or prohibit the SBIC’s use of debentures, declare outstanding debentures immediately due and payable, and/or limit the SBIC from making new investments. In addition, the SBIC may also be limited in its ability to make distributions to us if it does not have sufficient capital in accordance with SBA regulations. Such actions by the SBA would, in turn, negatively affect us because Medley SBIC LP is our wholly owned subsidiary.
Neither the SBA nor the U.S. government or any of its agencies or officers has approved any ownership interest to be issued by us or any obligation that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur.
Election to Be Taxed as a RIC
As a BDC, we have elected and qualified to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any net ordinary income or capital gains that we timely distribute to our stockholders as dividends. To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, we must distribute to our stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of our “investment company taxable income,” which is generally our net ordinary income plus the excess of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses (the “Distribution Requirement”). Our SBIC subsidiary may be limited by the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and SBA regulations governing SBICs, from making certain distributions to us that may be necessary to enable us to maintain our status as a RIC. We may have to request a waiver of the SBA’s restrictions for our SBIC subsidiary to make certain distributions to maintain our RIC status. We cannot assure you that the SBA will grant such a waiver.
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Taxation as a RIC
As a RIC, if we satisfy the Distribution Requirement, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain, defined as net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses, we distribute to stockholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on any net income or net capital gain not distributed to our stockholders.
Medley Capital will be subject to a nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax of 4% on undistributed income if it does not distribute at least 98% of its ordinary income in any calendar year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for each one-year period ending on October 31. Depending on the level of investment company taxable income (“ICTI”) earned in a tax year, the Company may choose to carry forward ICTI in excess of current year dividend distributions into the next tax year. Any such carryover ICTI must be distributed before the end of that next tax year through a dividend declared prior to filing the final tax return related to the year which generated such ICTI. To the extent that the Company determines that its estimated current year annual taxable income will be in excess of estimated current year dividend distributions for excise tax purposes, the Company accrues excise tax, if any, on estimated excess taxable income as taxable income is earned.
In order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:
• | qualify to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year; |
• | derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, or other income derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock or securities, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends and other permitted RIC income) (the “90% Income Test”); and |
• | diversify our holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year: |
◦ | at least 50% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of our assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and |
◦ | no more than 25% of the value of our assets is invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer or of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable tax rules, by us and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Diversification Tests”). |
We may invest in partnerships, including qualified publicly traded partnerships, which may result in our being subject to state, local or foreign income and franchise or withholding liabilities.
Any underwriting fees paid by us are not deductible. We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, with increasing interest rates or issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.
Certain of our investment practices may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) treat dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income as non-qualified dividend income, (2) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (3) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (4) convert lower-taxed long term capital gain into higher-taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (5) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (6) cause us to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (7) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (8) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (9) produce income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test. We intend to monitor our transactions and may make certain tax elections to mitigate the effect of these provisions and prevent our disqualification as a RIC.
Gains or losses realized by us from warrants acquired as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally will be treated as capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long term or short term, depending on how long we held a particular warrant.
Although we do not presently expect to do so, we are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our stockholders while our debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. See “Business — Regulation — Senior Securities.” Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to our qualification as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Distribution Requirement or the excise tax requirement, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
Some of the income and fees that we may recognize will not satisfy the 90% Income Test. In order to ensure that such income and fees do not disqualify us as a RIC for a failure to satisfy the 90% Income Test, we may be required to recognize such income and fees indirectly through one or more entities treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such corporations will be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax on their earnings, which ultimately will reduce our return on such income and fees.
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Failure to Qualify as a RIC
If we were unable to continue to qualify for treatment as a RIC, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders, nor would they be required to be made. Distributions, including distributions of net long-term capital gain, would generally be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate distributees would be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. If we fail to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, to qualify as a RIC in a subsequent year we may be subject to regular corporate tax on any net built-in gains with respect to certain of our assets (i.e. , the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if we had been liquidated) that we elect to recognize on requalification or when recognized over the next ten years.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Legislation was enacted on March 18, 2010 that imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on dividends paid by U.S. issuers to a foreign financial institution after December 31, 2013 and on the gross proceeds from the disposition of stock paid to a foreign financial institution after December 31, 2016, unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”) to collect and provide to Treasury substantial information regarding U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution. The legislation also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on dividends paid by U.S. issuers and on the gross proceeds from the disposition of stock paid to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Investors are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their investment in shares of our common stock.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware of various risks, including those described below. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this Form 10-K, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face. The risks described below, as well as additional risks and uncertainties presently unknown by us or currently not deemed significant could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In such case, our NAV and the trading price of our common stock or other securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
RISK RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE
Certain Risks in the Current Environment
Capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability and we cannot predict when these conditions will occur. Such market conditions could materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad, which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As a business development company, we must maintain our ability to raise additional capital for investment purposes. Without sufficient access to the capital markets or credit markets, we may be forced to curtail our business operations or we may not be able to pursue new business opportunities.
The U.S. and global capital markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption that began in mid-2007, and the U.S. economy was in recession for several consecutive calendar quarters during the same period, as evidenced by a lack of liquidity in the debt capital markets, write-offs in the financial services sector, the re-pricing of credit risk and the failure of certain major financial institutions. While the capital markets have improved, these conditions could deteriorate again in the future. During such market disruptions, we may have difficulty raising debt or equity capital, especially as a result of regulatory constraints.
Market conditions may in the future make it difficult to extend the maturity of or refinance our existing indebtedness and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business. The illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if required. As a result, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded our investments. In addition, significant changes in the capital markets, including the disruption and volatility, have had, and may in the future have, a negative effect on the valuations of our investments and on the potential for liquidity events involving our investments. An inability to raise capital, and any required sale of our investments for liquidity purposes, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Various social and political tensions in the United States and around the world, including in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia, may continue to contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the United States and worldwide financial markets, and may cause further economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. Several European Union (‘‘EU’’) countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, continue to face budget issues, some of which may have negative long-term effects for the economies of those countries and other EU countries. In July and August 2015, Greece reached agreements with its creditors for bailouts that provide aid in exchange for certain austerity measures. These and similar austerity measures may adversely affect world economic conditions and have an adverse impact on our business and that of our portfolio companies. In the second quarter of 2015, stock prices in China experienced a significant drop, resulting primarily from continued sell-off of shares trading in Chinese markets. In August 2015, Chinese authorities sharply devalued China’s currency. In June 2016, , the United Kingdom held a referendum in which voters approved an exit from the European Union (“Brexit”), and, subsequently, on March 29, 2017, the U.K. government began the formal process of leaving the European Union. Brexit created political and economic uncertainty and instability in the global markets (including currency and credit markets), and especially in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and this uncertainty and instability may last indefinitely. Because of the election results in the U.K. in June 2017, there is increased uncertainty on the timing of Brexit. There is also continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among European Economic and Monetary Union member
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countries. The recent United States and global economic downturn, or a return to the recessionary period in the United States, could adversely impact our investments.
As a result of the 2016 U.S. election, the Republican Party currently controls both the executive and legislative branches of government, which increases the likelihood that legislation may be adopted that could significantly affect the regulation of U.S. financial markets. Areas subject to potential change, amendment or repeal include the Dodd-Frank Reform Act and the authority of the Federal Reserve and the Financial Stability Oversight Council. The United States may also potentially withdraw from or renegotiate various trade agreements and take other actions that would change current trade policies of the United States. We cannot predict which, if any, of these actions will be taken or, if taken, their effect on the financial stability of the United States. Such actions could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict the duration of the effects related to these or similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets or on our investments. We monitor developments and seek to manage our investments in a manner consistent with achieving our investment objective, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in doing so.
Any further disruptive conditions in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those conditions could restrict our business operations and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the business development company market may be more sensitiv