Mill City Ventures III, Ltd - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

or

Commission File Number 814-00991

MILL CITY VENTURES III, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (952) 479-1923

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

None

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

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share

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

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 [X]

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 the filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). [ ] Yes [X] No

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by persons other than officers, directors and more than 5% shareholders of the registrant as of December 31, 2015 was approximately $1,954,019 based on the closing sales price of $0.75 per share as reported on the OTCQX. As of March 30, 2016, there were 12,151,493 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED IN PART BY REFERENCE

None.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.
Form 10-K
Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1  BUSINESS

Overview

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd., formerly known as Poker Magic, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”), is a Minnesota corporation that was incorporated in January 2006. Until December 13, 2012, we were a development-stage company that previously focused on promoting and placing a proprietary poker game online and into casinos and entertainment facilities nationwide, including those located in Native American tribal lands. On December 13, 2012, we filed a Form N-8A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), notifying the SEC of our intent to register as an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). On February 7, 2013, we filed Form N54A, Notification of Election to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) and intend to be taxed as a regulated investment company.

Business Model and Strategy

As a BDC, we primarily focus on investing in or lending to private and small-capitalization public companies and making managerial assistance available to such companies. A BDC generally provides shareholders with the ability to retain the liquidity of a publicly traded stock, while sharing in the possible benefits of investing in emerging-growth or expansion-stage companies that are privately or publicly owned.

Our revenues relate to the earnings we receive from our portfolio investments. Our objective is to obtain superior returns from investments in securities and other investment opportunities available to BDCs under the 1940 Act. We intend to invest capital in portfolio companies for purposes of financing acquisitions, organic growth, recapitalizations, buyouts and working capital. In this regard, buyouts generally include transactions that involve the acquisition of a controlling interest in an entity, either by management or other investors. Organic growth refers to growth through the internal operations of the company, whether through investments in marketing initiatives, capital expenditures or other internal growth initiatives, rather than growth by means of acquisitions.

We plan to identify potential investments through multiple sources, including without limitation private equity sponsors, investment bankers, brokers and owners and operators of businesses. We expect to base our investment decisions on our analyses of actual and potential business operations, asset valuations and viable exit strategies to establish appropriate pricing and maximize our return on investment. Subject to regulations set forth in the 1940 Act and applicable to BDCs, we plan to invest in private companies, small-cap public stocks, notes and other forms of debt, investment contracts, and other investments commonly referred to as securities.

Competition

As a BDC, we compete with strategic buyers, private equity funds, subordinated debt funds and other buyers and financing sources, including traditional financial services companies such as finance companies, commercial banks, investment banks and other equity and non-equity based investment funds. Some of our competitors will be substantially larger and have considerably greater financial resources than we do. Competitors may have a lower cost of funds and many have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, certain of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships and build their market shares. Competitive pressures may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, as a result of this competition, we may be unable to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and meet our investment goals.

Competitive Advantages

We believe that we are well positioned to secure appropriate investments in target companies for the following reasons:

Investment Process

Prospective Portfolio Company Characteristics

We have identified several criteria that we believe will prove important in achieving our investment objectives with respect to target portfolio companies. These criteria will provide general guidelines for our investment decisions. Nevertheless, not all of these criteria will be met by each prospective portfolio company in which we choose to invest.

Due Diligence

If we believe a target portfolio company generally meets the characteristics described above or if we believe that certain of the most important characteristics for that particular target portfolio company or the industry in which it operates are met, or if we have other reasons to believe in the potential profitability of an investment in a target portfolio company, we may perform initial due diligence on that company. Our due-diligence examination for each target portfolio company will differ based on a number of factors but is generally likely to include our:

The assessments delineated above provide our general approach for our investment decisions, although not all of such activities will be followed in each instance, or some may be stressed moreso than others depending on facts and circumstances. Upon successful completion of this preliminary evaluation, we will decide whether to move forward towards negotiating a letter of intent and, thereafter, definitive documentation for our investment. Depending on timing, we may not use a letter of intent and will instead proceed directly to definitive documentation.

Types of Investments

We expect to engage in various investment strategies in order to achieve our overall investment objectives. The particular type of investment strategy we select will depend, among other things, upon market opportunities, the skills and experience of our management and Board of Directors and our overall portfolio composition. Our strategies generally seek to provide (i) in the case of debt, current cash yields and favorable loan-to-value ratios, or other financial guarantees or credit enhancements with respect to loan collateral, and (ii) in the case of equity, favorable long-term growth and income potential together with viable exit or liquidity strategies.

Debt Investments

We intend to tailor the terms of each debt investment we make to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and prospective portfolio company, negotiating a structure that seeks to protect our rights and manage our risk while creating incentives for the portfolio company to achieve its business plan. Our expected primary source of return on debt investments is the monthly cash interest we collect on those investments. The particular types of debt investments we may make include, but are not limited to, the following:

Equity Investments

Like debt investments, we intend to tailor the terms of each equity investment we make to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and prospective portfolio company, negotiating a structure that seeks to protect our rights and manage our risk while creating incentives for the portfolio company to achieve its business plan. As an equity holder, the rights we will generally seek to protect or obtain include minority rights, event-driven rights to “put” or sell our equity back to the portfolio company or certain affiliates or sponsors, and registration rights such as “demand” or “piggyback” registration rights. We may invest in common stock and preferred stock, and may receive warrants in connection with our investments. When we make a debt investment, we may also be granted equity participation in the form of warrants to purchase common equity in the company in the same class of security that the owners or equity sponsors receive upon funding.

Ongoing Relationships with Portfolio Companies

Monitoring

We monitor our portfolio companies in order to determine whether they are meeting our financing criteria and their respective business plans. We may decline to make additional investments in portfolio companies that do not continue to meet our financing criteria or that fail to successfully execute their business plans. Of course, we may choose to make additional investments in portfolio companies that do not do so, but that we believe will nevertheless perform well in the future.

We expect to monitor the financial trends of each portfolio company and their respective industries to assess the appropriate course of action for each company and to evaluate our overall portfolio quality. In this regard, our management team will monitor the status and performance of each individual company on at least a quarterly and, in some cases, a monthly basis.

We have several methods of evaluating and monitoring the performance and fair value of our debt and equity positions, including but not limited to the following:

We expect that the current financial statements of all portfolio companies will be available to us to assist us in our fair value reporting obligations under the 1940 Act.

Managerial Assistance

As a BDC, we offer, and in some cases may provide, significant managerial assistance to those of our portfolio companies intended to qualify as “eligible portfolio companies” under the 1940 Act. We expect that this assistance, if any, will typically involve monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in their board and management meetings, consulting with and advising their officers and providing other organizational, financial, strategic and transactional guidance.

Our 2015 Portfolio

At December 31, 2015, we held investments in 18 eligible portfolio investments, which had an aggregate amortized cost of $6,175,345 and a fair value of $4,863,249 and our non-eligible portfolio holdings had an aggregate cost of $1,042,786 and a fair market value of $884,559. At December 31, 2014, we held 11 eligible portfolio investments, which had an aggregate amortized cost of $4,946,019 and a fair value of $6,265,399. Our eligible portfolio investments at December 31, 2015 were as follows:

BDC Regulation

The following discussion is a general summary of some of the material prohibitions and restrictions governing BDCs generally. It does not purport to be a complete description of all the laws and regulations affecting BDCs.

The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to transactions between BDCs and their directors and officers and principal underwriters and certain other related persons, and requires that a majority of the directors be persons other than “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. In addition, the 1940 Act provides that we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw our election as, a BDC unless approved by a majority of our outstanding voting securities. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of (i) 67% or more of such company’s shares present at a meeting or represented by proxy if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company.

Qualifying Assets

Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than “qualifying assets” listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the BDC’s total assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are the following:

Significant Managerial Assistance

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 the types of securities described above. However, to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the foregoing 70% test, the BDC must either control the issuer of the securities or offer to make available to the issuer of the securities (other than small and solvent companies described above) significant managerial assistance; except that, where the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make available such managerial assistance. Making available significant managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC, whether through its directors, officers or employees, offers to provide, and, if accepted, does in fact so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company through monitoring of portfolio company operations, selective participation in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising a portfolio company’s officers or other organizational or financial guidance.

Temporary Investments

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 we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that at least 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. We plan to invest in U.S. treasury bills or in repurchase agreements, provided that such agreements 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, such as us, 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 total assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would not meet the diversification tests imposed on us by the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) to qualify for tax treatment as a Regulated Investment Company (“RIC”) for federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. We will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions. 

Senior Securities; Coverage Ratio

We will be permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock, but only if our “asset coverage,” as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 200% immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must not make any dividend distribution to our shareholders or repurchase securities unless we meet the applicable asset-coverage ratios at the time of the dividend distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes.

Other

We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and good governance practices. We will not “concentrate” our investments (i.e., invest 25% or more of our assets in any particular industry, determined at the time of investment). We will be required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect us against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from indemnifying any director or officer against any liability to our shareholders arising from willful malfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office. We are required to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws, and review these policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation.

Management

Currently, Mr. Douglas M. Polinsky, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors, and Joseph A. Geraci, II, our Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company, both serve as our senior management team. Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our senior management team’s ability to identify, evaluate, finance and invest in suitable companies that meet our investment goals. Accomplishing this result in a cost-effective manner will largely be a function of our management of the due-diligence and investment process, our ability to efficiently monitor investments we make and, in some cases, our access to financing sources on acceptable terms.

ITEM 1A  RISK FACTORS

You should consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information presented or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in evaluating our business and any investment decision relating to our securities.

Risks Related to our Business

We changed our business to a BDC, and our management team has no experience managing a BDC.

On December 13, 2012, we changed our business to become an internally managed, closed-end investment company and subsequently elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. We have limited experience in this regard, which may affect our ability to successfully manage and grow our business.

The 1940 Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or small-cap traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Our management team’s lack of experience in managing a portfolio of assets under such regulatory constraints may hinder our ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve our investment objective. Furthermore, our failure to comply with the complex BDC requirements could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us, expose us to private claims and/or cause us to lose our status as a BDC.

We intend to obtain and maintain tax treatment as a RIC under the Code. To maintain that status, we must meet specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually at least 90% of the sum of our net ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses. Failure to meet these requirements would subject us to excise taxes, which would reduce your return on investment.

We are dependent upon senior management personnel for our future success. If we are unable to retain our senior management team, our ability to achieve our investment objectives could be significantly harmed.

We do critically depend on our senior management, particularly our Chief Executive Officer, Douglas M. Polinsky, and our Chief Financial Officer, Joseph A. Geraci, II, for the identification, final selection, structuring, closing and monitoring of our investments. These employees have critical experience and relationships that we rely on in the course of implementing our business plan. Thus, our future success and viability as a BDC will depend on the continued service of these persons. Their departure could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.

We operate in a highly competitive market for portfolio investment opportunities.

We expect that many entities will compete with us to make the types of investments we plan to make in prospective portfolio companies. We will compete with private equity firms as well as other BDCs, investment funds, investment banks and other sources of financing, including traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and finance companies. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources not available to us. These resources may enable our competitors to offer terms that we cannot match. We may lose prospective portfolio investments if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If, on the other hand, we do match our competitors’ pricing, terms or structure, we may experience decreased net interest income and increased risk of credit losses. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and build their market shares. Importantly, many of our potential competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act does impose on us as a BDC. If we are not able to compete effectively, our business and financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. 

We may be unable to make distributions, which failure could materially and adversely affect your investment.

Although we intend to make periodic distributions to our shareholders, we may be unable to achieve operating results that will allow us to make such distributions. For example, the BDC asset-coverage requirements may limit our ability to make distributions. In addition, restrictions and provisions in any future credit facilities may limit our ability to make distributions. Although we intend to elect RIC taxation under the Code, if we fail to meet certain annual income-distribution requirements, we could lose our RIC status and be subject to corporate-level income tax. Any failure to make distributions or any loss of our RIC status could materially and adversely affect your investment. 

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

As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at the fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and consistent with our Company’s valuation policy. Decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments will be recorded as unrealized depreciation on our statement of operations. Any unrealized losses in our portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us (if a loan), or of its diminishing value (if equity). This could result in future realized losses and, ultimately, income available for distribution in future periods. 

Many of our portfolio investments will be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. As a result, there may be uncertainty as to the ultimate value of our investments.

Our investments are expected to consist in material part of securities issued by privately held companies, the fair value of which is not readily determinable. In addition, we will not be permitted to maintain a general reserve for anticipated loan losses. Instead, we will be required by the 1940 Act to specifically value each investment and record an unrealized gain or loss for any asset that we believe has increased or decreased in value. Our Board of Directors will value these securities at fair value as they determine in good faith and consistent with the written policies and procedures that we have adopted for this purpose. Where appropriate, our board may utilize the services of an independent valuation firm to assist in the determination of fair value. Because valuations, and particularly valuations of private investments, are inherently uncertain and may be based on estimates, our fair value determinations may differ materially from those that would be assessed if a liquid market for these securities existed. Our net asset value could be adversely affected if we determine the fair value of our investments to be materially higher than the values we ultimately realize from those investments.

If we are unable to source investments effectively, we may be unable to achieve our investment objectives.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our senior management team’s ability to identify, evaluate, finance and invest in suitable companies that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result in a cost-effective manner will largely be a function of our management of the investment process, our ability to provide efficient services and our access to financing sources on acceptable terms. In addition to monitoring the performance of our investments, our management team must offer managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. These demands on their time may distract them, slowing the rate of overall investment. To grow, we expect that we will need to hire, train, supervise and manage new employees and to implement computer and other systems capable of effectively accommodating our growth. Our failure to effectively manage our future growth could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We will be exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates.

General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial and negative impact on our investments, the value of our common stock and our rate of return on invested capital. A reduction in interest spreads on new investments could also have an adverse impact on our net interest income. An increase in interest rates could decrease the value of any investments we hold which earn fixed interest rates. Also, an increase in interest rates could make investment in our common stock less attractive if we are unable to increase our dividend rate, which could reduce the value of our common stock. 

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

Once we become a BDC subject to RIC taxation upon making a RIC election, we may be required to include in our taxable income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash. Any of these amounts will increase the amounts we are required to distribute to qualify under the RIC rules. In any such event, we would need to obtain cash from other sources to satisfy our RIC-related distribution requirements. If we are unable to so obtain cash, we may fail to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC, and thus could become subject to a corporate-level income tax on all of our income. Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our assets, raise additional debt or equity capital, or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements and avoid a corporate-level income tax. 

If we incur additional debt, it could increase the risk of investing in our Company.

We expect, in the future, that we may borrow from, and issue senior debt securities to, banks, insurance companies and other lenders. Lenders will have fixed-dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our shareholders, and we may grant a security interest in our assets in connection with our borrowings. In the case of a liquidation event, those lenders would receive proceeds before our shareholders. In addition, borrowings generally magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. If the value of our assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to increase more than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Conversely, if the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to decline more than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any increase in our revenue in excess of interest expense on our borrowed funds would cause our net income to increase more than it would without the leverage; and any decrease in our revenue would cause our net income to decline more than it would have had we not borrowed funds, and could negatively affect our ability to make distributions on our common stock. Our ability to service any debt that we incur will depend largely on our financial performance and will be subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures.

As a BDC, we will be required to meet an asset-coverage ratio (total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, including any preferred stock) of at least 200%. If this ratio declines below 200%, we will be unable to incur additional debt and may need to sell a portion of our investments to repay debt when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so, and we may be unable to make distributions.

Because we intend to distribute substantially all of our income and net realized capital gains to our shareholders once we make a RIC election, we will likely need additional capital to finance our growth.

To qualify for RIC taxation and avoid payment of excise taxes and minimize or avoid payment of income taxes, we intend to distribute to our shareholders substantially all of our net ordinary income and realized net capital gains except for certain net long-term capital gains (which we may retain, pay applicable income taxes with respect thereto, and elect to treat as deemed distributions to our shareholders). As described elsewhere, as a BDC we will be required to meet a 200% asset-coverage ratio limiting the amount that we may borrow. Because we will continue to need capital to grow our investment portfolio, this limitation may require us to raise additional equity at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. While we expect to be able to borrow and issue additional debt and equity securities, debt and equity financing may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, as a BDC, we will generally not be permitted to issue equity securities below our net asset value without shareholder approval. If additional funds are not available to us, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities, and our net asset value could decline. 

Our Board of Directors may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or shareholder approval.

Our Board of Directors has the authority from time to time to modify or waive certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice (except as required by the 1940 Act) and without shareholder approval. Under Section 58 of the 1940 Act, our Board of Directors may not, however, choose to withdraw our status as a BDC, or change its operations so as to cease to be a BDC, without the prior approval of our shareholders. The effects of any such exercise of authority may adversely affect our business and the value of your investment. 

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could limit our ability to detect and prevent fraud and thereby adversely affect our business and stock price.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports. Nevertheless, all internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Our most recent evaluation of our internal controls resulted in our conclusion that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Our inability to maintain an effective control environment may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our stock price. 

We are highly dependent on the services provided by certain executives and key personnel.

Our success depends in significant part upon the continued service of certain senior management and other key personnel. In particular, the Company is materially dependent upon the services of Douglas M. Polinsky, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and Joseph A. Geraci, II, our Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company. Although we have employment agreements with these individuals, we may nonetheless lose their services if they were to die or become disabled, or if they were to voluntarily terminate their association with our Company. We do not have any key-man insurance in place with respect to Messrs. Geraci and Polinsky. 

Our articles of incorporation grant our Board of Directors the power to designate and issue additional shares of common and preferred stock.

Our authorized capital consists of 250,000,000 shares of capital stock. Unless otherwise specifically so designated upon issuance, all shares of capital issued we issue will be common stock. Pursuant to authority granted by our articles of incorporation, our Board of Directors, without any action by our shareholders, may designate and issue shares in such classes or series (including classes or series of preferred stock) as it deems appropriate and establish the rights, preferences and privileges of such shares, including dividends, liquidation and voting rights. The rights of holders of other classes or series of stock that may be issued could be superior to the rights of holders of our common shares. The designation and issuance of shares of capital stock having preferential rights could adversely affect other rights appurtenant to shares of our common stock. Furthermore, any issuances of additional stock (common or preferred) will dilute the percentage of ownership interest of then-current holders of our capital stock and may dilute our book value per share.  

Our stock is thinly traded, which may make it difficult to sell shares of our common stock.

Our common stock is thinly traded on the OTCQX and we expect that our common stock will generally remain thinly traded for the foreseeable future. A low trading volume will generally make it difficult for our shareholders to sell their shares as and when they choose. Furthermore, low trading volumes are generally understood to depress market prices. As a result, our shareholders may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the time and prices that they feel are fair or appropriate.

Our common stock qualifies as a “penny stock,” which may make it difficult to sell shares of our common stock.

Our common stock is categorized as a “penny stock” subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Under this rule, broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must provide purchasers of these stocks with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the SEC. Under applicable regulations, our common stock will generally remain a “penny stock” until and for such time as its per-share price is $5.00 or more (as determined in accordance with SEC regulations), or until we meet certain net asset or revenue thresholds. These thresholds include the possession of net tangible assets (i.e., total assets less intangible assets and liabilities) in excess of $2,000,000 in the event we have been operating for at least three years or $5,000,000 in the event we have been operating for fewer than three years, and the recognition of average revenues equal to at least $6,000,000 for each of the last three years. We do not anticipate meeting any of the foregoing thresholds in the foreseeable future.

The penny-stock rules severely limit the liquidity of securities in the secondary market, and many brokers choose not to participate in penny-stock transactions. As a result, there is generally less trading in penny stocks. If you become a holder of our common stock, you may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock in public broker’s transaction, if at all, at the times and prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.

Risks Related to our Investments

Our investments may involve significant risks, which could ultimately materially and adversely affect our results of operation, financial condition and the value of our common stock. You could lose all of your investment.

We expect to invest primarily in senior secured term loans, mezzanine debt and selected equity investments issued by privately held and public “middle-market” companies, and may also use short sales and options in connection with our business.

Senior Secured Loans.     When we extend senior secured term loans, we will generally take a security interest in the available assets of these portfolio companies, including the equity interests of their subsidiaries, which we expect to help mitigate the risk of default. However, there is a risk that the collateral securing our loans 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. In some circumstances, our lien could be subordinate to claims of other creditors. Consequently, the fact that a loan is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the loan’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the loan should we be forced to enforce our remedies.

Mezzanine Debt .   Any mezzanine debt investments will generally be unsecured and subordinated to senior loans. We expect this will result in above-average risk and volatility, which could adversely affect our investment returns. Because mezzanine debt generally does not receive any cash prior to maturity of the debt, the investment will be of greater risk. To the extent interest payments associated with such debt are deferred, such debt will necessarily be subject to greater fluctuations in value based on changes in interest rates, and such debt could subject us to phantom income.

Equity Investments .     We expect to make equity investments. In addition, when we invest in senior loans or mezzanine debt, we may acquire warrants in connection with such investments. Our goal is ultimately to dispose of such equity interests and realize gains upon our disposition of such interests. Nevertheless, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and may in fact 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.  

Short Sales .   We may engage in short selling. In certain circumstances, short sales can substantially increase the impact of adverse price movements in our investment positions. A short sale involves the theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the security and uncertainty as to the availability of such security for purchase—theoretically an unlimited loss.

Options .   We may buy or sell (write) both call options and put options, and may do so on a “covered” or an “uncovered” basis. Any options transactions may be part of a hedging tactic (i.e., offsetting the risk involved in another securities position) or as a form of leverage, in which we have the right to benefit from price movements in a large number of securities with a small commitment of capital. These activities involve risks that can be large, depending on the circumstances under which a particular transaction or position is entered into. When we buy an option, a decrease (or inadequate increase) in the price of the underlying security in the case of a call, or an increase (or inadequate decrease) in the price of the underlying security in the case of a put, could result in a total loss of our investment in the option. When we sell (write) an option, the risk can be substantially greater. The seller of an uncovered call option bears the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price. This risk is theoretically unlimited unless the option is “covered.” If it is covered, an increase in the market price of the security above the exercise price would cause us to lose the opportunity for gain on the underlying security—assuming it bought the security for less than the exercise price.

Middle-Market Companies .   Investments in middle-market companies also involve a number of additional significant risks, including:

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

We may invest in private companies and certain public companies. These securities may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise be less liquid than other publicly traded securities. The relative illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments. As a result, we do not expect to achieve near-term liquidity in our investments. Our investments may occasionally be subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or will be otherwise illiquid due to the fact that there is no established trading market for such securities, or such trading market is thinly traded. The relative illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to dispose of them at a favorable price, and, as a result, we may suffer losses.

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

Many of our portfolio companies may be susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of collateral securing our loans and the value of our equity investments. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and harm our operating results.

Defaults by our portfolio companies could harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other debt holders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the loans are due and foreclosure on its secured assets. Such events could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt that we hold and the value of any equity securities we own. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company.

When we are a debt or minority equity investor in a portfolio company, we may not be in a position to control the entity, and its management may make decisions that could decrease the value of our investment.

We anticipate making both debt and minority equity investments in our portfolio companies. Therefore, we will be subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not immediately or ultimately serve our interests and that could decrease the value of our portfolio holdings. We will not be in a position to control any portfolio company, and mitigate these risks, by investing in its debt securities or minority equity positions. 

The prepayment of our debt investments could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.

We will be subject to the risk that our portfolio investments may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we generally expect to reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending their future investment in new portfolio companies. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt that has been prepaid, and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these prepaid amounts. Any future investment in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the prepaid debt. As a result, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies were to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact our return on equity, which could result in a decline in the market price of our common stock.

Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with or senior to our investments.

We may invest in debt securities. In some cases, portfolio companies will have other debt ranking equal or senior to the debt securities in which we invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may provide that holders thereof are entitled to receive payment of interest or principal on or before us. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, senior debt holders will typically be entitled to receive full payment before we receive distributions in respect of our investment, if any. In the case of debt ranking equal to our investment, we would have to share distributions on a pro rata basis with other creditors holding such debt upon any insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy.

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 structure investments as senior loans, if one of our portfolio companies goes bankrupt, a bankruptcy court might recharacterize our debt investment and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors. In addition, lenders such as us can be subject to lender-liability claims when they become too involved in the borrower’s business or exercise control over the borrower.

Investments in equity securities involve a substantial degree of risk.

We may purchase common stock and other equity securities. The equity securities we acquire may fail to appreciate and may decline in value or become worthless, and our ability to recover our investment will depend on our portfolio company’s success. Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of dilution as a result of additional issuances. Even investments in preferred securities involve unique risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights. 

Risks Related to Our Operation as a BDC

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

The 1940 Act prohibits us from participating in certain transactions with certain of our directors, officers and affiliates without the prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. In this regard, any person owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities will be our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include co-investments in a portfolio company, without prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. In this regard, if a person acquires more than 25% of our voting securities, we will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons absent the prior approval of the SEC. As a result of these restrictions, the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us may be materially limited.

BDC regulations affect our ability to raise additional capital.

We will likely require additional capital. We may acquire additional capital by issuing senior securities or indebtedness, by issuing additional common shares or from securitization transactions. Nonetheless, we may be unable to raise additional capital on favorable terms, if at all. We may issue debt securities or preferred securities, which we refer to collectively as “senior securities,” and we may borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Our ability to pay dividends or issue additional senior securities would be restricted if our asset-coverage ratio were not at least 200%. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. In such a case, we may be required to liquidate a portion of our investments and repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.

Changes in the laws or regulations governing our business, or in the interpretations thereof, and any failure by us to comply with these laws or regulations, could negatively affect the profitability of our operations.

Changes in the laws, regulations or the interpretations thereof that govern BDCs, RICs or non-depository commercial lenders, could significantly affect our operations and our cost of doing business. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations and are subject to judicial and administrative decisions that affect our operations, including our loan originations, maximum interest rates, fees and other charges, disclosures to portfolio companies, the terms of secured transactions, collection and foreclosure procedures and other trade practices. If these laws, regulations or decisions change, or if we expand our business into jurisdictions that have adopted more stringent requirements, we may have to incur significant compliance expenses or we might have to restrict our operations. If we fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations and decisions, we may lose licenses needed for the conduct of our business and be subject to civil fines or criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations or financial condition.

If our primary investments are not deemed to be qualifying assets, we could fail to qualify as a BDC or be precluded from investing according to our current business strategy.

To maintain qualification as a BDC, we must not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets. If we fail to meet this “qualifying assets test,” we could be forced to dispose of certain investments, be precluded from investing in the manner described in this Form 10K, or lose our status as a BDC, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The disposition of such investments may need to occur quickly, which would make it difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. In addition, because these types of investments will generally be illiquid, we may have difficulty in finding a buyer and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss.

If we are unable to qualify for RIC tax treatment, we will be subject to corporate-level income tax, which will adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Provided we qualify for tax treatment as a RIC, we can generally avoid corporate-level federal income taxes on income distributed to our shareholders as dividends. We will not qualify for this pass-through tax treatment, and thus will be subject to corporate-level federal income taxes, if we are unable to comply with the source of income, diversification and distribution requirements contained in the Code, or if we fail to maintain our registration under the 1940 Act. If we fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment, the resulting taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution to shareholders and the actual amount of our distributions. As such, any such failure would have a material adverse effect on us, the net asset value of our common stock and the total return obtainable from your investment in our common stock.

ITEM 2  PROPERTIES

On June 6, 2013, we entered into an agreement to lease approximately 1,917 square feet of commercial space and two parking spots, for a period of 62 months. The leased space became available for occupancy on September 23, 2013. The 62-month lease term began on October 1, 2013 and runs through November 30, 2018. The total base rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $45,378 and $45,378, respectively.

The following is a schedule of the required annual minimum lease payments.

ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.  

PART II

ITEM 5  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our common stock is listed for trading on the OTCQX. Until January 18, 2013, we traded under the symbol “POKR.OB.” Effective January 22, 2013, our trading symbol changed to “MCVT.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Pacific Stock Transfer Company, 4045 South Spencer Street, Suite 403, Las Vegas, NV 89119. The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock as reported by the OTCQX in 2015 and 2014. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown, or commission, and may not represent actual transactions. Trading in our common stock during the period represented was infrequent, exemplified by low trading volume and many days during which no trades occurred. 

Holders

As of the date of this filing, we had approximately 187 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividends

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any such dividends in the near future. We do, however, intend to distribute dividends annually to our shareholders once we make an election to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

As of December 31, 2015, we had no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to purchase any equity securities of the Company under any equity compensation plan or “individual compensation arrangement,” as defined in Item 201 of Regulation S-K. Furthermore, as of the date of this filing, we are not a party to any equity compensation plan, nor are we obligated under any “individual compensation arrangement” to issue any options, warrants, rights or other securities. We are not required by applicable state law or the listing standards of any self-regulatory agency (e.g., the OTCQX, NASD, AMEX or NYSE) to obtain the approval of our security holders prior to issuing any such compensatory options, warrants or other rights to purchase securities of the Company. Nevertheless, there are restrictions and limitations under the 1940 Act on our ability to grant options and warrants to members of our management and our non-interested, non-employee directors that, in our case, generally prohibit any such grants in the absence of prior SEC approval.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth below should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements, and notes thereto, filed together with this Form 10-K.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements made in this section of our report are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally relate to and are based upon our current plans, expectations, assumptions and projections about future events. Our management currently believes that the various plans, expectations, and assumptions reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable. Nevertheless, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and our actual actions or future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives or expectations, or our assumptions and projections underlying our present plans, objectives and expectations, which are expressed in this report. An example of specific factors that might cause our actual results to differ from our current expectations include but are not limited to:

The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and readers are urged to read carefully and consider the risk factors described elsewhere in this report. In light of the foregoing, prospective investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements included in this filing may ultimately prove to be inaccurate―even materially inaccurate. Because of the significant uncertainties inherent in such forward-looking statements, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that our objectives, plans, expectations or projections that are contained in this filing will be achieved in any specified time frame, if ever.

Results of Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned $445,381 in interest payments from six eligible portfolio companies―Insite Software Solutions, Inc., Mix 1 Life, Inc. DBR Phase III US Investors, LLC, The Igloo, LLC, Creative Realities, Inc. and Bravo Financial, LLC―an additional $450 bank interest on cash balances, $32,500 in loan origination fees, and $15,000 in dividend payments from one eligible portfolio company, Dala Petroleum, Inc. and $74,751 in non-eligible portfolio company dividends. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company earned $235,774 in interest payments from four eligible portfolio companies―Insite Software Solutions, Inc., Mix 1 Life Inc., DBR Phase III U.S. Investors, LLC, and The Igloo―an additional $3,651 bank interest on cash balances, $30,574 in dividend payments from one eligible portfolio company, Dala Petroleum, Inc. and $70,352 in non-eligible portfolio company dividends. 

As the table above indicates, we incurred selling, general and administrative expenses aggregating $639,586 for the year ended December 31, 2015, and $799,426 for the year ended December 31, 2014. A discussion of the various components of our general and administrative expenses for these periods is set forth below.

General Operating Expenses.    Our general operating expenses, which primarily include rent occupancy expense, and miscellaneous office supply expenses, were $126,012 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our general operating expenses were $103,441 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in the current period is primarily related to travel expenses incurred with the attendance of due-diligence meetings and conferences during 2015 compared to no travel in 2014.

Legal and Accounting Expenses.    Our legal and accounting expenses were $206,292 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $157,274 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The current period increase is due to increased legal fees associated with the preparation of the company’s OTCQX application and listing fees in addition to the preliminary preparation of a proposed registration statement.

Executive Management Compensation.    For the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, executive management compensation aggregated $162,861 and $370,976, respectively, in cash payments. Our compensation expense for our executive management, consultant service compensation, and professional fees expenses was higher in 2014 due to officer bonus compensation of $200,000.

For the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our net investment loss was $71,504 and $459,075, respectively. The net investment loss for both years is primarily the result of the increased general and administrative expenses and payroll expense associated with our operations as a BDC, specifically including increased executive management compensation expense, legal and accounting expenses and general operating expenses.

For the year ended December 31, 2015 we had a decrease in net assets of $2,732,402. This decrease in net assets was primarily due to the write down of our oil and gas holdings, Southern Plains Resources, Inc. and Dala Petroleum, Inc., and the write off of The Igloo, LLC note. The decrease in the closing price of our holdings in the Mix 1 common stock also is a major contributor to this decrease. Our net assets increased by $966,462 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Summary cash flow data is as follows:

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we repurchased 17,929 shares of our common stock at a gross cost of $14,602.

We are not a party to any credit facilities or other sources of liquidity, and we have no present plans to become party to any credit facility. As a result, our $2,980,659 of cash at the end fiscal 2015 and our $4,105,911 of cash at the end of fiscal 2014 constituted our sole source of liquidity. Management believes cash on hand is sufficient to fund our anticipated operational and financing activities through fiscal 2016.

Presently, we expect that our $2.9 million in cash as of December 31, 2015 will be substantially invested within the next 12 months.

Capital Expenditures

We did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures in fiscal 2015 and we do not anticipate any such capital expenditures for fiscal 2016. Given our business model, investment in capital resources is not required beyond investments in certain securities.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, nor are we a party to any contract or other obligation not included on its balance sheet that has, or is reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our financial condition.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are policies that are both most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to investment valuation and interest and dividend income as a BDC.

Investment Valuation

Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses are measured by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment without regard to unrealized gains or losses previously recognized, and include investments charged off during the period, net of recoveries. Unrealized gains or losses primarily reflect the change in investment values, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized gains or losses when gains or losses are realized.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are typically valued at such market quotations. In order to validate market quotations, we look at a number of factors to determine if the quotations are representative of fair value, including the source and nature of the quotations. Debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or whose market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee of our Board of Directors, based on, among other things, the input of our executive management, Audit Committee and independent third-party valuation expert that may be engaged by management to assist in the valuation of our portfolio investments. Valuation determinations are in all cases made in conformity with the written valuation policies and procedures respecting the valuation of Company investments.

Interest and Dividend Income Recognition

Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis and includes the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Discounts from and premiums to par value on securities purchased are accreted/amortized into interest income over the life of the respective security using the effective yield method. The amortized cost of investments represents the original cost adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, if any.

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest payments are past due 30 days or more or when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full. Accrued and unpaid interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past due principal and interest is paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. We may make exceptions to this if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded as dividend income on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly traded portfolio companies.

Use of Estimates

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. The application of GAAP requires that we make estimates that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

ITEM 8  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders, Audit Committee and Board of Directors

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Wayzata, Minnesota

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of its internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and the results of their operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

March 30, 2016

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Balance Sheets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Statements of Operations

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Statements of Cash Flows

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Financial Highlights

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Investment Schedule

  As of December 31, 2015

Ɨ Restricted Security

* Indicates securities are not income producing

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

Portfolio Investments by Industry

As of December 31, 2015  

(1) Comprised of 81,967 warrants with an exercise price of $1.97 per share, 81,967 warrants with an exercise price of $1.97 per share and 250,000 warrants with an exercise price of $3.12 per share.

* indicates that the portfolio investment is a “qualifying assets” under Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Because the Company is a “business development company” under that Act, qualifying assets must represent at least 70% of the Company’s total assets at the time it acquires any non-qualifying assets.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 1 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of operations and basis of presentation

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. (the “Company”) is an investment company that was incorporated in the State of Minnesota on January 10, 2006. Our business from January 10, 2006 through December 12, 2012 consisted primarily of marketing and licensing a new form of poker-based table game to casinos and on-line gaming facilities in the United States.

On December 13, 2012, we filed a Form N-8A with the SEC, notifying the SEC that we intended to convert the Company to an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). On February 7, 2013, we filed Form N-54A, notifying the SEC of our election to become a business development company (“BDC”). Subsequently, on May 13, 2013, we filed Form N-8F to deregister as a registered investment company based upon our prior filing to become a BDC. On September 25, 2013, the SEC issued an order under Section 8(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 declaring that the Company has ceased to be an investment company.

We are regulated as a BDC and plan to be taxed as a regulated investment company, although we currently have not elected this tax status. As a BDC, we primarily focus on investing in or lending to privately held and publicly traded companies and making managerial assistance available to such companies. A BDC may provide shareholders with the ability to retain the liquidity of a publicly traded stock, while sharing in the possible benefits of investing in emerging-growth or expansion-stage companies. Our future revenues will relate to the earnings we receive from the sale of securities, dividends and interest from our portfolio investments. Our objective is to obtain returns from investments in securities and other investment opportunities available to business development companies under the 1940 Act. We intend to invest capital in portfolio companies for purposes of financing acquisitions, recapitalizations, buyouts, organic growth and working capital. Buyouts generally include transactions that involve the acquisition of a controlling interest in an entity, either by management or other investors. Organic growth refers to growth through the internal operations of the company, through investments in marketing initiatives, capital expenditures or other internal growth initiatives, rather than growth by means of an acquisition. We plan to identify potential investments through multiple sources, including private equity sponsors, investment bankers, brokers, and owners and operators of businesses. We will base our investment decisions on analyses of potential customers’ business operations and asset valuations as well as financing structure, utilizing risk management methods, pricing tools, due diligence methodologies and data management processes designed to help us assess risk, establish appropriate pricing, and maximize our return on investment. Subject to regulations set forth in the 1940 Act and applicable to BDCs, we plan to invest in private companies, small-cap public stocks, notes and other forms of debt, investment contracts, and other investments commonly referred to as securities.

Use of Estimates

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

Cash Deposits

The Company maintains its cash balances in financial institutions. Cash on deposit in excess of FDIC coverage is subject to the usual banking risk of funds in excess of those limits.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 1 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – (continued)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, accounts payable and notes payable approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

In the normal course of business, the Company may utilize derivative financial instruments (principally options) in connection with its trading activities. The Company records its derivative activities at fair value. Gains and losses from derivative financial instruments are included in net gain (loss) on investments in the statement of operations.

Investment Valuation

Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses are measured by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment without regard to unrealized gains or losses previously recognized, and include investments charged off during the period, net of recoveries. Unrealized gains or losses primarily reflect the change in investment values, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized gains or losses when gains or losses are realized.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are typically valued at such market quotations. In order to validate market quotations, we look at a number of factors to determine if the quotations are representative of fair value, including the source and nature of the quotations. Debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or whose market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors or the Valuation Committee of the board, based on, among other things, the input of our executive management, audit committee and independent third-party valuation expert that may be engaged by management to assist in the valuation of our portfolio investments, but in all cases consistent with our written valuation policies and procedures.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize. Further, such investments are generally less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded it.

In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned.

Allocation of Net Gains and Losses

All income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for any investment are allocated in a manner proportionate to the shares owned.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 1 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – (continued)

Realized Gains and Losses, Interest and Dividend Income Recognition  

Realized gains or losses on the sale of investments are calculated using the specific investment method.

Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis and includes the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Discounts from and premiums to par value on securities purchased are accreted/amortized into interest income over the life of the respective security using the effective yield method. The amortized cost of investments represents the original cost adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, if any.

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest payments are past due 30 days or more or when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full. Currently, two of our five loans are in default. Three of our loans are current in required interest payments. Accrued and unpaid interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past-due principal and interest is paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. The Company may make exceptions to this if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded as dividend income on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly traded portfolio companies.

Our investment portfolio investments at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $5,747,808 and $7,171,509, respectively.

Management and Service Fees

The Company does not incur expenses related to management and service fees. Our executive management team manages the Company’s investments as part of their employment responsibilities.

NOTE 2 — NET GAIN (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net gain (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net gain (loss) by the weighted-average number of vested common shares outstanding during the period. A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net gain (loss) per common share follows:

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not have any options or warrants outstanding or any other dilutive common equivalent shares.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 3—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On June 6, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement to lease approximately 1,917 square feet of commercial space and two parking spots, for a period of 62 months. The leased space became available for occupancy on September 23, 2013. The 62-month lease term began October 1, 2013 and runs through November 30, 2018. The total base rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $45,378 and $45,378, respectively.

The following is a schedule of the required annual minimum lease payments.

NOTE 4—SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common stock

On August 29, 2014, we purchased and retired 2,973 shares of common stock at a per-share price of $0.83.

On September 3, 2014, we purchased and retired 4,510 shares of common stock at a per-share price of $0.80.

On December 19, 2014, we purchased and retired 10,446 shares of common stock at a per-share price of $0.84.

At December 31, 2015, a total of 12,151,493 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS

Investment Risks

The Company’s investments are subject to a variety of risks. Those risks include the following:

Market Risk

Market risk represents the potential loss that can be caused by a change in the fair value of the instrument.

Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the risk that the Company would incur if the counterparties failed to perform pursuant to the terms of their agreements with the Company.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

Fair Value Hierarchy

The fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels is explained below:

Level 1

Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments are not applied to Level 1 securities. Because valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

Level 2

Pricing inputs are other than used in Level 1, which include the closing bid price for unlisted marketable securities, which are available in active or inactive markets for identical investments or liabilities, other direct or indirect observable inputs that can be corroborated by market data or the use of models or other valuation methodologies as of the reporting date.

Level 3

Pricing inputs are unobservable for the investment and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

The table below presents the balance of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the hierarchy:

The change in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

Portfolio Investments

At December 31, 2015, we held investments in 18 eligible portfolio investments, which had an amortized cost of $6,175,345 and a fair value of $4,863,249. At December 31, 2014, we held investments in 11 eligible portfolio investments, which had an amortized cost of $4,946,019 and a fair value of $6,265,399.

On March 1, 2013, we entered into a subscription agreement with Great Plains Sand, LLC through a private placement of common stock for the purchase of 1 Class A Membership Unit for $105,000. On May 24, 2013, Great Plains Sand, LLC sold its company to Fairmount Minerals, Ltd. for a sale price of $65 million subject to certain adjustments for the final working capital settlement and the retention of a limited amount of the sale consideration to pay certain post-closing expenses. After expenses, we received approximately $182,176 in cash with the potential of an additional $18,750 in escrow to be paid within 60 days of closing and a potential earnout of $18,750 to be paid within one year of closing. On February 25, 2014, $7,500 was received in satisfaction of post-closing payment rights under the acquisition agreement. On August 7, 2014, an additional $28,000 was received and on December 31, 2014, $258 was received in final satisfaction of post-closing payment rights under the acquisition agreement.

On March 6, 2013, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Mill City Ventures II, LP, wherein we purchased 400,000 shares of Southern Plains Resources, Inc. (“Southern Plains”) common stock from Mill City Ventures II, LP for $420,000. On July 11, 2013, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Southern Plains through a private placement of common stock to purchase an additional 200,000 shares of common stock at $1.55 per share for $310,000. Our cost of the Southern Plains investment at December 31, 2015 was $730,000 and the fair value was $0.

On May 3, 2013, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with CombiMatrix Corporation (“CombiMatrix”) to purchase Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants in two separate closings. In the May 6, 2013 closing, we purchased 200 shares of Series C preferred stock convertible into common stock at $2.86 per share and warrants to purchase up to 81,967 common shares at an exercise price of $3.77 per share. In the June 28, 2013 closing, we purchased 200 shares of Series C preferred stock convertible into common stock at $2.86 per share and warrants to purchase up to 81,967 common shares at an exercise price of $3.55 per share. On August 9, 2013, we converted 100 shares of the CombiMatrix 6% Series C shares to 34,994 shares of CombiMatrix common stock at $2.86 per share. An additional 207 shares of common stock were issued in lieu of accrued dividend on the converted principal amount. Our cost for the CombiMatrix investment was $400,600 and the fair value at September 30, 2013 was $400,675. On November 21, 2013, we converted 300 shares of the CombiMatrix 6% series C shares to 104,983 shares of CombiMatrix common stock at $2.86 per share. An additional 3,710 shares of common stock were issued in lieu of accrued dividend on the converted principal balance. On December 18, 2013, we purchased 515 Series D Convertible preferred shares of CombiMatrix Corporation for $1,000 per share for a total purchase price of $515,000 with a warrant to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.12 per share. Each Series D Convertible share is convertible into common stock at $2.06 per share. The warrant has an expiration date of December 18, 2018. On December 19, we converted 515 Series D Convertible preferred shares into 250,000 shares of common stock. During the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, we sold 204,850 shares of the common stock for $615,394, resulting in a realized gain of $193,403. During the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, we sold the remaining 45,150 shares of the common stock for $61,252, resulting in a realized loss of $31,756. On February 13, 2015, CombiMatrix modified the conversion price of the 81,967 warrants at $3.77 per share and the 81,967 warrants at $3.55 to a $1.97 per share conversion price for the duration of the life of the warrants. The modification was made in accordance with anti-dilution price-protection provisions in the warrant. At December 31, 2015 the cost and fair value of the warrants was $0.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

On May 29, 2013, we entered into a subscription and investment letter with MAX4G, Inc. (“MAX4G”) to purchase 300,000 shares of MAX4G's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001 par value per share, at $0.50 per share, for a total of $150,000. At December 31, 2015, the cost of the MAX4G investment was $150,000 and the fair value was $300,000.

On October 14, 2013, we entered into subscription agreement with Tzfat Spirits of Israel, LLC (“Tzfat”), to purchase 55,000 Class A Membership Units at $1.8367 per unit for a total of $101,019. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the Tzfat investment was $101,019 and $25,000, respectively.

On December 30, 2013, we entered into a Promissory Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with Insite Software Solutions, Inc. (“Insite Software”) and in connection therewith purchased a $750,000 promissory note and received a warrant to purchase 108,960 shares of Insite Software common stock at $0.01 per share. The warrant has a 10-year term expiring December 30, 2023. On April 27, 2015, we received the principal amount of $750,000 plus $5,825.34 in accrued interest in full on redemption of the promissory note. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the warrant was $0.

On February 6, 2014, we entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with Mix 1 Life, Inc. (“Mix 1 Life”) and in connection therewith purchased a $500,000 senior secured convertible promissory note and received a warrant to purchase up to 1,600,000 shares of Mix 1 Life common stock at $0.50 per share. The note currently is convertible into shares of common stock at $1.08 per share (post split). The warrant had a five-year term expiring February 6, 2019. On August 7, 2014, we elected to exercise, on a cashless basis, our warrants into 1,121,912 shares of common stock. On September 11, 2014, a 1-for-3 reverse split on those common shares reduced our holdings to 373,971 common shares. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the promissory note was $500,000 and the cost and fair value of the common stock was $0 and $237,470, respectively. Our former director, Christopher Larson, is currently the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Mix 1 Life as well as a 5% shareholder. Mr. Larson was appointed the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Mix 1 Life on June 24, 2014, after our initial investment in Mix 1 Life.

On February 7, 2014, we entered into a Purchase Agreement for $1,000,000 of limited liability company interests with DBR Phase III US Investors, LLC and in connection therewith funded a first capital call of $350,000. We funded a second capital call of $350,000 on May 9, 2014 and a final capital call on October 21, 2014 in the amount of $300,000. On December 3, 2015, we received $238,950 payment on the note plus $90,389 accrued interest. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the interests was $761,050.

On June 3, 2014, we entered into a subscription and warrant purchase agreement with Dala Petroleum Corporation (fka Westcott Products Corporation) (“Dala Petroleum”) to purchase 500 shares of Series A 6% Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, at $1,000 per share, for a total of $500,000 and received a warrant to purchase up to 714,286 shares of Dala Petroleum common stock at an exercise price of $1.35 per share. The preferred stock converts into common stock at $0.70. The warrant has a three-year term, expiring June 3, 2017. On May 25, 2015, we entered into an agreement to defer the receipt of the quarterly dividend distribution on the preferred shares until October 1, 2015. The company did not make the prescribed payment and has subsequently notified us of its inability to make the payment. The deferred dividend of $7,500 for each of the quarters ended June 30, September 30, and December 31,2015 was deemed uncollectible and removed from Dividend Income on the Statement of Operations as of December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the preferred stock was $500,000 and $0, respectively, and the cost and fair value of the warrant was $0. Other holders of Dala Petroleum’s preferred stock have proposed a plan for additional funding for the company and reducing the conversion price of the preferred stock and associated warrants. There can be no assurance the plan for additional funding will be agreed upon by all preferred holders or that any additional financings would have a beneficial effect on Dala Petroleum’s operations or future prospects.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

On May 16, 2014, we entered into a Purchase Agreement for $500,000 of limited partnership interests with Northern Capital Partners I, LP and in connection therewith funded a first capital call of $50,000 on June 16, 2014. We funded a second capital call of $125,000 on August 26, 2014, a third capital call of $200,000 on October 21, 2014 and the fourth and final capital call of $125,000 on December 26, 2014. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the interests was $500,000 and $444,208, respectively.

On December 31, 2014, we entered into a Promissory Note Agreement for $500,000 with The Igloo, LLC (“The Igloo”) and in connection therewith funded a $500,000 promissory note. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the note was $500,000 and $0, respectively. The Igloo no longer operates the facility and has been blocked by the landlord, who has filed a lawsuit seeking monetary damages under The Igloo’s lease agreement. As of December 31, 2015, we were pursuing our rights under the note agreement with respect to a claim on certain collateral.

On February 19, 2015, we purchased a 12% convertible note from Creative Realities, Inc. for $1,000,000 principal amount. The note bears 12% annual interest paid monthly in arrears and is due August 18, 2016. The outstanding principal amount is convertible into common stock at $0.33 per share. In conjunction with the financing, we received a warrant to purchase up to 1,515,152 common shares at a conversion price of $0.38 per share. The warrant has a cashless conversion provision and expires February 17, 2020. On October 14, 2015 we received the principal amount of $1,000,000 plus $46,684.93 in accrued interest in full on redemption of the promissory note. On December 28, 2015, the warrants were exchanged for zero cost into 975,000 shares of common stock. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the common stock was $0 and $243,750, respectively..

On March 13, 2015, we purchased a 12% senior secured promissory note from Mix 1 Life, Inc $250,000 principal amount. At closing, 12 months of interest was prepaid by Mix 1 Life. The note is due on March 13, 2016. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the note was $250,000. Our former director, Christopher Larson, is currently the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Mix 1 Life as well as a 5% shareholder.

On June 1, 2015, we purchased a 12% promissory note from Pacific Oil & Gas, LLC (“POG”) for $25,000 principal amount. The note plus accrued interest is due on December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the note was $25,000 and $0, respectively. POG is a related entity to Dala Petroleum, another portfolio company, and has not been successful in deploying capital with the intended result of successful oil production. We believe due to financial constraints POG will not be able to meet its financial obligations to us.

On August 31, 2015, we entered into a promissory note agreement with Bravo Financial, LLC for $1,000,000 principal amount. A first advance in the amount of $500,000 was therein funded on September 1, 2015. The note bears 12% annual interest paid monthly in arrears and is due August 31, 2018. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the note was $500,000.

On September 21, 2015, we entered into purchase agreement with Bite Squad, LLC to purchase 60,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at $13 per share, for a total of $780,000. The preferred stock converts to common at $13 per share. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the preferred stock was $780,000.

On October 21, 2015, we purchased 200,000 shares of Common Stock of WaferGen Bio-Systems Inc. at $1 per share, for a total of $200,000. We also received 200,000 warrants which convert to common at $1.44 per share and expire October 21, 2020. At December 31, 2015, the cost of the common stock was $200,000 and fair value was $146,760, and the cost and fair value of the warrant was $0.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)

On December 24, 2015, we purchased 804 shares of Common Stock of Simulations Plus Inc. at $9.25 per share, for a total of $7,759 On December 29 we added 1,996 shares to our holdings at $9.60 per share for a total of $19,224. On December 30 we added 2,200 shares to our holdings at $9.60 per share for a total of $21,186, bringing our total holdings to 5,000 shares at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the common stock was $47,869 and $49,550, respectively.

On December 31, 2015, we purchased 2,300 shares of Common Stock of Educational Development Corporation at $10.93 per share, for a total of $25,212. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the common stock was $25,212 and $25,461, respectively.

On December 28, 2015, we purchased a 14% convertible note from Creative Realities, Inc. for $600,000 principal amount. The note bears 12% annual interest paid monthly in arrears plus 2% annual interest payable in additional principal at the term of the note. The note is due April 15, 2017. The outstanding principal amount is convertible into common stock at $0.28 per share. In conjunction with the financing, we received a warrant to purchase up to 1,071,429 common shares at a conversion price of $0.28 per share. The warrant has a cashless conversion provision and expires December 28, 2020. At December 31, 2015, the cost and fair value of the convertible note was $600,000.

NOTE 6—MINIMUM ASSET COVERAGE

As a BDC, we are required to meet various regulatory tests. Among other things, these tests will require us to invest at least 70% of our total assets in private or small-cap public U.S.-based companies, and to maintain a coverage ratio of total net assets to total senior securities and borrowings (including accrued interest payable) of at least 200%. As of December 31, 2015, approximately 85% of our investments (by fair value at that date) were in private or small-cap public U.S.-based companies and our coverage ratio was 100%.

NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES

We plan to be regulated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) and intend to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, applicable to regulated investment companies. Currently, we have not elected to be treated as a RIC. Once we have elected RIC status, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income and intend to distribute (or retain through a deemed distribution) all of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain to shareholders. The character of income and gains that we will distribute is determined in accordance with income tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder dividends and distributions and other permanent book and tax differences are reclassified to paid-in capital. The Company did not have any taxable income for the year ended December 31, 2015. 

NOTE 8—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On March 17, 2016, the Company entered into a Settlement and Forbearance Agreement involving Christopher M. Gentz, Jr., the guarantor of the $500,000 debt owed by The Igloo, LLC to the Company.  The terms of the agreement provide that the Company forbears from commencing or continuing legal action to recover such debt until August 1, 2016, unless a forbearance event of defaults occurs under the agreement and contemplates the assignment of the Company’s rights claims and interests against Mr Gnetz and The Igloo LLC to a third party in consideration for payments as follows: (i) $15,000 by March 31, 2016; (ii) $50,000 by May 1, 2016; and (iii) $70,000 by August 1, 2016. The settlement payments will be recorded upon receipt of cash due to the uncertainty of receipt.

Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

NOTE 8—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS – (continued)

On January 22, 2016, we received $434,195 from DBR Phase III US Investors, LLC. The payment represented a $418,750 principal payment on the note plus $15,445 accrued interest. On March 22, we received a final principal payment from DBR for $342,300 and accrued interest of $6,316. The note and accrued interest have now been paid in full.

We have agreed in principal to extend both notes ($500,000 and $250,000) owed by Mix 1 Life, Inc. We have received accrued and 30 day forward interest on these notes and are finalizing an extension agreement. 

ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance the objectives of the control system are met.

As of December 31, 2015, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in conjunction with our Chief Compliance Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2015.

Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Board of Directors and Shareholders Mill City Ventures III, Ltd.

The management of Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. It should be noted that any system of internal control, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system will be met. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company’s management assessed the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 based on the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015. Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, is not required to issue, and thus has not issued, an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015.

/s/ Douglas M. Polinsky

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Joseph A. Geraci, II

Chief Financial Officer

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART III

ITEM 10  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters, and Control Persons

Douglas M. Polinsky co-founded the Company in January 2006 and since that time has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Since 1994, Mr. Polinsky has been the Chief Executive Officer of Great North Capital Consultants, Inc., a financial advisory company that he founded. Great North Capital Consultants advises corporate clients on matters regarding corporate and governance structures, public company acquisitions of private companies and other transaction-related matters, and also make direct investments into public and private companies. Since 2007, Mr. Polinsky has been an independent director of FAB Universal Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company specializing in digital content distribution.  Mr. Polinsky is a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors.  Mr. Polinsky earned a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel administration at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Joseph A. Geraci, II co-founded the Company in January 2006 and has been a director and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since that time. Since February 2002 through the present time, Mr. Geraci has been managing member of Isles Capital, LLC, an advisory and consulting firm that assists small businesses, both public and private, in business development. In March 2005, Mr. Geraci also became the managing member of Mill City Advisors, LLC, the general partner of Mill City Ventures, LP, and Mill City Ventures II, LP, each a Minnesota limited partnership that invested directly into both private and public companies. From January 2005 until August 2005, Mr. Geraci served as the Director of Finance for Gelstat Corporation, a purveyor of homeopathic remedies, based in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Mr. Geraci provided investment advice to clients as a stockbroker and Vice President of Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc., a Minneapolis-based broker-dealer firm, from June 2000 to December 2004. While at Oak Ridge Financial Services, Mr. Geraci’s business was focused on structuring and negotiating debt and equity private placements with both private and publicly held companies. From his career and investment experiences, Mr. Geraci has established networks of colleagues, clients, co-investors, and the officers and directors of public and private companies. Mr. Geraci was employed at other Minneapolis brokerage firms from July 1991 to June 2000. These networks offer a range of contacts across a number of sectors and companies that may provide opportunities for investment, including many that meet the Company’s screening criteria.

In August 2003, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) found in an administrative hearing that Mr. Geraci, while employed by and affiliated with a NASD member, had violated NASD Conduct Rule 2110 and SEC Rule 10b-5 in August 1999, and barred him from associating with any NASD member in the future.

Howard Liszt served as Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Mithun, a national marketing communications agency he joined in 1976, until 2001. He currently serves on the board of the following companies: Eggland’s Best, a branded egg company; Land O’ Lakes, the second largest cooperative in the United States; OCO Holdings, an independent marketing communications company; and Wireless Ronin, a marketing technology company. Mr. Liszt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Marketing and a Masters of Science in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Lyle Berman is a 1964 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Berman began his career with Berman Buckskin, his family's leather business. He helped grow the business into a major specialty retailer with 27 outlets. In 1990, Mr. Berman participated in the founding of Grand Casinos, Inc. Mr. Berman is credited as one of the early visionaries in the development of casinos outside of the traditional gaming markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. In less than five years, the company opened eight casino resorts in four states. In 1994, Mr. Berman financed the initial development of Rainforest Cafe. He served as the Chairman and CEO from 1994 unti1 2000. In October 1995, Mr. Berman was honored with the B'nai B'rith "Great American Traditions Award." In April 1996, he received the Gaming Executive of the Year Award; in 2004, Mr. Berman was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame; and in 2009, he received the Casino Lifetime Achievement Award from Raving Consulting & Casino Journal. In 1998, Lakes Entertainment, Inc. was formed. In 2002, as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., Mr. Berman was instrumental in creating the World Poker Tour. Since January 2005, Mr. Berman has also served as Chairman of the Board of Pokertek, Inc. 

Laurence Zipkin is nationally recognized for his expertise in the gaming industry, restaurants, and emerging small growth companies. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Zipkin owned Oakridge Securities, Inc. where, as an investment banker, he successfully raised capital for various early growth-stage companies and advising clients with regard to private placements, initial public offerings, mergers, debt offerings, bridge and bank financings, developing business plans and evaluating cash needs and resources. He has extensive experience in the merger and acquisition field and has represented companies on both the buy and sell side. Since 2006, Mr. Zipkin has been self-employed, engaging in various consulting activities, owning and operating two restaurant properties, and purchasing distressed real estate. Mr. Zipkin is a licensed insurance agent for both life and health insurance. Mr. Zipkin attended the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Finance.

Under the Company’s bylaws, the directors serve for indefinite terms expiring upon the next annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

When considering whether directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to enable the Board of Directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of the Company’s business and structure, the Board of Directors focuses primarily on the industry and transactional experience, and other background, in addition to any unique skills or attributes associated with a director. With regard to Messrs. Polinsky and Geraci, the Board of Directors considered their significant experience, expertise and background with regard to investing in general and the Company in particular. With regard to Mr. Berman, the Board of Directors considered his background and experience with the public securities markets and his former employment and experience in operational capacities. With regard to Mr. Liszt, the Board of Directors considered his experience on other boards of public companies, his past experience in the communications and advertising fields, and his organizational experience. With regard to Mr. Zipkin, the Board of Directors considered his knowledge, experience and skills in the finance, public securities and investment banking fields.

Code of Ethics

Our Board of Directors adopted a Code of Ethics on August 5, 2008, and revised March 6, 2013. The Code of Ethics includes our Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as required by Sections 406 and 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Our Code of Ethics is available at our website, www.millcityventures3.com, or without charge, to any shareholder upon written request made to Mill City Ventures III, Ltd., Attention: Chief Executive Officer, 328 Barry Ave. S., Suite 210, Wayzata, MN 55391.

The Code of Ethics has been drafted in order to facilitate compliance with the requirements applicable to the Company, as a BDC, under Section 17 of the 1940 Act. In this regard, the Company has recently implemented procedures to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Code of Ethics, which procedures are part of the various requirements applicable to the Company under Section 17 of the 1940 Act and Rule 17j-1 promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

Changes to Board of Director Nomination Procedures

We have not had any material changes to the procedures for shareholder nominations of candidates to serve on our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Committees of the Board of Directors; Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Valuation Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Laurence Zipkin, Howard Liszt and Lyle Berman., each of whom is independent for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and “non-interested” directors for purposes of the 1940 Act. Mr. Berman currently serves as chair of the Audit Committee. The board has adopted a charter for the Audit Committee a copy of which is available at the Company’s website at http://www.millcityventures3.com. The Audit Committee is responsible for approving the Company’s independent accountants and recommending them to the board (including a majority of the independent directors) for approval and submission to the shareholders for ratification, if any, reviewing with its independent accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by its independent accountants, reviewing the independence of its independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of its internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee is also responsible for discussing with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company's risk assessment and risk management policies. The board has determined that Mr. Berman is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules of the Commission. Mr. Berman’s relevant experience is detailed in his biography above. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the Audit Committee members is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements and that at least one member of the Audit Committee has past employment experience in finance or accounting.

The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Zipkin, Liszt and Berman, each of whom is independent for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and “non-interested” directors for purposes of the 1940 Act. Mr. Zipkin currently serves as chair of the Compensation Committee. The compensation committee is responsible for approving the Company’s compensation arrangements with its executive management, including bonus-related decisions and employment agreements with respect to such individuals. The board has adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee, a copy of which is available at http//www.millcityventures3.com.

The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Zipkin, Liszt and Berman, each of whom is independent for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and “non-interested” directors for purposes of the 1940 Act. Mr. Liszt currently serves as chair of the Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee is responsible for approving the fair value of debt and equity securities comprising the Company’s investment portfolio pursuant to the Company’s written valuation policy and procedures.

Of the directors presently serving on the board, Messrs. Berman, Liszt and Zipkin are “independent” as that term is defined in Section 4200(a)(15) of National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards, and “non-interested” persons as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. Our company is not, however, subject to the Nasdaq listing standards because its common stock is not listed for trading on any Nasdaq market tier.  

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, requires our directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC certain reports regarding their ownership of common stock or any changes in such ownership. Based on our own review, we believe that there were no late filings during 2015.

ITEM 11  EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the total compensation paid by the Company during its two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 to those persons who served as the Company’s President or Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during such periods (collectively, the “named executives”).

Employment Agreements with Executives

We had employment agreements with each of Messrs. Polinsky and Geraci. These employment agreements expired by their terms on March 25, 2016. The terms of the expired agreements are discussed below. We currently believe that we will enter into new agreements similar in substance and form to the agreements described below.

Mr. Polinsky’s Employment Agreement

Mr. Polinsky’s agreement had a three-year term as our Chief Executive Officer and co-manager of the investment portfolio of the Company, and he received an annual base salary of $50,000, subject to increase by our board’s Compensation Committee on an annual basis. Mr. Polinsky was also eligible for an annual cash bonus at the conclusion of each fiscal year up to Mr. Polinsky’s base salary, as approved by the Compensation Committee. Mr. Polinsky also was eligible to receive an amount of the Company’s net income each fiscal year which, when aggregated with the foregoing base salary and annual bonuses, if any, paid with respect to such fiscal year, and any other perquisites or benefits paid to Mr. Polinsky during such fiscal year, together with all compensation (including any perquisites and benefits) paid to all other officers and employees of the Company, equaled 20% of the net income of the Company after taxes for such fiscal year (the “Profit Sharing Compensation”). Profit-Sharing Compensation was calculated based upon the completed audited financials of the Company for the applicable fiscal year and paid as soon as practicable following the completion of such audit. Company officers and employees eligible to receive any Profit-Sharing Compensation, among themselves, were to determine the manner in which they would participate in such compensation. Mr. Polinsky was also entitled to reimbursements for all reasonable and appropriate business expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties. The Company agreed that if it were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company for any reason under the Internal Revenue Code, net income of the Company for purposes of the Profit Sharing Compensation would be calculated as if the Company had at all times qualified as a regulated investment company.

Mr. Polinsky is prohibited from disclosing confidential information of the Company, and agreed not to solicit any employees of the Company during the term of the employment agreement and for a period of 12 months thereafter. Mr. Polinsky’s agreement contained other customary terms and conditions.

By its terms the employment agreement with Mr. Polinsky expired on March 25, 2016.

Mr. Geraci’s Employment Agreement

Mr. Geraci’s employment agreement had a three-year as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and co-manager of the investment portfolio of the Company. Mr. Geraci received an annual base salary of $100,000, subject to increase by the board’s Compensation Committee on an annual basis. Mr. Geraci was also eligible for an annual cash bonus at the conclusion of each fiscal year up to Mr. Geraci’s base salary, as approved by the Compensation Committee. Mr. Geraci was also eligible to receive an amount of the Company’s net income each fiscal year which, when aggregated with the foregoing base salary and annual bonuses, if any, paid with respect to such fiscal year, and any other perquisites or benefits paid to Mr. Geraci during such fiscal year, together with all compensation (including any perquisites and benefits) paid to all other officers and employees of the Company, equaled 20% of the net income of the Company after taxes for such fiscal year (the “Profit Sharing Compensation”). Profit-Sharing Compensation was calculated based upon the completed audited financials of the Company for the applicable fiscal year and paid as soon as practicable following the completion of such audit. Company officers and employees eligible to receive any Profit-Sharing Compensation, among themselves, were to determine the manner in which they would participate in such compensation. Mr. Geraci was also entitled to reimbursements for all reasonable and appropriate business expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties. The Company agreed that, if it were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company for any reason under the Internal Revenue Code, net income of the Company for purposes of the Profit Sharing Compensation would be calculated as if the Company had at all times qualified as a regulated investment company.

Mr. Geraci is prohibited from disclosing confidential information of the Company, and agreed not to solicit any employees of the Company during the term of the employment agreement and for a period of 12 months thereafter. Mr. Geraci’s agreement contained other customary terms and conditions.

By its terms the employment agreement with Mr. Geraci expired on March 25, 2016. 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

We had no outstanding options, warrants, unvested stock awards or equity incentive plan awards as of December 31, 2015 held by any named executive. In addition, we have no options, warrants, unvested stock awards or equity incentive plan awards outstanding and held by any named executive as of the date of this filing.

Director Compensation

For 2015, we paid a total of $55,000 in director fees to our independent directors. Presently, each such director receives an annualized fee of $20,000.

ITEM 12  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

The table below sets forth certain information with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 15, 2016
(on which date there were 12,151,493 shares of common stock outstanding), by:

Unless otherwise indicated in the table or its footnotes, the business address of each of the following persons or entities is 328 Barry Avenue S., Suite 210, Wayzata, Minnesota 55391, and each such person or entity has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock set forth opposite their respective name.

ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Transactions with Related Persons and Certain Conflict Disclosures

On February 6, 2014, we entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with Mix 1 Life, Inc. and in connection therewith purchased a $500,000 senior secured convertible promissory note and received a warrant to purchase up to 1,600,000 shares of Mix 1 Life common stock at $0.50 per share. The note currently is convertible into shares of common stock at $1.08 per share (after giving effect to a Mix 1 reverse stock split). The warrant has a five-year term expiring February 6, 2019. On August 7, 2014 we elected to exercise, on a cashless basis, our warrants into 1,121,912 shares of Mix 1 common stock. On September 11, 2014, a 1-for-3 reverse split on those common shares reduced our holdings to 373,971 common shares. At December 31, 2014, the cost and fair value of the promissory note was $500,000 and the cost and fair value of the common stock was $0 and $1,958,399, respectively. Our director Mr. Larson is currently the Chief Financial Officer, director and 5% shareholder of Mix 1 Life, Inc. Mr. Larson was appointed Chief Financial Officer and a director of Mix 1 on June 24, 2014, after our initial investment in Mix 1 Life. More recently on March 13, 2015, we purchased a 12% senior secured promissory note from Mix 1 Life, Inc. for $250,000 principal amount. At closing, 12 months of interest was prepaid by Mix 1. The note is due on March 13, 2016. Our former director, Christopher Larson, is currently the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Mix 1 Life as well as a 5% shareholder. On March 17, 2016, we agreed to extend the maturity date of the Mix 1 Life notes for a 30 day period to April 16, 2016, and the Company has continued to receive payments of accrued interest on such notes.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer jointly own 153,846 warrants to purchase share of common stock of Creative Realities Inc. at $0.70 per share that expire July 14, 2019. The warrant is held in the name of Lantern Advisors, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, which is controlled equally by Messrs. Polinsky and Geraci. The warrants were obtained through a debt financing provided by Lantern Advisors, July 16, 2014.

Related-Party Transaction Policy

The Board of Directors has adopted a written Conflict of Interest and Related Party Transaction Policy. That policy governs the approval of all related-party transactions, subject only to certain customary exceptions (e.g., compensation, certain charitable donations, transactions made available to all employees generally, etc.). The policy contains a minimum dollar threshold of $5,000.

The entire Board of Directors administers the policy and approves any related-party transactions, subject to conflicting requirements of the 1940 Act or the Company’s written Code of Ethics. In general, after full disclosure of all material facts, review and discussion, the board approves or disapproves related-party transactions by a vote of a majority of the directors who have no interest in such transaction, direct or indirect. Procedurally, no director is allowed vote in any approval of a related-party transaction for which he or she is the related party, except that such a director may otherwise participate in a related discussion and shall provide to the board all material information concerning the related-party transaction and the director’s interest therein. If a related-party transaction will be ongoing, the board may establish guidelines for management to follow in its ongoing dealings with the related party.

Director Independence

The Company currently has four directors, three of whom—Messrs. Liszt and Zipkin, are “independent” as that term is defined in Section 4200(a)(15) of National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards. None of our independent directors are “interested persons” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act. The Company is not subject to those listing standards, however, because its common stock is not listed for trading on a Nasdaq market. Based upon information requested from each such director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, the board has affirmatively determined that none of the independent directors has a material business or professional relationship with the Company, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Board or any committee thereof.

ITEM 14   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Aggregate fees billed by our principal independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years indicated:

Audit Fees.   The fees identified under this caption were for professional services rendered by Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP for the years ended 2015 and 2014 in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The amounts also include fees for services that are normally provided by the independent public registered accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements for the years identified.

Audit-Related Fees. The fees identified under this caption were for assurance and related services that were related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and were not reported under the caption “Audit Fees.” This category may include fees related to the performance of audits and attestation services not required by statute or regulations, and accounting consultations about the application of generally accepted accounting principles to proposed transactions.

Tax Fees. The fees identified under this caption were for tax compliance and corporate tax services. Corporate tax services encompass a variety of permissible services, including technical tax advice related to tax matters; assistance with state and local taxes.

Approval Policy. The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors approves in advance all services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All engagements of our independent registered public accounting firm in years ended 2015 and 2014 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

PART IV

ITEM 15  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Financial Statements

Exhibits

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SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.