NYSE: MAIN

The “Investment Portfolio,” as used herein, refers to all of Main Street’s investments in LMM portfolio companies, investments in Private Loan portfolio companies, investments in Middle Market portfolio companies, Other Portfolio investments, short-term portfolio investments (see Note C — Fair Value Hierarchy for Investments — Portfolio Composition — Investment Portfolio Composition in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K) and the investment in the External Investment Manager (as defined below).

MSCC was formed in March 2007 to operate as an internally managed business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Because MSCC is internally managed, all of the executive officers and other employees are employed by MSCC. Therefore, MSCC does not pay any external investment advisory fees, but instead directly incurs the operating costs associated with employing investment and portfolio management professionals.

MSCC wholly owns several investment funds, including Main Street Mezzanine Fund, LP (“MSMF”) and Main Street Capital III, LP (“MSC III” and, together with MSMF, the “Funds”), and each of their general partners. The Funds are each licensed as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”).

MSC Adviser I, LLC (the “External Investment Manager”) was formed in November 2013 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Main Street to provide investment management and other services to parties other than Main Street (“External Parties”) and earns fee income for such services. MSCC has been granted no-action relief by the SEC to allow the External Investment Manager to register as a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Since the External Investment Manager conducts all of its investment management activities for External Parties, it is accounted for as a portfolio investment of Main Street and is not included as a consolidated subsidiary in Main Street’s consolidated financial statements.

MSCC has elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a result, MSCC generally does not pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any net ordinary taxable income or capital gains that it distributes to its stockholders.

MSCC has certain direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries that have elected to be taxable entities (the “Taxable Subsidiaries”). The primary purpose of the Taxable Subsidiaries is to permit MSCC to hold equity investments in portfolio companies which are “pass-through” entities for tax purposes. MSCC also has certain direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries formed for financing purposes (the “Structured Subsidiaries”).

Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Main Street” refer to MSCC and its consolidated subsidiaries, which include the Funds, the Taxable Subsidiaries and the Structured Subsidiaries.

The following diagram depicts our organizational structure:

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* Other Holding Companies includes the Taxable Subsidiaries, the Structured Subsidiaries and other consolidated entities formed for operational purposes. Each of these companies is directly or indirectly wholly-owned by MSCC.

** The External Investment Manager is accounted for as a portfolio investment at fair value, as opposed to a consolidated subsidiary, and is indirectly wholly-owned by MSCC.

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Our principal executive offices are located at 1300 Post Oak Boulevard, 8th Floor, Houston, Texas 77056. We maintain a website on the Internet at www.mainstcapital.com. We make available free of charge on our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and you should not consider that information to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports and other public filings are also available free of charge on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

OVERVIEW OF OUR BUSINESS

Our principal investment objective is to maximize our Investment Portfolio’s total return by generating current income from our debt investments and current income and capital appreciation from our equity and equity-related investments, including warrants, convertible securities and other rights to acquire equity securities in a portfolio company. We seek to achieve our investment objective primarily through our LMM and Private Loan investment strategies. Our LMM investment strategy involves investments in companies that generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million and annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization expenses (“EBITDA”) between $3 million and $20 million. Our LMM portfolio investments generally range in size from $5 million to $125 million. Our Private Loan investment strategy involves investments in companies that generally have annual revenues between $25 million and $500 million and annual EBITDA between $7.5 million and $50 million. Our Private Loan investments generally range in size from $10 million to $100 million.

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

Private Loan investments primarily consist of debt securities that have primarily been originated directly by us or, to a lesser extent, through our strategic relationships with other investment funds on a collaborative basis through investments that are often referred to in the debt markets as “club deals” because of the small lender group size. In both cases, our Private Loan investments are typically made in a company owned by or in the process of being acquired by a private equity fund. Our Private Loan portfolio debt investments are generally secured by a first priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have a term of between three and seven years from the original investment date. We may also co-invest with the private equity fund in the equity securities of our Private Loan portfolio companies.

We also maintain a legacy portfolio of investments in larger Middle Market companies. Our Middle Market investments are generally debt investments in companies owned by a private equity fund that were originally issued through a syndication financing process. We have generally stopped making new Middle Market investments and expect the size of our Middle Market investment portfolio to continue to decline in future periods as existing Middle Market investments are repaid or sold. Our Middle Market debt investments generally range in size from $3 million to $25 million, are generally secured by a first priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have an expected duration of between three and seven years from the original investment date.

Our Other Portfolio investments primarily consist of investments that are not consistent with the typical profiles for our LMM, Private Loan or Middle Market portfolio investments, including investments in unaffiliated investment companies and private funds which may be managed by third parties. In our Other Portfolio, we may incur indirect fees and expenses in connection with investments managed by third parties, such as investments in other investment companies or private funds.

Based upon our liquidity and capital structure management activities, our Investment Portfolio may also periodically include short-term portfolio investments that are atypical of our LMM and Private Loan portfolio investments in that they are intended to be a short-term deployment of capital. These assets are typically expected to be realized in one year or less and are not expected to be a significant portion of our overall Investment Portfolio.

Our external asset management business is conducted through the External Investment Manager. The External Investment Manager earns management fees based on the assets of the funds under management and may earn incentive fees, or a carried interest, based on the performance of the funds managed.

Our portfolio investments are generally made through MSCC, the Taxable Subsidiaries, the Funds and the Structured Subsidiaries. MSCC, the Taxable Subsidiaries, the Funds and the Structured Subsidiaries share the same investment strategies and criteria, although they are subject to different regulatory regimes (see Regulation). An investor’s return in MSCC will depend, in part, on the Taxable Subsidiaries’, the Funds’ and the Structured Subsidiaries’ investment returns as they are wholly-owned subsidiaries of MSCC.

The level of new portfolio investment activity will fluctuate from period to period based upon our view of the current economic fundamentals, our ability to identify new investment opportunities that meet our investment criteria and our ability to consummate the identified opportunities. The level of new investment activity, and associated interest and fee income, will directly impact future investment income. In addition, the level of dividends paid by portfolio companies and the portion of our portfolio debt investments on non-accrual status will directly impact future investment income. While we intend to grow our portfolio and our investment income over the long term, our growth and our operating results may be more limited during depressed economic periods. However, we intend to appropriately manage our cost structure and liquidity position based on applicable economic conditions and our investment outlook. The level of realized gains or losses and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on our investments will also fluctuate depending upon portfolio activity, economic conditions and the performance of our individual portfolio companies. The changes in realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation or depreciation could have a material impact on our operating results.

Because we are internally managed, we do not pay any external investment advisory fees, but instead directly incur the operating costs associated with employing investment and portfolio management professionals. We believe that our internally managed structure provides us with a better alignment of interests between our management team and our employees and our stockholders and a beneficial operating expense structure when compared to other publicly traded and privately held investment firms which are externally managed, and our internally managed structure allows us the opportunity to leverage our non-interest operating expenses as we grow our Investment Portfolio and our External Investment Manager’s asset management business (as described below). For each of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the ratio of our total operating expenses, excluding interest expense, as a percentage of our quarterly average total assets was 1.3%. The ratio of our total operating expenses, including interest expense, as a percentage of our quarterly average total assets was 3.7% and 3.8%, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. Our ratio of expenses as a percentage of our average net asset value (“NAV”) is described in greater detail in Note F — Financial Highlights in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The External Investment Manager serves as the investment adviser and administrator to MSC Income Fund, Inc. (“MSC Income”) pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement entered into in October 2020 between the External Investment Manager and MSC Income (as amended and restated on January 29, 2025, the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, prior to January 29, 2025, the External Investment Manager earned a 1.75% annual base management fee on MSC Income’s average total assets, a subordinated incentive fee on income equal to 20% of pre-incentive fee net investment income above a specified investment return hurdle rate and a 20% incentive fee on cumulative net realized capital gains in exchange for providing advisory services to MSC Income. On and after January 29, 2025, under the Advisory Agreement, the External Investment Manager earns a 1.5% annual base management fee on MSC Income’s average total assets (including cash and cash equivalents), payable quarterly in arrears (with additional future contractual reductions based upon changes to MSC Income’s investment portfolio composition), a subordinated incentive fee on income equal to 17.5% of pre-incentive fee net investment income above a specified investment return hurdle rate, subject to a 50% / 50% catch-up feature, and a 17.5% incentive fee on cumulative net realized capital gains from January 29, 2025.

Additionally, the External Investment Manager has entered into investment management agreements with MS Private Loan Fund I, LP (“Private Loan Fund I”) and MS Private Loan Fund II, LP (“Private Loan Fund II”), each a private investment fund with a strategy to co-invest with Main Street in Private Loan portfolio investments, pursuant to which the External Investment Manager provides investment advisory and management services to each fund in exchange for an asset-based management fee and certain incentive fees. The External Investment Manager may also advise other clients, including funds and separately managed accounts, pursuant to advisory and services agreements with such clients in exchange for asset-based and incentive fees.

The External Investment Manager earns management fees based on the assets of the funds and accounts under management and may earn incentive fees, or a carried interest, based on the performance of the funds and accounts managed. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the External Investment Manager earned $22.9 million, $23.9 million and $22.4 million in base management fees, respectively, $14.5 million, $13.7 million and $13.4 million in incentive fees, respectively, and $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million of administrative service fee income, respectively.

We have entered into an agreement with the External Investment Manager to share employees in connection with its asset management business generally, and specifically for its relationship with MSC Income and its other clients. Through this agreement, we share employees with the External Investment Manager, including their related infrastructure, business relationships, management expertise and capital raising capabilities, and we allocate the related expenses to the External Investment Manager pursuant to the sharing agreement. Our total expenses for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 are net of expenses allocated to the External Investment Manager of $23.5 million, $23.1 million and $22.1 million, respectively.

The total contribution of the External Investment Manager to our net investment income consists of the combination of the expenses allocated to the External Investment Manager and the dividend income earned from the External Investment Manager. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, dividends earned by us from the External Investment Manager were $11.1 million, $11.3 million and $11.3 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the total contribution of the External Investment Manager to our net investment income was $34.6 million, $34.3 million and $33.4 million, respectively.

We have received an exemptive order from the SEC permitting co-investments among us, MSC Income and other advisory clients of the External Investment Manager in certain negotiated transactions where co-investing would otherwise be prohibited under the 1940 Act. We have made co-investments with, and in the future intend to continue to make co-investments with MSC Income, Private Loan Fund I, Private Loan Fund II and other advisory clients of the External Investment Manager, in accordance with the conditions of the order. Because the External Investment Manager may earn performance-based fee compensation from its advisory clients, this may provide the Company and the External Investment Manager an incentive to allocate opportunities to advisory clients instead of us. However, both we and the External Investment Manager have adopted policies and procedures pursuant to the order to manage this conflict and ensure that investment opportunities are allocated in a manner that is fair and equitable considering each investor’s interests, including oversight of the co-investment program by the independent members of our and MSC Income’s boards of directors and their required approval of certain co-investment transactions thereunder. In addition to the co-investment program described above, we also co-invest in certain investment transactions where price is the only negotiated point by us and our affiliates.

BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Our principal investment objective is to maximize our Investment Portfolio’s total return by generating current income from our debt investments and current income and capital appreciation from our equity and equity-related investments, including warrants, convertible securities and other rights to acquire equity securities in a portfolio company. We have adopted the following business strategies to achieve our investment objective:

•Deliver Customized Financing Solutions in the Lower Middle Market. We offer LMM portfolio companies customized long-term debt and equity financing solutions that are tailored to the facts and circumstances of each situation. We believe our ability to provide a broad range of customized financing solutions to LMM companies sets us apart from other capital providers that focus on providing a limited number of financing alternatives. Our ability to invest across a company’s capital structure, from senior secured loans to equity securities, allows us to offer LMM portfolio companies a comprehensive suite of financing options, or a “one-stop” financing solution.

•Focus on Established Companies. We generally invest in companies with established market positions, experienced management teams and proven revenue streams. We believe that those companies generally possess better risk-adjusted return profiles than newer companies that are building their management teams or are in the early stages of building a revenue base. We also believe that established companies in our targeted size range generally provide opportunities for capital appreciation.

•Leverage the Skills and Experience of our Investment Team. Our investment team has significant experience in lending to and investing in LMM and Private Loan companies. The members of our investment team have broad investment backgrounds, with significant experience and long-term tenure with Main Street, and prior experience at private investment funds, corporate entities with active acquisition growth strategies and activities, investment banks and other financial services companies. The expertise of our investment team in analyzing, valuing, structuring, negotiating and closing transactions should provide us with competitive advantages by allowing us to consider customized financing solutions and non-traditional or complex structures for our portfolio companies. Also, the reputation of our investment team has and should continue to enable us to generate additional revenue in the form of management and incentive fees in connection with us providing advisory services to other investment funds.

•Invest Across Multiple Companies, Industries, Regions and End Markets. We seek to maintain a portfolio of investments that is appropriately balanced among various companies, industries, geographic regions and end markets. This portfolio balance is intended to mitigate the potential effects of negative economic events for particular companies, regions, industries and end markets.

•Capitalize on Strong Transaction Sourcing Network. Our investment team seeks to leverage its extensive network of referral sources for portfolio company investments. We have developed a reputation in our marketplace as a responsive, efficient and reliable source of financing, which has created a growing stream of proprietary deal flow for us.

•Grow our Asset Management Business. Our asset management business provides us with a recurring source of income, additional income diversification from sources of income directly tied to invested capital and the opportunity for greater stockholder returns through the utilization of our existing investment expertise, strong historical track record and favorable reputation. We seek to grow our asset management business within our internally managed BDC structure in order to increase the value of this unique benefit to our stakeholders. We expect such growth to come organically through the expansion of the investment capital that we manage for third parties and the potential extension of our asset management business to new investment strategies, and potentially through mergers and acquisition activities.

•Benefit from Lower, Fixed, Long-Term Cost of Capital. The SBIC licenses held by the Funds have allowed them to issue SBA-guaranteed debentures. SBA-guaranteed debentures carry long-term fixed interest rates that are generally lower than interest rates on comparable bank loans and other debt. Because lower-cost SBA leverage is, and will continue to be, a part of our capital base through the Funds, our relative cost of debt capital should be lower than many of our competitors. In addition, the SBIC leverage that we receive through the Funds represents a stable, long-term component of our capital structure with proper matching of duration and cost compared to our LMM portfolio investments. We also maintain investment grade ratings from both Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Fitch Ratings, which provide us the opportunity and flexibility to obtain additional, attractive long-term financing options to supplement our capital structure, including the unsecured notes with fixed interest rates we issue.

INVESTMENT CRITERIA

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

•Proven Management Team with Meaningful Equity Stake. We look for operationally-oriented management with direct industry experience and a successful track record. In addition, we expect the management team of each LMM portfolio company to have meaningful equity ownership in the portfolio company to better align our respective economic interests. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that both protects our debt investment and enhances the value of our equity investment.

•Established Companies with Positive Cash Flow. We seek to invest in established companies with sound historical financial performance. We primarily pursue investments in LMM companies that have historically generated EBITDA of $3 million to $20 million and commensurate levels of free cash flow. We also pursue investments in Private Loan companies that have historically generated annual EBITDA of $7.5 million to $50 million. We generally do not invest in start-up companies or companies with speculative business plans.

•Defensible Competitive Advantages/Favorable Industry Position. We primarily focus on companies that have competitive advantages in their respective markets and/or are operating in industries with barriers to entry, which may help to protect their market position and profitability.

•Exit Alternatives. We exit our debt investments primarily through the repayment of our investment from internally generated cash flow of the portfolio company and/or a refinancing. In addition, we seek to invest in companies whose business models and expected future cash flows may provide alternate methods of repaying our investment, such as through a strategic acquisition by other industry participants or a recapitalization.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Our LMM portfolio investments primarily consist of secured debt, direct equity investments and equity warrants in privately held, LMM companies based in the U.S. Our Private Loan portfolio investments primarily consist of debt securities that have primarily been originated directly by us, or to a lesser extent, through our strategic relationships with other investment funds on a collaborative basis through investments that are often referred to in the debt markets as “club deals” because of the small lender group size. In both cases, our Private Loan investments are typically made in a company owned by or in the process of being acquired by a private equity fund. Our Middle Market portfolio investments are generally debt investments in companies owned by a private equity fund that were originally issued through a syndication financing process. We have generally stopped making new Middle Market investments and expect the size of our Middle Market investment portfolio to continue to decline in future periods as existing Middle Market investments are repaid or sold. Our Other Portfolio investments primarily consist of investments that are not consistent with the typical profiles for our LMM, Private Loan or Middle Market portfolio investments, including investments which may be managed by third parties. In our Other Portfolio, we may incur indirect fees and expenses in connection with investments managed by third parties, such as investments in other investment companies or private funds.

Debt Investments

Historically, we have made LMM debt investments principally in the form of single tranche debt. Single tranche debt financing involves issuing one debt security that blends the risk and return profiles of both first lien secured and subordinated debt. We believe that single tranche debt is more appropriate for many LMM companies given their size in order to reduce structural complexity and potential conflicts among creditors.

Our LMM debt investments generally have a term of five to seven years from the original investment date, with limited required amortization prior to maturity, and provide for monthly or quarterly payment of interest at annual interest rates generally between 10% and 14%, payable currently in cash on either a fixed or floating rate basis. The LMM debt investments with floating interest rates will generally bear interest at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or the Prime rate, typically subject to a contractual minimum interest rate (an “interest rate floor”), plus a margin. In addition, certain LMM debt investments may have a form of interest that is not paid currently but is accrued and added to the loan balance and paid at maturity. We refer to this form of interest as payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest. We typically structure our LMM debt investments with the maximum seniority and collateral that we can reasonably obtain while seeking to achieve our total return target. In most cases, our LMM debt investment will be collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all the assets of the portfolio company. In addition to seeking a senior secured lien position in the capital structure of our LMM portfolio companies, we seek to limit the downside potential of our LMM debt investments by negotiating covenants that are designed to protect our LMM debt investments while affording our portfolio companies as much flexibility in managing their businesses as is reasonable. Such restrictions may include affirmative and negative covenants, default penalties, lien protection, change of control or change of management provisions, key-man life insurance, guarantees, equity pledges, personal guaranties, where appropriate, and put rights. In addition, we typically seek board representation or observation rights in all of our LMM portfolio companies.

While we will continue to focus our LMM debt investments primarily on single tranche debt investments, we may structure some of our debt investments as mezzanine loans. These mezzanine loans would be primarily junior secured or unsecured, subordinated loans that would provide for relatively high interest rates, payable currently in cash, and would provide us with significant interest income. These mezzanine loans would afford us the additional opportunity for income and gains through PIK interest and equity warrants and other similar equity instruments issued in conjunction with these mezzanine loans. These loans typically would have interest-only payments in the early years, with amortization of principal deferred to the later years of the mezzanine loan term. Typically, these mezzanine loans would have maturities of three to five years. We would generally target annual interest rates of 12% to 14%, payable currently in cash, for our mezzanine loan investments with higher targeted total returns from equity warrants or PIK interest.

The debt investments in our Private Loan portfolio have rights and protections that are similar to those in our LMM debt investments, which may include affirmative and negative covenants, default penalties, lien protection, change of control provisions, guarantees and equity pledges. Our Private Loan portfolio debt investments are generally secured by a first priority lien and typically have a term of between three and seven years from the original investment date. Our Private Loan debt investments generally have floating interest rates at SOFR or Prime rate, typically subject to an interest rate floor, plus a margin.

Our Middle Market portfolio debt investments are generally secured by a first priority lien on the assets of the portfolio company and typically have a term of between three and seven years from the original investment date. The debt investments in our Middle Market portfolio usually have rights and protections that are similar to those in our LMM and Private Loan debt investments. The Middle Market debt investments generally have floating interest rates at SOFR or Prime rate, typically subject to an interest rate floor, plus a margin.

Direct Equity Investments

We also seek to make direct equity investments to align our interests with key management and stockholders of our LMM portfolio companies, and to allow for participation in the appreciation in the equity values of our LMM portfolio companies. We usually make our direct equity investments in connection with debt investments in our LMM portfolio companies. In addition, we may have both equity warrants and direct equity positions in some of our LMM portfolio companies. We seek to maintain fully diluted equity positions in our LMM portfolio companies of 5% to 50%, and may have controlling equity interests in some instances. We have a value orientation toward our direct equity investments and have traditionally been able to purchase our equity investments at reasonable valuations. We will also have, from time to time, the opportunity to co-invest with the private equity funds in the equity securities of our Private Loan portfolio companies. The equity co-investment aligns our interests with those of the private equity fund and provides us with the opportunity to benefit from appreciation in the equity values of our Private Loan portfolio companies.

Warrants

In connection with our LMM debt investments, we occasionally receive equity warrants to establish or increase our equity interest in the portfolio company. Warrants that we receive in connection with a debt investment 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. We typically structure the warrants to provide provisions protecting our rights as a minority-interest holder, as well as secured or unsecured put rights, or rights to sell such securities back to the portfolio company, upon the occurrence of specified events. In certain cases, we also may obtain registration rights in connection with these equity interests, which may include demand and “piggyback” registration rights.

INVESTMENT PROCESS

Our investment committee is responsible for all aspects of our investment processes. The current members of our investment committee are Dwayne L. Hyzak, our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors, David Magdol, our President and Chief Investment Officer, and Vincent D. Foster, the Chairman of our Board of Directors.

The investment processes for portfolio investments are outlined below. Our investment strategy involves a “team” approach, whereby potential transactions are screened by several members of our investment team before being presented to the investment committee. Our investment committee meets on an as-needed basis depending on transaction volume. We generally categorize our investment process into seven distinct stages:

Deal Generation/Origination

Deal generation and origination is maximized through long-standing and extensive relationships with industry contacts, brokers, commercial and investment bankers, entrepreneurs, service providers such as lawyers, financial advisors and accountants, and current and former portfolio companies and investors. Our investment team has developed a reputation as a knowledgeable, reliable and active source of capital and assistance in these markets.

Screening

During the screening process, if a transaction initially meets our investment criteria, we will perform preliminary due diligence, taking into consideration some or all of the following information:

•a comprehensive financial model based on quantitative analysis of historical financial performance, projections and pro forma adjustments to determine the estimated internal rate of return;

•a brief industry and market analysis;

•direct industry expertise imported from other portfolio companies or investors;

•preliminary qualitative analysis of the management team’s competencies and backgrounds;

•potential investment structures and pricing terms; and

•regulatory compliance.

Upon successful screening of a proposed transaction, the investment team makes a recommendation to our investment committee. If our investment committee concurs with moving forward on the proposed transaction, we typically issue a non-binding term sheet or letter of intent to the company.

Term Sheet

For proposed transactions, the non-binding term sheet or letter of intent will include the key economic terms based upon our analysis performed during the screening process, as well as a proposed timeline and our qualitative expectation for the transaction. While the term sheet or letter of intent for investments is non-binding, we typically receive an expense deposit in order to move the transaction to the due diligence phase. Upon execution of a term sheet or letter of intent, we begin our formal due diligence process.

Due Diligence

Due diligence on a proposed LMM investment is performed by a minimum of three of our investment professionals, whom we refer to collectively as the investment team, and certain external resources, who together conduct due diligence to understand the relationships among the prospective portfolio company’s business plan, operations and financial performance. Our LMM due diligence review includes some or all of the following:

•site visits with management and key personnel;

•detailed review of historical and projected financial statements;

•operational reviews and analysis;

•interviews with customers and suppliers;

•detailed evaluation of company management, including background checks;

•review of material contracts;

•in-depth industry, market and strategy analysis;

•regulatory compliance analysis; and

•review by legal, environmental or other consultants, if applicable.

Due diligence on a proposed Private Loan investment is generally performed on materials and information obtained from certain external resources and assessed internally by a minimum of three of our investment professionals, who work to understand the relationships among the prospective portfolio company’s business plan, operations and financial performance using the accumulated due diligence information. Our typical Private Loan due diligence review includes some or all of the following:

•detailed review of historical and projected financial statements;

•site visits or other discussions with management and key personnel;

•in-depth industry, market, operational and strategy analysis;

•regulatory compliance analysis; and

•detailed review of the company’s management team and their capabilities.

During the due diligence process, significant attention is given to sensitivity analyses and how the company might be expected to perform given downside, base-case and upside scenarios. In certain cases, we may decide not to make an investment based on the results of the diligence process.

Document and Close

Upon completion of a satisfactory due diligence review of a proposed LMM portfolio investment, the investment team presents the findings and a recommendation to our investment committee. The presentation contains information which can include, but is not limited to, the following:

•company history and overview;

•transaction overview, history and rationale, including an analysis of transaction strengths and risks;

•analysis of key customers and suppliers and key contracts;

•a working capital analysis;

•an analysis of the company’s business strategy;

•a management and key equity investor background check and assessment;

•third-party accounting, legal, environmental or other due diligence findings;

•investment structure and expected returns;

•anticipated sources of repayment and potential exit strategies;

•pro forma capitalization and ownership;

•an analysis of historical financial results and key financial ratios;

•sensitivities to management’s financial projections;

•regulatory compliance analysis findings; and

•detailed reconciliations of historical to pro forma results.

Upon completion of a satisfactory due diligence review of a proposed Private Loan portfolio investment, the investment team presents the findings and a recommendation to our investment committee. The presentation contains information which can include, but is not limited to, the following:

•company history and overview;

•transaction overview, history and rationale, including an analysis of transaction strengths and risks;

•overview and history of the private equity fund sponsor as the company’s equity owner;

•analysis of key customers and suppliers;

•an analysis of the company’s business strategy;

•investment structure and expected returns;

•anticipated sources of repayment and potential exit strategies;

•pro forma capitalization and ownership;

•regulatory compliance analysis findings; and

•an analysis of historical financial results and key financial ratios.

If any adjustments to the transaction terms or structures are proposed by the investment committee, such changes are made and applicable analyses are updated prior to approval of the transaction. Approval for the transaction must be made by the affirmative vote from a majority of the members of the investment committee, with the committee member managing the transaction, if any, abstaining from the vote. Upon receipt of transaction approval, the investment team will re-confirm regulatory compliance, process and finalize all required legal documents, and fund the investment.

Post-Investment

We continuously monitor the status and progress of the portfolio companies. We generally offer managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, giving them access to our investment experience, direct industry expertise and contacts. The same investment 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 investment team to maintain a strong business relationship with key management of our portfolio companies for post-investment assistance and monitoring purposes.

As part of the monitoring process of LMM portfolio investments, the investment team will analyze monthly and quarterly financial statements versus previous periods, review financial projections, meet and discuss issues or opportunities with management, attend board meetings and review all compliance certificates and covenants. While we maintain limited involvement in the ordinary course operations of our LMM portfolio companies, we maintain a higher level of involvement in non-ordinary course financing or strategic activities and any non-performing scenarios.

As part of the monitoring process of our Private Loan and Middle Market portfolio investments, the investment team will analyze monthly and quarterly financial statements versus previous periods, review financial projections and review all compliance certificates and covenants. Depending upon the nature of our Private Loan and Middle Market portfolio investments, our investment team may also attend board meetings and meet and discuss issues or opportunities with the portfolio company’s management team or private equity owners; however, due to the nature of our “lender only” relationship with these Private Loan and Middle Market companies in comparison to our LMM portfolio companies, it is not practical to have as much direct management interface.

We utilize an internally developed investment rating system to rate the performance of each LMM, Private Loan and Middle Market portfolio company and to monitor our expected level of returns on each of our LMM, Private Loan and Middle Market investments in relation to our expectations for the portfolio company. The investment rating system takes into consideration various factors, including, but not limited to, each investment’s expected level of returns, the collectability of our debt investments and the ability to receive a return of the invested capital in our equity investments, comparisons to competitors and other industry participants, the portfolio company’s future outlook and other factors that are deemed to be significant to the portfolio company.

Exit Strategies/Refinancing

While we generally exit most investments through the refinancing or repayment of our debt and redemption or sale of our equity positions, we typically assist our LMM portfolio companies in developing and planning exit opportunities, including any sale or merger of our portfolio companies. We may also assist in the structure, timing, execution and transition of the exit strategy. The refinancing or repayment of Private Loan investments and Middle Market debt investments typically do not require our assistance due to the additional resources available to these larger Private Loan and Middle Market companies.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO VALUATION PROCESS

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

We are required to report our investments at fair value. As a result, the most significant determination inherent in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements is the valuation of our Investment Portfolio and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation. We follow the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires us to assume that the portfolio investment is to be sold in the principal market to independent market participants, which may be a hypothetical market. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal market that are independent, knowledgeable and willing and able to transact.

We determine in good faith the fair value of our Investment Portfolio pursuant to a valuation policy in accordance with ASC 820 and a valuation process approved by our Board of Directors and in accordance with the 1940 Act. Our valuation policies and processes are intended to provide a consistent basis for determining the fair value of our Investment Portfolio. See Note B.1. — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Valuation of the Investment Portfolio in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of our Investment Portfolio valuation process and procedures.

Due to the inherent uncertainty in the valuation process, our determination of fair value for our Investment Portfolio may differ materially from the values that would have been determined had a ready market for the securities existed. In addition, changes in the market environment, portfolio company performance and other events that may occur over the lives of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be materially different than the valuations currently assigned. We determine the fair value of each individual investment and record changes in fair value as unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

The 1940 Act requires valuation of a portfolio security at “market value” if market quotations for the security are “readily available.” Portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available must be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the board of directors. Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act permits a BDC’s board of directors to designate its executive officers or investment adviser as a valuation designee to determine the fair value for its investment portfolio, subject to the active oversight of the board.

Our Board of Directors has approved policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 2a-5 (our “Valuation Procedures”) and designated a group of our executive officers to serve as the Board of Directors’ valuation designee thereunder (the “Valuation Committee”). Pursuant to our Valuation Procedures, we undertake a multi-step process each quarter in connection with determining the fair value of our investments.

The following outlines our valuation process as established under our Valuation Procedures:

•Our quarterly process begins with an initial valuation of each portfolio investment performed by the valuation team consisting of several professionals who apply the appropriate valuation methodology depending on the type of investment.

•Each valuation model is then reviewed by the investment team responsible for monitoring the portfolio investment for accuracy, with any recommended changes reviewed by the valuation team.

•Updated valuation conclusions are then reviewed by and discussed with the Valuation Committee at quarterly valuation meetings. Valuation meetings are generally attended by the Valuation Committee, the valuation team, members of the investment team responsible for each investment and members of the compliance team. Valuation models and valuation conclusions are adjusted as necessary following such meetings.

•A nationally recognized independent financial advisory services firm analyzes and provides observations, recommendations and an assurance certification regarding the determinations of the fair value for the majority of our portfolio companies on a rotational basis.

•After incorporating commentary by the Valuation Committee and review of recommendations provided by the independent financial advisory services firm, valuation results are finalized and approved by the Valuation Committee.

•The Board of Directors oversees the process through its Audit Committee in accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act pursuant to our Valuation Procedures.

Determination of fair value involves subjective judgments and estimates. The notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to the uncertainty with respect to the possible effect of such valuations, and any change in such valuations, on our financial results and financial condition.

COMPETITION

We compete for investments with a number of investment funds (including private equity funds, debt funds, mezzanine funds, collateralized loan obligation funds, or CLOs, BDCs and SBICs), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of financing. Many of the entities that compete with us are larger and have more resources available to them. We believe we are able to be competitive with these entities primarily on the basis of our focus on the underserved companies described in our LMM investment strategy and the less competitive nature of the market for companies described in our Private Loan investment strategy, the experience and contacts of our management team, our responsive and efficient investment analysis and decision-making processes, our comprehensive suite of customized financing solutions and the investment terms we offer.

We believe that some of our competitors make senior secured loans, junior secured loans and subordinated debt investments with interest rates and returns that are comparable to or lower than the rates and returns that we target. Therefore, we do not seek to compete primarily on the interest rates and returns that we offer to potential portfolio companies. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see