As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2011

Securities Act File No. 333-166012

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form N-2

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

o  Pre-Effective Amendment No.

þ Post-Effective Amendment No. 5

 

 

 

 

Fifth Street Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

10 Bank Street, 12th Floor
White Plains, NY 10606
(914) 286-6800
(Address and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)

 

Leonard M. Tannenbaum
Fifth Street Finance Corp.
10 Bank Street, 12th Floor
White Plains, NY 10606
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

 

 

Copies to:
Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
Harry S. Pangas, Esq.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2415
Tel: (202) 383-0100
Fax: (202) 637-3593

 

Approximate date of proposed public offering:  From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.  þ

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

þ  when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c).

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 29, 2011

 

$500,000,000

 

Fifth Street Finance Corp.

Common Stock

 

We may offer, from time to time, up to $500,000,000 of shares of our common stock in one or more offerings. Our common stock may be offered at prices and on terms to be disclosed in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our common stock.

 

The offering price per share of our common stock, less any underwriting commissions and discounts or agency fees, will not be less than the net asset value per share of our common stock at the time of the offering.

 

Our common stock may be offered directly to one or more purchasers through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The prospectus supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our common stock, and will disclose any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters or among our underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. See “Plan of Distribution.” We may not sell any of our common stock through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such common stock.

 

We are a specialty finance company that lends to and invests in small and mid-sized companies in connection with investments by private equity sponsors. Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio’s total return by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity investments.

 

We are an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSC.” On March 28, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $13.37 and $12.14, respectively. We are required to determine the net asset value per share of our common stock on a quarterly basis. Our net asset value per share of our common stock as of December 31, 2010 was $10.44.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk, and should be considered highly speculative. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 to read about factors you should consider, including the risk of leverage, before investing in our common stock.

 

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement contain important information about us that a prospective investor should know before investing in our common stock. Please read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before investing and keep them for future reference. We file periodic reports, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This information is available free of charge by contacting us at 10 Bank Street, 12th Floor, White Plains, NY 10606 or by telephone at (914) 286-6800 or on our website at www.fifthstreetfinance.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Prospectus dated          , 2011

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using the “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer, from time to time, up to $500,000,000 of shares of our common stock on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Please carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under “Available Information” and “Risk Factors” before you make an investment decision.

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus or any accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations not contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement as if we had authorized it. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any security other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do they constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of the dates on their covers. Our financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. To the extent required by law, we will amend or supplement the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to reflect any material changes to such information subsequent to the date of the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and prior to the completion of any offering pursuant to the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

	•	Capitalize on our investment adviser’s strong relationships with private equity sponsors.  Our investment adviser has developed an extensive network of relationships with private equity sponsors that invest in small and mid-sized companies. We believe that the strength of these relationships is due to a common investment philosophy, a consistent market focus, a rigorous approach to diligence and a reputation for delivering on commitments. In addition to being our principal source of originations, we believe that private equity sponsors provide significant benefits including incremental due diligence, additional monitoring capabilities and a potential source of capital and operational expertise for our portfolio companies.
	•	Focus on established small and mid-sized companies.  We believe that there are fewer finance companies focused on transactions involving small and mid-sized companies than larger companies, and that this is one factor that allows us to negotiate favorable investment terms. Such favorable terms include higher debt yields and lower leverage levels, more significant covenant protection and greater equity grants than typical of transactions involving larger companies. We generally invest in companies with established market positions, seasoned management teams, proven products and services and strong regional or national operations. We believe that these companies possess better risk-adjusted return profiles than newer companies that are building management or in early stages of building a revenue base.
	•	Continue our growth of direct originations.  As of December 31, 2010, we directly originated 100% of our debt investments, although we may not directly originate 100% of our investments in the future. Over the last several years, the principals of our investment adviser have developed an origination strategy designed to ensure that the number and quality of our investment opportunities allows us to continue to directly originate substantially all of our investments. We believe that the benefits of direct originations include, among other things, our ability to control the structuring of investment protections and to generate origination and exit fees.
	•	Employ disciplined underwriting policies and rigorous portfolio management.  Our investment adviser has developed an extensive underwriting process which includes a review of the prospects, competitive position, financial performance and industry dynamics of each potential portfolio company. In addition, we perform substantial diligence on potential investments, and seek to invest along side private equity sponsors who have proven capabilities in building value. As part of the monitoring process, our investment adviser will analyze monthly and quarterly financial statements versus the previous periods and year, review financial projections, meet with management, attend board meetings and review all compliance certificates and covenants.
	•	Structure our debt investments to minimize risk of loss and achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.  We structure our debt investments on a conservative basis with high cash yields, cash origination fees, low leverage levels and strong investment protections. As of December 31, 2010, the weighted average annualized yield of our debt investments was approximately 13.2%, which includes a cash component of 11.4%. Our debt investments have strong protections, including default penalties, information rights, board observation rights, and affirmative, negative and financial covenants, such as lien protection and prohibitions against change of control. We believe these protections, coupled with the other features of our investments described above, should allow us to reduce our risk of capital loss and achieve attractive risk adjusted returns; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully structure our investments to minimize risk of loss and achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.
	•	Benefit from lower, fixed, long-term cost of capital.  The SBIC license held by our wholly-owned subsidiary allows it to issue SBA-guaranteed debentures. SBA-guaranteed debentures carry long-term fixed rates that are generally lower than rates on comparable bank and other debt. Because we expect lower cost SBA leverage to become a more significant part of our capital base through our SBIC subsidiary, our relative cost of debt capital may be lower than many of our competitors. In addition, the SBIC leverage that we receive

		through our SBIC subsidiary represents a stable, long-term component of our capital structure that should permit the proper matching of duration and cost compared to our portfolio investments.

	•	Leverage the skills and experience of our investment adviser.  The principals of our investment adviser have broad investment backgrounds, with prior experience at private investment funds, investment banks and other financial services companies and they also have experience managing distressed companies. We believe that our investment adviser’s expertise in valuing, structuring, negotiating and closing transactions provides us with a competitive advantage by allowing us to provide financing solutions that meet the needs of our portfolio companies while adhering to our underwriting standards.

 

THE OFFERING

Use of proceeds		We intend to use substantially all of the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock to make investments in small and mid-sized companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies described in this prospectus, and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to reduce any of our outstanding borrowings. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds primarily in high quality, short-term debt securities consistent with our business development company election and our election to be taxed as a RIC. See “Use of Proceeds.”
New York Stock Exchange symbol		“FSC”
Investment advisory fees		Fifth Street Management serves as our investment adviser. We pay Fifth Street Management a fee for its services under the investment advisory agreement consisting of two components — a base management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2% of our gross assets, which includes any borrowings for investment purposes. From and after January 1, 2010, our investment adviser permanently waived the portion of the base management fee attributable to cash and cash equivalents (as defined in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements). The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and equals 20% of our “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a preferred return, or “hurdle,” and a “catch up” feature. The second part is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year (or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement) and equals 20% of our “Incentive Fee Capital Gains,” which equals our realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of the year, if any, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fee. See “Investment Advisory Agreement.”
Administration agreement		FSC, Inc. serves as our administrator. We reimburse our administrator the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by our administrator in performing its obligations under the administration agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer, and their staff. See “Administration Agreement.” Our administrator has voluntarily determined to forgo receiving reimbursement for the services performed for us by our chief compliance officer, Bernard D. Berman, given his compensation.

		However, although our administrator currently intends to forgo its right to receive such reimbursement, it is under no obligation to do so and may cease to do so at any time in the future.
Distributions		We intend to pay dividends to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. From our initial public offering through the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010, we paid quarterly dividends, but in the first fiscal quarter of 2011 we began paying, and we intend to continue paying, monthly dividends to our stockholders. Our distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors.
Taxation		We elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. Accordingly, we generally will not pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any net ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders as dividends. To maintain our RIC tax treatment, we must meet specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Depending on the level of taxable income earned in a tax year, we may choose to carry forward taxable income in excess of current year distributions into the next tax year and pay a 4% excise tax on such income. Any such carryover taxable income must be distributed through a dividend declared prior to filing the final tax return related to the year which generated such taxable income. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
Dividend reinvestment plan		We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan for our stockholders. The dividend reinvestment plan is an “opt out” reinvestment plan. As a result, if we declare a distribution, then stockholders’ cash distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, unless they specifically “opt out” of the dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash distributions. Stockholders who receive distributions in the form of stock will be subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as stockholders who elect to receive their distributions in cash; however, since their cash dividends will be reinvested, such stockholders will not receive cash with which to pay any applicable taxes on reinvested dividends. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
Risk factors		Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the information found in “Risk Factors,” including the following risks:

	•	The current state of the economy and financial markets increases the likelihood of material adverse effects on our financial position and results of operations.
	•	A significant portion of our investment portfolio is and will continue to be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and, as a result, there is and will continue to be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.
	•	Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships with private equity sponsors, and the inability of the principals of our investment adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

	•	We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.
	•	Because we borrow money, the potential for loss on amounts invested in us will be magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.
	•	Substantially all of our assets could potentially be subject to security interests under secured credit facilities and if we default on our obligations under the facilities, we may suffer adverse consequences, including the lenders foreclosing on our assets.
	•	Because we intend to distribute between 90% and 100% of our income to our stockholders in connection with our election to be treated as a RIC, we will continue to need additional capital to finance our growth. If additional funds are unavailable or not available on favorable terms, our ability to grow will be impaired.
	•	Regulations governing our operation as a business development company and RIC affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital or borrow for investment purposes, which may have a negative effect on our growth.
	•	Our SBIC subsidiary’s investment adviser has no prior experience managing an SBIC and any failure to comply with SBA regulations, resulting from our SBIC subsidiary’s investment adviser’s lack of experience or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
	•	We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or do not satisfy the annual distribution requirement.
	•	We may not be able to pay you distributions, our distributions may not grow over time and a portion of our distributions may be a return of capital.
	•	Our investments in portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.
	•	Investing in small and mid-sized companies 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 we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of us realizing any guarantees from subsidiaries or affiliates of our portfolio companies that we may have obtained in connection with our investment, as well as a corresponding decrease in the value of the equity components of our investments;
	•	may have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines, smaller market shares and/or 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 our 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, and 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. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and may lose all or part of our investment.

	•	Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in such companies.
	•	We may expose ourselves to risks if we engage in hedging transactions.
	•	Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, may trade at a discount to their net asset value.
	•	We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds of this offering on acceptable terms within an attractive timeframe.
	•	The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

		See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 for a more complete discussion of these and other risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.
Leverage		We expect to continue to use leverage to make investments. As a result, we may continue to be exposed to the risks of leverage, which include that leverage may be considered a speculative investment technique. The use of leverage magnifies the potential for gain and loss on amounts invested and therefore increases the risks associated with investing in our shares of common stock.
Available information		We file periodic reports, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information is available at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The public may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. This information is also available free of charge by contacting us at Fifth Street Finance Corp., 10 Bank Street, 12th Floor, White Plains, NY, 10606, by telephone at (914) 286-6800, or on our website at www.fifthstreetfinance.com. The information on this website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

Stockholder transaction expenses:
Sales load (as a percentage of offering price)			—	%(1)
Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering price)			—	%(2)
Dividend reinvestment plan fees			—	%(3)
Total stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of offering price)			—	%(4)
Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock):
Management fees			5.07	%(5)
Interest payments on borrowed funds			2.11	%(6)
Other expenses			2.32	%(7)
Total annual expenses			9.50	%(8)

(1)		In the event that our common stock is sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the applicable sales load.
(2)		In the event that we conduct on offering of our common stock, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the estimated offering expenses.
(3)		The expenses of administering our dividend reinvestment plan are included in operating expenses.
(4)		Total stockholder transaction expenses may include sales load and will be disclosed in a future prospectus supplement, if any.
(5)		Our “management fees” are made up of our base management fee and the incentive fees payable under our investment advisory agreement. The base management fee portion of our “management fees” reflected in the table above is 2.63%, which is calculated based on our net assets (rather than our gross assets). Our base management fee under the investment advisory agreement is based on our gross assets, which includes borrowings for investment purposes. Our investment adviser permanently waived the portion of the base management fee attributable to cash and cash equivalents (as defined in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements) as of the end of each quarter beginning March 31, 2010. As a result, our base management fee payable from and after such fiscal quarter will be calculated at an annual rate of 2% of our gross assets, including any investments made with borrowings, but excluding any cash and cash equivalents as of the end of each quarter. See “Investment Advisory Agreement — Overview of Our Investment Adviser — Management Fee.”
		The incentive fee portion of our “management fees” is 2.44%. This calculation assumes that annual incentive fees earned by our investment adviser remain consistent with the incentive fees earned by our investment adviser during the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part, which is payable quarterly in arrears, is equal to 20% of the excess, if any, of our “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” that exceeds a 2% quarterly (8% annualized) hurdle rate, subject to a “catch up” provision measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. The first part of the incentive fee is computed and paid on income that may include interest that is accrued but not yet received in cash. The operation of the first part of the incentive fee for each quarter is as follows:
		• no incentive fee is payable to the investment adviser in any fiscal quarter in which our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 2% (the “preferred return” or “hurdle”);

		• 100% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.5% in any fiscal quarter (10% annualized) is payable to the investment adviser. We refer to this portion of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.5%) as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” provision is intended to provide our investment adviser with an incentive fee of 20% on all of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 2.5% in any fiscal quarter; and
		• 20% of the amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.5% in any fiscal quarter (10% annualized) is payable to the investment adviser (once the hurdle is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 20% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income thereafter is allocated to the investment adviser).
		The second part of the incentive fee equals 20% of our “Incentive Fee Capital Gains,” which equals our realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of the year, if any, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. The second part of the incentive fee is payable, in arrears, at the end of each fiscal year (or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement, as of the termination date).
(6)		“Interest payments on borrowed funds” represent our estimated annual interest payments on borrowed funds and relate to borrowings under the Wells Fargo facility, the ING facility and our SBA-guaranteed debentures.
(7)		“Other expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, which are higher than such actual expenses for the year ended September 30, 2010.
(8)		“Total annual expenses” is presented as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stockholders because our common stockholders bear all of our fees and expenses.

		1 Year				3 Years				5 Years				10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return		$	96			$	281			$	460			$	875

 

 

The following selected financial data should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the discussion under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. Effective as of January 2, 2008, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. merged with and into Fifth Street Finance Corp. The financial information as of and for the period from inception (February 15, 2007) to September 30, 2007 and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2009 and 2010, set forth below was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. and Fifth Street Finance Corp., respectively. The financial information at and for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was derived from our unaudited financial statements and related notes. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for the fair presentation of financial statements for the interim periods, have been included. The historical financial information below may not be indicative of our future performance. Our results for the interim period may not be indicative of our results for the full year.

 

 

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a number of significant risks. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our common stock. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face; however, they discuss the presently known principal risks of investing in our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us might also impair our operations and performance. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose part or all of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to Economic Conditions

 

The current state of the economy and financial markets increases the likelihood of material adverse effects on our financial position and results of operations.

 

The U.S. capital markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption over the past several years, leading to recessionary conditions and depressed levels of consumer and commercial spending. 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. While recent indicators suggest improvement in the capital markets, we cannot provide any assurance that these conditions will not worsen. If these conditions continue or worsen, the prolonged period of market illiquidity may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could limit our investment originations, limit our ability to grow and negatively impact our operating results.

 

In addition, to the extent that recessionary conditions return, the financial results of small to mid-sized companies, like those in which we invest, will likely experience deterioration, which could ultimately lead to difficulty in meeting debt service requirements and an increase in defaults. Additionally, the end markets for certain of our portfolio companies’ products and services have experienced, and continue to experience, negative economic trends. The performances of certain of our portfolio companies have been, and may continue to be, negatively impacted by these economic or other conditions, which may ultimately result in our receipt of a reduced level of interest income from our portfolio companies and/or losses or charge offs related to our investments, and, in turn, may adversely affect distributable income.

 

Economic recessions or downturns could impair the ability of our portfolio companies to repay loans, which, in turn, could increase our non-performing assets, decrease the value of our portfolio, reduce our volume of new loans and harm our operating results, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Many of our portfolio companies are and may be susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during such periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during such periods. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments. In this regard, as a result of recent economic conditions and their impact on certain of our portfolio companies, we have agreed to modify the payment terms of our investments in four of our portfolio companies as of December 31, 2010. Such modified terms include changes in payment-in-kind interest provisions and/or cash interest rates. These modifications, and any future modifications to our loan agreements as a result of the recent economic conditions or otherwise, may limit the amount of interest income that we recognize from the modified investments, which may, in turn, limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure

 

Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

 

Because we may borrow to fund our investments, a portion of our net investment income may be dependent upon the difference between the interest rate at which we borrow funds and the interest rate at which we invest these funds. A portion of our investments will have fixed interest rates, while a portion of our borrowings will likely have floating interest rates. As a result, a significant change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds could increase, which would reduce our net investment income. We may hedge against such interest rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments such as interest rate swap agreements, futures, options and forward contracts, subject to applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, all necessary registrations (or exemptions from registration) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged borrowings. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We have a limited operating history.

 

Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. commenced operations on February 15, 2007. On January 2, 2008, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. merged with and into Fifth Street Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation. As a result, we are subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that we will not achieve our investment objective and that the value of our common stock could decline substantially.

 

A significant portion of our investment portfolio is and will continue to be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and, as a result, there is and will continue to be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by our Board of Directors. Typically, there is not a public market for the securities of the privately held companies in which we have invested and will generally continue to invest. As a result, we value these securities quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors.

 

Certain factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s earnings and its ability to make payments on its indebtedness, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to comparable publicly-traded companies, discounted cash flow and other relevant factors. Because such 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, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our net asset value on a given date to materially understate or overstate the value that we may ultimately realize upon the sale of one or more of our investments. As a result, investors purchasing our common stock based on an overstated net asset value would pay a higher price than the realizable value of our investments might warrant.

 

Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our investment adviser’s ability to support our investment process; if our investment adviser were to lose any of its principals, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.

 

As discussed above, we were organized on February 15, 2007. We have no employees and, as a result, we depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of the principals of our investment adviser. The principals of our investment adviser evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute, monitor and service our investments. Our future success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of the principals of our investment adviser. The departure of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our investment adviser’s ability to identify, analyze, invest in, finance and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria. Our investment adviser’s capabilities in structuring the investment process, providing competent, attentive and efficient services to us, and facilitating access to financing on acceptable terms depend on the employment of investment professionals in adequate number and of adequate sophistication to match the corresponding flow of transactions. To achieve our investment objective, our investment adviser may need to hire, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals to participate in our investment selection and monitoring process. Our investment adviser may not be able to find investment professionals in a timely manner or at all. Failure to support our investment process could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships with private equity sponsors, and the inability of the principals of our investment adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

 

We expect that the principals of our investment adviser will maintain and develop their relationships with private equity sponsors, and we will rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If the principals of our investment adviser fail to maintain their existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sponsors or sources of investment opportunities, we will not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the principals of our investment adviser have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and, therefore, there is no assurance that such relationships will generate investment opportunities for us.

 

We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.

 

We compete for investments with other business development companies and investment funds (including private equity funds and mezzanine funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we have. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to do. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in small and mid-sized companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financial sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms. Furthermore, many of our competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a business development company.

 

Our incentive fee may induce our investment adviser to make speculative investments.

 

The incentive fee payable by us to our investment adviser may create an incentive for it to make investments on our behalf 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 way in which the incentive fee payable to our investment adviser is determined, which is calculated separately in two components as a percentage of the income (subject to a hurdle rate) and as a percentage of the realized gain on invested capital, may encourage our investment adviser to use leverage to increase the return on our investments or otherwise manipulate our income so as to recognize income in quarters where the hurdle rate is exceeded. Under certain circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor the holders of our common stock, including investors in offerings of common stock pursuant to this prospectus.

The incentive fee payable by us to our investment adviser also may create an incentive for our investment adviser to invest on our behalf in instruments that have a deferred interest feature. Under these investments, we 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. Our net investment income used to calculate the income portion of our incentive fee, however, includes accrued interest. Thus, a portion of the incentive fee would be based on income that we have not yet received in cash and may never receive in cash if the portfolio company is unable to satisfy such interest payment obligation to us. Consequently, while we may make incentive fee payments on income accruals that we may not collect in the future and with respect to which we do not have a formal “claw back” right against our investment adviser per se, the amount of accrued income written off in any period will reduce the income in the period in which such write-off was taken and thereby reduce such period’s incentive fee payment.

 

In addition, our investment adviser receives the incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. Unlike the portion of the incentive fee based on income, there is no performance threshold applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains. As a result, our investment adviser may have a tendency to invest more in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

 

Given the subjective nature of the investment decisions made by our investment adviser on our behalf, we will be unable to monitor these potential conflicts of interest between us and our investment adviser.

 

Our base management fee may induce our investment adviser to incur leverage.

 

The fact that our base management fee is payable based upon our gross assets, which would include any borrowings for investment purposes, may encourage our investment adviser to use leverage to make additional investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of increased leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor holders of our common stock, including investors in offerings of common stock pursuant to this prospectus. Given the subjective nature of the investment decisions made by our investment adviser on our behalf, we will not be able to monitor this potential conflict of interest.

 

Because we borrow money, the potential for loss on amounts invested in us will be magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.

 

Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for loss on invested equity capital. If we continue to use leverage to partially finance our investments, through borrowings from banks and others, you will experience increased risks of investing in our common stock. We, through our SBIC subsidiary, issue debt securities guaranteed by the SBA and sold in the capital markets. As a result of its guarantee of the debt securities, the SBA has fixed dollar claims on the assets of our SBIC subsidiary that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders. We may also borrow under our credit facilities. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make common stock distribution payments. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we, through our SBIC subsidiary, had $123.3 million of outstanding indebtedness guaranteed by the SBA and $89.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under our credit facilities. The debentures and our credit facilities require periodic payments of interest. The weighted average interest rate charged on our borrowings as of December 31, 2010 was 3.42% (exclusive of deferred financing costs). We will need to generate sufficient cash flow to make these required interest payments. If we are unable to meet the financial obligations under the debentures, the SBA, as a creditor, will have a superior claim to the assets of our SBIC subsidiary over our stockholders in the event we liquidate or the SBA exercises its remedies under such debentures as the result of a default by us. If we are unable to meet the financial obligations under our credit facilities, the lenders under the credit facilities will have a superior to claim to our assets over our stockholders.

 

We have received exemptive relief from the SEC to permit us to exclude the debt of our SBIC subsidiary guaranteed by the SBA from the definition of senior securities in the 200% asset coverage ratio we are required to

maintain under the 1940 Act. As a result of our receipt of this relief, we have the ability to incur leverage in excess of the amounts set forth in the 1940 Act. If we incur additional leverage in excess of the amounts set forth in the 1940 Act, our net asset value will decline more sharply if the value of our assets declines than if we had not incurred such additional leverage and the effects of leverage described above will be magnified.

 

Illustration.  The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns, net of expenses. The calculations in the table below are hypothetical and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing below.

 

Assumed Return on Our Portfolio(1)
(net of expenses)

 

 

 

 

Substantially all of our assets are subject to security interests under secured credit facilities or claims of the SBA with respect to our SBA-guaranteed debentures and if we default on our obligations thereunder, we may suffer adverse consequences, including the lenders and/or the SBA foreclosing on our assets.

 

As of December 31, 2010, substantially all of our assets were pledged as collateral under our credit facilities or subject to a superior claim over our stockholders by the SBA. If we default on our obligations under these facilities or our SBA-guaranteed debentures, the lenders and/or the SBA may have the right to foreclose upon and sell, or otherwise transfer, the collateral subject to their security interests or their superior claim. In such event, we may be forced to sell our investments to raise funds to repay our outstanding borrowings in order to avoid foreclosure and these forced sales may be at times and at prices we would not consider advantageous. Moreover, such deleveraging of our company could significantly impair our ability to effectively operate our business in the manner in which we have historically operated. As a result, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities and lower or eliminate the dividends that we have historically paid to our stockholders.

 

In addition, if the lenders exercise their right to sell the assets pledged under our credit facilities, such sales may be completed at distressed sale prices, thereby diminishing or potentially eliminating the amount of cash available to us after repayment of the amounts outstanding under the credit facilities.

 

Because we intend to distribute between 90% and 100% of our income to our stockholders in connection with our election to be treated as a RIC, we will continue to need additional capital to finance our growth. If additional funds are unavailable or not available on favorable terms, our ability to grow will be impaired.

 

In order to qualify for the tax benefits available to RICs and to minimize corporate-level taxes, we intend to distribute to our stockholders between 90% and 100% of our annual taxable income, except that we may retain certain net capital gains for investment, and treat such amounts as deemed distributions to our stockholders. If we elect to treat any amounts as deemed distributions, we must pay income taxes at the corporate rate on such deemed distributions on behalf of our stockholders. As a result of these requirements, we will likely need to raise capital from other sources to grow our business. As a business development company, we generally are 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 our borrowings and any outstanding preferred stock, of at least 200%. These requirements limit the amount that we may borrow. Because we will continue to need capital to grow our investment portfolio, these limitations may prevent us from incurring debt and require us to raise additional equity at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

 

While we expect to be able to borrow and to issue additional debt and equity securities, we cannot assure you that debt and equity financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. Also, as a business development company, we generally are not permitted to issue equity securities priced below net asset value without stockholder

approval. If additional funds are not available to us, we could be forced to curtail or cease new investment activities, and our net asset value and share price could decline.

 

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

 

We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with certain of our affiliates without the prior approval of the members of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities is our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act and we are generally prohibited from buying or selling any securities (other than our securities) from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of our independent directors. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of our voting securities, we are prohibited from buying or selling any security (other than any security of which we are the issuer) from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such person, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers, or directors or their affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, we may be prohibited from buying or selling any security (other than any security of which we are the issuer) from or to any portfolio company of a private equity fund managed by our investment adviser without the prior approval of the SEC, which may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us.

 

There are significant potential conflicts of interest which could adversely impact our investment returns.

 

Our executive officers and directors, and certain members of our 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 our affiliates. Accordingly, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders. For example, Mr. Tannenbaum, our chief executive officer and managing partner of our investment adviser, is the managing partner of Fifth Street Capital LLC, a private investment firm. Although the other investment funds managed by Fifth Street Capital LLC and its affiliates generally are fully committed and, other than follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies, are no longer making investments, in the future, the principals of our investment adviser may manage other funds which may from time to time have overlapping investment objectives with those of us and accordingly invest in, whether principally or secondarily, asset classes similar to those targeted by us. If this should occur, the principals of our investment adviser would face conflicts of interest in the allocation of investment opportunities to us and such other funds. Although our investment professionals will endeavor to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, we and our common stockholders could be adversely affected in the event investment opportunities are allocated among us and other investment vehicles managed or sponsored by, or affiliated with, our executive officers, directors and members of our investment adviser.

 

The incentive fee we pay to our investment adviser relating to capital gains may be effectively greater than 20%.

 

As a result of the operation of the cumulative method of calculating the capital gains portion of the incentive fee we pay to our investment adviser, the cumulative aggregate capital gains fee received by our investment adviser could be effectively greater than 20%, depending on the timing and extent of subsequent net realized capital losses or net unrealized depreciation. For additional information on this calculation, see the disclosure in footnote 2 to Example 2 under the caption “Investment Advisory Agreement — Management Fee — Incentive Fee.” We cannot predict whether, or to what extent, this payment calculation would affect your investment in our stock.

 

The involvement of our investment adviser’s investment professionals in our valuation process may create conflicts of interest.

 

Our portfolio investments are generally not in publicly traded securities. As a result, the values of these securities are not readily available. We value these securities at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Valuation Committee of our Board of Directors. In connection with that determination, investment professionals from our investment adviser prepare portfolio company

valuations based upon the most recent portfolio company financial statements available and projected financial results of each portfolio company. The participation of our investment adviser’s investment professionals in our valuation process could result in a conflict of interest as our investment adviser’s management fee is based, in part, on our gross assets.

 

A failure on our part to maintain our qualification as a business development company would significantly reduce our operating flexibility.

 

If we fail to continuously qualify as a business development company, we might be subject to regulation as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would significantly decrease our operating flexibility. In addition, failure to comply with the requirements imposed on business development companies by the 1940 Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us. For additional information on the qualification requirements of a business development company, see the disclosure under the caption “Regulation — Business Development Company Regulations.”

 

Regulations governing our operation as a business development company and RIC affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital or borrow for investment purposes, which may have a negative effect on our growth.

 

As a result of the annual distribution requirement to qualify for tax free treatment at the corporate level on income and gains distributed to stockholders, we need to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments. We generally are not able to issue or sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share, which may be a disadvantage as compared with other public companies or private investment funds. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock if our Board of Directors and independent directors determine that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders as well as those stockholders that are not affiliated with us approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any underwriting commission or discount). If our common stock trades at a discount to net asset value, this restriction could adversely affect our ability to raise capital.

 

We also may make rights offerings to our stockholders at prices less than net asset value, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. If we raise additional funds by issuing more shares of our common stock or issuing senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, the percentage ownership of our stockholders may decline at that time and such stockholders may experience dilution. Moreover, we can offer no assurance that we will be able to issue and sell additional equity securities in the future, on terms favorable to us or at all.

 

In addition, we may issue “senior securities,” including borrowing money from banks or other financial institutions only in amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% after such incurrence or issuance. Our ability to issue different types of securities is also limited. Compliance with these requirements may unfavorably limit our investment opportunities and reduce our ability in comparison to other companies to profit from favorable spreads between the rates at which we can borrow and the rates at which we can lend. As a business development company, therefore, we may need to issue equity more frequently than our privately owned competitors, which may lead to greater stockholder dilution.

 

We expect to continue to borrow for investment purposes. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy the asset coverage test, which could prohibit us from paying dividends and could prevent us from qualifying as a RIC. If we cannot satisfy the asset coverage test, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our debt financing, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.

 

In addition, we may in the future seek to securitize our portfolio securities to generate cash for funding new investments. To securitize loans, we would likely create a wholly-owned subsidiary and contribute a pool of loans to the subsidiary. We would then sell interests in the subsidiary on a non-recourse basis to purchasers and we would retain all or a portion of the equity in the subsidiary. An inability to successfully securitize our loan portfolio could

limit our ability to grow our business or fully execute our business strategy and may decrease our earnings, if any. The securitization market is subject to changing market conditions and we may not be able to access this market when we would otherwise deem appropriate. Moreover, the successful securitization of our portfolio might expose us to losses as the residual investments in which we do 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.

 

Our SBIC subsidiary’s investment adviser has no prior experience managing an SBIC and any failure to comply with SBA regulations, resulting from our SBIC subsidiary’s investment adviser’s lack of experience or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

 

On February 3, 2010, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners IV, L.P., received a license, effective February 1, 2010, from the SBA to operate as an SBIC under Section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 and is regulated by the SBA. The SBIC license allows our SBIC subsidiary to obtain leverage by issuing SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the issuance of a capital commitment by the SBA and other customary procedures. The SBA places certain limitations on the financing terms of investments by SBICs in portfolio companies and prohibits SBICs from providing funds for certain purposes or to businesses in a few prohibited industries. Compliance with SBIC requirements may cause our SBIC subsidiary to forego attractive investment opportunities that are not permitted under SBA regulations.

 

Further, SBA regulations require that a licensed SBIC be periodically examined and audited by the SBA to determine its compliance with the relevant SBA regulations. The SBA prohibits, without prior SBA approval, a “change of control” of an SBIC or transfers that would result in any person (or a group of persons acting in concert) owning 10% or more of a class of capital stock of a licensed SBIC. If our SBIC subsidiary fails to comply with applicable SBA regulations, the SBA could, depending on the severity of the violation, limit or prohibit its use of debentures, declare outstanding debentures immediately due and payable, and/or limit it from making new investments. In addition, the SBA can revoke or suspend a license for willful or repeated violation of, or willful or repeated failure to observe, any provision of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. These actions by the SBA would, in turn, negatively affect us because our SBIC subsidiary is our wholly-owned subsidiary. Our SBIC subsidiary’s investment adviser does not have any prior experience managing an SBIC. Its lack of experience in complying with SBA regulations may hinder its ability to take advantage of our SBIC subsidiary’s access to SBA-guaranteed debentures.

 

Any failure to comply with SBA regulations could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

 

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.

 

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including our ability or inability to make investments in companies that meet our investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities we acquire, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our market 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.

 

Our Board of Directors may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.

 

Our Board of Directors has the authority to modify or waive our current investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current investment objective, operating policies and strategies would have on our business, net asset value, operating results and value of our stock. However, the effects might be adverse, which could negatively impact our ability to pay you distributions and cause you to lose part or all of your investment.

We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or do not satisfy the annual distribution requirement.

 

To maintain RIC status and be relieved of federal taxes on income and gains distributed to our stockholders, we must meet the following annual distribution, income source and asset diversification requirements.

 

 

If we fail to qualify for or maintain RIC status or to meet the annual distribution requirement for any reason and are subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.

 

We may not be able to pay you distributions, our distributions may not grow over time and a portion of our distributions may be a return of capital.

 

We intend to pay distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by, among other things, the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. In addition, the inability to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to us as a business development company can limit our ability to pay distributions. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our RIC status, compliance with applicable business development company regulations and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that we will pay distributions to our stockholders in the future.

 

When we make distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of an investor’s basis in our stock and, assuming that an investor holds our stock as a capital asset, thereafter as a capital gain.

 

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

 

For federal income tax purposes, we include in income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as original issue discount or accruals on a contingent payment debt instrument, which may occur if we receive warrants in connection with the origination of a loan or possibly in other circumstances including with respect to equity investments in foreign corporations. Such original issue discount is included in income before we receive any

corresponding cash payments. We also may be required to include in income certain other amounts that we do not receive in cash.

 

Since, in certain cases, we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to be relieved of federal taxes on income and gains distributed to our stockholders. Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to satisfy the annual distribution requirement and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.

 

We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.

 

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in part in our stock. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, any such sales may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.

 

In addition, as discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, our loans typically contain a payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest provision. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified in each loan agreement, is added to the principal balance of the loan and recorded as interest income. To avoid the imposition of corporate-level tax on us, this non-cash source of income needs to be paid out to stockholders in cash distributions or, in the event that we determine to do so, in shares of our common stock, even though we have not yet collected and may never collect the cash relating to the PIK interest. As a result, if we distribute taxable dividends in the form of our common stock, we may have to distribute a stock dividend to account for PIK interest even though we have not yet collected the cash.

 

Our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiary may be unable to make distributions to us that will enable us to maintain RIC status, which could result in the imposition of an entity-level tax.

 

In order for us to continue to qualify for RIC tax treatment and to minimize corporate-level taxes, we are required to distribute substantially all of our net ordinary income and net capital gain income, including income from certain of our subsidiaries, which includes the income from our SBIC subsidiary. We are partially dependent on our SBIC subsidiary for cash distributions to enable us to meet the RIC distribution requirements. Our SBIC subsidiary may be limited by the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and SBA regulations governing SBICs, from making certain distributions to us that may be necessary to maintain our status as a RIC. We may have to request a waiver of the SBA’s restrictions for our SBIC subsidiary to make certain distributions to maintain our RIC status. We cannot assure you that the SBA will grant such waiver and if our SBIC subsidiary is unable to obtain a waiver, compliance with the SBA regulations may result in loss of RIC tax treatment and a consequent imposition of an entity-level tax on us.

 

Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.

 

We and our portfolio companies are subject to regulation at the local, state and federal level. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make or that impose limits on our ability to pledge a significant amount of our assets to secure loans, any of which could harm us and our stockholders, potentially with retroactive effect.

Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans set forth in this prospectus and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of our investment adviser to other types of investments in which our investment adviser may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.

 

We have identified deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting from time to time. Future control deficiencies could prevent us from accurately and timely reporting our financial results.

 

We have identified deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting from time to time, including significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. A “significant deficiency” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those responsible for oversight of a company’s financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

Our failure to identify deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in a timely manner or remediate any deficiencies, or the identification of material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the future could prevent us from accurately and timely reporting our financial results.

 

Risks Relating to Our Investments

 

Our investments in portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.

 

Investing in small and mid-sized companies involves a number of significant risks. Among other things, these companies:

 

 

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

An investment strategy focused primarily on privately held companies presents certain challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies.

 

We invest primarily in privately held companies. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, including typically a lack of audited financial statements and ratings by third parties. We must therefore rely on the ability of our investment adviser to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential risks of investing in these companies. These companies and their financial information may not be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules that govern public companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments. These factors could affect our investment returns.

 

If we make unsecured debt investments, we may lack adequate protection in the event our portfolio companies become distressed or insolvent and will likely experience a lower recovery than more senior debtholders in the event our portfolio companies defaults on their indebtedness.

 

We may make unsecured debt investments in portfolio companies in the future. Unsecured debt investments are unsecured and junior to other indebtedness of the portfolio company. As a consequence, the holder of an unsecured debt investment may lack adequate protection in the event the portfolio company becomes distressed or insolvent and will likely experience a lower recovery than more senior debtholders in the event the portfolio company defaults on its indebtedness. In addition, unsecured debt investments of small and mid-sized companies are often highly illiquid and in adverse market conditions may experience steep declines in valuation even if they are fully performing.

 

If we invest in the securities and obligations of distressed or bankrupt companies, such investments may be subject to significant risks, including lack of income, extraordinary expenses, uncertainty with respect to satisfaction of debt, lower-than expected investment values or income potentials and resale restrictions.

 

We are authorized to invest in the securities and other obligations of distressed or bankrupt companies. At times, distressed debt obligations may not produce income and may require us to bear certain extraordinary expenses (including legal, accounting, valuation and transaction expenses) in order to protect and recover our investment. Therefore, to the extent we invest in distressed debt, our ability to achieve current income for our stockholders may be diminished.

 

We also will be subject to significant uncertainty as to when and in what manner and for what value the distressed debt we invest in will eventually be satisfied (e.g., through a liquidation of the obligor’s assets, an exchange offer or plan of reorganization involving the distressed debt securities or a payment of some amount in satisfaction of the obligation). In addition, even if an exchange offer is made or plan of reorganization is adopted with respect to distressed debt held by us, there can be no assurance that the securities or other assets received by us in connection with such exchange offer or plan of reorganization will not have a lower value or income potential than may have been anticipated when the investment was made.

 

Moreover, any securities received by us upon completion of an exchange offer or plan of reorganization may be restricted as to resale. As a result of our participation in negotiations with respect to any exchange offer or plan of reorganization with respect to an issuer of distressed debt, we may be restricted from disposing of such securities.

 

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

 

We invest, 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. In fact, all of our assets may be invested in illiquid securities. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments. Our 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. The illiquidity of most of our investments may make it difficult for us to dispose of them at a favorable price, and, as a result, we may suffer losses.

We may not have the funds or ability to make additional investments in our portfolio companies.

 

After our initial investment in a portfolio company, we may be called upon from time to time to provide additional funds to such company or have the opportunity to increase our investment through the exercise of a warrant to purchase common stock. There is no assurance that we will make, or will have sufficient funds to make, follow-on investments. Any decisions not to make a follow-on investment or any inability on our part to make such an investment may have a negative impact on a portfolio company in need of such an investment, may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation or may reduce the expected yield on the investment.

 

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

 

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

 

The disposition of our investments may result in contingent liabilities.

 

Most of our investments will involve private securities. In connection with the disposition of an investment in private securities, we may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of the portfolio company typical of those made in connection with the sale of a business. We 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 our return of certain distributions previously made to us.

 

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

 

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

 

Second priority liens on collateral securing loans that we make to our 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 us.

 

Certain loans that we make 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 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 us. 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 we, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, will only have an unsecured claim against the company’s remaining assets, if any.

 

The rights we may have with respect to the collateral securing the loans we make to our portfolio companies with senior debt outstanding may also be limited pursuant to the terms of one or more intercreditor agreements that we enter into with the holders of senior debt. Under such 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 with respect to 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. We may not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if our rights are adversely affected.

 

We generally do not and will not control our portfolio companies.

 

We do not, and do not expect to, control most of our portfolio companies, even though we may have board representation or board observation rights, and our debt agreements may contain certain restrictive covenants. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company in which we invest may make business decisions with which we disagree and the management of such company, as representatives of the holders of their common equity, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve our interests as a debt investor. Due to the lack of liquidity for our investments in non-traded companies, we may not be able to dispose of our interests in our portfolio companies as readily as we would like or at an appropriate valuation. As a result, a portfolio company may make decisions that could decrease the value of our portfolio holdings.

 

Defaults by our portfolio companies would harm our operating results.

 

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of 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 we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company.

 

We may not realize gains from our equity investments.

 

Certain investments that we have made in the past and may make in the future include warrants or other equity securities. In addition, we have made in the past and may make in the future direct equity investments in companies. Our goal is ultimately to realize gains upon our disposition of such equity interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests. We often seek puts or similar rights to give us the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company issuer. We may be unable to exercise these puts rights for the consideration provided in our investment documents if the issuer is in financial distress.

 

We are subject to certain risks associated with foreign investments.

 

We may make investments in foreign companies. Investing in foreign companies may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in foreign exchange

rates, 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.

 

Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other risks. We cannot assure you that these and other factors will not have a material adverse effect on our business as a whole.

 

We may expose ourselves to risks if we engage in hedging transactions.

 

We have and may in the future enter into hedging transactions, which may expose us to risks associated with such transactions. We may utilize instruments such as forward contracts and interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the relative values of our portfolio positions and amounts due under our credit facilities from changes in market interest rates. Use of these hedging instruments may include counterparty credit risk. Utilizing such hedging instruments does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions and amounts due under our credit facilities or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. However, such hedging can establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions should increase. Moreover, it may not be possible to hedge against an interest rate fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that we are not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price.

 

The success of our hedging transactions will depend on our ability to correctly predict movements and interest rates. Therefore, while we may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in interest rates may result in poorer overall investment performance than if we 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 may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings or credit facilities being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. See also “— Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.”

 

Risks Relating to an Offering of Our Common Stock

 

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, may trade at a discount to their net asset value.

 

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, may trade at a discount from net asset value. This characteristic of closed-end investment companies and business development companies is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our common stock will trade at, above or below net asset value.

 

We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds of this offering on acceptable terms within an attractive timeframe.

 

Delays in investing the net proceeds raised in an offering may cause our performance to be worse than that of other fully invested business development companies or other lenders or investors pursuing comparable investment strategies. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify any investments that meet our investment objective or that any investment that we make will produce a positive return. We may be unable to invest the net proceeds of any offering on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.

 

We anticipate that, depending on market conditions, it may take us a substantial period of time to invest substantially all of the net proceeds of any offering in securities meeting our investment objective. During this period, we will invest the net proceeds of an offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of

investment, which may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns which we expect to achieve when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective. As a result, any distributions that we pay during this period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we may be able to pay when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective. In addition, until such time as the net proceeds of an offering are invested in securities meeting our investment objective, the market price for our common stock may decline. Thus, the initial return on your investment may be lower than when, if ever, our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective.

 

Investing in our common stock may involve an above average degree of risk.

 

The investments we make in accordance with our investment objective may result in a higher amount of risk than alternative investment options and a higher risk of volatility or loss of principal. Our investments in portfolio companies involve higher levels of risk, and therefore, an investment in our shares may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.

 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

 

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

 

 

Certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws as well as the Delaware General Corporation Law could deter takeover attempts and have a material adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

 

Our restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated 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. These anti-takeover provisions may inhibit a change in control in circumstances that could give the holders of our common stock the opportunity to realize a premium over the market price for our common stock.

 

Some of the statements in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement may include statements as to:

 

 

In addition, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect” and “intend” indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, and any accompanying prospectus supplement, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:

 

 

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and will base the forward-looking statements included in any accompanying prospectus supplement on information available to us on the date of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as appropriate, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we in the future may file with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and the forward looking statements contained in our periodic reports are excluded from the safe-harbor protection provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the “Exchange Act.”

 

We intend to use substantially all of the net proceeds from selling our common stock to make investments in small and mid-sized companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to reduce any of our outstanding borrowings. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds primarily in high quality, short-term debt securities consistent with our business development company election and our election to be taxed as a RIC. See “Regulation — Business Development Company Regulations — Temporary Investments.” Our ability to achieve our investment objective may be limited to the extent that the net proceeds from an offering, pending full investment, are held in interest-bearing deposits or other short-term instruments. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to an Offering of our Common Stock — We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds of this offering on acceptable terms within an attractive timeframe” for additional information regarding this matter. The supplement to this prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of proceeds from such an offering.

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSC.” The following table sets forth, for each fiscal quarter during the last two most recently completed fiscal years and for the first fiscal quarter of 2011 and the second fiscal quarter of 2011 through March 28, 2011, the range of high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, the sales price as a percentage of our net asset value (NAV) and the dividends declared by us for each fiscal quarter.

 

 

 

 

The last reported price for our common stock on March 28, 2011 was $13.37 per share. As of March 28, 2011, we had 44 stockholders of record, which did not include stockholders for whom shares are held in nominee or street name.

 

Shares of business development companies may trade at a market price that is less than the value of the net assets attributable to those shares. The possibilities that our shares of common stock will trade at a discount from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term are separate and distinct from the risk that our

net asset value will decrease. It is not possible to predict whether the common stock offered hereby will trade at, above, or below net asset value. Since our initial public offering in June 2008, our shares of common stock have at times traded at prices significantly less than our net asset value.

 

Our dividends, if any, are determined by our Board of Directors. We have elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As long as we qualify as a RIC, we will not be taxed on our investment company taxable income or realized net capital gains, to the extent that such taxable income or gains are distributed, or deemed to be distributed, to stockholders on a timely basis.

 

To maintain RIC tax treatment, we must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Depending on the level of taxable income earned in a tax year, we may choose to carry forward taxable income in excess of current year distributions into the next tax year and pay a 4% excise tax on such income. Any such carryover taxable income must be distributed through a dividend declared prior to filing the final tax return related to the year which generated such taxable income. Please refer to “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for further information regarding the consequences of our retention of net capital gains. We may, in the future, make actual distributions to our stockholders of our net capital gains. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we may be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings. See “Regulation” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

We have adopted an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders. As a result, if we make a cash distribution, then stockholders’ cash distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, unless they specifically “opt out” of the dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash distributions.

 

On October 22, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $20 million of our outstanding common stock. Stock repurchases under this program are to be made through the open market at times and in such amounts as our management deems appropriate, provided that the price is below the most recent net asset value per share. The stock repurchase program expires December 31, 2011 and may be limited or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time without prior notice.

 

The information in this section contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

We are a specialty finance company that lends to and invests in small and mid-sized companies in connection with investments by private equity sponsors. Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio’s total return by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity investments.

 

We were formed as a Delaware limited partnership (Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P.) on February 15, 2007. Effective as of January 2, 2008, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. merged with and into Fifth Street Finance Corp. At the time of the merger, all outstanding partnership interests in Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. were exchanged for 12,480,972 shares of common stock in Fifth Street Finance Corp.

 

Our consolidated financial statements prior to January 2, 2008 reflect our operations as a Delaware limited partnership (Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P.) prior to our merger with and into a corporation (Fifth Street Finance Corp.).

 

On June 17, 2008, we completed an initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock at the offering price of $14.12 per share. Our shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSC.”

 

On July 21, 2009, we completed a follow-on public offering of 9,487,500 shares of our common stock, which included the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, at the offering price of $9.25 per share.

 

On September 25, 2009, we completed a follow-on public offering of 5,520,000 shares of our common stock, which included the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, at the offering price of $10.50 per share.

 

On January 27, 2010, we completed a follow-on public offering of 7,000,000 shares of our common stock, which did not include the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, at the offering price of $11.20 per share. On February 25, 2010, we sold 300,500 shares of our common stock at the offering price of $11.20 per share upon the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in connection with this offering.

 

On June 21, 2010, we completed a follow-on public offering of 9,200,000 shares of our common stock, which included the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, at the offering price of $11.50 per share.

 

On December 7, 2010, we entered into an at-the-market equity offering sales agreement relating to shares of our common stock. Throughout the month of December 2010, we sold 429,110 shares of our common stock at an average offering price of $11.87 per share. We terminated the at-the-market equity offering sales agreement effective January 20, 2011 and did not sell any shares of our common stock pursuant thereto subsequent to December 31, 2010.

 

Current Market Conditions

 

Since mid-2007, the global financial markets have experienced stress, volatility, illiquidity, and disruption. This turmoil appears to have peaked in the fall of 2008, resulting in several major financial institutions becoming insolvent, being acquired, or receiving government assistance. While the turmoil in the financial markets appears to have abated somewhat, the global economy continues to experience economic uncertainty. Economic uncertainty impacts our business in many ways, including changing spreads, structures, and purchase multiples as well as the overall supply of investment capital.

 

Despite the economic uncertainty, our deal pipeline remains robust, with high quality transactions backed by private equity sponsors in small to mid-sized companies. As always, we remain cautious in selecting new

investment opportunities, and will only deploy capital in deals which are consistent with our disciplined philosophy of pursuing superior risk-adjusted returns.

 

As evidenced by our recent investment activities, we expect to grow the business in part by increasing the average investment size when and where appropriate. At the same time, we expect to focus more on first lien transactions. Although we believe that we currently have sufficient capital available to fund investments, a prolonged period of market disruptions may cause us to reduce the volume of loans we originate and/or fund, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In this regard, because our common stock has at times traded at a price below our then current net asset value per share and we are limited in our ability to sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share, we may be limited in our ability to raise equity capital.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

FASB Accounting Standards Codification

 

The issuance of FASB Accounting Standards Codification^tm (the “Codification”) on July 1, 2009 (effective for interim or annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009), changes the way that U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are referenced. Beginning on that date, the Codification officially became the single source of authoritative nongovernmental GAAP; however, SEC registrants must also consider rules, regulations, and interpretive guidance issued by the SEC or its staff. The switch affects the way companies refer to GAAP in financial statements and in their accounting policies. References to standards will consist solely of the number used in the Codification’s structural organization.

 

Consistent with the effective date of the Codification, financial statements for periods ending after September 15, 2009, refer to the Codification structure, not pre-Codification historical GAAP.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

Effective January 2, 2008, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. (the “Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership organized on February 15, 2007, merged with and into Fifth Street Finance Corp. The merger involved the exchange of shares between companies under common control. In accordance with the guidance on exchanges of shares between entities under common control, our results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 are presented as if the merger had occurred as of October 1, 2007. Accordingly, no adjustments were made to the carrying value of assets and liabilities (or the cost basis of investments) as a result of the merger. Prior to January 2, 2008, references to Fifth Street are to the Partnership. After January 2, 2008, references to “Fifth Street,” “FSC,” “we” or “our” are to Fifth Street Finance Corp., unless the context otherwise requires. Fifth Street’s financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 refer to the Partnership.

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions affecting amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements. We have identified investment valuation and revenue recognition as our most critical accounting estimates. We continuously evaluate our estimates, including those related to the matters described below. These estimates are based on the information that is currently available to us and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A discussion of our critical accounting policies follows.

 

Investment Valuation

 

We are required to report our investments that are not publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available at fair value. The fair value is deemed to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

Under Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which we adopted effective October 1, 2008, we perform detailed valuations of our debt and equity investments on an individual basis, using market based, income based, and bond yield approaches as appropriate. In general, we utilize a bond yield method for the majority of our investments, as long as it is appropriate. If, in our judgment, the

bond yield approach is not appropriate, we may use the enterprise value approach, or, in certain cases, an alternative methodology potentially including an asset liquidation or expected recovery model.

 

Under the market approach, we estimate the enterprise value of the portfolio companies in which we invest. There is no one methodology to estimate enterprise value and, in fact, for any one portfolio company, enterprise value is best expressed as a range of fair values, from which we derive a single estimate of enterprise value. To estimate the enterprise value of a portfolio company, we analyze various factors, including the portfolio company’s historical and projected financial results. Typically, private companies are valued based on multiples of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), cash flows, net income, revenues, or in limited cases, book value. We generally require portfolio companies to provide annual audited and quarterly and monthly unaudited financial statements, as well as annual projections for the upcoming fiscal year.

 

Under the income approach, we generally prepare and analyze discounted cash flow models based on our projections of the future free cash flows of the business. Under the bond yield approach, we use bond yield models to determine the present value of the future cash flow streams of our debt investments. We review various sources of transactional data, including private mergers and acquisitions involving debt investments with similar characteristics, and assess the information in the valuation process.

 

Our Board of Directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter in connection with determining the fair value of our investments:

 

 

The fair value of all of our investments at December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 was determined by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is solely responsible for the valuation of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to our valuation policy and our consistently applied valuation process.

 

Our Board of Directors has engaged independent valuation firms to provide us with valuation assistance. Upon completion of their processes each quarter, the independent valuation firms provide us with written reports regarding the preliminary valuations of selected portfolio securities as of the close of such quarter. We will continue to engage independent valuation firms to provide us with assistance regarding our determination of the fair value of selected portfolio securities each quarter; however, our Board of Directors is ultimately and solely responsible for determining the fair value of our investments in good faith.

The portions of our portfolio valued, as a percentage of the portfolio at fair value, by independent valuation firms by period were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Our $50 million credit facility with Bank of Montreal was terminated effective September 16, 2009. The facility required independent valuations for at least 90% of the portfolio on a quarterly basis. With the termination of this facility, this valuation test is no longer required. However, we still intend to have a portion of the portfolio valued by an independent third party on a quarterly basis, with a substantial portion being valued on an annual basis.

 

As of December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, approximately 92.9%, 86.5% and 72.0%, respectively, of our total assets represented investments in portfolio companies valued at fair value.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Interest and Dividend Income

 

Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of original issue discount, is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. We stop accruing interest on investments when it is determined that interest is no longer collectible. Distributions from portfolio companies are recorded as dividend income when the distribution is received.

 

Fee Income

 

We receive a variety of fees in the ordinary course of business. Certain fees, such as origination fees, are capitalized and amortized in accordance with ASC 310-20 Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs. In accordance with ASC 820, the net unearned fee income balance is netted against the cost and fair value of the respective investments. Other fees, such as servicing fees, are classified as fee income and recognized as they are earned on a monthly basis.

 

We have also structured exit fees across certain of our portfolio investments to be received upon the future exit of those investments. These fees are to be paid to us upon the sooner to occur of (i) a sale of the borrower or substantially all of the assets of the borrower, (ii) the maturity date of the loan, or (iii) the date when full prepayment of the loan occurs. Exit fees are fees which are earned and payable upon the exit of a debt security and, similar to a prepayment penalty, are not accrued or otherwise included in net investment income until received. The receipt of such fees as well as the timing of our receipt of such fees is contingent upon a successful exit event for each of the investments.

Payment-in-Kind (PIK) Interest

 

Our loans typically contain a contractual PIK interest provision. The PIK interest, which represents contractually deferred interest added to the loan balance that is generally due at the end of the loan term, is generally recorded on the accrual basis to the extent such amounts are expected to be collected. We generally cease accruing PIK interest if there is insufficient value to support the accrual or if we do not expect the portfolio company to be able to pay all principal and interest due. Our decision to cease accruing PIK interest involves subjective judgments and determinations based on available information about a particular portfolio company, including whether the portfolio company is current with respect to its payment of principal and interest on its loans and debt securities; monthly and quarterly financial statements and financial projections for the portfolio company; our assessment of the portfolio company’s business development success, including product development, profitability and the portfolio company’s overall adherence to its business plan; information obtained by us in connection with periodic formal update interviews with the portfolio company’s management and, if appropriate, the private equity sponsor; and information about the general economic and market conditions in which the portfolio company operates. Based on this and other information, we determine whether to cease accruing PIK interest on a loan or debt security. Our determination to cease accruing PIK interest on a loan or debt security is generally made well before our full write-down of such loan or debt security. In addition, if it is subsequently determined that we will not be able to collect any previously accrued PIK interest, the fair value of our loans or debt securities would decline by the amount of such previously accrued, but uncollectible, PIK interest.

 

For a discussion of risks we are subject to as a result of our use of PIK interest in connection with our investments, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure — We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income,” “— We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive” and “— Our incentive fee may induce our investment adviser to make speculative investments”. In addition, if it is subsequently determined that we will not be able to collect any previously accrued PIK interest, the fair value of our loans or debt securities would decline by the amount of such previously accrued, but uncollectible, PIK interest.

 

To maintain our status as a RIC, PIK income must be paid out to our stockholders in the form of dividends even though we have not yet collected the cash and may never collect the cash relating to the PIK interest. Accumulated PIK interest was $17.3 million and represented 2.3% of the fair value of our portfolio of investments as of December 31, 2010, $19.3 million or 3.4% as of September 30, 2010 and $12.1 million or 4.0% as of September 30, 2009. The net increase in loan balances as a result of contracted PIK arrangements are separately identified in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

The accrual of PIK interest on our debt investments increases the recorded cost basis of these investments in our financial statements and, as a result, increases the cost basis of these investments for purposes of computing the capital gains incentive fee payable by us to our investment adviser.

 

Portfolio Composition

 

Our investments principally consist of loans, purchased equity investments and equity grants in privately-held companies. Our loans are typically secured by either a first or second lien on the assets of the portfolio company and generally have terms of up to six years (but an expected average life of between three and four years). We are currently focusing our new debt origination efforts on first lien loans because we believe that the risk-adjusted returns from these loans are superior to second lien and unsecured loans at this time and offer superior credit quality. However, we may choose to originate second lien and unsecured loans in the future.

A summary of the composition of our investment portfolio at cost and fair value as a percentage of total investments is shown in the following tables:

 

 

 

The industry composition of our portfolio at cost and fair value as a percentage of total investments were as follows:

 

 

Portfolio Asset Quality

 

We employ a grading system to assess and monitor the credit risk of our investment portfolio. We rate all investments on a scale from 1 to 5. The system is intended to reflect the performance of the borrower’s business, the collateral coverage of the loan, and other factors considered relevant to making a credit judgment.

 

 

The following table shows the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 5 investment rating scale at fair value, as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010:

 

 

 

 

We may from time to time modify the payment terms of our investments, either in response to current economic conditions and their impact on certain of our portfolio companies or in accordance with tier pricing provisions in certain loan agreements. As of December 31, 2010, we had modified the payment terms of our investments in four portfolio companies. Such modified terms may include increased PIK interest provisions and reduced cash interest rates. These modifications, and any future modifications to our loan agreements may limit the amount of interest income that we recognize from the modified investments, which may, in turn, limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Loans and Debt Securities on Non-Accrual Status

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had stopped accruing cash interest, PIK interest and original issue discount (“OID”) on three investments that did not pay all of their scheduled monthly cash interest payments for the period ended December 31, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, we had stopped accruing PIK interest and OID on five investments that did not pay all of their scheduled monthly cash interest payments for the year ended September 30, 2010. As of December 31, 2009, we had stopped accruing PIK interest and OID on five investments, including two investments that had not paid all of their scheduled monthly cash interest payments.

 

The non-accrual status of our portfolio investments as of December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was as follows:

 

 

Non-accrual interest amounts related to the above investments for the three months ended December 31, 2010, the year ended September 30, 2010 and the three months ended December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

Discussion and Analysis of Results and Operations

 

Results of Operations

 

The principal measure of our financial performance is net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations, which includes net investment income (loss), net realized gain (loss) and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Net investment income is the difference between our income from interest, dividends, fees, and other investment income and total expenses. Net realized gain (loss) on investments is the difference between the proceeds received from dispositions of portfolio investments and their stated costs. Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is the net change in the fair value of our investment portfolio and derivative instruments.

 

Comparison of the three months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

Total Investment Income

 

Total investment income includes interest and dividend income on our investments, fee income and other investment income. Fee income consists principally of loan and arrangement fees, administrative fees, unused fees, amendment fees, equity structuring fees, exit fees, prepayment fees and waiver fees. Other investment income consists primarily of dividend income received from certain of our equity investments and interest on cash and cash equivalents on deposit with financial institutions.

 

Total investment income for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $25.3 million and $13.2 million, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, this amount primarily consisted of $20.8 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $3.1 million of PIK interest), and $4.5 million of fee income. For the three months ended December 31, 2009, total investment

income primarily consisted of $12.3 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $2.0 million of PIK interest), and $0.9 million of fee income.

 

The increase in our total investment income for the three months ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to higher average levels of outstanding debt investments, which was principally due to an increase of 13 investments in our portfolio in the year-over-year period, partially offset by scheduled amortization repayments received and other debt payoffs during the same period.

 

Expenses

 

Expenses (net of the permanently waived portion of the base management fee) for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were $11.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively. Expenses increased for the three months ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2009 by $6.4 million, primarily as a result of increases in the base management fee, the incentive fee, interest expense, professional fees, and other general and administrative expenses.

 

The increase in base management and incentive fees resulted from an increase in our total assets as reflected in the growth of the investment portfolio, offset partially by our investment adviser’s unilateral decision to waive $0.7 million of the base management fee for the three months ended December 31, 2009. The increase in interest expense resulted from a $174.3 million increase in debt levels in the year-over-year period.

 

Net Investment Income

 

As a result of the $12.1 million increase in total investment income as compared to the $6.4 million increase in net expenses, net investment income for the three months ended December 31, 2010 reflected a $5.7 million, or 68.4%, increase compared to the three months ended December 31, 2009.

 

Realized Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments is the difference between the proceeds received from dispositions of portfolio investments and their stated costs. Realized losses may also be recorded in connection with our determination that certain investments are considered worthless securities and/or meet the conditions for loss recognition per the applicable tax rules.

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2010, we recorded the following investment realization events:

 

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2009, we received a cash payment in the amount of $0.1 million, representing a payment in full of all amounts due in connection with the cancellation of our loan agreement with American Hardwoods Industries, LLC. We recorded a $0.1 million reduction to the previously recorded $10.4 million realized loss on this investment.

 

Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation on Investments and Interest Rate Swaps

 

Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation is the net change in the fair value of our investment portfolio and interest rate swaps during the reporting period, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized.

During the three months ended December 31, 2010, we recorded net unrealized appreciation of $16.8 million. This consisted of $10.3 million of reclassifications to realized losses, $5.5 million of net unrealized appreciation on debt investments, $0.3 million of net unrealized appreciation on equity investments and $0.7 million of net unrealized appreciation on interest rate swaps. During the three months ended December 31, 2009, we recorded net unrealized appreciation of $1.0 million. This consisted of $1.2 million of net unrealized appreciation on debt investments, partially offset by $0.2 million of net unrealized depreciation on equity investments.

 

Comparison of years ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009

 

Total Investment Income

 

Total investment income for the years ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 was $70.5 million and $49.8 million, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2010, this amount primarily consisted of $63.9 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $10.0 million of PIK interest), and $6.0 million of fee income. For the year ended September 30, 2009, this amount primarily consisted of $46.0 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $7.4 million of PIK interest), and $3.5 million of fee income.

 

The increase in our total investment income for the year ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the year ended September 30, 2009 was primarily attributable to a net increase of eight debt investments in our portfolio in the year-over-year period, partially offset by scheduled amortization repayments received and other debt payoffs during the same period.

 

Expenses

 

Expenses (net of the permanently waived portion of the base management fee) for the years ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 were $27.5 million and $18.4 million, respectively. Expenses increased for the year ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the year ended September 30, 2009 by $9.1 million, primarily as a result of increases in the base management fee, the incentive fee, interest expense, administrator expense, and other general and administrative expenses.

 

The increase in base management and incentive fees resulted from an increase in our total assets as reflected in the growth of the investment portfolio, offset partially by our investment adviser’s unilateral decision to waive $727,000 and $172,000 of the base management fee for the years ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, respectively.

 

Net Investment Income

 

As a result of the $20.7 million increase in total investment income as compared to the $9.1 million increase in total expenses, net investment income for the year ended September 30, 2010 reflected a $11.6 million, or 37.2%, increase compared to the year ended September 30, 2009.

 

Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments is the difference between the proceeds received from dispositions of portfolio investments and their stated costs. Realized losses may also be recorded in connection with our determination that certain investments are considered worthless securities and/or meet the conditions for loss recognition per the applicable tax rules.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2010, we recorded the following investment realization events:

 

 

 

During the year ended September 30, 2009, we exited our investment in American Hardwoods Industries, LLC and recorded a realized loss of $10.4 million, and recorded a $4.0 million realized loss on our investment in CPAC, Inc. in connection with our determination that the investment was permanently impaired based on, among other things, our analysis of changes in the portfolio company’s business operations and prospects.

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation

 

Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation is the net change in the fair value of our investment portfolio during the reporting period, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2010, we recorded net unrealized depreciation of $1.8 million. This consisted of $18.7 million of net unrealized depreciation on debt investments and $0.8 million of net unrealized depreciation on interest rate swaps, offset by $17.2 million of reclassifications to realized losses and $0.5 million of net unrealized appreciation on equity investments.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2009, we recorded net unrealized depreciation of $10.8 million. This consisted of $23.1 million of net unrealized depreciation on debt investments and $2.0 million of net unrealized depreciation on equity investments, offset by $14.3 million of reclassifications to realized losses.

 

Comparison of years ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008

 

Total Investment Income

 

Total investment income for the years ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 was $49.8 million and $33.2 million, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2009, this amount primarily consisted of $46.0 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $7.4 million of PIK interest), and $3.5 million of fee income. For the year ended September 30, 2008, this amount primarily consisted of $30.5 million of interest income from portfolio investments (which included $4.9 million of PIK interest), and $1.8 million of fee income.

 

The increase in our total investment income for the year ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the year ended September 30, 2008 was primarily attributable to a net increase of two debt investments in our portfolio in the year-over-year period, partially offset by debt repayments received during the same period.

 

Expenses

 

Expenses (net of the permanently waived portion of the base management fee) for the years ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 were $18.4 million and $13.1 million, respectively. Expenses increased for the year ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the year ended September 30, 2008 by $5.3 million, primarily as a result of increases in base management fee, incentive fees and other general and administrative expenses.

The increase in base management fee resulted from an increase in our total assets as reflected in the growth of the investment portfolio offset partially by our investment adviser’s unilateral decision to waive $172,000 of the base management fee for the year ended September 30, 2009. Incentive fees were implemented effective January 2, 2008 when Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners III, L.P. merged with and into Fifth Street Finance Corp., and reflect the growth of our net investment income before such fees.

 

Net Investment Income

 

As a result of the $16.6 million increase in total investment income as compared to the $5.3 million increase in total expenses, net investment income for the year ended September 30, 2009 reflected a $11.3 million, or 55.7%, increase compared to the year ended September 30, 2008.

 

Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments is the difference between the proceeds received from dispositions of portfolio investments and their stated costs. During the year ended September 30, 2009, we exited our investment in American Hardwoods Industries, LLC and recorded a realized loss of $10.4 million, and recorded a $4.0 million realized loss on our investment in CPAC, Inc. in connection with our determination that the investment was permanently impaired based on, among other things, our analysis of changes in the portfolio company’s business operations and prospects. During the year ended September 30, 2008, we sold our equity investment in Filet of Chicken and realized a gain of $62,000.

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation

 

Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation is the net change in the fair value of our investment portfolio during the reporting period, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation when gains or losses are realized. During the year ended September 30, 2009, we recorded net unrealized depreciation of $10.8 million. This consisted of $23.1 million of net unrealized depreciation on debt investments and $2.0 million of net unrealized depreciation on equity investments, offset by $14.3 million of reclassifications to realized losses. During the year ended September 30, 2008, we recorded net unrealized depreciation of $16.9 million. This consisted of $12.1 million of net unrealized depreciation on debt investments and $4.8 million of net unrealized depreciation on equity investments.

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows

 

We have a number of alternatives available to fund the growth of our investment portfolio and our operations, including, but not limited to, raising equity, increasing debt, or funding from operational cash flow. Additionally, we may reduce investment size by syndicating a portion of any given transaction.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2010, we experienced a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $33.7 million. During that period, we used $159.4 million of cash in operating activities, primarily for the funding of $238.6 million of investments, partially offset by $57.6 million of principal payments received and $14.1 million of net investment income. During the same period cash provided by financing activities was $125.6 million, primarily consisting of $89.0 million of net borrowings under our credit facilities, $50.3 million of SBA borrowings, and $5.0 million of proceeds from issuances of our common stock, partially offset by $16.5 million of cash dividends paid, $0.2 million of offering costs paid and $2.0 million of deferred financing costs paid. We intend to fund our future distribution obligations through operating cash flow or with funds obtained through future equity offerings or credit facilities, as we deem appropriate.

 

For the year ended September 30, 2010, we experienced a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $36.4 million. During that period, we used $239.2 million of cash in operating activities, primarily for the funding of $325.5 million of investments, partially offset by $44.5 million of principal payments received and $43.0 million of net investment income. During the same period cash provided by financing activities was $202.7 million, primarily consisting of $179.1 million of proceeds from issuances of our common stock and $73.0 million of SBA

borrowings, partially offset by $41.8 million of cash dividends paid, $1.3 million of offering costs paid and $6.3 million of deferred financing costs paid. We intend to fund our future distribution obligations through operating cash flow or with funds obtained through future equity offerings or credit facilities, as we deem appropriate.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had $43.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, portfolio investments (at fair value) of $742.4 million, $4.7 million of interest and fees receivable, $123.3 million of SBA debentures payable, $89.0 of borrowings outstanding under our credit facilities, and unfunded commitments of $95.3 million.

 

As of September 30, 2010, we had $76.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, portfolio investments (at fair value) of $563.8 million, $3.8 million of interest and fees receivable, $73.0 million of SBA debentures payable, and unfunded commitments of $49.5 million.

 

Other Sources of Liquidity

 

We intend to continue to generate cash primarily from cash flows from operations, including interest earned from the temporary investment of cash in U.S. government securities and other high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less, future borrowings and future offerings of securities. In the future, we may also securitize a portion of our investments in first and second lien senior loans or unsecured debt or other assets. To securitize loans, we would likely create a wholly-owned subsidiary and contribute a pool of loans to the subsidiary. We would then sell interests in the subsidiary on a non-recourse basis to purchasers and we would retain all or a portion of the equity in the subsidiary. Our primary use of funds is investments in our targeted asset classes and cash distributions to holders of our common stock.

 

Although we expect to fund the growth of our investment portfolio through the net proceeds from future equity offerings, including our dividend reinvestment plan, and issuances of senior securities or future borrowings, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, our plans to raise capital may not be successful. In this regard, because our common stock has at times traded at a price below our then-current net asset value per share and we are limited in our ability to sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share, we may be limited in our ability to raise equity capital.

 

In addition, we intend to distribute between 90% and 100% of our taxable income to our stockholders in order to satisfy the requirements applicable to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code. See “Regulated Investment Company Status and Distributions” below. Consequently, we may not have the funds or the ability to fund new investments, to make additional investments in our portfolio companies, to fund our unfunded commitments to portfolio companies or to repay borrowings. In addition, the illiquidity of our portfolio investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired and, if we are required to sell these investments, we may realize significantly less than their recorded value.

 

Also, as a business development company, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets, less liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to total senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any outstanding preferred stock, of at least 200%. This requirement limits the amount that we may borrow. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with this requirement. To fund growth in our investment portfolio in the future, we anticipate needing to raise additional capital from various sources, including the equity markets and the securitization or other debt-related markets, which may or may not be available on favorable terms, if at all.

 

Finally, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, we sought and obtained a license from the SBA to operate an SBIC.

 

In this regard, on February 3, 2010, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners IV, L.P., received a license, effective February 1, 2010, from the SBA to operate as an SBIC under Section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. SBICs are designated to stimulate the flow of private equity capital to eligible small businesses. Under SBA regulations, SBICs may make loans to eligible small businesses and invest in the equity securities of small businesses.

The SBIC license allows our SBIC subsidiary to obtain leverage by issuing SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the issuance of a capital commitment by the SBA and other customary procedures. SBA-guaranteed debentures are non-recourse, interest only debentures with interest payable semi-annually and have a ten year maturity. The principal amount of SBA-guaranteed debentures is not required to be paid prior to maturity but may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The interest rate of SBA-guaranteed debentures is fixed on a semi-annual basis at a market-driven spread over U.S. Treasury Notes with 10-year maturities.

 

SBA regulations currently limit the amount that our SBIC subsidiary may borrow to a maximum of $150 million when it has at least $75 million in regulatory capital, receives a capital commitment from the SBA and has been through an examination by the SBA subsequent to licensing. As of December 31, 2010, our SBIC subsidiary had $75 million in regulatory capital. The SBA has issued a capital commitment to our SBIC subsidiary in the amount of $150 million, and $123.3 million of SBA debentures were outstanding as of December 31, 2010. $73.0 million of these debentures bore an interest rate of 3.50%, including the SBA annual charge of 0.285%, while the remainder do not yet have a locked interest rate.

 

We have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit us to exclude the debt of the SBIC subsidiary guaranteed by the SBA from the 200% asset coverage test under the 1940 Act. This allows us increased flexibility under the 200% asset coverage test.

 

Significant capital transactions that occurred from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010

 

The following table reflects the dividend distributions per share that our Board of Directors has declared on our common stock from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010:

 

The following table reflects shareholder transactions that occurred from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

On November 16, 2009, Fifth Street Funding, LLC, a consolidated wholly-owned bankruptcy remote, special purpose subsidiary (“Funding”), and we entered into a Loan and Servicing Agreement (“Agreement”), with respect to a three-year credit facility (“Wells Fargo facility”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as administrative agent, each of the additional institutional and conduit lenders party thereto from time to time, and each of the lender agents party thereto from time to time, in the amount of $50 million, with an accordion feature which allowed for potential future expansion of the facility up to $100 million. The facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 4.0% per annum and had a maturity date of November 16, 2012.

 

On May 26, 2010, we amended the Wells Fargo facility to expand the borrowing capacity under that facility. Pursuant to the amendment, we received an additional $50 million commitment, thereby increasing the size of the facility from $50 million to $100 million, with an accordion feature that allows for potential future expansion of that facility from a total of $100 million up to a total of $150 million. In addition, the interest rate of the Wells Fargo facility was reduced from LIBOR plus 4% per annum to LIBOR plus 3.5% per annum, with no LIBOR floor, and the maturity date of the facility was extended from November 16, 2012 to May 26, 2013. The facility may be extended for up to two additional years upon the mutual consent of Wells Fargo and each of the lender parties thereto.

 

On November 5, 2010, we amended the Wells Fargo facility to, among other things, provide for the issuance from time to time of letters of credit for the benefit of our portfolio companies. The letters of credit are subject to certain restrictions, including a borrowing base limitation and an aggregate sublimit of $15.0 million.

 

In connection with the Wells Fargo facility, we concurrently entered into (i) a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Funding, pursuant to which we will sell to Funding certain loan assets we have originated or acquired, or will originate or acquire and (ii) a Pledge Agreement with Wells Fargo, pursuant to which we pledged all of our equity interests in Funding as security for the payment of Funding’s obligations under the Agreement and other documents entered into in connection with the Wells Fargo facility.

 

The Agreement and related agreements governing the Wells Fargo facility required both Funding and us to, among other things (i) make representations and warranties regarding the collateral as well as each of our businesses, (ii) agree to certain indemnification obligations, and (iii) comply with various covenants, servicing procedures, limitations on acquiring and disposing of assets, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar credit facilities. The Wells Fargo facility agreements also include usual and customary default provisions such as the failure to make timely payments under the facility, a change in control of Funding, and the failure by Funding or us to materially perform under the Agreement and related agreements governing the facility,

which, if not complied with, could accelerate repayment under the facility, thereby materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Wells Fargo facility is secured by all of the assets of Funding, and all of our equity interest in Funding. We intend to use the net proceeds of the Wells Fargo facility to fund a portion of our loan origination activities and for general corporate purposes. Each loan origination under the facility is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. We cannot be assured that Funding will be able to borrow funds under the Wells Fargo facility at any particular time or at all. As of December 31, 2010, we had $38.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Wells Fargo facility.

 

On May 27, 2010, we entered into a three-year secured syndicated revolving credit facility (“ING facility”) pursuant to a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement (“ING Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders party thereto from time to time and ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent. The ING facility allows for us to borrow money at a rate of either (i) LIBOR plus 3.5% per annum or (ii) 2.5% per annum plus an alternate base rate based on the greatest of the Prime Rate, Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or LIBOR plus 1% per annum, and has a maturity date of May 27, 2013. The ING facility also allows us to request letters of credit from ING Capital LLC, as the issuing bank. The initial commitment under the ING facility is $90 million, and the ING facility includes an accordion feature that allows for potential future expansion of the facility up to a total of $150 million. The ING facility is secured by substantially all of our assets, as well as the assets of two of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, FSFC Holdings, Inc. and FSF/MP Holdings, Inc., subject to certain exclusions for, among other things, equity interests in our SBIC subsidiary and equity interests in Funding as further set forth in a Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement (“ING Security Agreement”) entered into in connection with the ING Credit Agreement, among FSFC Holdings, Inc., FSF/MP Holdings, Inc., ING Capital LLC, as collateral agent, and us. Neither our SBIC subsidiary nor Funding is party to the ING facility and their respective assets have not been pledged in connection therewith. The ING facility provides that we may use the proceeds and letters of credit under the facility for general corporate purposes, including acquiring and funding leveraged loans, mezzanine loans, high-yield securities, convertible securities, preferred stock, common stock and other investments.

 

Pursuant to the ING Security Agreement, FSFC Holdings, Inc. and FSF/MP Holdings, Inc. guaranteed the obligations under the ING Security Agreement, including our obligations to the lenders and the administrative agent under the ING Credit Agreement. Additionally, we pledged our entire equity interests in FSFC Holdings, Inc. and FSF/MP Holdings, Inc. to the collateral agent pursuant to the terms of the ING Security Agreement.

 

The ING Credit Agreement and related agreements governing the ING facility required FSFC Holdings, Inc., FSF/MP Holdings, Inc. and us to, among other things (i) make representations and warranties regarding the collateral as well as each of our businesses, (ii) agree to certain indemnification obligations, and (iii) agree to comply with various affirmative and negative covenants and other customary requirements for similar credit facilities. The ING facility documents also include usual and customary default provisions such as the failure to make timely payments under the facility, the occurrence of a change in control, and the failure by us to materially perform under the ING Credit Agreement and related agreements governing the facility, which, if not complied with, could accelerate repayment under the facility, thereby materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Each loan or letter of credit originated under the ING facility is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. We cannot be assured that we will be able to borrow funds under the ING facility at any particular time or at all.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had $51.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the ING facility.

 

As of December 31, 2010, except for assets that were funded through our SBIC subsidiary, substantially all of our assets were pledged as collateral under the Wells Fargo facility or the ING facility.

 

Interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2010, the year ended September 30, 2010 and the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $1.9 million, $1.9 million $0.1 million, respectively.

The following table describes significant financial covenants with which we must comply under each of our credit facilities on a quarterly basis:

 

 

 

 

The following table reflects credit facility and debenture transactions that occurred from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010. Amounts available and drawn are as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We may be a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of our portfolio companies. As of December 31, 2010, our only off-balance sheet arrangements consisted of $95.3 million of unfunded commitments, which was comprised of $91.8 million to provide debt financing to certain of our portfolio companies and $3.6 million related to unfunded limited partnership interests. As of September 30, 2010, our only off-balance sheet arrangements consisted of $49.5 million, which was comprised of $46.7 million to provide debt financing to certain of our portfolio companies and $2.8 million related to unfunded limited partnership interests. Such commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and are not reflected on our Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

On February 3, 2010, our SBIC subsidiary received a license, effective February 1, 2010, from the SBA to operate as an SBIC. The SBIC license allows our SBIC subsidiary to obtain leverage by issuing SBA-guaranteed debentures, subject to the issuance of a capital commitment by the SBA and other customary procedures. SBA-guaranteed debentures are non-recourse, interest only debentures with interest payable semi-annually and have a ten year maturity. The principal amount of SBA-guaranteed debentures is not required to be paid prior to maturity but may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The interest rate of SBA-guaranteed debentures is fixed on a semi-annual basis at a market-driven spread over U.S. Treasury Notes with 10-year maturities. As of December 31, 2010, we had $123.3 million of SBA debentures payable. $73.0 million of these debentures bore an interest rate of 3.50%, including the SBA annual charge of 0.285%, while the remainder do not yet have a locked interest rate.

 

On November 16, 2009, we entered into the Wells Fargo facility in the amount of $50 million with an accordion feature, which allowed for potential future expansion of the Wells Fargo facility up to $100 million. The Wells Fargo facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 4% per annum and had a maturity date of November 26, 2012. On May 26, 2010, we amended the Wells Fargo facility to expand our borrowing capacity under that facility. Pursuant to the amendment, we received an additional $50 million commitment, thereby increasing the size of the Wells Fargo facility from $50 million to $100 million, with an accordion feature that allows for potential future expansion of that facility from a total of $100 million up to a total of $150 million. In addition, the interest rate of the Wells Fargo facility was reduced from LIBOR plus 4% per annum to LIBOR plus 3.5% per annum, with no LIBOR floor, and the maturity date of the facility was extended from November 16, 2012 to May 26, 2013. On November 5, 2010, we amended the Wells Fargo facility to, among other things, provide for the issuance from time to time of letters of credit for the benefit of our portfolio companies. The letters of credit are subject to certain restrictions, including a borrowing base limitation and an aggregate sublimit of $15.0 million.

 

On May 27, 2010, we entered into the ING facility, which allows for us to borrow money at a rate of either (i) LIBOR plus 3.5% per annum or (ii) 2.5% per annum plus an alternate base rate based on the greatest of the Prime Rate, Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or LIBOR plus 1% per annum, and has a maturity date of May 27, 2013. The ING facility also allows us to request letters of credit from ING Capital LLC, as the issuing bank. The initial commitment under the ING facility is $90 million, and the ING facility includes an accordion feature that allows for potential future expansion of the facility up to a total of $150 million.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had $51.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the ING facility and $38.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Wells Fargo facility.

 

The table below reflects the following information pertaining to debt outstanding under the SBA debentures payable, the Wells Fargo facility and the ING facility:

 

 

The following table reflects our contractual obligations arising from the SBA debentures payable, the Wells Fargo facility and the ING facility:

 

 

A summary of the composition of unfunded commitments (consisting of revolvers, term loans and limited partnership interests) as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010 is shown in the table below: