Great Elm Capital Corp. - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

or

Commission File Number: 814-01211

Great Elm Capital Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 375-3006

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).  Yes    ☐  No    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):  Yes    ☐  No    ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $52.3 million as of June 30, 2021.

As of March 1, 2022, there were 4,601,391 outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, which gives effect to the six-for-one reverse stock split that became effective on February 28, 2022.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders (“Proxy Statement”) of the registrant, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “GECC,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and words of similar import are to Great Elm Capital Corp. and/or its subsidiaries. We reference materials on our website, www.greatelmcc.com, but nothing on our website shall be deemed incorporated by reference or otherwise contained in this report.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some of the statements in this report (including in the following discussion) constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or our future performance or financial conditions. The forward-looking statements contained in this report involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements concerning:

We use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “plan” and similar words to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this report involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this report on information available to us on the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we have filed or in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

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Selected Risk Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those highlighted and discussed in greater detail in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this summary. Some of these principal risks may be further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic:

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Item 1. Business.

Overview

We are a Maryland corporation that was formed in April 2016.  We operate as a closed‑end, externally managed, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). In addition, for tax purposes, we elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code, beginning with our tax year starting October 1, 2016.

We seek to generate current income and capital appreciation through debt and income-generating equity investments, including investments in specialty finance businesses.  To achieve our investment objective, we invest in secured and senior secured debt instruments of middle market companies, as well as income-generating equity investments in specialty finance companies, that we believe offer sufficient downside protection and have the potential to generate attractive returns.  We generally define middle market companies as companies with enterprise values between $100 million and $2 billion.  We also make investments throughout other portions of a company’s capital structure, including subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity or equity‑linked securities. We source these transactions directly with issuers and in the secondary markets through relationships with industry professionals.

Our Portfolio at December 31, 2021

A list of the industries in which we have invested as of December 31, 2021 may be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Set forth below is a brief description of each company representing greater than 5% of the fair market value of our portfolio at December 31, 2021.

Altus Midstream LP

Altus Midstream LP (“Altus Midstream”) owns gas gathering, processing and transmission assets in the Permian Basin of West Texas, anchored by midstream service contracts. Additionally, Altus Midstream owns equity interests in several intrastate Permian Basin pipelines that have access to various points along the Texas Gulf Coast.  In February 2022, Altus Midstream Company, parent of Altus Midstream, merged with BCP Raptor Holdco LP and rebranded itself as Kinetik Holdings, Inc.

Lenders Funding, LLC

Lenders Funding, LLC (“Lenders Funding”) is a private funding and risk sharing source for factors and asset-based lenders. It purchases participations in their transactions on a non-recourse basis or provides working capital to them under a variety of flexible programs. Since its formation, Lenders Funding has worked with over 150 lenders and factors and have supplied several hundred million dollars in funding.

Prestige Capital Finance, LLC

Prestige Capital Finance, LLC (“Prestige”) is a commercial finance company specializing in providing spot factoring services, providing clients with an opportunity to sell individual accounts receivable for an upfront payment.  Prestige serves clients across a wide range of industries with between $100 thousand and $10 million of accounts receivable.  Prestige has been in business for over 30 years and factored over $6 billion in transactions during that time.

Research Now Group, Inc.

Research Now Group, Inc. (“Research Now”) is the largest first-party data and insight platform, serving nearly 6,000 market research, media and advertising agencies, publishers, consulting and investment firms and corporate customers.  Research Now offers end-to-end solutions for research from survey preparation and delivery to data processing and analytics. Research Now conducts over 90 million surveys annually with from its 29 million active panelists.

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Investment Manager and Administrator

Great Elm Capital Management, Inc.’s (“GECM”) investment team has more than 100 years of experience in the aggregate financing and investing in leveraged middle-market companies. GECM’s investment committee includes Peter A. Reed, GECM’s Chief Investment Officer, Adam M. Kleinman, Jason W. Reese and Matt Kaplan.  Great Elm Group, Inc. (“GEG”) is the parent company of GECM.  The address for GECM is 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02453.

Investment Selection

GECM employs a team of investment professionals with experience in leveraged and specialty finance.  The sector-focused research team performs fundamental research at both the industry and company level. Through in-depth industry coverage, GECM’s investment team seeks to develop a thorough understanding of the fundamental market, sector drivers, mergers and acquisition activity, security pricing and trading and new issue trends. GECM’s investment team believes that understanding industry trends is an important element of investment success.

We have recently expanded our investment allocation in specialty finance companies as well as in participation opportunities generated by both unrelated and related specialty finance companies. GECM believes investments in specialty finance companies along the “continuum of lending” provides attractive risk adjusted returns that are expected to be largely uncorrelated to the liquid credit markets. The “continuum of lending” as seen by GECM is the various stages of capital that are provided to under-banked small and medium sized businesses and includes inventory and purchase order financing, receivables factoring, asset-based and asset-backed lending, and equipment financing. GECM believes that ownership interests in multiple specialty finance companies will create a natural competitive advantage for each business and generate both revenue and cost synergies across companies. In December 2021, GECC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Great Elm Specialty Finance, LLC (“GESF"), was formed to hold specialty finance related investments, and Michael Keller, a seasoned professional with significant experience in specialty finance, was appointed President of GESF.

Idea Generation, Origination and Refinement

Idea generation and origination is maximized through long‑standing and extensive relationships with industry contacts, brokers, commercial and investment bankers, as well as current and former clients, portfolio companies and investors. GECM’s investment team is expected to supplement these lead sources by also utilizing broader research efforts, such as attendance at prospective borrower industry conferences and an active calling effort to brokers and investment bankers.  GECM’s investment team focuses their idea generation and origination efforts on middle‑market companies. In screening potential investments, GECM’s investment team utilizes a value‑oriented investment philosophy with analysis and research focused on the preservation of capital. GECM has identified several criteria that it believes are important in identifying and investing in prospective portfolio companies. GECM’s process requires focus on the terms of the applicable contracts and instruments. GECM’s criteria provide general guidelines for GECM’s investment committee’s decisions; however, not all of these criteria will be met by each prospective portfolio company in which they choose to invest.

Asset Based Investments.  Investments in businesses based on the value of the collateral or the issuer’s assets. This type of investment focuses on expected realizable value of the issuer’s assets.

Enterprise Value Investments.  Investments in businesses whose enterprise value represents the opportunity for principal to be repaid by refinancing or in connection with a merger or acquisition transaction. These investments focus on the going concern value of the enterprise.

Other Debt Investments.  Investments in businesses which have the ability to pay interest and principal on outstanding debt out of expected free cash flow from their business. These investments focus on the sustainability and defensibility of cash flows from the business.

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Due Diligence

GECM’s due diligence typically includes:

Upon the completion of due diligence and a decision to proceed with an investment in a company, the investment professionals leading the diligence process present the opportunity to GECM’s investment committee, which then determines whether to pursue the potential investment.

Approval of Investment Transactions

GECM’s procedures call for each new investment under consideration by the GECM analysts to be preliminarily reviewed at periodic meetings of GECM’s investment team. GECM’s investment team then prepares a summary of the investment, including a financial model and risk cases and a legal review checklist. GECM’s investment committee then will hold a formal review meeting, and following approval of a specific investment, authorization is given to GECM’s trader, including execution guidelines.

GECM’s investment analysts provide regular updates of the positions for which they are responsible to members of GECM’s investment committee.

GECM’s investment analysts and portfolio manager will jointly decide when to sell a position in consultation with members of the GECM investment committee. The sale decision will then be given to GECM’s trader, who will execute the trade.

Ongoing Relationship with Portfolio Companies

As a BDC, we offer, and sometimes provide upon request, significant managerial assistance to certain of our portfolio companies. This assistance could involve, among other things, monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of our portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance.

GECM’s investment team monitors our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. They monitor the financial trends of each portfolio company and its respective industry to assess the appropriate course of action for each investment. GECM’s ongoing monitoring of a portfolio company will include both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the company and its industry.

Valuation Procedures

We value our assets, an essential input in the determination of our net asset value (“NAV”) consistent with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and as required by the Investment Company Act. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations–Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for an extended discussion of our methodology.

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Staffing

We do not currently have any employees. Mr. Reed is our Chief Executive Officer and President and GECM’s Chief Investment Officer. Under an Administration Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2016 (the “Administration Agreement”), by and between us and GECM, GECM provides the services of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer.

GECM has entered into a shared services agreement with Imperial Capital Asset Management, LLC (“ICAM”), pursuant to which ICAM will make available to GECM certain employees of ICAM, including Mr. Kaplan, to provide services to GECM in exchange for reimbursement by GECM of the allocated portion of such employees’ time.

Competition

We compete for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including private equity funds, hedge funds, mutual funds, mezzanine funds and small business investment companies), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks, direct lending funds and other sources of funding. Additionally, because competition for investment opportunities generally has increased among alternative investment vehicles, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including making investments in the types of portfolio companies we target. Many of these entities have greater financial and managerial resources than we do.

Formation Transactions and Merger

On June 23, 2016, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), with Full Circle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (“Full Circle”), that provided for a stock-for-stock merger (the “Merger”) of Full Circle with and into GECC. The Merger was completed, and we commenced operations on November 3, 2016.

Exemptive Relief

We have received exemptive relief from the SEC that will allow us to co-invest, together with other investment vehicles managed by GECM, in specific investment opportunities in accordance with the terms and conditions of the SEC order granting such exemptive relief.

Investment Management Agreement

Management Services

GECM serves as our investment adviser and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Subject to the overall supervision of our board of directors (our “Board”), GECM manages our day‑to‑day operations and provides investment advisory and management services to us. Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2016 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), by and between us and GECM, GECM:

GECM’s services to us under the Investment Management Agreement are not exclusive, and GECM is free to furnish similar services to other entities.

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Management and Incentive Fees

Under the Investment Management Agreement, GECM receives a fee from us, consisting of two components: (1) a base management fee and (2) an incentive fee.

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.50% of the Company’s average adjusted gross assets, including assets purchased with borrowed funds. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the then current calendar quarter. Base management fees for any partial quarter are prorated.

The incentive fee consists of two components that are independent of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not. One component of the inventive fee is based on income (the “Income Incentive Fee”) and the other component is based on capital gains (the “Capital Gains Incentive Fee”).

Income Incentive Fee

The Income Incentive Fee is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on our pre‑incentive fee net investment income for the quarter. Pre‑incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees such as commitment, origination, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies, but excluding fees for providing managerial assistance) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, any expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and dividends paid on any outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre‑incentive fee net investment income includes any accretion of original issue discount, market discount, payment‑in‑kind (“PIK”) interest, PIK dividends or other types of deferred or accrued income, including in connection with zero coupon securities, that we and our consolidated subsidiaries have recognized in accordance with GAAP, but have not yet received in cash (collectively, “Accrued Unpaid Income”).

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

Pre‑incentive fee net investment income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets (defined in accordance with GAAP) at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, is compared to a fixed “hurdle rate” of 1.75% per quarter (7.00% annualized). If market interest rates rise, we may be able to invest in debt instruments that provide for a higher return, which would increase our pre‑incentive fee net investment income and make it easier for GECM to surpass the fixed hurdle rate and receive an incentive fee based on such net investment income.

We pay the incentive fee with respect to our pre‑incentive fee net investment income in each calendar quarter as follows:

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

These calculations are adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the quarter and will be appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months. Any Income Incentive Fee otherwise payable with respect to Accrued Unpaid Income (collectively, the “Accrued Unpaid Income Incentive Fees”) will be deferred, on a security by security basis, and will become payable only if, as, when and to the extent cash is received by us or our consolidated subsidiaries in respect thereof. Any Accrued Unpaid Income that is subsequently reversed in connection with a write‑down, write‑off, impairment or similar treatment of the investment giving rise to such Accrued Unpaid Income will, in the applicable period of reversal, (1) reduce pre‑incentive fee net investment income and (2) reduce the amount of Accrued Unpaid Income deferred pursuant to the terms of the Investment Management Agreement. Subsequent payments of Income Incentive Fees deferred pursuant to this paragraph do not reduce the amounts payable for any quarter pursuant to the other terms of the Investment Management Agreement.

We will defer cash payment of any Income Incentive Fee otherwise payable to the investment adviser in any quarter (excluding Accrued Unpaid Income Incentive Fees with respect to such quarter) that exceeds (1) 20% of the Cumulative Pre‑Incentive Fee Net Return (as defined below) during the most recent twelve full calendar quarter period ending on or prior to the date such payment is to be made (the “Trailing Twelve Quarters”) less (2) the aggregate incentive fees that were previously paid to the investment adviser during such Trailing Twelve Quarters (excluding Accrued Unpaid Income Incentive Fees during such Trailing Twelve Quarters and not subsequently paid). “Cumulative Pre‑Incentive Fee Net Return” during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters means the sum of (a) pre‑incentive fee net investment income in respect of such Trailing Twelve Quarters less (b) net realized capital losses and net unrealized capital depreciation, if any, in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, in respect of such Trailing Twelve Quarters.

Capital Gains Incentive Fee

The Capital Gains Incentive Fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing with the partial calendar year ended December 31, 2016, and is calculated at the end of each applicable year by subtracting (a) the sum of our and our consolidated subsidiaries’ cumulative aggregate realized capital losses and aggregate unrealized capital depreciation from (b) our and our consolidated subsidiaries’ cumulative aggregate realized capital gains, in each case calculated from November 4, 2016. If such amount is positive at the end of such year, then the Capital Gains Incentive Fee for such year is equal to 20% of such amount, less the aggregate amount of Capital Gains Incentive Fees paid in all prior years. If such amount is negative, then there is no Capital Gains Incentive Fee for such year.

The cumulative aggregate realized capital gains are calculated as the sum of the differences, if positive, between (a) the net sales price of each investment in our portfolio when sold and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment.  The cumulative aggregate realized capital losses are calculated as the sum of the amounts by which (a) the net sales price of each investment in our portfolio when sold is less than (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment. The aggregate unrealized capital depreciation is calculated as the sum of the differences, if negative, between (a) the fair value of each investment in our portfolio as of the applicable Capital Gains Incentive Fee calculation date and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment.

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Examples of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculations

The following hypothetical calculations illustrate the calculation of the Income Incentive Fee under the Investment Management Agreement. Amounts shown are a percentage of total net assets.

The following hypothetical calculations illustrate the calculation of the Capital Gains Incentive Fee under the Investment Management Agreement.

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As illustrated in Year 3 of Assumption 1 above, if GECC were to be wound up on a date other than December 31 of any year, we may have paid aggregate capital gain incentive fees that are more than the amount of such fees that would be payable if GECC had been wound up on December 31 of such year.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, we incurred $3.2 million in base management fees and $(4.3) million in income-based fees accrued during the period. The incentive fees are currently expected to be deferred in accordance with the Investment Management Agreement. There were no capital gains incentive fees earned by GECM as calculated under the Investment Management Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2021.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, we incurred $2.5 million in base management fees and $1.0 million in income-based fees accrued during the period. The incentive fees were deferred in accordance with the Investment Management Agreement. There were no capital gains incentive fees earned by GECM as calculated under the Investment Management Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred $3.0 million in base management fees and $2.7 million in income-based fees accrued during the period. The incentive fees were deferred in accordance with the Investment Management Agreement. There were no capital gains incentive fees earned by GECM as calculated under the Investment Management Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2019.

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Payment of Expenses

The services of all investment professionals and staff of GECM, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, are provided and paid for by GECM. We bear all other costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including (without limitation):

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Duration and Termination

Our Board initially approved the Investment Management Agreement on August 8, 2016, and most recently approved the Investment Management Agreement on July 29, 2021. The Investment Management Agreement renews for successive annual periods subject to annual approval by our Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not “interested persons.” The Investment Management Agreement will automatically terminate if it is assigned. The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other. The Investment Management Agreement is currently in effect.

Conflicts of interest may arise if GECM seeks to change the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including, for example, the terms for compensation. Except in limited circumstances, any material change to the Investment Management Agreement must be submitted to stockholders for approval under the Investment Company Act and we may from time to time decide it is appropriate to seek stockholder approval to change the terms of the Investment Management Agreement.

Indemnification

We agreed to indemnify GECM, its stockholders and their respective officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person affiliated with it, to the fullest extent permitted by law, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of GECM’s services under the Investment Management Agreement or otherwise as our investment adviser.

Organization of the Investment Adviser

GECM is a Delaware corporation and is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. GECM’s principal executive offices are located at 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02453.

Board Approval of the Investment Management Agreement

On July 29, 2021, our Board approved the renewal of the Investment Management Agreement through September 26, 2022. In its consideration of the Investment Management Agreement, our Board focused on information it had received relating to, among other things:

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In reaching a decision to approve the Investment Management Agreement, our Board gave weight to each of the factors described above, but did not identify any one particular factor as controlling its decision. Our Board concluded that the fees set forth in the Investment Management Agreement were reasonable in relation to the services to be provided and that the Investment Management Agreement, including the fees and other amounts payable by us thereunder, is in the best interest of us and our stockholders.

Regulation as a Business Development Company

We may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC unless authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as required by the Investment Company Act. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the Investment Company Act as the lesser of:

A majority of our directors must be persons who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act. Additionally, we are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the BDC. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office.

We are required to meet a coverage ratio of the value of total assets to total senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 150%. We may also be prohibited under the Investment Company Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our directors who are not interested persons and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC.

For example, we may sell shares of our common stock at a price below the then current NAV of our common stock if our Board determines that such sale is in our and our stockholders’ best interests, and our stockholders approve our policy and practice of making such sales. In any such case, under such circumstances, the price at which shares of our common stock are sold may be the fair value of such shares of common stock. We may be examined by the SEC for compliance with the Investment Company Act.

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We are generally unable to sell shares of our common stock at a price below NAV per share. As a BDC, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage. We may, however, sell shares of our common stock at a price below NAV per share:

We may not acquire any assets other than "qualifying assets" unless, at the time we make such acquisition, the value of our qualifying assets represents at least 70% of the value of our total assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are:

An eligible portfolio company is generally a domestic company that is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by a BDC) and that:

Control, as defined by the Investment Company Act, is presumed to exist where a BDC beneficially owns more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the portfolio company.

In addition, a BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in eligible portfolio companies, or in other securities that are consistent with its purpose as a BDC.

To include certain securities described above as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70% test, a BDC must offer to the issuer of those securities managerial assistance such as providing guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations, or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company. We offer to provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies.

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Pending investment in other types of "qualifying assets," as described above, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which are referred to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets, as applicable, are qualifying assets. We make purchases that are consistent with our purpose of making investments in securities described in paragraphs 1 through 3 of Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act.  We will invest in U.S. Treasury bills or in repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25% of our gross assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would not meet the diversification tests in order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit.

We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock, if our asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, is at least equal to 150% immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of our common stock unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our gross assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage.

Code of Ethics

We and GECM have each adopted a code of ethics, which applies to the management at each company, respectively, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, respectively, that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain transactions by our or GECM's personnel, respectively. Each code of ethics is included as an exhibit to this report and available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of the respective codes of ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters

We currently qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To continue to qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from dividends, interest (including tax‑exempt interest), payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, other income (including but not limited to gain from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to our business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (a “QPTP”); and (b) diversify our holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the market value of our total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of our total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer (subject to the exception described below), and (ii) not more than 25% of the market value of our total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities and the securities of other regulated investment companies) (A) of any issuer, (B) of any two or more issuers that we control and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades or businesses, or (C) of one or more QPTPs. We may generate certain income that might not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. We will monitor our transactions to endeavor to prevent our disqualification as a RIC.

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If we fail to satisfy the 90% annual gross income requirement or the asset diversification requirements discussed above in any taxable year, we may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the asset diversification requirements where we correct the failure within a specified period. If the applicable relief provisions are not available or cannot be met, all of our income would be subject to corporate‑level U.S. federal income tax as described below. We cannot provide assurance that we would qualify for any such relief should we fail the 90% annual gross income requirement or the asset diversification requirements discussed above.

As a RIC, in any taxable year with respect to which we timely distribute at least 90% of the sum of:

We (but not our stockholders) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on investment company taxable income and net capital gain (generally, net long‑term capital gain in excess of short‑term capital loss) that we distribute to our stockholders. We intend to distribute annually all or substantially all of such income on a timely basis.

To the extent that we retain our net capital gains for investment or any investment company taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate income tax rates. We may choose to retain our net capital gains for investment or any investment company taxable income, and pay the associated federal corporate income tax, including the federal excise tax described below.

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax payable by us. To avoid this tax, we must distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of:

While we intend to distribute any income and capital gains in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% federal excise tax, sufficient amounts of our taxable income and capital gains may not be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the tax. In that event, we will be liable for the tax only on the amount by which we do not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

If, in any particular taxable year, we do not satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement or otherwise were to fail to qualify as a RIC (for example, because we fail the 90% annual gross income requirement described above), and relief is not available as discussed above, all of our taxable income (including our net capital gains) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to stockholders, and distributions generally will be taxable to the stockholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

We may decide to be taxed as a regular corporation even if we would otherwise qualify as a RIC if we determine that treatment as a corporation for a particular year would be in our best interests.

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If we realize a net capital loss, the excess of our net short‑term capital loss over our net long‑term capital gain is treated as a short‑term capital loss arising on the first day of our next taxable year and the excess of our net long‑term capital loss over our net short‑term capital gain is treated as a long‑term capital loss arising on the first day of our next taxable year. If future capital gain is offset by carried forward capital losses, such future capital gain is not subject to fund‑level U.S. federal income tax, regardless of whether they are distributed to stockholders. Accordingly, we do not expect to distribute any such offsetting capital gain. A RIC cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses.

Our Investments

Certain of our investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things:

We will monitor our transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities (even if it is not advantageous to dispose of such securities) to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of us as a RIC.

Investments we make in securities issued at a discount or providing for deferred interest or PIK interest are subject to special tax rules that will affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to stockholders.  For example, with respect to securities issued at a discount, we will generally be required to accrue daily as income a portion of the discount and to distribute such income on a timely basis each year to maintain our qualification as a RIC and to avoid U.S. federal income and excise taxes. Since in certain circumstances we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty making distributions in the amounts necessary to satisfy the requirements for maintaining RIC status and for avoiding U.S. federal income and excise taxes. Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify as a RIC and thereby be subject to corporate‑level income tax.

Furthermore, a portfolio company in which we invest may face financial difficulty that requires us to work‑out, modify or otherwise restructure our investment in the portfolio company.  Any such restructuring may result in unusable capital losses and future non‑cash income. Any such restructuring may also result in our recognition of a substantial amount of non‑qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement or our receiving assets that would not count toward the asset diversification requirements.

Gain or loss recognized by us from warrants acquired by us as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally will be treated as capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long‑term or short‑term, depending on how long we held a particular warrant.

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If we invest in foreign securities, we may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes with respect to those securities. Stockholders will generally not be entitled to claim a U.S. foreign tax credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by us.

If we acquire shares in a “passive foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”), we may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by us to our stockholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on us in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. If we invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Code (a “QEF”), in lieu of the foregoing requirements, we will be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the QEF, even if such income is not distributed to us. Alternatively, we can elect to mark‑to‑market at the end of each taxable year our shares in a PFIC; in this case, we will recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it does not exceed prior increases included in income. Our ability to make either election will depend on factors beyond our control. Under either election, we may be required to recognize in a year income in excess of our distributions from PFICs and our proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income will nevertheless be subject to the Annual Distribution Requirement and will be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax.

If we hold more than 10% of the shares (by vote or value) in a foreign corporation that is treated as a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”), we may be required to include in our gross income our pro rata share of such CFC’s “subpart F income” and “global intangible low-taxed income,” whether or not the corporation makes an actual distribution during such year.  In general, a foreign corporation will be classified as a CFC if more than 50% of the shares of the corporation, measured by reference to combined voting power or value, is owned (directly, indirectly or by attribution) by U.S. stockholders.  A U.S. stockholder, for this purpose, is any U.S. person that possesses (actually or constructively) 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of shares or 10% or more of the value of a corporation.  If we are treated as receiving a deemed distribution from a CFC, we will be required to include such distribution in our investment company taxable income regardless of whether we receive any actual distributions from such CFC, and we must distribute such income to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement.

Although the Code generally provides that income inclusions from QEFs and deemed distributions of subpart F income and global intangible low-taxed income from CFCs will be “good income” for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement to the extent such income is distributed to a RIC in the year it is included in the RIC’s income, the Code does not specifically provide whether income inclusions from a QEF or deemed distributions from a CFC during the RIC’s taxable year with respect to which no distribution is received would be “good income” for the 90% gross income requirement. The Department of the Treasury, however, has issued regulations that treat such income as being “good income” for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement, provided the income is derived with respect to a corporation’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time we accrue income, expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time we actually collect such income or pay such expenses or liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss.  Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.

If we borrow money, we may be prevented by loan covenants from declaring and paying dividends in certain circumstances.  Limits on our payment of dividends may prevent us from meeting the Annual Distribution Requirement, and may, therefore, jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a RIC, or subject us to the 4% excise tax.

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Even if we are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements, under the Investment Company Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our stockholders while our debt obligations and senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met.  This may also jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a RIC or subject us to the 4% excise tax.

Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and (2) other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the asset diversification requirements.  If we dispose of assets to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement, the asset diversification requirements, or the 4% excise tax, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.

Some of the income that we might otherwise earn, such as lease income, management fees, or income recognized in a work‑out or restructuring of a portfolio investment, may not satisfy the 90% gross income requirement.  To manage the risk that such income might disqualify us as a RIC for a failure to satisfy the 90% gross income requirement, one or more of our subsidiaries treated as U.S. corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be employed to earn such income.  Such corporations will be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax on their earnings, which ultimately will reduce the yield to our stockholders on such income and fees.

Failure to Qualify as a RIC

If we were unable to qualify for treatment as a RIC, and relief is not available as discussed above, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income at regular corporate rates.  We would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders nor would we be required to make distributions for tax purposes.  Distributions would generally be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income eligible for reduced maximum rates for non-corporate stockholders to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.  Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate U.S. stockholders would be eligible for the dividends received deduction.  Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.  If we were to fail to meet the RIC requirements for more than two consecutive years and then to seek to requalify as a RIC, we would be required to recognize gain to the extent of any unrealized appreciation in our assets unless we made a special election to pay corporate level tax on any such unrealized appreciation recognized during the succeeding five‑year period.

Administration Agreement

Our Board approved the Administration Agreement on August 8, 2016.  Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, GECM furnishes us with, or otherwise arranges for the provision of, office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping, finance, accounting, compliance and record keeping services at such office facilities and other such services as the administrator.  Under the Administration Agreement, GECM will, from time to time, provide, or otherwise arrange for the provision of, other services GECM determines to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including retaining the services of financial, compliance, accounting and administrative personnel that perform services on our behalf, including personnel to serve as our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer.  Under the Administration Agreement, GECM also performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC.  In addition, GECM assists us in determining and publishing our NAV, oversees the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others.  Payments made by us to GECM under the Administration Agreement are equal to an amount based upon our allocable portion of GECM’s overhead in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including our allocable portion of the cost of our officers (including our Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer and their respective staffs).  The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

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We bear all costs and expenses that are incurred in our operation and transactions and not specifically assumed by GECM pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement.

The Administration Agreement provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, GECM, its stockholders and their respective officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from or otherwise based upon the rendering of GECM’s services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as our administrator.

Great Elm License Agreement

We have a license agreement with GEG pursuant to which GEG grants us a non‑exclusive, royalty‑free license to use the name “Great Elm Capital Corp.” Under the license agreement, we have a right to use the Great Elm Capital Corp. name and the logo for so long as GECM, or an affiliate thereof, remains our investment adviser.  Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to the “Great Elm Capital Corp.” name.  The license agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other.

Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices

Since we acquire and dispose of many of our investments in privately negotiated transactions, many of the transactions that we engage in do not require the use of brokers or the payment of brokerage commissions. Subject to policies established by our Board, GECM is primarily responsible for selecting brokers and dealers to execute transactions with respect to the publicly traded securities portion of our portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage commissions. GECM does not execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but seeks to obtain the best net results for us under the circumstances, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating us and our business before investing in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties, not presently known to us or otherwise, may also impair the Company's business. Although the risks are organized by headings, and each risk is discussed separately, many are interrelated. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our Investments

A significant portion of our investment in Avanti has been written down and placed on non-accrual status and we may lose all of our investment in Avanti.

Avanti, located in London, England, is a provider of satellite-enabled data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  As of December 31, 2021, Avanti represents approximately 4% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments).  As of December 31, 2021, we owned approximately 9% of Avanti's outstanding debt, including second lien senior secured notes (the “PIK Toggle Notes”) and a 1.5 lien secured loan (the “1.5L Loan”) and approximately 9% of Avanti's outstanding common stock.  We acquired our original position in Avanti as part of a portfolio of debt instruments, which we purchased from private investment funds managed by MAST Capital Management, LLC prior to the Merger.  Our current position in Avanti largely resulted from a series of liability management transactions by Avanti that closed in December 2017.

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Avanti is highly leveraged.  If there is an event of default under the indenture governing the PIK Toggle Notes or any other indebtedness and the obligations under the PIK Toggle Notes are accelerated, Avanti likely will not have sufficient liquidity to pay the obligations under the PIK Toggle Notes.  Under such circumstances, Avanti may consider other restructuring options, such as entering into an insolvency procedure under English law or by filing for Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the consequences of which could include a reduction in the value of the assets available to satisfy the PIK Toggle Notes and the imposition of costs and other additional risks on holders of the PIK Toggle Notes, including a material reduction in the value of the PIK Toggle Notes.  In such an event, we may lose all or part of our investment in Avanti.

In addition, as noted above, we own approximately 9% of Avanti’s common stock. Avanti’s common stock was delisted from its primary exchange in September 2019 and no longer trades on an exchange, which limits the liquidity of our investment.  Equity securities also expose us to additional risks should Avanti default on its debt or need additional financing. Equity securities rank lower in the capital structure and would likely not pay current income or PIK income, which we had been receiving on our investment in Avanti prior to the 2017 liability management transactions. Please see, “—We are not in a position to exercise control over certain of our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments” and “—Certain of the companies in which we invest may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet their future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.”

We are currently receiving PIK interest on our Avanti investment under the PIK Toggle Notes and we have generated significant non-cash income in the form of PIK interest.  As part of the 2017 restructuring, the PIK Toggle Notes became pay-if-you-can notes whereby Avanti is required to make interest payments in cash, subject to satisfying certain minimum cash thresholds.  Otherwise, the interest will be paid as PIK interest.  Such PIK interest exposes us to significant risks. Please see “—Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure—We may expose ourselves to risks associated with the inclusion of non-cash income prior to receipt of cash,” and “—Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure—We may have difficulty paying our required distributions under applicable tax rules if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.”  Additionally, all accrued interest (through March 31, 2018) on the 2019 Notes has been converted into additional shares of Avanti common equity.  These factors could also result in lower trading prices for our common stock and/or debt securities. There can be no certainty in this respect and a significant decrease in the market value of the Avanti common stock following the restructuring could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our NAV and the trading prices of our securities and increase the risks of investing in our common stock.  The Avanti common stock was delisted from its primary exchange in September 2019 and no longer trades on an exchange.

Avanti's financial condition is uncertain. The 2017 liability management transactions did not materially change Avanti's long term capital structure and did not address the longer-term sustainability of Avanti's business model. In addition, Avanti is faced with near term debt maturities, including related to the PIK Toggle Notes, which mature in October 2022. As of result of the uncertainty surrounding Avanti’s financial condition and ongoing liquidity challenges, as of December 31, 2021, we determined that our investment in the PIK Toggle Notes was fair valued at zero and, we put our investment in the PIK Toggle Notes and the 1.5L loan on non-accrual, with any accrued but unpaid or capitalized interest income reversed as of period end. As a result of this write down and non-accrual status, we have determined that that the accrued incentive fees payable associated with the portion of PIK interest generated by the PIK Toggle Notes and 1.5L loan should not at this time be recognized as a liability and as such we have reversed $5.0 million in accrued incentive fees related to those investments in the current period.

As of September 30, 2021, Avanti represented approximately 13% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments). Following the write down described above, Avanti represented approximately 4% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments) as of December 31, 2021. In the future, we may need to further write down the fair value of our Avanti investments. We may also sell at a loss all or a portion of our investment in Avanti from time to time in order to meet diversification requirements under the Code or as part of our portfolio management strategy. There can be no certainty in this respect and a significant decrease in the value of our Avanti investments could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our NAV and the trading prices of our securities and increase the risks of investing in our common stock.

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We face increasing competition for investment opportunities.  Limited availability of attractive investment opportunities in the market could cause us to hold a larger percentage of our assets in liquid securities until market conditions improve.  We compete for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including specialty finance companies, private equity funds, mezzanine funds and small business investment companies), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding.  Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do.  For example, some competitors have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, including from the Small Business Administration.  In addition, increased competition for attractive investment opportunities allows debtors to demand more favorable terms and offer fewer contractual protections to creditors.  Some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we do.  These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to offer.  We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure.  If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss.  A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in lower middle‑market companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financing sources.  A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market would force us to accept less attractive investment terms.  GECM may, at its discretion, decide to pursue such opportunities if it believes that they are in our best interest; however, GECM may decline to pursue available investment opportunities that, although otherwise consistent with our investment policies and objectives, in GECM’s view present unacceptable risk/return profiles.  Under such circumstances, we may hold a larger percentage of our assets in liquid securities until market conditions improve in order to avoid having assets remain uninvested.  Furthermore, many of our competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the Investment Company Act imposes on us as a BDC.  We believe that competitors will make first and second lien loans with interest rates and returns that are lower than the rates and returns that we target.  Therefore, we do not seek to compete solely on the interest rates and returns offered to prospective portfolio companies.

Changes in the regulatory framework under which the wireless telecommunications industry operates and significant competition in the wireless telecommunications industry could adversely affect our business prospects or results of operations.  As a result of our stake in Avanti, we are exposed to risks associated with the wireless telecommunications sector.  For example, Avanti’s operations are regulated by various foreign governments and international bodies.  These regulatory regimes restrict or impose conditions on Avanti’s ability to operate in designated areas and to provide specified products or services.  In addition, new laws or regulations or changes to the existing regulatory framework could impose additional costs, impair revenue opportunities and potentially impede Avanti’s ability to provide services.  The further regulation of Avanti’s activities could impact Avanti’s ability to compete in the marketplace and limit the return Avanti, and, as a result, we, can expect to achieve.

In addition, Avanti’s business may also be affected by the significant competition in the wireless telecommunications industry.  There is rapid development of new technologies, services and products, which brings new competitors to the market.  While these changes have enabled companies like Avanti to offer new types of products and services, they have also allowed other providers to broaden the scope of their own competitive offerings.  Avanti’s ability to compete effectively will depend on, among other things, how successfully Avanti anticipates and responds to various factors affecting its industry, including new technologies and business models, changes in consumer preferences and demand for existing services, demographic trends and economic conditions.  If Avanti is not able to respond successfully to these competitive challenges, Avanti may face challenges in meeting its required payments under its debt securities held by us, which could result in a material decrease in the fair value of such debt securities, and a corresponding material adverse change in our financial position and results of operations.

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We are invested in a limited number of portfolio companies which may subject us to a risk of significant loss if one or more of these companies defaults on its obligations under any of its debt instruments.  Our portfolio is likely to hold a limited number of portfolio companies.  Beyond the asset diversification requirements associated with qualifying as a RIC, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments are likely to be concentrated in relatively few companies.  As our portfolio is less diversified than the portfolios of some funds, we are more susceptible to failure if a single investment fails.  Similarly, the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment.

Our portfolio is subject to change over time and may be concentrated in a limited number of industries, which subjects us to a risk of significant loss if there is a downturn in a particular industry in which a number of our investments are concentrated.  Our portfolio is likely to be concentrated in a limited number of industries.  A downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could significantly impact our aggregate realized returns.

In addition, we may from time to time invest a relatively significant percentage of our portfolio in industries in which GECM does not necessarily have extensive historical research coverage.  If an industry in which we have significant investments suffers from adverse business or economic conditions, as these industries have to varying degrees, a material portion of our investment portfolio could be affected adversely, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

Any unrealized losses we experience in our portfolio may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available for distribution.  As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board.  Decreases in the fair values of our investments are recorded as unrealized depreciation.  Any unrealized losses in our portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us with respect to the affected investments.  This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available for distribution in future periods.

Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our returns on equity.  We are subject to the risk that investments intended to be held over long periods are, instead, repaid prior to maturity.  When this occurs, we will generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, repay debt or repurchase our common stock, depending on expected future investment opportunities.  These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts.  Any future investment may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid.  As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies elects to prepay amounts owed by them.

We are not in a position to exercise control over certain of our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by management of such portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments.  We generally do not hold controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies.  As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and that the management and/or stockholders of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests.  Due to the lack of liquidity of the debt and equity investments that we hold in certain of our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of such investments if we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of such investments.

We have made, and in the future intend to pursue additional, investments in specialty finance businesses, which may require reliance on the management teams of such businesses. We have made, and may make additional, investments in companies and operating platforms that originate and/or service commercial specialty finance businesses, including factoring, equipment finance, inventory leasing, merchant cash advance and hard money real estate lending and may also invest directly (including via participation) in the investments made by such businesses. The form of investment may vary and may require reliance on management teams to provide the resources necessary to originate new receivables, manage portfolios of performing receivables, and work-out portfolios of stressed or non-performing receivables.

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Defaults by our portfolio companies may harm our operating results.  A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of our investments and foreclosure on our secured assets, which could trigger cross‑defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that we hold.  We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company.  If any of these occur, it could materially and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

If we invest in companies that experience significant financial or business difficulties, we may be exposed to certain distressed lending risks.  As part of our lending activities, we may purchase notes or loans from companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings.  Although the terms of such financing may result in significant financial returns to us, they involve a substantial degree of risk.  The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful financing to companies experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high.  We cannot assure you that we will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing our investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action.  In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, we may lose all or part of the amounts advanced to the borrower or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the investment advanced by us to the borrower.

Certain of the companies in which we invest may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet their future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.

Senior Secured Loans and Notes.  There is a risk that the collateral securing our loans and notes may decrease in value over time, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital, and, in some circumstances, our lien could be subordinated to claims of other creditors.  In addition, deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the loan or note.  Consequently, the fact that a loan or note is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the loan’s or note’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the loan or note should we be forced to enforce our remedies.

Mezzanine Loans.  Our mezzanine debt investments will be generally subordinated to senior loans and will be generally unsecured.  As such, other creditors may rank senior to us in the event of an insolvency, which could likely result in a substantial or complete loss on such investment in the case of such insolvency.  This may result in an above average amount of risk and loss of principal.

Unsecured Loans and Notes.  We may invest in unsecured loans and notes.  If the issuer defaults or has an event of insolvency, other creditors may rank senior, be structurally senior or have lien protection that effectively renders their claim superior to our rights under our unsecured notes or loans, which could likely result in a substantial or complete loss on such investment in the case of such insolvency.  This may result in an above average amount of risk and loss of principal.

Unfunded Commitments. From time to time, we purchase revolving credit loans with unfunded commitments in the ordinary course of business.  In the event multiple borrowers of such revolving credit loans were to draw these commitments at the same time, including during a market downturn, it could have an adverse impact on our liquidity at a time when it may be more difficult for us to sell other assets.

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Equity Investments.  When we invest in senior secured loans or mezzanine loans, we may acquire equity securities, including warrants, as well.  In addition, we may invest directly in the equity securities of portfolio companies.  The equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value.  Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.

In addition, investing in middle‑market companies involves a number of significant risks, including:

Investing in middle‑market companies involves a high degree of risk and our financial results may be affected adversely if one or more of our portfolio investments defaults on its loans or notes or fails to perform as we expect.  A portion of our portfolio consists of debt and equity investments in privately owned middle‑market companies.  Investing in middle‑market companies involves a number of significant risks.  Compared to larger publicly owned companies, these middle‑market companies may be in a weaker financial position and experience wider variations in their operating results, which may make them more vulnerable to economic downturns and other business disruptions.  Typically, these companies need more capital to compete; however, their access to capital is limited and their cost of capital is often higher than that of their competitors.  Our portfolio companies face intense competition from larger companies with greater financial, technical and marketing resources and their success typically depends on the managerial talents and efforts of an individual or a small group of persons.  Therefore, the loss of any of their key employees, as well as increased competition in the labor market, could affect a portfolio company’s ability to compete effectively and harm its financial condition.  Further, some of these companies conduct business in regulated industries that are susceptible to regulatory changes.  These factors could impair the cash flow of our portfolio companies and result in other events, such as bankruptcy.  These events could limit a portfolio company’s ability to repay its obligations to us.  Deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition and prospects may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the loan’s collateral and the fair market value of the loan.

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Most of the loans in which we invest are not structured to fully amortize during their lifetime.  In order to create liquidity to pay the final principal payment, borrowers typically must raise additional capital or sell their assets, which could potentially result in the collateral being sold for less than its fair market value.  If they are unable to raise sufficient funds to repay us, the loan will go into default, which will require us to foreclose on the borrower’s assets, even if the loan was otherwise performing prior to maturity.  This will deprive us from immediately obtaining full recovery on the loan and prevent or delay the reinvestment of the loan proceeds in other, more profitable investments.  Moreover, there are no assurances that any recovery on such loan will be obtained.  Most of these companies cannot obtain financing from public capital markets or from traditional credit sources, such as commercial banks.  Accordingly, loans made to these types of companies pose a higher default risk than loans made to companies that have access to traditional credit sources.

An investment strategy that includes privately held companies presents challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies, a dependence on the talents and efforts of only a few key portfolio company personnel and a greater vulnerability to economic downturns.  We invest in privately held companies.  Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we are required to rely on GECM’s or our specialty finance partners’ ability to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies.  If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and may lose money on our investments.  Also, privately held companies frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than larger competitors.  These factors could adversely affect our investment returns as compared to companies investing primarily in the securities of public companies.

We are exposed to risks relating to our specialty finance products. We rely on the structural features embedded in our specialty financing and asset-based products to mitigate the credit risk associated with such products. With respect to our asset-based loans, we generally limit our lending to a percentage of the customer’s borrowing base assets that we believe can be readily liquidated in the event of financial distress of the borrower. With respect to our factoring products, we purchase the underlying invoices of our customers and become the direct payee under such invoices, thus transferring the credit risk in such transactions from our customers to the underlying account debtors on such invoices. In the event one or more of our customers fraudulently represents the existence or valuation of borrowing base assets in the case of an asset-based loan, or the existence or validity of an invoice we purchase in the case of a factoring transaction, we may advance more funds to such customer than we otherwise would and lose the benefit of the structural protections of our products with respect to such advances. In such event we could be exposed to material additional losses with respect to such loans or factoring products. Although we believe we have controls in place to monitor and detect fraud with respect to our asset-based lending and factoring products, there is no guarantee such controls will be effective.

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

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

Second priority liens on collateral securing loans and notes that we invest in may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens.  If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and us.  We may purchase loans or notes that are secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral pledged by a portfolio company to secure senior debt owed by the portfolio company to commercial banks or other traditional lenders.  Often the senior lender has procured covenants from the portfolio company prohibiting the incurrence of additional secured debt without the senior lender’s consent.  Prior to and as a condition of permitting the portfolio company to borrow money from us secured by the same collateral pledged to the senior lender, the senior lender will require assurances that it will control the disposition of any collateral in the event of bankruptcy or other default.  In many such cases, the senior lender will require us or the indenture trustee to enter into an “intercreditor agreement” prior to permitting the portfolio company to borrow.  Typically the intercreditor agreements expressly subordinate our debt instruments to those held by the senior lender and further provide that the senior lender shall control: (1) the commencement of foreclosure or other proceedings to liquidate and collect on the collateral; (2) the nature, timing and conduct of foreclosure or other collection proceedings; (3) the amendment of any collateral document; (4) the release of the security interests in respect of any collateral; and (5) the waiver of defaults under any security agreement.  Because of the control we may cede to senior lenders under intercreditor agreements we may enter, we may be unable to realize the proceeds of any collateral securing some of our loans and notes.

The reference rates for our loans may be manipulated or changed.  Concerns have been publicized that some of the member banks surveyed by the British Bankers’ Association (the “BBA”) in connection with the calculation of the London Interbank Borrowing Rate (“LIBOR”) across a range of maturities and currencies may have been underreporting or otherwise manipulating the inter‑bank lending rate applicable to them in order to profit on their derivatives positions or to avoid an appearance of capital insufficiency or adverse reputational or other consequences that may have resulted from reporting inter‑bank lending rates higher than those they actually submitted.  A number of BBA member banks have entered into settlements with their regulators and law enforcement agencies with respect to alleged manipulation of LIBOR, and investigations by regulators and governmental authorities in various jurisdictions are ongoing.

In addition, central banks have engaged in quantitative easing, currency purchase programs and other activities that caused government borrowing rates and currencies to trade at prices different than those that would prevail in an unaffected market.

Actions by market participants, like the BBA, or by government agencies, like the Federal Reserve Board, may affect prevailing interest rates and the reference rates for loans to our portfolio companies.  Actions by governments may create inflation in asset prices that over-state the value of our portfolio companies and their assets and drive cycles of capital market activities (like mergers and acquisitions) at a rate and at prices in excess of those that would prevail in an unaffected market.

We cannot assure you that actions by market participants, like the BBA, or by government agencies, like the Federal Reserve Board, will not materially adversely affect trading markets or our portfolio companies or us or our and our portfolio companies’ respective business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.

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The expected phase-out of LIBOR could have a material impact on our business.  In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021.  The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“ICE”) subsequently announced that it will cease calculating and publishing all LIBOR tenors on June 30, 2023 and cease calculating and publishing certain LIBOR tenors on December 31, 2021. Further, U.K. and U.S. regulatory authorities have recently issued statements encouraging banks to cease entering into new LIBOR based loans as soon as possible and by no later than December 31, 2021 and to continue to transition away from LIBOR based loans in preparation of ICE ceasing to calculate and publish LIBOR based rates on June 30, 2023.  The Alternative Reference Rates Committee convened by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Bank of New York has announced the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its recommended alternative to LIBOR for USD obligations. However, because the SOFR is a broad U.S. Treasury repo financing rate that represents overnight secured funding transactions, it differs fundamentally from LIBOR. At this time, it is not possible to predict whether SOFR, or any other LIBOR alternative, will attain market traction as a LIBOR replacement or whether other replacement rates could be adopted by market participants.  Even if financial instruments are transitioned to alternative benchmarks, such as SOFR, successfully, the new benchmarks are likely to differ from LIBOR, and our interest rate risk associated may increase. Transitioning to an alternative benchmark rate, such as SOFR, may result in us incurring significant expense and legal risks, as renegotiation and changes to documentation may be required in effecting the transition. Any alternative benchmark rate may be calculated differently than LIBOR, may increase the interest expense associated with our existing or future indebtedness and may not align for our assets and liabilities. Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our borrowing costs, financial condition, results of operations and the value of our investments.

Additionally, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain. Potential changes, or uncertainty related to such potential changes, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities, including our portfolio of LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities, or the cost of our borrowings. In addition, changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market for LIBOR-based securities, including the value of the LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities in our portfolio, or the cost of our borrowings. The potential effect of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR on our cost of capital and net investment income cannot yet be determined.

The effect on our investments will vary depending, among other things, on (1) whether fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts currently exist, and if so, the terms of such provisions and (2) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new investments. We may have discretion to determine a successor or substitute reference rate, including any price or other adjustments to account for differences between the successor or substitute reference rate and previous rate. Such successor or substitute reference rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact the investments of our investments and may expose such investments to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks. The elimination of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on our investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new investments, adversely impacting our overall financial condition or results of operations. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on our investments until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted.

We may mismatch the interest rate and maturity exposure of our assets and liabilities.  Our net investment income depends, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds.  We cannot assure you that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income.  In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds could increase, which could reduce our net investment income.  Typically, our fixed‑rate investments are financed primarily with equity and/or long‑term debt.  We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations.  Such techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act.  If we do not implement these techniques properly, we could experience losses on our hedging positions, which could be material.

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If interest rates fall, our portfolio companies are likely to refinance their obligations to us at lower interest rates.  Our proceeds from these refinancings are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than our refinanced loans resulting in a material decrease in our net investment income.

We may not realize gains from our equity investments.  Our portfolio may include common stock, warrants or other equity securities.  We may also take back equity securities in exchange for our debt investments in workouts of troubled investments.  Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of further dilution as a result of additional issuances, inability to access additional capital and failure to pay current distributions.  Investments in preferred securities involve special risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights.  In addition, we may from time to time make non‑control, equity investments in portfolio companies.  The equity interests we invest in may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value.  Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.  We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests.  We may seek puts or similar rights to give it the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company.  We may be unable to exercise these put rights if the issuer is in financial distress or otherwise lacks sufficient liquidity to purchase the underlying equity investment.

Investments in foreign securities may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.  Our investment strategy contemplates investments in debt securities of foreign companies.  Investing in foreign companies may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies.  These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility.  Such investments will generally not represent “qualifying assets” under Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act.  Pursuant to the Investment Company Act, qualifying assets must represent at least 70% of our total assets at the time of acquisition of any additional non-qualifying assets.  If we do not meet the 70% threshold, we will be limited to purchasing qualifying assets until such threshold is met.  See “Regulation as a Business Development Company.”

Any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies.  Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short‑term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long‑term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments.  We may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but we offer no assurance that we will, in fact, hedge currency risk, or that if it does, such strategies will be effective.

We may hold a significant portion of our portfolio assets in cash, cash equivalents, money market mutual funds, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less, which may have a negative impact on our business and operations.  We may hold a significant portion of our portfolio assets in cash, cash equivalents, money market mutual funds, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less for many reasons, including, among others:

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We may also be required to hold higher levels of cash, money market mutual funds or other short-term securities in order to pay our expenses or make distributions to stockholders in the ordinary course of business given the relatively high percentage of our total investment income represented by non-cash income, including PIK income and accretion of original issue discount (“OID”).  During periods when we maintain exposure to cash, money market mutual funds, or other short-term securities, we may not participate in market movements to the same extent that it would if we were fully invested, which may have a negative impact on our business and operations and, accordingly, our returns may be reduced.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure

Capital markets experience periods of disruption and instability.  These market conditions have historically materially and adversely affected debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad, which had, and may in the future have, a negative impact on our business and operations.  The global capital markets are subject to disruption as evidenced by, among other things, a lack of liquidity in the debt capital markets, significant write‑offs in the financial services sector, the re‑pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated credit market and the failure of major financial institutions.  Despite actions of the U.S. federal government and foreign governments, these events have contributed to worsening general economic conditions that have historically materially and adversely impacted the broader financial and credit markets and reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and financial services firms in particular.  We cannot provide any assurance that these conditions will not significantly worsen.  Equity capital may be difficult to raise because, as a BDC, we are generally not able to issue additional shares of our common stock at a price less than NAV.  In addition, our ability to incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock is limited by applicable regulations such that our asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, must equal at least 150% immediately after each time we incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock.  The debt capital that may be available, if at all, may be at a higher cost and on less favorable terms and conditions in the future.  Any inability to raise capital could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Market conditions may in the future make it difficult to extend the maturity of or refinance our existing indebtedness, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business.  The expected illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if required.  As a result, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded our investments.  

In addition, significant changes in the capital markets, including recent volatility and disruption, have had, and may in the future have, a negative effect on the valuations of our investments and on the potential for liquidity events involving our investments.  An inability to raise capital, and any required sale of our investments for liquidity purposes, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.  Our quarterly operating results will fluctuate due to a number of factors, including the level of expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions.  Our quarterly operating results will also fluctuate due to a number of other factors, including the interest rates payable on the debt investments we make and the default rates on such investments.  As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

Our success depends on the ability of our investment adviser to attract and retain qualified personnel in a competitive environment.  Our growth requires that GECM retain and attract new investment and administrative personnel in a competitive market.  GECM’s ability to attract and retain personnel with the requisite credentials, experience and skills depends on several factors, including, but not limited to, its ability to offer competitive wages, benefits and professional growth opportunities.  Many of the entities, including investment funds (such as private equity funds and mezzanine funds) and traditional financial services companies, which compete for experienced personnel with GECM, have greater resources than GECM.

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Our ability to grow depends on our ability to raise equity capital and/or access debt financing.  We intend to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments.  We expect to continue to elect to be treated as a RIC and operate in a manner so as to qualify for the U.S. federal income tax treatment applicable to RICs.  Among other things, in order to maintain our RIC status, we must distribute to our stockholders on a timely basis generally an amount equal to at least 90% of our investment company taxable income (as defined by the Code), and, as a result, such distributions will not be available to fund new investments.  As a result, we must borrow from financial institutions or issue additional securities to fund our growth.  Unfavorable economic or capital market conditions, including interest rate volatility, may increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or could result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us.  There has been and will continue to be uncertainty in the financial markets in general.  An inability to successfully access the capital or credit markets for either equity or debt could limit our ability to grow our business and fully execute our business strategy and could decrease our earnings, if any.

If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios imposed upon us by the Investment Company Act or our lenders.  Any such failure, or a tightening or general disruption of the credit markets, would affect our ability to issue senior securities, including borrowings, and pay dividends or other distributions, which could materially impair our business.

In addition, with certain limited exceptions we are only allowed to borrow or issue debt securities or preferred stock such that our asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, equals at least 150% immediately after such borrowing, which, in certain circumstances, may restrict our ability to borrow or issue debt securities or preferred stock.  The amount of leverage that we may employ will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s assessments of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing or issuance of debt securities or preferred stock.  We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain lines of credit at all or on terms acceptable to us.

Economic recessions or downturns could impair our portfolio companies and harm our operating results.  The economy is subject to periodic downturns that, from time to time, result in recessions or more serious adverse macroeconomic events.  Our portfolio companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay loans or notes during these periods.  Therefore, our non‑performing assets may increase and the value of our portfolio may decrease during these periods as we are required to record the market value of our investments.  Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of collateral securing some of our investments and the value of our equity investments.  Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets.  Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us.  These events could prevent us from increasing investments and harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants in its agreements with us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the debt obligations are due and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross‑defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt that we hold.  We may incur additional expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company.  In addition, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we actually provided significant managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize our debt holding and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors.

Global economic, political and market conditions may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, including our revenue growth and profitability. The condition of the global financial market, as well as various social and political tensions in the United States and around the world, may contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets, may cause economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide, and may subject our investments to heightened risks.

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These heightened risks could also include to: increased risk of default; greater social, trade, economic and political instability (including the risk of war or terrorist activity); greater governmental involvement in the economy; greater governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and market participants resulting in increased expenses related to compliance; greater fluctuations in currency exchange rates; controls or restrictions on foreign investment and/or trade, capital controls and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the ability to exchange currencies; inability to purchase and sell investments or otherwise settle transactions (i.e., a market freeze); and unavailability of hedging techniques. During times of political uncertainty and/or change, global markets often become more volatile. Markets experiencing political uncertainty and/or change could have substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates typically have negative effects on such countries’ economies and markets. Tax laws could change materially, and any changes in tax laws could have an unpredictable effect on us, our investments and our investors.

Our debt investments may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investments. Our debt portfolios, including those held by our specialty finance companies, are subject to credit and interest rate risk. “Credit risk” refers to the likelihood that an issuer will default in the payment of principal and/or interest on an instrument. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, subordination, lack or inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancement for a debt instrument may affect its credit risk. Credit risk may change over the life of an instrument, and securities which are rated by rating agencies are often reviewed and may be subject to downgrade. “Interest rate risk” refers to the risks associated with market changes in interest rates. Factors that may affect market interest rates include, without limitation, inflation, slow or stagnant economic growth or recession, unemployment, money supply and the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board and central banks throughout the world, international disorders and instability in domestic and foreign financial markets. The Federal Reserve Board raised the federal funds rate from 2015 to 2018, but cut the rate to near zero by the end of 2020 in response to the COIVD-19 outbreak. The Federal Reserve Board has recently indicated it may raise the federal funds rate in the near future.  These developments, along with domestic and international debt and credit concerns, could cause interest rates to be volatile, which may negatively impact our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. Interest rate changes may also affect the value of a debt instrument indirectly (especially in the case of fixed rate securities) and directly (especially in the case of instruments whose rates are adjustable). In general, rising interest rates will negatively impact the price of a fixed-rate debt instrument and falling interest rates will have a positive effect on price. Adjustable rate instruments may also react to interest rate changes in a similar manner although generally to a lesser degree (depending, however, on the characteristics of the reset terms, including, among other factors, the index chosen, frequency of reset and reset caps or floors). Interest rate sensitivity is generally more pronounced and less predictable in instruments with uncertain payment or prepayment schedules. We expect that we will periodically experience imbalances in the interest rate sensitivities of our assets and liabilities and the relationships of various interest rates to each other. In a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to manage this risk effectively, which in turn could adversely affect our performance.

We may acquire other funds, portfolios of assets or pools of debt and those acquisitions may not be successful.  We may acquire other funds, portfolios of assets or pools of debt investments.  Any such acquisition program has a number of risks, including among others:

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Our failure to maintain our status as a BDC would reduce our operating flexibility.  We elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act.  The Investment Company Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs and their external advisers.  For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their gross assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or illiquid U.S. public companies below a certain market capitalization, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less.  Furthermore, any failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the Investment Company Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us and/or expose us to claims of private litigants.  In addition, upon approval of a majority of our voting securities (as defined under the Investment Company Act), we may elect to withdraw our status as a BDC.  If we decide to withdraw our BDC election, or if we otherwise fail to qualify, or to maintain our qualification, as a BDC, we may be subject to substantially greater regulation under the Investment Company Act as a closed‑end management investment company.  Compliance with such regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility and would significantly increase our costs of doing business.

Regulations governing our operations as a BDC affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so.  As a BDC, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.  We may issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, referred to collectively as “senior securities,” up to the maximum amount permitted under the Investment Company Act.  Under the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to BDCs, we are permitted to issue senior securities (e.g., notes and preferred stock) in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio, as defined in the Investment Company Act, equals at least 150% of gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, after each issuance of senior securities.  If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test.  If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.  Also, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our stockholders.  Furthermore, as a result of issuing senior securities, we would also be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss.

Our Board may change our investment objectives, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.  Our Board has the authority to modify or waive our investment objectives, current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval.  We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, NAV and operating results.

We may have difficulty paying our required distributions under applicable tax rules if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.  For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may be required to include in income certain amounts before our receipt of the cash attributable to such amounts, such as OID, which may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the making of a loan or possibly in other circumstances, or PIK interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term.  For example, such OID or increases in loan balances as a result of PIK interest will be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments.  Also, we may be required to include in income other amounts that we will not receive in cash, including, for example, non‑cash income from PIK securities, deferred payment securities and hedging and foreign currency transactions.  In addition, we intend to seek debt investments in the secondary market that represent attractive risk-adjusted returns, taking into account both stated interest rates and current market discounts to par value.  Such market discount may be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments.  Our debt investments in Avanti currently only earn PIK interest and our investment in Avanti equity (including any debt converted to equity) is not expected to earn cash dividends.

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Since we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty meeting the U.S. federal income tax requirement to distribute generally an amount equal to at least 90% of our investment company taxable income to maintain our status as a RIC.  Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements.  If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify as a RIC and thus be subject to additional corporate‑level taxes.

However, in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement for a RIC, we may, but have no current intention to, declare a large portion of a dividend in shares of our common stock instead of in cash.  As long as a portion of such dividend is paid in cash (which portion may be as low as 20% of such dividend, or 10% with respect to distributions declared on or before June 30, 2022) and certain requirements are met, the entire distribution will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  

We may expose ourselves to risks associated with the inclusion of non-cash income prior to receipt of cash.  To the extent we invest in OID instruments, including PIK loans, zero coupon bonds, and debt securities with attached warrants, investors will be exposed to the risks associated with the inclusion of such non-cash income in taxable and accounting income prior to receipt of cash.

The deferred nature of payments on PIK loans creates specific risks.  Interest payments deferred on a PIK loan are subject to the risk that the borrower may default when the deferred payments are due in cash at the maturity of the loan.  Since the payment of PIK income does not result in cash payments to us, we may also have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations (and thus hold higher cash or cash equivalent balances, which could reduce returns) to pay our expenses or make distributions to stockholders in the ordinary course of business, even if such loans do not default.  An election to defer PIK interest payments by adding them to principal increases our gross assets and, thus, increases future base management fees to GECM and, because interest payments will then be payable on a larger principal amount, the PIK election also increases GECM’s future Income Incentive Fees at a compounding rate.  The deferral of interest on a PIK loan increases its loan-to-value ratio, which is a measure of the riskiness of a loan.

More generally, market prices of OID instruments are more volatile because they are impacted to a greater extent by interest rate changes than instruments that pay interest periodically in cash.  Ordinarily, OID would also create the risk of non-refundable cash payments to GECM based on non-cash accruals that may never be realized; however, this risk is mitigated since the Investment Management Agreement requires GECM to defer any incentive fees on Accrued Unpaid Income, the effect of which is that Income Incentive Fees otherwise payable with respect to Accrued Unpaid Income become payable only if, as, when and to the extent cash is received by us or our consolidated subsidiaries in respect thereof.

Additionally, we may be required to make distributions of non-cash income to stockholders without receiving any cash so as to satisfy certain requirements necessary to maintain our RIC status for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Such required cash distributions may have to be paid from the sale of our assets without investors being given any notice of this fact.  The required recognition of non-cash income, including PIK and OID interest, for U.S. federal income tax purposes may have a negative impact on liquidity because it represents a non-cash component of our taxable income that must, nevertheless, be distributed to investors to avoid us being subject to corporate level taxation.

Further, our investment in Avanti, which represented approximately 4% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments) as of December 31, 2021 and approximately 24% of our total investment income for the year ended December 31, 2021, has resulted in significant PIK interest, which significantly increases our exposure to the aforementioned risks.  Conversion of Avanti’s 2019 Notes to equity has resulted in us owning more Avanti common shares, which are not expected to generate cash dividends.  Please see “—Risks Relating to Our Investments—A significant portion of our investment in Avanti has been written down and placed on non-accrual status and we may lose all of our investment in Avanti.”

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We may choose to pay distributions in our own stock, in which case stockholders may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash they receive.  We may distribute a portion of our taxable distributions in the form of shares of our stock. In accordance with certain applicable U.S. Treasury regulations and other related administrative pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service, a RIC may be eligible to treat a distribution of its own stock as fulfilling its RIC distribution requirements if each stockholder is permitted to elect to receive his or her entire distribution in either cash or stock of the RIC, subject to the satisfaction of certain guidelines. If too many stockholders elect to receive cash, each stockholder electing to receive cash must receive a pro rata amount of cash (with the balance of the distribution paid in stock). If these and certain other requirements are met, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of the distribution paid in stock generally will be equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of stock. Taxable stockholders receiving such distributions will be required to include the full amount of the distribution as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of their share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be subject to tax with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a distribution in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the distribution, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such distributions, including in respect of all or a portion of such distribution that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on distributions, such sales may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.

We may expose our self to risks if we engage in hedging transactions.  If we engage in hedging transactions, we may expose our self to risks associated with such transactions.  We may utilize instruments such as forward contracts, currency options and interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the relative values of our portfolio positions from changes in currency exchange rates and market interest rates.  Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline.  Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions increase.  It may not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that is generally anticipated because we may not be able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price.  Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged.

Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss.  In addition, it may not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non‑U.S. currencies because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.

We will be subject to corporate‑level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to qualify as a RIC under the Code.  No assurance can be given that we will be able to qualify for and maintain RIC status.  To maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code, we must meet certain annual distribution, source of income and asset diversification requirements.

The Annual Distribution Requirement for a RIC will be satisfied if we distribute to our stockholders on an annual basis at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short‑term capital gains in excess of realized net long‑term capital losses, if any.  Because we may use debt financing, we may be subject to asset coverage ratio requirements under the Investment Company Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement.  If we are unable to make the required distributions, we could fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate‑level U.S. federal income tax.

The source of income requirement will be satisfied if we obtain at least 90% of our income for each year from dividends, interest, gains from the sale of stock or securities or similar sources.

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The asset diversification requirement will be satisfied if we meet asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of our taxable year.  Failure to meet the asset diversification requirements could result in us having to dispose of investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status.  Because most of our investments will be relatively illiquid, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses.  Further, the illiquidity of our investments may make them difficult or impossible to dispose of in a timely manner.

If we fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment for any reason and become subject to corporate U.S. federal income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions and the value of our shares of common stock.

The incentive fee structure and the formula for calculating the management fee may incentivize GECM to pursue speculative investments, advise us to use leverage when it may be unwise to do so, or advise us to refrain from reducing debt levels when it would otherwise be appropriate to do so.  The incentive fee payable by us to GECM creates an incentive for GECM to pursue investments on our behalf that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such a compensation arrangement.  The incentive fee payable to GECM is calculated based on a percentage of our return on invested capital.  In addition, GECM’s base management fee is calculated on the basis of our gross assets, including assets acquired through the use of leverage.  This may encourage GECM to use leverage to increase the aggregate amount of and the return on our investments, even when it may not be appropriate to do so, and to refrain from reducing debt levels when it would otherwise be appropriate to do so.  The use of leverage increases our likelihood of default, which would impair the value of our securities.  In addition, GECM will receive the incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments.  Unlike that portion of the incentive fee based on income, there will be no hurdle rate applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains.  As a result, GECM may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities.  Such a practice could result in us investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

We may invest in the securities and instruments of other investment companies, including private funds, and we will bear our ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including management and performance fees.  We will also remain obligated to pay management and incentive fees to GECM with respect to the assets invested in the securities and instruments of other investment companies.  With respect to each of these investments, each of our stockholders will bear its share of the management and incentive fee payable to GECM as well as indirectly bearing the management and performance fees and other expenses of any investment companies in which we invest.

In addition, if we purchase our debt instruments and such purchase results in our recording a net gain on the extinguishment of debt for financial reporting and tax purposes, such net gain will be included in our pre‑incentive fee net investment income for purposes of determining the Income Incentive Fee payable to GECM under the Investment Management Agreement.

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Finally, the incentive fee payable by us to GECM also may create an incentive for GECM to invest on our behalf in instruments that have a deferred interest feature such as investments with PIK provisions.  Under these investments, we would accrue the interest over the life of the investment but would typically not receive the cash income from the investment until the end of the term or upon the investment being called by the issuer.  Our net investment income used to calculate the income portion of our incentive fee, however, includes accrued interest.  The portion of the incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest, such as PIK, will not be paid to GECM until we receive such interest in cash.  Even though such portion of the incentive fee will be paid only when the accrued income is collected, the accrued income is capitalized and included in the calculation of the base management fee.  In other words, when deferred interest income (such as PIK) is accrued, a corresponding Income Incentive Fee (if any) is also accrued (but not paid) based on that income.  After the accrual of such income, it is capitalized and added to the debt balance, which increases our total assets and thus the base management fee paid following such capitalization.  If any such interest is reversed in connection with any write-off or similar treatment of the investment, we will reverse the Income Incentive Fee accrual and an Income Incentive Fee will not be payable with respect to such uncollected interest.  If a portfolio company defaults on a loan, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of whether GECM met the hurdle rate to earn the incentive fee will become uncollectible.

A general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for GECM to receive incentive fees, without necessarily resulting in an increase in our net earnings.  Given the structure of the Investment Management Agreement, any general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for GECM to meet the quarterly hurdle rate for payment of Income Incentive Fees under the Investment Management Agreement without any additional increase in relative performance on the part of GECM.  In addition, in view of the catch‑up provision applicable to Income Incentive Fees under the Investment Management Agreement, GECM could potentially receive a significant portion of the increase in our investment income attributable to such a general increase in interest rates.  If that were to occur, our increase in net earnings, if any, would likely be significantly smaller than the relative increase in GECM’s Income Incentive Fee resulting from such a general increase in interest rates.

GECM has the right to resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.  GECM has the right, under the Investment Management Agreement, to resign at any time upon not more than 60 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not.  If GECM resigns, we may not be able to find a new investment adviser or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 60 days, or at all.  If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption; our financial condition, business and results of operations, as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected; and the market price of our common stock may decline.  In addition, the coordination of our internal management and investment activities is likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by our investment adviser and its affiliates.  Even if we are able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and their lack of familiarity with our investment objective and current investment portfolio may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

We incur significant costs as a result of being a publicly traded company.  As a publicly traded company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes‑Oxley Act”), the Dodd‑Frank Act and other rules implemented by our government.

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Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.  We and our portfolio companies are subject to applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.  New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and you, potentially with retroactive effect.  Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourself of new or different opportunities.  Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of GECM to other types of investments in which the investment committee may have less expertise or little or no experience.  Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In October 2020, the SEC adopted a revised version of Rule 18f-4, which is designed to modernize the regulation of the use of derivatives by registered investment companies and BDCs. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 limits a fund’s derivatives exposure through a value-at-risk test and requires the adoption and implementation of a derivatives risk management program subject to certain exceptions. Additionally, subject to certain conditions, funds that do not invest heavily in derivatives may be deemed limited derivatives users and would not be subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC also eliminated the asset segregation and cover framework arising from prior SEC guidance for covering derivatives and certain financial instruments. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 will be required in August 2022. Rule 18f-4 could limit our ability to engage in certain derivatives and other transactions and/or increase the costs of such transactions, which could adversely affect our value or performance.

There is, and will be, uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.  Under the Investment Company Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by us in accordance with our written valuation policy, with our Board having final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our estimate of fair value.  Often, there will not be a public market for the securities of the privately held companies in which we invest.  As a result, we will value these securities on a quarterly basis at fair value based on input from management, third party independent valuation firms and our audit committee, with the oversight, review and approval of our Board.  We consult with an independent valuation firm in valuing all securities in which we invest classified as “Level 3,” other than investments which are less than 1% of NAV as of the applicable quarter end.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Valuation of Portfolio Investments.”

The determination of fair value and consequently, the amount of unrealized gains and losses in our portfolio, are subjective and dependent on a valuation process approved and overseen by our Board.  Factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include, among others, estimates of the collectability of the principal and interest on our debt investments and expected realization on our equity investments, as well as external events, such as private mergers, sales and acquisitions involving comparable companies.  Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies and small cap public companies, are inherently uncertain, they may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates.  Our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed.  Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our NAV on a given date to materially misstate the value that we may ultimately realize on one or more of our investments.  As a result, investors purchasing our securities based on an overstated NAV would pay a higher price than the value of our investments might warrant.  Conversely, investors selling securities during a period in which the NAV understates the value of our investments will receive a lower price for their securities than the value of our investments might otherwise warrant.

Our financial condition and results of operations depend on our ability to effectively manage and deploy capital.  Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our ability to effectively manage and deploy capital, which depends, in turn, on GECM’s ability to identify, evaluate and monitor, and our ability to finance and invest in, companies that meet our investment criteria.

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Accomplishing our investment objective on a cost‑effective basis is largely a function of GECM’s handling of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services and its access to investments offering acceptable terms.  In addition to monitoring the performance of our existing investments, GECM may also be called upon, from time to time, to provide managerial assistance to some of our portfolio companies.  These demands on their time may distract them or slow the rate of investment.

Even if we are able to grow and build out our investment operations, any failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.  Our results of operations will depend on many factors, including the availability of opportunities for investment, readily accessible short and long‑term funding alternatives in the financial markets and economic conditions.

We may hold assets in cash or short-term treasury securities in situations where we or GECM expects downward pricing in the high yield market.  Our strategic decision not to be fully invested may, from time to time, reduce funds available for distribution and cause downward pressure on the price of our common stock.

The failure in cyber security systems, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning, could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.  The occurrence of a disaster such as a cyber‑attack, a natural catastrophe, an epidemic or pandemic, an industrial accident, a terrorist attack or war, events anticipated or unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems, or a failure in externally provided data systems, could have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct business and on our results of operations and financial condition, particularly if those events affect our computer‑based data processing, transmission, storage and retrieval systems or destroy data.  Our ability to effectively conduct our business could be severely compromised.  The financial markets we operate in are dependent upon third party data systems to link buyers and sellers and provide pricing information.

We depend heavily upon computer systems to perform necessary business functions.  Our computer systems could be subject to cyber‑attacks and unauthorized access, such as physical and electronic break‑ins or unauthorized tampering.  Like other companies, we expect to experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, system failures and disruptions.  These failures and disruptions may be more likely to occur as a result of employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.  If one or more of these events occurs, it could potentially jeopardize the confidential, proprietary and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, which could result in damage to our reputation, financial losses, litigation, increased costs, regulatory penalties and/or customer dissatisfaction or loss, respectively.

Terrorist attacks, acts of war, natural disasters or an epidemic or pandemic may affect the market for our securities, impact the businesses in which we invest and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.  Terrorist acts, acts of war, natural disasters or an epidemic or pandemic may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest.  Such acts, including, for example, Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability.  For example, the outbreak of COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization to be a “public health emergency of international concern,” and spread across the globe, impacting worldwide economic activity. A public health epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19, poses the risk that we, GECM, our portfolio companies or other business partners may be prevented from conducting business activities for an indefinite period of time, including due to shutdowns that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. While it is not possible at this time to estimate the impact that COVID-19 could have on our business, the continued spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the governments of countries affected could disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of products and adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Future terrorist activities, military or security operations, or natural disasters could further weaken the domestic/global economies and create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.  Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.

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There are significant potential conflicts of interest that could impact our investment returns.  Certain of our executive officers and directors, and members of the investment committee of GECM, serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of other entities, including ICAM or funds managed by ICAM, and affiliates of GECM and investment funds managed by our affiliates.  Accordingly, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in our or our stockholders' best interests or that may require them to devote time to services for other entities, which could interfere with the time available to provide services to us.  For example, Peter A. Reed, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board, is GECM's Chief Investment Officer and chief executive officer of the largest beneficial owner of our stock, GEG.

Although funds managed by GECM may have different primary investment objectives than we do, they may from time to time invest in asset classes similar to those targeted by us.  GECM is not restricted from raising an investment fund with investment objectives similar to ours.  Any such funds may also, from time to time, invest in asset classes similar to those targeted by us.  It is possible that we may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by investment funds managed by investment managers affiliated with GECM.

We will pay management and incentive fees to GECM, and will reimburse GECM for certain expenses it incurs.  In addition, investors in our common stock will invest on a gross basis and receive distributions on a net basis after expenses, resulting in, among other things, a lower rate of return than one might achieve through direct investments.

GECM's management fee is based on a percentage of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed funds) and GECM may have conflicts of interest in connection with decisions that could affect our total assets, such as decisions as to whether to incur indebtedness.

The part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our pre-incentive fee net investment income is computed and paid on income that may include interest that is accrued but not yet received in cash.  If a portfolio company defaults on a loan or note that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible.

The Investment Management Agreement renews for successive annual periods if approved by our Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not interested persons.  However, both we and GECM have the right to terminate the agreement without penalty upon 60 days' written notice to the other party.  Moreover, conflicts of interest may arise if GECM seeks to change the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including, for example, the terms for compensation.

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, we pay GECM our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by GECM in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including our allocable portion of the cost of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs.

As a result of the arrangements described above, there may be times when our management team has interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict.

Our stockholders may have conflicting investment, tax and other objectives with respect to their investments in us.  The conflicting interests of individual stockholders may relate to or arise from, among other things, the nature of our investments, the structure or the acquisition of our investments, and the timing of disposition of our investments.  As a consequence, conflicts of interest may arise in connection with decisions made by GECM, including with respect to the nature or structuring of our investments, that may be more beneficial for one stockholder than for another stockholder, especially with respect to stockholders' individual tax situations.  In selecting and structuring investments appropriate for us, GECM will consider the investment and tax objectives of us and our stockholders, as a whole, not the investment, tax or other objectives of any stockholder individually.

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Events outside of our control, including public health crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, may negatively affect our results of operations and financial performance.  The COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing and we expect to continue to experience disruptions that could adversely impact our business. It is unknown how long these disruptions may continue.  The outbreak of COVID‑19 may also have a material adverse impact on the ability of our portfolio companies to fulfill their end customers’ orders due to supply chain delays, increased costs due to inflation, limited access to key commodities or technologies or other events that impact their manufacturers or their suppliers.  Such events have affected, and may in the future affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.  As the global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve, the extent to which COVID-19 will continue to impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.  The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused inflation and interest rate volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets, including investments the Company holds, and may adversely affect the Company’s investments and operations.  The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff reductions), supply chains and consumer activity, upward inflationary pressures, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment.  These disruptions have led to instability in the market place, including stock market losses and overall volatility.  The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19, in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems.  This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.

The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets.  Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Company’s investments, the Company and your investment in the Company. In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on either specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in the Company being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price their investments.

The Company and the investment manager have taken steps reasonably designed to ensure that they maintain normal business operations, and that the Company, its portfolio and assets are protected.  However, in the event of a pandemic or an outbreak, such as COVID-19, there can be no assurance that the Company, the Investment Advisor and service providers, or the Company’s portfolio companies, will be able to maintain normal business operations for an extended period of time or will not lose the services of key personnel on a temporary or long-term basis due to illness or other reasons.  A pandemic or disease could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the investment manager relies and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the Company’s service providers to perform essential tasks.

Governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates.  Certain of those policy changes, such as the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020, are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities.  The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its full impacts are unknown, resulting in a high degree of uncertainty for potentially extended periods of time.

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We are currently operating in a period of capital markets disruption and economic uncertainty.  The U.S. capital markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruption following the global outbreak of COVID-19 that began in December 2019. Some economists and major investment banks have expressed concern that the continued spread of the virus globally could lead to a world-wide economic downturn. Disruptions in the capital markets have increased the spread between the yields realized on risk-free and higher risk securities, resulting in illiquidity in parts of the capital markets. These and future market disruptions and/or illiquidity would be expected to have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Unfavorable economic conditions also would be expected to increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events have limited and could continue to limit our investment originations, limit our ability to grow and have a material negative impact on our operating results and the fair values of our debt and equity investments.

If the current period of capital market disruption and instability continues for an extended period of time, there is a risk that our stockholders may not receive distributions or that our distributions may not grow over time.  We intend to make distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. Stockholders are advised that a distribution does not necessarily indicate a return of profit as such dividends also include a return of capital.  We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in distributions.  Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the COVID-19 pandemic described above.  For example, if the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores and manufacturing facilities and factories in the jurisdictions, including the United States, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were to continue for an extended period of time it could result in reduced cash flows to us from our existing portfolio companies, which could reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.  In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make cash distributions.  Further, if we invest a greater amount of assets in equity securities that do not pay current dividends, it could reduce the amount available for distribution.  The above referenced restrictions on distributions may also inhibit our ability to make required interest payments to holders of our debt, which may cause a default under the terms of our debt agreements.  Such a default could materially increase our cost of raising capital, as well as cause us to incur penalties under the terms of our debt agreements.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the public market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.  Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time.  These sales, or the market perception that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock.  We have registered all of the shares of our common stock issued to GEG as of November 4, 2021, which represent approximately 7% percent of our outstanding shares of common stock at December 31, 2021.

Our common stock price may be volatile and may decrease substantially, and an investor may lose money in connection with an investment in our shares.  The trading price of our common stock will likely fluctuate substantially.  The price of our common stock may increase or decrease, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance.  These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

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If the price of shares of our common stock decreases, an investor may lose money if he were to sell his shares of our common stock.

In addition, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company.  Due to the potential volatility of the price of our securities, we may become the target of securities litigation in the future.  Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from our business.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and our organizational documents could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the prices of our common stock.  The Maryland General Corporation Law and our organizational documents contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of GECC or the removal of our directors.  We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act and the Investment Company Act.  If our Board, including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons as defined in the Investment Company Act, does not approve a business combination, the Maryland Business Combination Act may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer.  Our Board could amend our bylaws to repeal our current exemption from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act.  The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of GECC and increase the difficulty of consummating such a transaction.

Our Board is authorized to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock into one or more classes of preferred stock, which could convey special rights and privileges to its owners.  Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our organizational documents, our Board is authorized to classify and reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of stock into one or more classes of stock, including preferred stock.  Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our Board is required by Maryland law and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series.  Thus, our Board could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve premium prices for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.  The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our common stockholders.  Certain matters under the Investment Company Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock.  For example, holders of preferred stock would vote as a separate class from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations as a BDC.  In addition, the Investment Company Act provides that holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote separately from holders of common stock to elect two preferred stock directors.  The issuance of preferred stock convertible into shares of common stock may also reduce the net income and NAV per share of our common stock upon conversion.  These effects, among others, could have an adverse effect on an investment in our common stock.

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Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount from their NAV.  Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount from their NAV.  This characteristic of closed-end investment companies is separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV per share of common stock may decline.

We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current NAV per share of our common stock if our Board determines that such sale is in the best interests of GECC and our stockholders approve such sale.  In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board, equals the fair value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount calculated).  If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, then the percentage of our existing stockholders’ ownership at that time will decrease, and they may experience dilution.

Our stockholders may not receive distributions or our distributions may not grow over time and a portion of our distributions may be a return of capital.  We intend to make distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution (i.e., not subject to any legal restrictions under Maryland law on the distribution thereof).  We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions.  Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this document.  Due to the asset coverage test applicable to us under the Investment Company Act as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions.

When we make distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits.  Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of an investor’s basis in our stock and, assuming that an investor holds our stock as a capital asset, thereafter as a capital gain.  Stockholders who periodically receive the payment of a distribution consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits when they are not.  Stockholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from us is net profit.

We currently intend to distribute realized net capital gains (i.e., net long term capital gains in excess of short term capital losses), if any, at least annually, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment and elect to treat such gains as deemed distributions to our stockholders.  If this happens, you will be treated as if you had received an actual distribution of the capital gains we retain and reinvested the net after tax proceeds in GECC.  In this situation, you would be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to your allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to you.

Our current intention is to make any distributions in additional shares of our common stock under our dividend reinvestment plan out of assets legally available therefor, unless you elect to receive your distributions and/or long-term capital gains distributions in cash.  If you hold shares in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, you should contact the broker or financial intermediary regarding your election to receive distributions in cash.

We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the Investment Company Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

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

Existing stockholders may incur dilution if, in the future, we sell shares of our common stock in one or more offerings at prices below the then current NAV per share of our common stock.  The Investment Company Act prohibits us from selling shares of our common stock at a price below the current NAV per share of such stock, with certain exceptions.  Our shares might trade at premiums that are unsustainable or at discounts from NAV.

Shares of BDCs like us may, during some periods, trade at prices higher than their NAV per share and, during other periods, as frequently occurs with closed-end investment companies, trade at prices lower than their NAV per share.  The perceived value of our investment portfolio may be affected by a number of factors including perceived prospects for individual companies we invest in, market conditions for common stock generally, for initial public offerings and other exit events for venture capital backed companies, and the mix of companies in our investment portfolio over time.  Negative or unforeseen developments affecting the perceived value of companies in our investment portfolio could result in a decline in the trading price of our common stock relative to our NAV per share.

The possibility that our shares will trade at a discount from NAV or at premiums that are unsustainable are risks separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV per share will decrease.  The risk of purchasing shares of a BDC that might trade at a discount or unsustainable premium is more pronounced for investors who wish to sell their shares in a relatively short period of time because, for those investors, realization of a gain or loss on their investments is likely to be more dependent upon changes in premium or discount levels than upon increases or decreases in NAV per share.

Future offerings of debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, or equity securities, which could dilute our existing stockholders and may be senior to our common stock for the purposes of distributions, may harm the value of our common stock.  In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt or equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock, subject to the restrictions of the Investment Company Act.  Upon a liquidation of our company, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings would receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock.  Additional equity offerings by us may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock, or both.  Any preferred stock we may issue would have a preference on distributions that could limit our ability to make distributions to the holders of our common stock.  Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings.  Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their stock holdings in us.  In addition, proceeds from a sale of common stock will likely be used to increase our total assets or to pay down our borrowings, among other uses.  This would increase our asset coverage ratio and permit us to incur additional leverage under rules pertaining to BDCs by increasing our borrowings or issuing senior securities such as preferred stock or additional debt securities.

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Risks Relating to Indebtedness

We may borrow additional money, which would magnify the potential for loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing with us.  We have existing indebtedness and may in the future borrow additional money, including borrowings under a Loan Guarantee and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with City National Bank (“CNB”), each of which magnifies the potential for loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing with us.  Our ability to service our existing and potential future debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures.  The amount of leverage that we could employ at any particular time will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing.

Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities.  Holders of such debt securities would have fixed dollar claims on our consolidated assets that would be superior to the claims of our common stockholders or any preferred stockholders.

If the value of our consolidated assets decreases while we have debt outstanding, leveraging would cause our NAV to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged.  Similarly, any decrease in our consolidated income while we have debt outstanding would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed.  Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make common stock distributions.  We cannot assure you that our leveraging strategy will be successful.

Illustration.  The following tables illustrate the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns, net of expenses.  The first table assumes the actual amount of senior securities outstanding as of December 31, 2021. The second table assumes the maximum amount of senior securities outstanding as permitted under our asset coverage ratio of 150%.  See “Selected Risks Associated with Our Business—We may incur additional debt.”  The calculations in the tables below are hypothetical and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing below.

Table 1

Table 2

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Incurring additional indebtedness could increase the risk in investing in our Company.  In 2018, our stockholders approved of the reduction of our required minimum asset coverage ratio from 200% to 150%, permitting us to incur additional leverage. The use of leverage magnifies the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested. The use of leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique and increases the risks associated with investing in our securities.

As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $145.9 million of total outstanding indebtedness under three series of senior securities (unsecured notes)—the GECCM Notes, the GECCN Notes and the GECCO Notes (each as defined herein)—and our asset coverage ratio was 151.1%. Section 18(e) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of Section 18 shall not apply to any senior securities issued or sold for the purpose of redeeming any other senior security. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the GECCO Notes was used to redeem all of the outstanding GECCL Notes (as defined herein) and in accordance with Section 18(e), we excluded an amount equal to the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the GECCL Notes from the calculation of the asset coverage ratio as of June 30, 2021.

On May 5, 2021, we entered into the Loan Agreement, which provides for a senior secured revolving line of credit of up to $25 million (subject to a borrowing base). We may request to increase the revolving line in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25 million, which increase is subject to the sole discretion of CNB. Holders of our GECCM Notes, GECCN Notes and GECCO Notes have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders, and such holders may seek to recover against our assets in the event of a default.

If we are unable to meet the financial obligations under any of the Loan Agreement or any series of our outstanding unsecured notes, the holders of such indebtedness would have a superior claim to our assets over our common stockholders in the event of a default by us. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause NAV to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged, thereby magnifying losses. Similarly, any decrease in our revenue or income will cause our net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline would also negatively affect our ability to make distributions with respect to our common stock. Our ability to service any debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. Moreover, as the base management fee payable to GECM, our investment advisor, is payable based on the average value of our total assets, including those assets acquired through the use of leverage, GECM will have a financial incentive to incur leverage, which may not be consistent with our stockholders’ interests. In addition, our common stockholders bear the burden of any increase in our fees or expenses as a result of our use of leverage, including interest expenses and any increase in the base management fee payable to GECM.

If our asset coverage ratio falls below the required limit, we will not be able to incur additional debt until we are able to comply with the asset coverage ratio applicable to us. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to make distributions to stockholders. The actual amount of leverage that we employ will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain credit at all or on terms acceptable to us.

Incurring additional leverage may magnify our exposure to risks associated with changes in interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates which could adversely affect our profitability.  If we incur additional leverage, general interest rate fluctuations may have a more significant negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations than they would have absent such additional incurrence, and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our investment objectives and rate of return on investment capital. A portion of our income will depend upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the interest rate on the debt securities in which we invest. Because we may borrow money to make investments and may issue debt securities, preferred stock or other securities, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities, preferred stock or other securities and the rate at which we invest these borrowed funds.

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We expect that a majority of our investments in debt will continue to be at floating rates with a floor. As a result, significant increase in market interest rates could result in an increase in our non-performing assets and a decrease in the value of our portfolio because our floating-rate loan portfolio companies may be unable to meet higher payment obligations. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, resulting in a decrease in our net investment income. Incurring additional leverage will magnify the impact of an increase to our cost of funds. In addition, a decrease in interest rates may reduce net income, because new investments may be made at lower rates despite the increased demand for our capital that the decrease in interest rates may produce. To the extent our additional borrowings are in fixed-rate instruments, we may be required to invest in higher-yield securities in order to cover our interest expense and maintain our current level of return to stockholders, which may increase the risk of an investment in our securities.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2.  Properties.

Our executive offices are located at 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02453, and are provided by GECM in accordance with the terms of the Administration Agreement.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

A description of our legal proceedings is included in Note 6 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

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

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “GECC.”

As of March 1, 2022, there were approximately 9 holders of record of the common stock, one of which represents all of our stockholders for whom shares are held in “nominee” or “street name.”

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Share Price Data

The following table sets forth: (i) NAV per share of our common stock as of the applicable period end, (ii) the range of high and low closing sales prices of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market during the applicable period, (iii) the closing high and low sales prices as a premium (discount) to NAV during the relevant period, and (iv) the distributions per share of our common stock declared during the applicable period.

Distributions

We offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the Investment Company Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

To the extent our taxable earnings fall below the total amount of our distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a tax-free return of capital to our stockholders.  Thus, the source of a distribution to our stockholders may be the original capital invested by the stockholder rather than our taxable ordinary income or capital gains.  Stockholders should read any written disclosure accompanying a distribution payment carefully and should not assume that the source of any distribution is our taxable ordinary income or capital gains.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, our distributions were made from distributable earnings.  We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of these distributions in the future.  In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions due to the asset coverage requirements applicable to us as a BDC under the Investment Company Act.  If we do not distribute a certain percentage of our income annually, we will suffer adverse tax consequences, including possible loss of favorable regulated investment company tax treatment.

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Performance Graph

This graph compares the return on our common stock with that of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “S&P 500 Index”) and the Nasdaq Financial 100 Index, for the period from November 3, 2016, the date of our Merger, after which our common stock began trading on Nasdaq, through December 31, 2021.  The graph assumes that, on November 3, 2016, a person invested $10,000 in each of the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Financial 100 Index, and our common stock at the equivalent closing price of Full Circle’s last day of trading.  The graph measures total stockholder return, which takes into account both changes in stock price and dividends.  It assumes that dividends paid are reinvested in like securities.

The graph and other information furnished under this Item 5 shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.  The stock price performance included in the above graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

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Financial Highlights

Below is the schedule of financial highlights of the Company:

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Item 6.  [Reserved]

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

Overview

We are a BDC that seeks to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and income-generating equity investments, including investments in specialty finance businesses.  To achieve our investment objective, we invest in secured and senior secured debt instruments of middle market companies, as well as income-generating equity investments in specialty finance companies, that we believe offer sufficient downside protection and have the potential to generate attractive returns. We generally define middle market companies as companies with enterprise values between $100 million and $2 billion. We also make investments throughout other portions of a company’s capital structure, including subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity or equity-linked securities. We source these transactions directly with issuers and in the secondary markets through relationships with industry professionals.

In December 2021, GESF, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GECC, was formed to oversee specialty finance related investments, and Michael Keller, a seasoned professional with significant experience in specialty finance, was appointed President of GESF.  We believe investments in specialty finance companies along the “continuum of lending” provide durable risk adjusted returns that are expected to be largely uncorrelated to the liquid credit markets. The “continuum of lending” as seen by GECM is the various stages of capital that are provided to under-banked small and medium sized businesses and includes, but is not limited to inventory and purchase order financing, receivables factoring, asset-based and asset-backed lending, and equipment financing. GECM believes that ownership interests in multiple specialty finance companies will create a natural competitive advantage for each business and generate both revenue and cost synergies across companies.

On September 27, 2016, we and GECM entered into the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement, and, upon closing the Merger, we began to accrue obligations to our external investment manager under those agreements. The Investment Management Agreement renews for successive annual periods, subject to requisite Board and/or stockholder approvals.

We have elected to be treated as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  As a RIC, we will not be taxed on our income to the extent that we distribute such income each year and satisfy other applicable income tax requirements.  To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and annually distribute to our stockholders generally at least 90% of our investment company taxable income on a timely basis.  If we qualify as a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate level taxes on any income that we distribute to our stockholders.

Investments

Our level of investment activity can and does vary substantially from period to period depending on many factors, including, among others, the amount of debt and equity capital available from other sources to middle-market companies, the level of merger and acquisition activity, pricing in the high yield and leveraged loan credit markets, our expectations of future investment opportunities, the general economic environment as well as the competitive environment for the types of investments we make.

As a BDC, our investments and the composition of our portfolio are required to comply with regulatory requirements.  See “Regulation as a Business Development Company” and “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

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Revenues

We generate revenue primarily from interest on the debt investments that we hold.  We may also generate revenue from dividends on the equity investments that we hold, capital gains on the disposition of investments, and lease, fee, and other income.  Our investments in fixed income instruments generally have an expected maturity of three to five years, although we have no lower or upper constraint on maturity.  Our debt investments generally pay interest quarterly or semi-annually.  Payments of principal of our debt investments may be amortized over the stated term of the investment, deferred for several years or due entirely at maturity.  In some cases, our debt investments and preferred stock investments may defer payments of cash interest or dividends or PIK.  In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of prepayment fees, commitment, origination, due diligence fees, end-of-term or exit fees, fees for providing significant managerial assistance, consulting fees and other investment-related income.

Expenses

Our primary operating expenses include the payment of a base management fee, administration fees (including the allocable portion of overhead under the Administration Agreement), and, depending on our operating results, an incentive fee.  The base management fee and incentive fee remunerates GECM for work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, closing and monitoring our investments.  The Administration Agreement provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses incurred for office space rental, office equipment and utilities allocable to us under the Administration Agreement, as well as certain costs and expenses incurred relating to non-investment advisory, administrative or operating services provided by GECM or its affiliates to us.  We also bear all other costs and expenses of our operations and transactions. In addition, our expenses include interest on our outstanding indebtedness.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Valuation of Portfolio Investments

We value our portfolio investments at fair value based upon the principles and methods of valuation set forth in policies adopted by our Board.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset that (1) are independent of us; (2) are knowledgeable, having a reasonable understanding about the asset based on all available information (including information that might be obtained through due diligence efforts that are usual and customary); (3) are able to transact for the asset; and (4) are willing to transact for the asset (that is, they are motivated but not forced or otherwise compelled to do so).

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at such market quotations unless the quotations are deemed not to represent fair value.  Debt and equity securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value, are valued at fair value using a valuation process consistent with our Board-approved policy.

Our Board approves in good faith the valuation of our portfolio as of the end of each quarter.  Due to the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize.  In addition, changes in the market environment and other events may impact the market quotations used to value some of our investments.

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Those investments for which market quotations are not readily available or for which market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value are valued utilizing a market approach, an income approach, or both approaches, as appropriate.  The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities (including a business).  The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts (for example, cash flows or earnings) to a single present amount (discounted).  The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts.  In following these approaches, the types of factors that we may take into account in determining the fair value of our investments include, as relevant and among other factors: available current market data, including relevant and applicable market trading and transaction comparables; applicable market yields and multiples, security covenants, call protection provisions, information rights and the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, its earnings and discounted cash flows, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public, and merger and acquisition comparables; and enterprise values.

We prefer the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in our valuation process.  Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset.  Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of us.  Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Both observable and unobservable inputs are subject to some level of uncertainty and assumptions used bear the risk of change in the future.  We utilize the best information available to us, including the factors listed above, in preparing the fair valuations.  In determining the fair value of any individual investment, we may use multiple inputs or utilize more than one approach to calculate the fair value to assess the sensitivity to change and determine a reasonable range of fair value.  In addition, our valuation procedures include an assessment of the current valuation as compared to the previous valuation for each investment and where differences are material understanding the primary drivers of those changes, incorporating updates to our current valuation inputs and approaches as appropriate.

Revenue Recognition

Interest and dividend income, including PIK income, is recorded on an accrual basis.  Origination, structuring, closing, commitment and other upfront fees, including OID, earned with respect to capital commitments are generally amortized or accreted into interest income over the life of the respective debt investment, as are end-of-term or exit fees receivable upon repayment of a debt investment if such fees are fixed in nature.  Other fees, including certain amendment fees, prepayment fees and commitment fees on broken deals, and end-of-term or exit fees that have a contingency feature or are variable in nature are recognized as earned.  Prepayment fees and similar income due upon the early repayment of a loan or debt security are recognized when earned and are included in interest income.

We may purchase debt investments at a discount to their face value.  Discounts on the acquisition of corporate debt instruments are generally amortized using the effective-interest or constant-yield method, unless there are material questions as to collectability.

We assess the outstanding accrued income receivables for collectability at least quarterly, or more frequently if there is an event that indicates the underlying portfolio company may not be able to make the expected payments.  If it is determined that amounts are not likely to be paid we may establish a reserve against or reverse the income and put the investment on non-accrual status.

Net Realized Gains (Losses) and Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale of an investment and the amortized cost basis of the investment, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized.  Realized gains and losses are computed using the specific identification method.

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Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the net change in portfolio investment fair values and portfolio investment cost bases during the reporting period, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

The following is a summary of our investment activity for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Portfolio Reconciliation

The following is a reconciliation of the investment portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.  Investments in short-term securities, including U.S. Treasury Bills and money market mutual funds, are excluded from the table below.

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Portfolio Classification

The following table shows the fair value of portfolio investments by industry as of December 31, 2021 and 2020