Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The Consolidated Financial Statements and these accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) and conform to the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X. Management believes it has made all necessary adjustments so that our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are presented fairly and that all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Consolidation
In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation S-X, we do not consolidate portfolio company investments. Under the investment company rules and regulations pursuant to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies, codified in ASC 946, we are precluded from consolidating any entity other than another investment company, except that ASC 946 provides for the consolidation of a controlled operating company that provides substantially all of its services to the investment company or its consolidated subsidiaries.
Use of Estimates
Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Classification of Investments
In accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to BDCs, we classify portfolio investments on our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Consolidated Statements of Operations, and Consolidated Schedules of Investments into the following categories:
Non-Control/Non-Affiliate Investments — Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments are those that are neither control nor affiliate investments and in which we typically own less than 5.0% of the issued and outstanding voting securities;
Affiliate Investments — Affiliate investments are those that are not Control investments and in which we own, with the power to vote, between and inclusive of 5.0% and 25.0% of the issued and outstanding voting securities; and
Control Investments — Control investments are those where we have the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the portfolio company, which may include owning, with the power to vote, more than 25.0% of the issued and outstanding voting securities.
Investment Valuation Policy
Accounting Recognition
We record our investments at fair value in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) and the 1940 Act. Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses are generally measured by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the cost basis of the investment, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, and include investments charged off during the period, net of recoveries. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation primarily reflects the change in investment fair values, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized.
Board Responsibility
Our board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) has approved investment valuation policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 2a-5 (the “Policy”) and, in July 2022, designated the Adviser to serve as the Board of Directors’ valuation designee (“Valuation Designee”) under the 1940 Act.
In accordance with the 1940 Act, our Board of Directors has the ultimate responsibility for reviewing the good faith fair value determination of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available based on our Policy and for overseeing the Valuation Designee. Such review and oversight includes receiving written fair value determinations and supporting materials provided by the Valuation Designee, in coordination with the Administrator and with the oversight by the Company's chief valuation officer (collectively, the “Valuation Team”). The Valuation Committee of our Board of Directors (comprised entirely of independent directors) meets to review the valuation determinations and supporting materials, discusses the information provided by the Valuation Team, determines whether the Valuation Team has followed the Policy, and reviews other facts and circumstances, including current valuation risks, conflicts of interest, material valuation matters, appropriateness of valuation methodologies, back-testing results, price challenges/overrides, and ongoing monitoring and oversight of pricing services. After the Valuation Committee concludes its meeting, it and the chief valuation officer, representing the Valuation Designee, present the Valuation Committee’s findings on the Valuation Designee's determinations to the entire Board of Directors so that the full Board of Directors may review the Valuation Designee's determined fair values of such investments in accordance with the Policy.
There is no single standard for determining fair value (especially for privately-held businesses), as fair value depends upon the specific facts and circumstances of each individual investment. In determining the fair value of our investments, the Valuation Team, led by the chief valuation officer, uses the Policy, and each quarter the Valuation Committee and Board of Directors review the Policy to determine if changes thereto are advisable and whether the Valuation Team has applied the Policy consistently.
Use of Third-Party Valuation Firms
The Valuation Team engages third party valuation firms to provide independent assessments of fair value of certain of our investments.
ICE Data Pricing and Reference Data, LLC (“ICE”), a valuation specialist, generally provides estimates of fair value on our debt investments. The Valuation Team generally assigns ICE’s estimates of fair value to our debt investments where we do not have the ability to effectuate a sale of the applicable portfolio company. The Valuation Team corroborates ICE’s estimates of fair value using one or more of the valuation techniques discussed below. The Valuation Team’s estimate of value on a specific debt investment may significantly differ from ICE’s. When this occurs, our Valuation Committee and Board of Directors review whether the Valuation Team has followed the Policy and the Valuation Committee reviews whether the Valuation Team’s determined fair value is reasonable in light of the Policy and other relevant facts and circumstances.
We may engage other independent valuation firms to provide earnings multiple ranges, as well as other information, and evaluate such information for incorporation into the total enterprise value (“TEV”) of certain of our investments. Generally, at least once per year, we engage an independent valuation firm to value or review the valuation of each of our significant equity investments, which includes providing the information noted above. The Valuation Team evaluates such information for incorporation into our TEV, including review of all inputs provided by the independent valuation firm. The Valuation Team then makes a determination to our Valuation Committee as to the fair value. Our Valuation Committee reviews the determined fair value and whether it is reasonable in light of the Policy and other relevant facts and circumstances.
Valuation Techniques
In accordance with ASC 820, the Valuation Team uses the following techniques when valuing our investment portfolio:
Total Enterprise Value — In determining the fair value using a TEV, the Valuation Team first calculates the TEV of the portfolio company by incorporating some or all of the following factors: the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and other specific portfolio company attributes; the earnings of the portfolio company (the trailing or projected twelve month revenue or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”)); EBITDA multiples obtained from our indexing methodology whereby the original transaction EBITDA multiple at the time of our closing is indexed to a general subset of comparable disclosed transactions and EBITDA multiples from recent sales to third parties of similar securities in similar industries; a comparison to publicly traded securities in similar industries; and other pertinent factors. The Valuation Team generally reviews industry statistics and may use outside experts when gathering this information. Once the TEV is determined for a portfolio company, the Valuation Team generally allocates the TEV to the portfolio company’s securities based on the facts and circumstances of the securities, which typically results in the allocation of fair value to securities based on the order of their relative priority in the capital structure. Generally, the Valuation Team uses TEV to value our equity investments and, in the circumstances where we have the ability to effectuate a sale of a portfolio company, our debt investments.
TEV is primarily calculated using EBITDA and EBITDA multiples; however, TEV may also be calculated using revenue and revenue multiples or a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) analysis whereby future expected cash flows of the portfolio company are discounted to determine a net present value using estimated risk-adjusted discount rates, which incorporate adjustments for nonperformance and liquidity risks.
Yield Analysis — The Valuation Team generally determines the fair value of our debt investments for which we do not have the ability to effectuate a sale of the applicable portfolio company using the yield analysis, which includes a DCF calculation and assumptions that the Valuation Team believes market participants would use, including: estimated remaining life, current market yield, current leverage, and interest rate spreads. This technique develops a modified discount rate that incorporates risk premiums including, among other things,
increased probability of default, increased loss upon default, and increased liquidity risk. Generally, the Valuation Team uses the yield analysis to corroborate both estimates of value provided by ICE and market quotes.
Market Quotes — For our investments for which a limited market exists, we generally base fair value on readily available and reliable market quotations, which are corroborated by the Valuation Team (generally by using the yield analysis described above). In addition, the Valuation Team assesses trading activity for similar investments and evaluates variances in quotations and other market insights to determine if any available quoted prices are reliable. Typically, the Valuation Team uses the lower indicative bid price in the bid-to-ask price range obtained from the respective originating syndication agent’s trading desk on or near the valuation date. The Valuation Team may take further steps to consider additional information to validate that price in accordance with the Policy. For securities that are publicly traded, we generally base fair value on the closing market price of the securities we hold as of the reporting date. For restricted securities that are publicly traded, we generally base fair value on the closing market price of the securities we hold as of the reporting date less a discount for the restriction, which includes consideration of the nature and term to expiration of the restriction.
Investments in Funds — For equity investments in other funds for which we cannot effectuate a sale of the fund, the Valuation Team generally determines the fair value of our invested capital at the net asset value (“NAV”) provided by the fund. Any invested capital that is not yet reflected in the NAV provided by the fund is valued at par value. The Valuation Team may also determine fair value of our investments in other investment funds based on the capital accounts of the underlying entity.
In addition to the valuation techniques listed above, the Valuation Team may also consider other factors when determining the fair value of our investments, including: the nature and realizable value of the collateral, including external parties’ guaranties, any relevant offers or letters of intent to acquire the portfolio company, timing of expected loan repayments, and the markets in which the portfolio company operates.
Fair value measurements of our investments may involve subjective judgments and estimates and, due to the uncertainty inherent in valuing these securities, the determinations of fair value may fluctuate from period to period and may differ materially from the values that could be obtained if a ready market for these securities existed. Our NAV could be materially affected if the determinations regarding the fair value of our investments are materially different from the values that we ultimately realize upon our disposal of such securities. Additionally, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investment may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the valuations currently assigned. Further, such investments are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which it is recorded.
Refer to Note 3 Investments for additional information regarding fair value measurements and our application of ASC 820.
Realized Gain or Loss and Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation of Portfolio Investments
Gains or losses on the sale of investments are calculated by using the specific identification method. A realized gain or loss is recognized on the trade date, typically when an investment is disposed of, and is computed as the difference between the cost basis of the investment on the disposition date and the net proceeds received from such disposition. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the difference between the fair value of the investment and the cost basis of such investment. We determine the fair value of each individual investment each reporting period and record changes in fair value as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in our accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Revenue Recognition
Interest Income Recognition
Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premiums, amendment fees, and acquisition costs and the accretion of discounts, is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. Generally, when a loan becomes 90 days or more past due, or if our qualitative assessment indicates that the debtor is unable to service its debt or other obligations, we will place the loan on non-accrual status and cease recognizing interest income on that loan until the borrower has demonstrated the ability and intent to pay contractual amounts due. However, we remain contractually entitled to this interest. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or
applied to the cost basis, depending upon management’s judgment. Generally, non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past-due principal and interest are paid, and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current, or, due to a restructuring, the interest income is deemed to be collectible. As of March 31, 2023, our loans to Edge Adhesives Holdings, Inc., J.R. Hobbs Co. – Atlanta, LLC (“J.R. Hobbs”) and The Mountain Corporation (“The Mountain”) were on non-accrual status, with an aggregate debt cost basis of $66.9 million, or 12.0% of the cost basis of all debt investments in our portfolio, and an aggregate fair value of $31.7 million, or 6.2% of the fair value of all debt investments in our portfolio. As of March 31, 2022, our loans to J.R. Hobbs, The Mountain, and SFEG Holdings, Inc. were on non-accrual status, with an aggregate debt cost basis of $77.2 million, or 15.1% of the cost basis of all debt investments in our portfolio, and an aggregate fair value of $60.0 million, or 12.2% of the fair value of all debt investments in our portfolio.
Paid-in-kind (“PIK”) interest, computed at the contractual rate specified in the loan agreement, is added to the principal balance of the loan and recorded as interest income. Thus, the actual collection of PIK income may be deferred until the time of debt principal repayment. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not have any loans with a PIK interest component.
Success Fee Income Recognition
We record success fees as income when earned, which often occurs upon receipt of cash. Success fees are generally contractually due upon a change of control in a portfolio company, typically resulting from an exit or sale, and are non-recurring.
Dividend Income Recognition
We accrue dividend income on preferred and common equity securities to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected and if we have the option to collect such amounts in cash or other consideration.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all short-term, highly-liquid investments that are both readily convertible to cash and have a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. We place our cash with financial institutions, and at times, cash held in checking accounts may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limit. We seek to mitigate this concentration of credit risk by depositing funds with major financial institutions.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents are generally cash and cash equivalents held in escrow received as part of an investment exit. Restricted cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
Deferred Financing and Offering Costs
Deferred financing and offering costs consist of costs incurred to obtain financing, including lender fees, underwriting discounts and commissions, and legal fees. Certain costs associated with our revolving line of credit are deferred and amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the revolving line of credit. Costs associated with the issuance of our notes payable and mandatorily redeemable preferred stock are presented as discounts to the liquidation value of the notes payable and mandatorily redeemable preferred stock and are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the notes payable and respective series of preferred stock. Refer to Note 5 Borrowings and Note 6 Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock for further discussion.
Related Party Fees
We are party to the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, which is owned and controlled by our chairman and chief executive officer. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, we pay the Adviser fees as compensation for its services, consisting of a base management fee and an incentive fee. Additionally, we pay the Adviser a loan servicing fee as compensation for its services as servicer under the terms of the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 30, 2013, as amended from time to time (the "Credit Facility").
We are also party to the Administration Agreement with the Administrator, which is owned and controlled by our chairman and chief executive officer, whereby we pay separately for administrative services.
Refer to Note 4 Related Party Transactions for additional information regarding these related party fees and agreements.
Federal Income Taxes
We intend to continue to maintain our qualification as a RIC under subchapter M of the Code for federal income tax purposes. As a RIC, we generally are not subject to federal income tax on the portion of our taxable income and gains distributed to our stockholders. To maintain our qualification as a RIC, we must maintain our status as a BDC and meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. In addition, to qualify to be taxed as a RIC, we must generally distribute to stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of our taxable ordinary income plus the excess of our net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses (“Investment Company Taxable Income”). Our policy generally is to make distributions to our stockholders in an amount up to 100% of our Investment Company Taxable Income. We intend to continue to make sufficient distributions to qualify as a RIC and to generally limit taxable income, although we may retain some or all of our net long-term capital gains and pay income taxes on such gains. Refer to Note 10 — Federal and State Income Taxes for additional information regarding our RIC requirements.
FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing our tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authorities. Tax positions not deemed to satisfy the “more-likely-than-not” threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current fiscal year. We have evaluated the implications of ASC 740 for all open tax years and in all major tax jurisdictions and determined that there is no material impact on our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Our federal income tax returns for fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). We are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.
Distributions
Distributions to stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. We are required to distribute at least 90% of our Investment Company Taxable Income for each taxable year as a distribution to our stockholders to maintain our ability to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. It is our policy to generally pay out as a distribution up to 100% of those amounts. The amount to be paid is determined by our Board of Directors and is based upon management’s estimate of Investment Company Taxable Income, net long-term capital gains, as well as amounts to be distributed in accordance with Section 855(a) of the Code. Based on that estimate, our Board of Directors declares monthly distributions, and supplemental distributions, as applicable, each quarter. At fiscal year-end, we may elect to treat a portion of the first distributions paid after year-end as having been paid in the prior year in accordance with Section 855(a) of the Code. We may retain some or all of our net long-term capital gains, if any, and designate them as deemed distributions, or distribute these capital gains to stockholders in cash. If we elect to retain net long-term capital gains and deem them distributed, each U.S. common stockholder will be treated as if they received a distribution of their pro-rata share of the retained net long-term capital gain and the U.S. federal income tax paid. As a result, each common stockholder will (i) be required to report their pro-rata share of the retained gain on their tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for their pro-rata share of federal income tax paid by us on the retained gain, and (iii) increase the tax basis of their shares of common stock by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit. Refer to Note 9 — Distributions to Common Stockholders for further information.
Our common stockholders who hold their shares through our transfer agent, Computershare, Inc. (“Computershare”), have the option to participate in a dividend reinvestment plan offered by Computershare, as the plan agent. This is an “opt in” dividend reinvestment plan, meaning that common stockholders may elect to have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. Common stockholders who do not so elect will receive their distributions in cash. Any distributions reinvested under the plan will be taxable to a common stockholder to the same extent, and with the same character, as if the common stockholder had received the distribution in cash. The common stockholder will have an adjusted basis in the additional common shares purchased through the plan equal to the dollar amount that would have been received if the U.S. stockholder had received the dividend or distribution in cash. The additional common shares will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the date on which the shares are credited to the common stockholder’s account. Computershare purchases shares in the open market in connection with the obligations under the plan.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2022-03, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions” (“ASU 2022-03”), which clarifies the measurement and presentation of fair value for equity securities subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit the sale of the equity security. ASU 2022-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Our early adoption of ASU 2022-03 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-06, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205): Financial Services – Depository and Lending (Topic 924), and Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946)” (“ASU 2021-06”), which modifies the disclosure requirements for acquired and disposed businesses. ASU 2021-06 was effective upon issuance. Our adoption of ASU 2021-06 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.