UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 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: 814-00061

 

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (214) 238-5700

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐NO ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO ☒

 

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 ☒ NO ☐

 

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 ☐

 

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 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.  ☐

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 ☒

 

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  Act).

YES ☐ NO ☒      

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of September 30, 2016 was $217,148,429 based on the last sale price of such stock as quoted by The Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date.

 

The number of shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share, outstanding as of May 31, 2017 was 16,011,296.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held August 2, 2017 are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in response to Part III.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations.  Any such forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and we cannot assure you that the projections included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass.  Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We believe these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

For a discussion of these and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report, please see the discussion under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A.    We have based the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K on information available to us on the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and you should carefully consider all of the factors identified in this report that could cause actual results to differ. We assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, unless we are required to do so by applicable law.

 

PART I

Item 1.     Business

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Capital Southwest Corporation (“CSWC”) is an investment company that specializes in providing customized financing to middle market companies in a broad range of industry segments located primarily in the United States. Our common stock currently trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “CSWC.”

 

CSWC was organized as a Texas corporation on April 19, 1961.  Until September 1969, we operated as a small business investment company (“SBIC”) licensed under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.  At that time, CSWC transferred to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Capital Southwest Venture Corporation (“CSVC”), certain assets including our license as a “SBIC”.  CSVC was a closed-end, non-diversified investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  Effective June 14, 2016, CSVC was dissolved and its SBIC license was surrendered. All assets held in CSVC were transferred to CSWC upon dissolution. Prior to March 30, 1988, CSWC was registered as a closed-end, non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act.  On that date, we elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, as amended by the Small Business Incentive Act of 1980. In order to remain a BDC, we must meet certain specified requirements under the 1940 Act, including investing at least 70.0% of our assets in eligible portfolio companies and limiting the amount of leverage we incur.

 

We are also a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). As such, we are not required to pay corporate-level income tax on our investment income. We intend to maintain our RIC status, which requires that we qualify annually as a RIC by meeting certain specified requirements.    

 

Capital Southwest Management Corporation (“CSMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSWC, is the management company for CSWC.  CSMC generally incurs all normal operating and administrative expenses, including, but not limited to, salaries and related benefits, rent, equipment and other administrative costs required for day-to-day operations.

 

CSWC also has a direct wholly owned subsidiary that has been elected to be a taxable entity (the “Taxable Subsidiary”). The primary purpose of the Taxable Subsidiary is to permit CSWC to hold certain interests in portfolio companies that are organized as limited liability companies, or LLCs (or other forms of pass-through entities) and still allow us to satisfy the RIC tax requirement that at least 90.0% of our gross income for federal income tax purposes must consist of qualifying investment income. The Taxable Subsidiary is taxed at normal corporate tax rates based on its taxable income.

 

On September 30, 2015, we completed the spin-off (the “Share Distribution”) of CSW Industrials, Inc. (“CSWI”). CSWI is now an independent publicly traded company. The Share Distribution was effected through a tax-free, pro-rata distribution of 100.0% of CSWI’s common stock to shareholders of the Company. Each Company shareholder received one share of CSWI common stock for every one share of Company common stock on the record date, September 18, 2015. Cash was paid in lieu of any fractional shares of CSWI common stock.

 

Following the Share Distribution, we have maintained operations as an internally-managed BDC and pursue a credit-focused investing strategy akin to similarly structured organizations. We intend to continue to provide capital to middle-market companies. In the future, we intend to invest primarily in debt securities, including senior debt, second lien and subordinated debt, and may also invest in preferred stock and common stock alongside our debt investments or through warrants.

 

The following diagram depicts CSWC’s organizational structure:

 

Employees

 

As of March 31, 2017, we had seventeen employees, each of whom was employed by our management company, CSMC.  These employees include our corporate officers, investment and portfolio management professionals and administrative staff. All of our employees are located in our principal executive offices in Dallas, Texas.

 

Corporate Information

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 5400 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 1300, Dallas, Texas 75240.  We maintain a website at www.capitalsouthwest.com.  You can review the filings we have made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC, free of charge on EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System of the SEC, accessible at http://www.sec.gov.  We also make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, any amendments to those reports and any other reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a), 15(d) or 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after filing these reports with the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K and you should not consider that information to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The public may read and copy materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330.  The SEC also maintains a website that contains the reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. 

 

The charters adopted by the committees of our Board of Directors are also available on our website.  Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and you should not consider that information to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

OVERVIEW OF OUR BUSINESS

 

We are a specialty lending company that provides customized financing to middle market companies located primarily in the United States.  Our principal investment objective is to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity and equity related investments.  Our investment strategy is to partner with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors to provide flexible financing solutions to fund growth, changes of control, or other corporate events. In allocating future investments, we plan to continue investing primarily in senior and subordinated debt securities secured by security interests in portfolio company assets, coupled with equity interests.

 

We focus on investing in companies with histories of generating revenues and positive cash flow, established market positions and proven management teams with strong operating discipline. We target senior and subordinated investments in lower middle market companies, as well as first and second lien syndicated loans in upper middle market companies.  Our target lower middle market (“LMM”) companies typically have annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) between $3.0 million and $15.0 million and our lower middle market investments generally range in size from $5.0 million to $20.0 million. Our upper middle market (“UMM”) investments generally include syndicated first and second lien loan investments in companies with EBITDA generally greater than $50.0 million, and typically range in size from $3.0 million to $10.0 million.  We make available significant managerial assistance to the companies in which we invest as we believe that providing managerial assistance to an investee company is important to its business development activities.

 

Because we are internally managed, we do not pay external investment advisory fees, but instead directly incur the operating costs associated with employing investment and portfolio management professionals. We believe that our internally managed structure provides us with a beneficial operating expense structure when compared to other publicly traded and privately held investment firms which are externally managed, and our internally managed structure allows us the opportunity to leverage our non-interest operating expenses as we grow our investment portfolio.

 

Recent Developments

 

On April 3, 2017, CSWC paid regular dividends declared on February 28, 2017 in the amount of $3.0 million, or $0.19 per share, and special dividends declared in the amount of $4.2 million, or $0.26 per share.

 

On May 10, 2017, CSWC announced that the Chairman of the Board, Joseph B. Armes has informed the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) of his decision not to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in August 2017. The Company reported this along with the plan for replacing Mr. Armes in connection with the Company’s upcoming annual meeting on August 3, 2017 in an 8-K filed with the SEC on that day.

 

On May 31, 2017, we announced that our board of directors had declared a $0.21 dividend per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. The record date for the dividend is June 15, 2017. The payment date for the dividend is July 3, 2017.

 

Our Business Strategy

 

Our principal investment objective is to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating current income from our debt investments and realizing capital appreciation from our equity and equity-related investments. We have adopted the following business strategies to achieve our investment objective:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT CRITERIA AND OBJECTIVES

 

Our investment team has identified the following investment criteria that we believe are important in evaluating prospective investment opportunities. However, not all of these criteria have been or will be met in connection with each of our investments: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Process

 

We have an investment committee that is responsible for all aspects of our investment process relating to investments made by CSWC.  The current members of the investment committee are Bowen Diehl, Michael Sarner, Douglas Kelley and Joseph Armes. Following Mr. Armes’ anticipated departure from the board of directors of CSWC (the “Board of Directors”) at our upcoming 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, director David R. Brooks will replace Mr. Armes on the investment committee.

 

Our investment strategy involves a team approach, whereby our investment team screens potential transactions before they are presented to the investment committee for approval.  Transactions that are either above a certain hold size or outside our general investment policy will also be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.  Our investment team generally categorizes the investment process into six distinctive stages: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We utilize an internally developed investment rating system to rate the performance and monitor the expected level of returns for each debt investment in our portfolio.  The investment rating system takes into account both quantitative and qualitative factors of the portfolio company and the investments held therein, including each investment’s expected level of returns and the collectability of our debt investments, comparisons to competitors and other industry participants and the portfolio company’s future outlook.  The ratings are not intended to reflect the performance or expected level of returns of our equity investments.

 

 

 

 

 

Determination of Net Asset Value and Portfolio Valuation Process

 

We determine our net asset value (“NAV”) per share on a quarterly basis.  The NAV per share is equal to our total assets minus liabilities divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding.

 

We determine in good faith the fair value of our portfolio investments pursuant to a valuation policy in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) and a valuation process approved by our Board of Directors and in accordance with the 1940 Act. Our valuation policy is intended to provide a consistent basis for determining the fair value of the portfolio.

 

We undertake a multi-step valuation process each quarter in connection with determining the fair value of our investments.  Our Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our determination of the fair value of each investment in our portfolio. The valuation process is led by the finance department in conjunction with the investment teams.  Valuations of each portfolio security are prepared quarterly by the finance

department using updated portfolio company financial and operational information.  Each investment valuation is also subject to review by the executive officers and investment teams. 

 

In conjunction with the internal valuation process, we have engaged multiple independent consulting firms that specialize in financial due diligence, valuation and business advisory services to provide third-party valuation reviews of the majority of our investments on a quarterly basis.  Our Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for determining the fair value of our investments in good faith. 

 

COMPETITION

 

We compete for attractive investment opportunities with other financial institutions, including business development companies, junior capital lenders, and banks. We believe we are able to be competitive with these entities primarily on the basis of the experience and contacts of our management team and our responsive and efficient investment analysis and decision-making processes.  However, many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do.  Furthermore, our competitors may have a lower cost of funds and many have access to funding sources that are not available to us.  In addition, certain of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and build their market shares.  In addition, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC.  See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure—We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.”

 

We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, because of this competition, we may be unable to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and may be unable to identify and make investments that satisfy our investment objectives or meet our investment goals.

 

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) that provides for the reinvestment of dividends on behalf of our shareholders. Under the DRIP, if we declare a dividend, registered shareholders who have opted into the DRIP as of the dividend record date will have their dividend automatically reinvested into additional shares of our common stock. The share requirements of the DRIP may be satisfied through the issuance of new shares of common stock or through open market purchases of common stock by the DRIP plan administrator. Newly-issued shares will be valued based upon the final closing price of CSWC’s common stock on a valuation date determined for each dividend by our Board of Directors. Shares purchased in the open market to satisfy the DRIP requirements will be valued based upon the average price of the applicable shares purchased by the DRIP plan administrator, before any associated brokerage or other costs.

 

ELECTION TO BE REGULATED AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

 

CSWC is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. CSWC has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. In addition, we have elected for CSWC to be treated as a  RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. Our election to be regulated as a BDC and our election to be treated as a RIC for federal income tax purposes have a significant impact on our operations. Some of the most important effects on our operations of our election to be regulated as a BDC and our election to be treated as a RIC are outlined below.

 

 

In accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of Regulation S-X, we report all of our investments, including debt investments, at market value or, for investments that do not have a readily available market value, at their “fair value” as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. Changes in these values are reported through our statements of operations under the caption of “net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments.” See “Determination of Net Asset Value and Portfolio Valuation Process” above.

 

 

As a RIC, so long as we meet certain minimum distribution, source of income and asset diversification requirements, we generally are required to pay U.S. federal income taxes only on the portion of our taxable income and gains we do not distribute (actually or constructively) and certain built-in gains. We intend to distribute to our shareholders substantially all of our income. We may, however, make deemed distributions to our shareholders of any retained net long-term capital gains. If this happens, our shareholders will be treated as if they received an actual distribution of the net capital gains and reinvested the net after-tax proceeds in us. Our shareholders also may be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to their allocable share of the corporate-level U.S. federal income tax we pay on the deemed distribution. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” We met the minimum distribution requirements for tax years 2014,  2015 and 2016 and continually monitor our distribution requirements with the goal of ensuring compliance with the Code.   

 

In addition, we have a wholly-owned taxable subsidiary, or the Taxable Subsidiary, which holds a portion of one or more of our portfolio investments that are listed on the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. The Taxable Subsidiary is consolidated for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), so that our consolidated financial statements reflect our investments in the portfolio companies owned by the Taxable Subsidiary. The purpose of the Taxable Subsidiary is to permit us to hold certain interests in portfolio companies that are organized as limited liability companies, or LLCs (or other forms of pass-through entities) and still satisfy the RIC tax requirement that at least 90.0% of our gross income for federal income tax purposes must consist of qualifying investment income. Absent the Taxable Subsidiary, a proportionate amount of any gross income of a partnership or LLC (or other pass-through entity) portfolio investment would flow through directly to us. To the extent that such income did not consist of investment income, it could jeopardize our ability to qualify as a RIC and therefore cause us to incur significant amounts of corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes. Where interests in LLCs (or other pass-through entities) are owned by the Taxable Subsidiary, the income from those interests is taxed to the Taxable Subsidiary and does not flow through to us, thereby helping us preserve our RIC status and resultant tax advantages. The Taxable Subsidiary is not consolidated for U.S. federal income tax purposes and may generate income tax expense as a result of their ownership of the portfolio companies. This income tax expense, if any, is reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

 

As a BDC, we are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities of at least 200.0%. For this purpose, senior securities include all borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future. Additionally, our ability to utilize leverage as a means of financing our portfolio of investments may be limited by this asset coverage test. While the use of leverage may enhance returns if we meet our investment objective, our returns may be reduced or eliminated if our returns on investments are less than the costs of borrowing.

 

 

As a BDC, we are required to have a majority of directors who are not “interested” persons under the 1940 Act. In addition, we are required to comply with other applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including those requiring the adoption of a code of ethics, fidelity bonding and investment custody arrangements. See “Regulation as a Business Development Company” below.

 

Regulation as a Business Development Company

 

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 and principal underwriters as well as their respective affiliates. 

The 1940 Act requires that a majority of the members of the board of directors of a BDC be persons other than “interested persons,” as 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 holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.

 

The 1940 Act defines “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” as the lesser of (1) 67.0% or more of the voting securities of holders present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50.0% of our outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50.0% of our voting securities.

 

The following is a brief description of the 1940 Act provisions applicable to BDCs, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 1940 Act and rules issued thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifying Assets

 

The 1940 Act provides that we may not make an investment in non-qualifying assets unless at the time of the investment at least 70% of the value of our total assets (measured as of the date of our most recently filed financial statements) consists of qualifying assets (the “70% test”).  Qualifying assets include: (1) securities of eligible portfolio companies; (2) securities of certain companies that were eligible portfolio companies at the time we initially acquired their securities and in which we retain a substantial interest; (3) securities of certain controlled companies; (4) securities of certain bankrupt, insolvent or distressed companies; (5) securities received in exchange for or distributed in or with respect to any of the foregoing; and (6) cash items, U.S. government securities and high-quality short-term debt.  The SEC has adopted a rule permitting a BDC to invest its funds in certain money market funds.  The 1940 Act also places certain restrictions on the nature of the transactions in which, and the persons from whom, securities can be purchased and be considered qualifying assets.

 

Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies

 

In order to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70% test, we must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities significant managerial assistance.  However, where we purchase securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make 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, provides, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company.

 

Idle Fund Investments

 

We hold funds that may soon be invested in “qualifying assets.” We may hold these funds in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, short-term investments in secured debt investments, independently rated debt investments and diversified bond funds.  We refer to these investments as idle fund investments.

 

Senior Securities

 

We are permitted by the 1940 Act, under specific conditions, to issue multiple classes of debt and a single class of preferred stock if our asset coverage, as defined by the 1940 Act, is at least 200.0% after such issuance of debt or preferred stock (i.e. senior securities may not be in excess of our net assets).  Under specific conditions, we are also permitted by the 1940 Act to issue warrants.

 

Common Stock

 

As a BDC, the 1940 Act generally limits our ability to issue and sell our common stock at a price below our NAV per share, exclusive of any distributing commission or discount, without shareholder approval. Shares of our common stock have traded below our NAV per share. While our common stock continues to trade at a price below our NAV per share, there are no assurances that we can issue or sell shares of our common stock if needed to fund our business. In addition, even in certain instances where we could issue or sell shares of our common stock at a price below our NAV per share, such issuance could result in dilution in our NAV per share, which could result in a decline of our stock price.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We 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 the code may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as those investments are made in accordance with the code’s requirements.  Certain transactions involving certain persons closely related to us, including our directors, officers and employees, may require approval of the SEC.  However, the 1940 Act ordinarily does not restrict transactions between us and our portfolio companies.

 

Compliance Policies and Procedures

 

We have adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the U.S. federal securities laws, and are required to review these compliance policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation, and to designate a Chief Compliance Officer to be responsible for administering these policies and procedures. Michael S. Sarner serves as our Chief Compliance Officer.

 

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and to an investment in our shares. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the income tax considerations applicable to us or to investors in such an investment. For example, we have not described tax consequences

that we assume to be generally known by investors or certain considerations that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, including shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, pension plans and trusts, financial institutions, U.S. shareholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, persons who mark-to-market our shares and persons who hold our shares as part of a “straddle,” “hedge” or “conversion” transaction. This summary assumes that investors hold shares of our common stock as capital assets (within the meaning of the Code). The discussion is based upon the Code, Treasury regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations, each as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and all of which are subject to change, possibly retroactively, which could affect the continuing validity of this discussion. This summary does not discuss any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or foreign, state or local tax. It does not discuss the special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws that could result if we invested in tax-exempt securities or certain other investment assets.

 

For purposes of our discussion, a “U.S. shareholder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

 

 

 

 

For purposes of our discussion, a “Non-U.S. shareholder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is neither a U.S. shareholder nor a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

 

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “partnership”) holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner or member of the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner or member and the activities of the partnership. A prospective shareholder that is a partner or member in a partnership holding shares of our common stock should consult his, her or its tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock.

 

Tax matters are very complicated and the tax consequences to an investor of an investment in our shares will depend on the facts of his, her or its particular situation. We encourage investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific consequences of such an investment, including tax reporting requirements, the applicability of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, eligibility for the benefits of any applicable tax treaty and the effect of any possible changes in the tax laws.

 

Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company

 

Election to be Taxed as a RIC

 

We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally are not subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any income that we distribute to our shareholders from our tax earnings and profits. To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, in order to obtain RIC tax treatment, we must distribute to our shareholders, for each taxable year, at least 90.0% of our “investment company taxable income,” which is generally our net ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of realized net short-term capital gain over realized net long-term capital loss, or the Annual Distribution Requirement. Even if we qualify as a RIC, we generally will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on our undistributed taxable income and could be subject to U.S. federal excise, state, local and foreign taxes.

 

Taxation as a RIC

 

Provided that we qualify as a RIC, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain (which we define as net long-term capital gain in excess of net short-term capital loss) that we timely distribute to shareholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate rates on any income or capital gain not distributed (or deemed distributed) to our shareholders.

 

We will be subject to a 4.0% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain undistributed income unless we distribute in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98.0% of our ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gain net income for the one year period ended October 31 and (3) any income recognized, but not distributed, in preceding years and on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the extent that we invest in entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership”), we generally must include the items of gross income derived by the partnerships for purposes of the 90% Income Test, and the income that is derived from a partnership (other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership”) will be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test only to the extent that such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by us directly. In addition, we generally must take into account our proportionate share of the assets held by partnerships (other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership”) in which we are a partner for purposes of the Diversification Tests.

 

In order to meet the 90% Income Test, we have established a wholly owned subsidiary to hold assets from which we do not anticipate earning dividend, interest or other income under the 90% Income Test (the “Taxable Subsidiary”). We may establish additional subsidiaries for the same purpose in the future. Any investments held through a Taxable Subsidiary generally are subject to U.S. federal income and other taxes, and therefore we can expect to achieve a reduced after-tax yield on such investments.

 

We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive a corresponding payment in cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (including debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount or payment-in-kind interest that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. We anticipate that a portion of our income may constitute original issue discount or other income required to be included in taxable income prior to receipt of cash.

 

Because any original issue discount or other amounts accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of the accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our shareholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount. As a result, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to obtain and maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code. We may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.

 

Furthermore, a portfolio company in which we invest may face financial difficulty that requires us to work-out, modify or otherwise restructure our investment in the portfolio company. Any such restructuring may result in unusable capital losses and future non-cash income. Any restructuring may also result in our recognition of a substantial amount of non-qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test, such as cancellation of indebtedness income in connection with the work-out of a leveraged investment (which, while not free from doubt, may be treated as non-qualifying income) or the receipt of other non-qualifying income.

 

Gain or loss realized by us from warrants acquired by us 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.

 

Investments by us in non-U.S. securities may be subject to non-U.S. income, withholding and other taxes, and therefore, our yield on any such securities may be reduced by such non-U.S. taxes. Shareholders will generally not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to non-U.S. taxes paid by us.

 

We are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. Under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our shareholders while our debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. See “Regulation as a Business Development Company” above. 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 status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or to avoid the excise tax, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.

 

If we fail to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement or otherwise fail to qualify as a RIC in any taxable year, we will be subject to tax in that year on all of our taxable income, regardless of whether we make any distributions to our shareholders. In that case, all of such income will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax, reducing the amount available to be distributed to our shareholders. See “Failure To Obtain RIC Tax Treatment” below.

 

As a RIC, we are not allowed to carry forward or carry back a net operating loss for purposes of computing our investment company taxable income in other taxable years. U.S. federal income tax law generally permits a RIC to carry forward (1) the excess of its net short-term capital loss over its net long-term capital gain for a given year as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the following year and (2) the excess of its net long-term capital loss over its net short-term capital gain for a given year as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the following year. Future transactions we engage in may cause our ability to use any capital loss carryforwards, and unrealized losses once realized, to be limited under Section 382 of the Code. Certain of our investment practices may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (2) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain and qualified dividend income into higher

taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (3) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (4) cause us to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (5) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (6) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (7) produce income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test. We will monitor our transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.

 

As described above, to the extent that we invest in equity securities of entities that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the effect of such investments for purposes of the 90% Income Test and the Diversification Tests will depend on whether or not the partnership is a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (as defined in the Code). If the entity is a “qualified publicly traded partnership,” the net income derived from such investments will be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test and will be “securities” for purposes of the Diversification Tests. If the entity is not treated as a “qualified publicly traded partnership,” however, the consequences of an investment in the partnership will depend upon the amount and type of income and assets of the partnership allocable to us. The income derived from such investments may not be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Income Test and, therefore, could adversely affect our qualification as a RIC. We intend to monitor our investments in equity securities of entities that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes to prevent our disqualification as a RIC.

 

We may invest in preferred securities or other securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the expected tax treatment, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized, requiring us to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change our portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code.

 

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of each shareholder. Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable in cash or in shares of stock at the election of shareholders are treated as taxable dividends. The Internal Revenue Service has issued private rulings indicating that this rule will apply even where the total amount of cash that may be distributed is limited to no more than 20.0% of the total distribution. Under these rulings, if too many shareholders elect to receive their distributions in cash, each such shareholder would receive a pro rata share of the total cash to be distributed and would receive the remainder of their distribution in shares of stock. If we decide to make any distributions consistent with these rulings that are payable in part in our stock, taxable shareholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend (whether received in cash, our stock, or a combination thereof) as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. shareholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. shareholder sells the stock it receives in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our shareholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.

 

Failure to Obtain RIC Tax Treatment

 

If we fail to satisfy the 90% Income Test or the Diversification Tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless continue to qualify as a RIC for that year if certain relief provisions are applicable (which may, among other things, require us to pay certain corporate-level federal taxes or to dispose of certain assets).

 

If we were unable to obtain tax 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 shareholders, nor would they be required to be made. Distributions would generally be taxable to our shareholders as dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (in the case of non-corporate U.S. shareholders, generally at a maximum federal income tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income of 20.0%). 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 shareholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.

 

If we fail to meet the RIC requirements for more than two consecutive years and then, seek to re-qualify as a RIC, we would be subject to corporate-level taxation on any built-in gain recognized during the succeeding 5-year period unless we made a special election to recognize all that built-in gain upon our re-qualification as a RIC and to pay the corporate-level tax on that built-in gain.

 

Taxation of U.S. Shareholders

 

Whether an investment in shares of our common stock is appropriate for a U.S. shareholder will depend upon that person’s particular circumstances. An investment in shares of our common stock by a U.S. shareholder may have adverse tax consequences. The following summary generally describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in shares of our common stock by taxable U.S. shareholders and not by U.S. shareholders that are generally exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors before making an investment in our common stock.

 

Distributions by us generally are taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income or capital gain. Distributions of our “investment company taxable income” (which generally is our ordinary income excluding net capital gain) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. shareholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. To the extent such distributions paid by us to non-corporate U.S. shareholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, such distributions generally will be eligible for taxation at rates applicable to “qualifying dividends” at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20.0% provided that we properly report such distribution as “qualified dividend income” in a written statement furnished to our shareholders and certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. In this regard, it is not anticipated that a significant portion of distributions paid by us will be attributable to qualifying dividends; therefore, our distributions generally will not qualify for the preferential rates applicable to qualified dividend income. Distributions of our net capital gain (which generally is our net long-term capital gain in excess of net short-term capital loss) properly designated by us as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable to a U.S. shareholder as long-term capital gain (at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20.0% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates), regardless of the U.S. shareholder’s holding period for his, her or its common stock and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in such shareholder’s common stock and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to such U.S. shareholder.

 

In lieu of actually distributing our realized net capital gains, we may retain some or all of our long-term capital gain and elect to be deemed to have made a distribution of the retained portion to our shareholders (a “deemed distribution”) under the “designated undistributed capital gains” rule of the Code. In that case, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. shareholder will be required to include his, her or its proportionate share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been actually distributed to the U.S. shareholder, and the U.S. shareholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to his, her or its allocable share of the tax paid thereon by us. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the U.S. shareholder’s tax basis for his, her or its common stock. Since we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gain at our regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on net capital gain, the amount of tax that individual shareholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. shareholder’s other U.S. federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds a shareholder’s liability for U.S. federal income tax. A shareholder that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or otherwise required to file a U.S. federal income tax return would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return on the appropriate form in order to claim a refund for the taxes we paid. In order to utilize the deemed distribution approach, we must provide written notice to our shareholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year. We cannot treat any of our investment company taxable income as a “deemed distribution.”

 

We could be subject to the alternative minimum tax, or the AMT, but any items that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be apportioned between us and our shareholders and this may affect U.S. shareholders’ AMT liabilities. Although regulations explaining the precise method of apportionment have not yet been issued, such items will generally be apportioned in the same proportion that distributions paid to each shareholder bear to our taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction), unless a different method for a particular item is warranted under the circumstances.

 

For purposes of determining (1) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (2) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year, we may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If we make such an election, the U.S. shareholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any dividend declared by us in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in any such month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by our U.S. shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

 

If an investor purchases shares of our common stock shortly before the record date of a distribution, the price of the shares will include the value of the distribution, and the investor will be subject to tax on the distribution even though it represents a return of his, her or its investment.

 

A U.S. shareholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of his, her or its shares of our common stock. The amount of gain or loss will be measured by the difference between such shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock sold and the amount of the proceeds received in exchange. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has held his, her or its shares for more than one year. Otherwise, it will be classified as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of shares of our common stock held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of shares of our common stock may be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are purchased (whether through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition. The ability to otherwise deduct capital loss may be subject to other limitations under the Code.

 

In general, non-corporate U.S. shareholders, including individuals, trusts and estates, are subject to U.S. federal income tax at a maximum rate of 20.0% on their net capital gain, or the excess of realized net long-term capital gain over realized net short-term capital loss for a taxable year, including a long-term capital gain derived from an investment in our shares. Such rate is lower than the maximum rate on ordinary income currently payable by individuals. Corporate U.S. shareholders currently are subject to U.S. federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum 35.0% rate also applied to ordinary income. Non-corporate shareholders with net capital loss for a year (which we define as capital loss in excess of capital gain) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital loss of a noncorporate shareholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate shareholders generally may not deduct any net capital loss for a year, but may carry back such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.

 

Certain U.S. shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts generally are subject to a 3.8% Medicare surtax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. shareholder’s “net investment income” (or “undistributed net investment income” in the case of an estate or trust) for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S shareholder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals is between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A U.S. shareholder’s net investment income generally includes its dividends on, and capital gain from the sale or other disposition of, shares of our common stock.

 

A “publicly offered” RIC is a RIC whose shares are either (1) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, (2) regularly traded on an established securities market or (3) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. If we are not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate shareholder’s pro rata portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees, will be treated as an additional dividend to the shareholder and will be deductible

by such shareholder only to the extent permitted under the limitations described below. For non-corporate shareholders, including individuals, trusts, and estates, significant limitations generally apply to the deductibility of certain expenses of a non-publicly offered RIC, including advisory fees. In particular, these expenses, referred to as miscellaneous itemized deductions, are deductible only to individuals to the extent they exceed 2.0% of such a shareholder’s adjusted gross income, and are not deductible for AMT purposes. Because we anticipate that shares of our common stock will continue to be regularly traded on an established securities market, we believe that we will continue to qualify as a “publicly offered regulated investment company.”

 

We will send to each of our U.S. shareholders, as promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, a written statement detailing, on a per share and per distribution basis, the amounts includible in such U.S. shareholder’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income and as long-term capital gain. In addition, the U.S. federal tax status of each year’s distributions generally will be reported to the IRS. Distributions paid by us generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or the preferential tax rate applicable to qualifying dividends. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on a U.S. shareholder’s particular situation.

 

We may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, or backup withholding at a rate of 28.0%, from all taxable distributions to any U.S. shareholder (1) who fails to furnish us with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such shareholder is exempt from backup withholding (e.g., because it is a corporation) or (2) with respect to whom the IRS notifies us that such shareholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Backup withholding tax is not an additional tax, and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against the U.S. shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that proper information is timely provided to the IRS.

 

Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to shares of our stock of $2.0 million or more for an individual, S corporation, trust or a partnership with at least one non-corporate partner or $10.0 million or more for a shareholder that is either a corporation or a partnership with only corporate partners in any single taxable year (or a greater loss over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886 (or successor form). Direct shareholders of portfolio securities in many cases are exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not exempted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Significant monetary penalties apply to a failure to comply with this reporting requirement. States may also have a similar reporting requirement. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

 

Whether an investment in the shares is appropriate for a Non-U.S. shareholder will depend upon that person’s particular circumstances. An investment in the shares by a Non-U.S. shareholder may have adverse tax consequences. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisers before investing in our common stock.

 

Distributions of our “investment company taxable income” to Non-U.S. shareholders that are not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the Non-U.S. shareholder, will generally be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30.0% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, unless an applicable exception applies.

 

Actual or deemed distributions of our net capital gain to a Non-U.S. shareholder, and gains realized by a Non-U.S. shareholder upon the sale of our common stock, that are not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the Non-U.S. shareholder, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the Non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30.0% on capital gain of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income

tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30.0% U.S. federal withholding tax.

 

If we distribute our net capital gain in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions (which we may do in the future), a Non-U.S. shareholder will be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the shareholder’s allocable share of the tax we pay on the capital gain deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the Non-U.S. shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a U.S. federal income tax return even if the Non-U.S. shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. federal income tax return. Accordingly, investment in the shares may not be appropriate for a Non-U.S. shareholder.

 

Distributions of our “investment company taxable income” and net capital gain (including deemed distributions) to Non-U.S. shareholders, and gain realized by Non-U.S. shareholders upon the sale of our common stock that is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the Non-U.S. shareholder (or if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a “permanent establishment” in the United States), will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Corporate Non-U.S. shareholders may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30.0% imposed by the Code (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty). In the case of a non-corporate Non-U.S. shareholder, we may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax from distributions that are otherwise exempt from withholding tax (or taxable at a reduced rate) unless the Non-U.S. shareholder certifies his or her foreign status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.

 

The tax consequences to a Non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in our shares.

 

Dividends distributed by CSWC as a regulated investment company may constitute interest-related dividends under Sections 871(k) and 881(e) of the Code to the extent paid out of U.S. source earnings that would have qualified for an exemption from U.S. nonresident withholding tax if a non-U.S. resident received such earnings directly. This provision of the Code had expired for tax years beginning after December 31, 2014. This provision was extended retroactively for the 2015 tax year and made permanent prospectively. As a result, ordinary dividends paid in the future by CSWC may be considered interest-related dividends and as such are not subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax for non-U.S. residents.

 

A Non-U.S. shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on dividends unless the Non-U.S. shareholder provides us or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. shareholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.

 

Non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the shares.

 

FATCA

 

Pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (“FATCA”), foreign financial institutions (which term includes most foreign hedge funds, private equity funds, mutual funds, securitization vehicles and other investment vehicles) and certain other foreign entities generally must comply with certain information reporting rules with respect to their U.S. account holders and investors or confront a 30% withholding tax on U.S.-source payments made to them (whether received as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary for another party). A foreign financial institution or such other foreign entity that does not comply with the FATCA reporting requirements will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax with respect to any “withholdable payments.” For this purpose, withholdable payments generally include our dividends and, beginning after December 1, 2018, also include the entire gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock, even if the payment would otherwise not be subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax (e.g., because it is capital gain). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to

different rules. We will not pay any additional amounts to in respect of any amounts withheld pursuant to FATCA. Under certain circumstances, a shareholder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

 

Possible Legislative or Other Actions Affecting Tax Considerations

 

Prospective investors should recognize that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our stock may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time, and that any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process any by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting in revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could affect the tax consequences of an investment in our stock.

 

State and Local Tax Treatment

 

The state and local tax treatment may differ from federal income tax treatment.

 

The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice, and potential investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax considerations relevant to their particular situation.

 

THE NASDAQ GLOBAL SELECT MARKET CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REGULATIONS

 

The NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) has adopted corporate governance listing standards with which listed companies must comply in order to remain listed.  We believe that we are in compliance with these corporate governance listing standards.  We intend to monitor our compliance with future listing standards and to take all necessary actions to ensure that we remain in compliance.

 

SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 AND SARBANES-OXLEY ACT COMPLIANCE

 

We are subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the Exchange Act, including the filing of quarterly, annual and current reports, proxy statements and other required items.  In addition, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and regulations promulgated thereunder, which imposes a wide variety of regulatory requirements on publicly-held companies and their insiders.  For example:

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.     Risk Factors

 

Investing in our common stock involves a number of significant risks.  In addition to other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, investors should consider the following information before making an investment in our common stock.  The risks and uncertainties described below could materially adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations. Risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or not presently deemed material

by us, may also impair our operations and performance.  If any of the following risks, or risks not presently known to us, actually occur,  the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE

 

Our investment portfolio is and will continue to be recorded at fair value.  Our Board of Directors has final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our fair value determination. As a result of recording our investments at fair value, there is and will continue to be subjectivity as to the value of our portfolio investments.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by us, with our Board of Directors having final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our fair value determination.  Typically, there is not a public market for the securities of the privately held companies in which we have invested and will continue to invest.  As a result, we value these securities quarterly at fair value based on inputs from management and our investment team, along with the oversight, review and approval of our Board of Directors.

 

The determination of fair value and consequently, the amount of unrealized gains and losses in our portfolio, are to a certain degree, subjective and dependent on a valuation process approved by our Board of Directors.  Certain factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include external events, such as private mergers, sales and acquisitions involving comparable companies.  Because of the inherent uncertainty of the valuation of portfolio securities which do not have readily ascertainable market values, our fair value determinations may differ materially from the values a third party would be willing to pay for our securities or the values which would be applicable to unrestricted securities having a public market.  Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our net asset value on a given date to materially understate or overstate the value that we may ultimately realize on one or more of our investments.  As a result, investors purchasing our common stock based on an overstated net asset value may pay a higher price than the value of our investments might warrant.  Conversely, investors selling shares during a period in which the net asset value understates the value of our investments may receive a lower price for their shares than the value of our investments might warrant.

 

Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to effectively allocate and manage capital.

 

Our ability to achieve our investment objective of maximizing risk-adjusted returns to shareholders depends on our ability to effectively allocate and manage capital.  Capital allocation depends, in part, upon our investment team’s ability to identify, evaluate, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria.

 

Accomplishing our investment objectives is largely a function of our investment team’s management of the investment process and our access to investments offering attractive risk adjusted returns.  In addition, members of our investment team are called upon, from time to time, to provide managerial assistance to some of our portfolio companies. 

 

The results of our operations depend on many factors, including the availability of opportunities for investment, readily accessible short and long-term funding alternatives in the financial markets and economic conditions. Our ability to make new investments at attractive relative valuations is also a function of our marketing and our management of the investment process. If we fail to invest our capital effectively, our return on equity may be negatively impacted, which could have a material adverse effect on the price of the shares of our common stock.

 

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.

 

We compete for attractive investment opportunities with other financial institutions, including business development companies, junior capital lenders, and banks.  Some of these competitors are substantially larger and have greater financial, technical and marketing resources, and some are subject to different, and frequently less stringent, regulations.  Our competitors may have a lower cost of funds and may have access to funding sources that are not available to us.  Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us

as a BDC.  As a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that satisfy our objectives.  A significant increase in the number and/or size of our competitors in our target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms.  We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

 

The capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability. Such market conditions may materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States, which may have a negative impact on our business and operations.

 

The U.S. capital markets experienced increased volatility and disruption over the past several years, leading to increased investor uncertainty and depressed levels of consumer and commercial spending. Disruptions in the capital markets increased the spread between the yields realized on risk-free and higher risk securities, resulting in illiquidity in parts of the capital markets. We cannot provide any assurance that these conditions will not worsen. If these conditions continue or worsen, the prolonged period of market illiquidity may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could limit our investment originations, limit our ability to grow and negatively impact our operating results.

 

In addition, significant changes or volatility in the capital markets may also have a negative effect on the valuations of our investments. While most of our investments are not publicly traded, applicable accounting standards require us to assume as part of our valuation process that our investments are sold in a principal market to market participants (even if we plan on holding an investment through its maturity). Significant changes in the capital markets may also affect the pace of our investment activity and the potential for liquidity events involving our investments. Thus, the illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell our investments to access capital if required, and as a result, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded our investments if we were required to sell them for liquidity purposes. An inability to raise or access capital could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

If the Share Distribution is ultimately determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our shareholders could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.

 

A condition to the Share Distribution was CSWC’s receipt of an opinion from the accounting firm of KPMG substantially to the effect that the Share Distribution should qualify as tax free under Sections 355, 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Code. An opinion of an accounting firm is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Accordingly, the IRS may reach conclusions with respect to the Share Distribution that are different from the conclusions reached in the opinion. The opinion relied on certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings from CSWC and CSWI regarding the past and future conduct of the companies’ respective businesses and other matters, which, if incomplete, incorrect or not satisfied, could alter KPMG’s conclusions.

 

If the Share Distribution ultimately is determined to be taxable, it could be treated as a taxable dividend to you for U.S. federal income tax purposes and you could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.  In addition, CSWC would recognize a taxable gain to the extent that the fair market value of CSWI common stock exceeds CSWC’s tax basis in that stock on the date of the Share Distribution. 

 

Any unrealized losses we experience may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available to make distributions.

 

As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at the fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors pursuant to a valuation methodology approved by our Board of Directors. Decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments will be recorded as unrealized losses. An unrealized loss could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations or generate cash flow. This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available to pay dividends or interest and principal on our securities and could have a material adverse effect on your investment.

 

Our historical financial statements are not necessarily representative of the results we would have achieved as a stand-alone publicly-traded company and therefore may not be indicative of our future performance.

 

Capital Southwest spun off 63.5% of our net asset value to shareholders in the Share Distribution and divested other major investments during the past three years. We emerged from these divestitures and the Share Distribution with a significantly different company profile.  Our historical financial statements included in this Form 10-K for  historical periods are not necessarily representative of the results we would have achieved as a stand-alone publicly traded company with a smaller market footprint.  Accordingly, this data may not be indicative of our future performance, or necessarily reflect what our financial position and results of operations or cash flows would have been, had we operated as a separate, stand-alone publicly-traded entity during all of the periods presented.  

 

Adverse market and economic conditions could cause harm to our operating results.

 

Past recessions have had a significant negative impact on the operating performance and fair value of our portfolio investments. Many of our portfolio companies could be adversely impacted again by any future economic downturn or recession and may be unable to be sold at a price that would allow us to recover our investment, or may be unable to operate during a recession. Such portfolio company performance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our success depends on attracting and retaining qualified personnel in a competitive environment.

 

Sourcing, selection, structuring and closing our investments depends upon the diligence and skill of our management.  Our management’s capabilities may significantly impact our results of operations.  Our success requires that we retain investment and operations personnel in a competitive environment.  Our ability to attract and retain personnel with the requisite credentials, experience and skills depends on several factors, including but not limited to, our ability to offer competitive wages, benefits and professional growth opportunities.

 

The competitive environment for qualified personnel may require us to take certain measures to ensure that we are able to attract and retain experienced personnel.  Such measures may include increasing the attractiveness of our overall compensation packages, altering the structure of our compensation packages through the use of additional forms of compensation or other steps.  The inability to attract and retain experienced personnel could potentially have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships.  Our inability to maintain or develop these relationships, as well as the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

 

We expect that members of our management team will maintain their relationships with intermediaries, financial institutions, investment bankers, commercial bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, consultants and other individuals within our network, and we will rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities.  If our management team fails to maintain its existing relationships or develop new relationships with sources of investment opportunities, we will not be able to effectively allocate capital.  Individuals with whom members of our management team have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and therefore, there is no assurance that these relationships will generate investment opportunities for us.    

 

In addition to regulatory limitations on our ability to raise capital, our Credit Facility contains various covenants, which, if not complied with, could accelerate our repayment obligations under the Credit Facility, thereby materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.

 

We will have a continuing need for capital to finance our investments. We are party to a senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), dated as of August 30, 2016, which provides us with a revolving credit line of up to $100.0 million, which has $25.0 million drawn as of March 31, 2017. The Credit Facility contains customary terms and conditions,

including, without limitation, affirmative and negative covenants such as information reporting requirements, minimum consolidated net worth, minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio, minimum regulatory asset coverage, and maintenance of RIC and BDC status. The Credit Facility also contains customary events of default with customary cure and notice, including, without limitation, nonpayment, misrepresentation of representations and warranties in a material respect, breach of covenants, bankruptcy, and change of control. The Credit Facility permits us to fund additional loans and investments as long as we are within the conditions set out in the Credit Facility. Our continued compliance with these covenants depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control, and there are no assurances that we will continue to comply with these covenants. Our failure to satisfy these covenants could result in foreclosure by our lenders, which would accelerate our repayment obligations under the facility and thereby have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

Because we borrow money to make investments, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.

 

Borrowings to fund investments, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for loss on investments in our indebtedness and gain or loss on investments in our equity capital. As we use leverage to partially finance our investments, you will experience increased risks of investing in our securities. We may borrow from banks and other lenders, including under our Credit Facility, and may issue debt securities or enter into other types of borrowing arrangements in the future. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged our business. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause net investment income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not leveraged our business. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to pay common stock dividends, scheduled debt payments or other payments related to our securities. Use of leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique.

 

As of March 31,  2017, we had $25.0 million debt outstanding under our Credit Facility. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, on a per annum basis at a rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate (1.13% as of March 31,  2017) plus 3.25%. For the first six months following the close of the Credit Facility, we paid unused commitment fees of 0.50% per annum on the unused lender commitments under the Credit Facility. Subsequent to that period, the unused commitment fee is 0.50% to 1.50% based on utilization. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our assets. If we are unable to meet the financial obligations under the Credit Facility, the lenders under the Credit Facility may exercise its remedies under the Credit Facility as the result of a default by us.

 

Our ability to achieve our investment objective may depend in part on our ability to access additional leverage on favorable terms by borrowing from banks or insurance companies or by issuing debt securities and there can be no assurance that such additional leverage can in fact be achieved.

 

All of our assets are subject to security interests under our secured Credit Facility and if we default on our obligations under the Credit Facility, we may suffer adverse consequences, including foreclosure on our assets.

 

All of our assets are currently pledged as collateral under our Credit Facility. If we default on our obligations under the Credit Facility, the lenders party thereto may have the right to foreclose upon and sell, or otherwise transfer, the collateral subject to their security interests. In such event, we may be forced to sell our investments to raise funds to repay our outstanding borrowings in order to avoid foreclosure and these forced sales may be at times and at prices we would not consider advantageous. Moreover, such deleveraging of our company could significantly impair our ability to effectively operate our business in the manner in which we have historically operated. As a result, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities and lower or eliminate the dividends that we have historically paid to our stockholders. In addition, if the lenders exercise their right to sell the assets pledged under our Credit Facility, such sales may be completed at distressed sale prices, thereby diminishing or potentially eliminating the amount of cash available to us after repayment of the amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility.

 

In connection with CSWI’s separation from CSWC, CSWI has indemnified us for certain liabilities.  However, there can be no assurance that these indemnities will be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of such liabilities or that CSWI’s ability to satisfy its indemnification obligation will not be impaired in the future.

 

CSWI agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities, including certain tax liabilities.  However, third parties could seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that CSWI will agree to retain, and there can be no assurance that CSWI will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations.  Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from CSWI any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses while seeking recovery from CSWI.

 

Potential indemnification liabilities of CSWC to CSWI could materially adversely affect us.

 

Future agreements between CSWC and CSWI may provide for indemnification obligations designed to make CSWC financially responsible for liabilities that may exist relating to or arising out of its business activities, whether incurred prior to or after the Share Distribution.  If CSWC is required to indemnify CSWI for any reason, CSWC may be subject to substantial liabilities.

 

We may not be able to engage in certain corporate transactions due to the Share Distribution.

 

Our ability to engage in significant equity transactions is limited due to the Share Distribution in order to preserve the tax-free status of the Share Distribution to CSWC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Even if the Share Distribution otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment to CSWC’s shareholders under Section 355 of the Code, it may be taxable to CSWC under section 355(e) of the Code if 50.0% or more, by vote or value, of shares of our common stock or CSWI’s common stock are acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the Share Distribution. For this purpose, any acquisitions or issuances of CSWC’s common stock within two years before the Share Distribution, and any acquisitions or issuances of our common stock or CSWI’s common stock within two years after the Share Distribution, generally are presumed to be part of such a plan, although we or CSWI may be able to rebut that presumption. If an acquisition or issuance of shares of our common stock or CSWI’s common stock triggers the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, CSWC would recognize a taxable gain to the extent the fair market value of CSWI’s common stock exceeds our tax basis in CSWI’s common stock at the time of the Share Distribution.

 

Potential liabilities may arise due to fraudulent transfer considerations, which would adversely affect our financial condition and our results of operations.

 

In connection with the Share Distribution, we undertook several corporate restructuring transactions which, along with the Share Distribution, may be subject to federal and state fraudulent conveyance and transfer laws. If, under these laws, a court were to determine that, at the time of the Share Distribution, any entity involved in these restructuring transactions or the Share Distribution: (1) was insolvent; (2) was rendered insolvent by reason of the Share Distribution; (3) had remaining assets constituting unreasonably small capital; or (4) intended to incur, or believed it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay these debts as they matured, then the court could void the Share Distribution, in whole or in part, as a fraudulent conveyance or transfer. The court could require us to fund liabilities of the other company for the benefit of creditors.

 

We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code.

 

To maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code, we must meet the following annual distribution, income source and asset diversification requirements:

 

 

 

 

Failure to meet these requirements may result in us having to dispose of certain unqualified investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status.  If we fail to maintain RIC tax treatment for any reason and are subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.  In addition, to the extent we had unrealized gains, we would have to establish deferred tax liabilities for taxes, which would reduce our net asset value accordingly.  In addition, our shareholders would lose the tax credit realized when we, as a RIC, decide to retain the net realized capital gain and make deemed distributions of net realized capital gains, and pay taxes on behalf of our shareholders at the end of the tax year.  The loss of this pass-through tax treatment could have a material adverse effect on the total return of an investment in our common stock.

 

Even if the Company qualifies as a Regulated Investment Company, it may face tax liabilities that reduce its cash flow.

 

Even if the Company qualifies for taxation as a RIC, it may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on its income and assets. In addition, we may hold some of our assets through our Taxable Subsidiary, which is not consolidated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or any other taxable subsidiary we may form. Any taxes paid by our subsidiary corporations would decrease the cash available for distribution to the Company’s stockholders.

 

Previously proposed legislation may allow us to incur additional leverage.

 

As a BDC, under the 1940 Act we generally are not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after any borrowing we have an asset coverage for total borrowings of at least 200.0% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50.0% of the value of our assets). Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, proposed to modify this section of the 1940 Act and increase the amount of debt that BDCs may incur by modifying the asset coverage percentage from 200.0% to 150.0%. If this legislation is passed, we may be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future and, therefore, your risk of an investment in our securities may increase.

 

Efforts to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act involve significant expenditures, and non-compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may adversely affect us.

 

We are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. Among other requirements, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, our management is required to report on our internal controls over financial reporting. We are required to review on an annual basis our internal controls over financial reporting, and on a quarterly

and annual basis to evaluate and disclose significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting. We have and expect to continue to incur significant expenses related to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which will negatively impact our financial performance and our ability to make distributions. In addition, this process results in a diversion of management’s time and attention. In the event that we are unable to maintain compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules, we may be adversely affected.

 

Our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies.

 

Beyond our RIC asset diversification requirements, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and from time to time our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies for a number of reasons, including performance, our growth plans and different investment timelines. The concentration of our total assets in certain investments may fluctuate as the relative net asset values of these investments change relative to the net asset values of other investments in our portfolio and as we continue to make investments. Financial disruption, decreased revenues or changes in the business of any investment in which our assets are concentrated may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

 

Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates is restricted.

 

We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with certain of our affiliates without the prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5.0% or more of our outstanding voting securities is our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act, and we generally are prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to an affiliate, absent the prior approval of our independent directors. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25.0% of our voting securities, we are prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to that person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with that person, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers or directors or their affiliates. Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to, and the way in which we raise additional capital.

 

Changes in the laws or regulations governing our business, or changes in the interpretations thereof, and any failure by us to comply with these laws or regulations, could negatively affect the profitability of our operations.

 

Changes in the laws or regulations or the interpretations of the laws and regulations that govern BDCs, RICs or non-depository commercial lenders could significantly affect our operations and our cost of doing business. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations and are subject to judicial and administrative decisions that affect our operations, including our loan originations, maximum interest rates, fees and other charges, disclosures to portfolio companies, the terms of secured transactions, collection and foreclosure procedures and other trade practices. If these laws, regulations or decisions change, or if we expand our business into jurisdictions that have adopted more stringent requirements than those in which we currently conduct business, we may have to incur significant expenses in order to comply or we might have to restrict our operations. In addition, if we do not comply with applicable laws, regulations and decisions, we may lose licenses needed for the conduct of our business and be subject to civil fines and criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could fail to qualify as a business development company or be precluded from investing according to our current business strategy.

 

As a BDC, we may not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70.0% of our total assets are qualifying assets.

 

We currently have more than 70.0% of qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if those investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could lose our status as a BDC, which would have a

material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, these rules could prevent us from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position).

 

A failure on our part to maintain our status as a BDC would significantly reduce our operating flexibility.

 

If we fail to maintain our status as a BDC, we might be regulated as a closed-end investment company that is required to register under the Investment Company Act, which would subject us to additional regulatory restrictions and significantly decrease our operating flexibility. In addition, any such failure could cause an event of default under our outstanding indebtedness, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations or our failure to comply with those laws or regulations may adversely affect our business.

 

We and our portfolio companies are subject to laws and regulations at the local, state and federal level.  These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may be changed from time to time.  Accordingly, any changes in these laws and regulations or failure to comply with them could have a material adverse effect on our business.  Certain of these laws and regulations pertain specifically to BDCs such as us.

 

We are highly dependent on information systems and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

 

Our business is highly dependent on our and third parties’ communications and information systems. Any failure or interruption of those systems, including as a result of the termination of an agreement with any third-party service providers, could cause delays or other problems in our activities. Our financial, accounting, data processing, backup or other operating systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control and adversely affect our business. There could be:

 

 

If we are unable to maintain the availability of our electronic data systems and safeguard the security of our data, our ability to conduct business may be compromised, which could impair our liquidity, disrupt our business, damage our reputation and cause losses.

 

Cybersecurity refers to the combination of technologies, processes, and procedures established to protect information technology systems and data from unauthorized access, attack, or damage. We are subject to cybersecurity risks. Information cybersecurity risks have significantly increased in recent years and, while we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches, we could suffer such losses in the future. Our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other malicious code and other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events occur, this potentially could jeopardize confidential and other information, including nonpublic personal information and sensitive business data, processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the operations of our customers or counterparties. This could result in significant losses, reputational damage, litigation, regulatory fines or penalties, or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Privacy and information security laws and regulation changes, and compliance with those changes, may result in cost increases due to system changes and the development of new administrative processes. In addition, we

may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures and to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures arising from operational and security risks. We currently do not maintain insurance coverage relating to cybersecurity risks, and we may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, and we may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are not fully insured.

 

Third parties with which we do business may also be sources of cybersecurity or other technological risks. We outsource certain functions, and these relationships allow for the storage and processing of our information, as well as customer, counterparty, employee and borrower information. While we engage in actions to reduce our exposure resulting from outsourcing, ongoing threats may result in unauthorized access, loss, exposure or destruction of data, or other cybersecurity incidents, with increased costs and other consequences, including those described above.

 

Terrorist attacks, acts of war or natural disasters may affect any market for our common stock, impact the businesses in which we invest and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

Terrorist attacks, acts of war or natural disasters may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest.  These events have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability.  Future terrorist activities, military or security operations, or natural disasters could further weaken the domestic or global economy.  These events could create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.  Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INVESTMENTS

 

Our investments in portfolio companies involve a number of significant risks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, in the course of providing significant managerial assistance to certain of our portfolio companies, certain of our officers and directors may serve as directors on the boards of these companies. To the extent that litigation

arises out of our investments in these companies, our officers and directors may be named as defendants in such litigation, which could result in an expenditure of funds for claims in excess of our directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage (through our indemnification of our officers and directors) and the diversion of management’s time and resources.

 

There may be circumstances in which our debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or we could be subject to lender liability claims.

 

Even though we may have structured certain of our investments as secured loans, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, and based upon principles of equitable subordination as defined by existing case law, a bankruptcy court could subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors and transfer any lien securing our subordinated claim to the bankruptcy estate. The principles of equitable subordination defined by case law have generally indicated that a claim may be subordinated only if its holder is guilty of misconduct or where the senior loan is re-characterized as an equity investment and the senior lender has actually provided significant managerial assistance to the bankrupt debtor. We may also be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by us with respect to a borrower’s business or instances where we exercise control over the borrower. It is possible that we could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken in rendering significant managerial assistance or actions to compel and collect payments from the borrower outside the ordinary course of business.

 

The lack of liquidity in our investments may adversely affect our business.

 

We invest, and will continue to invest, in portfolio companies whose securities are not publicly traded. These securities are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. As a result, we do not expect to achieve liquidity in our investments in the near-term. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments and, as a result, we may suffer losses.

 

Our investments in equity securities involve a substantial degree of risk.

 

We may purchase common stock and other equity securities, including warrants. Although equity securities have historically generated higher average total returns than fixed-income securities over the long term, equity securities have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns. The equity securities we acquire may fail to appreciate and may decline in value or become worthless, and our ability to recover our investment depends on our portfolio company’s success. Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of further dilution as a result of additional issuances, inability to access additional capital and failure to pay current distributions. Investments in preferred securities involve special risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights.

 

As a Regulated Investment Company, we may have certain regulatory restrictions that could preclude us from making additional investments in our portfolio companies.

 

We may not have the ability to make additional investments in our portfolio companies.  After our initial investment in a portfolio company, we may be called upon from time to time to provide additional funds to that company or have the opportunity to increase our investment or make follow-on investments.  Any decisions not to make a follow-on investment or any inability on our part to make such an investment may have a negative impact on a portfolio company in need of such an investment, may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation or may reduce the expected return on the investment.

 

Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital, the value of investments and net investment income.

 

Some of our debt investments will bear interest at variable rates and the interest income from these investments could be negatively affected by decreases in market interest rates. In addition, an increase in interest rates would make it more expensive for us to use debt to finance our investments. As a result, a significant increase in market interest rates could increase our cost of capital, which would reduce our net investment income. Also, an increase in interest rates

available to investors could make an investment in our securities less attractive than alternative investments, a situation which could reduce the value of our securities. Conversely, a decrease in interest rates may have an adverse impact on our returns by requiring us to seek lower yields on our debt investments and by increasing the risk that our portfolio companies will prepay our debt investments, resulting in the need to redeploy capital at potentially lower rates. A decrease in market interest rates may also adversely impact our returns on idle funds, which would reduce our net investment income.  In addition, certain of our debt investments and debt liabilities may bear interest at fixed rates.  To the extent that our fixed rate assets and liabilities are not perfectly hedged, our net investment income may decrease based on changes in market interest rates.  An increase in market interest rates may also decrease the fair value of our fixed rate investments, as these may be less attractive securities in a rising rate environment. 

 

Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.

 

We are subject to the risk that the investments we make in our portfolio companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we will generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending their future investment in new portfolio companies. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies elect to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact our return on equity, which could result in a decline in the market price of our securities.

 

Defaults by our portfolio companies could harm our operating results.

 

Portfolio companies may fail to satisfy financial, operating or other covenants imposed by us or other lenders, which could lead to a default and, potentially, acceleration of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets.  These events could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations, including under the debt or equity securities we hold.  We may also incur expenses to the extent necessary to recover upon a default or to negotiate new terms with the defaulting portfolio company.

 

Second priority liens on collateral securing loans that we make to our portfolio companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and us.

 

Certain loans that we make are secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral pledged by a portfolio company to secure senior debt owed by the portfolio company to commercial banks or other traditional lenders. Often the senior lender has procured covenants from the portfolio company prohibiting the incurrence of additional secured debt without the senior lender’s consent. Prior to and as a condition of permitting the portfolio company to borrow money from us secured by the same collateral pledged to the senior lender, the senior lender will require assurances that it will control the disposition of any collateral in the event of bankruptcy or other default. In many cases, the senior lender will require us to enter into an “intercreditor agreement” prior to permitting the portfolio company to borrow from us. Typically the intercreditor agreements we are requested to execute expressly subordinate our debt instruments to those held by the senior lender and further provide that the senior lender shall control: (1) the commencement of foreclosure or other proceedings to liquidate and collect on the collateral; (2) the nature, timing and conduct of foreclosure or other collection proceedings; (3) the amendment of any collateral document; (4) the release of the security interests in respect of any collateral; and (5) the waiver of defaults under any security agreement. Because of the control we may cede to senior lenders under intercreditor agreements we may enter, we may be unable to realize the proceeds of any collateral securing some of our loans.

 

Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in those companies.

 

We invest primarily in the secured term debt of middle market companies and equity issued by middle market companies. Our portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt in which we invest. By their terms, these debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest

or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which we invest. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any distribution. After repaying its senior creditors, the portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to us. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which we invest, we would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.

 

We may not realize gains from our equity investments.

 

Certain investments that we have made in the past and may make in the future include warrants or other equity securities. Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of further dilution as a result of additional issuances, inability to access additional capital and failure to pay current distributions. Investments in preferred securities involve special risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights. In addition, we may from time to time make non-control, equity investments in portfolio companies. Our goal is ultimately to realize gains upon our disposition of these equity interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests. We often seek puts or similar rights to give us the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company issuer; however, we may be unable to exercise these put rights for the consideration provided in our investment documents if the issuer is in financial distress.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON STOCK

 

Investing in shares of our common stock may involve an above average degree of risk.

 

The investments we make in accordance with our investment objectives may result in a higher amount of risk, volatility or loss of principal than alternative investment options. Our investments in portfolio companies may be highly speculative, and therefore, an investment in our common stock may not be suitable for investors with lower risk tolerance.

 

Our common stock often trades at a discount from net asset value.

 

Our common stock is listed on NASDAQ.  Shareholders desiring liquidity may sell their shares on NASDAQ at current market value, which has often been below net asset value.  Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at discounts from net asset value, which is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that a fund’s performance will cause its net asset value to decrease.

 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

 

The market price and marketability of shares of our common stock may from time to time be significantly affected by numerous factors, including:

 

 

We may not pay any dividends.

 

While we intend to pay dividends to our shareholders out of taxable income available for distribution, there can be no assurance that we will do so. Any dividends that we do pay may be payable in cash, in our stock, or in stock in any of our holdings or in a combination of all three. All dividends will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our financial condition, maintenance of our RIC status, and compliance with applicable BDC regulations.

 

We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.

 

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in part in our stock.  Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable by us in cash or in shares of stock (at the shareholders election) would satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement. The IRS has issued private letter rulings providing that a dividend payable in stock or in cash at the election of the shareholders will be treated as a taxable dividend eligible for the dividends paid deduction provided that at least 20.0% of the total dividend is payable in cash and certain other requirements are satisfied. Taxable shareholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such dividend is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. shareholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received.  If a U.S. shareholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale.  Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividends payable in stock.  In addition, if a significant number of our shareholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.

 

Item 1B.     Unresolved Staff Comments

 

We have no unresolved comments from the staff of the SEC.

 

Item 2.     Properties

 

We do not own any real estate or other physical properties.  We maintain our offices at 5400 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 1300, Dallas, Texas 75240, where we lease approximately 9,261 square feet of office space pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in January 2022. We believe that our offices are adequate to meet our current and expected future needs.

 

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings

 

We may, from time to time, be involved in litigation arising out of our operations in the normal course of business or otherwise.  Furthermore, third parties may try to seek to impose liability on us in connection with the activities of our portfolio companies.  As of the date hereof, we are not a party to, and none of our assets are subject to, any material pending legal proceedings and are not aware of any claims that could have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

PART II

 

Item 5.     Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND HOLDERS

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “CSWC.”  The following high and low selling prices for shares during each quarter of the last two fiscal years were taken from quotations provided to the Company by NASDAQ. The prices on and before September 30, 2015 have not been adjusted to reflect the Share Distribution.

 

 

On May 31, 2017, the last sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ was $15.81 per share, and there were approximately 500 holders of record of the common stock which did not include shareholders for whom shares are held in “nominee” or “street name.”

 

Shares of BDCs may trade at a market price that is less than the value of the net assets attributable to those shares. The possibility that our shares of common stock will trade at a discount from net asset value per share or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term are separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share will decrease. It is not possible to predict whether our common stock will trade at, above, or below net asset value per share.

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

We intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our shareholders of substantially all of our taxable income. In lieu of cash, we may make deemed distributions of certain net capital gains to our shareholders.

 

The payment dates (including the dividend declared on May 31, 2017 to be paid on July 3, 2017) and amounts of cash dividends per share on a post-split basis for the past five years are as follows:

 

 

The amounts and timing of cash dividend payments have generally been dictated by requirements of the Code regarding the distribution of taxable net investment income (ordinary income) of regulated investment companies.

 

On March 1, 2016, we entered into a share repurchase agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. This agreement established a plan in compliance with the requirements of Rules 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) and 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The plan was established pursuant to a $10 million share repurchase program that the Board approved on January 20, 2016. This agreement became effective immediately and shall terminate on the earliest of: (1) the date on which a total of $10 million worth of common shares have been purchased under the plan; (2) the date on which the terms set forth in the purchase instructions have been met; or (3) the date that is one trading day after the date on which insider notifies broker in writing that this agreement shall terminate. As of March 31, 2017 and 2016, no shares have been purchased under the plan.

 

Distribution Policy

 

We generally intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our shareholders of substantially all of our taxable income. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98.0% of our ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one year period ended each October 31, and (3) any ordinary income and net capital gains for the preceding year that were not distributed during that year. We will not be subject to excise taxes on amounts on which we are required to pay corporate income tax (such as retained net capital gains). In order to obtain the tax benefits applicable to RICs, we will be required to distribute to our shareholders with respect to each taxable year at least 90.0% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses. We may retain for investment realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses. We may make deemed distributions to our shareholders of any retained net capital gains. If this happens, our shareholders will be treated as if they received an actual distribution of the capital gains we retain and then reinvested the net after-tax proceeds in our common stock. Our shareholders also may be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to their allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to them. Please refer to “Business —Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” included in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report for further information regarding the consequences of our retention of net capital gains. We may, in the future, make actual distributions to our shareholders of some or all realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain

the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings. See “Business — Election to be Regulated as a Business Development Company and Regulated Investment Company – Regulation as a Business Development Company” included in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report.

 

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, or DRIP, which provides for reinvestment of our distributions on behalf of our common shareholders if opted into by a common shareholder. See “Business — Dividend Reinvestment Plan” included in Item I of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Shareholders who receive dividends in the form of stock generally are subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as are shareholders who elect to receive their dividends in cash. A shareholder’s basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of stock received in a dividend from us will be equal to the total dollar amount of the dividend payable to the shareholder. Any stock received in a dividend will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the U.S. shareholder’s account.

 

Our ability to make distributions will be limited by the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act. For a more detailed discussion, see “Business — Election to be Regulated as a Business Development Company and Regulated Investment Company – Regulation as a Business Development Company” included in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Performance Graph

 

The following graph compares our cumulative total shareholder return during the last five years (based on the market price of our common stock and assuming reinvestment of all dividends, prior to any tax effect) with the NASDAQ Total Return Index, the Russell 2000 Total Return Index and the KBW Regional Bank Total Return Index. The graph assumes initial investment of $100 on March 31, 2012 and reinvestment of dividends. 

 

 

Item 6.     Selected Financial Data

 

The following table provides selected financial data relating to our historical financial condition and results of operations as of and for each of the years ended March 31, 2013 through 2017.  This data should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes.

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

(In thousands except per share data)

 

 

 

 

Item 7.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Statements we make in the following discussion which express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, could differ materially from those we express in the following discussion as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks and uncertainties we have referred to under the headings “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Part I of this report.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Capital Southwest Corporation (“CSWC” or the “Company”) is an investment company that specializes in providing customized debt and equity financing to lower middle market (“LMM”) companies and debt capital to upper middle market (“UMM”) companies in a broad range of investment segments located primarily in the United States.  Our principal investment objective is to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity and equity related investments.  Our investment strategy is to partner with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors to provide flexible financing solutions to fund growth, changes of control, or other corporate events. We invest primarily in senior and subordinated debt securities secured by security interests in portfolio company assets, coupled with equity interests.  

 

We focus on investing in companies with histories of generating revenues and positive cash flow, established market positions and proven management teams with strong operating discipline. We target senior and subordinated investments in lower middle market companies, as well as first and second lien syndicated loans in upper middle market companies.  Our target LMM companies typically have annual EBITDA between $3.0 million and $15.0 million, and our LMM investments generally range in size from $5.0 million to $20.0 million. Our UMM investments generally include syndicated first and second lien loans in companies with EBITDA generally greater than $50.0 million, and typically range in size from $3.0 million to $10.0 million.

 

We seek to fill the financing gap for LMM businesses, which, historically, have had more limited access to financing from commercial banks and other traditional sources. The underserved nature of the LMM creates the opportunity for us to meet the financing needs of LMM companies while also negotiating favorable transaction terms and equity participations. Our ability to invest across a company’s capital structure, from secured loans to equity securities, allows us to offer portfolio companies a comprehensive suite of financing options. Providing customized financing solutions is important to LMM companies. We generally seek to partner directly with entrepreneurs, management teams and business owners in making our investments. Our LMM debt investments are generally secured by a first lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have a term of between five and seven years from the original investment date. We believe that our investment strategy with respect to LMM companies has limited correlation to the broader debt and equity markets.

 

Our investments in UMM companies primarily consist of direct investments in or secondary purchases of interest bearing debt securities in privately held companies that are generally larger in size than the LMM companies included in our portfolio. Our UMM debt investments are generally secured by either a first or second priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have an expected duration of between three and seven years from the original investment date.

Formation and Launch of a Senior Loan Fund With Main Street Capital Corporation

 

On September 9, 2015, we entered into an agreement to form and co-manage I-45 SLF LLC (“I-45”), a senior loan fund that invests primarily in syndicated senior secured loans in UMM companies, with Main Street Capital Corporation (“Main Street”). The initial equity capital commitment to I-45 SLF totaled $85.0 million, consisting of $68.0 million from us and $17.0 million from Main Street.  We own 80.0% of I-45 SLF and have a profits interest of 75.6%, while Main Street owns 20.0% and has a profits interest of 24.4%.  I-45 SLF’s Board of Managers makes all investment and operational decisions for the fund, and consists of equal representation from our Company and Main Street.  

 

Portfolio Composition

 

Our LMM investments primarily consist of secured debt, subordinated debt, equity warrants and direct equity investments in privately held, LMM companies based in the United States. Our LMM portfolio companies generally have annual EBITDA between $3.0 million and $15.0 million, and our LMM investments typically range in size from $5.0 million to $20.0 million. The LMM debt investments are typically secured by either a first or second priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company, generally bear interest at floating rates, and generally have a term of between five and seven years from the original investment date.

 

Our UMM investments primarily consist of direct investments in or secondary purchases of interest-bearing debt securities in privately held companies based in the United States that are generally larger in size than the LMM companies included in our portfolio with EBITDA generally greater than $50.0 million. Our UMM investments typically range in size from $3.0 million to $10.0 million. Our UMM debt investments are generally secured by ether a first or second priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have a term of between three and seven years from the original investment date.

 

The total value of our investment portfolio was $286.9 million as of March 31, 2017, as compared to $178.4 million as of March 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, we had investments in 28 portfolio companies with an aggregate cost of $250.5 million. As of March 31, 2016, we had investments in 23 portfolio companies with an aggregate cost of $150.1 million.

 

The following tables provide a summary of our investments in UMM and LMM companies as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 (excluding our investment in I-45):

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, our investment portfolio consisted of the following investments: 

 

 

Portfolio Asset Quality

 

We utilize an internally developed investment rating system to rate the performance and monitor the expected level of returns for each debt investment in our portfolio.  The investment rating system takes into account both quantitative