CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORP - Quarter Report: 2009 December (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission File Number: 814-61 

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (972) 233-8242

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   X     No      

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such filings). Yes  ___  No ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

3,741,638 shares of Common Stock, $1 par value, as of January 31, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets

(Unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

     December 31, 2009

(Unaudited)

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

     December 31, 2009

(Unaudited)

(continued)

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

     December 31, 2009

(Unaudited)

(continued)

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

     December 31, 2009

(Unaudited)

(continued)

Notes to Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

(Unaudited)

(a)     Definitions

Unrestricted securities (indicated by ±) are freely marketable securities having readily available market quotations. All other securities are restricted securities, which are subject to one or more restriction on resale and are not freely marketable. At December 31, 2009, restricted securities represented approximately 96.4% of the value of the consolidated investment portfolio.

Notes to Consolidated Portfolio of Investments
(continued)

(b)     Investment Valuation Policy     

Our investments are carried at fair value in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. In accordance with the 1940 Act, unrestricted minority-owned publicly traded securities, for which the market quotations are readily available, are valued at the closing sale price for the NYSE listed securities and the lower of the closing bid price or the last sale price for NASDAQ securities on the valuation date; and restricted publicly traded securities and other privately held securities are valued as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors.

We adopted FASB ASC Topic 820 on April 1, 2008 (see footnote 3 in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” page 13). ASC Topic 820 provides a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities along with guidance regarding a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes information used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings and provides for enhanced disclosures determined by the level within the hierarchy of information used for valuation. ASC Topic 820 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.

ASC Topic 820 defines fair value in terms of the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the “exit price”) and excludes transaction costs. Under ASC Topic 820, the fair value measurement also assumes that the transaction to sell an asset occurs in the principal market for the asset or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset. The principal market is the market in which the reporting entity would sell or transfer the asset with the greatest volume and level of activity for the asset. In determining the principal market for an asset or liability under ASC, it is assumed that the reporting entity has access to the market as of the measurement date.

(c)      Valuation Methodologies

Debt Securities are generally valued on the basis of the price the security would command in order to provide a yield-to-maturity equivalent to the present yield of comparable debt instruments of similar quality. Issuers whose debt securities are judged to be of poor quality and doubtful collectability may instead be valued by assigning major percentage discounts commensurate with the quality of such debt securities. Debt securities may also be valued based on the resulting value from the sale of the business at the estimated fair market value.

Partnership Interests, Preferred Equity and Common Equity including unrestricted marketable securities, which are valued at the closing sale price for the NYSE listed securities and the lower of the closing bid price or the last sale price for NASDAQ securities on the valuation date, and restricted marketable securities for which there is a public market, are valued at the closing sale price for the NYSE listed securities and the lower of the closing bid price or the last sale price for NASDAQ securities on the valuation date adjusted in good faith by our Board of Directors if they deem a discount or premium would be likely or obtainable upon a sale or transfer of our interest. For those without a principal market, the Board of Directors considers the financial condition and operating results of the issuer; the long-term potential of the business of the issuer; the market for and recent sales prices of the issuer’s securities; the values of similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses; the proportion of the issuer’s securities owned by the Company; protective put analysis based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model; the nature and duration of resale restrictions; and the nature of any rights enabling the Company to require the issuer to register restricted securities under applicable securities laws. In determining the fair value of restricted securities, the Board of Directors considers the inherent value of such securities without regard to the restrictive feature and adjusts for any diminution in value resulting from restrictions on resale. Investments, in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) and for which fair market value is not readily determinable, are valued using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent, such as member units or ownership interest in partners’ capital to which a proportionate share of net assets is attributed) of the investment.

Notes to Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

(continued)

Equity Warrants are valued on the basis of accepted formulas derived from empirical studies which define the market value of a warrant in relation to the market price of its common stock. These formulas measure the “option value” of a warrant as well as its “exercise value” (the amount, if any, by which the value of the stock exceeds the exercise price of the warrant). In applying such formulas, the market price of the stock is usually discounted to reflect the fact that the stock is restricted and the calculated value is of the warrant itself may be discounted (if deemed appropriate) to reflect its restrictive nature. Generally, the option value is excluded if the formula indicates (i) the warrant expires within six months, (ii) the market price of the stock (discounted) is less than one-half of the exercise price of the warrant, or (iii) the market price of the stock (discounted) is more than two times the amount of the exercise price of the warrant.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1.      The Company 

Capital Southwest Corporation (“CSC” or the “Company”) was organized as a Texas corporation on April 19, 1961. Until September 1969, we operated as a licensee under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. At that time, we transferred to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Capital Southwest Venture Corporation ("CSVC") certain assets and our license as a small business investment company ("SBIC"). CSVC is a closed-end, non-diversified investment company of the management type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). Prior to March 30, 1988, we were registered as a closed-end, non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. On that date, we elected to become a business development company subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, as amended by the Small Business Incentive Act of 1980. Because we wholly own CSVC, the portfolios of both entities are referred to collectively as “our,” “we” and “us.” Capital Southwest Management Company (“CSMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSC, is the management company for CSC and CSVC. CSMC generally incurs all normal operating and administrative expenses, including but not limited to salaries and related benefits, rent, equipment and other administrative costs required for its day-to-day operations.

Our portfolio is a composite of companies in which we have major interests as well as a number of developing companies and marketable securities of established publicly-owned companies. We make available significant managerial assistance to the companies in which we invest and believe that providing material assistance to such investee companies is critical to their business development activities.When appropriate CSMC receives a monthly fixed fee for their management services provided to the portfolio companies.

2.     Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for investment companies. Under rules and regulations applicable to investment companies, we are precluded from consolidating any entity other than another investment company. An exception to this general principle occurs if the investment company has an investment in an operating company that provides services to the investment company. Our consolidated financial statements include our management company.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)

The financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the instructions to Form10-Q and Article 6 of Regulation S-X. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnotes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate for a fair presentation. The information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods.

3.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Standards Codification The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC) became effective on July 1, 2009. At that date, the ASC became FASB’s officially recognized source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities, superseding existing FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Emerging Issues Task Forces (EIFT) and related literature. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative. The switch to ASC affects the way companies refer to U.S. GAAP in financial statements and accounting policies. Citing particular content in the ASC involves specifying the unique numeric path to the content through the Topic, Subtopic, Section and Paragraph structure.

Fair Value Measurements The Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 820 on April 1, 2008. ASC Topic 820 (1) creates a single definition of fair value, (2) establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and (3) expands disclosure requirements about items measured at fair value.

The Statement applies to both items recognized and reported at fair value in the financial statements and items disclosed at fair value in the notes to the financial statements. The Statement does not change existing accounting rules governing what can or what must be recognized and reported at fair value in the Company’s financial statements, or disclosed at fair value in the Company’s notes to the financial statements. Additionally, ASC Topic 820 does not eliminate practicability exceptions that exist in accounting pronouncements amended by this Statement when measuring fair value.

Prior to ASC Topic 820, certain measurements of fair value were based on the price that would be paid to acquire an asset, or received to assume a liability (an entry price). FASB ASC Topic 820 clarifies the definition of fair value as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (that is, an exit price). The exit price is based on the amount that the holder of the asset or liability would receive or need to pay in an actual transaction (or in a hypothetical transaction if an actual transaction does not exist) at the measurement date. In some circumstances, the entry and exit price may be the same; however, they are conceptually different.

Fair value is generally determined based on quoted market prices in the active markets for identical assets or liabilities. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company uses valuation techniques that place greater reliance on observable inputs and less reliance on unobservable inputs. In measuring fair value, the Company may make adjustments for risks and uncertainties, if a market participant would include such an adjustment in its pricing.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. We maintain cash and cash equivalents at several financial institutions, which at times may not be federally insured or may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risks on such accounts.

Segment Information The Company operates and manages its business in a singular segment. As an investment company, the Company invests in portfolio companies in various industries and geographic areas as presented in the portfolio of investments.

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Federal Income Taxes CSC and CSVC intend to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) necessary to qualify as regulated investment companies (RICs). By meeting these requirements, they will not be subject to corporate federal income taxes on ordinary income distributed to shareholders. The Company’s policy is to retain and pay the 35% corporate tax on realized long-term capital gains. For investment companies that qualify as RICs under the IRC, federal income taxes payable on security gains that the company elects to retain are accrued only on the last day of the tax year, December 31. As discussed in detail in Note 5 – Income Taxes, a provision for taxes on long-term capital gains deemed distributed to shareholders in the amount of $814,503 was recorded for our tax year ended December 31, 2009.

 CSMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC, is not a RIC and is required to pay taxes at the current corporate rate.

Deferred Taxes The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan which covers its employees and employees of certain of its controlled affiliates. Deferred taxes related to the qualified defined benefit pension plan are recorded as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation      The Company recognizes compensation cost over the straight-line method for all share-based payments granted on or after that date and for all awards granted to employees prior to April 1, 2006 that remain unvested on that date. The fair value of stock options are determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and are expensed over the vesting period of the related stock options.

Defined Pension Benefits and Other Postretirement Plans The Company is required to, as an employer that sponsors one or more postretirement defined benefit plan(s), (i) recognize the funded status of postretirement defined benefit plans – measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligations – in its balance sheet; (ii) recognize changes in the funded status of postretirement defined benefit plans in shareholder’s equity in the year in which the changes occur; and (iii) measure postretirement defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end. The Company presently uses March 31 as the measurement date for all of its postretirement defined benefit plans.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

4.      Investments

     The Company fair values its investments in accordance with GAAP as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. When available, we base the fair value of our investments on directly observable market prices or on market data derived for comparable assets. For all other investments, inputs used to measure fair value reflect management’s best estimate of assumptions that would be used by market participants in pricing the investments in a hypothetical transaction.

     The levels of fair value inputs used to measure our investments are characterized in accordance with the fair value hierarchy established by ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”. Where inputs for an asset or liability fall in more than one level in the fair value hierarchy, the investment is classified in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to that investment’s fair value measurement. We use judgment and consider factors specific to the investment in determining the significance of an input to a fair value measurement. While management believes our valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy and investments that fall into each of the levels are described below:

The following fair value hierarchy table sets forth our investment portfolio by level as of December 31, 2009 (in millions):

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

The following table provides a summary of changes in the fair value of investment assets and liabilities measured using Level 3 inputs during the three months ended December 31, 2009 (in millions):

		Fair Value 9/30/2009		Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)		Net New Investments (Divestitures)		Fair Value 12/31/2009
Debt		$13.2		$1.0		$0.6		$14.7
Partnership Interest		8.6		(0.1)		-		8.5
Preferred Equity		31.9		1.7		-		33.6
Common Equity		370.7		3.2		-		373.9
Total Investments		$424.4		$5.7		$0.6		$430.7

The following table provides a summary of changes in the fair value of investment assets and liabilities measured using Level 3 inputs during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 (in millions):

		Fair Value 3/31/2009		Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)		Net New Investments (Divestitures)		Conversion of Security from Debt to Equity		Fair Value 12/31/2009
Debt		$8.3		$6.0		$1.8		$(1.3)		$14.7
Partnership Interest		6.7		(0.2)		2.0		-		8.5
Preferred Equity		16.4		7.7		8.2		1.3		33.6
Common Equity		351.4		24.7		(2.3)		-		373.9
Total Investments		$382.8		$38.2		$9.7		$-		$430.7

The total unrealized gains (losses) for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2009 included in earnings that related to assets still held at December 31, 2009 were $5,714,505 and $38,208,870, respectively

5.      Income Taxes

We operate to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the IRC. In order to qualify as a RIC, we must annually distribute at least 90% of our taxable ordinary income, based on our tax year, to our shareholders in a timely manner. Ordinary income includes net short-term capital gains but excludes net long-term capital gains. A RIC is not subject to federal income tax on the portion of its ordinary income and long-term capital gains that are distributed to its shareholders, including “deemed distributions” discussed below. As permitted by the Code, a RIC can designate dividends paid in the subsequent tax year as dividends of current year ordinary income and net long-term gains if those dividends are both declared by the extended due date of the RIC’s federal income tax return and paid to shareholders by the last day of the subsequent tax year. We have distributed or intend to distribute sufficient dividends to eliminate taxable income for our completed tax years. If we fail to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement or otherwise fail to qualify as a RIC in any tax year, we would be subject to tax in such year on all of our taxable income, regardless of whether we made any distributions to our shareholders. Additionally, we are also subject to a nondeductible federal excise tax of 4% if we do not distribute at least 98% of our investment company ordinary taxable income before the end of our tax year. We have a calendar tax year end of December 31. For the tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, CSC and CSVC qualified to be taxed as RICs. We intend to meet the applicable qualifications to be taxed as a RIC in future years. Management feels it is probable that we will maintain our RIC status for a period longer than one year. However, either company’s ability to meet certain portfolio diversification requirements of RICs in future years may not be controllable by such company.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

               A RIC may elect to retain its long-term capital gains by designating them as a “deemed distribution” to its shareholders and paying a federal tax of 35% on the long-term capital gains for the benefit of its shareholders. Shareholders would then report their share of the retained capital gains on their income tax returns as if it had been received and report a tax credit for the tax paid on their behalf by the RIC. Shareholders then add the amount of the “deemed distribution,” net of such tax, to the basis of their shares.

As permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, a RIC can designate dividends paid in the subsequent tax year as dividends of the current year ordinary taxable income and long-term capital gains if those dividends are both declared by extended due date of the RIC’s federal income tax return and paid to shareholders by the last day of the subsequent tax year. For tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we declared and paid ordinary dividends in the amount of $2,993,310 and $12,256,745, respectively.

As a RIC, we are also subject to a nondeductible federal excise tax of 4% if we do not distribute at least 98% of our investment company ordinary taxable income before the end of our tax year. For the tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we distributed 100% of our investment company ordinary taxable income. Therefore, we have made no tax provisions for income taxes on ordinary taxable income for the tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

For the tax year ended December 31, 2009, we have estimated net long-term capital gains of $2,327,150 for tax purposes and $1,682,616 for book purposes, which we elected to retain and treat as deemed distributions to our shareholders. Likewise, for the tax year ended December 31, 2008, we had net long-term capital gains of $14,922,751 for tax purposes and $15,936,644 for book purposes; which we also elected to retain and treat as deemed distributions to our shareholders. In order to make the election to retain capital gains, we incurred federal taxes on behalf of our shareholders in the amount of $814,502 and $5,222,964 for the tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of December 31, 2009, we did not have any undistributed long-term capital gains since they are being treated as distributed through the “deemed distribution.”

 CSMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC, is not a RIC and is required to pay taxes at the current corporate rate. CSC sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan which covers its employees and employees of certain of its wholly owned portfolio companies. Deferred taxes related to the qualified defined pension plan are recorded as incurred.

6.     Employee Stock Option Plans 

On July 20, 2009, shareholders approved the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock options to employees and officers of the Company and authorizes the issuance of common stock upon exercise of such options for up to 140,000 shares. All options are granted at or above market price, generally expire up to ten years from the date of grant and are generally exercisable on or after the first anniversary of the date of grant in five annual installments. Options to purchase 38,750 shares at a price of $76.74 (market price at the time of the grant) were granted on October 19, 2009 and remain outstanding, thus leaving a total of 101,250 options available for future grant.

               The Company previously granted stock options under its 1999 Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Plan”), as approved by shareholders on July 19, 1999. The 1999 Plan expired on April 19, 2009. Options previously made under the Company’s 1999 Stock Option Plan and outstanding on July 20, 2009 continue in effect governed by provisions of the 1999 plan. All options granted under the 1999 Plan were granted at or above market price, generally expire up to ten years from the date of grant and are generally exercisable on or after the first anniversary of the date of grant in five to ten annual installments.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

We recognize compensation cost over the straight-line method for all share-based payments granted on or after that date and for all awards granted to employees prior to April 1, 2006 that remain unvested on that date. The fair value of stock options are determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and are expensed over the vesting period of the related stock options. Accordingly, for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2009, we recognized compensation expense of $190,652 and $473,703, respectively.

As of December 31, 2009, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related the 2009 Plan and 1999 Plan non-vested stock options was $2,871,764, which will be amortized over the weighted-average service period of approximately 4.2 years. The following table summarizes the 2009 Plan and the 1999 Plan price per option at grant date using the Black-Scholes pricing model:

The following table summarizes activity in the 2009 Plan and the 1999 Plan as of December 31, 2009:

			Number			Weighted-Average
			of shares			Exercise Price
2009 Plan
Balance at March 31, 2009			–			$ –
Granted			38,750			76.74
Exercised			–			–
Canceled			–			–
Balance at December 31, 2009			38,750			$76.74
1999 Plan
Balance at March 31, 2009			107,900			$114.78
Granted			–			–
Exercised			–			–
Canceled			–			–
Balance at December 31, 2009			107,900			$114.78
Combined Balance at December 31, 2009			146,650			$104.72

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)     

               At December 31, 2009, the range of exercise prices and weighted-average remaining contractual life of outstanding options was $65.00 to $152.98 and 4.2 years, respectively. The number of options exercisable under the 2009 Plan and the 1999 Plan, at December 31, 2009, was 35,960 with a weighted-average exercise price of $110.30. No options were exercised during the nine months ended December 31, 2009.

7.     Summary of Per Share Information

8.     Contingencies and Commitments

From time to time the Company may be liable for claims against its portfolio companies. We do not believe the effects of such claims would have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

The Company has future commitments, subject to specific conditions, to invest up to $5,061,482 in six portfolio companies.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

9.     New Authoritative Accounting Guidance

As discussed in Note 3 – Significant Accounting Policies, on July 1, 2009, the Accounting Standards Codification became FASB’s officially recognized source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities, superseding existing FASB, AICPA, EITF and related literature. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative. The switch to ASC affects the way companies refer to U.S. GAAP in financial statements and accounting policies. Citing particular content in the ASC involves specifying the unique numeric path to the content through the Topic, Subtopic, Section and Paragraph Structure.

New authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits,” provides guidance related to an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of defined benefit pension or other post-retirement benefit plans. Under ASC Topic 715, disclosures should provide users of financial statements with an understanding of how investment allocation decisions are made, the factors that are pertinent to an understanding of investment policies and strategies, the major categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, the effect of fair value measurements using unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period and significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. The disclosures required by ASC Topic 715 will be included in our financial statements beginning with the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2010.

New authoritative accounting guidance (Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-5) under ASC Topic 820 provides guidance for measuring the fair value of a liability in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available. In such instances, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value utilizing a valuation technique that uses (i) the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset, (ii) quoted prices for similar liabilities when traded as assets, or (iii) another valuation technique that is consistent with the existing principles of ASC Topic 820, such as an income approach or market approach. The new authoritative guidance also clarifies that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability. The foregoing new authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 820 became effective for our financial statements beginning October 1, 2009 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Further new authoritative accounting guidance (Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-12) under ASC Topic 820 provides guidance for measuring the fair value of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share or its equivalent; provided that the investment does not have a readily determined fair value and the net asset value is calculated in a manner that is consistent with ASC Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies,” as of the reporting entities measurement date, including the measurement of all or substantially all of the underlying investments of the investee in accordance with Topic 820. In such instances, a reporting entity is permitted to estimate the fair value of an investment using the net asset value per share. The disclosures required by ASU 2009-12 became effective for our financial statements for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

10.          Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated all subsequent events through February 4, 2010, the date of the filing of this Form 10-Q. 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, for the year ended March 31, 2009, included in the 2009 Form 10-K. Operating results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ended March 31, 2010 or any future period.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein may contain “forward-looking statements” based on our current expectations, assumptions and estimates about us and our industry. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “continue” and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of several factors more fully described in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and in our Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2009. The forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q related only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Results of Operations

Net asset value at December 31, 2009 was $456,445,923, equivalent to $121.99 per share. Assuming reinvestment of all dividends and tax credits on retained long-term capital gains, the December 31, 2009 net asset value reflects a decrease of 3.4% during the past twelve months.

			December 31,			December 31,
			2009			2008
Net assets			$456,455,923			$477,738,322
Shares outstanding			3,741,638			3,741,638
Net assets per share			$121.99			$127.68

The composite measure of our financial performance in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is captioned “Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations” and consists of three elements. The first is “Net investment income,” which is the difference between our income from interest, dividends and fees and our combined operating and interest expenses, net of applicable income taxes. The second element is “Net realized gain (loss) on investments”, which is the difference between the proceeds received from disposition of portfolio securities and their stated cost. The third element is the “Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation of investments,” which is the net change in the market or fair value of our investment portfolio, compared with stated cost. It should be noted that the “Net realized gain (loss) on investments” and “Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation of investments” are directly related in that when an appreciated portfolio security is sold to realize a gain, a corresponding decrease in net unrealized appreciation occurs by transferring the gain associated with the transaction from “unrealized” to “realized.” Conversely, when a loss is realized on a depreciated portfolio security, an increase in net unrealized appreciation occurs.

Net Investment Income     

Interest income of $773,076 for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 decreased from $1,052,625 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 as a result of lower interest rates, decrease in excess cash, and the sale of unrestricted marketable securities in October 2008. During the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we recorded dividend income from the following sources:

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(continued) 

				Nine Months Ended
				December
				2009			2008
Alamo Group Inc.				$    509,454			$     509,454
CapitalSouth Partners				20,528			20,519
Dennis Tool Company				33,333			37,499
Encore Wire Corporation				245,205			245,205
Heelys, Inc.				0			9,317,310
Kimberly-Clark Corporation				0			89,529
PETsMart, Inc.				0			18,000
The RectorSeal Corporation				1,877,870			480,000
TCI Holdings, Inc.				60,953			60,953
The Whitmore Manufacturing Company				469,467			120, 000
Other				0			51,039
				$3,216,810			$10,949,508

Net Realized Gain on Investments

Net realized gains on investments for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 totaled $1,639,995 before tax provisions while net realized gains on investments for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 totaled $15,936,644.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2009, we sold all of our shares of Dennis Tool Company generating proceeds of $4,763,416, which does not include an additional $659,361 held in escrow; resulting in a net realize gain of $1,433,472 before tax provisions. In addition, we received $206,522 from Essex Capital Corporation representing a contingent payment in connection with a previous investment in Pharma Fab, Inc. that was written off in 2007.

Net Increase (Decrease) in Unrealized Appreciation of Investments

Set forth in the following table are the significant increases and decreases in unrealized appreciation by portfolio company: