New Mountain Finance Corp - Annual Report: 2012 (Form 10-K)

Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART IV

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

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

             Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

             Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

             Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

             Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

             Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) 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 the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

             Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

             There is no established market for New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation's shares of common stock. Additionally, there is no established market for New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C.'s common membership units.

             The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the publicly traded registrant, New Mountain Finance Corporation, on June 29, 2012 based on the closing price on that date of $14.19 on the New York Stock Exchange was $119.3 million. For the purposes of calculating this amount only, all directors and executive officers of the registrant have been treated as affiliates.

             This combined Form 10-K is filed separately by three registrants: New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., New Mountain Finance Corporation and New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation (collectively, the "New Mountain Finance Registrants"). Information contained herein relating to any New Mountain Finance Registrant is filed by such registrant solely on its own behalf. Each New Mountain Finance Registrant makes no representation as to information relating exclusively to the other registrants.

             Portions of the New Mountain Finance Registrants' Joint Proxy Statement for their joint 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on this combined Form 10-K are incorporated by reference into Part III on this combined Form 10-K.

FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

PART I

        The information in this combined Form 10-K relates to each of the three separate registrants: New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., New Mountain Finance Corporation and New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation (collectively, "we", "us", "our" or the "Companies"). Information that relates to an individual registrant will be specifically referenced to the respective company. None of the Companies make any representation as to the information related solely to the other registrants other than itself.

Item 1.    Business

New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C.

        New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C. (the "Operating Company" or the "Master Fund") is a Delaware limited liability company. The Operating Company is externally managed and has elected to be treated as a business development company ("BDC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As such, the Operating Company is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. The Operating Company intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes for so long as it has at least two members.

        The Operating Company is externally managed by New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C. (the "Investment Adviser"). New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C. (the "Administrator") provides the administrative services necessary for operations. The Investment Adviser and Administrator are wholly-owned subsidiaries of New Mountain Capital (defined as New Mountain Capital Group, L.L.C. and its affiliates). New Mountain Capital is a firm with a track record of investing in the middle market and with assets under management (which includes amounts committed, not all of which have been drawn down and invested to date) totaling approximately $9.0 billion as of December 31, 2012. New Mountain Capital focuses on investing in defensive growth companies across its private equity, public equity, and credit investment vehicles. The Operating Company, formerly known as New Mountain Guardian (Leveraged), L.L.C., was originally formed as a subsidiary of New Mountain Guardian AIV, L.P. ("Guardian AIV") by New Mountain Capital in October 2008. Guardian AIV was formed through an allocation of approximately $300.0 million of the $5.1 billion of commitments supporting New Mountain Partners III, L.P., a private equity fund managed by New Mountain Capital. In February 2009, New Mountain Capital formed a co-investment vehicle, New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P., comprising $20.4 million of commitments. New Mountain Guardian (Leveraged), L.L.C. and New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P., together with their respective direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, are defined as the "Predecessor Entities".

New Mountain Finance Corporation

        New Mountain Finance Corporation ("NMFC") is a Delaware corporation that was originally incorporated on June 29, 2010. NMFC is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. As such, NMFC is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. NMFC has elected to be treated, and intends to comply with the requirements to continue to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code").

        On May 19, 2011, NMFC priced its initial public offering (the "IPO") of 7,272,727 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $13.75 per share. Concurrently with the closing of the IPO and at the public offering price of $13.75 per share, NMFC sold an additional 2,172,000 shares of its common stock to certain executives and employees of, and other individuals affiliated with, New Mountain Capital in a concurrent private placement (the "Concurrent Private Placement"). Additionally, 1,252,964 shares were issued to the limited partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P. at that time for their ownership interest in the Predecessor Entities.

1

Table of Contents

New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation

        New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation ("AIV Holdings") is a Delaware corporation that was originally incorporated on March 11, 2011. Guardian AIV, a Delaware limited partnership, is AIV Holdings' sole stockholder. AIV Holdings is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. As such, AIV Holdings is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. AIV Holdings has elected to be treated, and intends to comply with the requirements to continue to qualify annually, as a RIC under the Code.

Structure

        In connection with NMFC's IPO and through a series of transactions, the Operating Company acquired all of the operations of the Predecessor Entities, including all of the assets and liabilities related to such operations. The current structure was designed to generally prevent NMFC and its stockholders from being allocated taxable income with respect to unrecognized gains that existed at the time of the IPO in the Predecessor Entities' assets, and rather such amounts would be allocated generally to AIV Holdings and its stockholders. The result is that any distributions made to NMFC's stockholders that are attributable to such gains generally will not be treated as taxable dividends but rather as return of capital.

        As a result of the transactions completed in connection with the IPO, Guardian AIV obtained units in the Operating Company. Guardian AIV contributed its units in the Operating Company to its newly formed subsidiary, AIV Holdings, in exchange for common stock of AIV Holdings. AIV Holdings has the right to exchange all or any portion of its units in the Operating Company for shares of NMFC's common stock on a one-for-one basis at anytime.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their sole asset is their ownership in the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings each entered into a joinder agreement with respect to the Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended and restated, of the Operating Company, pursuant to which NMFC and AIV Holdings were admitted as members of the Operating Company. NMFC acquired from the Operating Company, with the gross proceeds of the IPO and the Concurrent Private Placement, common membership units ("units") of the Operating Company (the number of units are equal to the number of shares of NMFC's common stock sold in the IPO and the Concurrent Private Placement). Additionally, NMFC received units of the Operating Company equal to the number of shares of common stock of NMFC issued to the limited partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P.

        Since NMFC's IPO, and through December 31, 2012, NMFC raised approximately $133.4 million in net proceeds from additional offerings of common stock and issued shares valued at approximately $56.3 million to AIV Holdings for exchanged units. NMFC acquired from the Operating Company units of the Operating Company equal to the number of shares of NMFC's common stock sold in the additional offerings.

2

Table of Contents

        The diagram below depicts the Companies' organizational structure as of December 31, 2012.

*

Includes partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P.

**

These common membership units are exchangeable into shares of NMFC common stock on a one-for-one basis.

        The Operating Company consolidates its wholly-owned subsidiary, New Mountain Finance SPV Funding, L.L.C. ("NMF SLF"). NMFC and AIV Holdings do not consolidate the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings apply investment company master-feeder financial statement presentation, as described in Accounting Standards Codification 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies, ("ASC 946") to their interest in the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings observe that it is industry practice to follow the presentation prescribed for a master fund-feeder fund structure in ASC 946 in instances in which a master fund is owned by more than one feeder fund and that such presentation provides stockholders of NMFC and AIV Holdings with a clearer depiction of their investment in the Master Fund.

New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C.

        The Investment Adviser manages the Operating Company's day-to-day operations and provides it with investment advisory and management services. In particular, the Investment Adviser is responsible for identifying attractive investment opportunities, conducting research and due diligence on prospective investments, structuring the Operating Company's investments and monitoring and servicing the Operating Company's investments. The Investment Adviser is managed by a five member investment committee, which is responsible for approving purchases and sales of the Operating Company's investments above $5.0 million in aggregate by issuer. For additional information on the investment committee, see "Investment Committee" section.

3

Table of Contents

New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C.

        The Administrator provides the administrative services necessary to conduct our day-to-day operations. The Administrator also performs, or oversees the performance of, our financial records, our reports to stockholders and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Administrator performs the calculation and publication of our net asset values, the payment of our expenses and oversees the performance of various third-party service providers and the preparation and filing of our tax returns. The Administrator may also provide, on the Operating Company's behalf, managerial assistance to its portfolio companies.

Competition

        The Operating Company competes for investments with a number of BDCs and investment funds (including private equity and hedge funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of financing. Many of these entities have greater financial and managerial resources than we do. We believe the Operating Company is able to be competitive with these entities primarily on the basis of the experience and contacts of its management team, the Operating Company's responsive and efficient investment analysis and decision-making processes, the investment terms the Operating Company offers, the leveraged model that the Operating Company employs to perform its due diligence with the broader New Mountain Capital team and the Operating Company's model of investing in companies and industries it knows well.

        We believe that some of the Operating Company's competitors may make investments with interest rates and returns that are comparable to or lower than the rates and returns that the Operating Company targets. Therefore, the Operating Company does not seek to compete solely on the interest rates and returns that it offers to potential portfolio companies. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see Item 1A.—Risk Factors.

Investment Objectives and Portfolio

        The Operating Company's investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation through the sourcing and origination of debt securities at all levels of the capital structure, including first and second lien debt, notes, bonds and mezzanine securities. In some cases, the Operating Company's investments may also include equity interests such as preferred stock, common stock, warrants or options received in connection with the Operating Company's debt investments or may include a direct investment in the equity of private companies.

        The Operating Company makes investments through both primary originations and open-market secondary purchases. The Operating Company primarily targets loans to, and invests in, United States ("U.S.") middle market businesses, a market segment we believe continues to be underserved by other lenders. We define middle market businesses as those businesses with annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") between $20.0 million and $200.0 million. The primary focus is in the debt of defensive growth companies, which are defined as generally exhibiting the following characteristics: (i) sustainable secular growth drivers, (ii) high barriers to competitive entry, (iii) high free cash flow after capital expenditure and working capital needs, (iv) high returns on assets and (v) niche market dominance. The Operating Company's targeted investments typically have maturities of between five and ten years and generally range in size between $10.0 million and $50.0 million. This investment size may vary proportionately as the size of the Operating Company's capital base changes. At December 31, 2012, the Operating Company's portfolio consisted of 63 portfolio companies and was invested 49.8% in first lien loans, 44.6% in second lien loans, 4.6% in subordinated debt and 1.0% in equity and other, as measured at fair value versus 55 portfolio companies invested 58.3% in first lien loans, 37.3% in second lien loans, 4.0% in subordinated debt and 0.4% in equity and other at December 31, 2011.

4

Table of Contents

        The fair value of the Operating Company's investments was approximately $989.8 million in 63 portfolio companies at December 31, 2012, $703.5 million in 55 portfolio companies at December 31, 2011 and $441.1 million in 43 portfolio companies at December 31, 2010.

        The following table shows the Operating Company's portfolio and investment activity for the years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

        At December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Operating Company's weighted average Yield to Maturity was approximately 10.1% and 10.7%, respectively. This Yield to Maturity calculation assumes that all investments not on non-accrual are purchased at fair value on December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and held until their respective maturities with no prepayments or losses and exited at par at maturity. The actual yield to maturity may be higher or lower due to the future selection of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") contracts by the individual companies in the Operating Company's portfolio or other factors.

        The following summarizes the Operating Company's ten largest portfolio company investments and top ten industries in which the Operating Company was invested as of December 31, 2012, calculated as a percentage of total assets as of December 31, 2012.

5

Table of Contents

Investment Criteria

        The Investment Adviser has identified the following investment criteria and guidelines for use in evaluating prospective portfolio companies. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines were, or will be, met in connection with each of the Operating Company's investments.

•

Defensive growth industries.  The Operating Company seeks to invest in industries that can succeed in both robust and weak economic environments but which are also sufficiently large and growing to achieve high valuations providing enterprise value cushion for our targeted debt securities.



•

High barriers to competitive entry.  The Operating Company targets industries and companies that have well defined industries and well established, understandable barriers to competitive entry.



•

Recurring revenue.  Where possible, the Operating Company focuses on companies that have a high degree of predictability in future revenue.



•

Flexible cost structure.  The Operating Company seeks to invest in businesses that have limited fixed costs and therefore modest operating leverage.



•

Strong free cash flow and high return on assets.  The Operating Company focuses on businesses with a demonstrated ability to produce meaningful free cash flow from operations. The Operating Company typically targets companies that are not asset intensive and that have minimal capital expenditure and minimal working capital growth needs.



•

Sustainable business and niche market dominance.  The Operating Company seeks to invest in businesses that exert niche market dominance in their industry and that have a demonstrated history of sustaining market leadership over time.



•

Established companies.  The Operating Company seeks to invest in established companies with sound historical financial performance. The Operating Company does not intend to invest in start-up companies or companies with speculative business plans.



•

Private equity sponsorship.  The Operating Company generally seeks to invest in companies in conjunction with private equity sponsors who it knows and trusts and who have proven capabilities in building value.



•

Seasoned management team.  The Operating Company generally requires that its portfolio companies have a seasoned management team with strong corporate governance. Oftentimes the Operating Company has a historical relationship with or direct knowledge of key managers from previous investment experience.

6

Table of Contents

Investment Selection and Process

        The Investment Adviser believes it has developed a proven, consistent and replicable investment process to execute the Operating Company's investment strategy. The Investment Adviser seeks to identify the most attractive investment sectors from the top down and then works to become the most advantaged investor in these sectors. The steps in the Investment Adviser's process include:

•

Identifying attractive investment sectors top down;



•

Creating competitive advantages in the selected industry sectors; and



•

Targeting companies with leading market share and attractive business models in its chosen sectors.

Investment Committee

        The Investment Adviser's investment committee (the "Investment Committee") currently consists of Steven B. Klinsky, Robert Hamwee, Adam Collins, Douglas Londal and Alok Singh. The Investment Committee is responsible for approving all of the Operating Company's investment purchases above $5.0 million. The Investment Committee also monitors investments in the Operating Company's portfolio and approves all asset dispositions above $5.0 million. Purchases and dispositions below $5.0 million may be approved by the Operating Company's Chief Executive Officer. These approval thresholds are subject to change over time. We expect to benefit from the extensive and varied relevant experience of the investment professionals serving on the Investment Committee, which includes expertise in private equity, primary and secondary leveraged credit, private mezzanine finance and distressed debt.

        The purpose of the Investment Committee is to evaluate and approve, as deemed appropriate, all investments by the Investment Adviser, subject to certain thresholds. The Investment Committee process is intended to bring the diverse experience and perspectives of the Investment Committee's members to the analysis and consideration of every investment. The Investment Committee also serves to provide investment consistency and adherence to the Investment Adviser's investment philosophies and policies. The Investment Committee also determines appropriate investment sizing and suggests ongoing monitoring requirements.

        In addition to reviewing investments, the Investment Committee meetings serve as a forum to discuss credit views and outlooks. Potential transactions and investment opportunities are also reviewed on a regular basis. Members of the Operating Company's investment team are encouraged to share information and views on credits with the committee early in their analysis. This process improves the quality of the analysis and assists the deal team members to work more efficiently.

Investment Structure

        The Operating Company targets debt investments that will yield meaningful current income and occasionally provide the opportunity for capital appreciation through equity securities. The Operating Company's debt investments are typically structured with the maximum seniority and collateral that the Operating Company can reasonably obtain while seeking to achieve its total return target.

Debt Investments

        The terms of the Operating Company's debt investments are tailored to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and prospective portfolio company and structured to protect its rights and manage its risk while creating incentives for the portfolio company to achieve its business plan. A substantial source of return is the cash interest that the Operating Company collects on its debt investments.

7

Table of Contents

•

First Lien Loans and Bonds.  First lien loans and bonds generally have terms of four to seven years, provide for a variable or fixed interest rate, may contain prepayment penalties and are secured by a first priority security interest in all existing and future assets of the borrower.



•

Second Lien Loans and Bonds.  Second lien loans and bonds generally have terms of five to eight years, provide for a variable or fixed interest rate, may contain prepayment penalties and are secured by a second priority security interest in all existing and future assets of the borrower. These second lien loans and bonds may include payment-in-kind ("PIK") interest, which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the principal that generally becomes due at maturity.



•

Unsecured Senior, Subordinated and "Mezzanine" Loans and Bonds.  Any unsecured investments are generally expected to have terms of five to ten years and provide for a fixed interest rate. Unsecured investments may include PIK interest, which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the principal that generally becomes due at maturity, and may have an equity component, such as warrants to purchase common stock in the portfolio company.

        In addition, from time to time the Operating Company may also enter into bridge or other commitments which can result in providing future financing to a portfolio company.

Equity Investments

        When the Operating Company makes a debt investment, it may be granted equity in the portfolio company in the same class of security as the sponsor receives upon funding. In addition, the Operating Company may from time to time make non-control, equity co-investments in conjunction with private equity sponsors. The Operating Company generally seeks to structure its equity investments, such as direct equity co-investments, to provide it with minority rights provisions and event-driven put rights. The Operating Company also seeks to obtain limited registration rights in connection with these investments, which may include "piggyback" registration rights.

Portfolio Company Monitoring

        The Operating Company monitors the performance and financial trends of its portfolio companies on at least a quarterly basis. The Operating Company attempts to identify any developments within the portfolio company, the industry or the macroeconomic environment that may alter any material element of its original investment strategy. The Operating Company uses several methods of evaluating and monitoring the performance of its investments, including but not limited to, the following:

•

review of monthly and quarterly financial statements and financial projections for portfolio companies provided by its management;



•

ongoing dialogue with and review of original diligence sources;



•

periodic contact with portfolio company management (and, if appropriate the private equity sponsor) to discuss financial position, requirements and accomplishments; and



•

assessment of business development success, including product development, profitability and the portfolio company's overall adherence to its business plan.

        The Operating Company uses an investment rating system to characterize and monitor the credit profile and expected level of returns on each investment in the portfolio. The Operating Company uses a four-level numeric rating scale as follows:

•

Investment Rating 1—Investment is performing materially above expectations;

8

Table of Contents

•

Investment Rating 2—Investment is performing materially in-line with expectations. All new loans are rated 2 at initial purchase;



•

Investment Rating 3—Investment is performing materially below expectations and risk has increased materially since the original investment; and



•

Investment Rating 4—Investment is performing substantially below expectations and risks have increased substantially since the original investment. Payments may be delinquent. There is meaningful possibility that the Operating Company will not recoup its original cost basis in the investment and may realize a substantial loss upon exit.

        The following table shows the distribution of the Operating Company's investments on the 1 to 4 investment rating scale at fair value as of December 31, 2012:

Exit Strategies/Refinancing

        The Operating Company exits its investments typically through one of four scenarios: (i) the sale of the portfolio company itself resulting in repayment of all outstanding debt, (ii) the recapitalization of the portfolio company in which the Operating Company's loan is replaced with debt or equity from a third party or parties (in some cases, the Operating Company may choose to participate in the newly issued loan(s)), (iii) the repayment of the initial or remaining principal amount of the Operating Company's loan then outstanding at maturity or (iv) the sale of the debt investment by the Operating Company. In some investments, there may be scheduled amortization of some portion of the Operating Company's loan which would result in a partial exit of its investment prior to the maturity of the loan.

Valuation

        At all times consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and the 1940 Act, the Operating Company conducts a valuation of assets, which impacts its net asset value, and, consequently, the net asset values of NMFC and AIV Holdings. NMFC and AIV Holdings value their ownership interest on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if required under the 1940 Act.

        The Operating Company applies fair value accounting in accordance with GAAP. The Operating Company values its assets on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if required under the 1940 Act. In all cases, the Operating Company's board of directors is ultimately and solely responsible for determining the fair value of the portfolio investments on a quarterly basis in good faith, including investments that are not publicly traded, those whose market prices are not readily available and any other situation where its portfolio investments require a fair value determination. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. The Operating Company's quarterly valuation procedures are set forth in more detail below:

(1)

Investments for which market quotations are readily available on an exchange are valued at such market quotations based on the closing price indicated from independent pricing services.

9

Table of Contents

(2)

Investments for which indicative prices are obtained from various pricing services and/or brokers or dealers are valued through a multi-step valuation process, as described below, to determine whether the quote(s) obtained is representative of fair value in accordance with GAAP.



a.

Bond quotes are obtained through independent pricing services. Internal reviews are performed by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser to ensure that the quote obtained is representative of fair value in accordance with GAAP and if so, the quote is used. If the Investment Adviser is unable to sufficiently validate the quote(s) internally and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, the investment is valued similarly to those assets with no readily available quotes (see (3) below); and



b.

For investments other than bonds, the Operating Company looks at the number of quotes readily available and performs the following:



i.

Investments for which two or more quotes are received from a pricing service are valued using the mean of the mean of the bid and ask of the quotes obtained;



ii.

Investments for which one quote is received from a pricing service are validated internally. The investment professionals of the Investment Adviser analyze the market quotes obtained using an array of valuation methods (further described below) to validate the fair value. If the Investment Adviser is unable to sufficiently validate the quote internally and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, the investment is valued similarly to those assets with no readily available quotes (see (3) below).



(3)

Investments for which quotations are not readily available through exchanges, pricing services, brokers, or dealers are valued through a multi-step valuation process:



a.

Each portfolio company or investment is initially valued by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser responsible for the credit monitoring;



b.

Preliminary valuation conclusions will then be documented and discussed with the Operating Company's senior management;



c.

If an investment falls into (3) above for four consecutive quarters and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, then at least once each fiscal year, the valuation for each portfolio investment for which the Operating Company does not have a readily available market quotation will be reviewed by an independent valuation firm engaged by our board of directors; and



d.

When deemed appropriate by the Operating Company's management, an independent valuation firm may be engaged to review and value investment(s) of a portfolio company, without any preliminary valuation being performed by the Investment Adviser. The investment professionals of the Investment Adviser will review and validate the value provided.

        Valuation methods may include comparisons of financial ratios of the portfolio companies that issued such private securities to peer companies that are public, the nature of and the realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company's earnings, discounted cash flows, the ability to make payments, the markets in which the portfolio company conducts business, and other relevant factors, including available market data such as relevant and applicable market trading and transaction comparables; applicable market yields and multiples; security covenants; call protection provisions; information rights; comparable merger and acquisition transactions; and the principal market and enterprise values. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent sale occurs, the Operating Company will consider the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate the private valuation.

10

Table of Contents

        The values assigned to investments are based upon available information and do not necessarily represent amounts which might ultimately be realized, since such amounts depend on future circumstances and cannot be reasonably determined until the individual positions are liquidated. 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 the Operating Company's investments may fluctuate from period to period and the fluctuations could be material.

Operating and Regulatory Environment

        As with other companies regulated by the 1940 Act, a BDC must adhere to certain regulatory requirements. The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to investments by a BDC in another investment company as well as transactions between BDCs and their affiliates, principal underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters. A BDC must be organized in the U.S. for the purpose of investing in or lending to primarily private companies and making significant managerial assistance available to them. A BDC may use capital provided by public stockholders and from other sources to make long-term, private investments in businesses. A BDC provides stockholders the ability to retain the liquidity of a publicly traded stock while sharing in the possible benefits, if any, of investing in primarily privately owned companies.

        The Operating Company, NMFC and AIV Holdings each have a board of directors. A majority of our directors must be persons who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. As BDCs, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office. Additionally, we are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the BDC.

        As a BDC, each of the Companies is required to meet a coverage ratio of the value of total assets to total senior securities, which include all of its borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 200.0% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50.0% of the value of the Operating Company's total assets or the Operating Company may borrow an amount equal to 100.0% of net assets). The Operating Company monitors its compliance with this coverage ratio on a regular basis, however, NMFC and AIV Holdings have no material long-term liabilities themselves and their only business and sole asset is their ownership of the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings are relying on the provisions of Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that their respective investment in the Operating Company be their only asset and that their respective stockholders are entitled to vote on a "pass-through" basis with the Operating Company's other voting security holders.

        NMFC may, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, issue additional equity capital, which would in turn increase the equity capital available to the Operating Company. NMFC is generally not able to issue and sell its common stock at a price below net asset value per share. NMFC may, however, sell its common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire its common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value of its common stock if its board of directors determines that such sale is in the best interests of NMFC and the best interests of its stockholders, and its stockholders approve such sale. In addition, NMFC may generally issue new shares of its common stock at a price below net asset value in rights offerings to existing stockholders and in certain other limited circumstances.

        As a BDC, the Operating Company is generally not permitted to invest in any portfolio company in which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates currently have an investment or to make any co-investments with the Investment Adviser or its affiliates without an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

11

Table of Contents

        We may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC unless authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as required by the 1940 Act. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (a) 67.0% or more of such company's voting securities present at a meeting if more than 50.0% of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50.0% of the outstanding voting securities of such company. We do not anticipate any substantial change in the nature of our business.

        In addition, as BDCs, the Companies are not permitted to issue stock or units in consideration for services.

NMFC's and AIV Holdings' Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company

        NMFC and AIV Holdings have elected to be treated, and intend to comply with the requirements to qualify annually, as RICs under Subchapter M of the Code. As RICs, NMFC and AIV Holdings generally will not pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any income that they timely distribute to their stockholders as dividends. Rather, dividends distributed by NMFC or AIV Holdings generally will be taxable to NMFC's or AIV Holdings' stockholders, but any net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes of NMFC or AIV Holdings generally will not pass through to NMFC's or AIV Holdings' stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as net capital gains and qualified dividend income recognized by NMFC and AIV Holdings.

        To qualify as RICs, NMFC and AIV Holdings must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. In addition, to qualify as RICs, NMFC and AIV Holdings must distribute to their stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90.0% of their "investment company taxable income", which is generally their net ordinary income plus the excess of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses (the "Annual Distribution Requirement").

        NMFC and AIV Holdings will be subject to a 4.0% nondeductible federal excise tax on certain undistributed income unless they distribute in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98.0% of their respective net ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of their respective capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income recognized, but not distributed, in preceding years (the "Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement"). While NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to make distributions to their stockholders in each taxable year that will be sufficient to avoid any federal excise tax on their earnings, there can be no assurance that NMFC or AIV Holdings will be successful in entirely avoiding this tax. For the year ended December 31, 2012, no federal excise tax was paid by either NMFC or AIV Holdings.

        In order to qualify as RICs for federal income tax purposes, NMFC and AIV Holdings must, among other things:

•

Continue to qualify as BDCs under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year;



•

Derive in each taxable year at least 90.0% of their respective gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of certain securities, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, net income from certain "qualified publicly traded partnerships", or other income derived with respect to NMFC's or AIV Holdings' business of investing in such stock or securities (the "90.0% Income Test"); and



•

Diversify their holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year:



•

at least 50.0% of the respective values of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5.0% of the respective

12

Table of Contents

values of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' assets or more than 10.0% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and

•

no more than 25.0% of the respective values of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' assets is invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer, of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable Code rules, by NMFC or AIV Holdings and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or of certain "qualified publicly traded partnerships" (the "Diversification Tests").

Failure to Qualify as a Regulated Investment Company

        If NMFC or AIV Holdings fail to satisfy the 90.0% Income Test or the Diversification Tests for any taxable year or quarter of such taxable year, they may nevertheless continue to qualify as a RIC for such year if certain relief provisions of the Code apply (which may, among other things, require it to pay certain corporate-level federal taxes or to dispose of certain assets). If NMFC or AIV Holdings fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC and such relief provisions do not apply to NMFC or AIV Holdings, NMFC or AIV Holdings will be subject to federal income tax on all of its taxable income at regular corporate rates (and also will be subject to any applicable state and local taxes), regardless of whether NMFC or AIV Holdings made any distributions to its stockholders. Distributions would not be required. However, if distributions were made, any such distributions would be taxable to its stockholders as ordinary dividend income and, subject to certain limitations under the Code, any such distributions would be eligible for the 20.0% maximum rate applicable to non-corporate taxpayers to the extent of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' current or accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate distributees would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions in excess of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder's tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.

        Subject to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under Subchapter M of the Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that re-qualify as a RIC no later than the second year following the non-qualifying year, NMFC and AIV Holdings could be subject to tax on any unrealized net built-in gains in the assets held by NMFC or AIV Holdings during the period in which NMFC or AIV Holdings failed to qualify as a RIC that are recognized during the 10-year period (or five-year period for taxable years beginning during 2013) after its requalification as a RIC, unless NMFC or AIV Holdings made a special election to pay corporate-level federal income tax on such built-in gain at the time of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' requalification as a RIC. NMFC or AIV Holdings may decide to be taxed as a regular corporation even if NMFC or AIV Holdings would otherwise qualify as a RIC if NMFC or AIV Holdings determines that treatment as a corporation for a particular year would be in its best interests.

Investment Management Agreement

        The Companies are closed-end, non-diversified management investment companies that have elected to be treated as BDCs under the 1940 Act. NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their only business and sole asset are their ownership of units of the Operating Company. As a result, NMFC and AIV Holdings will not pay any external investment advisory or management fees. However, the Operating Company is externally managed by the Investment Adviser and will pay the Investment Adviser a fee for its services. The following summarizes the arrangements between the Operating Company and the Investment Adviser pursuant to an investment advisory and management agreement (the "Investment Management Agreement").

13

Table of Contents

Management Services

        The Investment Adviser is registered as an Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"). The Investment Adviser serves pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement in accordance with the 1940 Act. Subject to the overall supervision of the Operating Company's board of directors, the Investment Adviser manages the Operating Company's day-to-day operations and provides it with investment advisory and management services. Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser:

•

determines the composition of the Operating Company's portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to its portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes;



•

determines the securities and other assets that the Operating Company will purchase, retain or sell;



•

identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the Operating Company's investments that the Operating Company makes;



•

executes, monitors and services the investments the Operating Company makes;



•

performs due diligence on prospective portfolio companies;



•

votes, exercises consents and exercises all other rights appertaining to such securities and other assets on behalf of the Operating Company; and



•

provides the Operating Company with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Operating Company may, from time to time, reasonably require.

        The Investment Adviser's services under the Investment Management Agreement are not exclusive, and the Investment Adviser (so long as its services to the Operating Company are not impaired) and/or other entities affiliated with New Mountain Capital are permitted to furnish similar services to other entities.

Management Fees

        Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Operating Company has agreed to pay the Investment Adviser a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee. The cost of both the base management fee payable to the Investment Adviser and any incentive fees paid in cash to the Investment Adviser are borne by the Operating Company's members, including NMFC and AIV Holdings and, as a result, are indirectly borne by NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stockholders.

Base Management Fees

        The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the Operating Company's gross assets less (i) the borrowings under the Operating Company's senior loan fund's Loan and Security Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated October 27, 2010, as amended on December 18, 2012, (the "SLF Credit Facility") and (ii) cash and cash equivalents. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears, and is calculated based on the average value of the Operating Company's gross assets, borrowings under the SLF Credit Facility, and cash and cash equivalents at the end of each of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted on a pro rata basis for any equity capital raises or repurchases during the current calendar quarter.

14

Table of Contents

Incentive Fees

        The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and equals 20.0% of the Operating Company's "Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income" for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a "preferred return", or "hurdle", and a "catch-up" feature. "Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income" means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Operating Company receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Operating Company's operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, as amended and restated, with the Administrator, and any interest expense and distributions paid on any issued and outstanding preferred membership units (of which there are none as of December 31, 2012), but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Operating Company has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.

        Under GAAP, NMFC's IPO did not step-up the cost basis of the Operating Company's existing investments to fair market value at the IPO date. Since the total value of the Operating Company's investments at the time of the IPO was greater than the investments' cost basis, a larger amount of amortization of purchase or original issue discount, as well as different amounts in realized gain and unrealized appreciation, may be recognized under GAAP in each period than if the step-up had occurred. This will remain until such predecessor investments are sold or mature in the future. The Operating Company tracks the transferred (or fair market) value of each of its investments as of the time of the IPO and, for purposes of the incentive fee calculation, adjusts Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income to reflect the amortization of purchase or original issue discount on the Operating Company's investments as if each investment was purchased at the date of the IPO, or stepped up to fair market value. This is defined as "Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income". The Operating Company also uses the transferred (or fair market) value of each of its investments as of the time of the IPO to adjust capital gains ("Adjusted Realized Capital Gains") or losses ("Adjusted Realized Capital Losses") and unrealized capital appreciation ("Adjusted Unrealized Capital Appreciation") and unrealized capital depreciation ("Adjusted Unrealized Capital Depreciation").

        Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Operating Company's net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, will be compared to a "hurdle rate" of 2.0% per quarter (8.0% annualized), subject to a "catch-up" provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. The hurdle rate is appropriately pro-rated for any partial periods. The calculation of the Operating Company's incentive fee with respect to the Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income for each quarter is as follows:

•

No incentive fee is payable to the Investment Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 2.0% (the "preferred return" or "hurdle").



•

100.0% of the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.5% in any calendar quarter (10.0% annualized) is payable to the Investment Adviser. This portion of the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.5%) is referred to as the "catch-up". The catch-up provision is intended to provide the Investment Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of the Operating Company's

15

Table of Contents

Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter.

•

20.0% of the amount of the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter (10.0% annualized) is payable to the Investment Adviser once the hurdle is reached and the catch-up is achieved.

        The second part will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement) and will equal 20.0% of the Operating Company's Adjusted Realized Capital Gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all Adjusted Realized Capital Losses and Adjusted Unrealized Capital Depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fee.

        In accordance with GAAP, the Operating Company accrues a hypothetical capital gains incentive fee based upon the cumulative net Adjusted Realized Capital Gains and Adjusted Realized Capital Losses and the cumulative net Adjusted Unrealized Capital Appreciation and Adjusted Unrealized Capital Depreciation on investments held at the end of each period. Actual amounts paid to the Investment Adviser are consistent with the Investment Management Agreement and are based only on actual Adjusted Realized Capital Gains computed net of all Adjusted Realized Capital Losses and Adjusted Unrealized Capital Depreciation on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year as if the entire portfolio was sold at fair value.

Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee for Each Calendar Quarter*:

Alternative 1

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 1.25%

Hurdle rate(1) = 2.00%

Management fee(2) = 0.44%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, safekeeping agent, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income
(investment income - (management fee + other expenses)) = 0.61%

        Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate, therefore there is no income-related incentive fee.

Alternative 2

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 2.90%

Hurdle rate(1) = 2.00%

Management fee(2) = 0.44%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, safekeeping agent, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income
(investment income - (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.26%

Incentive fee = 100.00% × Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income (subject to "catch-up")(4)

= 100.00% × (2.26% - 2.00%)

= 0.26%

16

Table of Contents

        Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income exceeds the hurdle rate, but does not fully satisfy the "catch-up" provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.26%.

Alternative 3

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3.50%

Hurdle rate(1) = 2.00%

Management fee(2) = 0.44%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, safekeeping agent, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income
(investment income - (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.86%

Incentive fee = 100.00% × Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income (subject to "catch-up")(4)

Incentive fee = 100.00% × "catch-up" + (20.00% × (Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income - 2.50%))

Catch-up = 2.50% - 2.00%
                = 0.50%

Incentive fee = (100.00% × 0.50%) + (20.00% × (2.86% - 2.50%))
                      = 0.50% + (20.00% × 0.36%)
                      = 0.50% + 0.07%
                      = 0.57%

        Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income exceeds the hurdle rate, and fully satisfies the "catch-up" provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.57%.

*

The hypothetical amount of pre-incentive fee net investment income shown is based on a percentage of total net assets and assumes, for the Operating Company's investments held prior to the IPO, interest income has been adjusted to reflect the amortization of purchase or original issue discount as if each investment was purchased at the date of the IPO, or stepped up to fair market value.

(1)

Represents 8.00% annualized hurdle rate.

(2)

Assumes 1.75% annualized base management fee.

(3)

Excludes organizational and offering expenses.

(4)

The "catch-up" provision is intended to provide the Investment Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.00% on all Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when the Operating Company's net investment income exceeds 2.50% in any calendar quarter.

Example 2: Capital Gains Portion of Incentive Fee*:

Alternative 1:

Assumptions

Year 1: $20.0 million investment made in Company A ("Investment A"), and $30.0 million investment made in Company B ("Investment B")

Year 2: Investment A sold for $50.0 million and fair market value ("FMV") of Investment B determined to be $32.0 million

17

Table of Contents

Year 3: FMV of Investment B determined to be $25.0 million

Year 4: Investment B sold for $31.0 million

        The capital gains portion of the incentive fee would be:

Year 1: None

Year 2: Capital gains incentive fee of $6.0 million—($30.0 million realized capital gains on sale of Investment A multiplied by 20.0%)

Year 3: None—$5.0 million (20.0% multiplied by ($30.0 million cumulative capital gains less $5.0 million cumulative capital depreciation)) less $6.0 million (previous capital gains fee paid in Year 2)

Year 4: Capital gains incentive fee of $0.2 million—$6.2 million ($31.0 million cumulative realized capital gains multiplied by 20.0%) less $6.0 million (capital gains incentive fee taken in Year 2)

Alternative 2

Assumptions

Year 1: $20.0 million investment made in Company A ("Investment A"), $30.0 million investment made in Company B ("Investment B") and $25.0 million investment made in Company C ("Investment C")

Year 2: Investment A sold for $50.0 million, FMV of Investment B determined to be $25.0 million and FMV of Investment C determined to be $25.0 million

Year 3: FMV of Investment B determined to be $27.0 million and Investment C sold for $30.0 million

Year 4: FMV of Investment B determined to be $35.0 million

Year 5: Investment B sold for $20.0 million

        The capital gains incentive fee, if any, would be:

Year 1: None

Year 2: $5.0 million capital gains incentive fee—20.0% multiplied by $25.0 million ($30.0 million realized capital gains on Investment A less $5.0 million unrealized capital depreciation on Investment B)

Year 3: $1.4 million capital gains incentive fee—$6.4 million (20.0% multiplied by $32.0 million ($35.0 million cumulative realized capital gains less $3.0 million unrealized capital depreciation)) less $5.0 million capital gains incentive fee received in Year 2

Year 4: $0.6 million capital gains incentive fee—$7.0 million (20.0% multiplied by $35.0 million cumulative realized capital gains) less cumulative $6.4 million capital gains incentive fee received in Year 2 and Year 3

Year 5: None—$5.0 million (20.0% multiplied by $25.0 million (cumulative realized capital gains of $35.0 million less realized capital losses of $10.0 million)) less $7.0 million cumulative capital gains incentive fee paid in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4(1)

---

*

The hypothetical amounts of returns shown are based on a percentage of the Operating Company's total net assets and assume no leverage. There is no guarantee that positive returns will be realized and actual returns may vary from those shown in this example. The capital gains

18

Table of Contents

incentive fees are calculated on an "adjusted" basis for the Operating Company's investments held prior to the IPO and assumes those investments have been adjusted to reflect the amortization of purchase or original issue discount as if each investment was purchased at the date of the IPO, or stepped up to fair market value.

(1)

As noted above, it is possible that the cumulative aggregate capital gains fee received by the Investment Adviser ($7.0 million) is effectively greater than $5.0 million (20.0% of cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less net realized capital losses or net unrealized depreciation ($25.0 million)).

Payment of Expenses

        The Operating Company's primary operating expenses are the payment of a base management fee and any incentive fees under the Investment Management Agreement and the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations to the Companies under the Administration Agreement. The Operating Company bears all other expenses of the Companies' operations and transactions, including (without limitation) fees and expenses relating to:

•

organizational and offering expenses;



•

the investigation and monitoring of the Operating Company's investments;



•

the cost of calculating net asset value;



•

interest payable on debt, if any, to finance its investments;



•

the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of shares of NMFC's common stock and other securities;



•

management and incentive fees payable pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement;



•

fees payable to third parties relating to, or associated with, making investments and valuing investments (including third-party valuation firms);



•

transfer agent and custodial fees;



•

fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts (including attendance at investment conferences and similar events);



•

federal and state registration fees;



•

any exchange listing fees;



•

federal, state, local and foreign taxes;



•

independent directors' fees and expenses;



•

brokerage commissions;



•

costs of proxy statements, stockholders' reports and notices;



•

costs of preparing government filings, including periodic and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission;



•

fees and expenses associated with independent audits and outside legal costs;



•

costs associated with reporting and compliance obligations under the 1940 Act and applicable federal and state securities laws;



•

fidelity bond, liability insurance and other insurance premiums; and

19

Table of Contents

•

printing, mailing and all other direct expenses incurred by either the Investment Adviser or the Companies in connection with administering our business, including payments under the Administration Agreement that is based upon the Company's allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations to the Companies under the Administration Agreement, including the allocable portion of the compensation of the Companies' chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs.

Qualifying Assets

        Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as qualifying assets, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70.0% of the BDC's total assets. Since NMFC and AIV Holdings have no assets other than their ownership of units of the Operating Company and have no material long-term liabilities, NMFC and AIV Holdings look to the Operating Company's assets for purposes of satisfying these requirements. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are any of the following:

1)

Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an eligible portfolio company, or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an eligible portfolio company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. An eligible portfolio company is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which:



(a)

is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the U.S.;



(b)

is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and



(c)

satisfies any of the following:



(i)

does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange;



(ii)

has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250.0 million;



(iii)

is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the eligible portfolio company; or



(iv)

is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4.0 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2.0 million.



2)

Securities of any eligible portfolio company that the Operating Company controls.



3)

Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements.



4)

Securities of an eligible portfolio company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and the Operating Company already owns 60.0% of the outstanding equity of the eligible portfolio company.

20

Table of Contents

5)

Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities.



6)

Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment.

        In addition, a BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the U.S. and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in (1), (2) or (3) above.

        As of December 31, 2012, 7.9% of the Operating Company's total assets were not qualifying assets.

Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies

        In order to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70.0% test, the Operating Company must either control the issuer of the securities or must 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 Operating Company 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 managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC offers to provide, and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company. The Administrator or its affiliate provides such managerial assistance on the Operating Company's behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance.

Temporary Investments

        Pending investments in other types of qualifying assets, the Operating Company's 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 (collectively, as "temporary investments"), so that 70.0% of the Operating Company's assets are qualifying assets. Typically, the Operating Company will 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 the Operating Company, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price that 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 the Operating Company's assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25.0% of the Operating Company's total assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, NMFC and AIV Holdings would not meet the Diversification Tests in order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Thus, the Operating Company does not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. The Investment Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which the Operating Company enters into repurchase agreement transactions.

Senior Securities

        The Operating Company is permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of debt and one class of membership units senior to its common membership units if the Operating Company's asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 200.0% immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding (other than any indebtedness issued in consideration of a privately arranged loan, such as any indebtedness outstanding under the Operating Company's Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated May 19, 2011, as amended on December 18, 2012 (the "Holdings Credit

21

Table of Contents

Facility"), or the SLF Credit Facility), the Companies must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to their stockholders or unit holders, as applicable, or the repurchase of their equity securities unless the Operating Company meets the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. The Operating Company may also borrow amounts up to 5.0% of the value of its total assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to its asset coverage. The Operating Company will include the assets and liabilities of NMF SLF for purposes of calculating the asset coverage ratio. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see Item 1A.—Risk Factors.

Code of Ethics

        The Companies have adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to the code may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Operating Company so long as such investments are made in accordance with the code's requirements. You may read and copy the code of ethics at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330, and copies of the code of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov. In addition, the code of ethics is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

Compliance Policies and Procedures

        The Companies and the Investment Adviser have adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws and the Companies are required to review these compliance policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Companies' chief compliance officer is responsible for administering these policies and procedures.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

        The Operating Company has delegated its proxy voting responsibility to the Investment Adviser. The proxy voting policies and procedures of the Investment Adviser are set forth below. The guidelines will be reviewed periodically by the Investment Adviser and the Operating Company's non-interested directors, and, accordingly, are subject to change.

Introduction

        As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, the Investment Adviser has a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of its clients. As part of this duty, it recognizes that it must vote the Operating Company's securities in a timely manner free of conflicts of interest and in the best interests of the Companies.

        The policies and procedures for voting proxies for the investment advisory clients of the Investment Adviser are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.

Proxy policies

        The Investment Adviser will vote proxies relating to the Operating Company's securities in the best interest of the Companies. It will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted for a stockholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by the Operating Company. Although the Investment Adviser will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on its clients' portfolio securities, it may vote for such a proposal if there exists compelling long-term reasons to do so.

22

Table of Contents

        The proxy voting decisions of the Investment Adviser are made by the senior officers who are responsible for monitoring each of its clients' investments. To ensure that its vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, it will require that: (a) anyone involved in the decision making process disclose to its chief compliance officer any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (b) employees involved in the decision making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how the Investment Adviser intends to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.

Proxy voting records

        You may obtain, without charge, information regarding how the Operating Company voted proxies with respect to the Operating Company's portfolio securities by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Chief Compliance Officer, 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

Staffing

        The Companies do not have any employees. Day-to-day investment operations that are conducted by the Operating Company are managed by the Investment Adviser. See "Investment Management Agreement". The Operating Company reimburses the Administrator for the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations to the Companies under the Administration Agreement, including the compensation of the Companies' chief financial officer and chief compliance officer, and their respective staffs. For a more detailed discussion of the Administration Agreement, see Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 5, Agreements.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

        The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes a variety of regulatory requirements on publicly-held companies and their insiders. Many of these requirements affect the Companies. For example:

•

pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Companies are required to certify the accuracy of the financial statements contained in the Companies' periodic reports;



•

pursuant to Item 307 of Regulation S-K, the Companies' periodic reports are required to disclose their respective conclusions about the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures;



•

pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, the Companies' management is required to prepare a report regarding their assessment of their respective internal control over financial reporting and is required to obtain an audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting performed by their independent registered public accounting; and



•

pursuant to Item 308 of Regulation S-K and Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, the Companies' periodic reports are required to disclose whether there were significant changes in their respective internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

        The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the Companies to review their current policies and procedures to determine whether they comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Companies intend to monitor their compliance with all regulations that are adopted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and will take actions necessary to ensure that they are in compliance therewith.

23

Table of Contents

Available Information

        We file with or submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission annual, quarterly and current periodic reports, proxy statements and other information as required by the 1940 Act. You may inspect and copy any materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information filed electronically by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov.

        We make available free of charge on our website, http://www.newmountainfinance.com, our reports, proxies and information statements, and other information as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report and should not be considered to be a part of this annual report.

Privacy Notice

        Your privacy is very important to us. This Privacy Notice sets forth our policies with respect to non-public personal information about our stockholders and prospective and former stockholders. These policies apply to stockholders of the Companies and may be changed at any time, provided a notice of such change is given to you. This notice supersedes any other privacy notice you may have received from us.

        We will safeguard, according to strict standards of security and confidentiality, all information we receive about you. The only information we collect from you is your name, address, number of shares you hold and your social security number. This information is used only so that we can send you annual reports and other information about us, and send you proxy statements or other information required by law.

        We do not share this information with any non-affiliated third party except as described below.

•

Authorized Employees of the Investment Adviser.  It is our policy that only authorized employees of our investment adviser who need to know your personal information will have access to it.



•

Service Providers.  We may disclose your personal information to companies that provide services on our behalf, such as recordkeeping, processing your trades, and mailing you information. These companies are required to protect your information and use it solely for the purpose for which they received it.



•

Courts and Government Officials.  If required by law, we may disclose your personal information in accordance with a court order or at the request of government regulators. Only that information required by law, subpoena, or court order will be disclosed.

        We seek to carefully safeguard your private information and, to that end, restrict access to non-public personal information about you to those employees and other persons who need to know the information to enable us to provide services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your non-public personal information.

        If you have any questions regarding this policy or the treatment of your non-public personal information, please contact our Chief Compliance Officer at (212) 655-0024.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

        You should carefully consider the significant risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this combined Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related combined notes, before making an investment decision in any of the Companies. The risks set forth below are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we

24

Table of Contents

currently deem to be immaterial may materially affect our business, our structure, the Operating Company's financial condition, the Operating Company's investments and/or operating results. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially affected. In such case, our net asset value and the trading price of NMFC's common stock could decline. There can be no assurance that we will achieve the Operating Company's investment objective and you may lose all or part of your investment.

RISKS IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

The downgrade of the U.S. credit rating and the economic crisis in Europe could negatively impact the Operating Company's liquidity, financial condition and earnings, thus affecting the financial condition and earnings of NMFC and AIV Holdings.

        The U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit concerns, together with signs of deteriorating sovereign debt conditions in Europe, have increased the possibility of additional credit-rating downgrades and economic slowdowns. Although U.S. lawmakers passed legislation to raise the federal debt ceiling, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. from "AAA" to "AA+" in August 2011. The impact of this or any further downgrades to the U.S. government's sovereign credit rating, or its perceived creditworthiness, and the impact of the current crisis in Europe with respect to the ability of certain European Union countries to continue to service their sovereign debt obligations is inherently unpredictable and could adversely affect the U.S. and global financial markets and economic conditions. There can be no assurance that governmental or other measures to aid economic recovery will be effective. These developments, and the government's credit concerns in general, could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact both the perception of credit risk associated with the Operating Company's debt portfolio and its ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. In addition, the decreased credit rating could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which may weigh heavily on NMFC's stock price. Continued adverse economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Companies' business, financial condition and results of operations.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE

We have a limited operating history.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings are newly-formed entities while the Operating Company commenced operations in October 2008, owning all of the operations, including all of the assets and liabilities, of the Predecessor Entities. NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their only business and sole asset are their ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company. As a result, we are subject to many of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that we may not achieve the Operating Company's investment objective and that, as a result, the value of NMFC's common stock and the Operating Company's units could decline substantially.

The Operating Company may suffer credit losses.

        Investments in small and middle market businesses are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk of credit loss. These risks are likely to increase during volatile economic periods, such as the U.S. and many other economies have recently been experiencing.

The Operating Company does not expect to replicate the Predecessor Entities' historical performance or the historical performance of other entities managed or supported by the New Mountain Capital.

        The Operating Company does not expect to replicate the Predecessor Entities' historical performance or the historical performance of New Mountain Capital's investments. The Operating Company's investment returns may be substantially lower than the returns achieved by the Predecessor Entities. Although the Predecessor Entities commenced operations during otherwise unfavorable

25

Table of Contents

economic conditions, this was a favorable environment in which the Operating Company could conduct its business in light of its investment objectives and strategy. In addition, the Operating Company's investment strategies may differ from those of New Mountain Capital or its affiliates. The Companies, as BDCs, and NMFC and AIV Holdings, as RICs, are subject to certain regulatory restrictions that do not apply to New Mountain Capital or its affiliates.

        The Operating Company is generally not permitted to invest in any portfolio company in which New Mountain Capital or any of its affiliates currently have an investment or to make any co-investments with New Mountain Capital or its affiliates, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. This may adversely affect the pace at which the Operating Company makes investments. Moreover, the Operating Company may operate with a different leverage profile than the Predecessor Entities. Furthermore, none of the prior results from the Predecessor Entities were from public reporting companies, and all or a portion of these results were achieved in particularly favorable market conditions for the Operating Company's investment strategy which may never be repeated. Finally, we can offer no assurance that the Operating Company's investment team will be able to continue to implement its investment objective with the same degree of success as it has had in the past.

There is uncertainty as to the value of the Operating Company's portfolio investments because most of its investments are, and may continue to be in private companies and recorded at fair value. In addition, because NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies, the fair values of the Operating Company's investments are determined by the Operating Company's board of directors in accordance with the Operating Company's valuation policy.

        Some of the Operating Company's investments are and may be in the form of securities or loans that are not publicly traded. The fair value of these investments may not be readily determinable. Under the 1940 Act, the Operating Company is required to carry its portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by its board of directors, including to reflect significant events affecting the value of its securities. The Operating Company values its investments for which it does not have readily available market quotations quarterly, or more frequently as circumstances require, at fair value as determined in good faith by its board of directors in accordance with its valuation policy, which is at all times consistent with GAAP. See Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies or Note 4, Fair Value for additional information on around valuations.

        The Operating Company's board of directors utilizes the services of one or more independent third-party valuation firms to aid it in determining the fair value with respect to its material unquoted assets in accordance with its valuation policy. The inputs into the determination of fair value of these investments may require significant management judgment or estimation. Even if observable market data is available, such information may be the result of consensus pricing information or broker quotes, which include a disclaimer that the broker would not be held to such a price in an actual transaction. The non-binding nature of consensus pricing and/or quotes accompanied by disclaimers materially reduces the reliability of such information.

        The types of factors that the board of directors takes into account in determining the fair value of its investments generally include, as appropriate: available market data, including relevant and applicable market trading and transaction comparables, applicable market yields and multiples, security covenants, call protection provisions, information rights, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company's ability to make payments, its earnings and discounted cash flows and the markets in which it does business, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public, comparable merger and acquisition transactions and the principal market and enterprise values. Since these valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, the

26

Table of Contents

Operating Company's determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed.

        Due to this uncertainty, the Operating Company's fair value determinations may cause its net asset value and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset value, on any given date, to materially understate or overstate the value that the Operating Company may ultimately realize upon the sale of one or more of our investments. In addition, investors purchasing NMFC's common stock based on an overstated net asset value would pay a higher price than the realizable value of our investments might warrant. Since NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies and their only business and sole asset are their ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset values are based on the Operating Company's valuation and their percentage interest in the Operating Company.

        Although the Operating Company's current board of directors is comprised of the same individuals as NMFC's and AIV Holdings' board of directors, there can be no assurances that the Operating Company's board composition will remain the same as NMFC and AIV Holdings. As a result, the value of your investment in NMFC or AIV Holdings could be similarly understated or overstated based on the Operating Company's fair value determinations. However, in the event that NMFC and/or AIV Holdings' board of directors believes that a different fair value for the Operating Company's investments is appropriate, NMFC and/or AIV Holdings' board of directors may discuss the differences in the valuations with the Operating Company's board of directors for the purposes of resolving the differences in valuation. The valuation procedures of NMFC and AIV Holdings are substantially similar to those utilized by the Operating Company described above.

        The Operating Company may adjust quarterly the valuation of its portfolio to reflect its board of directors' determination of the fair value of each investment in its portfolio. Any changes in fair value are recorded in the Operating Company's statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

The Operating Company's ability to achieve its investment objective depends on key investment personnel of the Investment Adviser. If the Investment Adviser were to lose any of its key investment personnel, the Operating Company's ability to achieve its investment objective could be significantly harmed.

        The Operating Company depends on the investment judgment, skill and relationships of the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser, particularly Steven B. Klinsky and Robert Hamwee, as well as other key personnel to identify, evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute, monitor and service its investments. The Investment Adviser, as an affiliate of New Mountain Capital, is supported by New Mountain Capital's team, which as of December 31, 2012 consisted of approximately 100 staff members of New Mountain Capital and its affiliates to fulfill its obligations to the Operating Company under the Investment Management Agreement. The Investment Adviser may also depend upon New Mountain Capital to obtain access to investment opportunities originated by the professionals of New Mountain Capital and its affiliates. The Operating Company's future success depends to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of the key investment personnel of the Investment Adviser. The departure of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on the Operating Company's ability to achieve its investment objective.

        The Investment Committee, which provides oversight over the Operating Company's investment activities, is provided by the Investment Adviser. The Investment Committee currently consists of five members. The loss of any member of the Investment Committee or of other senior professionals of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates without suitable replacement could limit the Operating Company's ability to achieve its investment objective and operate as we anticipate. This could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. To achieve the Operating Company's investment objective, the Investment Adviser may hire, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals to participate in its investment selection and monitoring process. If the

27

Table of Contents

Investment Adviser is unable to find investment professionals or do so in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Investment Adviser has limited experience managing a BDC or a RIC, which could adversely affect our business.

        Other than the Companies, the Investment Adviser has not previously managed a BDC or a RIC. The 1940 Act and the Code impose numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs and RICs that do not apply to the other investment vehicles previously managed by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser. For example, under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70.0% of their total assets primarily in securities of qualifying U.S. private or thinly traded companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Moreover, qualification for taxation as a RIC under subchapter M of the Code requires satisfaction of source-of-income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. NMFC and AIV Holdings have no assets other than their ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company and have no material long-term liabilities. As a result, NMFC and AIV Holdings look to the Operating Company's assets and income for purposes of satisfying the requirements under the 1940 Act applicable to BDCs and the requirements under the Code applicable to RICs. The failure to comply with these provisions in a timely manner could prevent NMFC, AIV Holdings and the Operating Company from qualifying as BDCs or NMFC and AIV Holdings from qualifying as RICs and could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties, which would have a material adverse effect on our performance. The Investment Adviser's lack of experience in managing a portfolio of assets under the constraints applicable to BDCs and RICs may hinder its ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve the Operating Company's investment objective. If the Operating Company fails to maintain its status as a BDC or operate in a manner consistent with NMFC's and AIV Holdings' status as RICs, its operating flexibility could be significantly reduced and NMFC and AIV Holdings may be unable to maintain their status as BDCs or RICs.

The Operating Company operates in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities and may not be able to compete effectively.

        The Operating Company competes for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including private equity and hedge funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Many of its competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than it does. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to the Operating Company. In addition, some of the Operating Company's competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than the Operating Company has. Furthermore, many of the Operating Company's competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on the Companies as BDCs or the source-of-income, asset diversification and distribution requirements that NMFC and AIV Holdings must satisfy to obtain and maintain their RIC status. These characteristics could allow the Operating Company's competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than the Operating Company is able to do. There are a number of new BDCs that have recently completed their initial public offerings or that have filed registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could create increased competition for investment opportunities.

        The Operating Company may lose investment opportunities if it does not match its competitors' pricing, terms and structure. With respect to the investments the Operating Company makes, it does not seek to compete based primarily on the interest rates it may offer, and we believe that some of the Operating Company's competitors may make loans with interest rates that may be lower than the rates

28

Table of Contents

it offers. In the secondary market for acquiring existing loans, we expect the Operating Company to compete generally on the basis of pricing terms. If the Operating Company matches its competitors' pricing, terms and structure, it may experience decreased net interest income, lower yields and increased risk of credit loss. If the Operating Company is forced to match its competitors' pricing, terms and structure, it may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on its investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. Part of the Operating Company's competitive advantage stems from the fact that we believe the market for middle-market lending is underserved by traditional bank lenders and other financial sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of the Operating Company's competitors in this target market could force it to accept less attractive investment terms. The Operating Company may also compete for investment opportunities with accounts managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates. Although the Investment Adviser allocates opportunities in accordance with its policies and procedures, allocations to such other accounts reduces the amount and frequency of opportunities available to the Operating Company and may not be in the best interests of the Operating Company and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' stockholders. Moreover, the performance of investment opportunities is not known at the time of allocation. If the Operating Company is not able to compete effectively, its business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected, thus affecting the business, financial condition and results of operations of NMFC and AIV Holdings. Because of this competition, there can be no assurance that the Operating Company will be able to identify and take advantage of attractive investment opportunities that it identifies or that it will be able to fully invest its available capital.

Our business, results of operations and financial condition depends on the Operating Company's ability to manage future growth effectively.

        The Operating Company's ability to achieve its investment objective and to grow depends on the Investment Adviser's ability to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet the Operating Company's investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of the Investment Adviser's structuring of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to the Operating Company and its ability to access financing on acceptable terms. The Investment Adviser has substantial responsibilities under the Investment Management Agreement and may also be called upon to provide managerial assistance to the Operating Company's portfolio companies. These demands on the time of the Investment Adviser and its investment professionals may distract them or slow the Operating Company's rate of investment. In order to grow, the Operating Company and the Investment Adviser may need to retain, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals. However, these investment professionals may not be able to contribute effectively to the work of the Investment Adviser. If the Operating Company is unable to manage its future growth effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The incentive fee may induce the Investment Adviser to make speculative investments.

        The incentive fee payable to the Investment Adviser may create an incentive for the Investment Adviser to pursue investments that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during cyclical economic downturns. The incentive fee payable to the Investment Adviser is calculated based on a percentage of the Operating Company's return on investment capital. This may encourage the Investment Adviser to use leverage to increase the return on the Operating Company's investments. In addition, because the base management fee is payable based upon the Operating Company's gross assets, which includes any borrowings for investment purposes, but excludes cash and cash equivalents for investment purposes, the Investment Adviser may be further encouraged to use leverage to make additional investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would impair the value of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common membership units of the Operating Company and, consequently, the value of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stock.

29

Table of Contents

        The incentive fee payable to the Investment Adviser also may create an incentive for the Investment Adviser to invest in instruments that have a deferred interest feature, even if such deferred payments would not provide the cash necessary for the Operating Company to make distributions to NMFC and AIV Holdings that enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to pay current distributions to their stockholders. Under these investments, the Operating Company would accrue the interest over the life of the investment but would not receive the cash income from the investment until the end of the investment's term, if at all. The Operating Company's net investment income used to calculate the income portion of the incentive fee, however, includes accrued interest. Thus, a portion of the incentive fee would be based on income that the Operating Company has not yet received in cash and may never receive in cash if the portfolio company is unable to satisfy such interest payment obligations. In addition, the "catch-up" portion of the incentive fee may encourage the Investment Adviser to accelerate or defer interest payable by portfolio companies from one calendar quarter to another, potentially resulting in fluctuations in timing and dividend amounts.

The Operating Company may be obligated to pay the Investment Adviser incentive compensation even if the Operating Company incurs a loss.

        The Investment Adviser is entitled to incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter in an amount equal to a percentage of the excess of the Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income for that quarter (before deducting incentive compensation) above a performance threshold for that quarter. Accordingly, since the performance threshold is based on a percentage of the Operating Company's net asset value, decreases in the Operating Company's net asset value makes it easier to achieve the performance threshold. The Operating Company's Pre-Incentive Fee Adjusted Net Investment Income for incentive compensation purposes excludes realized and unrealized capital losses or depreciation that it may incur in the fiscal quarter, even if such capital losses or depreciation result in a net loss on the Operating Company's statement of operations for that quarter. Thus, the Operating Company may be required to pay the Investment Adviser incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of its portfolio or the Operating Company incurs a net loss for that quarter.

The Operating Company borrows money, which could magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us and increase the risk of investing in us.

        The Operating Company borrows money as part of its business plan. Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on invested equity capital and may, consequently, increase the risk of investing in us. We expect the Operating Company to continue to use leverage to finance its investments, through senior securities issued by banks and other lenders. The Operating Company is restricted from incurring additional indebtedness under the Holdings Credit Facility and the SLF Credit Facility (the "Credit Facilities"), without lender consent. See Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 7, Borrowing Facilities for a detailed discussion on the Credit Facilities. Lenders of these senior securities have fixed dollar claims on the Operating Company's assets that are superior to NMFC's and AIV Holdings' claim as members of the Operating Company, and, consequently, superior to claims of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stockholders. If the value of the Operating Company's assets decreases, leveraging would cause its net asset value and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset value, to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had it not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in the Operating Company's income would cause its net income and consequently NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net income to decline more sharply than they would have had it not borrowed. Such a decline could adversely affect the Operating Company's ability to make distributions to its members and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' ability to make common stock dividend payments. In addition, because the Operating Company's investments may be illiquid, the Operating Company may be unable to dispose of them or to do so at a favorable price in the event it needs to do so if it is unable to refinance any indebtedness upon maturity and, as a result, we may suffer losses. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique.

30

Table of Contents

        The Operating Company's ability to service any debt that it incurs depends largely on its financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. Moreover, as the Investment Adviser's management fee is payable to the Investment Adviser based on gross assets, including those assets acquired through the use of leverage, the Investment Adviser may have a financial incentive to incur leverage which may not be consistent with NMFC's and AIV Holdings' interests and the interests of their common stockholders. In addition, holders of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stock will, indirectly, bear the burden of any increase in the Operating Company's expenses as a result of leverage, including any increase in the management fee payable to the Investment Adviser.

        At December 31, 2012, the Operating Company had $206.9 million and $214.3 million of indebtedness outstanding under the Holdings Credit Facility and the SLF Credit Facility, respectively. The Holdings Credit Facility had an effective annual interest rate of 3.1% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the SLF Credit Facility had an effective interest rate of 2.3% for the year ended December 31, 2012.

NMFC and the Operating Company may need to raise additional capital to grow the Operating Company.

        All of the proceeds from the IPO, the Concurrent Private Placement and subsequent offerings by NMFC were contributed to the Operating Company in exchange for NMFC's and AIV Holdings' acquisition of common membership units of the Operating Company. The Operating Company may need additional capital to fund new investments and grow its portfolio of investments once the Operating Company has fully invested these proceeds. NMFC may access the capital markets periodically to issue equity securities, which would in turn increase the equity capital available to the Operating Company. In addition, the Operating Company may also issue debt securities or borrow from financial institutions in order to obtain such additional capital. AIV Holdings does not intend to raise any additional equity or debt capital. However, the Operating Company is restricted from incurring additional indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, without lender consent. NMFC is not permitted to own any other securities other than its common membership units of the Operating Company. As a result, any proceeds from offerings by NMFC of equity securities would be contributed to the Operating Company. Unfavorable economic conditions could increase NMFC and the Operating Company's funding costs, and as a result AIV Holdings' funding costs, and limit their access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to the Operating Company. A reduction in the availability of new capital could limit the Operating Company's ability to grow. In addition, each of NMFC and AIV Holdings are required to distribute at least 90.0% of their net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to their stockholders to obtain and maintain their RIC status. As a result, these earnings will not be available to fund new investments. If NMFC or the Operating Company is unable to access the capital markets or if the Operating Company is unable to borrow from financial institutions, the Operating Company may be unable to grow its business and execute its business strategy fully and our earnings, if any, could decrease which could have an adverse effect on the value of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' securities.

If the Operating Company is unable to comply with the covenants or restrictions in the Credit Facilities, our business could be materially adversely affected.

        The Credit Facilities include covenants that, subject to exceptions, among other things, restrict the Operating Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay distributions, create liens on assets, make investments, make acquisitions and engage in mergers or consolidations. The Credit Facilities also include change of control provisions that accelerate the indebtedness under the facility in the event of certain change of control events. Complying with these restrictions may prevent the Operating Company from taking actions that we believe would help it to grow its business or are otherwise consistent with its investment objective. These restrictions could also limit the Operating Company's

31

Table of Contents

ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet extraordinary capital needs or otherwise restrict corporate activities. In addition, the restrictions contained in the Credit Facilities could limit the Operating Company's ability to make distributions to its members in certain circumstances which could result in NMFC and AIV Holdings failing to qualify as RICs and thus becoming subject to corporate-level federal income tax (and any applicable state and local taxes).

        The breach of any of the covenants or restrictions unless cured within the applicable grace period, would result in a default under the respective Credit Facilities that would permit the lender to declare all amounts outstanding to be due and payable. In such an event, the Operating Company may not have sufficient assets to repay such indebtedness. As a result, any default could have serious consequences to our financial condition. An event of default or an acceleration under the Credit Facilities could also cause a cross-default or cross-acceleration of another debt instrument or contractual obligation, which would adversely impact the Operating Company's liquidity. An event of default under the Holdings Credit Facility will trigger an event of default under the SLF Credit Facility. The Operating Company may not be granted waivers or amendments to the Credit Facilities if for any reason it is unable to comply with it, and the Operating Company may not be able to refinance the Credit Facilities on terms acceptable to it, or at all.

The Operating Company may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which are another form of leverage.

        Subject to limitations in the Credit Facilities, the Operating Company may enter into reverse repurchase agreements as part of its management of its investment portfolio. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Operating Company will effectively pledge its assets as collateral to secure a short-term loan. Generally, the other party to the agreement makes the loan in an amount equal to a percentage of the fair value of the pledged collateral. At the maturity of the reverse repurchase agreement, the payor will be required to repay the loan and correspondingly receive back its collateral. While used as collateral, the assets continue to pay principal and interest which are for the benefit of the Operating Company.

        The Operating Company's use of reverse repurchase agreements, if any, involves many of the same risks involved in its use of leverage, as the proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements generally will be invested in additional securities. There is a risk that the market value of the securities acquired with the proceeds of a reverse repurchase agreement may decline below the price of the securities that it has sold but remains obligated to repurchase under the reverse repurchase agreement. In addition, there is a risk that the market value of the securities effectively pledged by the Operating Company may decline. If a buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement were to file for bankruptcy or experience insolvency, the Operating Company may be adversely affected. Also, in entering into reverse repurchase agreements, the Operating Company would bear the risk of loss to the extent that the proceeds of such agreements at settlement are more than the fair value of the underlying securities being pledged. In addition, due to the interest costs associated with reverse repurchase agreements transactions, the Operating Company's net asset value would decline, and, in some cases, we may be worse off than if such instruments had not been used.

If the Operating Company is unable to obtain additional debt financing, or if its borrowing capacity is materially reduced, our business could be materially adversely affected.

        The Operating Company may want to obtain additional debt financing, or need to do so upon maturity of its Credit Facilities, in order to obtain funds which may be made available for investments. The Operating Company is restricted from incurring additional indebtedness under the Credit Facilities without lender consent. The revolving period under the Holdings Credit Facility ends on October 27, 2014, and the Holdings Credit Facility matures on October 27, 2016. The revolving period under the SLF Credit Facility ends on October 27, 2014, and the SLF Credit Facility matures on October 27, 2016. If the Operating Company is unable to increase, renew or replace any such facility and enter into a new debt financing facility or other debt financing on commercially reasonable terms, its liquidity may

32

Table of Contents

be reduced significantly. In addition, if the Operating Company is unable to repay amounts outstanding under any such facilities and is declared in default or is unable to renew or refinance these facilities, it may not be able to make new investments or operate our business in the normal course. These situations may arise due to circumstances that the Operating Company may be unable to control, such as lack of access to the credit markets, a severe decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, a further economic downturn or an operational problem that affects third parties or the Operating Company, and could materially damage the Operating Company's business operations and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' business, results of operations and financial condition.

An extended continuation of the disruption in the capital markets and the credit markets could adversely affect our business.

        As BDCs, NMFC and the Operating Company must maintain its ability to raise additional capital for investment purposes. If NMFC or the Operating Company is unable to access the capital markets or credit markets, the Operating Company may be forced to curtail its business operations and may be unable to pursue new investment opportunities. The capital markets and the credit markets have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods, and, as a result, there has been and will likely continue to be uncertainty in the financial markets in general. Disruptions in the capital markets increased the spread between the yields realized on risk-free and higher risk securities, resulting in illiquidity in parts of the capital markets. In addition, a prolonged period of market illiquidity may cause the Operating Company to reduce the volume of loans it originates and/or funds and adversely affect the value of our portfolio investments. Unfavorable economic conditions could also increase the Operating Company's funding costs, limit its access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to the Operating Company. These events could limit the Operating Company's investment originations, limit its ability to grow and negatively impact our operating results. Ongoing disruptive conditions in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those conditions could restrict the Operating Company's business operations and, consequently, could adversely impact NMFC's and AIV Holdings' business, results of operations and financial condition.

        If the fair value of the Operating Company's assets declines substantially, it may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios imposed upon it by the 1940 Act and contained in its Credit Facilities. Any such failure would affect the Operating Company's ability to issue senior securities, including borrowings, draw on its Credit Facilities and pay distributions, which could materially impair its business operations. The Operating Company's liquidity could be impaired further by NMFC, AIV Holdings or the Operating Company's inability to access the capital or credit markets. For example, we cannot be certain that the Operating Company will be able to renew its credit facilities as they mature or to consummate new borrowing facilities to provide capital for normal operations, including new originations. Reflecting concern about the stability of the financial markets, many lenders and institutional investors have reduced or ceased providing funding to borrowers. This market turmoil and tightening of credit have led to increased market volatility and widespread reduction of business activity generally. In addition, adverse economic conditions due to these disruptive conditions could materially impact the Operating Company's ability to comply with the financial and other covenants in any existing or future credit facilities. If the Operating Company is unable to comply with these covenants, its business could be materially adversely affected, which could, as a result, materially adversely affect NMFC's and AIV Holdings' business, results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in interest rates may affect the Operating Company's cost of capital and net investment income.

        To the extent the Operating Company borrows money to make investments, the Operating Company's net investment income depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which it borrows funds and the rate at which it invests those funds. As a result, a significant change in market interest rates may have a material adverse effect on the Operating Company's net investment income in the event it uses debt to finance its investments. In periods of rising interest rates, the Operating

33

Table of Contents

Company's cost of funds would increase, which could reduce its net investment income. The Operating Company may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit its exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

The incentive fee the Operating Company pays to the Investment Adviser with respect to capital gains may be effectively greater than 20.0%.

        As a result of the operation of the cumulative method of calculating the capital gains portion of the incentive fee the Operating Company pays to the Investment Adviser, the cumulative aggregate capital gains fee received by the Investment Adviser could be effectively greater than 20.0%, depending on the timing and extent of subsequent net realized capital losses or net unrealized depreciation. We cannot predict whether, or to what extent, this payment calculation would affect your investment in NMFC or AIV Holdings' common stock.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR OPERATIONS

Because the Operating Company intends to make distributions to its members that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to obtain and maintain their status as RICs, and because NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to distribute substantially all of their income to their stockholders to obtain and maintain their status as RICs, the Operating Company will continue to need additional capital to finance its growth. If additional funds are unavailable or not available on favorable terms, the Operating Company's ability to grow may be impaired.

        In order for NMFC and AIV Holdings to qualify for the tax benefits available to RICs and to avoid payment of excise taxes, the Operating Company intends to make distributions to its members that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to obtain and maintain their status as RICs, and NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to distribute to their stockholders substantially all of their annual taxable income, except that NMFC may retain certain net capital gains for reinvestment in common membership units of the Operating Company, and treat such amounts as deemed distributions to its stockholders. If NMFC elects to treat any amounts as deemed distributions, NMFC must pay income taxes at the corporate rate on such deemed distributions on behalf of its stockholders. As a result of these requirements, NMFC and the Operating Company may need to raise capital from other sources to grow its business.

        As a BDC, the Operating Company is required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets, less liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to total senior securities, which includes all of the Operating Company's borrowings and any outstanding preferred membership units, of at least 200.0% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50.0% of the value of the Operating Company's total assets or the Operating Company may borrow an amount equal to 100.0% of net assets). The Operating Company consolidates the assets and liabilities of NMF SLF for the purposes of its financial statements and calculating compliance with the 200.0% asset coverage ratio. Since NMFC and AIV Holdings have no assets other than their ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company and have no material long-term liabilities, NMFC and AIV Holdings look to the Operating Company's assets for purposes of satisfying this test. These requirements limit the amount that the Operating Company may borrow. Because the Operating Company continues to need capital to grow its investment portfolio, these limitations may prevent the Operating Company from incurring debt and require NMFC to raise additional equity at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. While we expect the Operating Company will be able to borrow and to issue additional debt securities and expect that NMFC will be able to issue additional equity securities, which would in turn increase the equity capital available to the Operating Company, we cannot assure you that debt and equity financing will be available to the Operating Company on favorable terms, or at all. In addition, as a BDC, NMFC generally is not permitted to issue equity securities priced below net asset value without stockholder approval. AIV Holdings does not intend to raise any additional debt or equity capital. If

34

Table of Contents

additional funds are not available to NMFC or the Operating Company, the Operating Company may be u forced to curtail or cease new investment activities, and the Operating Company's net asset value and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset value, could decline.

Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates is restricted.

        As BDCs, the Companies are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with their respective affiliates without the prior approval of their respective independent directors and, in some cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5.0% or more of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' outstanding voting securities is an affiliate of the Companies for purposes of the 1940 Act. The Companies are generally prohibited from buying or selling any securities (other than their respective securities) from or to an affiliate. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain "joint" transactions with an affiliate, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of independent directors and, in some cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission. If a person acquires more than 25.0% of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' voting securities, the Companies are prohibited from buying or selling any security (other than their respective securities) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission. Similar restrictions limit the Companies' ability to transact business with their respective officers or directors or their affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, the Operating Company may be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to any portfolio company of a private equity fund managed by any affiliate of the Investment Adviser without the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Operating Company.

The Investment Adviser has significant potential conflicts of interest with NMFC, AIV Holdings and the Operating Company and, consequently, your interests as stockholders which could adversely impact our investment returns.

        The Companies' executive officers and directors, as well as the current or future investment professionals of the Investment Adviser, serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do or of investment funds managed by the Companies' affiliates. Accordingly, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in your interests as stockholders. Although we are currently New Mountain Capital's only vehicle focused primarily on investing in the Target Securities, in the future, the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser and/or New Mountain Capital employees that provide services pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement may manage other funds which may from time to time have overlapping investment objectives with our own and, accordingly, may invest in, whether principally or secondarily, asset classes similar to those targeted by us. If this occurs, the Investment Adviser may face conflicts of interest in allocating investment opportunities to the Operating Company and such other funds. Although the investment professionals endeavor to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, it is possible that the Operating Company may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by the Investment Adviser or persons affiliated with the Investment Adviser or that certain of these investment funds may be favored over the Operating Company. When these investment professionals identify an investment, they may be forced to choose which investment fund should make the investment.

        If the Investment Adviser forms other affiliates in the future, the Operating Company may co-invest on a concurrent basis with such other affiliate, subject to compliance with applicable regulations and regulatory guidance or an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Operating Company's allocation procedures. In addition, the Operating Company pays management and incentive fees to the Investment Adviser and reimburses the Investment Adviser for certain expenses it incurs. As a result, investors in NMFC's common stock invest in NMFC and

35

Table of Contents

indirectly in the Operating Company, on a "gross" basis and receive distributions on a "net" basis after NMFC's pro rata share of the Operating Company's expenses. Also, the incentive fee payable to the Investment Adviser may create an incentive for the Investment Adviser to pursue investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangements. Any potential conflict of interest arising as a result of the arrangements with the Investment Adviser could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Investment Committee, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may, from time to time, possess material non-public information, limiting the Operating Company's investment discretion.

        The Investment Adviser's investment professionals, Investment Committee or their respective affiliates may serve as directors of, or in a similar capacity with, companies in which we invest through the Operating Company, the securities of which are purchased or sold on the Operating Company's behalf. In the event that material non-public information is obtained with respect to such companies, or we become subject to trading restrictions under the internal trading policies of those companies or as a result of applicable law or regulations, the Operating Company could be prohibited for a period of time from purchasing or selling the securities of such companies, and this prohibition may have an adverse effect on the Operating Company and, consequently, your interests as stockholders of NMFC and AIV Holdings.

The valuation process for certain of the Operating Company's portfolio holdings creates a conflict of interest.

        Some of the Operating Company's portfolio investments are made in the form of securities that are not publicly traded. As a result, the Operating Company's board of directors determines the fair value of these securities in good faith. In connection with this determination, investment professionals from the Investment Adviser may provide the Operating Company's board of directors with portfolio company valuations based upon the most recent portfolio company financial statements available and projected financial results of each portfolio company. In addition, Steven B. Klinsky, a member of the Companies' board of directors, has an indirect pecuniary interest in the Investment Adviser. The participation of the Investment Adviser's investment professionals in the Operating Company's valuation process, and the indirect pecuniary interest in the Investment Adviser by a member of the Companies' board of directors, could result in a conflict of interest as the Investment Adviser's management fee is based, in part, on the Operating Company's gross assets and incentive fees are based, in part, on unrealized gains and losses.

Conflicts of interest may exist related to other arrangements with the Investment Adviser or its affiliates.

        The Companies have entered into a royalty-free license agreement with New Mountain Capital under which New Mountain Capital has agreed to grant the Companies a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name "New Mountain". In addition, the Operating Company reimburses the Administrator for the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations to the Companies under the Administration Agreement, such as rent and the allocable portion of the cost of the Companies' chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. This could create conflicts of interest that the Operating Company's board of directors must monitor.

The Investment Management Agreement with the Investment Adviser and the Administration Agreement with the Administrator were not negotiated on an arm's length basis.

        The Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement were negotiated between related parties. In addition, the Companies may choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, their respective rights and remedies under these agreements because of their desire to maintain their ongoing relationship with the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and their respective affiliates. Any such decision, however, could cause NMFC and AIV Holdings to breach its fiduciary obligations to its stockholders.

36

Table of Contents

The Investment Adviser's liability is limited under the Investment Management Agreement, and the Operating Company has agreed to indemnify the Investment Adviser against certain liabilities, which may lead the Investment Adviser to act in a riskier manner than it would when acting for its own account.

        Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser does not assume any responsibility other than to render the services called for under that agreement, and it is not responsible for any action of the Operating Company's board of directors in following or declining to follow the Investment Adviser's advice or recommendations. Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser, its officers, members, personnel, any person controlling or controlled by the Investment Adviser are not liable to the Companies, their subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, members or stockholders or any subsidiary's stockholders or partners for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, except those resulting from acts constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of the Investment Adviser's duties under the Investment Management Agreement. In addition, the Operating Company has agreed to indemnify the Investment Adviser and each of its officers, directors, members, managers and employees from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our business and operations or any action taken or omitted pursuant to authority granted by the Investment Management Agreement, except where attributable to gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of such person's duties under the Investment Management Agreement. These protections may lead the Investment Adviser to act in a riskier manner than it would when acting for its own account.

The Investment Adviser can resign upon 60 days' notice, and a suitable replacement may not be found within that time, resulting in disruptions in the Operating Company's operations that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

        Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser has the right to resign at any time upon 60 days' written notice, whether a replacement has been found or not. If the Investment Adviser resigns, the Operating Company may not be able to find a new investment adviser or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 60 days, or at all. If a replacement is not able to be found on a timely basis, our business, results of operations and financial condition and the Operating Company's ability to pay distributions are likely to be materially adversely affected and the market price of NMFC's common stock may decline. In addition, if the Operating Company is unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, the coordination of its internal management and investment activities is likely to suffer. Even if the Operating Company is able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, their integration into the Operating Company's business and lack of familiarity with the Operating Company's investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Administrator can resign upon 60 days notice from its role as Administrator under the Administration Agreement, and a suitable replacement may not be found, resulting in disruptions that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

        The Administrator has the right to resign under the Administration Agreement upon 60 days' written notice, whether a replacement has been found or not. If the Administrator resigns, it may be difficult to find a new administrator or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms, or at all. If a replacement is not found quickly, our business, results of operations and financial condition as well as the Operating Company's ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected and the market price of NMFC's common

37

Table of Contents

stock may decline. In addition, the coordination of the Companies' internal management and administrative activities is likely to suffer if they are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a service provider or individuals with the expertise possessed by the Administrator. Even if a comparable service provider or individuals to perform such services are retained, whether internal or external, their integration into the Operating Company's business and lack of familiarity with the Operating Company's investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If NMFC, AIV Holdings and the Operating Company fail to maintain their status as BDCs, our business and operating flexibility could be significantly reduced.

        The Companies qualify as BDCs under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70.0% of their total assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or thinly-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. Failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the 1940 Act could cause the Securities and Exchange Commission to bring an enforcement action against the Companies and/or expose the Companies to claims of private litigants. In addition, upon approval of a majority of NMFC or AIV Holdings' stockholders, or, in the Operating Company's case, a majority of its members voting on a pass through basis, the Companies may elect to withdraw their respective election as a BDC. If the Companies decide to withdraw their election, or if the Companies otherwise fail to qualify, or maintain their qualification, as BDCs, the Companies may be subject to the substantially greater regulation under the 1940 Act as a closed-end investment company. Compliance with these regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility and could significantly increase our cost of doing business.

If the Operating Company does not invest a sufficient portion of its assets in qualifying assets, it could be precluded from investing in certain assets or could be required to dispose of certain assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        As a BDC, the Operating Company is prohibited from acquiring any assets other than "qualifying assets" unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70.0% of our total assets are qualifying assets. We may acquire in the future other investments that are not "qualifying assets" to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. If the Operating Company does not invest a sufficient portion of its assets in qualifying assets, it would be prohibited from investing in additional assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, these rules could prevent the Operating Company from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of its position) or could require the Operating Company to dispose of investments at inopportune times in order to come into compliance with the 1940 Act. If the Operating Company needs to dispose of these investments quickly, it may be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. For example, the Operating Company may have difficulty in finding a buyer and, even if a buyer is found, it may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss.

The Operating Company's ability to invest in public companies may be limited in certain circumstances.

        To maintain the Operating Company's status, and consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' status as BDCs, the Operating Company is not permitted to acquire any assets other than "qualifying assets" specified in the 1940 Act unless, at the time the acquisition is made, at least 70.0% of its total assets are qualifying assets (with certain limited exceptions). Subject to certain exceptions for follow-on investments and distressed companies, an investment in an issuer that has outstanding securities listed

38

Table of Contents

on a national securities exchange may be treated as qualifying assets only if such issuer has a common equity market capitalization that is less than $250.0 million at the time of such investment.

Regulations governing the operations of BDCs will affect NMFC's ability to raise additional equity capital as well as the Operating Company's ability to issue senior securities or borrow for investment purposes, any or all of which could have a negative effect on our investment objectives and strategies.

        The Operating Company's business requires a substantial amount of capital. The Operating Company may acquire additional capital from the issuance of senior securities, including borrowing or other indebtedness. In addition, NMFC may also issue additional equity capital, which would in turn increase the equity capital available to the Operating Company. Under the 1940 Act, NMFC is not permitted to own any other securities other than common membership units of the Operating Company. As a result, any proceeds from offerings of NMFC's equity securities would be contributed to the Operating Company and subsequently used by the Operating Company for investment purposes. However, NMFC and the Operating Company may not be able to raise additional capital in the future on favorable terms or at all.

        The Operating Company may issue debt securities, other evidences of indebtedness or preferred membership units, and it may borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, which we refer to collectively as "senior securities", up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act permits the Operating Company to issue senior securities in amounts such that its asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200.0% after each issuance of senior securities. The Operating Company consolidates the assets and liabilities of NMF SLF for purposes of its financial statements and calculating compliance with the 200.0% asset coverage ratio. If the Operating Company's asset coverage ratio is not at least 200.0%, it would be unable to issue senior securities, and if it had senior securities outstanding (other than any indebtedness issued in consideration of a privately arranged loan, such as any indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities), it would be unable to make distributions to its members and, consequently, NMFC and AIV Holdings would be unable to pay dividends. However, at December 31, 2012, the only senior securities outstanding were indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and therefore at December 31, 2012, the Operating Company would not have been precluded from paying distributions. If the value of the Operating Company's or NMF SLF's assets declines, the Operating Company may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, the Operating Company or NMF SLF may be required to liquidate a portion of its investments and repay a portion of its indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.

        The Holdings Credit Facility matures on October 27, 2016 and permits borrowings of $210.0 million as of December 31, 2012. The Holdings Credit Facility had $206.9 million in debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The SLF Credit Facility matures on October 27, 2016 and permits borrowings of $215.0 million as of December 31, 2012. The SLF Credit Facility had $214.3 million in debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012.

        In addition, the Operating Company may in the future seek to securitize other portfolio securities to generate cash for funding new investments. To securitize loans, the Operating Company would likely create a wholly-owned subsidiary and contribute a pool of loans to the subsidiary. The Operating Company would then sell interests in the subsidiary on a non-recourse basis to purchasers and it would retain all or a portion of the equity in the subsidiary. If the Operating Company is unable to successfully securitize its loan portfolio, which must be done in compliance with the relevant restrictions in the Credit Facilities, its ability to grow its business or fully execute its business strategy could be impaired and our earnings, if any, could decrease. The securitization market is subject to changing market conditions and the Operating Company may not be able to access this market when it would otherwise deem appropriate. Moreover, the successful securitization of the Operating Company's portfolio might expose the Operating Company to losses as the residual investments in which it does

39

Table of Contents

not sell interests will tend to be those that are riskier and more apt to generate losses. The 1940 Act also may impose restrictions on the structure of any securitization.

        NMFC may also obtain capital for use by the Operating Company through the issuance of additional equity capital, which would in turn increase the equity capital available to the Operating Company. As a BDC, NMFC generally is not able to issue or sell its common stock at a price below net asset value per share. If NMFC's common stock trades at a discount to its net asset value per share, this restriction could adversely affect its ability to raise equity capital. NMFC may, however, sell its common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire its common stock, at a price below its net asset value per share of the common stock if its board of directors and independent directors determine that such sale is in its best interests and the best interests of its stockholders, and its stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which NMFC's securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of NMFC's board of directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any underwriting commission or discount). If NMFC raises additional funds by issuing more shares of its common stock or if the Operating Company issues senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, NMFC's common stock, the percentage ownership of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' stockholders may decline and you may experience dilution. Any proceeds from the issuance of additional shares of NMFC's common stock would be contributed to the Operating Company and used to purchase, on a one-for-one basis, additional common membership units of the Operating Company.

The Operating Company's business model in the future may depend to an extent upon our referral relationships with private equity sponsors, and the inability of the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect its business strategy.

        If the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser fail to maintain existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sponsors or sources of investment opportunities, the Operating Company may not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser have relationships are not obligated to provide the Operating Company with investment opportunities, and, therefore, there is no assurance that any relationships they currently or may in the future have will generate investment opportunities for the Operating Company.

We may experience fluctuations in our annual and quarterly results due to the nature of our business.

        We could experience fluctuations in our annual and quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the ability or inability of the Operating Company to make investments in companies that meet its investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities acquired and the default rate on such securities, the level of the Operating Company's expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which the Operating Company encounters competition in the markets in which it operates and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

The Operating Company's board of directors may change its investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or member approval, the effects of which may be adverse to your interest as a stockholder.

        The Operating Company's board of directors has the authority, except as otherwise provided in the 1940 Act, to modify or waive certain of its operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without member approval. As a result, the Operating Company's board of directors may be able to change its investment policies and objectives without any input from NMFC's and AIV Holdings'

40

Table of Contents

stockholders. However, absent member approval, voting on a pass through basis, the Operating Company may not change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a BDC. Under Delaware law and the Operating Company's Limited Liability Company Agreement, the Operating Company also cannot be dissolved without prior member approval, voting on a pass through basis. We cannot predict the effect any changes to the Operating Company's current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results and the market price of NMFC's common stock. Nevertheless, any such changes could adversely affect our business and impair the Operating Company's ability to make distributions to its members, and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' ability to make distributions to its stockholders.

NMFC and AIV Holdings will be subject to corporate-level federal income tax on all of their respective income if they are unable to maintain RIC status under Subchapter M of the Code, which would have a material adverse effect on their respective financial performance.

        Although NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to continue to qualify annually as RICs under Subchapter M of the Code, no assurance can be given that NMFC and AIV Holdings will be able to maintain their RIC status. To maintain RIC status and be relieved of federal income taxes on income and gains distributed to their stockholders, NMFC and AIV Holdings must meet the annual distribution, source-of-income and asset diversification requirements described below. However, NMFC and AIV Holdings have no assets, other than their direct ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company, and no source of cash flow, other than distributions from the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings are not permitted to conduct any business or ventures, other than in connection with the acquisition, ownership or disposition of common membership units of the Operating Company and its operation as a public reporting company. Accordingly, NMFC and AIV Holdings look to the assets and income of the Operating Company, and rely on the distributions made by the Operating Company to their members, for purposes of satisfying these requirements.

•

The annual distribution requirement for a RIC will be satisfied if NMFC and AIV Holdings distribute to their stockholders on an annual basis at least 90.0% of their net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Because the Operating Company and NMF SLF use debt financing, the Operating Company is subject to an asset coverage ratio requirement under the 1940 Act, and the Operating Company and NMF SLF are subject to certain financial covenants contained in the Credit Facilities and other debt financing agreements (as applicable). This asset coverage ratio requirement and these financial covenants could, under certain circumstances, restrict NMF SLF from making distributions to the Operating Company, and/or restrict the Operating Company from making distributions to its members, which distributions are necessary for NMFC and AIV Holdings to satisfy the distribution requirement. If the Operating Company is unable to obtain cash from other sources, and thus is unable to make sufficient distributions to its members, NMFC and AIV Holdings could fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level federal income tax (and any applicable state and local taxes).



•

The source-of-income requirement will be satisfied if at least 90.0% of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' allocable share of the Operating Company's gross income for each year is derived from dividends, interest, gains from the sale of stock or securities or similar sources.



•

The asset diversification requirement will be satisfied if NMFC and AIV Holdings meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of its taxable year. To satisfy this requirement, at least 50.0% of the value of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' assets must consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other acceptable securities; and no more than 25.0% of the value of NMFC's or AIV Holdings' assets can be invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer, of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable Code

41

Table of Contents

rules, by it and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or of certain "qualified publicly traded partnerships". Failure to meet these requirements may result in the Operating Company having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' RIC status. Because most of the Operating Company's investments are intended to be in private companies, and therefore may be relatively illiquid, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses.

        Although there is no authority directly applicable to NMFC and AIV Holdings and thus the matter is not free from doubt, it is expected that NMFC and AIV Holdings is treated as if they directly invested in their pro rata share of the Operating Company's assets for purposes of satisfying the asset diversification requirement. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not successfully assert that NMFC and AIV Holdings do not meet the asset diversification requirement because they are unable to look to the Operating Company's assets for purpose of that requirement. In that case, NMFC and AIV Holdings would fail to qualify as RICs and thus become subject to corporate-level federal income tax (and any applicable state and local taxes).

        If NMFC and AIV Holdings fail to qualify for or maintain their RIC status for any reason, and NMFC and AIV Holdings do not qualify for certain relief provisions under the Code, NMFC and AIV Holdings would be subject to corporate-level federal income tax (and any applicable state and local taxes). In this event, the resulting taxes could substantially reduce NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of its distributions, which would have a material adverse effect on its financial performance.

You may have current tax liabilities on distributions you reinvest in common stock of NMFC.

        Under the dividend reinvestment plan, if you own shares of common stock of NMFC registered in your own name, you will have all cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock of NMFC unless you opt out of the dividend reinvestment plan by delivering notice by phone, internet or in writing to the plan administrator at least three days prior to the payment date of the next dividend or distribution. If you have not "opted out" of the dividend reinvestment plan, you will be deemed to have received, and for federal income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in common stock of NMFC to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your federal income tax liability on the value of the common stock received.

NMFC and AIV Holdings may not be able to pay you distributions on their common stock, their distributions to you may not grow over time and a portion of their distributions to you may be a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to pay quarterly distributions to their stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will continue to achieve investment results that will allow NMFC to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. If the Operating Company is unable to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to it as a BDC, or if it violates certain covenants under the Credit Facilities, the Operating Company's ability to pay distributions to its members could be limited, thereby limiting NMFC's and AIV Holdings' ability to pay distributions to their stockholders. All distributions are paid at the discretion of the Operating Company's board of directors and depend on its earnings, financial condition, maintenance of NMFC and AIV Holdings RIC status, compliance with applicable BDC regulations, compliance with covenants under the Credit Facilities, and such other factors as the Operating Company's board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. The distributions NMFC and AIV Holdings pay to their stockholders in a year may exceed its taxable income for that year and, accordingly, a portion of such distributions may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

42

Table of Contents

        In addition, because NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies, NMFC and AIV Holdings are only able to pay distributions on their common stock from distributions received from the Operating Company. The Operating Company intends to make distributions to its members that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to pay quarterly distributions to their stockholders and to obtain and maintain their status as RICs. However, there can be no assurances that the Operating Company will make distributions to its members in the future. Accordingly, NMFC and AIV Holdings cannot assure you that they will pay distributions to you in the future.

NMFC and AIV Holdings may have difficulty paying their required distributions if the Operating Company recognizes taxable income before or without receiving cash representing such income.

        For federal income tax purposes, NMFC and AIV Holdings include in their taxable income their allocable share of certain amounts that the Operating Company has not yet received in cash, such as original issue discount or accruals on a contingent payment debt instrument, which may occur if the Operating Company receives warrants in connection with the origination of a loan or possibly in other circumstances or contracted PIK interest, which generally represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. NMFC and AIV Holdings allocable share of such original issue discount and PIK interest are included in NMFC and AIV Holdings taxable income before the Operating Company receives any corresponding cash payments. NMFC and AIV Holdings also may be required to include in their taxable income their allocable share of certain other amounts that the Operating Company will not receive in cash.

        Because in certain cases the Operating Company may recognize taxable income before or without receiving cash representing such income, the Operating Company may have difficulty making distributions to the Operating Company's members that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to meet the annual distribution requirement necessary for NMFC and AIV Holdings to qualify as RICs. Accordingly, the Operating Company may need to sell some of its assets at times and/or at prices that it would not consider advantageous, NMFC or the Operating Company may need to raise additional equity or debt capital, or the Operating Company may need to forego new investment opportunities or otherwise take actions that are disadvantageous to its business (or be unable to take actions that are advantageous to its business) to enable the Operating Company to make distributions to its members that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to meet the annual distribution requirement. If NMFC or the Operating Company are unable to obtain cash from other sources to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to meet the annual distribution requirement, NMFC and AIV Holdings may fail to qualify for the federal income tax benefits allowable to RICs and, thus, become subject to a corporate-level federal income tax (and any applicable state and local taxes).

        It is expected that, if the Operating Company does not make cash distributions to AIV Holdings in amounts sufficient for AIV Holdings to meet the annual distribution requirement necessary for AIV Holdings to qualify as a RIC, Guardian AIV would consent to be treated as if it received distributions from AIV Holdings sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirement necessary for AIV Holdings to qualify as a RIC. This would result in phantom (i.e. non-cash) taxable income to Guardian AIV.

Changes in laws or regulations governing the Operating Company's operations may adversely affect our business or cause the Operating Company to alter its business strategy.

        Changes in the laws or regulations or the interpretations of the laws and regulations that govern BDCs, RICs or non-depository commercial lenders could significantly affect our operations and our cost of doing business. The Companies and the Operating Company's portfolio companies are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, including with respect to the types of investments the Operating Company is permitted to make, and your interest as a stockholder potentially with retroactive effect. In addition, any changes to the laws

43

Table of Contents

and regulations governing the Operating Company's operations relating to permitted investments may cause the Operating Company to alter its investment strategy in order to avail itself of new or different opportunities. These changes could result in material changes to the strategies and plans set forth in this prospectus and may result in the Operating Company's investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of the Investment Adviser to other types of investments in which the Investment Adviser may have less expertise or little or no experience. Any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, the value of your investment in us.

        On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or Dodd-Frank, became law. The scope of Dodd-Frank impacts many aspects of the financial services industry, and it requires the development and adoption of many implementing regulations over the next several months and years. The effects of Dodd-Frank on the financial services industry will depend upon the timing and substance of regulations adopted by the various regulatory authorities to implement Dodd-Frank.

The affect of global climate change may impact the operations of the Operating Company's portfolio companies.

        There may be evidence of global climate change. Climate change creates physical and financial risk and some of the Operating Company's portfolio companies may be adversely affected by climate change. For example, the needs of customers of energy companies vary with weather conditions, primarily temperature and humidity. To the extent weather conditions are affected by climate change, energy use could increase or decrease depending on the duration and magnitude of any changes. Increases in the cost of energy could adversely affect the cost of operations of the Operating Company's portfolio companies if the use of energy products or services is material to their business. A decrease in energy use due to weather changes may affect some of the Operating Company's portfolio companies' financial condition, through decreased revenues. Extreme weather conditions in general require more system backup, adding to costs, and can contribute to increased system stresses, including service interruptions.

Pending legislation may allow the Operating Company to incur additional leverage.

        As a BDC, under the 1940 Act the Operating Company generally is not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after such borrowing the Operating Company has an asset coverage for total borrowings of at least 200.0% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50.0% of the value of the Operating Company's total assets or the Operating Company may borrow an amount equal to 100.0% of net assets). Recent legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, if passed, would modify this section of the 1940 Act and increase the amount of debt that BDCs may incur by modifying the percentage from 200.0% to 150.0%. As a result, the Operating Company may be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future and therefore your risk of an investment in NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stock may increase.

NMFC incurs significant costs as a result of being a publicly traded company.

        As a publicly traded company, NMFC incurs legal, accounting and other expenses, which are paid by the Operating Company, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, or the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act", and other rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

44

Table of Contents

Efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act involve significant expenditures, and non-compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may adversely affect NMFC and the market price of NMFC's common stock.

        The Companies are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the related rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under current Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the Operating Company's management is required to report on their internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. The Companies are required to review on an annual basis their respective internal control over financial reporting, and on a quarterly and annual basis to evaluate and disclose changes in our respective internal control over financial reporting. As a result, the Companies may incur significant additional expenses in the near term, which may negatively impact the Operating Company's financial performance and the Operating Company's ability to make distributions to its members and, consequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' ability to make distributions to their stockholders. This process also may result in a diversion of management's time and attention. We cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of any evaluation, testing and remediation actions or the impact of the same on our operations and neither of the Companies may be able to ensure that the process is effective or that our internal control over financial reporting is or will be effective in a timely manner. In the event that the Companies are unable to maintain or achieve compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules, the Operating Company and, consequently, the market price of NMFC and AIV Holdings common stock may be adversely affected.

The Operating Company's business is highly dependent on information systems and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stock and its ability to pay dividends.

        The Operating Company's business is highly dependent on the communications and information systems of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. Any failure or interruption of such systems could cause delays or other problems in the Operating Company's activities. This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the Operating Company's operating results and, consequently, negatively affect the market price of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' common stock and their ability to pay dividends to their stockholders. In addition, because many of the Operating Company's portfolio companies operate and rely on network infrastructure and enterprise applications and internal technology systems for development, marketing, operational, support and other business activities, a disruption or failure of any or all of these systems in the event of a major telecommunications failure, cyber-attack, fire, earthquake, severe weather conditions or other catastrophic event could cause system interruptions, delays in product development and loss of critical data and could otherwise disrupt their business operations.

RISKS RELATING TO THE OPERATING COMPANY'S INVESTMENTS

The Operating Company's investments in portfolio companies may be risky, and the Operating Company could lose all or part of its investment.

        Investing in middle-market businesses involves a number of significant risks. Among other things, these companies:

•

may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt instruments that the Operating Company holds, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of the Operating Company realizing any guarantees from subsidiaries or affiliates of its portfolio companies that the Operating Company may have obtained in connection with its investment, as well as a corresponding decrease in the value of any equity components of its investments;

45

Table of Contents

•

may have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines, smaller market shares and/or more significant customer concentrations than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors' actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;



•

are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on the Operating Company's portfolio company and, in turn, on us;



•

generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence;



•

may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position; and



•

generally have less publicly available information about their businesses, operations and financial condition.

        In addition, in the course of providing significant managerial assistance to certain of the Operating Company's portfolio companies, certain of the Operating Company's officers and directors may serve as directors on the boards of such companies. To the extent that litigation arises out of the Operating Company's investments in these companies, the Operating Company's officers and directors may be named as defendants in such litigation, which could result in an expenditure of funds (through the Operating Company's indemnification of such officers and directors) and the diversion of management time and resources.

The Operating Company's investment strategy, which is focused primarily on privately held companies, presents certain challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies.

        The Operating Company invests primarily in privately held companies. There is generally little public information about these companies, and, as a result, the Operating Company must rely on the ability of the Investment Adviser to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from, and risks related to, investing in these companies. If the Operating Company is unable to uncover all material information about these companies, it may not make a fully informed investment decision, and it may lose money on its investments. Also, privately held companies frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than larger competitors. They are, thus, generally more vulnerable to economic downturns and may experience substantial variations in operating results. These factors could adversely affect the Operating Company's investment returns.

If the Operating Company makes unsecured investments, those investments might not generate sufficient cash flow to service their debt obligations to the Operating Company.

        The Operating Company may make unsecured investments. Unsecured investments may be subordinated to other obligations of the obligor. Unsecured investments often reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the obligor or general economic conditions (including, for example, a substantial period of rising interest rates or declining earnings) or both may impair the ability of the obligor to make payment of principal and interest. If the Operating Company makes an unsecured investment in a portfolio company, that portfolio company may be highly leveraged, and its relatively high debt-to-equity ratio may increase the risk that its operations might not generate sufficient cash to service its debt obligations.

46

Table of Contents

If the Operating Company invests in the securities and obligations of distressed and bankrupt issuers, it might not receive interest or other payments.

        From time to time, the Operating Company may invest in other types of investments which are not its primary focus, including investments in the securities and obligations of distressed and bankrupt issuers, including debt obligations that are in covenant or payment default. Such investments generally are considered speculative. The repayment of defaulted obligations is subject to significant uncertainties. Defaulted obligations might be repaid only after lengthy workout or bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer of those obligations might not make any interest or other payments.

The lack of liquidity in the Operating Company's investments may adversely affect our business.

        The Operating Company invests, and will continue to invest, in companies whose securities are not publicly traded and whose securities will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for the Operating Company to sell these investments when desired. In addition, if the Operating Company is required or otherwise chooses to liquidate all or a portion of its portfolio quickly, it may realize significantly less than the value at which it had previously recorded these investments. The Operating Company's investments are usually subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid because there is usually no established trading market for such investments. Because most of the Operating Company's investments are illiquid, the Operating Company may be unable to dispose of them in which case NMFC or AIV Holdings could fail to qualify as a RIC and/or BDC, or the Operating Company may be unable to do so at a favorable price, and, as a result, the Operating Company, NMFC and AIV Holdings may suffer losses.

Price declines and illiquidity in the corporate debt markets may adversely affect the fair value of the Operating Company's portfolio investments, reducing the Operating Company's net asset value through increased net unrealized depreciation.

        As a BDC, the Operating Company is required to carry its investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at fair value as determined in good faith by its board of directors. Because NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their only business and sole asset are their ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset value will be based on the Operating Company's valuation of its investments and their respective percentage interest in the Operating Company. As part of the valuation process, the Operating Company may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of its investments:

•

a comparison of the portfolio company's securities to publicly traded securities;



•

the enterprise value of a portfolio company;



•

the nature and realizable value of any collateral;



•

the portfolio company's ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow;



•

the markets in which the portfolio company does business; and



•

changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets generally that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future and other relevant factors.

        When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent sale occurs, the Operating Company will use the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate its valuation.

47

Table of Contents

The Operating Company will record decreases in the market values or fair values of its investments as unrealized depreciation. Declines in prices and liquidity in the corporate debt markets may result in significant net unrealized depreciation in its portfolio. The effect of all of these factors on the Operating Company's portfolio may reduce the Operating Company's net asset value, and, indirectly, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' net asset value based on their respective percentage interest in the Operating Company, by increasing net unrealized depreciation in the Operating Company's portfolio. Depending on market conditions, the Operating Company could incur substantial realized losses and may suffer additional unrealized losses in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

If the Operating Company is unable to make follow-on investments in its portfolio companies, the value of the Operating Company's investment portfolio could be adversely affected.

        Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, the Operating Company may make additional investments in that portfolio company as "follow-on" investments, in order to (i) increase or maintain in whole or in part its equity ownership percentage, (ii) exercise warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing or (iii) attempt to preserve or enhance the value of its investment. The Operating Company may elect not to make follow-on investments or may otherwise lack sufficient funds to make these investments. The Operating Company has the discretion to make follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources. If the Operating Company fails to make follow-on investments, the continued viability of a portfolio company and its investment may, in some circumstances, be jeopardized and we could miss an opportunity for the Operating Company to increase its participation in a successful operation. Even if the Operating Company has sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, it may elect not to make a follow-on investment because it may not want to increase its concentration of risk, either because it prefers other opportunities or because it is subject to BDC requirements that would prevent such follow-on investments or such follow-on investments would adversely impact NMFC's and AIV Holdings' ability to maintain their respective RIC status.

The Operating Company's portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, its investments in such companies.

        The Operating Company invests in portfolio companies at all levels of the capital structure. The Operating Company's portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt in which the Operating Company invests. By their terms, these debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which the Operating Company is entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which it invests. In addition, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to the Operating Company's investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before it receives any distribution. After repaying the senior creditors, the portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to the Operating Company. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which the Operating Company invests, it would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.

The disposition of the Operating Company's investments may result in contingent liabilities.

        Most of the Operating Company's investments will involve private securities. In connection with the disposition of an investment in private securities, the Operating Company may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of the portfolio company typical of those made

48

Table of Contents

in connection with the sale of a business. The Operating Company may also be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations turn out to be inaccurate or with respect to certain potential liabilities. These arrangements may result in contingent liabilities that ultimately yield funding obligations that must be satisfied through the Operating Company's return of certain distributions previously made to it.

There may be circumstances where our debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or the Operating Company could be subject to lender liability claims.

        Even though the Operating Company may have structured certain of its investments as senior loans, if one of its portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which the Operating Company actually provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize its debt investment and subordinate all or a portion of the Operating Company's claim to that of other creditors. The Operating Company may also be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by it with respect to a borrower's business or instances where it exercises control over the borrower. It is possible that the Operating Company could become subject to a lender's liability claim, including as a result of actions taken in rendering significant managerial assistance.

Second priority liens on collateral securing loans that the Operating Company makes to its portfolio companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and the Operating Company.

        Certain loans to portfolio companies will be secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing senior secured debt of such companies. The first priority liens on the collateral will secure the portfolio company's obligations under any outstanding senior debt and may secure certain other future debt that may be permitted to be incurred by the portfolio company under the agreements governing the loans. The holders of obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral will generally control the liquidation of and be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of the collateral to repay their obligations in full before the Operating Company. In addition, the value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from the sale or sales of all of the collateral would be sufficient to satisfy the loan obligations secured by the second priority liens after payment in full of all obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral. If such proceeds are not sufficient to repay amounts outstanding under the loan obligations secured by the second priority liens, then the Operating Company, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, will only have an unsecured claim against the portfolio company's remaining assets, if any.

        The rights the Operating Company may have with respect to the collateral securing the loans it makes to its portfolio companies with senior debt outstanding may also be limited pursuant to the terms of one or more intercreditor agreements entered into with the holders of first priority senior debt. Under an intercreditor agreement, at any time that obligations that have the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any of the following actions that may be taken in respect of the collateral will be at the direction of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens: the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against the collateral, the ability to control the conduct of such proceedings, the approval of amendments to collateral documents; releases of liens on the collateral and waivers of past defaults under collateral documents. The Operating Company may not have the ability to control or direct these actions, even if its rights are adversely affected.

49

Table of Contents

The Operating Company generally does not control its portfolio companies.

        The Operating Company does not, and does not expect to, control most of its portfolio companies, even though the Operating Company may have board representation or board observation rights, and its debt agreements may contain certain restrictive covenants that limit the business and operations of its portfolio companies. As a result, the Operating Company is subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which the Operating Company disagrees and the management of such company, in which the Operating Company invests as representatives of the holders of their common equity, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve the Operating Company's interests as debt investors. Due to the lack of liquidity of the investments that the Operating Company typically holds in its portfolio companies, it may not be able to dispose of its investments in the event that the Operating Company disagrees with the actions of a portfolio company as readily as it would otherwise like to or at favorable prices which could decrease the value of its investments.

Economic recessions, downturns or government spending cuts could impair the Operating Company's portfolio companies and harm its operating results.

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

        In addition, levels of the U.S. government's spending in future periods are very difficult to predict and subject to significant risks. Significant budgetary constraints may result in further reductions to projected spending levels. In particular, U.S. government expenditures are subject to the potential for automatic reductions, generally referred to as "sequestration". Sequestration, which is in the process of being implemented, is expected to result in significant additional reductions to spending by the U.S. government on both existing and new contracts as well as disruption of ongoing programs. Also, we expect that budgetary constraints and ongoing concerns regarding the U.S. national debt will continue to place downward pressure on U.S. government spending levels. Due to these and other factors, overall U.S. government spending could decline, which could result in significant reductions to the revenues, cash flow and profits of the Operating Company's portfolio companies.

Defaults by the Operating Company's portfolio companies may harm its operating results.

        A portfolio company's failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by the Operating Company or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company's ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that the Operating Company holds.

        The Operating Company may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company. In addition, lenders in certain cases can be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by them when they become too involved in the borrower's business or exercise

50

Table of Contents

control over a borrower. It is possible that the Operating Company could become subject to a lender's liability claim, including as a result of actions taken if it renders significant managerial assistance to the borrower. Furthermore, if one of the Operating Company's portfolio companies were to file for bankruptcy protection, even though the Operating Company may have structured its investment as senior secured debt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which the Operating Company provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize its debt holding and subordinate all or a portion of the Operating Company's claim to claims of other creditors.

Prepayments of the Operating Company's debt investments by its portfolio companies could adversely impact the Operating Company's results of operations and reduce its return on equity.

        The Operating Company is subject to the risk that the investments it makes in its portfolio companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, subject to maintenance of NMFC's and AIV Holdings' RIC status, the Operating Company will generally 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 being prepaid and the Operating Company could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, the Operating Company's results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of its portfolio companies elect to prepay amounts owed to the Operating Company. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact the Operating Company's return on equity, which could result in a decline in the market price of NMFC's common stock.

The Operating Company may not realize gains from its equity investments.

        When the Operating Company invests in portfolio companies, it may acquire warrants or other equity securities of portfolio companies as well. The Operating Company may also invest in equity securities directly. To the extent the Operating Company holds equity investments, it will attempt to dispose of them and realize gains upon its disposition of them. However, the equity interests the Operating Company receives may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. As a result, the Operating Company may not be able to realize gains from its equity interests, and any gains that it does realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses it experiences. The Operating Company also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow the Operating Company to sell the underlying equity interests.

The performance of the Operating Company's portfolio companies may differ from its historical performance as its investment strategy will include primary originations in addition to secondary market purchases.

        Historically, the Operating Company's investment strategy consisted primarily of secondary market purchases in debt securities. The Operating Company recently adjusted its investment strategy to also include primary originations. While loans the Operating Company originates and loans its purchases in the secondary market face many of the same risks associated with the financing of leveraged companies, the Operating Company may be exposed to different risks depending on specific business considerations for secondary market purchases or origination of loans. As a result, this strategy may result in different returns from these investments than the types of returns it has historically experienced from secondary market purchases of debt securities.

51

Table of Contents

The Operating Company may be subject to additional risks if it invests in foreign securities and/or engage in hedging transactions.

        The 1940 Act generally requires that 70.0% of the Operating Company's investments be in issuers each of whom is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or any other possession of the U.S. The Operating Company's investment strategy does not presently contemplate significant investments in securities of non-U.S. companies. However, the Operating Company may desire to make such investments in the future, to the extent that such transactions and investments are permitted under the 1940 Act. The Operating Company expects that these investments would focus on the same types of investments that it makes in U.S. middle-market companies and accordingly would be complementary to its overall strategy and enhance the diversity of its holdings. Investing in foreign companies could expose the Operating Company to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the U.S., higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility. Investments denominated in foreign currencies would be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation and political developments. The Operating Company may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but it can offer no assurance that it will, in fact, hedge currency risk, or that if it does, such strategies will be effective.

        Engaging in hedging transactions would also, indirectly, entail additional risks to NMFC and AIV Holdings stockholders. Although it is not currently anticipated that the Operating Company would engage in hedging transactions as a principal investment strategy, if the Operating Company determined to engage in hedging transactions it generally would seek to hedge against fluctuations of the relative values of its portfolio positions from changes in market interest rates or currency exchange rates. Hedging against a decline in the values of the Operating Company's portfolio positions would not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of the positions declined. However, such hedging could establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions.

        These hedging transactions could also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions increased. Moreover, it might not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that was so generally anticipated that the Operating Company would not be able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price. If the Operating Company chooses to engage in hedging transactions, there can be no assurances that the Operating Company will achieve the intended benefits of such transactions and, depending on the degree of exposure such transactions could create, such transactions may expose the Operating Company and, indirectly, NMFC and AIV Holdings to risk of loss.

        While the Operating Company may enter into these types of transactions to seek to reduce currency exchange rate and interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in currency exchange rates or interest rates could result in poorer overall investment performance than if it had not engaged in any such hedging transactions. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio positions being hedged could vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, the Operating Company might not seek to establish a perfect correlation between the hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any imperfect correlation could prevent the Operating Company from achieving the intended hedge and

52

Table of Contents

expose the Operating Company, NMFC and AIV Holdings to risk of loss. In addition, it might not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies because the value of those securities would likely fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR CORPORATE STRUCTURE

NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and will depend on distributions from the Operating Company to meet their ongoing obligations.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their only business and sole asset are their respective direct ownership of common membership units of the Operating Company. As a result, all investment decisions relating to the Operating Company's portfolio will be made by the Investment Adviser under the supervision of the Operating Company's board of directors, which may be different from NMFC's or AIV Holdings' board of directors. Although the Operating Company's Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement provides that in accordance with the 1940 Act and to the extent required thereby, NMFC and AIV Holdings will "pass through" their respective votes on all matters subject to a member vote, including with respect to the election of the Operating Company's directors, NMFC and AIV Holdings will not, and indirectly, the stockholders of NMFC and AIV Holdings will not, have any control over the Operating Company's day-to-day operations and investment decisions.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings also do not have any independent ability to generate revenue, and their only sources of cash flow from operations are distributions from the Operating Company. Consequently, NMFC and AIV Holdings rely on the Operating Company to cover the expenses of their day-to-day business, including expenses incident to NMFC's status as a public company. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Operating Company will reimburse the Administrator for NMFC's and AIV Holdings' allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations to NMFC and AIV Holdings under the Administration Agreement. However, if the Operating Company cannot or does not make the payments required pursuant to the Administration Agreement, NMFC and AIV Holdings may be unable to cover these expenses.

        In addition, since NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies, their ability to pay distributions to their stockholders depends on the prior distribution from the Operating Company of cash in an amount sufficient to pay quarterly distributions and to obtain and maintain their statuses as RICs. The distribution of cash flows by the Operating Company to NMFC and AIV Holdings is subject to statutory restrictions under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, the 1940 Act and contractual restrictions under the Credit Facilities or any other debt financing facility that may limit the Operating Company's or NMF SLF's ability to make distributions. In addition, any distributions and payments of fees or costs will be based upon the Operating Company's financial performance. Any distributions of cash will be made on a pro rata basis to all of the Operating Company's members, including NMFC and Guardian AIV, indirectly, through AIV Holdings, in accordance with each holders' respective percentage interest.

New Mountain Capital or its affiliates may have interests that differ from your interests as stockholders of NMFC.

        Guardian AIV indirectly owns, through AIV Holdings, approximately 40.0% of the common membership units of the Operating Company as of December 31, 2012. New Mountain Capital's interests, the interests of the partners in Guardian AIV and the interests of those persons affiliated with New Mountain Capital that participated in the Concurrent Private Placement may differ from, or conflict with, your interests as stockholders of NMFC. For example, conflicts arising under the Registration Rights Agreement will be resolved as set forth therein. Under the Registration Rights

53

Table of Contents

Agreement, AIV Holdings and the Operating Company's Chairman and a related entity will have priority over NMFC or any other NMFC stockholder when selling any shares of NMFC common stock pursuant to their exercise of registration rights under that agreement.

        Circumstances may arise in the future when the interests of the Operating Company's members conflict with the interests of NMFC's stockholders. The Operating Company's board of directors and the board of directors of NMFC are comprised of the same members. However, the Operating Company's board of directors owes fiduciary duties to its members that could conflict with the fiduciary duties NMFC's board of directors owes to its stockholders.

Any future exchange by AIV Holdings of units of the Operating Company for shares of NMFC's common stock would significantly dilute the voting power of NMFC's current stockholders with respect to the election of NMFC directors or other matters that require the approval of NMFC stockholders only. In addition, the interests of the partners of Guardian AIV following such exchange by AIV Holdings may be adverse to the interests of NMFC's stockholders and could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including any change of control.

        Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Company's Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement, AIV Holdings will have the right to exchange its units for shares of NMFC's common stock on a one-for-one basis at anytime. Guardian AIV indirectly owns, through AIV Holdings, approximately 40.0% of the units of the Operating Company as of December 31, 2012. If AIV Holdings exercised its exchange rights with respect to a significant number of units, the voting power of NMFC's stockholders would be significantly diluted. As a result, Guardian AIV, indirectly through AIV Holdings, would retain significant influence over decisions that require the approval of NMFC's stockholders exclusively (such as the election of its directors and the approval of mergers or other significant corporate transactions) regardless of whether or not NMFC's other stockholders believe that such decisions are in NMFC's own best interests. If AIV Holdings exercised its exchange rights in full, Guardian AIV, indirectly through AIV Holdings would own approximately 40.0% of all outstanding shares of NMFC's common stock as of December 31, 2012. However, these entities would not exercise voting control over their shares of common stock because the right to vote those shares would be passed through to the partners of these entities. These investors, along with those persons affiliated with New Mountain Capital that participated in the Concurrent Private Placement, may have interests that differ from your interests, and they may vote in a way with which you disagree and that may be adverse to your interests as stockholders of NMFC. The concentration of ownership of NMFC's common stock following the exercise of AIV Holdings' exchange right may also have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of NMFC, could deprive NMFC's stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of NMFC and may adversely affect the market price of NMFC's common stock.

RISKS RELATING TO NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION'S COMMON STOCK

The market price of NMFC's common stock may fluctuate significantly.

        The market price and liquidity of the market for shares of NMFC's common stock may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to the Operating Company's operating performance. These factors include:

•

price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market or in the market for BDCs from time to time;



•

investor demand for shares of NMFC's common stock;

54

Table of Contents

•

significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of registered closed-end management investment companies, BDCs or other financial services companies, which is not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;



•

the inability to raise equity capital;



•

the Operating Company's inability to borrow money or deploy or invest its capital;



•

fluctuations in interest rates;



•

any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors or securities analysts;



•

operating performance of companies comparable to the Operating Company;



•

changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines with respect to RICs or BDCs;



•

NMFC's or the Operating Company's loss of status as or ability to operate as BDCs;



•

NMFC's failure to qualify as a RIC, loss of RIC status or ability operate as a RIC;



•

actual or anticipated changes in the Operating Company's earnings or fluctuations in its operating results;



•

changes in the value of the Operating Company's portfolio of investments;



•

general economic conditions, trends and other external factors;



•

departures of key personnel; or



•

loss of a major source of funding.

        In addition, NMFC is required to continue to meet certain listing standards in order for its common stock to remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). On January 2, 2013, the Companies received a letter of public reprimand from the NYSE indicating that NMFC had failed to comply with Section 204.12 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requiring ten days prior notice of a record date, in connection with the announcement of a special dividend distribution. While NMFC believes that it is not currently at risk of being delisted by the NYSE, if it was to be delisted, the liquidity of NMFC's common stock would be impaired.

Investing in NMFC's common stock may involve an above average degree of risk.

        The investments the Operating Company may make may result in a higher amount of risk, volatility or loss of principal than alternative investment options. These investments in portfolio companies may be highly speculative and aggressive, and therefore, an investment in NMFC's common stock may not be suitable for investors with lower risk tolerance.

Sales of substantial amounts of NMFC's common stock in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of its common stock.

        Sales of substantial amounts of NMFC's common stock, including by itself directly, AIV Holdings, if it exercises its right to exchange its common membership units of the Operating Company for shares of NMFC's common stock on a one-for-one basis, or New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P. or its transferees or the perception that such sales could occur, could materially adversely affect the prevailing market prices for NMFC's common stock. AIV Holdings currently intends to sell its interest in the Operating Company's business as soon as practicable from time to time, depending on market conditions and any applicable contractual or legal restrictions. AIV Holdings, and the Investment Adviser, if applicable with respect to any common membership units received as payment of the incentive fee, have the right, subject to certain conditions, to require NMFC to register under the

55

Table of Contents

federal securities laws the sale of any shares of NMFC's common stock held by them or that may be issued to and held by them upon exercise by AIV Holdings of the exchange right.

        In addition, NMFC has granted AIV Holdings, the Operating Company's Chairman, an entity related to the Operating Company's Chairman and the Investment Adviser, if applicable with respect to any common membership units received as payment of the incentive fee, and their permitted transferees certain "piggyback" registration rights which allow them to include their shares in any future registrations of NMFC equity securities, whether or not that registration relates to a primary offering by NMFC or a secondary offering by or on behalf of any of NMFC's stockholders or AIV Holdings. In particular, these parties will have priority over NMFC and any other of its stockholders in any registration that is an underwritten offering. Any such filing or the perception that such a filing may occur, could cause the prevailing market price of NMFC's common stock to decline and may impact NMFC's ability to sell equity to finance the Operating Company's operations. If substantial amounts of NMFC's common stock were sold, this could impair its ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities should NMFC desire to do so.

Certain provisions of NMFC's certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the Delaware General Corporation Law as well as other aspects of our structure, including Guardian AIV's substantial interest in the Operating Company, could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of NMFC's common stock.

        NMFC's certificate of incorporation and bylaws as well as the Delaware General Corporation Law contain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us. Among other things, NMFC's certificate of incorporation and bylaws:

•

provide for a classified board of directors, which may delay the ability of NMFC's stockholders to change the membership of a majority of its board of directors;



•

authorize the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock that could be issued by NMFC's board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt;



•

do not provide for cumulative voting;



•

provide that vacancies on the board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office;



•

provide that NMFC's directors may be removed only for cause;



•

require supermajority voting to effect certain amendments to NMFC's certificate of incorporation and bylaws; and



•

require stockholders to provide advance notice of new business proposals and director nominations under specific procedures.

        These anti-takeover provisions may inhibit a change in control in circumstances that could give the holders of NMFC's common stock the opportunity to realize a premium over the market price for its common stock. The Credit Facilities also include covenants that, among other things, restrict its ability to dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, make restricted payments, create liens on assets, make investments, make acquisitions and engage in mergers or consolidations. The Credit Facilities also include change of control provisions that accelerate the indebtedness under this facility in the event of certain change of control events. In addition, certain aspects of our structure, including Guardian AIV's substantial interest in the Operating Company may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for NMFC.

56

Table of Contents

Shares of NMFC's common stock have traded at a discount from net asset value and may do so in the future.

        Shares of closed-end investment companies have frequently traded at a market price that is less than the net asset value that is attributable to those shares. In part as a result of adverse economic conditions and increasing pressure within the financial sector of which the Companies are a part, NMFC's common stock has at times traded below its net asset value per share since NMFC's IPO on May 19, 2011. NMFC's shares could once again trade at a discount to net asset value. The possibility that NMFC's shares of common stock may trade at a discount from net asset value over the long term is separate and distinct from the risk that the Companies' net asset value will decrease. The Companies cannot predict whether shares of NMFC's common stock will trade above, at or below its net asset value. If NMFC's common stock trades below its net asset value, NMFC will generally not be able to issue additional shares of NMFC's common stock at its market price without first obtaining the approval for such issuance from its stockholders and its independent directors. If additional funds are not available to the Operating Company, the Companies could be forced to curtail or cease the Operating Company's new lending and investment activities, and the Companies' net asset value could decrease and the Companies' level of distributions could be impacted.

You may not receive dividends or the Companies' dividends may decline or may not grow over time.

        The Companies cannot assure you that the Companies will achieve investment results or maintain a tax status that will allow or require any specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. In particular, the Operating Company's future dividends, and subsequently, NMFC's and AIV Holdings' future dividends, are dependent upon the investment income they receive on the Operating Company's portfolio investments. To the extent such investment income declines, the Companies' ability to pay future dividends may be harmed.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

        Not applicable.

Item 2.    Properties

        We do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operation. Our principal executive offices are located at 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019, where we occupy our office space pursuant to our Administration Agreement with the Administrator. The office space is shared with our Investment Adviser, our Administrator and New Mountain Capital. We believe that our current office facilities are suitable and adequate for our business as currently conducted.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        We, New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C. and New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C., are not currently subject to any material pending legal proceedings threatened against us as of December 31, 2012. From time to time, we may be a party to certain legal proceedings incidental to the normal course of our business including the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. While the outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that these proceedings will have a material effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

        Not applicable.

57

Table of Contents

PART II

        The terms "we", "us", "our" and the "Companies" refers to the collective: New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., New Mountain Finance Corporation and New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation.

Item 5.    Market for Registrants' Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Price Range of Common Stock

        New Mountain Finance Corporation's ("NMFC") common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "NMFC". The following table sets forth the net asset value ("NAV") per share of NMFC's common stock, the high and low closing sale price for NMFC's common stock, the closing sale price as a percentage of NAV and the quarterly dividend distributions per share for each fiscal quarter since NMFC's initial public offering ("IPO") on May 19, 2011.

        On March 5, 2013, the last reported sales price of NMFC's common stock was $15.25 per share. As of March 5, 2013, the Operating Company had two record holders, which were NMFC and AIV Holdings, whereas NMFC had approximately 13 stockholders of record and approximately two beneficial owners whose shares are held in the names of brokers, dealers, funds, trusts and clearing

58

Table of Contents

agencies, and AIV Holdings had one record holder, which was New Mountain Guardian AIV, L.P. ("Guardian AIV").

        New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C. (the "Operating Company") and New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation ("AIV Holdings") are not publicly traded entities.

Dividends

        Since NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies, distributions will be paid on their common stock from distributions received from the Operating Company. The Operating Company intends to make distributions to its unit holders that will be sufficient to enable NMFC and AIV Holdings to pay quarterly distributions to their stockholders and to obtain and maintain their status as regulated investment companies ("RIC"). NMFC and AIV Holdings intend to distribute approximately their entire portion of the Operating Company's Adjusted Net Investment Income on a quarterly basis and substantially their entire portion of the Operating Company's taxable income on an annual basis, except that they may retain certain net capital gains for reinvestment.

        NMFC has adopted an "opt out" dividend reinvestment plan on behalf of its stockholders, whereas NMFC stockholders' cash dividends will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of NMFC's common stock, unless the stockholder elects to receive cash. Cash dividends reinvested in additional shares of NMFC's common stock will be automatically reinvested by NMFC into additional units of the Operating Company.

        NMFC applies the following in implementing the dividend reinvestment plan. If the price at which newly issued shares are to be credited to stockholders' accounts is greater than 110.0% of the last determined net asset value of the shares, NMFC will use only newly issued shares to implement its dividend reinvestment plan. Under such circumstances, the number of shares to be issued to a stockholder is determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the market price per share of NMFC's common stock on the NYSE on the distribution payment date. Market price per share on that date will be the closing price for such shares on the NYSE or, if no sale is reported for such day, the average of their electronically reported bid and asked prices. If NMFC uses newly issued shares to implement the plan, NMFC will receive, on a one-for-one basis, additional units of the Operating Company in exchange for cash distributions that are reinvested in shares of NMFC's common stock under the dividend reinvestment plan.

        If the price at which newly issued shares are to be credited to stockholders' accounts is less than 110.0% of the last determined net asset value of the shares, NMFC will either issue new shares or instruct the plan administrator to purchase shares in the open market to satisfy the additional shares required. Shares purchased in open market transactions by the plan administrator will be allocated to a stockholder based on the average purchase price, excluding any brokerage charges or other charges, of all shares of common stock purchased in the open market. The number of shares of NMFC's common stock to be outstanding after giving effect to payment of the distribution cannot be established until the value per share at which additional shares will be issued has been determined and elections of NMFC's stockholders have been tabulated. AIV Holdings does not intend to reinvest any distributions received from the Operating Company in additional shares of the Operating Company. See Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional information.

59

Table of Contents

        The following table reflects the cash distributions, including dividends and returns of capital, if any, per unit/share that have been declared by the Operating Company's board of directors, and subsequently NMFC's board of directors, since NMFC's IPO:

        The following table reflects the cash distributions, including dividends and returns of capital, if any, that have been declared by the Operating Company's board of directors on a per share/unit basis, and subsequently AIV Holdings' board of directors, since NMFC's IPO:

60

Table of Contents

        Tax characteristics of all dividends paid by NMFC and AIV Holdings were reported to stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year. Future quarterly dividends, if any, for the Companies will be determined by their respective board of directors.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

        We did not engage in unregistered sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

        For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, NMFC did not purchase any of its common stock in the open market.

Stock Performance Graph

        This graph compares the return on NMFC's common stock with that of the Standard & Poor's 500 Total Return Index ("S&P 500 TR") and the Russell 2000 Index Total Return ("Russell 2000 TR") as we do not believe that there is an appropriate index of companies with an investment strategy similar to our own with which to compare the return on our common stock, for the period May 19, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. The graph assumes that, on May 19, 2011, a person invested $100 in each of our common stock, the S&P 500 TR and the Russell 2000 TR. The

61

Table of Contents

graph measures total stockholder return, which takes into account both changes in stock price and dividends. It assumes that dividends paid are invested in like securities.

Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among NMFC, S&P 500 TR and Russell 2000 TR

        The graph and other information furnished under this Part II Item 5 of this combined Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be "soliciting material" or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the "1934" Act. The stock price performance included in the above graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.

62

Table of Contents

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the respective financial statements and related combined notes thereto and Item 7.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this report. Financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and for the period from October 29, 2008 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2008, has been derived from the Operating Company's financial statements that were audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte"), an independent registered public accounting firm.

(in thousands except shares and per share data)

63

Table of Contents

64

Table of Contents

(in thousands except shares and per share data)

65

Table of Contents

(in thousands)

66

Table of Contents

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

        The following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial data and our financial statements and the combined notes thereto contained in Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, in this report. See Item 1A.—Risk Factors for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

        The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the financial data and financial statements and combined notes thereto appearing in Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, contained in this annual report. Some of the statements in this report (including in the following discussion) constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or the future performance or financial condition of New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C. (the "Operating Company" or the "Master Fund"), New Mountain Finance Corporation ("NMFC") or New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation ("AIV Holdings"). The forward-looking statements contained in this section involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including:

•

statements concerning the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets;



•

the general economy, including interest and inflation rates, and its impact on the industries in which the Operating Company invests;



•

the ability of the Operating Company's portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;



•

the Operating Company's ability to make investments consistent with its investment objectives, including with respect to the size, nature and terms of its investments;



•

the ability of New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C. (the "Investment Adviser") or its affiliates to attract and retain highly talented professionals;



•

actual and potential conflicts of interest with the Investment Adviser and other affiliates of New Mountain Capital Group, L.L.C.; and



•

the risk factors set forth in Item 1A.—Risk Factors.

        Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of such terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "potential", "should", "will", "would" or similar expressions. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in Item 1A.—Risk Factors contained in this annual report.

        We have based the forward-looking statements included in this report on information available to us on the date of this report. We assume no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we have filed or in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, registration statements on Form N-2 or Form 10, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

Overview

        The Operating Company is a Delaware limited liability company. The Operating Company is externally managed and has elected to be treated as a business development company ("BDC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As such, the Operating Company

67

Table of Contents

is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. The Operating Company intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes for so long as it has at least two members.

        The Operating Company is externally managed by the Investment Adviser. New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C. (the "Administrator") provides the administrative services necessary for operations. The Investment Adviser and Administrator are wholly-owned subsidiaries of New Mountain Capital (defined as New Mountain Capital Group, L.L.C. and its affiliates). New Mountain Capital is a firm with a track record of investing in the middle market and with assets under management (which includes amounts committed, not all of which have been drawn down and invested to date) totaling approximately $9.0 billion as of December 31, 2012. New Mountain Capital focuses on investing in defensive growth companies across its private equity, public equity, and credit investment vehicles. The Operating Company, formerly known as New Mountain Guardian (Leveraged), L.L.C., was originally formed as a subsidiary of New Mountain Guardian AIV, L.P. ("Guardian AIV") by New Mountain Capital in October 2008. Guardian AIV was formed through an allocation of approximately $300.0 million of the $5.1 billion of commitments supporting New Mountain Partners III, L.P., a private equity fund managed by New Mountain Capital. In February 2009, New Mountain Capital formed a co-investment vehicle, New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P., comprising $20.4 million of commitments. New Mountain Guardian (Leveraged), L.L.C. and New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P., together with their respective direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, are defined as the "Predecessor Entities".

        NMFC is a Delaware corporation that was originally incorporated on June 29, 2010. NMFC is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. As such, NMFC is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. NMFC has elected to be treated, and intends to comply with the requirements to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code").

        AIV Holdings is a Delaware corporation that was originally incorporated on March 11, 2011. Guardian AIV, a Delaware limited partnership, is AIV Holdings' sole stockholder. AIV Holdings is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. As such, AIV Holdings is obligated to comply with certain regulatory requirements. AIV Holdings has elected to be treated, and intends to comply with the requirements to qualify annually, as a RIC under the Code.

        On May 19, 2011, NMFC priced its initial public offering (the "IPO") of 7,272,727 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $13.75 per share. Concurrently with the closing of the IPO and at the public offering price of $13.75 per share, NMFC sold an additional 2,172,000 shares of its common stock to certain executives and employees of, and other individuals affiliated with, New Mountain Capital in a concurrent private placement (the "Concurrent Private Placement"). Additionally, 1,252,964 shares were issued to the limited partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P. at that time for their ownership interest in the Predecessor Entities. In connection with NMFC's IPO and through a series of transactions, the Operating Company owns all of the operations of the Predecessor Entities, including all of the assets and liabilities related to such operations.

        NMFC and AIV Holdings are holding companies with no direct operations of their own, and their sole asset is their ownership in the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings each entered into a joinder agreement with respect to the Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended and restated, of the Operating Company, pursuant to which NMFC and AIV Holdings were admitted as members of the Operating Company. NMFC acquired from the Operating Company, with the gross proceeds of the IPO and the Concurrent Private Placement, common membership units ("units") of the Operating Company (the number of units are equal to the number of shares of NMFC's common stock sold in the IPO and the Concurrent Private Placement). Additionally, NMFC received units of the Operating

68

Table of Contents

Company equal to the number of shares of common stock of NMFC issued to the limited partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P. Guardian AIV was the parent of the Operating Company prior to the IPO and, as a result of the transactions completed in connection with the IPO, obtained units in the Operating Company. Guardian AIV contributed its units in the Operating Company to its newly formed subsidiary, AIV Holdings, in exchange for common stock of AIV Holdings. AIV Holdings has the right to exchange all or any portion of its units in the Operating Company for shares of NMFC's common stock on a one-for-one basis at anytime.

        Since NMFC's IPO, and through December 31, 2012, NMFC raised approximately $133.4 million in net proceeds from additional offerings of common stock and issued shares valued at approximately $56.3 million to AIV Holdings for exchanged units. NMFC acquired from the Operating Company units of the Operating Company equal to the number of shares of NMFC's common stock sold in the additional offerings.

        The current structure was designed to generally prevent NMFC and its stockholders from being allocated taxable income with respect to unrecognized gains that existed at the time of the IPO in the Predecessor Entities' assets, and rather such amounts would be allocated generally to AIV Holdings and its stockholders. The result is that any distributions made to NMFC's stockholders that are attributable to such gains generally will not be treated as taxable dividends but rather as return of capital.

69

Table of Contents

        The diagram below depicts our organizational structure as of December 31, 2012.

*

Includes partners of New Mountain Guardian Partners, L.P.

**

These common membership units are exchangeable into shares of NMFC common stock on a one-for-one basis.

        The Operating Company's investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation through the sourcing and origination of debt securities at all levels of the capital structure, including first and second lien debt, notes, bonds and mezzanine securities. In some cases, the Operating Company's investments may also include equity interests. The primary focus is in the debt of defensive growth companies, which are defined as generally exhibiting the following characteristics: (i) sustainable secular growth drivers, (ii) high barriers to competitive entry, (iii) high free cash flow after capital expenditure and working capital needs, (iv) high returns on assets and (v) niche market dominance.

        As of December 31, 2012, the Operating Company's net asset value was $569.9 million and its portfolio had a fair value of approximately $989.8 million in 63 portfolio companies, with a weighted average Yield to Maturity of approximately 10.1%. This Yield to Maturity calculation assumes that all investments not on non-accrual are purchased at fair value on December 31, 2012 and held until their respective maturities with no prepayments or losses and exited at par at maturity. The actual yield to maturity may be higher or lower due to the future selection of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") contracts by the individual companies in the Operating Company's portfolio or other factors.

70

Table of Contents

Recent Developments

        On March 6, 2013, the Operating Company's board of directors, and subsequently NMFC's board of directors, declared a first quarter 2013 distribution of $0.34 per unit/share payable on March 28, 2013 to holders of record as of March 15, 2013. Subsequently, AIV Holdings' board of directors declared a dividend payable on March 28, 2013 to holders of record as of March 15, 2013 in an amount equal to $0.34 per unit multiplied by the total number of units owned by AIV Holdings of the Operating Company as of the record date.

Critical Accounting Policies

        The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following items as critical accounting policies.

Basis of Accounting

        The Operating Company consolidates its wholly-owned subsidiary, New Mountain Finance SPV Funding, L.L.C. ("NMF SLF"). NMFC and AIV Holdings do not consolidate the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings apply investment company master-feeder financial statement presentation, as described in Accounting Standards Codification 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies, ("ASC 946") to their interest in the Operating Company. NMFC and AIV Holdings observe that it is industry practice to follow the presentation prescribed for a master fund-feeder fund structure in ASC 946 in instances in which a master fund is owned by more than one feeder fund and that such presentation provides stockholders of NMFC and AIV Holdings with a clearer depiction of their investment in the Master Fund.

Valuation and Leveling of Portfolio Investments

        At all times consistent with GAAP and the 1940 Act, the Operating Company conducts a valuation of assets, which impacts its net asset value, and, consequently, the net asset values of NMFC and AIV Holdings.

        The Operating Company values its assets on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if required under the 1940 Act. In all cases, the Operating Company's board of directors is ultimately and solely responsible for determining the fair value of its portfolio investments on a quarterly basis in good faith, including investments that are not publicly traded, those whose market prices are not readily available, and any other situation where its portfolio investments require a fair value determination. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. The Operating Company's quarterly valuation procedures are set forth in more detail below:

(1)

Investments for which market quotations are readily available on an exchange are valued at such market quotations based on the closing price indicated from independent pricing services.



(2)

Investments for which indicative prices are obtained from various pricing services and/or brokers or dealers are valued through a multi-step valuation process, as described below, to determine whether the quote(s) obtained is representative of fair value in accordance with GAAP.



a.

Bond quotes are obtained through independent pricing services. Internal reviews are performed by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser to ensure that the quote obtained is representative of fair value in accordance with GAAP and if so, the

71

Table of Contents

quote is used. If the Investment Adviser is unable to sufficiently validate the quote(s) internally and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, the investment is valued similarly to those assets with no readily available quotes (see (3) below);

b.

For investments other than bonds, the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser look at the number of quotes readily available and perform the following:



i.

Investments for which two or more quotes are received from a pricing service are valued using the mean of the mean of the bid and ask of the quotes obtained;



ii.

Investments for which one quote is received from a pricing service are validated internally. The investment professionals of the Investment Adviser analyze the market quotes obtained using an array of valuation methods (further described below) to validate the fair value. If the Investment Adviser is unable to sufficiently validate the quote internally and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, the investment is valued similarly to those assets with no readily available quotes (see (3) below).



(3)

Investments for which quotations are not readily available through exchanges, pricing services, brokers, or dealers are valued through a multi-step valuation process:



a.

Each portfolio company or investment is initially valued by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser responsible for the credit monitoring;



b.

Preliminary valuation conclusions will then be documented and discussed with the Operating Company's senior management;



c.

If an investment falls into (3) above for four consecutive quarters and if the investment's par value or its fair value exceeds the materiality threshold, then at least once each fiscal year, the valuation for each portfolio investment for which the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser do not have a readily available market quotation will be reviewed by an independent valuation firm engaged by the Operating Company's board of directors; and



d.

When deemed appropriate by the Operating Company's management, an independent valuation firm may be engaged to review and value investment(s) of a portfolio company, without any preliminary valuation being performed by the Investment Adviser. The investment professionals of the Investment Adviser will review and validate the value provided.

        The values assigned to investments are based upon available information and do not necessarily represent amounts which might ultimately be realized, since such amounts depend on future circumstances and cannot be reasonably determined until the individual positions are liquidated. 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 certain investments may fluctuate from period to period and the fluctuations could be material.

        GAAP fair value measurement guidance classifies the inputs used in measuring fair value into three levels as follows:

Level I—Quoted prices (unadjusted) are available in active markets for identical investments and the Operating Company has the ability to access such quotes as of the reporting date. The type of investments which would generally be included in Level I include active exchange-traded equity securities and exchange-traded derivatives. As required by Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"), the Operating Company, to the extent that

72

Table of Contents

we hold such investments, does not adjust the quoted price for these investments, even in situations where the Operating Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.

Level II—Pricing inputs are observable for the investments, either directly or indirectly, as of the reporting date, but are not the same as those used in Level I. Level II inputs include the following:

•

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;



•

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets (examples include corporate and municipal bonds, which trade infrequently);



•

Pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability (examples include most over-the-counter derivatives, including foreign exchange forward contracts); and



•

Pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level III—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 judgment or estimation by management and consideration of factors specific to each investment. A review of the fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in the transfer of certain investments within the fair value hierarchy from period to period.

        The following table summarizes the levels in the fair value hierarchy that the Operating Company's portfolio investments fall into as of December 31, 2012:

(in thousands)