Form 497
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 497

Registration Statement No. 333-202531

PROSPECTUS

$300,000,000

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Subscription Rights

Debt Securities

Warrants

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, together or separately, up to $300,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, subscription rights, debt securities, or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities, which we refer to collectively as the “securities.” We may sell our common stock through underwriters or dealers, “at-the-market” to or through a market maker into an existing trading market or otherwise directly to one or more purchasers or through agents or through a combination of methods of sale. The identities of such underwriters, dealers, market makers or agents, as the case may be, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.

We may offer shares of common stock at a discount to net asset value per share in certain circumstances. On June 4, 2014, our common stockholders voted to allow us to sell or otherwise issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. See “Risk Factors” on page 12 and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” on page 90 of this prospectus for more information.

Our stockholders specified that the cumulative number of shares sold in each offering during the one-year period ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may not exceed 25.0% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Shares of closed-end investment companies such as us frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. This risk is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our common stock will trade above, at or below net asset value. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our common stock.


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We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies located throughout the United States. We are an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives.

We generally invest in securities that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Below investment grade securities, which are often referred to as “high yield” or “junk,” have speculative characteristics with respect to our capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FDUS.” On April 13, 2015, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $16.20 per share and our net asset value on December 31, 2014 was $15.16 per share.

Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC serves as our investment advisor and as our administrator.

Investing in our securities is speculative and involves numerous risks, and you could lose your entire investment if any of the risks occur. Among these risks is the risk associated with leverage and dilution. For more information regarding these risks, please see “Risk Factors “ beginning on page 12.

Please read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, before investing, and keep it for future reference. It concisely sets forth important information about us that a prospective investor ought to know before investing in our securities. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This information is available free of charge by contacting us at 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201, Attention: Investor Relations, by accessing our website at http://www.fdus.com or by calling us collect at (847) 859-3940. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into, and you should not consider that information to be part of, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains such information.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 5, 2015


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Summary

  1   

Fees and Expenses

  9   

Risk Factors

  12   

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

  37   

Use of Proceeds

  38   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

  38   

Price Range of Common Stock and Distributions

  39   

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

  41   

Selected Quarterly Financial Data

  42   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Information and Results of Operations

  43   

Senior Securities

  56   

The Company

  57   

Portfolio Companies

  67   

Management

  70   

Management and Other Agreements

  80   

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

  87   

Control Persons and Principal Stockholders

  89   

Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value

  90   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

  95   

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

  97   

Description of Our Capital Stock

  106   

Description of Our Preferred Stock

  112   

Description of Our Subscription Rights

  113   

Description of Our Debt Securities

  114   

Regulation

  126   

Plan of Distribution

  132   

Custodian, Transfer and Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar

  134   

Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices

  134   

Legal Matters

  134   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  134   

Available Information

  134   

Privacy Notice

  135   

Index to Financial Statements

  F-1   

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using the “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 worth of our common stock, preferred stock, subscription rights, debt securities, or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent required by law, we will amend or supplement the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to reflect any material changes to such information subsequent to the date of the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and prior to the completion of any offering pursuant to the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under “Available Information” and “Risk Factors” before you make an investment decision. During an offering, we will disclose material amendments to this prospectus through a post-effective amendment or prospectus supplement.


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No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus or any accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations not contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement as if we had authorized it. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any security other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do they constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of the dates on their covers.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. You should read the entire prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully, including “Risk Factors,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

Fidus Investment Corporation is a Maryland corporation, formed on February 14, 2011, for the purpose of acquiring 100.0% of the equity interests in Fidus Mezzanine Capital, L.P., or Fund I, and its general partner, Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, or FMCGP, raising capital in its initial public offering, or IPO, which was completed in June 2011, and thereafter, operating as an externally managed business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. Fund I is licensed as a small business investment company, or SBIC, by the United States Small Business Administration, or SBA. Simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO, we acquired all of the equity interests in Fund I and its former general partner as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement under “Formation Transactions,” whereby Fund I became our wholly-owned subsidiary. On March 29, 2013, we commenced operations of a new wholly-owned investment fund, Fidus Mezzanine Capital II, L.P., or Fund II, and on May 28, 2013, were granted a second license by the SBA to operate Fund II as an SBIC. Collectively, Fund I and Fund II are referred to as the Funds. Unless otherwise noted in this prospectus supplement the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Fidus” and “FIC” refer to Fund I, and its consolidated subsidiaries, prior to the IPO and to Fidus Investment Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Fund I, for the periods after the IPO.

As used in this prospectus the term “our investment advisor” refers to Fidus Capital, LLC prior to the Formation Transactions and Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC after the Formation Transactions. The investment professionals of Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC were also the investment professionals of Fidus Capital, LLC.

Fidus Investment Corporation

We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies, which we define as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our investment strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives. We seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of investments in order to help mitigate the potential effects of adverse economic events related to particular companies, regions or industries.

We invest in companies that possess some or all of the following attributes: predictable revenues; positive cash flows; defensible and/or leading market positions; diversified customer and supplier bases; and proven management teams with strong operating discipline. We target companies in the lower middle-market with annual earnings, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, between $3.0 million and $20.0 million; however, we may from time to time opportunistically make investments in larger or smaller companies. Our investments typically range between $5.0 million and $20.0 million per portfolio company.

As of December 31, 2014, we had debt and equity investments in 42 portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $396.4 million. The weighted average yield on all of our debt investments as of December 31, 2014 was 13.4%. The weighted average yield is computed using the effective interest rates as of December 31, 2014, including accretion of original issue discount and loan origination fees, but excluding any debt investments on non-accrual status, if any. There can be no assurance that the weighted average yield will remain at its current level.

Market Opportunity

We believe that the limited amount of capital available to lower middle-market companies, coupled with the desire of these companies for flexible and partnership-oriented sources of capital, creates an attractive investment environment for us. From our perspective, lower middle-market companies have faced difficulty raising

 

 

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debt capital in both the capital markets and private markets. As a result of the difficulties in the credit markets and fewer sources of capital for lower middle-market companies, we see opportunities for improved risk-adjusted returns. Furthermore, we believe with a large pool of uninvested private equity capital seeking debt capital to complete transactions and a substantial supply of refinancing opportunities, there is an opportunity to attain appealing risk-adjusted returns on debt and equity investments. See “The Company” in the accompanying prospectus for more information.

Business Strategy

We intend to accomplish our goal of becoming the premier provider of capital to and value-added partner of lower middle-market companies by:

 

    Leveraging the experience of our investment advisor;

 

    Capitalizing on our strong transaction sourcing network;

 

    Serving as a value-added partner with customized financing solutions;

 

    Employing rigorous due diligence and underwriting processes focused on capital preservation;

 

    Actively managing our portfolio;

 

    Maintaining portfolio diversification; and

 

    Benefiting from lower cost of capital through our SBIC subsidiaries.

Investment Criteria/Guidelines

We use the following criteria and guidelines in evaluating investment opportunities and constructing our portfolio. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines have been, or will be, met in connection with each of our investments.

Value Orientation / Positive Cash Flow. Our investment advisor places a premium on analysis of business fundamentals from an investor’s perspective and has a distinct value orientation. We focus on companies with proven business models in which we can invest at relatively low multiples of operating cash flow. We also typically invest in portfolio companies with a history of profitability and minimum trailing twelve month EBITDA of $3.0 million. We do not invest in start-up companies, “turn-around” situations or companies that we believe have unproven business plans.

Experienced Management Teams with Meaningful Equity Ownership. We target portfolio companies that have management teams with significant experience and/or relevant industry experience coupled with meaningful equity ownership. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that protects our debt investment and enhances the value of our equity investment.

Niche Market Leaders with Defensible Market Positions. We seek to invest in companies that have developed defensible and/or leading positions within their respective markets or market niches and are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities. We favor companies that demonstrate significant competitive advantages, which we believe helps to protect their market position and profitability.

Diversified Customer and Supplier Base. We prefer to invest in portfolio companies that have a diversified customer and supplier base. Companies with a diversified customer and supplier base are generally better able to endure economic downturns, industry consolidation and shifting customer preferences.

Significant Invested Capital. We believe the existence of significant underlying equity value provides important support to our debt investments. With respect to our debt investments, we look for portfolio companies where we believe aggregate enterprise value significantly exceeds aggregate indebtedness, after consideration of our investment.

 

 

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Viable Exit Strategy. We invest in portfolio companies that we believe will provide a steady stream of cash flow to repay our debt investments and reinvest in their respective businesses. In addition, we seek to invest in portfolio companies whose business models and expected future cash flows offer attractive exit possibilities for our equity investments. We expect to exit our investments typically through one of three scenarios: (a) the sale of the portfolio company resulting in repayment of all outstanding debt and equity; (b) the recapitalization of the portfolio company through which our investments are replaced with debt or equity from a third party or parties; or (c) the repayment of the initial or remaining principal amount of our debt investment from cash flow generated by the portfolio company. In some investments, there may be scheduled amortization of some portion of our debt investment that would result in a partial exit of our investment prior to the maturity of the debt investment.

About Our Advisor

Our investment activities are managed by Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC, our investment advisor, and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” of Fidus as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, and who we refer to hereafter as the Independent Directors. Pursuant to the terms of the investment advisory and management agreement, which we refer to as the Investment Advisory Agreement, between us and our investment advisor, our investment advisor is responsible for determining the composition of our portfolio, including sourcing potential investments, conducting research and diligence on potential investments and equity sponsors, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals seek to capitalize on their significant deal origination and sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, execution, portfolio management and monitoring experience. These professionals have developed a broad network of contacts within the investment community, have gained extensive experience investing in assets that constitute our primary focus and have expertise in investing across all levels of the capital structure of lower middle-market companies. For information regarding the people who control our investment advisor and their affiliations with the Company, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Investment Advisory Agreement” in the accompanying prospectus.

Our relationship with our investment advisor is governed by and dependent on the Investment Advisory Agreement and may be subject to conflicts of interest. We pay our investment advisor a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two components – a base management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts). The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and equals 20.0% of our “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a 2.0% preferred return, or “hurdle,” and a “catch up” feature. The second part is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year in an amount equal to 20.0% of our realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each fiscal year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. We accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate. For more information about how we compensate our investment advisor and the related conflicts of interest, see “Management and Other Agreements – Investment Advisory Agreement” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions – Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying prospectus.

Among other things, our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how our investment advisor addresses conflicts of interest associated with its management services and compensation. Our board of directors is not expected to review or approve each borrowing or incurrence of leverage. However, our board of directors periodically reviews our investment advisor’s portfolio management decisions and portfolio performance. In addition, our board of directors at least annually reviews the services provided by and fees paid to our investment advisor. In connection with these reviews, our board of directors, including a majority of our Independent Directors, considers whether the fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) that we pay to our investment advisor are fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided. Renewal of our Investment Advisory Agreement must be approved each year by our board of directors, including a majority of our Independent Directors.

Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company that is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. In addition, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC also serves as our administrator and provides us with office space, equipment and clerical, book-keeping and record-keeping services pursuant to an administration agreement, which we refer to as the Administration Agreement.

 

 

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Operating and Regulatory Structure

Our investment activities are managed by our investment advisor and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of us, our investment advisor or its affiliates.

As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For example, while we are permitted to finance investments using leverage, which may include the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or notes and other borrowings, our ability to use leverage is limited in significant respects. See “Regulation.” Any decision on our part to use leverage will depend upon our assessment of the attractiveness of available investment opportunities in relation to the costs and perceived risks of such leverage. The use of leverage to finance investments creates certain risks and potential conflicts of interest. See “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure – Regulations governing our operations as a BDC affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital which may have a negative effect on our growth” and “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure – Because we borrow money and may in the future issue additional senior securities including preferred stock and debt securities, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.”

We have elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. In order to maintain our status as a RIC, we must satisfy certain source of income, asset diversification and distribution requirements. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Risk Factors

The value of our assets, as well as the market price of our shares, will fluctuate. Our investments may be risky, and you may lose part of or all of your investment in us. Investing in our securities involves other risks, including the following:

 

    our dependence on key personnel of our investment advisor and our executive officers;

 

    our ability to maintain or develop referral relationships;

 

    our use of leverage;

 

    the availability of additional capital on attractive terms or at all;

 

    uncertain valuations of our portfolio investments;

 

    competition for investment opportunities;

 

    actual and potential conflicts of interests with our investment advisor;

 

    other potential conflicts of interest;

 

    SBA regulations affecting our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiaries;

 

    changes in interest rates;

 

    the impact of a protracted decline in liquidity of credit markets on our business and portfolio of investments;

 

    our ability to maintain our status as a RIC and as a BDC;

 

    the timing, form and amount of any distributions from our portfolio companies;

 

    changes in laws or regulations applicable to us;

 

   

dilutions risks related to our ability to issue shares below our current net asset value;

 

 

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    possible resignation of our investment advisor;

 

    the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

    risks associated with investing in lower middle-market companies;

 

    the ability of our investment advisor to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria; and

 

    our ability to invest in qualifying assets.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 and the other information included in this prospectus, and any prospectus supplement, for additional discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201, and our telephone number is (847) 859-3940. Our corporate website is located at http://www.fdus.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or any supplements to this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or any supplements to this prospectus.

 

 

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The Offering

We may offer, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 worth of our securities, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. Our securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be disclosed in one or more prospectus supplements.

We may sell or otherwise issue shares of common stock at a discount to net asset value per share at prices approximating market value less selling expenses upon approval, in certain circumstances, of our board of directors, including a majority of our directors that are not “interested persons” of the Company, as defined in the 1940 Act. On June 4, 2014, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ended on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, if applicable. Sales or other issuances of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share.

Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to sell or otherwise issue our common stock; however, we do not intend to sell or otherwise issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our stockholders’ best interest to do so. The level of net asset value dilution that could result from such an offering is not limited.

Our securities may be offered directly to one or more purchasers by us or through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The prospectus supplement relating to the offering will disclose the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our securities by us, the purchase price, and any fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters or among our underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. See “Plan of Distribution.” We may not sell any of our securities through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of our securities.

 

The Nasdaq Global Select Market Symbol

“FDUS”

 

Use of proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from selling our securities to make investments in lower middle-market companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies and for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Dividends and distributions

We pay quarterly distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. Our distributions, if any, will be determined by our board of directors. Our ability to declare distributions depends on our earnings, our overall financial condition (including our liquidity position), qualification for or maintenance of our RIC status and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time.

 

  When we make distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current or accumulated earnings, recognized capital gains or capital. To the extent there is a return of capital, investors will be required to reduce their basis in our stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the future, our distributions may include a return of capital.

 

 

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Dividend reinvestment plan

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders, which is an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan. Under this plan, if we declare a cash distribution, our stockholders who have not opted out of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distribution automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash distribution. If a stockholder opts out, that stockholder will receive cash distributions. Stockholders who receive distributions in the form of shares of common stock generally are subject to the same U.S. federal income tax consequences as stockholders who elect to receive their distributions in cash; however, since their cash distributions will be reinvested, such stockholders will not receive cash with which to pay any applicable taxes on reinvested distributions. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

Taxation

We have elected to be treated as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we generally will not pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any net ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders. To maintain our qualification as a RIC and the associated tax benefits, we must meet specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually at least 90% of our realized net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains, if any, in excess of our net long-term capital losses. See “Distributions” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Effective trading at a discount

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. The risk that our shares may trade at a discount to our net asset value is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade above, at or below net asset value. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Sales of common stock below net asset value

Generally, the offering price per share of our common stock, exclusive of any underwriting commissions or discounts, may not be less than the net asset value per share of our common stock at the time we make the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the majority of our common stockholders and approval of our board of directors, or (3) under such circumstances as the SEC may permit. On June 4, 2014, our common stockholders voted to allow us to sell or otherwise issue common

 

 

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stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2014 or our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Sales or other issuances by us of our common stock at a discount from our net asset value pose potential risks for our existing stockholders whether or not they participate in the offering, as well as for new investors who participate in the offering. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” in this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement, if applicable.

 

Leverage

We borrow funds to make additional investments. We use this practice, which is known as “leverage,” to attempt to increase returns to our stockholders, but it involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors,” “Senior Securities” and “Regulation – Senior Securities.” With certain limited exceptions, we are only allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% after such borrowing. The amount of leverage that we employ at any particular time will depend on our Investment Advisor’s investment committees’ assessment and our board of directors’ assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. In addition, the maximum amount of leverage that our SBIC subsidiaries together can have outstanding is $225.0 million.

 

Available Information

We are required to file periodic reports, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information is available on the SEC’s Internet website at www.sec.gov. You can also inspect any materials we file with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. We intend to provide much of the same information on our website at www.fdus.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and should not be relied upon as such.

 

 

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FEES AND EXPENSES

The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor in this offering will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you,” “us,” “the Company” or “Fidus,” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in us.

 

Stockholder transaction expenses:

Sales load (as a percentage of offering price)

  —   (1) 

Offering expenses borne by us (as a percentage of offering price)

  —   (2) 

Dividend reinvestment plan expenses

  —   (3) 

Total stockholder transaction expenses paid by us (as a percentage of offering price)

  —   (4) 

Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock)(5):

  

Base management fee

  2.6 %(6) 

Incentive fees payable under Investment Advisory Agreement

  2.5 %(7) 

Interest payments on borrowed funds

  3.5 %(8) 

Other expenses

  1.9 %(9) 
  

 

 

 

Total annual expenses

  10.5 %(10) 
  

 

 

 

 

 

(1) In the event that securities to which this prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the applicable sales load.
(2) In the event that we conduct an offering of any of our securities, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the estimated offering expenses because they will be ultimately borne by us.
(3) The expenses of administering our dividend reinvestment plan are included in other expenses.
(4) Total stockholder transaction expenses may include a sales load and will be disclosed in a future prospectus supplement, if any.
(5) Net assets attributable to common stock equals average net assets as of December 31, 2014.
(6) Our base management fee is 1.75% of the average value of our total assets (other than cash and cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts). This item represents actual base management fees incurred for the year ended December 31, 2014. We may from time to time decide it is appropriate to change the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. Under the 1940 Act, any material change to our Investment Advisory Agreement must be submitted to stockholders for approval. The 2.6% reflected in the table is calculated on our net assets (rather than our total assets). See “Management and Other Agreements—Investment Advisory Agreement.”
(7) This item represents actual fees incurred on pre-incentive fee net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, there was no capital gains incentive fee payable.
     The incentive fee consists of two parts:
     The first, payable quarterly in arrears, equals 20.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income (including interest that is accrued but not yet received in cash), subject to a 2.0% quarterly (8.0% annualized) hurdle rate and a “catch-up” provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. Under this provision, in any calendar quarter, our investment advisor receives no incentive fee until our pre-incentive fee net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 2.0% but then receives, as a “catch-up,” 100.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5%. The effect of this provision is that, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter, our investment advisor will receive 20.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply.

 

 

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     The second part, payable annually in arrears, equals 20.0% of our realized capital gains net of realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of the fiscal year (or upon the termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. We accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any net unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we reversed $0.7 million in previously accrued capital gains incentive fees in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
     See “Management and Other Agreements—Investment Advisory Agreement.”
(8) As of December 31, 2014, we had outstanding SBA debentures of $173.5 million, and unfunded commitments from the SBA to purchase up to an additional of $51.5 million SBA debentures, as well as $10.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility, which has total commitment of $50.0 million . Interest payments on borrowed funds is based on estimated annual interest and fee expenses on outstanding SBA debentures and borrowings under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2014 with a weighted average interest rate of 4.0%. We have estimated the annual interest expense on borrowed funds and caution you that our actual interest expense will depend on prevailing interest rates and our rate of borrowing, which may be substantially higher than the estimate provided in this table.
(9) Other expenses represent our estimated annual operating expenses, including professional fees, directors’ fees, insurance costs, expenses of our dividend reinvestment plan and payments under the Administration Agreement based on our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by our administrator. See “Management and Other Agreements—Administration Agreement.” Other expenses exclude interest payments on borrowed funds, and if we issue debt securities or preferred stock, interest payments on debt securities and distributions with respect to preferred stock. We currently do not have any class of securities outstanding other than common stock. “Other expenses” are based on actual other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(10) “Total annual expenses” as a percentage of consolidated net assets attributable to common stock are higher than the total annual expenses percentage would be for a company that is not leveraged. We borrow money to leverage our net assets and increase our total assets. The SEC requires that the “total annual expenses” percentage be calculated as a percentage of net assets (defined as total assets less indebtedness and before taking into account any incentive fees payable during the period), rather than the total assets, including assets that have been purchased with borrowed amounts. If the “total annual expenses” percentage were calculated instead as a percentage of average consolidated total assets, our “total annual expenses” would be 6.1% of average consolidated total assets.

Example

The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in us. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed we would have no additional leverage, that none of our assets are cash or cash equivalents and that our annual operating expenses would remain at the levels set forth in the table above. Transaction expenses are not included in the following example.

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5.0% annual return

   $ 108       $ 305       $ 480       $ 836   

The foregoing table is to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5.0% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5.0%. The incentive fee under the Investment Advisory Agreement, which, assuming a 5.0% annual return, would either not be payable or have an insignificant impact on the expense amounts shown above, is not included in the example. If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger an incentive fee of a material amount, our expenses, and returns to our investors, would be higher. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value, if our board of directors authorizes and we declare a cash

 

 

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dividend, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan who have not otherwise elected to receive cash will receive a number of shares of our common stock, determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of trading on the valuation date for the distribution. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.

This example and the expenses in the table above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses (including the cost of debt, if any, and other expenses) may be greater or less than those shown.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a number of significant risks. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, or any prospectus supplement. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face. Additional 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 events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure

We are dependent upon our investment advisor’s managing members and our executive officers for our future success. If our investment advisor was to lose any of its managing members or we lose any of our executive officers, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.

We depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of the managing members of our investment advisor, who evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute and monitor our investments. Our future success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of the investment professionals of our investment advisor and executive officers. Although they intend to devote all of their business time to our operations, such executives may have other demands on their time in the future. In addition, certain executives may not devote all of their business time to our operations and may have other demands on their time as a result of other activities. The departure of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships with financial institutions, sponsors and investment professionals. Any inability of our investment advisor to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

We depend upon the investment professionals of our investment advisor to maintain their relationships with financial institutions, sponsors and investment professionals, and we intend to rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If the investment professionals of our investment advisor fail to maintain such relationships, or to develop new relationships with other sources of investment opportunities, we will not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the investment professionals of our investment advisor have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and, therefore, we can offer no assurance that these relationships will generate investment opportunities for us in the future.

Our financial condition and results of operation depends on our ability to manage our business effectively.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective and grow depends on our ability to manage our business and deploy our capital effectively. This depends, in turn, on our investment advisor’s ability to identify, evaluate and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria. The achievement of our investment objectives on a cost-effective basis depends upon our investment advisor’s execution of our investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to us and, to a lesser extent, our access to financing on acceptable terms. Our investment advisor has substantial responsibilities under the Investment Advisory Agreement. In addition, our investment advisor’s investment professionals may be called upon to provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. These activities may distract them or slow our rate of investment. Any failure to manage our business and our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We may suffer credit losses and our investments could be rated below investment grade.

Private debt in the form of mezzanine, senior secured or unitranche loans to corporate and asset-based borrowers is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of credit loss, and therefore an investment in our shares of common stock may not be suitable for someone with a low tolerance for risk. These risks are likely to increase during an economic recession.

In addition, investments in our portfolio are typically not rated by any rating agency. We believe that if such investments were rated, the vast majority would be rated below investment grade (which is sometime referred to as “junk”) due to speculative characteristics of the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Our investments may result in an amount of risk, volatility or potential loss of principal that is greater than that of alternative investments.

Because we borrow money and may in the future issue additional senior securities, including preferred stock and debt securities, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.

Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in us. The Funds borrow from and issue debt securities to the SBA, and we may borrow from banks and other lenders in the future. The SBA has fixed dollar claims on the Funds’ assets that are superior to the claims of our stockholders. We may also borrow from banks and other lenders or issue additional senior securities including preferred stock and debt securities in the future. If the value of our assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to increase more sharply than it would have had we not used leverage. Conversely, 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. Similarly, any increase in our income in excess of interest payable on the borrowed funds would cause our net income to increase more than it would without the leverage, while any decrease in our income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique.

Our ability to achieve our investment objectives may depend in part on our ability to achieve additional leverage on favorable terms by borrowing from the SBA, banks or other lenders, and there can be no assurance that such additional leverage can in fact be achieved.

As a BDC, we are generally required to meet a coverage ratio at least equal to 200.0% of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings (other than the Funds’ SBA leverage under the terms of SEC exemptive relief) and any preferred stock we may issue in the future. If this ratio declines below 200.0%, we may not be able to incur additional debt and may need to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so, and we may not be able to make distributions to our stockholders.

The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns, net of expenses. The calculations in the table below are hypothetical and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing in the table below.

Assumed Return on Our Portfolio

(Net of Expenses)

 

     (10.0)%     (5.0)%     0.0%     5.0%     10.0%  

Corresponding return to common stockholder (1)

     (20.9 )%      (12.0 )%      (3.0 )%      5.9     14.9

 

(1) Assumes $435.6 million in total assets, $173.5 million in outstanding SBA debentures, $10.0 million in borrowings under the Credit Facility, and $243.3 million in net assets as of December 31, 2014 and an average cost of funds of 4.0%.

 

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Funding a portion of our investments with preferred stock would magnify the potential for gain or loss and the risks of investing in us in the same way as our other borrowings.

Preferred stock, which is another form of leverage, has the same risks to our common stockholders as borrowings because the distributions with respect to any preferred stock must be cumulative. Payment of such distributions and repayment of the liquidation preference of such preferred stock must take preference over any distributions or other payments to our common stockholders, and preferred stockholders are not subject to any of our expenses or losses and are not entitled to participate in any income or appreciation in excess of their stated preference.

Pending legislation may allow us to incur additional leverage.

As a BDC, under the 1940 Act generally we are not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after such 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 pending reintroduction to the U.S. House of Representatives, if passed, would modify this section of the 1940 Act and increase the amount of debt that BDCs may incur by modifying the minimum asset coverage ratio from 200.0% to 150.0%. If such legislation were to pass, we would be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future and therefore your risk of an investment in us may increase.

Many of our portfolio investments are recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors, and, as a result, there is uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.

Many of our portfolio investments take the form of debt and equity securities that are not publicly-traded. The debt and equity securities in which we invest for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. As part of the valuation process, we may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of our investments:

 

    a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to comparable publicly-traded securities;

 

    the enterprise value of a portfolio company;

 

    the nature and realizable value of any collateral;

 

    the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow;

 

    the markets in which the portfolio company does business; and

 

    changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets generally that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future and other relevant factors.

The fair value of each investment in our portfolio is determined quarterly by our board of directors. Any changes in fair value of portfolio securities from the prior period are recorded in our consolidated statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material. Declines in prices and liquidity in the corporate debt markets may also result in significant net unrealized depreciation in our debt portfolio. Our net asset value could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of our investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon the disposal of such investments.

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.

A number of entities compete with us to make the types of investments that we plan to make. We compete with public and private funds, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity and hedge funds. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some of our competitors may have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In

 

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addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we offer. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may experience a decrease in net investment income or an increase in risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the lower middle-market is underserved by traditional commercial and investment banks, and generally has less access to capital. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms.

Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC or the source of income, asset diversification and distribution requirements we must satisfy to maintain our RIC status. The competitive pressures we face may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result of this existing and potentially increasing competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we may not be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objective.

Our management and incentive fee structure may create incentives for our investment advisor that are not fully aligned with the interests of our stockholders.

The management and incentive fees paid to our investment advisor are based on our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts), and our investor advisor may therefore benefit when we incur debt or use leverage. This fee structure may encourage our investment advisor to cause us to borrow money to finance additional investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of borrowed money may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor our stockholders. Our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how our investment advisor addresses these and other conflicts of interests. Our board of directors is not expected to review or approve each borrowing or incurrence of leverage. However, our board of directors, periodically reviews our investment advisor’s portfolio management decisions and portfolio performance. In addition, our board of directors at least annually reviews the services provided by and fees paid to our investment advisor. In connection with these reviews, our board of directors, including a majority of our Independent Directors, considers whether the fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) that we pay to our investment advisor are fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided and must approve renewal of our Advisory Agreement.

The part of the incentive fee payable to our investment advisor that relates to our net investment income is computed and paid on income that includes interest income that has been accrued but not yet received in cash. This fee structure may encourage our investment advisor to favor debt financings that provide for deferred interest, rather than current cash payments of interest. Our investment advisor may have an incentive to invest in deferred interest securities in circumstances where it would not have done so but for the opportunity to continue to earn the incentive fee even when the issuers of the deferred interest securities would not be able to make actual cash payments to us on such securities. This risk could be increased because our investment advisor is not obligated to reimburse us for any incentive fees received even if we subsequently incur losses or never receive in cash the deferred interest that was previously accrued.

The valuation process for certain of our portfolio holdings creates a conflict of interest.

A substantial portion of our portfolio investments are made in the form of securities that are not publicly traded. As a result, our board of directors determines the fair value of these securities in good faith pursuant to our valuation policy. In connection with that determination, investment professionals from our investment advisor prepare portfolio company valuations based upon the most recent portfolio company financial statements available and projected financial results of each portfolio company. In addition, certain members of our board of directors have a pecuniary interest in our investment advisor. The participation of our investment advisor’s investment professionals in our valuation process, and the pecuniary interest in our investment advisor by certain members of our board of directors, may result in a conflict of interest as the management fees that we pay our investment advisor are based on our gross assets less cash.

 

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Our incentive fee may induce our investment advisor to make speculative investments.

Our investment advisor receives an incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. Unlike the portion of the incentive fee based on income, there is no hurdle rate applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains. As a result, our investment advisor may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

We may be obligated to pay our investment advisor incentive compensation even if we incur a loss and may pay more than 20.0% of our net capital gains because we cannot recover payments made in previous years.

Our investment advisor will be entitled to incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter in an amount equal to a percentage of the excess of our pre-incentive fee net investment income for that quarter above a threshold return for that quarter. Our pre-incentive fee net investment income for incentive compensation purposes excludes realized and unrealized capital losses that we may incur in the fiscal quarter, even if such capital losses result in a net loss on our consolidated statement of operations for that quarter. Thus, we may be required to pay our investment advisor incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of our portfolio or we incur a net loss for that quarter. Further, if we pay an incentive fee of 20.0% of our realized capital gains (net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis) and thereafter experience additional realized capital losses or unrealized capital depreciation, we will not be able to recover any portion of the incentive fee previously paid.

We may have potential conflicts of interest related to obligations that our investment advisor may have to other clients.

Although currently we and the Funds are the only investment vehicles managed by our investment advisor, the Investment Advisory Agreement does not limit our investment advisor’s ability to act as an investment advisor to other funds, including other BDCs, or other investment advisory clients. To the extent our investment advisor elects in the future to act as an investment advisor to other funds or clients, we may have conflicts of interest with our investment advisor or its other clients that elect to invest in similar types of securities as those in which we invest. Members of our investment advisor’s investment committees serves or may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, or of investment funds or other investment vehicles managed by our investment advisor. In serving in these multiple capacities, they may have obligations to other clients or investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which may not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders. Our investment advisor will seek to allocate investment opportunities among eligible accounts in a manner that is fair and equitable over time and consistent with an allocation policy approved by our board of directors.

Our investment advisor or its investment committees may, from time to time, possess material non-public information, limiting our investment discretion.

The investment professionals of our investment advisor may serve as directors of, or in a similar capacity with, companies in which we invest, the securities of which are purchased or sold on our behalf. In the event that material non-public information is obtained with respect to such companies, or we become subject to trading restrictions under the internal trading policies of those companies or as a result of applicable law or regulations, we could be prohibited for a period of time from purchasing or selling the securities of such companies, and this prohibition may have an adverse effect on us.

We may have conflicts related to other arrangements with our investment advisor.

We entered into a license agreement with Fidus Partners, LLC under which Fidus Partners, LLC granted us a non-exclusive (provided that there is not a change in control of Fidus Partners, LLC), royalty-free license to use the name “Fidus.” Some of the members of our investment advisor’s investment committees and the senior origination professionals of our investment advisor are members of Fidus Partners, LLC. See “Management and Other Agreements — License Agreement.” In addition, we rent office space from our investment advisor and pay to our

 

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investment advisor our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, such as our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer. This creates conflicts of interest that our board of directors must monitor.

The Funds are licensed by the SBA, and, therefore, are subject to SBA regulations.

The Funds are licensed to operate as SBICs and are regulated by the SBA. Under current SBA regulations, a licensed SBIC can provide capital to those entities that have a tangible net worth not exceeding $19.5 million and an average annual net income after U.S. federal income taxes not exceeding $6.5 million for the two most recent fiscal years. In addition, a licensed SBIC must devote 25.0% of its investment activity to those entities that have a tangible net worth not exceeding $6.0 million and an average annual net income after U.S. federal income taxes not exceeding $2.0 million for the two most recent fiscal years. The SBA regulations also provide alternative size standard criteria to determine eligibility, which depend on the industry in which the business is engaged and are based on either the number of employees or the gross sales of the business. The SBA regulations permit licensed SBICs to make long term loans to small businesses, invest in the equity securities of such businesses and provide them with consulting and advisory services. The SBA also places certain limitations on the financing terms of investments by SBICs in portfolio companies and prohibits SBICs from providing funds for certain purposes or to businesses in certain prohibited industries. Further, the SBA regulations require that a licensed SBIC be periodically examined and audited by the SBA staff to determine its compliance with the relevant SBA regulations. Compliance with these SBA requirements may cause the Funds to forego attractive investment opportunities that are not permitted under the SBA regulations, and may cause the Funds to make investments they otherwise would not make in order to remain in compliance with these regulations.

Failure to comply with the SBA regulations could result in the loss of the SBIC licenses and the resulting inability to participate in the SBA debenture program. The SBA prohibits, without prior SBA approval, a “change of control” of an SBIC or transfers that would result in any person (or a group of persons acting in concert) owning 10.0% or more of a class of capital stock of a licensed SBIC. Current SBA regulations provide the SBA with certain rights and remedies if an SBIC violates their terms. A key regulatory metric for SBA is the extent of “Capital Impairment,” which is the extent of realized (and, in certain circumstances, net unrealized) losses compared with the SBIC’s private capital commitments. Interest payments, management fees, organization and other expenses are included in determining “realized losses.” SBA regulations preclude the full amount of “unrealized appreciation” from portfolio companies from being considered when calculating Capital Impairment in certain circumstances. Remedies for regulatory violations are graduated in severity depending on the seriousness of Capital Impairment or other regulatory violations. For minor regulatory infractions, the SBA issues a warning. For more serious infractions, the use of SBA debentures may be limited or prohibited, outstanding debentures can be declared to be immediately due and payable, restrictions on distributions and making new investments may be imposed and management fees may be required to be reduced. In severe cases, the SBA may require the removal of a general partner of an SBIC or its officers, directors, managers or partners, or the SBA may obtain appointment of a receiver for the SBIC.

SBA regulations limit the amount of SBA-guaranteed debt that may be borrowed by an SBIC.

The SBA regulations currently limit the amount that is available to be borrowed by any SBIC and guaranteed by the SBA to 300.0% of an SBIC’s regulatory capital or $150.0 million, whichever is less. For two or more SBICs under common control, the maximum amount of outstanding SBA debentures cannot exceed $225.0 million. With $125.0 million of regulatory capital as of December 31, 2014, the Funds have the current capacity to issue up to a total of $225.0 million of SBA debentures, inclusive of the $173.5 million of SBA debentures outstanding as of December 31, 2014. If the Funds borrow the maximum amount from the SBA and thereafter require additional capital, our cost of capital may increase, and there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.

Moreover, the Funds’ current status as SBICs does not automatically assure that they will continue to receive funding through the SBA debenture program. Receipt of SBA debenture funding is dependent upon the Funds’ continuing compliance with SBA regulations and policies and there being funding available. The amount of SBA debenture funding available to SBICs is dependent upon annual Congressional authorizations and in the future may be subject to annual Congressional appropriations. There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient SBA debenture funding available at the times desired by the Funds.

 

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The debentures issued by the Funds and guaranteed by the SBA have a maturity of ten years and bear interest semi-annually at fixed rates. The Funds will need to generate sufficient cash flow to make required debt payments on such debentures. If the Funds are unable to generate such cash flow, the SBA, as guarantor of the debentures, will have a superior claim to our assets over our stockholders in the event the Funds liquidate or the SBA exercises its remedies under such debentures as the result of a default by the Funds.

The Funds, as SBICs, are limited in their ability to make distributions to us, which could result in us being unable to meet the minimum distribution requirements to maintain our status as a RIC.

In order to maintain our status as a RIC, we are required to distribute to our stockholders on an annual basis 90.0% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses. For this purpose, our taxable income will include the income of the Funds (and any other entities that are disregarded as separate from us for U.S. federal income tax purposes). The Funds’ ability to make distributions to us may be limited by the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. As a result, in order to maintain our status as a RIC, we may be required to make distributions attributable to the Funds’ income without receiving any corresponding cash distributions with respect to such income. We can make no assurances that the Funds will be able to make, or not be limited in making, distributions to us. If we are unable to satisfy the annual distribution requirements, we may fail to maintain our status as a RIC, which would result in the imposition of corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on our entire taxable income without regard to any distributions made by us. See “— We will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.”

Changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

Most of our debt investments bear interest at fixed rates and the value of these investments could be negatively affected by increases in market interest rates. In addition, to the extent that we borrow additional funds to make investments, 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 both reduce the value of our portfolio investments and increase our cost of capital, which would reduce our net investment income. 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 the debt investments, resulting in the need to redeploy capital at potentially lower rates.

You should also be aware that a rise in market interest rates typically leads to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates may result in an increase of the amount of incentive fees payable to our investment advisor.

An extended continuation of the disruption in the capital markets and the credit markets could negatively affect our business.

As a BDC, it is essential for us to maintain our ability to raise additional capital for investment purposes. Without sufficient access to the capital markets or credit markets, we may be forced to curtail our business operations or we may not be able to pursue new business opportunities. Ongoing disruptive conditions in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those conditions could restrict our business operations and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

From time to time, we may borrow from financial institutions in order to obtain additional capital. Unfavorable economic conditions may result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. Our ability to incur indebtedness (including by issuing preferred stock) is limited by applicable regulations such that our asset coverage under the 1940 Act must equal at least 200.0% of total indebtedness immediately after each time we incur indebtedness exclusive of the SBA debentures issued by the Funds pursuant to our SEC exemptive relief. Additionally, shrinking portfolio values will negatively impact our ability to borrow additional funds because our net asset value is reduced for purposes of the 200.0% asset leverage test. If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratio stipulated by the 1940 Act, which could, in turn, cause us to lose our status as a BDC and materially impair our business operations. A protracted disruption in the credit markets could also materially decrease demand for our investments.

 

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We will access the capital markets periodically to issue debt or equity securities. Volatility or dislocation in the capital markets may depress our stock price below our net asset value per share and create a challenging environment in which to raise debt and equity capital. As a BDC, we are generally not able to issue additional shares of our common stock at a price less than net asset value without first obtaining approval for such issuance from our stockholders and our Independent Directors. At our Annual Stockholders Meeting on June 4, 2014, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In addition, we are required to distribute at least 90.0% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders in order to maintain our status as a RIC. As a result, earnings that we distribute to our stockholders will not be available to fund new investments. An inability to access the capital markets could limit our ability to grow our business and execute our business strategy fully and could decrease our earnings, if any, which may have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including our ability or inability to make investments in companies that meet our investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities we acquire, the default rate on such securities, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

We will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to maintain qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.

We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code; however, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain our RIC status. To maintain our status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and to avoid the imposition of U.S. federal income taxes on income and gains distributed to our stockholders, we must meet certain requirements, including source-of-income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. The source-of-income requirement will be satisfied if we derive at least 90.0% of our gross income for each year from dividends, interest, gains from sale of securities or similar sources. To maintain our status as a RIC, we must also meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each calendar quarter. Failure to meet these requirements may result in our losing our RIC status or our having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status. Because most of our investments will be in private or thinly traded public companies, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and may result in substantial losses. The annual distribution requirement applicable to RICs will be satisfied if we distribute at least 90.0% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders on an annual basis. In addition, we will be subject to a 4.0% nondeductible federal excise tax to the extent that we do not satisfy certain additional minimum distribution requirements on a calendar-year basis. We will be subject, to the extent we use debt financing, to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making annual distributions necessary to maintain our status as a RIC. If we are unable to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to maintain our status as a RIC and, thus, may be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our entire taxable income without regard to any distributions made by us. If we fail to maintain our status as a RIC for any reason and become subject to U.S. corporate income tax, the resulting tax liability could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distributions to stockholders and the amount of our distributions and the amount of funds available for new investments. Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.

We may not be able to pay you distributions, our distributions may not grow over time, a portion of distributions paid to you may be a return of capital, and investors in our debt securities may not receive all of the interest income to which they are entitled.

We intend to pay quarterly distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be harmed by,

 

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among other things, the risk factors described in this prospectus. In addition, the inability to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC could, in the future, limit our ability to pay distributions. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our RIC status, compliance with applicable BDC regulations, SBA regulations, state corporate laws affecting the distribution of corporate assets and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that we will pay distributions to our stockholders in the future.

If we issue debt securities in the future, the above-referenced restrictions on distributions may also inhibit our ability to make required interest payments to holders of any such debt securities, which may cause a default under the terms of our then-existing debt agreements. Such a default could materially increase our cost of raising capital, as well as cause us to incur penalties under the terms of our then-existing debt agreements.

When we make quarterly distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current and accumulated earnings and profits, recognized capital gain or capital. To the extent there is a return of capital, investors will be required to reduce their basis in our stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before, or without, receiving cash representing such income.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are required to include in our income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as original issue discount, which may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the making of a loan or in other circumstances, and contracted payment-in-kind interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. Such original issue discount, or increases in loan balances as a result of contracted payment-in-kind arrangements, will be included in our income before we receive any corresponding cash payments. We also may be required to include in our income certain other amounts that we will not receive in cash.

Since in certain cases we may be required to recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty meeting the requirement to distribute on an annual basis at least 90.0% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to maintain our status as a RIC. In such a case, 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 to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. In such circumstances, if we are unable to obtain such cash from other sources, we may fail to maintain our status as a RIC and thus be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax. See “—We will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.”

If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible. Our investment advisor will not be under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the incentive fee it received that was based on accrued income that we never receive as a result of a default by an entity on the obligation that resulted in the accrual of such income. That part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our net investment income will be computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received in cash, such as market discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest, preferred stock with payment-in-kind dividends and zero coupon securities.

You may have a current tax liability on distributions you elect to reinvest in our common stock but would not receive cash to pay such tax liability.

If you participate in our dividend reinvestment plan, you will be deemed to have received, and for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in our common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, unless you are a tax-exempt entity, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your tax liability on the value of our common stock received as a result of the distribution.

Because we expect to distribute substantially all of our net investment income and net realized capital gains to our stockholders, we will need additional capital to finance our growth, and such capital may not be available on favorable terms or at all.

 

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We have elected to be taxed for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. If we continue to meet certain requirements, including source-of-income, asset diversification and distribution requirements, and if we continue to be regulated as a BDC, we will continue to qualify to be taxed as a RIC and therefore will not have to pay U.S. federal corporate income tax on income that we timely distribute to our stockholders, allowing us to substantially reduce or eliminate our corporate-level income tax liability. As a BDC, we are generally required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities, which includes all of our borrowings (other than SBA leverage) and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 200.0% at the time we issue any debt or preferred stock. This requirement limits the amount of our leverage. Because we will continue to need capital to grow our investment portfolio, this limitation may prevent us from incurring debt or issuing preferred stock and require us to raise additional equity at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

While we expect to be able to borrow and to issue additional debt and equity securities, we cannot assure you that debt and equity financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. If additional funds are not available to us, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities, and our net asset value could decline. In addition, as a BDC, we generally are not permitted to issue equity securities priced below net asset value without stockholder approval. At our Annual Stockholders Meeting on June 4, 2014, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The maximum number of shares issuable below net asset value pursuant to the authority granted by our stockholders that could result in such dilution is limited to 25.0% of FIC’s then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale. We do not intend to issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our stockholders’ best interests to do so.

Illustration: Examples of Dilutive Effect of the Issuance of Shares Below Net Asset Value. The following table illustrates the level of net asset value dilution that would be experienced by a nonparticipating stockholder in three different hypothetical offerings of different sizes and levels of discount from net asset value per share, although it is not possible to predict the level of market price decline that may occur. Actual sales prices and discounts may differ from the presentation below.

Assume that Company XYZ has 1,000,000 common shares outstanding, $15,000,000 in total assets and $5,000,000 in total liabilities. The current net asset value and net asset value per share are thus $10,000,000 and $10.00, respectively. The table illustrates the dilutive effect on nonparticipating Stockholder A of (1) an offering of 50,000 shares (5.0% of the outstanding shares) at $9.50 per share after offering expenses and commission (a 5.0% discount from net asset value), (2) an offering of 100,000 shares (10.0% of the outstanding shares) at $9.00 per share after offering expenses and commissions (a 10.0% discount from net asset value) and (3) an offering of 200,000 shares (20.0% of the outstanding shares) at $8.00 per share after offering expenses and commissions (a 20.0% discount from net asset value). The acronym “NAV” stands for “net asset value.”

In any offering of common stock, we will present the actual dilution to stockholders in tabular form in the prospectus supplement specific to that offering.

 

           Example 1
5.0% Offering
at 5.0% Discount
    Example 2
10.0% Offering
at 10.0% Discount
    Example 3
20.0% Offering
at 20.0% Discount
 
     Prior to Sale
Below NAV
    Following
Sale
    %
Change
    Following
Sale
    %
Change
    Following
Sale
    %
Change
 

Offering Price

              

Price per Share to Public

     —        $ 10.00        —        $ 9.47        —        $ 8.42        —     

Net Proceeds per Share to Issuer

     —        $ 9.50        —        $ 9.00        —        $ 8.00        —     

Decrease to NAV

              

Total Shares Outstanding

     1,000,000        1,050,000        5.00     1,100,000        10.00     1,200,000        20.00

NAV per Share

   $ 10.00      $ 9.98        (0.24 )%   $ 9.91        (0.91 )%   $ 9.67        (3.33 )%

Dilution to Stockholder

              

Shares Held by Stockholder A

     10,000        10,000        —          10,000        —          10,000        —     

Percentage Held by Stockholder A

     1.0 %     0.95 %     (4.76 )%     0.91 %     (9.09 )%     0.83 %     (16.67 )%

Total Asset Values

              

Total NAV Held by Stockholder A

   $ 100,000      $ 99,762        (0.24 )%   $ 99,091        (0.91 )%   $ 96,667        (3.33 )%

Total Investment by Stockholder A (Assumed to Be $10.00 per Share)

   $ 100,000      $ 100,000        —        $ 100,000        —        $ 100,000        —     

Total Dilution to Stockholder A (Total NAV Less Total Investment)

     —        $ (238 )     —        $ (909 )     —        $ (3,333 )     —     

Per Share Amounts

              

NAV per Share Held by Stockholder A

     —        $ 9.98        —        $ 9.91        —        $ 9.67        —     

Investment per Share Held by Stockholder A (Assumed to be $10.00 per Share)

   $ 10.00      $ 10.00        —        $ 10.00        —        $ 10.00        —     

Dilution per Share Held by Stockholder A (NAV per Share Less Investment per Share)

     —        $ (0.02 )     —        $ (0.09 )     —        $ (0.33 )     —     

Percentage Dilution to Stockholder A (Dilution per Share Divided by Investment per Share)

     —          —          (0.24 )%     —          (0.91 )%     —          (3.33 )%

 

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Our board of directors may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.

Our board of directors has the authority, except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act, to modify or waive certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. Under Maryland law, we also cannot be dissolved without prior stockholder approval except by judicial action. In addition, upon approval of a majority of our stockholders, we may elect to withdraw our status as a BDC. If we, or Fund I, decide to withdraw our election, or if we otherwise fail to maintain our qualification, as a BDC, we may be subject to the substantially greater regulation under the 1940 Act as a closed-end investment company. Compliance with such regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility, and could significantly increase our costs of doing business. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results or the value of our common stock. Nevertheless, any such changes could adversely affect our business and impair our ability to make distributions.

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

If we, or Fund I, fail to maintain our status as a BDC, we might be regulated as a closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would subject us to substantially more onerous regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act and correspondingly decrease our operating flexibility.

Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital which may have a negative effect on our growth.

Our business will require capital to operate and grow. We may acquire such additional capital from the following sources:

Senior Securities. Currently we, through the Funds, issue debt securities guaranteed by the SBA and have access to funds under a revolving credit facility. In the future, we may issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, which we refer to collectively as senior securities. As a result of issuing senior securities, we will be exposed to additional risks, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are permitted, as a BDC, to issue senior securities only in amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200.0% after each issuance of senior securities. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our debt at a time when such sales and/or repayments may be disadvantageous. Further, we may not be permitted to declare or make any distribution to stockholders or repurchase shares until such time as we satisfy this test.

 

    Any amounts that we use to service our debt or make payments on preferred stock will not be available for distributions to our common stockholders.

 

    It is likely that any senior securities or other indebtedness we issue will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, some of these securities or other indebtedness may be rated by rating agencies, and in obtaining a rating for such securities and other indebtedness, we may be required to abide by operating and investment guidelines that further restrict operating and financial flexibility.

 

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    We and, indirectly, our stockholders will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities and other indebtedness.

 

    Preferred stock or any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock, including separate voting rights and could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control to the detriment of the holders of our common stock.

Additional Common Stock. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. At our Annual Stockholders Meeting on June 4, 2014, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The maximum number of shares issuable below net asset value pursuant to the authority granted by our stockholders that could result in such dilution is limited to 25.0% of FIC’s then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale. We do not intend to sell or otherwise issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our stockholders’ best interests to do so. In any such case, however, the price at which our common stock is to be issued and sold may not be less than a price which, in the determination of our board of directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). We may also make rights offerings to our stockholders at prices per share less than the net asset value per share, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, the percentage ownership of our stockholders at that time would decrease, and they may experience dilution. Moreover, we can offer no assurance that we will be able to issue and sell additional equity securities in the future, on favorable terms or at all.

Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.

We are subject to regulation at the local, state and federal level. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and our stockholders, potentially with retroactive effect. In addition, any change to the SBA’s current debenture program could have a significant impact on our ability to obtain low-cost leverage and, therefore, our competitive advantage over other funds.

Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations related to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to meet our investment objectives. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans set forth in this report and may shift our investment focus from the areas of expertise of our investment advisor to other types of investments in which our investment advisor may have little or no expertise or experience. Any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.

The impact of financial reform legislation on us remains uncertain.

In light of the global financial crisis and resulting conditions in the U.S. and global financial markets and the U.S. and global economy, legislators, the presidential administration and regulators increased their focus on the regulation of the financial services industry. In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted, instituting a wide range of reforms that impact all financial institutions. Many of the requirements called for in the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to implementation regulations, some of which will continue to be implemented over the course of the next several years. Given the continuing uncertainty associated with the manner in which the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented by the various regulatory agencies, the full impact new regulatory requirements will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition remains unclear. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act have, and may

 

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continue to, require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes in order to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any such laws, regulations or principles, or changes thereto, may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. While we cannot predict what effect the on-going changes in the laws or regulations implemented as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, or the interpretations of such changes may have on us, these changes could be materially adverse to us and our stockholders.

Recently adopted revisions to the leveraged lending guidance for regulated financial institutions may make bank loans to institutions that themselves engage in leveraged lending, such as BDCs, more expensive and less available.

In March of 2013, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “Agencies”) jointly issued final guidance on leveraged lending transactions conducted by regulated financial institutions (the “Leveraged Lending Guidance”). The Leveraged Lending Guidance outlines for Agency-supervised institutions high-level principles related to safe-and-sound leveraged lending and contains the Agencies’ minimum expectations for a risk management framework that financial institutions should have in place. The Leveraged Lending Guidance provides only common definitions of leveraged lending and directs financial institutions to define leveraged lending in their internal policies. Therefore, banks or other financial institutions that provide financing to a BDC could determine that such financing constitutes leveraged lending under their leveraged lending policies. This would impose heightened regulatory requirements on such banks and other financial institutions when they make loans or provide other financing to a BDC, which may make financing more expensive and less available to BDCs. In November of 2014, the Agencies issued “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) for Implementing March 2013 Interagency Guidance on Leveraged Lending” that were designed to foster industry and examiner understanding of the Leveraged Lending Guidance and supervisory expectations for safe and sound underwriting and to promote consistent application of the Leveraged Lending Guidance. With regard to BDCs, the FAQ for example states that the risk management and reporting aspects of the Leveraged Lending Guidance should be applied to underlying loans in structured transactions if an institution originates or retains credit risk in the individual loans. If the financial institution originates or participates in a loan to a BDC that holds leveraged loans, then the loan to the BDC constitutes indirect exposure that should be measured and reported as a leveraged loan. The full impact of the Leveraged Lending Guidance and the FAQ is still uncertain, but it is possible that financing may become more expensive for us and banks or other financial institutions may be less willing to engage in leveraged lending, making it more difficult for us to obtain financing.

Our ability to enter into and exit investment transactions with our affiliates will be restricted.

Except in those instances where we have received prior exemptive relief from the SEC, we will be prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our Independent Directors. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5.0% or more of our outstanding voting securities is deemed our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act and we are generally prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of our Independent Directors. The 1940 Act also prohibits “joint” transactions with an affiliate, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of our Independent Directors. If a person acquires more than 25.0% of our voting securities, we will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person, or entering into joint transactions with such person, absent the prior approval of the SEC. These restrictions could limit or prohibit us from making certain attractive investments that we might otherwise make absent such restrictions.

Our investment advisor can resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

Our investment advisor has the right, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, to resign at any time upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. If our investment advisor resigns, we may not be able to find a new investment advisor or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 60 days, or at all. If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption, our financial condition, business and results of

 

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operations as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected and the market price of our shares may decline. In addition, investment activities are likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by our investment advisor and its affiliates. Even if we are able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and their lack of familiarity with our investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

Our investment advisor can resign from its role as our administrator under the Administration Agreement, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

Our investment advisor has the right to resign under the Administration Agreement, whether we have found a replacement or not. If our investment advisor resigns, we may not be able to find a new administrator or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption, our financial condition, business and results of operations as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected and the market price of our shares may decline. In addition, administrative activities are likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a service provider or individuals with the expertise possessed by our investment advisor. Even if we are able to retain a comparable service provider or individuals to perform such services, whether internal or external, their integration into our business and lack of familiarity with our investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

Efforts to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will involve significant expenditures, and non-compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may adversely affect us and the market price of our common stock.

As a publicly-traded company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules implemented by the SEC.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that public companies evaluate and report on their systems of internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm must report on management’s evaluation of those controls. In future periods, we may identify deficiencies in our system of internal controls over financial reporting that may require remediation. There can be no assurances that any such future deficiencies identified may not be material weaknesses that would be required to be reported in future periods.

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 make distributions to our stockholders.

Our business is highly dependent on the communications and information systems of our investment advisor. Any failure or interruption of such systems could cause delays or other problems in our activities. This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, because many of our portfolio companies operate and rely on network infrastructure and enterprise applications and internal technology systems for development, marketing, operational, support and other business activities, a disruption or failure of any or all of these systems in the event of a major telecommunications failure, fire, earthquake, severe weather conditions or other catastrophic events could cause system interruptions, delays in product development and loss of critical data and could otherwise disrupt their business operations.

We could face losses and potential liability if intrusion, viruses or similar disruptions to our technology jeopardize our confidential information.

Although our investment advisor has implemented, and will continue to implement, security measures, our technology platform may be vulnerable to intrusion, computer viruses or similar disruptive problems caused by unauthorized users. The misappropriation of proprietary information could expose us to a risk of loss or litigation.

 

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Risks Relating to Our Investments

Economic recessions or downturns could impair our portfolio companies and harm our operating results.

Many of our portfolio companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions (including industry specific downturns, such as that currently being experienced by the oil and gas industry) and may be unable to repay our loans during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. 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 prevent us from increasing our investments and harm our operating results.

Our investments in certain industry sectors, such as the energy sector, may be subject to significant political, economic and capacity risks that may increase the possibility that we lose all or a part of our investment.

The revenues and profitability of certain portfolio companies may be significantly affected by the future prices of and the demand for oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas, which are inherently uncertain. Investments in energy companies may have significant shortfalls in projected cash flow if prices decline from levels projected at the time the investment is made. Various factors beyond our control could affect energy prices, including worldwide supplies, political instability or armed conflicts in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas producing regions, the price of foreign imports, the level of consumer demand, the price and availability of alternative fuels, capacity constraints and changes in existing government regulation, taxation and price controls. Energy prices have fluctuated greatly during the past, and energy markets continue to be volatile.

Our investments in portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.

Investing in lower middle-market companies involves a number of significant risks. Among other things, these companies:

 

    may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt instruments that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of us realizing any guarantees from subsidiaries or affiliates of portfolio companies that we may have obtained in connection with our investment;

 

    may have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns, than larger businesses;

 

    are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our portfolio company and, in turn, on us;

 

    generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position; and

 

    generally have less publicly available information about their businesses, operations and financial condition. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and may lose all or part of our investment.

In addition, in the course of providing significant managerial assistance to certain portfolio companies, certain of our management and directors may serve as directors on the boards of such companies. To the extent that litigation arises out of investments in these portfolio companies, our management and directors may be named as defendants in such litigation, which could result in an expenditure of funds (through our indemnification of such officers and directors) and the diversion of management time and resources.

 

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

All of our assets may be invested in illiquid securities, and a substantial portion of our investments in leveraged companies will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than more broadly traded public securities. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell such 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 have previously recorded these investments. As a result, we do not expect to achieve liquidity in our investments in the near-term. However, to maintain the elections to be regulated as a BDC and as a RIC, we may have to dispose of investments if they do not satisfy one or more of the applicable criteria under the respective regulatory frameworks. We may also face other restrictions on our ability to liquidate an investment in a portfolio company to the extent that we or our investment advisor have material nonpublic information regarding such portfolio company.

We may not have the funds to make additional investments in our portfolio companies which could impair the value of our portfolio.

After our initial investment in a portfolio company, we may be called upon from time to time to provide additional funds to such company or have the opportunity to increase our investment through the exercise of a warrant to purchase common stock. There is no assurance that we will make, or will have sufficient funds to 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 yield on the investment. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our level of risk, because we prefer other opportunities or because we are inhibited by compliance with BDC requirements or the desire to maintain our RIC status. Our ability to make follow-on investments may also be limited by our investment advisor’s allocation policy.

Portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in such companies.

We will invest primarily in mezzanine debt as well as equity issued by lower middle-market companies. The 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, such senior 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 mezzanine 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 such senior creditors, such 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.

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

Even though we may have structured certain of our investments as senior loans, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we actually provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might recharacterize our debt investment and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors. 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.

 

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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 we make to portfolio companies are and will be secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing senior secured debt of such companies. The first priority liens on the collateral secure the portfolio company’s obligations under any outstanding senior debt and may secure certain other future debt that may be permitted to be incurred by the company under the agreements governing the loans. The holders of obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral will generally control the liquidation of and be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of the collateral to repay their obligations in full before us. In addition, the value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from the sale or sales of all of the collateral would be sufficient to satisfy the loan obligations secured by the second priority liens after payment in full of all obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral. If such proceeds are not sufficient to repay amounts outstanding under the loan obligations secured by the second priority liens, then we, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, will only have an unsecured claim against the company’s remaining assets, if any.

The rights we may have with respect to the collateral securing the loans we make to portfolio companies with senior debt outstanding may also be limited pursuant to the terms of one or more intercreditor agreements entered into with the holders of senior debt. Under an intercreditor agreement, at any time that obligations having the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any of the following actions that may be taken in respect to the collateral will be at the direction of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens:

 

    the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against the collateral;

 

    the ability to control the conduct of such proceedings;

 

    the approval of amendments to collateral documents;

 

    releases of liens on the collateral; and

 

    waivers of past defaults under collateral documents.

We may not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if our rights are adversely affected.

We may hold the debt securities of leveraged companies that may, due to the significant volatility of such companies, enter into bankruptcy proceedings.

Leveraged companies may experience bankruptcy or similar financial distress. The bankruptcy process has a number of significant inherent risks. Many events in a bankruptcy proceeding are the product of contested matters and adversary proceedings and are beyond the control of the creditors. A bankruptcy filing by an issuer may adversely and permanently affect the issuer. If the proceeding is converted to a liquidation, the value of the issuer may not equal the liquidation value that was believed to exist at the time of the investment. The duration of a bankruptcy proceeding is also difficult to predict, and a creditor’s return on investment can be adversely affected by delays until the plan of reorganization or liquidation ultimately becomes effective. The administrative costs in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding are frequently high and would be paid out of the debtor’s estate prior to any return to creditors. Because the standards for classification of claims under bankruptcy law are vague, our influence with respect to the class of securities or other obligations we own may be lost by increases in the number and amount of claims in the same class or by different classification and treatment. In the early stages of the bankruptcy process, it is often difficult to estimate the extent of, or even to identify, any contingent claims that might be made. In addition, certain claims that have priority by law (for example, claims for taxes) may be substantial.

Any unrealized depreciation we experience on our investment portfolio may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available for distribution.

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. Decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments will be recorded as unrealized depreciation. Any unrealized depreciation in our investment portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us with respect to the affected investments. This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available for distribution in future periods.

 

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Defaults by our portfolio companies will harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its assets. This could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company.

We do not expect to control many of our portfolio companies.

We do not expect to control many of our portfolio companies, even though we may have board representation or board observation rights, and the debt agreements may contain certain restrictive covenants. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company in which we invest may make business decisions with which we disagree and the management of such company, as representatives of the holders of the company’s common equity, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve our interests as debt investors. Due to the lack of liquidity for our investments in private companies in the lower middle-market, we may not be able to dispose of our interests in our portfolio companies as readily as we would like or at an appropriate valuation. As a result, a portfolio company may make decisions that could decrease the value of our portfolio holdings.

We are a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act; therefore we are not limited with respect to the proportion of our assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer.

We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, our net asset value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer and the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment. Additionally, while we are not targeting any specific industries, our investments may be concentrated in relatively few industries. As a result, a downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could also significantly impact the aggregate returns we realize. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. Beyond the asset diversification requirements applicable to RICs, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies.

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 future investments in new portfolio companies. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being repaid, and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. In addition, any future investment of such amounts in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the investment that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies elects 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 common stock.

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 or equity-related securities. In addition, we may from time to time make non-control, equity co-investments in portfolio companies. Our goal is to realize gains upon our disposition of such equity interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. 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. We may be unable to exercise these put rights for the consideration provided in our investment documents if the issuer is in financial distress. 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.

 

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If our primary investments are deemed not to be qualifying assets, we could be precluded from investing in our desired manner or deemed to be in violation of the 1940 Act.

In order to maintain our status 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 believe that most of the investments that we may acquire in the future will constitute qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such 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 violate the 1940 Act provisions applicable to BDCs and be precluded from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position) or required to dispose of investments at inappropriate times in order to come into compliance with the 1940 Act. If we need to dispose of such investments quickly, it could be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. We may not be able to find a buyer for such investments and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss. Any such outcomes would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The disposition of our investments may result in contingent liabilities.

A significant portion of our investments involve private securities and we expect that a significant portion of our investments will continue to involve private securities. In connection with the disposition of an investment in private securities, we may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of the portfolio company typical of those made in connection with the sale of a business. We may also be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations turn out to be inaccurate or with respect to potential liabilities. These arrangements may result in contingent liabilities that ultimately result in funding obligations that we must satisfy through its return of distributions previously made to it.

We may be unable to invest a significant portion of any net proceeds from an offering or from exiting an investment or other capital on acceptable terms, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to invest the net proceeds of any offering or from exiting an investment or other sources of capital on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all. Delays in investing such capital may cause our performance to be worse than that of fully invested BDCs or other lenders or investors pursuing comparable investment strategies.

Depending on market conditions and the amount of the capital involved, it may take us a substantial period of time to invest substantially all the capital in securities meeting our investment objective. During this period, we will invest such capital primarily in short-term securities consistent with our BDC election and our election to be taxed as a RIC, which may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns which we expect to achieve when our portfolio is fully invested in longer-term investments in pursuit of our investment objective. Any distributions that we pay during such period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we may be able to pay when our portfolio is fully invested. In addition, until such time as the net proceeds of any offering or from exiting an investment or other sources capital are invested in new investments meeting our investment objective, the market price for our common stock may decline.

Our investment advisor’s liability is limited under the Investment Advisory Agreement, and we have agreed to indemnify our investment advisor against certain liabilities, which may lead our investment advisor to act in a riskier manner on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor does not assume any responsibility to us other than to render the services called for under that agreement, and it is not responsible for any action of our board of directors in following or declining to follow our investment advisor’s advice or recommendations. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor and its officers, directors, members, managers, partners, stockholders and employees are not liable to us, any subsidiary of ours, our directors, our stockholders or any subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, except those resulting from acts constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of our investment advisor’s duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify our investment advisor and its officers, directors, members, managers, partners, stockholders and employees from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and

 

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other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our business and operations or any action taken or omitted on our behalf pursuant to authority granted by the Investment Advisory Agreement, except where attributable to gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of such person’s duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement. These protections may lead our investment advisor to act in a riskier manner when acting on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

Risks Relating to an Offering of Our Securities

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value.

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount from net asset value. This characteristic of closed-end investment companies and BDCs is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our common stock will trade at, above or below net asset value. In addition, if our common stock trades below net asset value, we will generally not be able to issue additional common stock at the market price without first obtaining the approval of our stockholders and our Independent Directors. On June 4, 2014 our stockholders voted to allow us to sell or otherwise issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Selling or otherwise issuing shares of FIC’s common stock below its then current net asset value per share would result in a dilution of FIC’s existing common stockholders. The maximum number of shares issuable below net asset value pursuant to the authority granted by our stockholders that could result in such dilution is limited to 25.0% of FIC’s then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale. We do not intend to sell or otherwise issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our stockholders’ best interests to do so.

Stockholders may experience dilution in their ownership percentage if they do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.

All distributions declared in cash payable to stockholders that are participants in our dividend reinvestment plan are generally automatically reinvested in shares of our common stock. As a result, stockholders that do not participate in the dividend reinvestment plan may experience dilution over time. Stockholders who receive distributions in shares of common stock may experience accretion to the net asset value of their shares if our shares are trading at a premium and dilution if our shares are trading at a discount. The level of accretion or discount would depend on various factors, including the proportion of our stockholders who participate in the plan, the level of premium or discount at which our shares are trading and the amount of the distribution payable to a stockholder.

Market conditions may increase the risks associated with our business and an investment in us.

The current worldwide financial market situation may contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets and may cause economic uncertainties or deterioration in the U.S. and worldwide. These conditions raised the level of many of the risks described herein and, if repeated or continued, could have an adverse effect on our portfolio companies and on their results of operations, financial conditions, access to credit and capital. The stress in the credit market and upon banks has led other creditors to tighten credit and the terms of credit. In certain cases, senior lenders to our portfolio companies can block payments by our portfolio companies in respect of our loans to such portfolio companies. In turn, these could have adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations, distributions to our stockholders, access to capital, valuation of our assets and our stock price. Notwithstanding recent gains across both the equity and debt markets, these conditions may continue for a prolonged period of time or worsen in the future.

If, in the future, we sell common stock at a discount to our net asset value per share, stockholders who do not participate in such sale will experience immediate dilution in an amount that may be material.

On June 4, 2014, our stockholders approved our ability to sell or otherwise issue shares of our common stock at a discount from net asset value per share, as long as the cumulative number of shares sold pursuant to such authority does not exceed 25.0% of our then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale, for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If we sell

 

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or otherwise issue shares of our common stock at a discount to net asset value, it will pose a risk of dilution to our stockholders. In particular, stockholders who do not purchase additional shares at or below the discounted price in proportion to their current ownership will experience an immediate decrease in net asset value per share (as well as in the aggregate net asset value of their shares if they do not participate at all). These stockholders will also experience a disproportionately greater decrease in their participation in our earnings and assets and their voting power than the increase we experience in our assets, potential earning power and voting interests from such issuances or sale. In addition, such issuances or sales may adversely affect the price at which our common stock trades. For additional information and hypothetical examples of these risks, see “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value,” and for actual dilution illustrations specific to an offering, see the prospectus supplement pursuant to which such sale is made.

Our net asset value may have changed significantly since our last valuation.

Our board of directors determines the fair value of our portfolio investments on a quarterly basis based on input from our investment advisor, our audit committee and, as to certain of our investments, a third party independent valuation firm. While the board of directors will review our net asset value per share in connection with any offering, it will not always have the benefit of input from the independent valuation firm when it does so. The fair value of various individual investments in our portfolio and/or the aggregate fair value of our investments may change significantly over time. If the fair value of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2015 is less than the fair value at the time of an offering during 2015, then we may record an unrealized loss on our investment portfolio and may report a lower net asset value per share than will be reflected in the Selected Consolidated Financial Data and the financial statements included in the prospectus supplement of that offering. If the fair value of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2015 is greater than the fair value at the time of an offering during 2015, we may record an unrealized gain on our investment portfolio and may report a greater net asset value per share than so reflected in the prospectus supplement of that offering. Upon publication of this information in connection with our announcement of operating results for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate materially, and may be substantially less than the price per share you pay for our common stock in an offering.

The market price of our securities may fluctuate significantly.

The market price and liquidity of the market for shares of our common stock may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include:

 

    significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of BDCs or other companies in our sector, which is not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;

 

    exclusion of our common stock from certain market indices, such as the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index, could reduce the ability of certain institutional investors to own our common stock and could put short term pressure on our common stock;

 

    changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines, particularly with respect to RICs, BDCs or SBICs;

 

    loss of RIC or BDC status;

 

    loss of status as an SBIC for the Funds, or any other SBIC subsidiary we may form;

 

    changes or perceived changes in earnings or variations in operating results;

 

    changes or perceived changes in the value of our portfolio of investments;

 

    changes in accounting guidelines governing valuation of our investments;

 

    any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors or securities analysts;

 

    departure of our investment advisor’s key personnel;

 

    operating performance of companies comparable to us;

 

    general economic trends and other external factors; and

 

    loss of a major funding source.

 

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Investing in our securities may involve an above average degree of risk.

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

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

As of February 27, 2015, we had 16,051,037 shares of common stock outstanding. In August 2014, we entered into an equity distribution agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated through which we could sell, by means of at-the-market offerings from time to time, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million (the “ATM Program”). Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the availability of shares for sale, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock. If this occurs and continues, it could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities should we desire to do so.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

The Maryland General Corporation Law contains provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of us or the removal of our directors. In addition, our board of directors may, without stockholder action, authorize the issuance of shares of stock in one or more classes or series, including preferred stock. Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that limit liability and provide for indemnification of our directors and officers. These provisions and others also may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management. We are generally prohibited from engaging in mergers and other business combinations with stockholders that beneficially own 10.0% or more of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock, or with their affiliates, for five years after the most recent date on which such stockholders became the beneficial owners of 10.0% or more of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock and thereafter unless our directors and stockholders approve the business combination in the prescribed manner. See “Description of Our Capital Stock - Business Combinations.” Maryland law may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer.

We have also adopted measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter authorizing our board of directors to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series and to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, including preferred stock. In addition, we have adopted a classified board of directors. A classified board may render a change in control of us or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. These provisions, as well as other provisions of our charter and bylaws, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

If we issue preferred stock and/or debt securities, the net asset value and market value of our common stock may become more volatile.

We cannot assure you that the issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would result in a higher yield or return to the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would likely cause the net asset value and market value of our common stock to become more volatile. If the distribution rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to approach the net rate of return on our investment portfolio, the benefit of leverage to the holders of our common stock would be reduced. If the distribution rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to exceed the net rate of return on our portfolio, the use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return to the holders of common stock than if we had not issued the preferred stock and/or debt securities. Any decline in the net asset value of our investment would be borne entirely by the holders of our common stock. Therefore, if the market value of our portfolio were to

 

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decline, the leverage would result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of our common stock than if we were not leveraged through the issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities. This decline in net asset value would also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for our common stock.

There is also a risk that, in the event of a sharp decline in the value of our net assets, we would be in danger of failing to maintain required asset coverage ratios which may be required by the preferred stock and/or debt securities or of a downgrade in the ratings of the preferred stock and/or debt securities or our current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the distribution requirements on the preferred stock or the interest payments on the debt securities. In order to counteract such an event, we might need to liquidate investments in order to fund redemption of some or all of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. In addition, we would pay (and the holders of our common stock would bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. Holders of preferred stock and/or debt securities may have different interests than holders of common stock and may at times have disproportionate influence over our affairs.

If we issue auction rate preferred stock and you purchase such auction rate preferred stock, you may not be able to sell your auction rate preferred stock at an auction if the auction fails.

If we issue auction rate preferred stock and you purchase such auction rate preferred stock, you may not be able to sell your auction rate preferred stock at an auction if the auction fails, i.e., if more shares of auction rate preferred stock are offered for sale than there are buyers for those shares. Also, if you place an order (a hold order) at an auction to retain auction rate preferred stock only at a specified rate that exceeds the rate set at the auction, you will not retain your auction rate preferred stock. Additionally, if you place a hold order without specifying a rate below which you would not wish to continue to hold your shares and the auction sets a below-market rate, you will receive a lower rate of return on your shares than any market rate of those securities. Finally, the distribution period of these securities may be changed, subject to certain conditions and with notice to the holders of the auction rate preferred stock, which could also affect the liquidity of your investment.

If you try to sell your auction rate preferred stock between auctions, you may not receive full value on your investment.

If you try to sell your auction rate preferred stock between auctions, you may not be able to sell them for their liquidation preference per share or such amount per share plus accumulated distributions. If we have designated a special distribution period of more than seven days, changes in interest rates could affect the price you would receive if you sold your shares in the secondary market. Broker-dealers that maintain a secondary trading market for the auction rate preferred stock are not required to maintain this market, and we will not be required to redeem auction rate preferred stock if either an auction or an attempted secondary market sale fails because of a lack of buyers. The auction rate preferred stock will likely not be registered on a stock exchange. If you sell your auction rate preferred stock to a broker-dealer between auctions, you may receive less than the price you paid for them, especially when market interest rates have risen since the last auction or during a special distribution period. Due to recent market disruption most auction-rate preferred stock have been unable to hold successful auctions and holders of such shares have suffered reduced liquidity, including the inability to sell such shares in a secondary market.

The trading market or market value of our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, may be volatile.

Our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, may or may not have an established trading market. We cannot assure investors that a trading market for our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, would develop or be maintained if developed. In addition to our creditworthiness, many factors may materially adversely affect the trading market for, and market value of, our publicly issued debt securities or any convertible debt securities. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

    the time remaining to the maturity of these debt securities;

 

    the outstanding principal amount of debt securities with terms identical to these debt securities;

 

   

the general economic environment;

 

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    the supply of debt securities trading in the secondary market, if any;

 

    the redemption, repayment or convertible features, if any, of these debt securities;

 

    the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally; and

 

    market rates of interest higher or lower than rates borne by the debt securities.

There also may be a limited number of buyers for our debt securities. This too may materially adversely affect the market value of the debt securities or the trading market for the debt securities. Our debt securities may include convertible features that cause them to more closely bear risks associated with an investment in our common stock.

Our credit ratings, if any, may not reflect all risks of an investment in our debt securities or any convertible debt securities.

Our credit ratings, if any, will be an assessment by third parties of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of any publicly issued debt securities. Our credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to market conditions generally or other factors discussed herein about the market value of, or trading market for, any publicly issued debt securities.

Terms relating to redemption may materially adversely affect the return on any debt securities.

If we issue any debt securities or any convertible debt securities that are redeemable at our option, we may choose to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In addition, if the debt securities are subject to mandatory redemption, we may be required to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In this circumstance, a holder of our debt securities may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the debt securities being redeemed.

The issuance of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt that are exchangeable for our common stock, will cause your interest in us to be diluted as a result of any such rights, warrants or convertible debt offering.

Stockholders who do not fully exercise rights, warrants or convertible debt issued to them in any offering of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt to purchase our common stock should expect that they will, at the completion of the offering, own a smaller proportional interest in us than would otherwise be the case if they fully exercised their rights, warrants or convertible debt. We cannot state precisely the amount of any such dilution in share ownership because we do not know what proportion of the common stock would be purchased as a result of any such offering.

In addition, if the subscription price, warrant price or convertible debt price is less than our net asset value per share of common stock at the time of such offering, then our stockholders would experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate net asset value of their shares as a result of the offering. The amount of any such decrease in net asset value is not predictable because it is not known at this time what the subscription price, warrant price, convertible debt price or net asset value per share will be on the expiration date of such offering or what proportion of our common stock will be purchased as a result of any such offering. The risk of dilution is greater if there are multiple rights offerings. However, our board of directors will make a good faith determination that any offering of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt would result in a net benefit to existing stockholders.

Future offerings of debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, or equity securities, which could dilute our existing stockholders and may be senior to our common stock for the purposes of distributions, may harm the value of our common stock.

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock, subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act. Upon a liquidation of our company, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings would receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Additional equity offerings

 

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by us may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock, or both. Any preferred stock we may issue would have a preference on distributions that could limit our ability to make distributions to the holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their stock holdings in us. In addition, proceeds from a sale of common stock will likely be used to increase our total assets or to pay down our borrowings, among other uses. This would increase our asset coverage ratio and permit us to incur additional leverage under rules pertaining to BDCs by increasing our borrowings or issuing senior securities such as preferred stock or additional debt securities.

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

Terrorist acts, acts of war or national disasters may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts 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/global economies and 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.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about us, our current and prospective portfolio investments, our industry, our beliefs, and our assumptions. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “should,” “targets,” “projects” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

 

    our dependence on key personnel of our investment advisor and our executive officers;

 

    our ability to maintain or develop referral relationships;

 

    our use of leverage;

 

    the availability of additional capital on attractive terms or at all;

 

    uncertain valuations of our portfolio investments;

 

    competition for investment opportunities;

 

    actual and potential conflicts of interest with our investment advisor;

 

    other potential conflicts of interest;

 

    SBA regulations affecting our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiaries;

 

    changes in interest rates;

 

    the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets on our business and portfolio investments;

 

    our ability to maintain our status as a RIC and as a BDC;

 

    the timing, form and amount of any distributions from our portfolio companies;

 

    changes in laws or regulations applicable to us;

 

    dilution risks related to our ability to issue shares below our current net asset value;

 

    possible resignation of our investment advisor or administrator;

 

    the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

    risks associated with investing in lower middle-market companies;

 

    the ability of our investment advisor to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria; and

 

    our ability to invest in qualifying assets.

Although we believe that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be inaccurate. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this prospectus should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include those described or identified in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in any prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities to invest in lower middle-market companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies, to repay the outstanding indebtedness under our Credit Facility and for working capital and general corporate purposes. We will also pay operating expenses, including management, incentive and administrative fees, and may pay other expenses, from the net proceeds of any offering. We plan to raise new equity when we have attractive investment opportunities available. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds of any offering primarily in short-term securities consistent with our BDC election and our election to be taxed as a RIC. See “Regulation—Temporary Investments” for additional information about temporary investments we may make while waiting to make longer-term investments in pursuit of our investment objective.

Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds of this offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities and other high-quality debt instruments that mature in one year or less, or “temporary investments,” as appropriate. These securities may have lower yields than our other investments and accordingly result in lower distributions, if any, by us during such period. See “Regulation — Temporary Investments.” Our ability to achieve our investment objective may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds from the offering, pending full investment, are held in interest bearing deposits or other short-term instruments that produce income at a rate less than our cost of capital.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company, computed as set forth below, were as follows:

 

     For the year ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012      2013      2014  

Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)

     2.01         3.81         4.02         4.95         3.65   

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent net increase in net assets resulting from operations plus (or minus) tax provision (benefit) including excise tax expense plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest and financing expenses.

 

(1) Earnings include net realized and unrealized gains or losses. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses can vary substantially from period to period.

 

    Excluding net unrealized gains or losses, the earnings to fixed charges ratio would be 2.03, 0.86, 3.75, 8.08 and 1.88 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

    Excluding net realized and unrealized gains or losses, the earnings to fixed charges ratio would be 2.81, 3.11, 3.44, 3.76 and 4.15 for the years ended December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Our common stock began trading on June 21, 2011 on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “FDUS.” Effective January 3, 2012, our common stock is included in the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Prior to June 21, 2011, there was no established public trading market for our common stock. The following table lists the high and low closing sale price for our common stock, and the closing sale price as a percentage of net asset value, or NAV, since shares of our common stock began being regularly quoted on Nasdaq.

 

           

Closing Sales

          Price           

   

Premium/
(Discount) of
High Sales
Price to
NAV (2)

   

Premium/
(Discount)

of Low
Sales
Price to
NAV (2)

   

Distributions
Per Share (3)

 

Period

   NAV (1)      High      Low                    

Year ended December 31, 2012

              

First Quarter

   $ 14.94       $ 14.38       $ 12.85        (3.7 )%      (14.0 )%    $ 0.34   

Second Quarter

     15.02         15.17         13.22          1.0        (12.0 )     0.36   

Third Quarter

     15.27         16.78         14.89          9.9        (2.5     0.38   

Fourth Quarter

     15.32         17.00         14.55        11.0        (5.0 )     0.38   

Year ended December 31, 2013

              

First Quarter

     15.46         19.15         16.52        23.9        6.9        0.38   

Second Quarter

     16.06         19.17         17.28        19.4        7.6        0.38   

Third Quarter

     15.98         19.73         18.60        23.5        16.4        0.42   

Fourth Quarter

     15.35         22.29         18.64        45.2        21.4        0.76   

Year ended December 31, 2014

              

First Quarter

     15.22         21.99         17.86        44.5        17.3        0.38   

Second Quarter

     15.09         20.54         16.63        36.1        10.2        0.48   

Third Quarter

     15.18         20.04         16.51        32.0        8.8        0.38   

Fourth Quarter

     15.16         17.10         13.71        12.8        (9.6     0.48   

 

(1) Net asset value per share is determined as of the last day in the relevant quarter and therefore may not reflect the net asset value per share on the date of the high and low sales prices. The net asset values shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.

 

(2) Calculated as the difference between the respective high or low closing sales price and the quarter end net asset value divided by the quarter end net asset value.

 

(3) Represents the regular and special, if applicable, distribution declared in the specified quarter. We have adopted an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders. As a result, if we declare a distribution, stockholders’ cash distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, unless they specifically “opt out” of the dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash distributions. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

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

We intend to continue to pay quarterly distributions to our stockholders. Our quarterly distributions, if any, are determined by our board of directors. We have elected to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As long as we qualify as a RIC, we will not be taxed on our investment company taxable income or net capital gain, to the extent that such income or gain is distributed, or deemed to be distributed, to stockholders on a timely basis.

 

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To maintain our qualification as a RIC, we must, among other things, distribute at least 90.0% of our net ordinary income and our net short-term capital gains in excess of our net long-term capital losses, if any. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we currently intend to distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98.0% of our net ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gain net income for the calendar year and (3) any net ordinary income and capital gain net income for the preceding calendar year that were not distributed during such year and on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax. We may retain for investment some or all of our net capital gain (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses) and treat such amounts as deemed distributions to our stockholders. If we do this, you will be treated as if you received an actual distribution of the capital gain we retain and then reinvested the net after-tax proceeds in our common stock. You also may be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to your allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gain deemed distributed to you. Please refer to “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus for further information regarding the consequences of our retention of net capital gain. 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 “Regulation” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.

We may make distributions that are payable in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of each stockholder. Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable in cash or in shares of stock at the election of stockholders are treated as taxable dividends to the extent of the distributing corporation’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. The Internal Revenue Service has issued private letter rulings indicating that such treatment may apply under circumstances in which the total amount of cash distributed is limited to as little as 20.0% of the total distribution. Under these rulings, if too many stockholders elect to receive their distributions in cash, each such stockholder 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 that are payable in part in shares of our stock, U.S. stockholders receiving such distributions generally will be required to include the full amount of the distribution (whether received in cash, shares of 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. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder 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 distribution, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. federal tax with respect to such distributions, including in respect of all or a portion of such distributions that are payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on such distributions, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of shares of our stock.

We will report certain U.S. federal income tax information with respect to our distributions to our stockholders on IRS Form 1099-DIV after the end of the year. Our ability to pay distributions could be affected by future business performance, liquidity, capital needs, alternative investment opportunities and loan covenants.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected consolidated financial data of FIC and its subsidiaries, including the Funds, as of and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, is derived from the consolidated financial statements that have been audited by McGladrey LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. Financial information prior to our IPO in June 2011 is that of Fund I. This financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012     2013     2014  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Statement of operations data:

          

Total investment income

   $ 17,985      $ 23,387      $ 33,849      $ 41,792      $ 46,116   

Interest and financing expenses

     4,962        5,488        6,422        7,076        7,507   

Management fees, net

     3,436        3,182        4,237        5,261        5,899   

Incentive fees

     —          1,609       4,839        6,792        4,857   

All other expenses

     627        1,551        2,660        3,121        4,189   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income before income taxes

  8,960      11,557      15,691      19,542      23,664   

Income tax provision

  —       24     4      246      383   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

  8,960      11,533      15,687      19,296      23,281   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

  (3,858 )   (12,318 )   1,975      30,588      (17,029

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

  (78 )   16,171      1,749      (22,188   13,250   

Income tax (provision) on realized gains on investments

  —        —        —        (493   (17
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

$ 5,024    $ 15,386    $ 19,411    $ 27,203    $ 19,485   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Per share data(1):

Net asset value (at end of period)

  n/a    $ 14.90    $ 15.32    $ 15.35    $ 15.16   

Net investment income

  n/a    $ 1.22    $ 1.54    $ 1.43    $ 1.62   

Net gain (loss) on investments

  n/a    $ 0.40    $ 0.37    $ 0.58    $ (0.26

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  n/a    $ 1.63    $ 1.91    $ 2.01    $ 1.36   

Dividends (post initial public offering)

  n/a    $ 0.64    $ 1.46    $ 1.94    $ 1.72   

Other data:

Weighted average annual yield on debt investments (2)

  15.0   15.3    15.3   14.5 %   13.4 %

Number of portfolio companies at year end

  17      23      30      37      42   

Expense ratios (as percentage of average net assets):

Operating expenses

  8.6   4.7   7.4   7.2 %   6.7 %

Interest expense

  10.5   4.0   4.1   3.4 %   3.4 %

 

(1) Per share data and average net assets are presented as if the Formation Transaction and IPO had occurred on January 1, 2011.

 

(2) Weighted average yields are computed using the effective interest rates for debt investments at cost as of the period end date, including accretion of original issue discount and loan origination fees, but excluding debt investments on non-accrual status, if any.

 

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     As of December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012      2013      2014  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Statement of assets and liabilities data:

              

Total investments at fair value

   $ 141,341       $ 204,745       $ 274,249       $ 306,981       $ 396,355   

Total assets

     147,377         248,643         333,849         367,262         435,587   

Borrowings

     93,500         104,000         144,500         144,500         183,500   

Total net assets

     52,005         140,482         183,091         211,125         243,263   

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth certain quarterly financial information for each of the twelve quarters ending with the quarter ended December 31, 2014. This information was derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. Results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for the past fiscal year or for any future quarter.

 

     March 31,
2014
     June 30,
2014
     September 30,
2014
     December 31,
2014
 

Total investment income

   $ 10,559       $ 10,581       $ 11,324       $ 13,652   

Net investment income

     5,444         5,509         5,627         6,701   

Net increase in net assets from operations

     3,378         3,428         5,301         7,378   

Net investment income per share

     0.40         0.40         0.41         0.42   

Net increase in net assets from operations per share

     0.25         0.25         0.38         0.46   

Net asset value per share at end of period

     15.22         15.09         15.18         15.16   

 

     March 31,
2013
     June 30,
2013
     September 30,
2013
     December 31,
2013
 

Total investment income

   $ 9,813       $ 10,476       $ 10,263       $ 11,240   

Net investment income

     4,923         3,164         5,274         5,935   

Net increase in net assets from operations

     4,637         13,420         4,537         4,609   

Net investment income per share

     0.38         0.23         0.38         0.43   

Net increase in net assets from operations per share

     0.36         0.98         0.33         0.34   

Net asset value per share at end of period

     15.46         16.06         15.98         15.35   

 

     March 31,
2012
     June 30,
2012
     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2012
 

Total investment income

   $ 7,596       $ 7,629       $ 8,980       $ 9,644   

Net investment income

     3,621         3,351         4,002         4,713   

Net increase in net assets from operations

     3,519         4,199         6,577         5,116   

Net investment income per share

     0.38         0.36         0.40         0.40   

Net increase in net assets from operations per share

     0.37         0.45         0.66         0.43   

Net asset value per share at end of period

     14.94         15.02         15.27         15.32   

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” Fidus Investment Corporation’s consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The information in this section contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

Overview

We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies, which we define as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our investment strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives. We seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of investments in order to help mitigate the potential effects of adverse economic events related to particular companies, regions or industries.

Fidus Investment Corporation was formed as a Maryland corporation on February 14, 2011. We completed our initial public offering, or IPO, in June 2011, and have completed additional underwritten public offerings of our common stock in September 2012, February 2013 and September 2014 providing approximately $140.5 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting fees and offering costs.

On June 20, 2011, Fidus Investment Corporation acquired all of the limited partnership interests of Fidus Mezzanine Capital, L.P., or Fund I, and membership interests of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, its general partner, through the Formation Transactions (as defined in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements), resulting in Fund I becoming our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiary. Immediately following the Formation Transactions, we and Fund I elected to be treated as business development companies, or BDCs, under the 1940 Act and our investment activities have been managed by Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC, our investment advisor, and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent of us. On March 29, 2013, we commenced operations of a second wholly-owned subsidiary, Fund II. Fund I and Fund II are collectively referred to as the “Funds.”

Fund I received its SBIC license on October 22, 2007 and Fund II received its SBIC license on May 28, 2013. We plan to continue to operate the Funds as SBICs, subject to SBA approval, and to utilize the proceeds of the sale of SBA-guaranteed debentures to enhance returns to our stockholders. We have also made, and continue to make, investments directly through FIC. We believe that utilizing FIC and the Funds as investment vehicles provides us with access to a broader array of investment opportunities. Based on the current capitalization of the Funds, we have approximately $51.5 million of remaining borrowing capacity under the SBIC Debenture Program and intend to fully utilize such capacity over the ensuing 12-24 months.

In August 2014, we entered into an equity distribution agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated through which the Company could sell, by means of at-the-market offerings from time to time, shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million (the “ATM Program”). During the period from August 21, 2014 through December 31, 2014, 158,353 shares of our common stock were sold at an average offering price of $18.51 per share resulting in net proceeds of $2.9 million after commissions to the sales agent on shares sold and offering costs of $0.1 million. We intend to continue utilizing our ATM Program for capital to fund additional investments during 2015.

On September 30, 2014, the Company issued 2,000,000 shares in a follow-on public offering at an offering price of $17.00 per share. On October 21, 2014, the Company issued an additional 83,414 shares to the underwriters pursuant to their exercise of the over-allotment option. Such share issuances resulted in net proceeds of $33.7 million, after deducting underwriting fees and commissions and offering costs totaling $1.7 million. The net proceeds from this offering were available to fund additional investments.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions affecting amounts reported in the financial statements. We have identified investment valuation and revenue recognition as our most critical accounting estimates. We continuously evaluate our estimates, including those related to the matters described below. These estimates are based on the information that is currently available to us and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A discussion of our critical accounting policies follows.

Valuation of Portfolio Investments

As a BDC, we report our assets and liabilities at fair value at all times consistent with GAAP and the 1940 Act. Accordingly, we are required to periodically determine the fair value of all of our portfolio investments.

Our investments generally consist of illiquid securities including debt and equity investments in lower middle-market companies. Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at such market quotations. Because we expect that there will not be a readily available market for substantially all of the investments in our portfolio, we value substantially all of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and consistently applied valuation process. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the difference could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

    our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially evaluated and rated by the investment professionals of our investment advisor responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

    preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the investment committee of our investment advisor;

 

    our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to provide an independent appraisal for each of our investments at least once in every calendar year, and for new portfolio companies, at least once in the twelve-month period subsequent to the initial investment;

 

    the audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of our investment advisor and of the independent valuation firm(s) and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations to reflect any comments; and

 

    the board of directors discusses the valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith, based on the input of our investment advisor, the independent valuation firm(s) and the audit committee.

In making the good faith determination of the value of portfolio investments, we start with the cost basis of the security. The transaction price is typically the best estimate of fair value at inception. When evidence supports a subsequent change to the carrying value from the original transaction price, adjustments are made to reflect the expected exit values.

We perform detailed valuations of our debt and equity investments, using both the market and income approaches as appropriate. Under the market approach, we typically use the enterprise value methodology to determine the fair value of an investment. There is no one methodology to estimate enterprise value and, in fact, for any one portfolio company, enterprise value is generally best expressed as a range of values, from which we derive a single estimate of enterprise value. Under the income approach, we typically prepare and analyze discounted cash flow models to estimate the present value of future cash flows of either an individual debt investment or of the underlying portfolio company itself.

 

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We evaluate investments in portfolio companies using the most recent portfolio company financial statements and forecasts. We also consult with the portfolio company’s senior management to obtain further updates on the portfolio company’s performance, including information such as industry trends, new product development and other operational issues.

For our debt investments, including senior secured loans and subordinated notes, the primary valuation technique used to estimate the fair value is the discounted cash flow method. However, if there is deterioration in credit quality or a debt investment is in workout status, we may consider other methods in determining the fair value, including the value attributable to the debt investment from the enterprise value of the portfolio company or the proceeds that would be received in a liquidation analysis. Our discounted cash flow models estimate a range of fair values by applying an appropriate discount rate to the future cash flow streams of our debt investments, based on future interest and principal payments as set forth in the associated loan agreements. We determine a weighted average cost of capital for use in the discounted cash flow model for each investment, based on factors including, but not limited to: current pricing and credit metrics for similar proposed or executed investment transactions of private companies; the portfolio company’s historical financial results and outlook; and the portfolio company’s current leverage and credit quality as compared to leverage and credit quality as of the date the investment was made. We may also consider the following factors when determining the fair value of debt investments: the portfolio company’s ability to make future scheduled payments; prepayment penalties; estimated remaining life; the nature and realizable value of any collateral; and changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets that generally may affect the price at which similar investments may be made. We estimate the remaining life of our debt investments to generally be the legal maturity date of the instrument, as we generally intend to hold loans to maturity. However, if we have information available to us that the loan is expected to be repaid in the near term, we would use an estimated remaining life based on the expected repayment date.

For our equity investments, including equity securities and warrants, we generally use a market approach, including valuation methodologies consistent with industry practice, to estimate the enterprise value of portfolio companies. Typically, the enterprise value of a private company is based on multiples of EBITDA, cash flows, net income, revenues, or in limited cases, book value. In estimating the enterprise value of a portfolio company, we analyze various factors consistent with industry practice, including but not limited to original transaction multiples, the portfolio company’s historical and projected financial results, applicable market trading and prices paid in comparable transactions, applicable market yields and leverage levels, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, and comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public. Where applicable, we consider our ability to influence the capital structure of the portfolio company, as well as the timing of a potential exit.

We may also utilize an income approach when estimating the fair value of our equity securities, either as a primary methodology if consistent with industry practice or if the market approach is otherwise not applicable, or as a supporting methodology to corroborate the fair value ranges determined by the market approach. We typically prepare and analyze discounted cash flow models based on projections of the future free cash flows (or earnings) of the portfolio company. We consider various factors, including but not limited to the portfolio company’s projected financial results, applicable market trading and prices paid in comparable transactions, applicable market yields and leverage levels, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, and comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public.

Determination of fair value involves subjective judgments and estimates. Accordingly, the notes to our consolidated financial statements express the uncertainties with respect to the possible effect of such valuations, and any changes in such valuations, on the consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Investments and related investment income. Realized gains or losses on investments are recorded upon the sale or disposition of a portfolio investment and are calculated as the difference between the net proceeds from the sale or disposition and the cost basis of the investment, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation

 

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previously recognized. Changes in the fair value of investments from the prior period, as determined by our board of directors through the application of our valuation policy, are included as net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

Interest and dividend income. Interest and dividend income is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. Interest and dividend income is accrued daily based on the outstanding principal amount and the contractual terms of the debt or preferred equity investment. Dividend income is recorded on the declaration date or at the point an obligation exists for the portfolio company to make a distribution. Distributions from portfolio companies are evaluated to determine if the distribution is a distribution of earnings or a return of capital.

Payment-in-kind interest. We have investments in our portfolio that contain a PIK income provision. The PIK income, computed at the contractual rate specified in the applicable investment agreement, is added to the principal balance of the investment, rather than being paid in cash, and recorded as interest or dividend income on the consolidated statements of operations. Generally, PIK can be paid-in-kind or all in cash. We stop accruing PIK income when it is determined that PIK income is no longer collectible. In addition, to maintain our status as a RIC and to avoid paying corporate federal income tax, substantially all of this income must be paid out to stockholders in the form of distributions, even though we have not yet collected the cash. We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before, or without, receiving cash representing such income.

Non-accrual. Loans or preferred equity investments are placed on non-accrual status and we will generally cease recognizing interest or dividend income when principal, interest or dividend payments become materially past due, or when there is reasonable doubt that principal, interest or dividends will be collected. Interest payments received on non-accrual investments may be recognized as income or applied to the investment principal balance based on management’s judgment. Non-accrual investments are restored to accrual status when past due principal, interest or dividends are paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current.

Warrants. In connection with our debt investments, we will sometimes receive warrants or other equity-related securities, or Warrants. We determine the cost basis of Warrants based upon their respective fair values on the date of receipt in proportion to the total fair value of the debt and Warrants received. Any resulting difference between the face amount of the debt and its recorded fair value resulting from the assignment of value to the Warrants are treated as original issue discount, or OID, and accreted into interest income using the effective interest method over the term of the investment.

Fee income. All transaction fees earned in connection with our investments are recognized as fee income. Such fees typically include fees for services, including structuring and advisory services, provided to portfolio companies. We recognize income from fees for providing such structuring and advisory services when the services are rendered or the transactions are completed. Upon the prepayment of a loan or debt security, any prepayment penalties are recorded as fee income when earned. Prior to the Formation Transactions, and in accordance with the prior limited partnership agreement, we historically recorded transaction fees provided in connection with our investments as a direct offset to management fee expense. We also typically receive upfront loan origination or closing fees in connection with investments. Such upfront loan origination and closing fees are capitalized as unearned income offset against investment cost basis on our consolidated statements of assets and liabilities and accreted into income over the life of the investment.

Portfolio Composition, Investment Activity and Yield

During year ended December 31, 2014, we invested $149.8 million in debt and equity investments, including 12 new portfolio companies. These investments consisted of subordinated notes ($103.7 million, or 69.2%), senior secured loans ($33.1 million, or 22.1%), equity securities ($12.2 million, or 8.1%), and warrants ($0.8 million, or 0.6%). During the year ended December 31, 2014 we received proceeds from sales or repayments, including principal, return of capital dividends and net realized gains (losses), of $62.6 million. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we invested $149.1 million in debt and equity investments, including nine new portfolio companies. These investments consisted of subordinated notes ($111.5 million, or 74.8%), senior secured loans ($22.7 million, or 15.2%), equity securities ($14.7 million, or 9.9%) and warrants ($0.2 million, or 0.1%). During the year ended December 31, 2013 we received proceeds from repayments of principal, including return of capital

 

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dividends and realized gains, of $131.2 million. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we invested $85.5 million in debt and equity investments, including nine new portfolio companies. These investments consisted of subordinated notes ($49.6 million, or 58.0%), senior secured loans ($26.1 million, or 30.5%), equity securities ($6.3 million, or 7.4%) and warrants ($3.5 million, or 4.1%). During the year ended December 31, 2012, we received proceeds from repayments of principal, including return of capital dividends and realized gains, of $25.2 million.

As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of our investment portfolio totaled $396.4 million and consisted of 42 portfolio companies. As of December 31, 2014, our debt portfolio was entirely comprised of fixed rate investments. Overall, the portfolio had net unrealized appreciation of $5.0 million as of December 31, 2014. Our average portfolio company investment at amortized cost was $9.3 million as of December 31, 2014.

As of December 31, 2013, the fair value of our investment portfolio totaled $307.0 million and consisted of 37 portfolio companies. As of December 31, 2013, our debt portfolio was entirely comprised of fixed rate investments. Overall, the portfolio had net unrealized depreciation of $8.2 million as of December 31, 2013. Our average portfolio company investment at amortized cost was $8.5 million as of December 31, 2013.

As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of our investment portfolio totaled $274.2 million and consisted of 30 portfolio companies. As of December 31, 2012, our debt portfolio was entirely comprised of fixed rate investments. Overall, the portfolio had net unrealized appreciation of $14.0 million as of December 31, 2012. Our average portfolio company investment at amortized cost was $8.7 million as of December 31, 2012.

The weighted average yields on debt investments at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were 13.4%, 14.5% and 15.3%, respectively. The weighted average yields were computed using the effective interest rates for debt investments at cost as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, including the accretion of original issue discount and loan origination fees, but excluding investments on non-accrual status, if any.

The following table shows the portfolio composition by investment type at fair value and cost as a percentage of total investments:

 

     Fair Value     Cost  
     As of December 31,     As of December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2014     2013     2012  

Subordinated notes

     69.1     69.8     70.6        69.8     69.9     73.9

Senior secured loans

     18.7        17.4        11.9           19.0        16.8        12.4   

Equity

     10.8        10.6        9.7           9.4        11.1        10.8   

Warrants

     1.4        2.2        7.8           1.8        2.2        2.9   

Royalty rights

     —          —          —             —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table shows the portfolio composition by geographic region at fair value and cost as a percentage of total investments. The geographic composition is determined by the location of the corporate headquarters of the portfolio company:

 

     Fair Value     Cost  
     As of December 31,     As of December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2014     2013     2012  

Southeast

     28.6     17.9     20.7        29.0     17.7     21.4

Midwest

     23.9        21.9        22.1           23.7        23.6        24.1   

West

     19.9        24.9        20.3           18.4        24.0        19.1   

Northeast

     16.9        19.4        15.1           16.7        18.9        16.6   

Southwest

     10.7        15.9        21.8           12.2        15.8        18.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The following table shows the detailed industry composition of our portfolio at fair value and cost as a percentage of total investments:

 

     Fair Value     Cost  
     As of December 31,     As of December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2014     2013     2012  

Healthcare products

     11.2     8.8     —       10.6     8.5     —  

Healthcare services

     10.3        10.6        12.8        10.8        10.1        12.0   

Specialty distribution

     10.3        4.3        3.6        9.3        3.6        3.6   

Aerospace & defense manufacturing

     9.4        11.2        11.0        8.6        9.6        10.6   

Oil & gas services

     8.6        4.6        6.9        8.8        4.5        6.6   

Consumer products

     5.6        3.7        —          5.6        3.5        —     

Components manufacturing

     4.3        2.6        —          4.6        2.5        —     

Industrial cleaning & coatings

     4.1        5.1        4.9        4.2        5.1        5.2   

Transportation services

     4.0        4.9        11.2        3.9        4.7        8.0   

Financial services

     3.7        4.8        3.4        3.4        4.5        3.6   

Building products manufacturing

     3.6        —          —          3.7        —          —     

Business services

     3.1        2.4        —          3.2        2.4        —     

Retail

     2.7        3.3        3.5        2.6        3.2        3.7   

Safety products manufacturing

     2.7        3.5        —          2.7        3.4        —     

Utility equipment manufacturing

     2.6        3.5        3.8        2.6        3.2        3.8   

Printing services

     2.4        3.1        3.3        2.6        3.0        3.5   

Information technology services

     2.3        2.6        3.0        2.5        3.1        3.2   

Specialty chemicals

     2.2        —          —          2.2        —          —     

Restaurants

     1.7        1.9        5.9        1.6        3.4        6.2   

Apparel distribution

     1.5        1.6        2.0        1.5        1.7        2.3   

Laundry services

     1.5        1.8        1.4        1.4        1.6        1.2   

Retail cleaning

     1.1        2.3        2.6        2.7        2.8        3.1   

Specialty cracker manufacturing

     0.5        0.4        2.7        0.3        0.4        3.3   

Electronic components supplier

     0.4        3.6        4.6        0.4        6.2        6.8   

Commercial cleaning

     0.2        2.7        3.0        0.2        2.7        3.2   

Debt collection services

     —          1.9        2.0        —          1.8        2.1   

Industrial products

     —          2.0        —          —          1.9        —     

Furniture rental

     —          2.8        3.0        —          2.6        3.0   

Movie theaters

     —          —          5.4        —          —          5.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0 %   100.0   100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio Asset Quality

In addition to various risk management and monitoring tools, our investment advisor uses an internally developed investment rating system to characterize and monitor the credit profile and our expected level of returns on each investment in our portfolio. We use a five-level numeric rating scale. The following is a description of the conditions associated with each investment rating:

 

    Investment Rating 1 is used for investments that involve the least amount of risk in our portfolio. The portfolio company is performing above expectations and the trends and risk factors are favorable, and may include an expected capital gain.

 

    Investment Rating 2 is used for investments that involve a level of risk similar to the risk at the time of origination. The portfolio company is performing substantially within our expectations and the risk factors are neutral or favorable. Each new portfolio investment enters our portfolio with Investment Rating 2.

 

    Investment Rating 3 is used for investments performing below expectations and indicates the investment’s risk has increased somewhat since origination. The portfolio company requires closer monitoring, but we expect a full return of principal and collection of all interest and/or dividends.

 

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    Investment Rating 4 is used for investments performing materially below expectations and the risk has increased materially since origination. The portfolio company has the potential for some loss of investment return, but we expect no loss of principal.

 

    Investment Rating 5 is used for investments performing substantially below our expectations and the risks have increased substantially since origination. We expect some loss of principal.

The following table shows the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 5 investment rating scale at fair value as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

 

     December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  
     Investments
at Fair
Value
     Percent
of Total
Portfolio
    Investments
at Fair
Value
     Percent
of Total
Portfolio
    Investments
at Fair
Value
     Percent
of Total
Portfolio
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Investment Rating

               

1

   $ 49,499         12.5 %   $ 44,572         14.5 %   $ 25,480         9.3 %

2

     297,024         74.9        229,113         74.6        225,086         82.1   

3

     48,814         12.3        30,322         9.9        23,683         8.6   

4

     1,018         0.3        —          —         —           —     

5

     —           —          2,974         1.0        —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

$ 396,355      100.0 % $ 306,981      100.0 % $ 274,249      100.0 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based upon our investment rating system, the weighted average rating of our portfolio as of each December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was 2.0.

As of December 31, 2014 and 2012, we had no investments on non-accrual status. As of December 31, 2013, we had debt investments in one portfolio company on non-accrual status, which had a cost and fair value of $7.3 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations

Comparison of fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

Investment Income

For the year ended December 31, 2014, total investment income was $46.1 million, an increase of $4.3 million, or 10.3%, over the $41.8 million of total investment income for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to a $2.6 million increase in interest income resulting largely from higher average levels of debt investments outstanding and a $1.5 million increase in fee income from investments during the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013.

Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2014, total expenses, including income tax provision, were $22.8 million, an increase of $0.3 million or 1.5%, over the $22.5 million of total expenses, including income tax provision, for the year ended December 31, 2013. Interest and financing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $7.5 million, an increase of $0.4 million or 6.1%, compared to $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as a result of higher average balances of SBA debentures outstanding during 2014 and interest and commitment fees related to the Credit Facility. The base management fee increased $0.6 million, or 12.1%, to $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to higher average total assets less cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2014 than the comparable period in 2013. The incentive fee for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $4.9 million, a $1.9 million, or 28.5%, decrease from the $6.8 million incentive fee for the year ended

 

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December 31, 2013 which was primarily the result of a capital gains incentive fee reversal of $0.7 million during the 2014 period compared to a capital gains incentive fee accrual of $1.6 million during the same period in 2013, which was partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in the income incentive fee. The administrative service fee, professional fees and other general and administrative expenses increased $1.1 million, or 34.2%, to $4.2 million primarily due to increased personnel costs and professional fees.

Net Investment Income

Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $23.3 million, which was an increase of $4.0 million, or 20.7%, compared to net investment income of $19.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2013 as a result of the $4.3 million increase in total investment income and the $0.3 million increase in total expenses, including income tax provision.

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2014, net realized losses on investments were $17.0 million resulting from realized losses on investments in one non-control/non-affiliate portfolio company and one affiliate portfolio company, which were partially offset by realized gains on investments in six non-control/non-affiliate portfolio companies and one affiliate portfolio company. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the total realized gain on investments was $30.6 million, which consisted of realized gains on investments in a control portfolio company and realized gains on investments in five non-control/non-affiliate portfolio companies.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded a net change in unrealized appreciation on investments of $13.3 million attributable to (i) the reversal of net unrealized depreciation on investments of $11.0 million related to the exit or sale of investments, resulting in unrealized appreciation, (ii) net unrealized depreciation of $0.8 million on debt investments and (iii) net unrealized appreciation of $3.1 million on equity investments. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded net unrealized depreciation of $22.2 million attributable to (i) the reversal of net unrealized appreciation on investments of $14.6 million related to the exit or sale of investments, resulting in unrealized depreciation, (ii) net unrealized depreciation of $6.8 million on debt investments and (iii) net unrealized depreciation of $0.8 million on equity investments.

As a result of these events, our net increase in net assets resulting from operations during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $19.5 million, or a decrease of $7.7 million, or 28.4%, compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $27.2 million during the prior year period.

Comparison of years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012

Investment Income

For the year ended December, 2013, total investment income was $41.8 million, an increase of $7.9 million, or 23.5%, over the $33.8 million of total investment income for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to a $6.5 million increase in interest income and a $0.7 million increase in fee income from investments and $0.7 million increase in dividend income. The $6.5 million increase in interest income is primarily due to higher average levels of portfolio debt investments outstanding during year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012. The fee income increase of $0.7 million is the result of an increase in the activity and size of the investment portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the prior year. The increase in dividend income is primarily attributable to higher levels of dividend producing investments and higher distributions from our portfolio companies in 2013 compared to 2012.

Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2013, total expenses, including income tax provision, were $22.5 million, an increase of $4.3 million or 23.9%, over the $18.2 million of total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012. The base management fee increased $1.0 million, or 24.2%, due to higher average total assets less cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2013 than the comparable period in 2012. In addition, the income

 

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incentive fee increased $1.1 million, or 27.3%, to $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 over the comparable period in 2012. The capital gains incentive fee increased $0.8 million, or 112.2%, to $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily due to a $4.2 million increase in net gain on investments. Interest expense increased $0.7 million due to higher average balances of SBA debentures outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012. In additional, the income tax provision increased $0.2 million given the higher levels of excise tax recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013 than the year ended December 31, 2012.

Net Investment Income

Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $19.3 million, which was an increase of $3.6 million, or 23.0%, compared to net investment income of $15.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2012 as a result of the $7.9 million increase in total investment income as compared to the $4.3 million increase in total expenses.

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2013, the total realized gain on investments was $30.6 million, which consisted of realized gains on three investments in a control portfolio company and 10 investments in five non-control/non-affiliate portfolio companies. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the total realized gain on investments was $2.0 million, which consisted of realized gains on three investments in two non-control/non-affiliate portfolio companies.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded a net change in unrealized depreciation on investments of $22.2 million attributable to (i) the reversal of net unrealized appreciation on investments of $14.6 million related to the exit or sale of investments, resulting in unrealized depreciation, (ii) net unrealized depreciation of $6.8 million on debt investments and (iii) net unrealized depreciation of $0.8 million on equity investments. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded net unrealized appreciation on investments of $1.7 million comprised of net unrealized appreciation of $1.8 million on equity investments and net unrealized depreciation of $0.1 million on debt investments.

In addition, income tax (provision) on realized gains on investments increased $0.5 million due to higher excise tax and U.S. federal income tax accruals related to realized gains on investments at our Taxable Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the prior year.

As a result of these events, our net increase in net assets resulting from operations during the year ended December 31, 2013 was $27.2 million, or an increase of $7.8 million, or 40.1%, compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $19.4 million during the prior year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2014, we had $29.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and our net assets totaled $243.3 million. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents on hand, our continued access to SBA-guaranteed debentures, our Credit Facility and our anticipated cash flows from operations will provide adequate capital resources with which to operate and finance our investment business and make distributions to our stockholders for at least the next 12 months. We intend to generate additional cash primarily from the future offerings of securities (including the ATM Program) and future borrowings, as well as cash flows from operations, including income earned from investments in our portfolio companies. On both a short-term and long-term basis, our primary use of funds will be investments in portfolio companies and cash distributions to our stockholders.

Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 2014, we experienced a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $24.1 million. During that period, we used $71.3 million of cash for operating activities, primarily for the funding of $149.8 million of investments, which was partially offset by the proceeds from sales and repayments of

 

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investments of $62.6 million. During the same period, we generated $47.2 million from financing activities resulting from proceeds received from stock offerings, net of expenses, of $36.5 million, proceeds from the issuance of SBA debentures of $29.0 million and borrowings under the Credit Facility of $10.0 million, which were partially offset by cash dividends paid to stockholders of $23.9 million, a $2.9 million payment for taxes paid on behalf of the stockholders related to the 2013 deemed distribution and payments of financing costs totaling $1.6 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, we experienced a net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $1.4 million. During that period, we used $2.1 million of cash for operating activities, primarily for the funding of $149.1 million of investments, which was partially offset by $131.2 million of repayments and sales proceeds received. During the same period, we generated $3.5 million from financing activities, consisting primarily of proceeds from a follow-on equity offering of $28.9 million, net of expenses, which was partially offset by cash dividends paid to stockholders of $25.1 million and the payment of deferred financing costs of $0.3 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, we experienced a net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $13.0 million. During that period, we used $49.5 million of cash for operating activities, primarily for the funding of $85.5 million of investments, partially offset by $25.2 million of repayments and sales proceeds received and $15.7 million of net investment income. During the same period, we generated $62.5 million from financing activities, consisting primarily of proceeds from a follow-on equity offering of $38.0 million, net of expenses and proceeds from SBA debentures of $40.5 million. These increases were partially offset by cash dividends paid to stockholders of $14.8 million and financing fees paid of $1.2 million.

Capital Resources

We anticipate that we will continue to fund our investment activities on a long-term basis through a combination of additional debt and equity capital.

The Funds are licensed SBICs, and have the ability to issue debentures guaranteed by the SBA at favorable interest rates. Under the Small Business Investment Act and the SBA rules applicable to SBICs, an SBIC can have outstanding at any time debentures guaranteed by the SBA in an amount up to twice its regulatory capital. The SBA regulations currently limit the amount that is available to be borrowed by any SBIC and guaranteed by the SBA to 200.0% of an SBIC’s regulatory capital or $150.0 million, whichever is less. For two or more SBICs under common control, the maximum amount of outstanding SBA debentures cannot exceed $225.0 million. SBA debentures have fixed interest rates that approximate prevailing 10-year Treasury Note rates plus a spread and have a maturity of ten years with interest payable semi-annually. The principal amount of the SBA debentures is not required to be paid before maturity but may be pre-paid at any time. As of December 31, 2014, Fund I had $150.0 million of outstanding SBA debentures. Based on its $75.0 million of regulatory capital as of December 31, 2014, Fund I cannot issue additional SBA debentures. As of December 31, 2014, Fund II had $23.5 million of outstanding SBA debentures. Based on its $37.5 million of regulatory capital as of December 31, 2014, Fund II has the current capacity to issue up to an additional $51.5 million of SBA debentures. For more information on the SBA debentures, please see Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, we entered the Credit Facility to provide additional funding for our investment and operational activities. The Credit Facility, which matures on June 16, 2018, had an initial commitment of $30.0 million and an accordion feature that allows for an increase in the total commitments up to $75.0 million, subject to certain customary conditions. The Credit Facility is secured primarily by our assets, excluding the assets of the Funds.

On December 19, 2014, FIC amended the Credit Facility to (i) increase the commitment from $30.0 million to $50.0 million until certain financial conditions are met and (ii) allow FIC to buy-back up to $10.0 million of our common stock subject to the satisfaction of specified financial covenants and conditions. The Credit Facility continues to have an accordion feature which allows for an increase in the total commitment up to $75.0 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are subject to a minimum borrowing/collateral base that applies an advance rate to certain portfolio investments. We are subject to additional limitations with respect to the investments securing the Credit Facility, including, but not limited to, restrictions on sector concentrations, loan size, payment frequency and status and collateral interests, as well as restrictions on portfolio company leverage, which may also affect the borrowing base and therefore amounts available to borrow.

 

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Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, subject to our election, on a per annum basis equal to (i) the alternate base rate plus 2.5% or (ii) the applicable LIBOR rate plus 3.5%. The alternate base rate is equal to the greater of (i) prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or (iii) the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.0%. We pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% per annum on undrawn amounts.

As of December 31, 2014, the weighted average interest rate for all SBA debentures and borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility was 4.0%.

We have made customary representations and warranties and are required to comply with various affirmative, negative and financial covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar credit facilities. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are described in the documents governing the Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2014, we are in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Facility and there was $10.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.

As a BDC, we are generally required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities, which include borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 200.0%. This requirement limits the amount that we may borrow. We have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, to allow us to exclude any indebtedness guaranteed by the SBA and issued by the Funds from the 200.0% asset coverage requirements, which, in turn, will enable us to fund more investments with debt capital.

As a BDC, we are generally not permitted to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value per share of our common stock if our board of directors, including Independent Directors, determines that such sale is in the best interests of us and our stockholders, and if our stockholders approve such sale. On June 4, 2014, our stockholders voted to allow us to sell or otherwise issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to present to our stockholders a similar proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our stockholders specified that the cumulative number of shares sold in each offering during the one-year period ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may not exceed 25.0% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale.

Current Market Conditions

Though global credit and other financial market conditions have improved and stability has increased throughout the international financial system, the uncertainty surrounding the United States’ rapidly increasing national debt and continuing global economic malaise have kept markets volatile. These unstable conditions could continue for a prolonged period of time. Although we have been able to secure access to additional liquidity, including our follow-on stock offerings, the ATM Program and leverage available through the SBIC program and Credit Facility, there is no assurance that debt or equity capital will be available to us in the future on favorable terms, or at all.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-08, Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946) Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements (“ASU 2013-08”), containing new guidance on assessing whether an entity is an investment company, requiring noncontolling ownership interest in investment companies to be measured at fair value and requiring certain additional disclosures. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-08 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Revenue Recognition (Topic 605). Under the new guidance, an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU will have on our consolidated financial position or disclosures.

 

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In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which amends the criteria for determining which entities are considered variable interest entities (“VIEs”), amends the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods of public entities beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU will have on our consolidated financial position or disclosures.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We may be a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of our portfolio companies. As of December 31, 2014, we had off-balance sheet arrangements consisting of five unfunded revolving loan commitments totaling $4.1 million to portfolio companies and two unfunded loan commitment totaling $5.4 million to a portfolio company. As of December 31, 2013, we had off-balance sheet arrangements consisting of two unfunded revolving loan commitments totaling $1.5 million, two unfunded loan commitments totaling $4.6 million to portfolio companies, and one unfunded capital commitment of $0.3 million related to a portfolio company.

Contractual Obligations

As of December 31, 2014 our future fixed commitments for cash payments are as follows:

 

     Total      2015      2016 to
2017
     2018 to
2019
     2020 and
Thereafter
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

SBA debentures

   $ 173,500       $ —         $ —         $ 66,450       $ 107,050   

Interest due on SBA debentures

     34,910         6,747         13,247         9,624         5,292   

Credit Facility borrowings

     10,000         —           —           10,000         —     

Interest and fees due on Credit Facility(1)

     3,132         1,124         1,651         357         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ 221,542    $ 7,871    $ 14,898    $ 86,431    $ 112,342   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts represent (i) commitment fees on the unused portion of Credit Facility calculated at a rate of 1.0% of the unused amount as of December 31, 2014, which was $40.0 million, (ii) interest expense calculated at a rate of 3.688% of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2014, which were $10.0 million and (iii) annual agency fees due to the Credit Facility administrative agent.

We have certain contracts under which we have material future commitments. We entered into the Investment Advisory Agreement with our investment advisor in accordance with the 1940 Act. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor provides us with investment advisory and management services. We pay the following amounts for these services (a) a management fee equal to a percentage of the average of our total assets (excluding cash and cash equivalents) and (b) an incentive fee based on our performance. See “Business — Management and Other Agreements — Investment Advisory Agreement — Management Fee.”

Under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor furnishes us with office facilities and equipment, provides us clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such facilities and provides us with other administrative services necessary to conduct our day-to-day operations. See “Business — Management and Other Agreements — Administration Agreement.”

If any of our contractual obligations discussed above are terminated, our costs under any new agreements that we enter into may increase. In addition, we would likely incur significant time and expense in locating alternative parties to provide the services we expect to receive under our Investment Advisory Agreement and our Administration Agreement. Any new investment advisory agreement would also be subject to approval by our Independent Directors and our stockholders.

 

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates affect both our cost of funding and the valuation of our investment portfolio. Our risk management systems and procedures are designed to identify and analyze our risk, to set appropriate policies and limits and to continually monitor these risks and limits by means of reliable administrative and information systems and other policies and programs. In the future, our investment income may also be affected by changes in various interest rates, including LIBOR and prime rates, to the extent of any debt investments that include floating interest rates. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, our debt portfolio was entirely comprised of fixed rate investments. Our pooled SBA debentures bear interest at fixed rates. Our Credit Facility bears interest, subject to our election, on a per annum basis equal to (i) the alternate base rate plus 2.5% or (ii) the applicable LIBOR rate plus 3.5%. The alternate base rate is equal to the greater of (i) prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or (iii) the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.0%.

Assuming that the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were to remain constant, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates would not have a material effect on our level of interest income from debt investments or interest expense.

Because we currently borrow, and plan to borrow in the future, money to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest the funds borrowed. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which could reduce our net investment income if there is not a corresponding increase in interest income generated by our investment portfolio.

 

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SENIOR SECURITIES

Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table for the years indicated in the table, unless otherwise noted. McGladrey LLP’s report on the senior securities table as of December 31, 2014, is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Treasury
Securities (1)
     Asset
Coverage per

Unit (2+)
     Involuntary
liquidation
Preference
per Unit (3)
     Average
Market
Value per
Unit (4)
 
     (dollars in
thousands)
                      

SBA debentures

           

2007

   $ —         $ —           —           N/A   

2008

     46,450         1,701         —           N/A   

2009

     79,450         1,610         —           N/A   

2010

     93,500         1,556         —           N/A   

2011

     104,000         2,351         —           N/A   

2012

     144,500         2,267         —           N/A   

2013

     144,500         2,461         —           N/A   

2014

     173,500         2,460         —           N/A   

Credit Facility

           

2007

   $ 15,520       $ 2,285         —           N/A   

2008

     —           —           —           N/A   

2009

     —           —           —           N/A   

2010

     —           —           —           N/A   

2011

     —           —           —           N/A   

2012

     —           —           —           N/A   

2013

     —           —           —           N/A   

2014

     10,000         42,676         —           N/A   

 

(1) Total amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented.
(2) Asset coverage per unit is the ratio of the carrying value of our total consolidated assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Asset coverage per unit is expressed in terms of dollar amounts per $1,000 of indebtedness.
(3) The amount to which such class of senior security would be entitled upon the involuntary liquidation of the issuer in preference to any security junior to it. The “—” indicates information which the SEC expressly does not require to be disclosed for certain types of senior securities.
(4) Not applicable because senior securities are not registered for public trading.

 

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THE COMPANY

General

We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies, which we define as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our investment strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives. We seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of investments in order to help mitigate the potential effects of adverse economic events related to particular companies, regions or industries.

We invest in companies that possess some or all of the following attributes: predictable revenues; positive cash flows; defensible and/or leading market positions; diversified customer and supplier bases; and proven management teams with strong operating discipline. We target companies in the lower middle-market with annual earnings, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, between $3.0 million and $20.0 million; however, we may from time to time opportunistically make investments in larger or smaller companies. Our investments typically range between $5.0 million and $20.0 million per portfolio company.

As of December 31, 2014, we had debt and equity investments in 42 portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $396.4 million. The weighted average yield on our debt investments as of December 31, 2014 was 13.4%. The weighted average yield was computed using the effective interest rates as of December 31, 2014, including accretion of original issue discount and loan origination fees, but excluding investments on non-accrual status, if any. There can be no assurance that the weighted average yield will remain at its current level.

Market Opportunity

We believe that the limited amount of capital available to lower middle-market companies, coupled with the desire of these companies for flexible and partnership-oriented sources of capital, creates an attractive investment environment for us. We believe the following factors will continue to provide us with opportunities to grow and deliver attractive returns to stockholders.

The lower middle-market represents a large, underserved market. We believe that lower middle-market companies, most of which are privately-held, are relatively underserved by traditional capital providers such as commercial banks, finance companies, hedge funds and collateralized loan obligation funds. Further, we believe that companies of this size generally possess conservative capital structures with significant enterprise value cushions, as compared to larger companies with more financing options.

Current credit market dislocation for lower middle-market companies has created an opportunity for attractive risk-adjusted returns. In this market, we believe traditional capital sources, such as commercial banks, finance companies, hedge funds and collateralized loan obligation funds have reduced lending and investing in the lower middle-market, which has resulted in increased opportunities for alternative funding sources. In addition, we believe that there continues to be less competition in the lower middle-market and an increased opportunity for attractive risk-adjusted returns. The remaining lenders and investors in the current environment are requiring lower amounts of senior and total leverage, increased equity commitments and more comprehensive covenant packages than was customary in the years leading up to the credit crisis.

Large pools of uninvested private equity capital should drive future transaction velocity. We believe there is a large pool of uninvested private equity capital, and we expect that private equity firms will remain active investors in lower middle-market companies. Private equity funds generally seek to leverage their investments by combining their equity capital with senior secured loans and/or mezzanine debt provided by other sources, and our relationships with private equity firms position us to partner with private equity investors.

 

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Future refinancing activity is expected to create additional investment opportunities. A high volume of financings completed will mature in the coming years. Additionally, we believe that demand for debt financing from lower middle-market companies will remain strong because these companies will continue to require credit to refinance existing debt, to support growth initiatives and to finance acquisitions. We believe this supply of opportunities coupled with limited financing providers focused on lower middle-market companies will continue to offer investment opportunities with attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Business Strategy

We intend to accomplish our goal of becoming the premier provider of capital to and value-added partner of lower middle-market companies by:

Leveraging the Experience of Our Investment Advisor. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals have significant experience investing in, lending to and advising companies across multiple industries and changing market cycles. These professionals have diverse backgrounds with prior experience in senior management positions at investment banks, specialty finance companies, commercial banks and privately and publicly held companies and have extensive experience investing across all levels of the capital structure of lower middle-market companies. We believe these professionals possess an in-depth understanding of the strategic, financial and operational challenges and opportunities of lower middle-market companies, enabling our investment advisor to effectively identify, assess, structure and monitor our investments.

Capitalizing on Our Strong Transaction Sourcing Network. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals possess an extensive network of long-standing relationships with private equity firms, middle-market senior lenders, junior capital partners, financial intermediaries and management teams of privately owned businesses. We believe that the combination of our relationships and our reputation as a reliable, responsive and value-added financing partner helps generate a steady stream of new investment opportunities and proprietary deal flow.

Serving as a Value-Added Partner with Customized Financing Solutions. We follow a partnership-oriented investment approach and focus on opportunities where we believe we can add value to a portfolio company. We primarily concentrate on industries or market niches in which the investment professionals of our investment advisor have prior experience. These professionals also have expertise in structuring securities at all levels of the capital structure, which we believe positions us well to meet the unique financing needs of our portfolio companies. We invest primarily in mezzanine debt securities, typically coupled with an equity interest; however, on a selective basis we may invest in senior secured or unitranche loans. Further, as a publicly-traded BDC, we have a longer investment horizon without the capital return requirements of traditional private investment vehicles. We believe this flexibility enables us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns on invested capital and enables us to be a better long-term partner for our portfolio companies. We believe that by leveraging the industry and structuring expertise of our investment advisor coupled with our long-term investment horizon, we are well positioned to be a value-added partner for our portfolio companies.

Employing Rigorous Due Diligence and Underwriting Processes Focused on Capital Preservation. Our investment advisor follows a disciplined and credit-oriented approach to evaluating and investing in companies. We focus on companies with proven business models, significant free cash flow, defensible market positions and significant enterprise value cushion for our debt investments. In making investment decisions, we seek to minimize the risk of capital loss without foregoing the opportunity for capital appreciation. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals have developed extensive due diligence and underwriting processes designed to better assess a portfolio company’s prospects and to determine the appropriate investment structure. Our investment advisor thoroughly analyzes each potential portfolio company’s competitive position, financial performance, management team, growth potential and industry attractiveness. As part of this process, our investment advisor also participates in meetings with management, tours of facilities, discussions with industry professionals and third-party reviews. We believe this approach enables us to build and maintain an attractive investment portfolio that meets our return and value criteria over the long term.

Actively Managing our Portfolio. We believe that our investment advisor’s initial and ongoing portfolio review process allows us to effectively monitor the performance and prospects of our portfolio companies. We seek to obtain board observation rights or board seats with respect to our portfolio companies and we conduct monthly financial reviews and regular discussions with portfolio company management. We structure our investments with a

 

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comprehensive set of financial maintenance, affirmative and negative covenants. We believe that active monitoring of our portfolio companies’ compliance with covenants provides us with an early warning of any financial difficulty and enhances our ability to protect our invested capital.

Maintaining Portfolio Diversification. We seek to maintain a portfolio of investments that is appropriately diversified among companies, industries, geographic regions and end markets. We have made investments in portfolio companies in the following industries: business services, industrial products and services, value-added distribution, healthcare products and services, consumer products and services (including retail, food and beverage), energy services, defense and aerospace, transportation and logistics, information technology services and niche manufacturing. We believe that investing across various industries helps mitigate the potential effects of negative economic events for particular companies, regions and industries.

Benefiting from Lower Cost of Capital. The Funds’ SBIC licenses allow us to issue SBA-guaranteed debentures. These SBA debentures carry long-term fixed rates that are generally lower than rates on comparable bank and public debt. Because lower-cost SBA leverage is, and will continue to be, a significant part of our funding strategy, our relative cost of debt capital should be lower than many of our competitors. The SBA regulations currently limit the amount that is available to be borrowed by the Funds to $225.0 million in aggregate.

About Our Advisor

Our investment activities are managed by Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC, our investment advisor, and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” of FIC as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, and who we refer to hereafter as the Independent Directors. Pursuant to the terms of the investment advisory and management agreement, which we refer to as the Investment Advisory Agreement, between us and our investment advisor, our investment advisor is responsible for determining the composition of our portfolio, including sourcing potential investments, conducting research and diligence on potential investments and equity sponsors, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals seek to capitalize on their significant deal origination and sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, execution, portfolio management and monitoring experience. These professionals have developed a broad network of contacts within the investment community, have gained extensive experience investing in assets that constitute our primary focus and have expertise in investing across all levels of the capital structure of lower middle-market companies.

Our relationship with our investment advisor is governed by and dependent on the Investment Advisory Agreement and may be subject to conflicts of interest. We pay our investment advisor a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts). The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and equals 20.0% of our “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a 2.0% preferred return, or “hurdle,” and a “catch up” feature. The second part is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year in an amount equal to 20.0% of our realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each fiscal year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any capital gain incentive fees paid in prior years. We accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate. For more information about how we compensate our investment advisor, see “Management and Other Agreements—Investment Advisory Agreement.”

Among other things, our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how our investment advisor addresses conflicts of interest associated with its management services and compensation. Our board of directors is not expected to review or approve each borrowing or incurrence of leverage. However, our board of directors periodically reviews our investment advisor’s portfolio management decisions and portfolio performance. In addition, our board of directors at least annually reviews the services provided by and fees paid to our investment advisor. In connection with these reviews, our board of directors, including a majority of our Independent Directors, considers whether the fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) that we pay to our investment advisor are fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

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Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company that is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. In addition, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC serves as our administrator and provides us with office space, equipment and clerical, book-keeping and record-keeping services pursuant to an administration agreement, which we refer to as the Administration Agreement.

Investments

We seek to create a diversified investment portfolio that primarily includes mezzanine loans and equity securities. Our investments typically range between $5.0 million to $20.0 million per portfolio company, although this investment size may vary proportionately with the size of our capital base. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. We may invest in the equity securities of our portfolio companies, such as preferred stock, common stock, warrants and other equity interests, either directly or in conjunction with our debt investments.

Mezzanine Debt Investments. We typically invest in mezzanine debt, which includes senior subordinated notes and junior secured loans. These loans typically have higher fixed interest rates (often representing a combination of cash pay and payment-in-kind interest), prepayment penalties and amortization of principal deferred to maturity, as well as origination and other fees. Subordinated loans generally allow the borrower to make a large lump sum payment of principal at the end of the loan term, and there is a risk of loss if the borrower is unable to pay the lump sum or refinance the amount owed at maturity. Subordinated investments are generally more volatile than secured loans and may involve a greater risk of loss of principal. In certain situations where we are able to structure an investment as a junior secured loan, we will obtain a junior security interest in the assets of these portfolio companies that will serve as collateral in support of the repayment of such loan. This collateral may take the form of second-priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company.

Senior Secured Loans. We also opportunistically structure some of our debt investments as senior secured or unitranche loans. Senior secured loans typically provide for a fixed interest rate and may contain some minimum principal amortization, excess cash flow sweep features and prepayment penalties. Senior secured loans are secured by a first or second priority lien on all existing and future assets of the borrower and may take the form of term loans or revolving lines of credit. Unitranche debt financing involves issuing one debt security that blends the risk and return profiles of both secured and subordinated debt and typically involves a first priority lien on all existing and future assets of the borrower. We believe that unitranche debt can be attractive for many lower middle-market companies given their size in order to reduce structural complexity and potential conflicts among creditors.

Equity Securities. Our equity securities typically consist of either a direct minority equity investment in common or preferred stock or membership/partnership interests of a portfolio company, or we may receive warrants to buy a minority equity interest in a portfolio company in connection with a debt investment. Warrants we receive with our debt investments typically require only a nominal cost to exercise, and thus, as a portfolio company appreciates in value, we may achieve additional investment return from this equity interest. Our equity investments are typically not control-oriented investments, and in many cases, we acquire equity securities as part of a group of private equity investors in which we are not the lead investor. We may structure such equity investments to include provisions protecting our rights as a minority-interest holder, as well as a “put,” or right to sell such securities back to the issuer, upon the occurrence of specified events. In many cases, we may also seek to obtain registration rights in connection with these equity interests, which may include demand and “piggyback” registration rights. Our equity investments typically are made in connection with debt investments to the same portfolio companies.

We generally seek to invest in companies from the broad range of industries in which our investment advisor has direct experience. The following is a representative list of the broad industry segments in which we have invested; however, we may invest in other industries if we are presented with attractive opportunities.

 

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•    business services;

•    niche manufacturing;

•    industrial products and services;

•    defense and aerospace;

•    value-added distribution;

•    transportation and logistics;

•    healthcare products and services;

•    information technology services; and

•    consumer products and services (including retail, food and beverage);

•    energy services.

As of December 31, 2014, we had investments in 42 portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $396.4 million. As of December 31, 2013, we had investments in 37 portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $307.0 million.

Investment Criteria/Guidelines

We use the following criteria and guidelines in evaluating investment opportunities and constructing our portfolio. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines have been, or will be, met in connection with each of our investments.

Value Orientation / Positive Cash Flow. Our investment advisor places a premium on analysis of business fundamentals from an investor’s perspective and has a distinct value orientation. We focus on companies with proven business models in which we can invest at relatively low multiples of operating cash flow. We also typically invest in portfolio companies with a history of profitability and minimum trailing twelve month EBITDA of $3.0 million. We do not invest in start-up companies, “turn-around” situations or companies that we believe have unproven business plans.

Experienced Management Teams with Meaningful Equity Ownership. We target portfolio companies that have management teams with significant experience and/or relevant industry experience coupled with meaningful equity ownership. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that protects our debt investment and enhances the value of our equity investment.

Niche Market Leaders with Defensible Market Positions. We seek to invest in portfolio companies that have developed defensible and/or leading positions within their respective markets or market niches and are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities. We favor companies that demonstrate significant competitive advantages, which we believe helps to protect their market position and profitability.

Diversified Customer and Supplier Base. We prefer to invest in portfolio companies that have a diversified customer and supplier base. Companies with a diversified customer and supplier base are generally better able to endure economic downturns, industry consolidation and shifting customer preferences.

Significant Equity Value. We believe the existence of significant underlying equity value provides important support to our debt investments. With respect to our debt investments, we look for portfolio companies where management/sponsors have provided significant equity funding and where we believe aggregate enterprise value significantly exceeds aggregate indebtedness, after consideration of our investment.

Viable Exit Strategy. We invest in portfolio companies that we believe will provide steady cash flows to service our debt, ultimately repay our loans and provide working capital for their respective businesses. In addition, we seek to invest in companies whose business models and expected future cash flows offer attractive exit possibilities for our equity investments. We expect to exit our investments typically through one of three scenarios: (a) the sale of the portfolio company resulting in repayment of all outstanding debt and monetization of equity; (b) the recapitalization of the portfolio company through which our investments are replaced with debt or equity from a third party or parties; or (c) the repayment of the initial or remaining principal amount of our debt investment from cash flow generated by the portfolio company. In some investments, there may be scheduled amortization of some portion of our debt investment that would result in a partial exit of our investment prior to the maturity of the debt investment.

 

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Investment Committee

Our investment advisor has formed investment committees to evaluate and approve all of our investments and those made by the Funds. The investment committee process is intended to bring the diverse experience and perspectives of the committees’ members to the analysis and consideration of each investment. The investment committees also serve to provide investment consistency and adherence to our investment advisor’s core investment philosophy and policies. The investment committees also determine appropriate investment sizing and suggest ongoing monitoring requirements.

The members of the investment committee that evaluates and approves all of our investments are Edward H. Ross, Thomas C. Lauer, John H. Grigg, John J. Ross, II, Paul E. Tierney, Jr., W. Andrew Worth and Robert G. Lesley, Jr. The members of the investment committee that evaluates and approves all of the Funds’ investments are Edward H. Ross, Thomas C. Lauer, John H. Grigg, John J. Ross, II, Paul E. Tierney, Jr. and W. Andrew Worth. Our Investment Advisor intends to add Mr. Lesley to the Funds’ investment committee subsequent to the SBA’s approval of Mr. Lesley acting in that capacity.

Investment Process Overview

Our investment advisor has developed the following investment process based on the experience of its investment professionals to identify investment opportunities and to structure investments quickly and effectively. Furthermore, our investment advisor seeks to identify those companies exhibiting superior fundamental risk-reward profiles and strong defensible business franchises while focusing on the relative value of the security in the portfolio company’s capital structure. The investment process consists of five distinct phases:

 

    Investment Generation/Origination;

 

    Initial Evaluation;

 

    Due Diligence and Underwriting;

 

    Documentation and Closing; and

 

    Active Portfolio Management.

Each of the phases is described in more detail below.

Investment Generation/Origination. Our investment origination efforts are focused on leveraging our investment advisor’s extensive network of long-standing relationships with private equity firms, middle-market senior lenders, junior-capital partners, financial intermediaries, service providers and management teams of privately owned businesses. We believe that our investment advisor’s investment professionals have reputations as reliable, responsive and value-added partners for lower middle-market companies. Our investment advisor’s focus and reputation as a valued-added partner generates a balanced mix of proprietary deal flow and a steady stream of new deal opportunities.

Initial Evaluation. After a potential transaction is received by our investment advisor, it will conduct an initial review of the transaction materials to determine whether it meets our investment criteria and complies with SBA and other regulatory compliance requirements.

If the potential transaction initially meets our investment criteria, at least two members of the investment committee, referred to as the deal team, will conduct a preliminary due diligence review, taking into consideration some or all of the following factors:

 

    A comprehensive financial model based on quantitative analysis of historical financial performance, projections and pro forma adjustments to determine a range of estimated internal rates of return.

 

    An initial call or meeting with the management team, owner, private equity sponsor or other deal partner.

 

    A brief industry and market analysis, leveraging direct industry expertise from other investment professionals of our investment advisor.

 

    Preliminary qualitative analysis of the management team’s competencies and backgrounds.

 

    Potential investment structures and pricing terms.

 

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Upon successful completion of the screening process, the deal team prepares a screening memorandum and makes a recommendation to the investment committee. At this time, the investment committees will also consider whether the investment would be made by us or through the Funds. If the investment committees support the deal team’s recommendation, the deal team issues a non-binding term sheet to the potential portfolio company. Such a term sheet will typically include the key economic terms based on our analysis conducted during the screening process. Upon agreement on a term sheet with the potential portfolio company, our investment advisor will begin a formal diligence and underwriting process.

Due Diligence and Underwriting. Our investment advisor has developed a rigorous and disciplined due diligence process that includes a comprehensive understanding of a borrower’s industry, market, operational, financial, organizational and legal positions and prospects. The due diligence review will take into account information that the deal team deems necessary to make an informed decision about the creditworthiness of the borrower and the risks of the investment, which includes some or all of the following:

 

    Initial or additional site visits and facility tours with management and key personnel.

 

    Review of the business history, operations and strategy.

 

    In depth review of industry and competition.

 

    Analysis of key customers and suppliers, including review of any concentrations and key contracts.

 

    Detailed review of historical and projected financial statements, including a review of at least three years of performance (annual and monthly), key financial ratios, revenue, expense and profitability drivers and sensitivities to management’s financial projections.

 

    Detailed evaluation of company management, including background checks.

 

    Third party reviews of accounting, environmental, legal, insurance, interviews with customers and suppliers, material contracts, competition, industry and market studies (each as appropriate).

 

    Financial sponsor diligence, if applicable, including portfolio company and other reference checks.

During the due diligence process, significant attention is given to sensitivity analyses and how the portfolio company might be expected to perform given various scenarios, including downside, “base case” and upside. Upon satisfactory completion of the due diligence review process, the deal team will present their findings and a recommendation to the investment committees. If the investment committees support the deal team’s recommendation, the deal team will proceed with negotiating and documenting the investment.

Documentation and Closing. Our investment advisor works with the management of a potential portfolio company and its other capital providers, including as applicable, senior, junior and equity capital providers to structure an investment. Our investment advisor structures each investment with an acute focus on capital preservation and will tailor the terms of each investment to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and the portfolio company. We seek to limit the downside potential of our investments by:

 

    Targeting an optimal total return on our investments (including a combination of current and deferred interest, prepayment penalties and equity participation) that compensates us for credit risk.

 

    Negotiating covenants in connection with our investments that afford our portfolio companies as much flexibility in managing their businesses as possible, yet consistent with preservation of our capital. Such restrictions may include affirmative and negative covenants, default penalties, lien protection, change of control provisions and board rights, including either board observation or rights to a seat on the board under some circumstances.

 

   

Structuring financial covenants and terms in our debt investments that require a portfolio company to reduce leverage over time, thereby mitigating the risk of loss and increasing the likelihood of achieving targeted returns on investment. These methods may include, among others: leverage covenants requiring a decreasing ratio of debt to cash flow; cash flow covenants requiring an

 

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increasing ratio of cash flow to interest expense and possibly other cash expenses such as capital expenditures, cash taxes and mandatory principal payments; and debt incurrence prohibitions, or limiting a company’s ability to relever its balance sheet. In addition, limitations on asset sales and capital expenditures prevent a company from changing the nature of its business or capitalization without our consent.

We expect to hold most of our investments to maturity or repayment, but may exit our investments earlier if a liquidity event takes place, such as a sale or recapitalization of a portfolio company or if we determine that a sale of one or more of our investments is in our best interest.

Active Portfolio Management. Active portfolio monitoring is a vital part of our investment process and we continuously monitor the status and progress of the portfolio companies. The same deal team that was involved in the investment process will continue its involvement in the portfolio company post-investment. This provides for continuity of knowledge and allows the deal team to maintain a strong business relationship with key management of its portfolio companies for post-investment assistance and monitoring purposes.

As part of the monitoring process, the deal team conducts a comprehensive review of the financial and operating results of each portfolio company that includes a review of the monthly/quarterly financials relative to prior year and budget, a review of the financial projections including cash flow and liquidity needs, meeting with management, attending board meetings and reviewing compliance certificates and covenants. We will maintain an ongoing dialogue with the management and any controlling equity holders of a portfolio company that will include discussions about the company’s business plans and growth opportunities and any changes in industry and competitive dynamics. While we maintain limited involvement in the ordinary course operations of our portfolio companies, we may maintain a higher level of involvement in non-ordinary course financing or strategic activities and any non-performing scenarios. Our investment advisor’s portfolio management will also include quarterly portfolio reviews with all investment professionals and investment committee members.

Investment Rating System

In addition to various risk management and monitoring tools, our investment advisor uses an internally developed investment rating system to characterize and monitor the credit profile and our expected level of returns on each investment in our portfolio. We use a five-level numeric rating scale. The following is a description of the conditions associated with each investment rating:

 

    Investment Rating 1 is used for investments that involve the least amount of risk in our portfolio. The portfolio company is performing above expectations and the trends and risk factors are favorable, and may include an expected capital gain.

 

    Investment Rating 2 is used for investments that involve a level of risk similar to the risk at the time of origination. The portfolio company is performing substantially within our expectations and the risks factors are neutral or favorable. Each new portfolio investment enters our portfolio with Investment Rating 2.

 

    Investment Rating 3 is used for investments performing below expectations and indicates the investment’s risk has increased somewhat since origination. The portfolio company requires closer monitoring, but we expect a full return of principal and collection of all interest and/or dividends.

 

    Investment Rating 4 is used for investments performing materially below our expectations and the risk has increased materially since origination. The portfolio company has the potential for some loss of investment return, but we expect no loss of principal.

 

    Investment Rating 5 is used for investments performing substantially below our expectations and the risks have increased substantially since origination. We expect some loss of principal.

 

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The following table shows the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 5 investment rating scale at fair value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

     As of December 31, 2014     As of December 31, 2013  

Investment Rating

   Investments at
Fair Value
     Percent
of Total
Portfolio
    Investments at
Fair Value
     Percent
of Total
Portfolio
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

1

   $ 49,499         12.5 %   $ 44,572         14.5 %

2

     297,024         74.9        229,113         74.6   

3

     48,814         12.3        30,322         9.9   

4

     1,018         0.3        —          —    

5

     —           —          2,974         1.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

$ 396,355      100.0 % $ 306,981      100.0 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on our investment rating system, the weighted average rating of our portfolio as of both December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 2.0.

Determination of Net Asset Value and Valuation Process

We determine the net asset value per share of our common stock on at least a quarterly basis, and more frequently if we are required to do so in connection with the issuance of shares of our common stock or pursuant to applicable federal laws and regulations. The net asset value per share of common stock is equal to the carrying value of our total assets minus liabilities and any preferred stock outstanding divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Our business plan calls for us to invest primarily in illiquid securities issued by private companies. These portfolio investments may be subject to restrictions on resale and will generally have no established trading market. Because there is not a readily available market for substantially all of the investments in our portfolio, we value substantially all of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and consistently applied valuation process in accordance with authoritative accounting guidelines. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates – Valuation of Portfolio Investments.”

Managerial Assistance

As a BDC, we offer, and must provide upon request, managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. This assistance typically involves, among other things, monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance. Our investment advisor, acting as our administrator, provides such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance. We may receive fees for these services and will reimburse our investment advisor, acting as our administrator, for its allocated costs in providing such assistance.

Competition

Our primary competitors in providing financing to lower middle-market companies include public and private funds, other BDCs, SBICs, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity and hedge funds. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some competitors may have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC or to the distribution and other requirements we must satisfy to maintain our RIC status.

 

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We use the expertise of the investment professionals of our investment advisor to assess investment risks and determine appropriate pricing for our investments in portfolio companies. In addition, the relationships of the investment professionals of our investment advisor enable us to learn about, and compete effectively for, financing opportunities with attractive lower middle-market companies in the industries in which we seek to invest. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure — We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.”

Employees

We do not have any direct employees, and our day-to-day investment operations are managed by our investment advisor, which is also acting as our administrator. We have a chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and, to the extent necessary, our board of directors may elect to hire additional personnel going forward. Our officers are employees of, and are compensated by, our investment advisor, and our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs are paid by us pursuant to the Administration Agreement. Some of our executive officers are also officers of our investment advisor. See “Management and Other Agreements — Administration Agreement.”

Properties

We do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operation; however, we lease office space for our executive office at 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201. Our investment advisor also maintains additional office space at 227 West Trade Street Suite 1910 Charlotte, NC 28202 and 70 East 55th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022. We believe that our current office facilities are adequate for our business as we intend to conduct it.

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. While the outcome of any current legal proceedings cannot at this time be predicted with certainty, we do not expect any current matters will materially affect our financial condition or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance whether any pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations in any future reporting period.

 

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PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

The following table sets forth certain audited information as of December 31, 2014, for the portfolio companies in which we had a debt or equity investment. Other than these investments, our only formal relationships with our portfolio companies are the managerial assistance ancillary to our investments and the board observer or participation rights we may receive.

 

Portfolio Company / Address

  

Industry

  

Investment Type

 

Rate

Cash/PIK

  Maturity     Principal
Amount
    Cost     Fair
Value
    Percent
of Total
Assets
 

Control Investments

                 
Paramount Building Solutions, LLC   

Retail Cleaning

  

Subordinated Note

  7.0%/3.0%     12/31/2017      $ 1,118      $ 1,118      $ 1,067     

10235 S. 51st Street, Suite 185

     

Subordinated Note

  7.0%/7.0%     12/31/2017        2,842        2,842        2,687     

Phoenix, AZ 85044

     

Warrant (1,086,035 units)

          —          —       
     

Preferred Equity (5,000,000 units)

          5,000        490     
     

Common Equity (107,143 units)

          1,500        —       
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                10,460        4,244        1

Total Control Investments

                10,460        4,244        1
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Affiliate Investments

                 

Apex Microtechnology, Inc.

  

Electronic

  

Warrant (2,293 units)

          220        254     

5980 N. Shannon Road

  

Components Supplier

  

Common Equity (11,690 shares)

          1,169        1,302     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Tucson, AZ 85741

                1,389        1,556        0

FAR Research Inc.

  

Specialty Chemicals

  

Senior Secured Loan

  11.8%/0.0%     3/31/2019        7,600        7,567        7,600     

2210 Wilhelmina Ct, NE

      Revolving Loan ($1,750 commitment)   11.8%/0.0%     3/31/2019        136        129        136     

Palm Bay, FL 32905

     

Common Equity (10 units)

          1,000        938     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                8,696        8,674        2

Inflexxion, Inc.

  

Business Services

  

Senior Secured Loan

  12.5%/0.0%     12/16/2019        4,750        4,726        4,726     

320 Needham Street, Suite 100

      Revolving Loan ($1,000 commitment)   12.5%/0.0%     12/16/2019        300        295        295     

Newton, MA 02464

     

Preferred Equity (1,400 units)

          1,400        1,400     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                6,421        6,421        1

Malabar International

  

Aerospace & Defense

  

Subordinated Note

  12.5%/2.5%     5/21/2017        7,264        7,239        7,264     

220 W. Los Angeles Avenue

  

Manufacturing

  

Preferred Equity (1,494 shares)

  6.0%/0.0%         1,992        3,258     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Simi Valley, CA 93065

                9,231        10,522        2

Medsurant Holdings, LLC

  

Healthcare Services

  

Subordinated Note

  9.5%/4.5%     7/12/2016        10,129        9,603        10,129     

1660 S. Albion Street, Suite 425

     

Preferred Equity (126,662 units)

          1,345        1,027     

Denver, CO 80222

     

Warrant (505,176 units)

          4,516        3,715     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                15,464        14,871        3

Pfanstiehl, Inc.

  

Healthcare Products

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/1.5%     9/29/2018        6,208        6,168        6,208     

1219 Glen Rock Avenue

     

Common Equity (8,500 units)

          850        3,088     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Waukegan, IL 60085

                7,018        9,296        2

Safety Products Group, LLC

  

Safety Products

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/1.5%     12/30/2018        10,000        9,965        10,000     

2002 Karbach

  

Manufacturing

  

Preferred Equity (749 units)

          749        812     

Houston, TX 77092

     

Common Equity (676 units)

          1        —       
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                10,715        10,812        2

Trantech Radiator Products, Inc.

  

Utility Equipment

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/1.8%     5/4/2017        9,518        9,498        9,518     

1 Tranter Drive, P.O. Box 570

  

Manufacturing

  

Common Equity (6,875 shares)

          688        962     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Edgefield, SC 29824

                10,186        10,480        2

Westminster Cracker Company, Inc.

  

Specialty Cracker

  

Preferred Equity (95,798 units)

          70        152     

1 Scale Avenue, Suite 81, Bldg 14

  

Manufacturing

  

Common Equity (1,208,197 units)

          1,208        1,804     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Rutland, VT 05701

                1,278        1,956        0

World Wide Packaging, LLC

  

Consumer Products

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/1.8%     10/26/2018        10,097        10,063        10,097     

15 Vreeland Road, Suite #4

     

Common Equity (1,517,573 units)

          1,518        1,515     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Florham Park, NJ 07932

                11,581        11,612        3
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
     

Total Affiliate Investments

          81,979        86,200        20
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Portfolio Company / Address

  

Industry

  

Investment Type

 

Rate

Cash/PIK

  Maturity     Principal
Amount
    Cost     Fair
Value
    Percent
of Total
Assets
 

Non-Control/Non-Affiliate Investments

                 
Acentia, LLC   

Information

  

Common Units (499 units)

          500        243        0

3130 Fairview Park Drive,

Suite 800

  

Technology Services

              

Falls Church, VA 22042

                 
ACFP Management, Inc.   

Restaurants

  

Common Units (1,000,000 units)

          1,091        1,587        0

200 W. Cypress Creek Road

                 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

                 
Allied 100 Group, Inc.   

Healthcare Products

  

Subordinated Note

  11.5%/0.0%     5/26/2020        13,000        12,936        12,936     

1800 U.S. Highway 51 North

     

Common Equity (1,250,000 units)

          1,250        1,250     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Woodruff, WI 54568

                14,186        14,186        3
Anatrace Products, LLC   

Healthcare Products

  

Senior Secured Loan

  11.5%/1.5%     10/11/2018        9,500        9,469        9,500     

434 W Dussel Dr.

     

Revolving Loan ($500 commitment)

  N/A     10/11/2018        —          (2     (2  

Maumee, OH 43537

     

Common Equity (360,000 shares)

          360        520     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                9,827        10,018        2
Brook & Whittle Limited   

Printing Services

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/4.8%     12/31/2016        7,297        7,297        7,272     

260 Branford Road,

P.O. Box 409

     

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/2.0%     12/31/2016        2,250        2,250        2,153     

North Branford, CT 06471

     

Warrant (1,051 shares)

          285        134     
      Common Equity - Series A (148 shares)           110        20     
      Common Equity - Series D (527 shares)           53        71     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                9,995        9,650        2
Caldwell & Gregory, LLC   

Laundry Services

  

Subordinated Note

  11.5%/1.0%     11/30/2018        1,524        1,502        1,524     

129 Broad Street Road

     

Subordinated Note

  0.0%/12.0%     5/31/2019        3,618        3,394        3,618     

Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103

     

Common Equity (500,000 units)

          500        568     
     

Warrant (242,121 units)

          242        275     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                5,638        5,985        1
Carlson Systems Holdings, Inc.   

Specialty Distribution

  

Subordinated Note

  11.5%/0.0%     5/20/2020        12,000        11,941        11,941     

10840 Harney Street

     

Common Equity (7,500 units)

          750        750     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Omaha, NE 68154

                12,691        12,691        3
Channel Technologies Group, LLC   

Component

  

Subordinated Note

  11.0%/1.3%     4/10/2019        7,000        6,952        6,619     

879 Ward Drive

  

Manufacturing

  

Preferred Equity (612 units)

          1,139        686     

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

     

Common Equity (612,432 units)

          —          —       
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                8,091        7,305        2
Connect-Air International, Inc.   

Specialty Distribution

  

Subordinated Note

  12.8%/0.0%     11/5/2018        11,400        11,395        11,400     

4240 B Street N.W.

     

Common Equity

          —          4,600     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Auburn, WA 98001

                11,395        16,000        4

Continental Anesthesia Management, LLC

  

Healthcare Services

  

Senior Secured Loan

  8.0%/6.0%     4/15/2015        10,259        10,252        10,130     

1770 First Street, Suite 703

     

Warrant (263 shares)

          276        —       
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Highland Park, IL 60035

                10,528        10,130        2
EBL, LLC (EbLens)   

Retail

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/3.0%     2/2/2018        9,610        9,584        9,706     

299 Industrial Avenue

     

Common Equity (750,000 units)

          750        981     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Torrington, CT 06790

                10,334        10,687        2
FDS Avionics Corp.   

Aerospace & Defense

  

Subordinated Note

 

12.3%/0.0%

    4/1/2020        5,200        5,175        5,175     
(dba Flight Display Systems)   

Manufacturing

  

Common Equity (200 units)

          2,000        2,000     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

6435 Shiloh Road, Suite D

                7,175        7,175        2

Alpharetta, GA 30005

                 
FTH Acquisition Corp. VII   

Information

  

Subordinated Note

  13.0%/0.0%     2/27/2015        8,395        8,395        8,350     

5655 Peachtree Parkway

  

Technology Services

  

Preferred Equity (887,122 shares)

          887        621     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Norcross, GA 30092

                9,282        8,971        2
Grindmaster Corporation   

Consumer Products

  

Subordinated Note

  11.5%/0.0%     10/31/2019        10,500        10,456        10,456        2

4003 Collins Lane

                 

Louisville, KY 40245

                 
IOS Acquisitions, Inc.   

Oil & Gas Services

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/3.3%     6/26/2018        14,263        14,175        13,788     

8909 Youngsville Highway 89,

     

Common Equity (2,152 shares)

          500        364     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

P.O. Box 397

                14,675        14,152        3

Youngsville, LA 70592

                 
Jacob Ash Holdings, Inc.   

Apparel Distribution

  

Subordinated Note

  13.0%/4.0%     6/30/2018        4,000        3,992        4,000     

301 Munson Avenue

     

Subordinated Note

  13.0%/0.0%     6/30/2018        963        953        963     

McKees Rocks, PA 15136

     

Preferred Equity (66,138 shares)

  0.0%/15.0%     6/30/2018          798        810     
     

Warrant (63,492 shares)

          67        —       
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                5,810        5,773        1

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio Company / Address

  

Industry

  

Investment Type

 

Rate

Cash/PIK

  Maturity     Principal
Amount
    Cost     Fair
Value
    Percent
of Total
Assets
 
K2 Industrial Services, Inc.   

Industrial Cleaning

  

Subordinated Note

  11.8%/2.8%     5/23/2017        15,213        15,162        15,213     

5233 Hohman Avenue

  

& Coatings

   Preferred Equity - Series A (1,200 shares)           1,200        914     

Hammond, IN 46320

      Preferred Equity - Series B (74 shares)           68        83     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                16,430        16,210        4
Lightning Diversion Systems, LLC   

Aerospace & Defense

  

Senior Secured Loan

  10.5%/0.0%     12/20/2018        12,198        12,154        12,198     

16572 Burke LN

  

Manufacturing

   Revolving Loan ($1,000 commitment)   N/A     12/20/2018        —          (2     (2  

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

     

Common Equity (600,000 units)

          —          2,204     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                12,152        14,400        3
MedPlast, LLC   

Healthcare Products

  

Subordinated Note

  11.0%/1.5%     3/31/2019        10,185        10,126        10,185     

405 West Geneva Drive

     

Preferred Equity (188 shares)

  0.0%/8.0%         206        206     

Tempe, AZ 85282

     

Common Equity (3,728 shares)

          62        65     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                10,394        10,456        2
National Truck Protection Co., Inc.   

Financial Services

  

Senior Secured Loan

  13.5%/2.0%     9/13/2018        12,662        12,598        12,662     

6 Commerce Drive, Suite 200

     

Common Units (1,109 shares)

          758        1,923     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Cranford, NJ 07016

                13,356        14,585        3

Oaktree Medical Centre, P.C.

  

Healthcare Services

  

Senior Secured Loan

  6.5%/0.0%     5/6/2019        700        694        675     

(dba Pain Management Associates)

     

Senior Secured Loan

  14.0%/0.0%     5/6/2019        5,300        5,254        5,000     

200 East Broad Street, Suite 200

      Revolving Loan ($500 commitment)   6.5%/0.0%     5/6/2019        250        246        250     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Greenville, SC 29601

                6,194        5,925        1

Pinnergy, Ltd.

  

Oil & Gas Services

  

Subordinated Note

  10.5%/0.8%     1/24/2020        20,000        19,931        19,812        5

111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2020

                 

Austin, TX 78701

                 

Plymouth Rock Energy, LLC

  

Business

  

Senior Secured Loan

  11.8%/0.0%     5/14/2017        6,000        5,973        5,973        1

1074 Broadway

  

Services

              

Woodmere, NY 11598

                 

Premium Franchise Brands, LLC

  

Commercial

   Preferred Equity (1,054,619 shares)           832        718        0

2520 Northwinds Parkway,

Suite 375

  

Cleaning

              

Alpharetta, GA 30009

                 

Restaurant Finance Co, LLC

  

Restaurants

   Senior Secured Loan ($10,500 commitment)   12.0%/4.0%     7/31/2020        5,145        5,133        5,145        1

6300 Carmel Road, Suite 110B

                 

Charlotte, NC 28277

                 

Simplex Manufacturing Co.

  

Aerospace & Defense

  

Subordinated Note

 

14.0%/0.0%

    11/1/2015        4,550        4,537        4,537     

13340 NE Whitaker Way

  

Manufacturing

  

Warrant (24 shares)

          710        813     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Portland, OR 97230

                5,247        5,350        1

Toledo Molding & Die, Inc.

  

Component

  

Subordinated Note

  10.5%/0.0%     12/18/2018        10,000        9,851        9,851        2

1429 Coining Drive

  

Manufacturing

              

Toledo, OH 43612

                 

United Biologics, LLC

  

Healthcare Services

  

Subordinated Note

  12.0%/2.0%     3/5/2017        8,688        8,393        8,688     

100 NE Loop 410, Suite 200

     

Preferred Equity (98,377 units)

          1,069        1,069     

San Antonio, TX 78216

     

Warrant (57,469 units)

          566        281     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
                10,028        10,038        2

US GreenFiber, LLC

  

Building Products

  

Subordinated Note

  12.5%/0.0%     1/2/2019        14,000        13,936        13,936     

2500 Distribution Street, Suite 200

  

Manufacturing

  

Common Equity (1,667 units)

          500        500     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Charlotte, NC 28203

                14,436        14,436        3

Virginia Tile Company, LLC

  

Specialty

  

Subordinated Note

  12.3%/0.0%     5/19/2020        12,000        11,940        11,940     

28320 Plymouth Road

  

Distribution

  

Common Equity (19.5 shares)

          250        250     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Livonia, MI 48150

                12,190        12,190        3

Worldwide Express Operations, LLC

  

Transportation

  

Subordinated Note

  11.5%/1.0%     8/1/2020        12,678        12,578        12,678     

2828 Routh Street, Suite 400

  

Services

   Common Equity (2,500,000 units)           2,500        3,135     
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

Dallas, TX 75201

                15,078        15,813        4
             

 

 

   

 

 

   
     

Total Non-Control/Non-Affiliate Investments

  

      298,899        305,911        70
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     

Total Investments

        $ 391,338      $ 396,355        91
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Set forth below is a brief description of each portfolio company in which we have made an investment that represents greater than 5.0% of our total assets:

Pinnergy, Ltd. is a leading provider of fluid management and drilling services for oil and gas wells located throughout Texas and Louisiana.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Board of Directors

Under our charter, our directors are divided into three classes. Each class of directors will hold office for a three-year term. However, the initial members of the three classes will have initial terms of one, two and three years, respectively. At each annual meeting of our stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at such meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. This classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our management. Each director will hold office for the term to which he or she is elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Our charter permits the board of directors to elect directors to fill vacancies that are created either through an increase in the number of directors or due to the resignation, removal or death of any director.

The following individuals currently serve on our board of directors:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

   Director
Since
   Expiration
of Term

Interested Directors:

           

Edward H. Ross

   49    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer    2011    2017

Thomas C. Lauer

   47    Director    2011    2016

Independent Directors:

           

Raymond L. Anstiss, Jr.

   48    Director    2011    2017

Charles D. Hyman

   56    Director    2011    2015

John A. Mazzarino

   62    Director    2012    2017

The address for each of our directors is c/o Fidus Investment Corporation, 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Information regarding our executive officers who are not directors is as follows:

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position

Shelby E. Sherard

   44   

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and

Corporate Secretary

The address for each of our executive officers is c/o Fidus Investment Corporation, 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

Biographical Information

For purposes of this presentation, our directors have been divided into two groups—independent directors and interested directors. Interested directors are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act.

Independent Directors

Raymond L. Anstiss, Jr. has served on our Board of Directors since September 2011 and is the chairman of our Audit and Compensation Committee (“Audit Committee”) and a member of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“Nominating Committee”). Mr. Anstiss is the President of Anstiss & Co., an accounting, audit, tax and financial consulting firm headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Anstiss & Co. in 1993, Mr. Anstiss served on the audit staff of KPMG Peat Marwick from 1988 to 1992. Mr. Anstiss has served on the board of two not-for-profit companies in the past five years.

 

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Charles D. Hyman has served on our Board of Directors since our initial public offering in June 2011 and is the chairman of our Nominating Committee and a member of our Audit Committee. Mr. Hyman is the founder and chief executive officer of Charles D. Hyman & Co., a private, registered investment management firm located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Prior to forming Charles D. Hyman & Co. in 1994, Mr. Hyman served as a senior vice president of St. Johns Investment Management Company. Mr. Hyman has served on the board of directors for several not-for-profit companies in the past five years.

John A. Mazzarino has served on our Board of Directors since November, 2012 and is a member of our Audit Committee and our Nominating Committee. Mr. Mazzarino is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cherokee Investment Partners, a private equity real estate investment management firm focused on the acquisition, remediation, management and development of brownfields in North America and Europe. Prior to co-founding Cherokee’s predecessor firm in 1988, Mr. Mazzarino worked at Bain & Company from 1982 to 1988, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy. From 1977 to 1982 he worked at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., consulting on policy issues with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Energy and other federal agencies. Mr. Mazzarino currently serves as a member of the board of advisors of the MIT Sloan School Finance Group and is a director of Cherokee Gives Back, Cherokee’s philanthropic arm. In addition, Mr. Mazzarino is a member of two other private and not-for-profit company boards.

Interested Directors

Edward H. Ross has served as chairman of our board of directors and our chief executive officer, and as chairman of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees, since our initial public offering in June 2011. Additionally, Mr. Ross is the chief executive officer and a manager of our Investment Advisor. Mr. Ross is an interested director due to his positions with the Company and our Investment Advisor. Mr. Ross has more than 20 years of debt and equity capital investing experience with lower middle-market companies. Mr. Ross co-founded Fidus Capital, LLC, the predecessor firm to our Investment Advisor, in 2005. From February 2007 to June 2011, Mr. Ross served as a member of the investment committee of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, Fund I’s former general partner. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Ross was a managing director and the head of the Chicago office for Allied Capital Corporation, a publicly-traded business development company, where he focused on making debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Ross co-founded Middle Market Capital, a merchant banking group of Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc., a retail brokerage and institutional capital markets and investment banking firm. Mr. Ross earned a bachelor of arts from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Mr. Ross is the brother of John J. Ross, II, a manager of our Investment Advisor and a member of its investment committees.

Thomas C. Lauer has served as our director and as a member of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees since our initial public offering in June 2011. Additionally, Mr. Lauer is a manager of our Investment Advisor. Mr. Lauer is an interested director due to his position with the Investment Advisor. Mr. Lauer has more than 17 years of experience investing debt and equity capital in lower middle-market companies. Mr. Lauer was a managing partner of Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, from 2008 to June 2011. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Lauer was a managing director of Allied Capital Corporation, a publicly-traded business development company, and member of that firm’s Management Committee from 2006 to 2008, Private Finance Investment Committee from 2005 to 2008, and Senior Debt Fund Investment Committee from 2007 to 2008. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Lauer worked with the Global Sponsor Finance Group of GE Capital, the financial services unit of General Electric, the Leveraged Capital Group at Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc., a retail brokerage and institutional capital markets and investment banking firm, and the Platform Components Division of Intel Corporation. Mr. Lauer earned a bachelor of business administration from the University of Norte Dame and master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

 

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Qualifications of Directors

When considering whether our directors have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our operational and organizational structure, the nominating and corporate governance committee and the board of directors focused primarily on the information discussed in each of the director’s individual biographies set forth above and on the following particular attributes:

Interested Directors

 

    Mr. Ross: The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered his familiarity with the Fidus investment platform, his significant experience with investing debt and equity capital in middle-market companies, and his broad experience with the day-to-day management and operation of other investment funds, which provides our Board of Directors with valuable investment and management experience, insight and perspective.

 

    Mr. Lauer: The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered his experience with investing debt and equity capital in middle-market companies, which provides our Board of Directors with valuable investment knowledge, experience and insight.

Independent Directors

 

    Mr. Anstiss: The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience in the accounting industry. In addition, Mr. Anstiss’ accounting background was instrumental in his appointment to the chairmanship of our Audit Committee.

 

    Mr. Hyman: The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience in the investment analysis, management, and advisory industries.

 

    Mr. Mazzarino: The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience in the investing and capital management industry, as well as merger and acquisition and corporate strategy expertise.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Shelby E. Sherard has served as our chief financial officer and secretary since joining the Company on June 2, 2014 and chief compliance officer since August 11, 2014. Ms. Sherard has more than 20 years of finance experience most recently as a financial officer at Prologis, Inc., a leading owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, first serving as Chief Financial Officer, Americas, and then overseeing the U.S. tax department. Previously, she served as the Finance Director for Chicago Union Station Development Company, LLC, a real estate development company. From 2005 through 2006, Ms. Sherard served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grubb & Ellis Company, a publicly-traded real estate services company. From 2002 through 2005, Ms. Sherard was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of SiteStuff, Inc., a procurement solutions provider for the commercial real estate industry. Previously, Ms. Sherard held positions at Morgan Stanley, LaSalle Partners Inc. and Hewitt Associates, Inc. Ms. Sherard is a CPA and earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, a master of business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a master’s degree in tax from the University of Illinois.

Organization of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors has established an audit and compensation committee, or audit committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee. We do not have a separate compensation committee because our executive officers do not receive any direct compensation from us. During 2014, our board of directors held 11 meetings.

We encourage, but do not require, the directors to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. In 2014, all of our current directors attended at least 90.0% of the aggregate number of meetings of the board of directors and of the respective committees on which they served. All of our directors attended our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 4, 2014.

 

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Board Leadership Structure

Our board of directors monitors and performs an oversight role with respect to our business and affairs. Among other things, our board of directors approves the appointment of our investment advisor, administrator and officers, reviews and monitors the services and activities performed by our investment advisor, administrator and officers and approves the engagement, and reviews the performance of, our independent registered public accounting firm.

Under our bylaws, our board of directors may designate a chairman to preside over the meetings of the board of directors and meetings of our stockholders and to perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the board of directors. We do not have a fixed policy as to whether the chairman of our board of directors should be an independent director and believes that board of directors’ flexibility to select its chairman and reorganize its leadership structure from time to time is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

Presently, Mr. Ross serves as the chairman of our board of directors. Mr. Ross is an interested director because he is the chief executive officer of the Company, serves on our Investment Advisor’s investment committees and is a manager of our Investment Advisor. We believe that Mr. Ross’s history with the Company, familiarity with the Fidus investment platform and extensive experience in the management of private equity and debt investments qualifies him to serve as chairman of our board of directors. Moreover, our board of directors believes that it is in the best interests of our stockholders for Mr. Ross to lead our board of directors because of his broad experience with the day-to-day management and operation of other investment funds and his significant background in the financial services industry, as described above.

Our board of directors does not have a lead independent director. However, Mr. Anstiss, the chairman of the audit committee, is an independent director and acts as a liaison between the independent directors and management between meetings of our board of directors and is involved in the preparation of agendas for board and committee meetings. Our board of directors believes that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of the Company’s characteristics and circumstances because the structure allocates areas of responsibility among the individual directors and the committees in a manner that encourages effective oversight. The members of our board of directors also believe that its small size creates a highly efficient governance structure that provides ample opportunity for direct communication and interaction between both the members of management and our investment advisor and our board of directors.

Board Role in Risk Oversight

Our board of directors performs its risk oversight function primarily through (a) its two standing committees, which report to the entire board of directors and are comprised solely of independent directors and (b) monitoring by our Chief Compliance Officer in accordance with its compliance policies and procedures.

As described below in more detail under “Audit Committee” and “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,” the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee assist the board of directors in fulfilling its risk oversight responsibilities. The audit committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes, our systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting and audits of our financial statements and discussing with management our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies. The nominating and corporate governance committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors and its committees. Both the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee consist solely of independent directors.

Our board of directors also performs its risk oversight responsibilities with the assistance of the Chief Compliance Officer. Our Chief Compliance Officer prepares a written report annually discussing the adequacy and effectiveness of the compliance policies and procedures of the Company and certain of its service providers. The Chief Compliance Officer’s report, which is reviewed by the board of directors, addresses at a minimum (a) the operation of the compliance policies and procedures of the Company and certain of its service providers since the last report; (b) any material changes to such policies and procedures since the last report; (c) any recommendations for material changes to such policies and procedures as a result of the Chief Compliance Officer’s annual review;

 

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and (d) any compliance matter that has occurred since the date of the last report about which the board of directors would reasonably need to know to oversee the Company’s compliance activities and risks. In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer meets separately in executive session with the independent directors periodically, but in no event less than once each year.

We believe that the board of directors’ role in risk oversight is effective and appropriate given the extensive regulation to which it is already subject as a BDC. Specifically, as a BDC, we must comply with certain regulatory requirements that control the levels of risk in its business and operations. For example, our ability to incur indebtedness is limited such that our asset coverage must equal at least 200.0% immediately after each time we incurs indebtedness and we generally have to invest at least 70.0% of our total assets in “qualifying assets.” In addition, we intend to elect to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC we must, among other things, meet certain income source and asset diversification requirements.

We believe that the board of directors’ existing role in risk oversight is appropriate. However, we re-examine the manners in which the board of directors administers its oversight function on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet our needs.

Board Committees

Audit and Compensation Committee

The members of the audit committee are Messrs. Anstiss, Hyman and Mazzarino, each of whom is not an interested person and is otherwise independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and Nasdaq’s corporate governance regulations. Since September 2011, Mr. Anstiss has served as chairman of the audit committee. Our board of directors has adopted a charter for the audit committee, which is available on our website at http://investor.fdus.com/governance.cfm.

The audit committee is responsible for approving our independent accountants and recommending them to the board of directors (including a majority of the independent directors) for approval and submission to the board of directors for ratification, reviewing with our independent accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by our accountants, reviewing the independence of our independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of our internal accounting controls.

The audit committee is also responsible for aiding the board of directors in determining the fair value of debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available. The audit committee also currently receives input from independent valuation firms that have been engaged at the direction of the board of directors to value certain portfolio investments. In addition, the audit committee is responsible for discussing with management our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies.

Because the Audit Committee is charged with approving our related-party transactions, the board of directors has determined not to create a separate compensation committee and instead has charged the Audit Committee with overseeing amounts payable to our advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, and making a recommendation to the board of directors with respect to the board’s approval (including the approval of a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, as amended) of the renewal of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement.

The board of directors has determined that Mr. Anstiss is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules of the SEC. Mr. Anstiss acquired his financial expertise from his education and experience as a public accountant, his experience actively supervising financial officers of public companies and in his supervisory role at a public accounting firm and from his experience overseeing and assessing the performance of public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing and evaluation of financial statements.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of the nominating and corporate governance committee are Messrs. Anstiss, Hyman and Mazzarino, each of whom is not an interested person and is otherwise independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and Nasdaq’s corporate governance regulations. Mr. Hyman currently serves as chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors has adopted a charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which is available on our website at http://investor.fdus.com/governance.cfm.

The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, selecting nominees to fill vacancies on the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors, developing and recommending to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of the board of directors and its committees.

 

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The nominating and corporate governance committee identifies potential nominees based on suggestions from members of the nominating and corporate governance committee, other members of the board of directors, other executive officers and by other means, and evaluates such persons as a committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee will also consider nominees to the board of directors recommended by a stockholder, if such stockholder complies with the advance notice provisions of our bylaws. From time to time, the board of directors may determine that it requires a director with a particular expertise or qualification and will actively recruit such a candidate.

In considering which persons to nominate as directors for election by stockholders, the board of directors and its nominating and corporate governance committee consider the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of candidates, in light of the Company’s then existing business and structure. Additionally, the committee generally will hire an outside firm to perform a background check on potential nominees. On an annual basis, the nominating and corporate governance committee evaluates the qualifications and diversity of the board of directors who are available for reelection in light of the characteristics of independence, age, skills, experience, availability of service to the Company and tenure of its members, and the board of directors’ anticipated needs. The nominating and corporate governance committee has adopted a policy that it will seek to enhance the perspectives and experiences of the members of the board of directors through diversity in gender, ethnic background, geographic origin and professional experience. The nominating and corporate governance committee recommends to the board of directors for its approval the slate of directors to be nominated for election at the annual meeting of our stockholders. The board of directors and its nominating and corporate governance committee periodically review board composition and the policies with respect thereto and as part of this review, the nominating and corporate governance committee evaluates the effectiveness of its policies, including the provisions with respect to diversity.

In considering possible candidates for nomination as a director, the nominating and corporate governance committee takes into account, in addition to such other factors as it deems relevant, the desirability of selecting directors who:

 

    have strength of character;

 

    have mature judgment;

 

    have industry knowledge or experience; and

 

    have an ability to work collegially with the other members of the board of directors.

The nominating and corporate governance committee also considers all applicable legal and regulatory requirements that govern the composition of the board of directors.

All nominees properly submitted to the Company (or which the nominating and corporate governance committee otherwise elects to consider) will be evaluated and considered by the members of the nominating and corporate governance committee using the same criteria as nominees identified by the nominating and corporate governance committee itself.

 

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Communications Between Stockholders and the Board of Directors

Stockholders with questions about us are encouraged to contact Shelby E. Sherard at Fidus Investment Corporation, 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201. However, if stockholders feel their questions have not been addressed, they may communicate with our board of directors by sending their communications to: Fidus Investment Corporation, board of directors, c/o Shelby E. Sherard at the address listed above. In addition, stockholders may communicate with the board of directors by clicking “Contact the Board” on the Investor Relations section of our website at the following URL: http://investor.fdus.com/contactBoard.com. Communications are distributed to the board of directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication. In that regard, the board of directors has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the board of directors should be excluded, such as: product complaints, product inquiries, new product suggestions, resumes and other forms of job inquiries, surveys and business solicitations or advertisements. In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly unsuitable will be excluded, with the provision that any communication that is filtered out must be available to any non-management director upon request.

Code of Business Conduct

We have adopted a code of ethics (which we refer to as our Code of Business Conduct) which all officers, directors and employees of the Company and our investment advisor are expected to observe. Our Code of Business Conduct can be accessed via the Company’s website at http://investor.fdus.com/governance.cfm. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of required provisions of the Code of Business Conduct on our website. We will provide any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of our Code of Business Conduct. To receive a copy, please provide a written request to: Fidus Investment Corporation, Attn: Chief Compliance Officer, 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

Compensation of Directors

The following table shows information regarding the compensation received by our directors, none of whom is an employee of the Company, for the year ended December 31, 2014. No compensation is paid by us to interested directors. No information has been provided with respect to our executive officers who are not directors since our executive officers do not receive any direct compensation from us.

 

Name

   Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash(1)
     Total  

Independent Directors

     

Raymond L. Anstiss, Jr.

   $ 88,000       $ 88,000   

Charles D. Hyman

   $ 83,000       $ 83,000   

John A. Mazzarino

   $ 78,000       $ 78,000   

Interested Directors

     

Edward H. Ross

     None         None   

Thomas C. Lauer

     None         None   

 

(1) For a discussion of the independent directors’ compensation, see below.

The independent directors receive an annual fee of $50,000. They receive $5,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable and authorized business expenses incurred in connection with attending each quarterly meeting and the annual meeting. In addition, the chairperson of the audit committee receives an additional annual fee of $10,000 and the chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee receives an additional annual fee of $5,000 for his or her additional services in these capacities. They also receive $1,500 per each additional Audit Committee meeting to review quarterly investment valuations.

 

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Compensation of Executive Officers

None of our executive officers receive direct compensation from us. The compensation of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer, is paid by our investment advisor. Compensation paid to our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer is set by our investment advisor and subject to reimbursement by us of an allocable portion of such compensation for services rendered to us.

Investment Committee

Our Investment Advisor has formed investment committees to evaluate and approve all of our investments and those made by the Funds. The investment committee process is intended to bring the diverse experience and perspectives of the committees’ members to the analysis and consideration of each investment. The investment committees also serve to provide investment consistency and adherence to our Investment Advisor’s core investment philosophy and policies. The investment committees meet regularly to consider our investments, direct our strategic initiatives and supervise the actions taken by our Investment Advisor on our behalf. The investment committees determine appropriate investment sizing and suggest ongoing monitoring requirements. In addition, the investment committee reviews and determines whether to make prospective investments identified by our Investment Advisor and monitors the performance of our investment portfolio.

The members of the investment committee that evaluates and approves all of our investments are Edward H. Ross, Thomas C. Lauer, John H. Grigg, John J. Ross, II, Paul E. Tierney, Jr., W. Andrew Worth and Robert G. Lesley, Jr. The members of the investment committee that evaluates and approves all of the Funds’ investments are Edward H. Ross, Thomas C. Lauer, John H. Grigg, John J. Ross, II, Paul E. Tierney, Jr. and W. Andrew Worth. Our Investment Advisor intends to add Mr. Lesley to the Funds’ investment committee subsequent to the SBA’s approval of Mr. Lesley acting in that capacity.

Information regarding members of the investment committees is as follows:

John J. Ross, II has served as a member of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees since our initial public offering in June 2011. Additionally, Mr. Ross has served as a manager of our Investment Advisor since June 2011. Mr. Ross has over 16 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. From February 2007 to June 2011, Mr. Ross served as a member of the investment committee of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, the Fund’s former general partner. In 2004, Mr. Ross co-founded Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners, LLC, Mr. Ross served as a managing director at Wachovia Securities and its predecessors, First Union Securities, Inc. and Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co, from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Ross earned a bachelor of science from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Ross is the brother of Edward H. Ross, our chairman of the board and chief executive officer, and chairman of the investment committee.

Paul E. Tierney, Jr. has served as a member of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees since our initial public offering in June 2011. Mr. Tierney has over 35 years of debt and equity investing experience in a variety of industries. From February 2007 to June 2011, Mr. Tierney served as a member of the investment committee of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, the Fund’s former general partner. Mr. Tierney currently serves as a partner of Development Capital, LLC, a diversified private investment company that he joined in 1999. He has also served as a general partner of Aperture Venture Partners, a firm that primarily manages two venture capital funds that focus on investing in early-stage healthcare and healthy living businesses since 2002. In 1999, Mr. Tierney was a founding principal of Darwin Capital Partners, L.P. From 1996 through 1999, Mr. Tierney was a managing member of the general partner of Corporate Value Partners, L.P. In 1978, Mr. Tierney co-founded Gollust, Tierney and Oliver, the general partner of Coniston Partners and other investment entities. Mr. Tierney serves on the boards of directors of Nina McLemore, Inc., Altea Therapeutics, Prosperity Voskhod Fund and The Protective Group, Inc. He was previously a director of a number of public companies, including United Airlines, Inc. and Liz Claiborne, Inc. Mr. Tierney also serves on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and was chairman of the Foreign Policy School (SIPA) of Columbia University. He is chairman of TechnoServe, Inc., a not-for-profit economic development company serving Africa and Latin America. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. Mr. Tierney earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Notre Dame and a master of business administration as a Baker Scholar from the Harvard Business School.

John H. Grigg has served as a member of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees since our initial public offering in June 2011 and as a senior origination professional of our Investment Advisor since June 2011. Mr. Grigg has over 21 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. From February 2007 to June 2011, Mr. Grigg served as a member of the investment committee of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, the Fund’s former general partner. In 2004, Mr. Grigg co-founded Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners, LLC, Mr. Grigg served as managing director and partner at First Union Securities, Inc. and its predecessor, Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., from 1989 to 2000. Prior to joining Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., Mr. Grigg worked in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch & Co. Mr. Grigg earned a bachelor of arts from the University of North Carolina and a master of business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

 

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W. Andrew Worth has served as a member of our Investment Advisor’s investment committees since our initial public offering in June 2011. Additionally, Mr. Worth has served as a manager of our Investment Advisor since June 2011. Mr. Worth has over 13 years of experience investing in debt and equity securities of lower middle-market companies. In 2008, Mr. Worth joined Fidus Capital, LLC, the predecessor firm to our investment advisor. Prior to joining Fidus Capital, LLC in 2008, Mr. Worth served as a principal with Allied Capital Corporation from 2002 to 2008, where he was responsible for all aspects of the investment process including origination, execution and portfolio management. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Worth was an associate in Credit Suisse First Boston’s Global Industrials and Services investment banking practice and an analyst in the Leveraged Finance Group of First Union Securities, Inc. Mr. Worth earned a bachelor of arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of business administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Robert G. Lesley, Jr. has served as a member of the investment committee that evaluates and approves our investments since January 2015. Prior to joining Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC in 2013, Mr. Lesley was a partner at Chapter IV Investors, a middle-market hybrid investment firm with approximately a $270 million fund. Chapter IV’s flexible investment charter allowed for investment in both the private (control and minority equity) and public markets. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Lesley was a vice president with Blue Point Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on lower middle-market companies. From 2000 to 2003, Robert was an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc. Mr. Lesley earned a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a masters of business administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Senior Origination Professionals

The following individuals are the senior origination professionals of our Investment Advisor. Brief summaries of the backgrounds of these individuals, who are not also members of the investment committees, are provided below:

Edward P. Imbrogno has served as a senior origination professional of our investment advisor since June 2011. Mr. Imbrogno has over 25 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. In 2006, Mr. Imbrogno joined Fidus Capital, LLC, the predecessor firm to our investment advisor, as a senior investment professional. In 2004, Mr. Imbrogno co-founded Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners, LLC, Mr. Imbrogno served as a managing director and partner at Wachovia Securities and its predecessors, First Union Securities, Inc. and Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co, from 1985 to 2004. Mr. Imbrogno also served as the head of Wachovia Securities’ private equity group coverage effort from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Imbrogno earned a bachelor of arts from Davidson College and a master of business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

J. Stephen Dockery has served as a senior origination professional of our investment advisor since June 2011. Mr. Dockery has over 21 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. In 2006, Mr. Dockery joined Fidus Capital, LLC, the predecessor firm to our investment advisor, as a senior investment professional and joined Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to joining Fidus Capital and Fidus Partners, Mr. Dockery served in various capacities at Wachovia Securities and its predecessors, First Union Securities, Inc. and Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., including managing director and officer from 1997 to 2006. Prior to joining Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., Mr. Dockery worked as a corporate attorney for Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Mr. Dockery earned a bachelor of arts from Davidson College and a juris doctor from Yale Law School.

Michael J. Miller has served as a senior origination professional of our investment advisor since June 2011. Mr. Miller has over 21 years of leveraged finance and corporate lending and origination experience. In 2010, Mr. Miller joined Fidus Capital, LLC, the predecessor firm to our investment advisor, as a senior investment professional and joined Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to joining Fidus Capital and Fidus Partners, Mr. Miller served in various capacities, including managing director and head of business development, at Allied Capital Corporation from 2005 until 2010. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Miller spent more than 16 years with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors where he worked in their middle-market leveraged finance, asset based and corporate lending groups. Mr. Miller earned his bachelor of science in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University and his master of business administration from The Stern School at New York University.

Portfolio Management

We will only invest in an opportunity with the approval of five of the seven members of the investment committee responsible for advising the Company, and the Funds will only invest in an opportunity with the approval of four of the six members of the investment committee responsible for advising the Funds. Generally, an investment opportunity will receive the unanimous approval of the respective investment committee. Follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies require the relevant investment committee’s approval in addition to what was obtained when the initial investment in the company was made. In addition, temporary investments, such

 

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as those in cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less, may require approval by the relevant investment committee. The day-to-day management of investments approved by the investment committee will be overseen by the members of the relevant investment committee. Biographical information with respect to the members of the investment committees is set out under “—Investment Committee.”

Each of our advisor’s investment committee members has ownership and financial interests in, and may receive compensation and/or profit distributions from, our investment advisor. Each of the members of the investment committees will receive compensation and/or profit distributions from our investment advisor. None of the members of the investment committees receive any direct compensation from us. The following table shows the dollar range of our common stock beneficially owned by each member of our investment advisor’s investment committees as of April 13, 2015:

 

Portfolio Managers of our Investment Advisor

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities
in Fidus Investment Corporation (1)

Edward H. Ross

   Over $1,000,000

John J. Ross, II

   Over $1,000,000

Thomas C. Lauer

   Over $1,000,000

Paul E. Tierney, Jr.

   Over $1,000,000

John H. Grigg

   $100,001-$500,000

W. Andrew Worth

   $500,001-$1,000,000

Robert G. Lesley, Jr.

   $50,001-$100,000

 

(1) Dollar ranges are as follows: None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000, $100,001-$500,000; $500,001-$1,000,000 or Over $1,000,000.

 

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MANAGEMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

Our investment advisor is located at 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201. Our investment advisor is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. Subject to the overall supervision of our board of directors and in accordance with the 1940 Act, our investment advisor manages our day-to-day operations and provides investment advisory services to us. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor:

 

    determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes;

 

    assists us in determining what securities we purchase, retain or sell;

 

    identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments we make (including performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies); and

 

    executes, closes, services and monitors the investments we make.

Investment Advisory Agreement

Management Fee

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we pay our investment advisor a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of two components — a base management fee and an incentive fee.

Base Management Fee

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% based on the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts) at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base management fees for any partial quarter are appropriately prorated. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

Incentive Fee

The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on our pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. Pre-incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies but excluding fees for providing managerial assistance) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, any expenses payable under the Administration Agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee and any organizing and offering costs). Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as market discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest, preferred stock with payment-in-kind dividends and zero-coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. Our investment advisor is not under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the incentive fee it receives that was based on accrued interest that we never actually receive.

Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Because of the structure of the incentive fee, it is possible that we may pay an incentive fee for a quarter where we incur a loss. For example, if we receive pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate (as defined below) for a quarter, we will pay the applicable incentive fee even if we have incurred a loss in that quarter due to realized and unrealized capital losses.

 

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Pre-incentive fee net investment income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets (defined as total assets less indebtedness and before taking into account any incentive fees payable during the period) at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, is compared to a fixed “hurdle rate” of 2.0% per quarter. If market interest rates rise, we may be able to invest our funds in debt instruments that provide for a higher return, which would increase our pre-incentive fee net investment income and make it easier for our investment advisor to surpass the fixed hurdle rate and receive an incentive fee based on such net investment income. Our pre-incentive fee net investment income used to calculate this part of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our total assets (other than cash and cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts) used to calculate the 1.75% base management fee.

We pay our investment advisor an incentive fee with respect to our pre-incentive fee net investment income earned in each calendar quarter as follows:

 

    no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which the pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 2.0%;

 

    100.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5% in any calendar quarter. We refer to this portion of our pre-incentive fee net investment income (that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5%) as the “catch-up” provision. The catch-up is meant to provide our investment advisor with 20.0% of the pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply if net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter; and

 

    20.0% of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter.

These calculations are appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current quarter.

The following is a graphical representation of the calculation of the quarterly income-related portion of the incentive fee:

Quarterly Incentive Fee Based on Net Investment Income

Pre-incentive fee net investment income

(expressed as a percentage of the value of net assets)

 

LOGO

Percentage of pre-incentive fee net investment income

allocated to income-related portion of incentive fee

The second part of the incentive fee is a capital gains incentive fee that is determined and paid in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year (or, upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), and equals 20.0% of our net capital gains as of the end of the fiscal year. In determining the capital gains incentive fee to be paid to our investment advisor, we calculate the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains and cumulative aggregate realized capital losses since our inception, and the aggregate unrealized capital depreciation as of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to each of the investments in our portfolio. At the end of the applicable year, the amount of capital gains that serves as the basis for our calculation of the capital gains incentive fee equals the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less cumulative aggregate realized capital losses, less aggregate unrealized capital depreciation, with respect to our portfolio of investments. If this number is positive at the end of such year, then the capital gains incentive fee for such year equals 20.0% of such amount, less the aggregate amount of any capital gains incentive fees paid in respect of our portfolio in all prior years. We accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate.

 

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Examples of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculation

Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee

Alternative 1

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 1.25%

Hurdle rate (1) = 2.0%

Management fee (2) = 0.4375%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.) (3) = 0.2%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 0.6125%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed hurdle rate, therefore there is no income-related incentive fee.

Alternative 2

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 2.9%

Hurdle rate (1) = 2.0%

Management fee (2) = 0.4375%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.) (3) = 0.2%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.2625%

 

Incentive fee

= 100.0% × pre-incentive fee net investment income (subject to “catch-up”) (4)
= 100.0% × (2.2625% – 2.0%)
= 0.2625%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate, but does not fully satisfy the “catch-up” provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.2625%.

Alternative 3

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3.5%

Hurdle rate (1) = 2.0%

Management fee (2) = 0.4375%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.) (3) = 0.2%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.8625%

Incentive fee = 100.0% × pre-incentive fee net investment income (subject to “catch-up”) (4)

Incentive fee = 100.0% × “catch-up” + (20.0% × (pre-incentive fee net investment income – 2.5%))

 

“Catch-up”

= 2.5% – 2.0%
= 0.5%

 

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Incentive fee

= (100.0% × 0.5%) + (20.0% × (2.8625% – 2.5%))
= 0.5% + (20.0% × 0.3625%)
= 0.5% + 0.0725%
= 0.575%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate and fully satisfies the “catch-up” provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.575%.

 

(1) Represents 8.0% annualized hurdle rate.
(2) Represents 1.75% annualized base management fee.
(3) Excludes organizational and offering expenses.
(4) The “catch-up” provision is intended to provide our investment advisor with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when our net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any fiscal quarter.

Example 2: Capital Gains Portion of Incentive Fee(*):

Alternative 1

Assumptions

Year 1 : $5.0 million investment made in Company A (“Investment A”), and $7.5 million investment made in Company B (“Investment B”)

Year 2 : Investment A sold for $12.5 million and fair market value (“FMV”) of Investment B determined to be $8.0 million

Year 3 : FMV of Investment B determined to be $6.25 million

Year 4 : Investment B sold for $7.75 million

The capital gains portion of the incentive fee would be:

Year 1 : None

Year 2 : Capital gains incentive fee of $1.5 million — ($7.5 million realized capital gains on sale of Investment A multiplied by 20.0%)

Year 3 : None — $1.25 million (20.0% multiplied by ($7.5 million cumulative capital gains less $1.25 million cumulative capital depreciation)) less $1.5 million (previous capital gains fee paid in Year 2)

Year 4 : Capital gains incentive fee of $50,000 — $1.55 million ($7.75 million cumulative realized capital gains multiplied by 20.0%) less $1.5 million (capital gains incentive fee taken in Year 2)

Alternative 2

Assumptions

Year 1 : $4.0 million investment made in Company A (“Investment A”), $7.5 million investment made in Company B (“Investment B”) and $6.25 million investment made in Company C (“Investment C”)

Year 2 : Investment A sold for $12.5 million, FMV of Investment B determined to be $6.25 million and FMV of Investment C determined to be $6.25 million

Year 3 : FMV of Investment B determined to be $6.75 million and Investment C sold for $7.5 million

Year 4 : FMV of Investment B determined to be $8.75 million

Year 5 : Investment B sold for $5.0 million

The capital gains incentive fee, if any, would be:

Year 1 : None

Year 2 : $1.45 million capital gains incentive fee — 20.0% multiplied by $7.25 million ($8.5 million realized capital gains on Investment A less $1.25 million unrealized capital depreciation on Investment B)

Year 3 : $0.35 million capital gains incentive fee (1) — $1.8 million (20.0% multiplied by $9.0 million ($9.75 million cumulative realized capital gains less $0.75 million unrealized capital depreciation)) less $1.45 million capital gains incentive fee received in Year 2

Year 4 : None

 

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Year 5 : None — $1.45 million (20.0% multiplied by $7.25 million (cumulative realized capital gains of $9.75 million less realized capital losses of $2.5 million)) is less than $1.8 million cumulative capital gains incentive fee paid in Year 2 and Year 3 (2)

 

* The hypothetical amounts of returns shown are based on a percentage of our total net assets and assume no leverage. There is no guarantee that positive returns will be realized and actual returns may vary from those shown in this example.
(1) As illustrated in Year 3 of Alternative 2 above, if we were to be wound up on a date other than our fiscal year end of any year, we may have paid aggregate capital gains incentive fees that are more than the amount of such fees that would be payable if we had been wound up on our fiscal year end of such year.
(2) As noted above, it is possible that the cumulative aggregate capital gains fee received by our investment advisor ($1.8 million) is effectively greater than $1.45 million (20.0% of cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less net realized capital losses or net unrealized depreciation ($7.25 million)).

Payment of Our Expenses

All investment professionals of our investment advisor and/or its affiliates, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services to us, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of personnel allocable to these services to us, are provided and paid for by our investment advisor and not by us. We bear all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of our operations and transactions. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – Expenses.”

Duration and Termination

At an in-person meeting of our board of directors on June 4, 2014, our board of directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors, voted to approve the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement to June 20, 2015. Unless terminated earlier, the Investment Advisory Agreement will automatically renew for successive annual periods if approved annually by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act), including, in either case, approval by a majority of the Independent Directors.

In reaching a decision to approve the current Investment Advisory Agreement, our board of directors reviewed information comparing our investment performance to other externally managed BDCs with similar investment objectives and to appropriate market indices. The board also reviewed other information and considered, among other things:

 

    the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services (including administrative services provided under the Administrative Agreement as discussed below) provided to us by our investment advisor;

 

    the fee structure of comparative externally managed BDCs with similar investment objectives;

 

    our projected operating expenses and expense ratio compared to BDCs with similar investment objectives;

 

    our investment advisor’s pro forma profitability with respect to managing us and providing administrative services under the Administrative Agreement;

 

    the limited potential for our investment advisor and its affiliates to derive additional “fall-out” benefits as a result of our relationship with our investment advisor; and

 

    various other matters.

Our board of directors did not rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors it considered in connection with its evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement, nor did it undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to the ultimate decision made by our board of directors. Rather, our board of directors based its approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement on the totality of information presented to it. In considering the factors discussed above, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors.

 

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Based on the information reviewed and the factors discussed above, our board of directors (including the Independent Directors) concluded that the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including the fee rates thereunder, are fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided and approved the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement as being in the best interests of FIC and our stockholders.

Conflicts of interest may arise if our investment advisor seeks to change the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including, for example, the amount of the base management fee, the incentive fee or other compensation terms. In general, material amendments to the Investment Advisory Agreement must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and by a majority of our Independent Directors.

See “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to our Business and Structure – We are dependent upon our investment advisor’s managing members and our executive officers for our future success. If our investment advisor was to lose any of its managing members or we lose any of our executive officers, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.”

Indemnification

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, absent willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor and its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, members, managers, partners, stockholders and employees, are entitled to indemnification from us from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our investment advisor’s performance of its duties and obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement or otherwise as our investment advisor.

Administration Agreement

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC acts as our administrator and furnishes us with office facilities and equipment and clerical, book-keeping and record-keeping services at such facilities. Under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include being responsible for the financial records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, our investment advisor assists us in determining and publishing our net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally overseeing the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor also provides managerial assistance on our behalf to those portfolio companies that have accepted our offer to provide such assistance and we reimburse our Investment Advisor for fees and expenses incurred with providing such services. In addition, we reimburse our Investment Advisor for fees and expenses incurred while performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies. Payments under the Administration Agreement are equal to an amount based upon our allocable portion of our investment advisor’s overhead in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the cost of our officers, including our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. To the extent that our investment advisor outsources any of its functions, we will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to our investment advisor.

At an in-person meeting of our board of directors on June 4, 2014, our board of directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors, voted to approve the continuation of the Administration Agreement to June 20, 2015. Unless terminated earlier, the Administration Agreement will automatically renew for successive annual periods if approved annually by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act), including, in either case, approval by a majority of our Independent Directors. In making the decision to approve the continuation of the Administration Agreement, our board of directors took into account, to the extent relevant, certain information set forth above under “Investment Advisory Agreement – Duration and Termination” with respect to its consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement.

 

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The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. The holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) may also terminate the Administration Agreement without penalty.

Indemnification

The Administration Agreement provides that, absent willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under the Administration Agreement or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor and its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, members, managers, stockholders and employees, are entitled to indemnification from us from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our investment advisor’s performance of its duties or obligations under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as our administrator.

License Agreement

We have entered into a license agreement with Fidus Partners, LLC under which Fidus Partners, LLC has agreed to grant us a non-exclusive (provided that there is not a change in control of Fidus Partners, LLC), royalty-free license to use the name “Fidus.” Under this agreement, we have a right to use the “Fidus” name for so long as our investment advisor remains our investment advisor. Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to the “Fidus” name. This license agreement will remain in effect for so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement with our investment advisor remains in effect.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

We acquired Fund I through the merger of Fund I with our wholly-owned subsidiary, and, as a result, we acquired 100.0% of the limited partnership interests in Fund I. In addition, we have acquired Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, the Fund’s general partner, through a merger of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC with and into our wholly-owned subsidiary and, as a result, we acquired 100.0% of the general partnership interests in Fund I. Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC’s partnership interest in Fund I was converted into shares of our common stock on the same terms as the partnership interests held by the limited partners. The former members of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC each received a pro rata portion of these shares of our common stock in exchange for their interest in Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC. All of the former members of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC and some of the former limited partners of Fund I are members, officers, investment committee members and investment professionals of our investment advisor and, therefore, received a financial benefit from the formation transactions. Moreover, some of the former members of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC and some of the former limited partners of Fund I are officers, directors and former five percent beneficial owners of the Company and Fund I, including Mr. E. Ross, who is the chief executive officer of the Company and chairman of the board of directors of the Company and Fund I, Mr. Lauer who is a director of the Company and Fund I. In connection with these formation transactions, we issued and exchanged 3,702,778 shares of our common stock at $15.00 per share for 100.0% of the limited partnership interests in Fund I and 353,743 shares of our common stock at $15.00 per share for 100.0% of the equity interests of Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC.

Investment Advisory Agreement

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement with our investment advisor, we pay our investment advisor a management fee and incentive fee that consists of an income incentive fee and a capital gains incentive fee. The incentive fee is computed and paid on income that we may not have yet received in cash. This fee structure may create an incentive for our investment advisor to invest in certain types of securities that may have a high degree of risk. Additionally, we rely on investment professionals from our investment advisor to assist our board of directors with the valuation of our portfolio investments. Our investment advisor’s management fee and incentive fee are based on the value of our investments and there may be a conflict of interest when personnel of our investment advisor are involved in the valuation process for our portfolio investments. The base management fee under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $5.9 million, $5.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively. The income incentive fee expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $5.6 million, $5.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we reversed previously accrued capital gain incentive fees totaling $0.7 million. The capital gains incentive fee accrual for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 totaled $1.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

Mr. E. Ross is the chairman of the board of directors of the Company and the Funds, as well as the chairman of our investment advisor’s investment committees and the chief executive officer of our investment advisor. The board of managers of our investment advisor, the manager of Fidus Investment GP, LLC, the general partner of the Funds, currently controls the Funds. The following people are members of the board of managers of our investment advisor: Messrs. E. Ross, Lauer, J. Ross and Andrew W. Worth. Officers and members of the board of managers of our investment advisor receive a benefit from the fees paid to our investment advisor pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. Our board of directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors has approved the Investment Advisory Agreement, including the fees paid pursuant to such agreement.

Administration Agreement

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC acts as our administrator and furnishes us with office facilities and equipment and clerical, book-keeping and record-keeping services at such facilities. Under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include being responsible for the financial records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, our investment advisor assists us in determining and publishing our net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally overseeing the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Under the Administration Agreement, our investment advisor also provides managerial assistance on our behalf to those

 

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portfolio companies that have accepted our offer to provide such assistance. Payments under the Administration Agreement are equal to an amount based upon our allocable portion of our investment advisor’s overhead in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the cost of our officers, including our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. To the extent that our investment advisor outsources any of its functions, we will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to our investment advisor. Under the administration agreement, administrative expenses for services provided for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $1.8 million, $1.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Conflicts of Interest

Our investment advisor may in the future manage investment vehicles with similar or overlapping investment strategies and has put in place a conflict-resolution policy that addresses the co-investment restrictions set forth under the 1940 Act and the allocation of investment opportunities. The 1940 Act generally prohibits us from making certain negotiated co-investments with affiliates unless we first obtain an order from the SEC permitting us to do so. On March 27, 2012, the SEC granted us an order for exemptive relief to allow us to take certain actions that would otherwise be prohibited by the 1940 Act, as applicable to BDCs. In particular, this relief permitted Fidus Investment Corporation and Fidus Mezzanine Capital, L.P. to operate effectively as one company by specifically allowing them to engage in certain transactions with each other and invest in securities in which the other is or proposes to be an investor. On June 2, 2014, we received an amended exemptive order that extended the previous granted relief to apply to Fidus Mezzanine Capital II, L.P. and any future subsidiary of Fidus Investment Corporation.

Where co-investments can be made, or where an investment opportunity becomes available to one investment vehicle managed by our investment advisor, then an equitable allocation must be made with respect to the investment. Our investment advisor will seek to ensure the equitable allocation of investment opportunities when we invest alongside other accounts managed by our investment advisor. When we invest alongside such other accounts as permitted, such investments will be made consistent with our investment advisor’s allocation policy. The allocation policy provides that allocations among us and other accounts will be based on certain factors determined by our investment advisor, including but not limited to: (1) the targeted asset mix and diversification requirements and other investment policies and restrictions for the entity, including those imposed by the entities organizational documents, policies, applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations; (2) the risk and return profile for the entity; (3) the suitability/priority of a particular investment for the entity; (4) if applicable, the target position size of the investment for the entity; and (5) the level of available cash for investment with respect to the particular entity.

In addition, certain members of our investment advisor and its investment committees are also members of Fidus Partners, LLC, a merchant banking firm. Fidus Partners, LLC may in the future serve as an advisor to our portfolio companies and we may invest in companies that Fidus Partners, LLC is advising. Fidus Partners, LLC may receive fees in connection with these advisory services, subject to regulatory restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 13, 2015 by each of our executive officers and independent directors and all of our directors and executive officers as a group. As of April 13, 2015, we are not aware of any 5.0% beneficial owners of our common stock, nor are we aware of any person who controls us, “control” being defined as the beneficial ownership of more than 25.0% of our common stock.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. There is no common stock subject to options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 13, 2015. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 16,113,152 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 13, 2015. The business address of each person below is 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

 

Name and Address

   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
   Percentage
of Class
  Dollar Range of Equity
Securities Beneficially
Owned(2)(3)

Interested Directors:

       

Edward H. Ross

   167,954    1.0%   over $100,000

Thomas C. Lauer

   70,500    *   over $100,000

Independent Directors:

       

Raymond L. Anstiss, Jr. (4)

   12,256    *   over $100,000

Charles D. Hyman

   21,700    *   over $100,000

John A. Mazzarino

   10,262    *   over $100,000

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors:

       

Shelby E. Sherard

   0    *  
  

 

  

 

 

 

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group

282,672 1.8 over $100,000

 

* Represents less than 1.0%.
(1) Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.
(2) Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Exchange Act.
(3) The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by our directors is based on a stock price of $16.20 per share as of April 13, 2015.
(4) Includes 5,246 shares held by Anstiss & Co., P.C. 401(k) Profit Sharing Trust, 2,000 shares held by Mr. Anstiss’s son and 2,000 shares held by Mr. Anstiss’s daughter. Mr. Anstiss has discretionary voting and investment power over the 5,246 shares held by Anstiss & Co., P.C. 401(k) Profit Sharing Trust, the 2,000 shares held by his son and the 2,000 shares held by his daughter.

 

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SALES OF COMMON STOCK BELOW NET ASSET VALUE

On June 4, 2014, our stockholders approved our ability to sell or otherwise issue shares of our common stock at a discount from net asset value per share for a period of one year ending on the earlier of June 4, 2015 or the date of our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In order to sell shares pursuant to this authorization a majority of our directors who have no financial interest in the sale or issuance and a majority of our independent directors must (a) find that the sale or issuance is in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders, and (b) in consultation with any underwriter or underwriters of the offering, make a good faith determination as of a time either immediately prior to the first solicitation by us or on our behalf of firm commitments to purchase such shares, or immediately prior to the issuance of such shares, that the price at which such shares are to be sold or otherwise issued is not less than a price which closely approximates the market value of such shares, less any distributing commission or discount. It should be noted that the maximum number of shares issuable below net asset value pursuant to this authority that could result in such dilution is limited to 25% of the Company’s then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale. Any offering of common stock below net asset value per share will be designed to raise capital for investment in accordance with our investment objective.

In making a determination that an offering below net asset value per share is in our and our stockholders’ best interests, our board of directors would consider a variety of factors including:

 

    The effect that an offering below net asset value per share would have on our stockholders, including the potential dilution they would experience as a result of the offering;

 

    The amount per share by which the offering price per share and the net proceeds per share are less than the most recently determined net asset value per share;