UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

(Mark One)
x		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 20142015

or

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from          to         

Commission file number: 814-00794

 

GOLUB CAPITAL BDC, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware		27-2326940
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL		60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(312) 205-5050

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

Title of Each Class		Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share		The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Large accelerated filerox		Accelerated filerxo		Non-accelerated filero		Smaller reporting companyo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).Yeso Nox

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on March 31, 20142015 based on the closing price on that date of $17.84$17.55 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was approximately $835.9$828.8 million. For the purposes of calculating this amount only, all directors and executive officers of the registrant have been treated as affiliates. There were 47,119,49851,300,193 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of November 17, 2014.2015.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the registrant’s 20152016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Such proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days following the end of the registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2014.2015.

 

Part I.
Item 1. Business			23
Item 1A. Risk Factors			2928
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments			5755
Item 2. Properties			5755
Item 3. Legal Proceedings			5755
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures			5755
Part II.
Item 5. Market for Registrant'sRegistrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities			5856
Item 6. Selected Financial Data			6058
Item 7. Management'sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			6159
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			8785
Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data			8987
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure			168159
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures			168159
Item 9B. Other Information			168159
Part III.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance			169160
Item 11. Executive Compensation			169160
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters			169160
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence			170160
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services			170160
Part IV.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statements			170161
Signatures			173164

i

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•

“SLF” refers to Senior Loan Fund LLC, an unconsolidated Delaware LLC, in which we co-invest with RGA Reinsurance Company, or RGA, primarily in senior secured loans. SLF is capitalized as transactions are completed and all portfolio and investment decisions in respect of SLF must be approved by representatives of each of the members (with unanimous approval required from either (i) one representative of each of us and RGA or (ii) both representatives of each of us and RGA currently). As of September 30, 2014,2015, we owned 87.5% of both the outstanding subordinated notes and LLC equity interests of SLF. As of September 30, 2015, SLF had subordinated note commitments from its members totaling $100.0$160.0 million and LLC equity interest subscriptions from its members totaling $25.0$40.0 million. We have committed to fund $87.5$140.0 million of subordinated notes and $21.9$35.0 million of LLC equity interest subscriptions to SLF;

•

“GC Advisors” refers to GC Advisors LLC, a Delaware LLC, our investment adviser;

•

“Administrator” refers to Golub Capital LLC, a Delaware LLC, an affiliate of GC Advisors and our administrator and for periods prior to February 5, 2013, GC Service Company, LLC; and

•

“Golub Capital” refers, collectively, to the activities and operations of Golub Capital Incorporated, Golub Capital LLC (formerly Golub Capital Management LLC), which entity employs all of Golub Capital’s investment professionals, GC Advisors and associated investment funds and their respective affiliates.

“Administrator” refers to Golub Capital LLC, a Delaware LLC, an affiliate of GC Advisors and our administrator and for periods prior to February 5, 2013, GC Service Company, LLC; and

“Golub Capital” refers, collectively, to the activities and operations of Golub Capital Incorporated, Golub Capital LLC (formerly Golub Capital Management LLC), which entity employs all of Golub Capital’s investment professionals, GC Advisors and associated investment funds and their respective affiliates.

On April 13, 2010, we converted from a limited liability company into a corporation. In this conversion, Golub Capital BDC, Inc. succeeded to the business of Golub Capital BDC LLC and its consolidated subsidiary, and the members of Golub Capital BDC LLC became stockholders of Golub Capital BDC, Inc.TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 1. Business

GENERAL

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, as amended, or the 1940 Act. In addition, for U.SU.S. federal income tax purposes, we have elected to be treated as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. We were formed in November 2009 to continue and expand the business of our predecessor, Golub Capital Master Funding LLC, which commenced operations in July 2007, to make investments primarily in senior secured, one stop (a loan that combines characteristics of traditional first lien senior secured loans and second lien or subordinated loans), second lien and subordinated (a loan that ranks senior only to a borrower’s equity securities and ranks junior to all of such borrower’s other indebtedness in priority of payment) loans of, and warrants and minority equity securities of middle marketin, U.S. middle-market companies that are, in most cases, sponsored by private equity firms. In this annual report on Form 10-K, the term “middle market”“middle-market” generally refers to companies having earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of between $10.0 million and $50.0 million annually.

Our investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in senior secured and one stop loans of U.S. middle-market companies. We may also selectively invest in second lien and subordinated loans of, and warrants and minority equity securities in U.S. middle marketmiddle-market companies. We intend to achieve our investment objective by (1) accessing the established loan origination channels developed by Golub Capital, a leading lender to middle marketmiddle-market companies with over $10.0$15.0 billion in capital under management as of September 30, 2014,2015, (2) selecting investments within our core middle marketmiddle-market company focus, (3) partnering with experienced private equity firms, or sponsors, in many cases with whom we haveGolub Capital has invested alongside in the past, (4) implementing the disciplined underwriting standards of Golub Capital and (5) drawing upon the aggregate experience and resources of Golub Capital.

We seek to create a diverse portfolio that includes primarily senior secured and one stop second lien and subordinated loans and warrants and minority equity securities by primarily investing approximately $5.0 million to $30.0 million of capital, on average, in the securities of U.S. middle marketmiddle-market companies. We may also selectively invest more than $30.0 million in some of our portfolio companies and generally expect that the size of our individual investments will vary proportionately with the size of our capital base.

In the current environment, we are focusing on senior secured loans and one stop investments, given the greater principal protection from the first lien security interest associated with such loans.

We generally invest in securities that have been rated below investment grade by independent rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. These securities, which may be referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest

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and repay principal. In addition, many of our debt investments have floating interest rates that reset on a periodic basis and typically do not fully pay down principal prior to maturity, which may increase our risk of losing part or all of our investment.

As of September 30, 2014, our portfolio at fair value was comprised of 19.5% senior secured loans, 69.8% one stop loans, 4.4% second lien loans, 0.3% subordinated loans, 3.4% equity and 2.6% of investments in SLF. As of September 30, 2013, our portfolio at fair value was comprised of 28.9% senior secured loans, 54.1% one stop loans, 11.0% second lien loans, 2.2% subordinated loans, 3.3% equity and 0.5% of investments in SLF.

As of September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we had debt and equity investments in 145, 135 and 121 portfolio companies, respectively, and as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, we had investments in subordinated notes and LLC equity interests in SLF. For the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, our income producing assets, which represented nearly 100% of our total portfolio, had a weighted average income yield (which is calculated as income from interest and fees excluding amortization of capitalized fees and discounts divided by the average fair value of earning investments) of 8.3%, 9.1% and 9.3%, respectively, and a weighted average investment income yield (which is calculated as income from interest, fees and amortization of capitalized fees and discounts divided by average fair value of earning investments) of 9.0%, 10.1% and 10.2%, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014, we and RGA owned 87.5% and 12.5%, respectively, of both the outstanding subordinated notes and LLC equity interests of SLF. Additionally, on January 17, 2014, Senior Loan Fund II LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SLF, or SLF II, entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility, or the SLF Credit Facility, with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as administrative agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as lender, which, as amended, allows SLF II to borrow up to $100.0 million, subject to leverage and borrowing base restrictions. The reinvestment period of the SLF Credit Facility ends April 11, 2015, and the stated maturity date is April 11, 2019. As of September 30, 2014, SLF had subordinated note commitments from its members totaling $100 million, of which approximately $29.3 million and $4.7 million in aggregate principal amount was funded at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, SLF had LLC equity interest subscriptions from its members totaling $25 million, of which approximately $10.6 million and $0.7 million in aggregate was called and contributed as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s investment in SLF consisted of subordinated notes of approximately $25.6 million and $4.1 million, respectively, and LLC equity interests of approximately $9.2 and $592,000, respectively, which represented 2.6% and 0.5% of our portfolio at fair value.

Information Available

Our address is 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. Our phone number is (312) 205-5050, and our internet address iswww.golubcapitalbdc.com.www.golubcapitalbdc.com. We make available, free of charge, on our website our proxy statement, annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this annual report on Form 10-K or any other report we file with the SEC.

The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information we file with the SEC atwww.sec.gov.www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy and information statements and other information may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request atpublicinfo@sec.gov,, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You may also read and copy such reports, proxy and information statements at the SEC’s Public Reference Room. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

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Our Investment Adviser

Our investment activities are managed by our investment adviser, GC Advisors. GC Advisors is responsible for sourcing potential investments, conducting research and due diligence on prospective investments and

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equity sponsors, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. GC Advisors was organized in September 2008 and is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. Under our second amended and restated investment advisory agreement, or the Investment Advisory Agreement, with GC Advisors, we pay GC Advisors a base management fee and an incentive fee for its services. See “Business — Management Agreements — Management Fee” for a discussion of the base management fee and incentive fee, including the cumulative income incentive fee and the income and capital gains incentive fee, payable by us to GC Advisors. Unlike most closed-end funds whose fees are based on assets net of leverage, our base management fee is based on our average-adjusted gross assets (including leverage and cash collateral on deposit with custodian but adjusted to exclude cash and cash equivalents so that investors do not pay the base management fee on such assets) and, therefore, GC Advisors benefits when we incur debt or use leverage. For purposes of the Investment Advisory Agreement, cash equivalents means U.S. government securities and commercial paper instruments maturing within 270 days of purchase (which is different than the definition under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, which defines cash equivalents as U.S. government securities and commercial paper instruments maturing within 90 days of purchase).purchase. Additionally, under the incentive fee structure, GC Advisors benefits when capital gains are recognized and, because it determines when a holding is sold, GC Advisors controls the timing of the recognition of capital gains. Our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how GC Advisors addresses these and other conflicts of interest associated with its management services and compensation. While not expected to review or approve each borrowing, our independent directors periodically review GC Advisors’ services and fees as well as its portfolio management decisions and portfolio performance. In connection with these reviews, our independent directors consider whether our fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) remain appropriate. See “Business — Management Agreements — Board Approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement.”

GC Advisors is an affiliate of Golub Capital and pursuant to a staffing agreement, or the Staffing Agreement, Golub Capital LLC makes experienced investment professionals available to GC Advisors and provides access to the senior investment personnel of Golub Capital LLC and its affiliates. The Staffing Agreement provides GC Advisors with access to investment opportunities, which we refer to in the aggregate as deal flow, generated by Golub Capital LLC and its affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses and commits the members of GC Advisors’ investment committee to serve in that capacity. As our investment adviser, GC Advisors is obligated to allocate investment opportunities among us and its other clients fairly and equitably over time in accordance with its allocation policy. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Related Party Transactions.” However, there can be no assurance that such opportunities will be allocated to us fairly or equitably in the short-term or over time. GC Advisors seeks to capitalize on the significant deal origination, credit underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, execution, portfolio management and monitoring experience of Golub Capital LLC’s investment professionals.

An affiliate of GC Advisors, the Administrator, provides the administrative services necessary for us to operate. See “Business — Management Agreements — Administration Agreement” for a discussion of the fees and expenses (subject to the review and approval of our independent directors) we are required to reimburse to the Administrator.

About Golub Capital

Golub Capital, founded in 1994, is a leading lender to middle marketmiddle-market companies, with a long track record of investing in senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loans. As of September 30, 2014,2015, Golub Capital managed over $8.0$11.5 billion of invested or available capital for senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loan investments in middle-market companies. Since its inception, Golub Capital has closed deals with over 150225 middle-market sponsors and repeat transactions with over 100130 sponsors.

Golub Capital’s middle marketmiddle-market lending group is managed by a four-member senior management team consisting of Lawrence E. Golub, David B. Golub, Andrew H. Steuerman and Gregory W. Cashman. As of September 30, 2014,2015, Golub Capital’s more than 7085 investment professionals had an average of over 12 years

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of investment experience and were supported by more than 115165 administrative and back office personnel that focus on operations, finance, legal and compliance, accounting and reporting, marketing, information technology and office management.

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Investment Criteria/Guidelines

Our investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loans of, and warrants and minority equity securities in, U.S. middle market companies. We seek to generate strong risk-adjusted net returns by assembling a diversified portfolio of investments across a broad range of industries and private equity investors.

We primarily target U.S. middle marketmiddle-market companies controlled by private equity investors that require capital for growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations, refinancings and leveraged buyouts. We may also make opportunistic loans to independently owned and publicly held middle marketmiddle-market companies. We seek to partner with strong management teams executing long-term growth strategies. Target businesses will typically exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:

annual EBITDA of $10.0 million to $50.0 million;

sustainable leading positions in their respective markets;

scalable revenues and operating cash flow;

experienced management teams with successful track records;

stable, predictable cash flows with low technology and market risks;

a substantial equity cushion in the form of capital ranking junior to our investment;

low capital expenditures requirements;

a North American base of operations;

strong customer relationships;

products, services or distribution channels having distinctive competitive advantages;

defensible niche strategy or other barriers to entry; and

demonstrated growth strategies.

While we believe that the criteria listed above are important in identifying and investing in prospective portfolio companies, not all of these criteria will be met by each prospective portfolio company.

Investment Process Overview

We view our investment process as consisting of four distinct phases described below:

Origination.  GC Advisors sources investment opportunities through access to a network of over 10,000 individual contacts developed in the financial services and related industries by Golub Capital and managed through a proprietary customer relationship database. Among these contacts is an extensive network of private equity firms and relationships with leading middle marketmiddle-market senior lenders. The senior deal professionals of Golub Capital supplement these leads through personal visits and marketing campaigns. It is their responsibility to identify specific opportunities, to refine opportunities through candid exploration of the underlying facts and circumstances and to apply creative and flexible thinking to solve clients’ financing needs. Golub Capital’s origination personnel are located in offices in Chicago, New York, ChicagoSan Francisco, and San Francisco.Charlotte. Each originator maintains long-standing customer relationships and is responsible for covering a specified target market. We believe those originators’ strength and breadth of relationships across a wide range of markets generate numerous financing opportunities, which we believe enables GC Advisors to be highly selective in recommending investments to us.

Underwriting.  We utilize the systematic, consistent approach to underwriting developed by Golub Capital, with a particular focus on determining the value of a business in a downside scenario. The key criteria that we consider include (1) strong and resilient underlying business fundamentals, (2) a substantial equity cushion in the form of capital ranking junior in right of payment to our investment and (3) a conclusion that overall “downside” risk is manageable. While the size of thisour equity cushion will vary over

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time and across industries, the equity cushion generally sought by GC Advisors today is between 35% and 45% of total portfolio capitalization. We generally focus on the criteria developed by Golub Capital for evaluating

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prospective portfolio companies. In evaluating a particular company,companies, and we put more emphasis on credit considerations (such as (1) loan-to-value ratio (which is the amount of our loan divided by the enterprise value of the company in which we are investing), (2) the ability of the company to maintain a liquidity cushion through economic cycles and in downside scenarios, (3) the ability of the company to service its fixed charge obligations under a variety of scenarios and (4) its anticipated strategic value in a downturn) than on profit potential and loan pricing. Our due diligence process for middle marketmiddle-market credits will typically entail:

a thorough review of historical and pro forma financial information,information;

on-site visits,visits;

interviews with management and employeesemployees;

a review of loan documents and material contracts,contracts;

third-party “quality of earnings” accounting due diligence,diligence;

when appropriate, background checks on key managers and research relating to the company’s business, industry, markets, customers, suppliers, products and services and competitors,competitors; and

the commission of third-party market studies when appropriate.

The following chart illustrates the stages of Golub Capital’s evaluation and underwriting process:

ILLUSTRATIVE DEAL EVALUATION PROCESS

 

Execution.  In executing transactions for us, GC Advisors utilizes the due diligence process developed by Golub Capital. Through a consistent approach to underwriting and careful attention to the details of execution, it seeks to close deals as fast or faster than competitive financing providers while maintaining discipline with respect to credit, pricing and structure to ensure the ultimate success of the financing. Upon completion of due diligence, the investment team working on an investment delivers a memorandum to GC Advisors’ investment committee. Once an investment has been approved by the investment committee, on a consensus basis, it moves through a series of steps generally, including initial documentation using standard document templates,towards negotiation of final documentation, including resolution of business points and the execution of original documents held in escrow.documentation. Upon completion of final documentation, a loan is funded upon the execution of an investment committee memorandum by members of GC Advisors’ investment committee.

Monitoring.  We view active portfolio monitoring as a vital part of our investment process. We consider board observation rights, where appropriate, regular dialogue with company management and sponsors and detailed, internally generated monitoring reports to be critical to our performance. Golub Capital has developed a monitoring template that is designed to reasonably ensure compliance with these standards. This template is used by GC Advisors as a tool to assess investment performance relative to our investment plan. In addition, our portfolio companies may rely on us to provide them with financial and capital markets expertise.

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As part of the monitoring process, GC Advisors regularly assesses the risk profile of each of our investments and rates each of them based on an internal system developed by Golub Capital and its affiliates. This system

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is not generally accepted in our industry or used by our competitors. It is based on the following categories, which we refer to as GC Advisors’ internal performance rating:

Internal Performance Ratings
Rating		Definition
5		Involves the least amount of risk in our portfolio. The borrower is performing above expectations, and the trends and risk factors are generally favorable.
4		Involves an acceptable level of risk that is similar to the risk at the time of origination. The borrower is generally performing as expected, and the risk factors are neutral to favorable.
3		Involves a borrower performing below expectations and indicates that the loan’s risk has increased somewhat since origination. The borrower may be out of compliance with debt covenants; however, loan payments are generally not past due.
2		Involves a borrower performing materially below expectations and indicates that the loan’s risk has increased materially since origination. In addition to the borrower being generally out of compliance with debt covenants, loan payments may be past due (but generally not more than 180 days past due).
1		Involves a borrower performing substantially below expectations and indicates that the loan’s risk has substantially increased since origination. Most or all of the debt covenants are out of compliance and payments are substantially delinquent. Loans rated 1 are not anticipated to be repaid in full and we will reduce the fair market value of the loan to the amount we anticipate will be recovered.

Our internal performance ratings do not constitute any rating of investments by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or represent or reflect any third-party assessment of any of our investments.

For any investment rated 1, 2 or 3, GC Advisors will increase its monitoring intensity and prepare regular updates for the investment committee, summarizing current operating results and material impending events and suggesting recommended actions.

GC Advisors monitors and, when appropriate, changes the internal performance ratings assigned to each investment in our portfolio. In connection with our valuation process, GC Advisors and our board of directors review these internal performance ratings on a quarterly basis.

The following table shows the distribution of our investments on the 1 to 5 internal performance rating scale at fair value as of September 30, 20142015 and 2013:2014:

		September 30, 2014								September 30, 2013								September 30, 2015								September 30, 2014
Internal Performance Rating		Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments
5		$	129,806				9.7	%		$	178,993				17.5	%		$	134,142				8.8	%		$	129,806				9.7	%
4			1,144,232				84.9				750,611				73.3				1,298,558				84.9				1,144,232				84.9
3			68,944				5.1				88,458				8.6				87,687				5.7				68,944				5.1
2			4,625				0.3				6,521				0.6				9,397				0.6				4,625				0.3
1			5				0.0*				62				0.0*				—				—				5				0.0	*
Total		$	1,347,612				100.0	%		$	1,024,645				100.0	%		$	1,529,784				100.0	%		$	1,347,612				100.0	%

*

Represents an amount less than 0.1%.

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Investments

We seek to create a diverse portfolio that includes primarily senior secured and one stop second lien and subordinated loans and warrants and minority equity securities by investing approximately $5.0 million to $30.0 million of capital, on average, in the securities of middle marketmiddle-market companies. Set forth below is a list of our ten largest portfolio company investments as of September 30, 2014,2015, as well as the top ten industries in which we and our subsidiaries were invested as of September 30, 2014,2015, in each case excluding SLF, calculated as a percentage of our total investments as of such date.

Portfolio Company		Fair Value of Investments (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Fair Value of Investments (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc		$	46,536				3.4	%		$	42,241				2.8	%
Boot Barn, Inc.			32,156				2.4
Market Track, LLC											33,019				2.2
Accellos, Inc.			31,113				2.3				32,121				2.1
Market Track, LLC			30,910				2.3
Certara L.P.											31,771				2.1
Bomgar Corporation											29,401				1.9
Packaging Coordinators, Inc.			29,730				2.2				29,374				1.9
Bomgar Corporation			29,109				2.2
ILC Industries, Inc.			28,271				2.1
Brooks Equipment Company, LLC			27,947				2.1
Onsite Holding Corp.			26,921				2.0
Sparta Holding Corporation			23,667				1.7
NTS Technical Systems											28,519				1.8
First Watch Restaurants, Inc.											27,341				1.8
Captive Resources Midco, LLC											26,685				1.7
Vetcor Professional Practices LLC											26,040				1.7
		$	306,360				22.7	%		$	306,512				20.0	%

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Industry		Fair Value of Investments (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Fair Value of Investments (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments
Healthcare, Education and Childcare		$	227,144				16.9	%		$	228,135				14.9	%
Diversified/Conglomerate Service											212,411				13.9
Retail Stores			189,857				14.1				176,633				11.5
Diversified Conglomerate Service			170,396				12.6
Electronics											136,161				8.9
Beverage, Food and Tobacco			119,610				8.9				135,937				8.9
Electronics			108,695				8.1
Aerospace and Defense			74,470				5.5				84,371				5.5
Diversified Conglomerate Manufacturing			74,058				5.5				67,337				4.4
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures and Entertainment			53,922				4.0
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures, Entertainment											59,032				3.9
Personal, Food and Miscellaneous Services			40,194				3.0				50,629				3.3
Personal and Non-Durable Consumer Products			32,620				2.4
		$	1,090,966				81.0	%		$	1,150,646				75.2	%

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MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

GC Advisors is located at 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. GC Advisors is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. All of the beneficial interests in GC Advisors are owned, indirectly, by two affiliated trusts. The trustees of those trusts are Stephen A. KepnissDavid B. Golub and David Louis Finegold, individuals who are not otherwise affiliated with GC Advisors or Golub Capital.Finegold. Subject to the overall supervision of our board of directors and in accordance with the 1940 Act, GC Advisors manages our day-to-day operations and provides investment advisory services to us. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, GC Advisors:

Certain personnel of Golub Capital LLC conduct activities on our behalf directly through, and under the supervision of, GC Advisors. GC Advisors’ services under the Investment Advisory Agreement are not exclusive. Pursuant to the Staffing Agreement, Golub Capital LLC provides GC Advisors with the resources to fulfill its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement, including staffing by experienced investment professionals and access to the senior investment personnel of Golub Capital LLC, including a commitment by each member of GC Advisors’ investment committee to serve in such capacity. These personnel services are provided under the

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Investment Income (as defined below) for each period since April 13, 2010 and (b) cumulative aggregate realized capital gains, cumulative aggregate realized capital losses, cumulative aggregate unrealized capital depreciation and cumulative aggregate unrealized capital appreciation since April 13, 2010.

“Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies but excluding fees for providing managerial assistance) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus operating expenses for the calendar quarter (including the base management fee, taxes, any expenses payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, any expenses of securitizations and any interest expense and dividends paid on any outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature such as market discount, debt instruments with PIK interest, preferred stock with PIK dividends, and zero coupon securities, accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. GC Advisors does not return to us amounts paid to it on accrued income that we have not yet received in cash if such income is not ultimately received by us in cash. If we do not ultimately receive income, a loss would be recognized, reducing future fees.

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The sum of these calculations yields the “Income Incentive Fee”. This amount is appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the quarter.

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recorded expense if such cumulative amount is less than in the prior period. There can be no assurance that such unrealized capital appreciation will be realized in the future. Since inception through September 30, 2014,2015, we have not made any Capital Gain Incentive Fee payments. For the yearyears ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we accrued a capital gaingains incentive fee payable under GAAP of $96. For$2.7 million and $96,000, respectively, and for the yearsyear ended September 30, 2013, and 2012, we did not accrue a capital gain incentive fee payable under GAAP.

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Alternative 2

Additional Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 2.80%

Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (investment income – (management fee + other
expenses)) = 2.106%

Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds hurdle rate, therefore there is an Incentive Fee.

Incentive Fee		=		100% × “catch-up” + the greater of 0% AND (20% (20% × (Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income – 2.50%))
		=		(100% × (2.106% – 2.00%)) + 0%
		=		100% × 0.106%
		=		0.106%

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Each quarterly incentive fee payable on the Income and Capital Gains Incentive Fee Calculation is subject to the Incentive Fee Cap. Below are the necessary adjustments to the Incentive Fee payable to adhere to the Incentive Fee Cap.

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Payment of Our Expenses

All investment professionals of GC Advisors and/or its affiliates, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services to us, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of personnel allocable to these services to us, are provided and paid for by GC Advisors and not by us. We bear all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of our operations and transactions. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Overview — Expenses.”

Duration and Termination

Unless terminated earlier as described below, the Investment Advisory Agreement as amended, will continue in effect from year to year if approved annually by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, and, in either case, if also approved by a majority of our directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of us or GC Advisors. The Investment Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act, by GC Advisors and may be terminated by either party without penalty upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other. The holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, by vote, may also terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement without penalty. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Business and Structure — We are dependent upon key personnel of GC Advisors for our future success and upon their access to the investment professionals and partners of Golub Capital and its affiliates.”

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others. Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator also provides managerial assistance on our behalf to those portfolio companies that have accepted our offer to provide such assistance. The Administrator may retain third parties to assist in providing administrative services to us. To the extent that the Administrator outsources any of its functions, we pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to the Administrator. We reimburse the Administrator for the allocable portion (subject to approval of our board of directors) of the Administrator’s overhead and other expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent, the fees and expenses associated with performing compliance functions and our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. In addition, if requested to provide significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, the Administrator is paid an additional amount based on the cost of the services provided, which shall not exceed the amount we receive from such portfolio companies for providing this assistance. In May 2014,2015, the Administration Agreement was renewed for a one-year term with the unanimous approval of our board of directors. The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

Indemnification

The Administration Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, the Administrator and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or

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We may invest up to 100% of our assets in securities acquired directly from issuers in privately negotiated transactions. With respect to such securities, we may, for the purpose of public resale, be deemed an “underwriter,” as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Our intention is to not write (sell) or buy put or call options to manage risks associated with the publicly traded securities of our portfolio companies, except that we may enter into hedging transactions to manage the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. However, we may purchase or otherwise receive warrants to purchase the common stock of our portfolio companies in connection with acquisition financing or other investments. Similarly, in connection with an acquisition, we may acquire rights to require the issuers of acquired securities or their affiliates to repurchase them under certain circumstances. We also do not intend to acquire securities issued by any investment company in excess of the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. Under these limits, we generally cannot acquire more than 3% of the voting stock of any registered investment company, invest more than 5% of the value of our total assets in the securities of one investment company or invest more than 10% of the value of our total assets in the securities of more than one investment company. With regard to that portion of our portfolio invested in securities issued by investment companies, it should be noted that such investments might subject our stockholders to additional expenses. None of these policies, or any of our other policies, is

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The regulations defining and interpreting qualifying assets may change over time. We may adjust our investment focus as needed to comply with and/or take advantage of any regulatory, legislative, administrative or judicial actions in this area.

We look through our consolidated subsidiaries to the underlying holdings (considered together with portfolio assets held outside of our consolidated subsidiaries) for purposes of determining compliance with the 70% qualifying assets requirement of the 1940 Act. At least 70% of our assets will be eligible assets.

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SEC to permit us to exclude the debt of our SBIC subsidiarysubsidiaries from our 200% asset coverage test under the 1940 Act. As such, our ratio of total consolidated assets to outstanding indebtedness may be less than 200%. This provides us with increased investment flexibility but also increases our risks related to leverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Business and Structure — Regulations governing our operation as a business development company affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital. As a business development company, the necessity of raising additional capital exposes us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.”

Codes of Ethics

We and GC Advisors have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to each code may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that

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Privacy Principles

We are committed to maintaining the privacy of our stockholders and to safeguarding their nonpublic personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.

Generally, we do not receive any nonpublic personal information relating to our stockholders, although certain nonpublic personal information of our stockholders may become available to us. We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our stockholders or former stockholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service stockholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third-party administrator).

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Sarbanes-Oxley Act

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

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businesses that have a tangible net worth not exceeding $6.0$8.5 million and have average annual net income after U.S. federal income taxes not exceeding $2$3 million (average net income to be computed without benefit of any net carryover loss) for the two most recent fiscal years. SBIC regulations also provide alternative size standard criteria to determine eligibility for designation as an eligible small business or smaller concern, which criteria depend on the primary industry in which the business is engaged and are based on such factors as the number of employees and gross revenue. However, once an SBIC has invested in a company, it may

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Taxation as a RIC

If we:

then we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain, defined as net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses, we distribute to stockholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on any net income or net capital gain not distributed as dividends to our stockholders.

In order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:

We may invest in partnerships, including qualified publicly traded partnerships, which may result in our being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholdingother tax liabilities.

In addition, we are subject to ordinary income and capital gain distribution requirements under U.S. federal excise tax rules for each calendar year. If we do not meet the required distributions we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on the undistributed amount. The failure to meet U.S. federal excise tax distribution requirements will not cause us to lose our RIC status. We currently intend to make sufficient distributions each taxable year to satisfy the U.S. federal excise tax requirements.

Any underwriting fees paid by us are not deductible. We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, with increasing interest rates or issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the taxable year of accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.

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Certain of our investment practices may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) treat dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income as

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this annual report on Form 10-K and the other reports and documents filed by us with the SEC. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not presently deemed material by us may also impair our operations and performance. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows 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 all or part of your investment. The risk factors described below are the principal risk factors associated with an investment in us as well as those factors generally associated with an investment company with investment objectives, investment policies, capital structure or trading markets similar to ours.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure

We are subject to risks associated with the current interest rate environment.environment and to the extent we use debt to finance our investments, changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

Since the economic downturn that began in mid-2007, interest rates have remained low. Because longer-term inflationary pressure is likely to result from the U.S. government’s fiscal policies and challenges during this time, we will likely experience rising interest rates, rather than falling rates, at some point in the future.

To the extent we borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred stock to make investments, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities or preferred stock and the rate at which we invest these funds. In addition, many of our debt investments and borrowings have floating interest rates that reset on a periodic basis, and many of our investments are subject to interest rate floors. 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 will increase because the interest rates on the 2010 Notes and 2014 Notes issued under the 2010 Debt Securitization and 2014 Debt Securitization, respectively, andmajority of amounts we have borrowed under the Credit Facility and the Revolver are floating, which could reduce our net investment income to the extent any debt investments have fixed interest rates, and the interest rate on investments with an interest rate floor will not increase until interest rates exceed the applicable floor. We expect that our long-term fixed-rate investments will be financed primarily with issuances of equity and long-term debt securities, including SBA debentures. We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Such techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable commodities laws. 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.

You should also be aware that a rise in the general level of interest rates typically will lead to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest ratesinvestments, which may result in an increase of the amount of incentive fees payable to GC Advisors. Also, an increase in interest rates available to investors could make an investment in our common stock less attractive if we are not able to increase our distribution rate, which could reduce the value of our common stock.

In addition,

Global capital markets could enter a declineperiod of severe disruption and instability. These conditions have historically affected and could again materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and around the world and our business.

The U.S. and global capital markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption during the economic downturn that began in mid-2007, and the U.S. economy was in a recession for several consecutive calendar quarters during the same period. In 2010, a financial crisis emerged in Europe, triggered by high budget deficits and rising direct and contingent sovereign debt, which created concerns about the ability of certain nations to continue to service their sovereign debt obligations. Risks resulting from such debt crisis and any future debt crisis in Europe or any similar crisis elsewhere could have a detrimental impact on the global economic recovery, sovereign and non-sovereign debt in certain countries and the financial condition of financial institutions generally. In July and August 2015, Greece reached agreements with its creditors for bailouts that provide aid in exchange for certain austerity measures. These and similar austerity measures may

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adversely affect world economic conditions and have an adverse impact on our business and that of our portfolio companies. In the second quarter of 2015, stock prices in China experienced a significant drop, resulting primarily from continued sell-off of shares trading in Chinese markets. In August 2015, Chinese authorities sharply devalued China’s currency. These market and economic disruptions affected, and these and other similar market and economic disruptions may in the future affect, the U.S. capital markets, which could adversely affect our business and that of our portfolio companies. These market disruptions materially and adversely affected, and may in the future affect, the broader financial and credit markets and has reduce the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and to financial firms, in particular. At various times, these disruptions resulted in, and may in the future result, a lack of liquidity in parts of the debt duecapital markets, significant write-offs in the financial services sector and the repricing of credit risk. These conditions may reoccur for a prolonged period of time again or materially worsen in the future, including as a result of further downgrades to rising market interest ratesthe U.S. government’s sovereign credit rating or the perceived credit worthiness of the United States or other large global economies. Unfavorable economic conditions, including future recessions, also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not reflectedto extend credit to us. We may in suchthe future have difficulty accessing debt investmentsand equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, and a severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may cause us to reduce the volume of loans we own couldoriginate and/or fund, adversely affect the trading pricevalue of our common stockportfolio investments or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our net asset value.cash flows.

We are dependent upon key personnel of GC Advisors for our success and upon their access to the investment professionals and partners of Golub Capital and its affiliates.

We do not have any internal management capacity or employees. We depend on the diligence, skill and network of business contacts of the senior investment professionals of GC Advisors to achieve our investment objective. GC Advisors’ investment committee, which consists of two members of our board of directors and two additional employees of Golub Capital LLC, provides oversight over our investment activities. We also cannot assure you that we will replicate the historical results achieved by members of the investment committee, and we caution you that our investment returns could be substantially lower than the returns achieved by them in prior periods. We expect that GC Advisors will evaluate, negotiate, structure, close and monitor our investments in accordance with the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. We can offer no assurance, however, that the senior investment professionals of GC Advisors will continue to provide investment advice to us. If these individuals do not maintain their existing relationships with Golub Capital LLC and its affiliates and do not develop new relationships with other sources of investment opportunities, we may not be able to identify appropriate replacements or grow our

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whom the principals of Golub Capital LLC have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and, therefore, we can offer no assurance that these relationships will generate investment opportunities for us in the future.

We may not replicate the historical results achieved by other entities managed or sponsored by members of GC Advisors’ investment committee, or by GC Advisors or its affiliates.

Our investments may differ from those of existing accounts that are or have been sponsored or managed by members of GC Advisors’ investment committee, GC Advisors or affiliates of GC Advisors. Investors in our common stock are not acquiring an interest in any accounts that are or have been sponsored or managed by members of GC Advisors’ investment committee, GC Advisors or affiliates of GC Advisors. We may consider co-investing in portfolio investments with other accounts sponsored or managed by members of GC Advisors’ investment committee, GC Advisors or its affiliates. Any such investments are subject to regulatory limitations and approvals by directors who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act. We can offer no assurance, however, that we will obtain such approvals or develop opportunities that comply with such limitations. We also cannot assure you that we will replicate the historical results achieved by members of the investment committee, and we caution you that our investment returns could be substantially lower than the returns achieved by them in prior periods. Additionally, all or a portion of the prior results may have been achieved in particular market conditions which may never be repeated. Moreover, current or future market volatility and regulatory uncertainty may have an adverse impact on our future performance.

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Our management and incentive fee structure may create incentives for GC Advisors that are not fully aligned with the interests of our stockholders.stockholders and may induce GC Advisors to make certain investments, including speculative investments.

In the course of our investing activities, we pay management and incentive fees to GC Advisors. The management fee is based on our average adjusted gross assets and the incentive fee is computed and paid on income, both of which include leverage. As a result, investors in our common stock will invest on a “gross”

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Conflicts related to other arrangements with GC Advisors or its affiliates.

We have entered into a license agreement with Golub Capital LLC under which Golub Capital LLC has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “Golub Capital”. See “Business —  Management Agreements — License Agreement.” In addition, we pay to the Administrator our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, such as rent and our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. These arrangements create conflicts of interest that our board of directors must monitor.

The Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement were not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis and may not be as favorable to us as if they had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party.

The Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement were negotiated between related parties. Consequently, their terms, including fees payable to GC Advisors, may not be as favorable to us as if they had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party. In addition, we may choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, our rights and remedies under these agreements because of our desire to maintain our ongoing relationship with GC Advisors, the Administrator and their respective affiliates. Any such decision, however, would breach our fiduciary obligations to our stockholders.

Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates will be restricted, which may limit the scope of investments available to us.

We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, five percent 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 security from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of our independent directors. We consider GC Advisors and its affiliates to be our affiliates for such purposes. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company, without prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. We are prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to, among others, any person who owns more than 25% of our voting securities or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC.

We may, however, invest alongside GC Advisors’ and its affiliates’ other clients in certain circumstances where doing so is consistent with applicable law and SEC staff interpretations. For example, we may invest alongside such accounts consistent with guidance promulgated by the SEC staff permitting us and such other accounts to purchase interests in a single class of privately placed securities so long as certain conditions are met, including that GC Advisors, acting on our behalf and on behalf of its other clients, negotiates no term other than price. We may also invest alongside GC Advisors’ other clients as otherwise permissible under regulatory guidance, applicable regulations and GC Advisors’ allocation policy. Under this allocation policy,

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We and GC Advisors have submitted an application for exemptive relief from the SEC to permit greater flexibility to negotiate the terms of co-investments if our board of directors determines that it would be advantageous for us to co-invest with other accounts sponsored or managed by GC Advisors or its affiliates in a manner consistent with our investment objectives, positions, policies, strategies and restrictions as well as regulatory requirements and other pertinent factors. We believe that co-investments by us and other accounts sponsored or managed by GC Advisors and its affiliates may afford us additional investment opportunities and an ability to achieve greater diversification. Accordingly, our application for exemptive relief seeks an exemptive order that would permit us to invest with accounts sponsored or managed by GC Advisors or its affiliates in the same portfolio companies under circumstances in which such investments would otherwise not be permitted under the 1940 Act. We expect that such exemptive relief permitting co-investments, if granted, would apply only if our independent directors review and approve each co-investment.

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.

A number of entities compete with us to make the types of investments that we plan to make. We compete with public and private funds, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity and hedge funds. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some of our competitors may have 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, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a business development company or the source of income, asset diversification and distribution requirements we must satisfy to maintain our qualification as a RIC. The competitive pressures we face may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. As a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we may not be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objective.

With respect to the investments we make, we do not seek to compete based primarily on the interest rates we offer, and we believe that some of our competitors may make loans with interest rates that will be lower than the rates we offer. In the secondary market for acquiring existing loans, we compete generally on the basis of pricing terms. With respect to all investments, we may lose some investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. However, if we match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may experience decreased net interest income, lower yields and increased risk of credit loss. We may also compete for investment opportunities with accounts managed or sponsored by GC Advisors or its affiliates. Although GC Advisors allocates opportunities in accordance with its policies and procedures,allocation policy, allocations to such other accounts will reduce the amount and frequency of opportunities available to us

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substantial losses. If we fail to qualify as a RIC for any reason and become subject to corporate-level income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distributions to stockholders and the amount of our distributions and the amount of funds available for new investments. Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on us and our securityholders. See “Business — Taxation as a RIC.”

We may need to raise additional capital to grow because we must distribute most of our income.

We may need additional capital to fund new investments and grow our portfolio of investments. We intend to access the capital markets periodically to issue debt or equity securities or borrow from financial institutions in order to obtain such additional capital. Unfavorable economic conditions 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. A reduction in the availability of new capital could limit our ability to grow. In addition, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders to maintain our qualification as a RIC. As a result, these earnings are not available to fund new investments. An inability to access the capital markets successfully could limit our ability to grow our business and execute our business strategy fully and could decrease our earnings, if any, which may have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.

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

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we include in income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as the accretion of original issue discount. This may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the making of a loan and in other circumstances, or through contracted PIK interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. Such original issue discount, which could be significant relative to our overall investment activities, or increases in loan balances as a result of contracted PIK arrangements, 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.

That part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our net investment income is computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received in cash, such as market discount, debt instruments with PIK interest, preferred stock with PIK dividends and zero coupon securities. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible, and GC Advisors will have no obligation to refund any fees it received in respect of such accrued income.

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satisfy this ratio. If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. Also, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our common stockholders. If we issue senior securities, we will be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss. As of September 30, 2014,2015, we had $697.5$813.6 million of outstanding borrowings, including $215.0 million outstanding under the 2010 Debt Securitization and $246.0 million outstanding under the 2014 Debt Securitization.

In the absence of an event of default, no person or entity from which we borrow money has a veto right or voting power over our ability to set policy, make investment decisions or adopt investment strategies. If we issue preferred stock, which is another form of leverage, the preferred stock would rank “senior” to common stock in our capital structure, preferred stockholders would have separate voting rights on certain matters and might have other rights, preferences or privileges more favorable than those of our common stockholders, and the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in your best interest. Holders of our common stock will directly or indirectly bear all of the costs associated with offering and servicing any preferred stock that we issue. In addition, any interests of preferred stockholders may not necessarily align with the interests of holders of our common stock and the rights of holders of shares of preferred stock to receive dividends would be senior to those of holders of shares of our common stock. We do not, however, anticipate issuing preferred stock in the next 12 months.

We are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value per share of our common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in the best interests of us and our stockholders, and if our stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our board of directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). If we raise additional funds by issuing common stock or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, then the percentage ownership of our stockholders at that time will decrease, and you might experience dilution.

We intend to finance our investments with borrowed money, which will magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.

The use of leverage magnifies the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested. The use of leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique and increases the risks associated with investing in our securities. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on GC Advisors’ and our board of directors’ assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain credit at all or on terms acceptable to us. We may issue senior debt securities to banks, insurance companies and other lenders.

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service our debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. Our common stockholders bear the burden of any increase in our expenses as a result of our use of leverage, including interest expenses and any increase in the base management fee payable to GC Advisors.

As a business development company, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include the Class A and Class B 2010 Notes issued by the 2010 Issuer and the Class A-1, Class A-2 and Class B 2014 Notes issued by the 2014 Issuer, our other borrowings (other than the SBA debentures of an SBIC subsidiary, as permitted by exemptive relief we have been granted by the SEC) and any preferred stock that we may issue in the future, of at least 200%. If this ratio declines below 200%, we cannot incur additional debt and could be required to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to make distributions in amounts sufficient to maintain our status as a RIC, or at all. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on GC Advisors’ and our board of directors’ assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain credit at all or on terms acceptable to us.

On September 13, 2011, we received exemptive relief from the SEC allowing us to modify the asset coverage requirement to exclude the SBA debentures from this calculation. As such, our ratio of total consolidated assets to outstanding indebtedness may be less than 200%. This provides us with increased investment flexibility but also increases our risks related to leverage.

The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock as of September 30, 2015, 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 in the table below.

		Assumed Return on Our Portfolio (Net of Expenses)
		-10%				-5%				0%				5%				10%
Corresponding return to common stockholder(1)			-22	%			-12	%			-3	%			7	%			17	%

		Assumed Return on Our Portfolio (Net of Expenses)
		-10%				-5%				0%				5%				10%
Corresponding return to common stockholder(1)			-23	%			-13	%			-3	%			7	%			18	%

Based on our outstanding indebtedness of $697.5$813.6 million as of September 30, 20142015 and the effective annual interest rate of 2.7%2.6% as of that date, our investment portfolio would have been required to experience an annual return of at least 1.3% to cover annual interest payments on the outstanding debt.

We are subject to risks associated with the 2010 Debt Securitization and the 2014 Debt Securitization.

As a result of the 2010 Debt Securitization and the 2014 Debt Securitization, we are subject to a variety of risks, including those set forth below. We use the term “debt securitization” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to describe a form of secured borrowing under which an operating company (sometimes referred to as an “originator” or “sponsor”) acquires or originates mortgages, receivables, loans or other assets that earn income, whether on a one-time or recurring basis (collectively, “income producing assets”), and borrows money on a non-recourse basis against a legally separate pool of loans or other income producing assets. In a

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such loan sale agreement. Following this transfer, the 2014 Issuer held all of the ownership interest in such portfolio loans and participations. As a result of the 2014 Debt Securitization and as of September 30, 2014,2015, we held the Class C 2014 Notes as well as all of the membership interests of the 2014 Issuer. As a result, we consolidate the financial statements of Holdings, the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer, as well as our other subsidiaries, in our consolidated financial statements.

Because each of Holdings, the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the sale or contribution by us to Holdings and by Holdings to the 2010 Issuer and the sale or contribution by us to the 2014 Issuer did not constitute a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service were to take a contrary position, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The securities issued by the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer, or by any securitization vehicle we sponsor in the future, could be acquired by another business development company or securitization vehicle subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. We may, also, from time to time, hold asset-backed securities, or the economic equivalent thereof, issued by a securitization vehicle sponsored by another business development company to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

The Subordinated 2010 Notes and membership interests in the 2010 Issuer are subordinated obligations of the 2010 Issuer and the Class C 2014 Notes are subordinated obligations of the 2014 Issuer and we may not receive cash from the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer.

The Subordinated 2010 Notes are the most junior class of notes issued by the 2010 Issuer, are subordinated in priority of payment to every other class of notes issued by the 2010 Issuer and are subject to certain payment restrictions set forth in the indenture governing the 2010 Notes. Therefore, Holdings only receives cash distributions on the Subordinated 2010 Notes if the 2010 Issuer has made all cash interest payments to all other notes it has issued, and we only receive cash distributions in respect of our indirect ownership of the 2010 Issuer to the extent that Holdings receives any cash distributions in respect of its direct ownership of the 2010 Issuer. The Subordinated 2010 Notes are also unsecured and rank behind all of the secured creditors, known or unknown, of the 2010 Issuer, including the holders of the senior notes it has issued. Consequently, to the extent that the value of the 2010 Issuer’s portfolio of loan investments has been reduced as a result of conditions in the credit markets, or as a result of defaulted loans or individual fund assets, the value of the Subordinated 2010 Notes at their redemption could be reduced.

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Notes have been paid in full on each payment date any amounts due and owing on such payment date or upon maturity of such 2014 Notes. In the event that we fail to receive cash indirectly from the 2010 Issuer or directly from the 2014 Issuer, we could be unable to make such distributions in amounts sufficient to maintain our status as a RIC, or at all.

The interests of holders of the senior classes of securities issued by the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer may not be aligned with our interests.

The Class A 2010 Notes are the debt obligations ranking senior in right of payment to other securities issued by the 2010 Issuer in the 2010 Debt Securitization. As such, there are circumstances in which the interests of holders of the Class A 2010 Notes may not be aligned with the interests of holders of the other classes of notes issued by, and membership interests of, the 2010 Issuer. For example, under the terms of the Class A 2010 Notes, holders of the Class A 2010 Notes have the right to receive payments of principal and interest prior to holders of the Class B 2010 Notes, the Subordinated 2010 Notes and the membership interests of the 2010 Issuer.

The Class A 2014 Notes are the debt obligations ranking senior in right of payment to other securities issued by the 2014 Issuer in the 2014 Debt Securitization. As such, there are circumstances in which the interests of holders of the Class A 2014 Notes may not be aligned with the interests of holders of the other classes of notes issued by, and membership interests of, the 2014 Issuer. For example, under the terms of the Class A 2014 Notes, holders of the Class A 2014 Notes have the right to receive payments of principal and interest prior to holders of the Class B 2014 Notes, the Class C 2014 Notes and the 2014 Issuer.

For as long as the Class A 2010 Notes remain outstanding, holders of the Class A 2010 Notes comprise the Controlling Class under the 2010 Debt Securitization. If the Class A 2010 Notes are paid in full, the Class B 2010 Notes would comprise the Controlling Class under the 2010 Debt Securitization. For as long as the Class A 2014 Notes remain outstanding, holders of the Class A 2014 Notes comprise the Controlling Class under the 2010 Debt Securitization. If the Class A 2014 Notes are paid in full, the Class B 2014 Notes would comprise the Controlling Class under the 2014 Debt Securitization. Holders of the Controlling Class under the 2010 Debt Securitization and 2014 Debt Securitization have the right to act in certain circumstances with respect to the portfolio loans in ways that may benefit their interests but not the interests of holders of more junior classes of notes and membership interests, including by exercising remedies under the indenture in the 2010 Debt Securitization and the 2014 Debt Securitization, as applicable.

If an event of default has occurred and acceleration occurs in accordance with the terms of the indenture for either the 2010 Debt Securitization or the 2014 Debt Securitization, the Controlling Class of such debt securitization, as the most senior class of notes then outstanding in such debt securitization will be paid in full before any further payment or distribution on the more junior classes of notes and membership interests. In addition, if an event of default under the 2010 Debt Securitization or 2014 Debt Securitization, as applicable, occurs, holders of a majority of the Controlling Class of the applicable debt securitization may be entitled to

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2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes are paid in full. In addition, under the 2010 Debt Securitization, after the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes are paid in full, the holder of the Subordinated 2010 Notes will be the only remaining noteholder and may amend the indenture to, among other things, direct the assignment of any remaining assets to other wholly-owned subsidiaries for a price less than the fair market value of such assets with the difference in price to be considered an equity contribution to such subsidiaries. In a liquidation under the 2014 Debt Securitization, the Class C 2014 Notes will be subordinated to payment of the Class A 2014 Notes and Class B 2014 Notes and may not be paid in full to the extent funds remaining after payment of the Class A 2014 Notes and Class B 2014 Notes are insufficient. In addition, under the 2014 Debt Securitization, after the Class A 2014 Notes and Class B 2014 Notes are paid in full, the holder of the Class C 2014 Notes will be the only remaining noteholder and may amend the applicable indenture to, among other things, direct the assignment of any remaining assets to other wholly-owned subsidiaries for a price less than the fair market value of such assets with the difference in price to be considered an equity contribution to such subsidiaries. Any failure of the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer to make distributions on the notes we indirectly or directly hold, whether as a result of an event of default, liquidation or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and may result in an inability of us to make distributions sufficient to maintain our status as a RIC.

The 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer may fail to meet certain asset coverage tests.

Under the documents governing the 2010 Debt Securitization, there are two asset coverage tests applicable to the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes, and the documents governing the 2014 Debt Securitization provide for the same two asset coverage tests applicable to the Class A 2014 Notes, the Class B 2014 Notes and the Class C 2014 Notes.

The first such test compares the amount of interest received on the portfolio loans held by the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer, as applicable, to the amount of interest payable in respect of the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes, with respect to the 2010 Issuer and the Class A 2014 Notes, the Class B 2014 Notes and the Class C 2014 Notes, with respect to the 2014 Issuer. To meet this first test, in the case of the 2010 Debt Securitization, interest received on the portfolio loans must equal at least 115% of the interest payable in respect of the notes issued by the 2010 Issuer; and, in the case of the 2014 Debt Securitization, interest received on the portfolio loans must equal at least 120% of the interest payable in respect of the Class A 2014 Notes and Class B 2014 Notes, taken together, and at least 110% of the interest payable in respect of the Class C 2014 Notes.

The second such test compares the principal amount of the portfolio loans of the applicable debt securitization to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes, with respect to the 2010 Debt Securitization, and the Class A 2014 Notes, the Class B 2014 Notes and the Class C 2014 Notes, with respect to the 2014 Debt Securitization. To meet this second test at any time in the case of the 2010 Debt Securitization, the aggregate principal amount of the portfolio loans must equal at least 158% of the outstanding principal amount of the applicable 2010 Notes, taken together. To meet this second test at

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The value of the Class B 2010 Notes, the Class B 2014 Notes or the Class C 2014 Notes could be adversely affected by a mandatory redemption because such redemption could result in the applicable notes being redeemed at par at a time when they are trading in the secondary market at a premium to their stated principal amount and when other investments bearing the same rate of interest may be difficult or expensive to acquire. A mandatory redemption could also result in a shorter investment duration than a holder of such notes may have wanted or anticipated, which could, in turn, result in such a holder incurring breakage costs on related hedging transactions. In addition, the reinvestment period under the 2010 Debt Securitization may extend through as late as July 20, 2015,2017, which could affect the value of the collateral securing the Class B 2010 Notes, and the reinvestment period under the 2014 Debt Securitization may extend through as late as April 28, 2018, which could affect the value of the collateral securing the Class C 2014 Notes.

We may not receive cash from the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer.

We receive cash from the 2010 Issuer only to the extent that Holdings receives payments on the Subordinated 2010 Notes or the membership interests of the 2010 Issuer, and we receive cash from the 2014 Issuer only to the extent of payments on the Class C 2014 Notes and distributions, if any, with respect to the membership interests of the 2014 Issuer as permitted under the 2014 Debt Securitization. Each of the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer may only make payments on such securities to the extent permitted by the payment priority provisions of the indenture governing the 2010 Notes or the 2014 Notes, as applicable, which generally provide, in the case of the 2010 Debt Securitization, that principal payments on the Subordinated 2010 Notes and, in the case of the 2014 Debt Securitization, principal payments on the Class C 2014 Notes may not be made on any payment date unless all amounts owing under the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes, in the case of the 2010 Debt Securitization, and the Class A 2014 Notes and the Class B 2014 Notes, in the case of the 2014 Debt Securitization, are paid in full. In addition, if the 2010 Issuer does not meet the asset coverage tests or the interest coverage test set forth in the documents governing the 2010 Debt Securitization, cash would be diverted from the Subordinated 2010 Notes to first pay the Class A 2010 Notes and Class B 2010 Notes in amounts sufficient to cause such tests to be satisfied. If the 2014 Issuer does not meet the asset coverage tests or the interest coverage test set forth in the documents governing the 2014 Debt Securitization, cash would be diverted from the Class C 2014 Notes to first pay the Class A 2014 Notes and Class B 2014 Notes in amounts sufficient to cause such tests to be satisfied. In the event that we fail to receive cash indirectly from the 2010 Issuer or directly from the 2014 Issuer, we could be unable to make such distributions in amounts sufficient to maintain our status as a RIC, or at all.

We may be required to assume liabilities of the 2010 Issuer and the 2014 Issuer and are indirectly liable for certain representations and warranties in connection with the 2010 Debt Securitization and 2014 Debt Securitization.

As part of the 2010 Debt Securitization, we entered into a master loan sale agreement under which we would be required to repurchase any loan (or participation interest therein) which was sold to the 2010 Issuer in breach of any representation or warranty made by us with respect to such loan on the date such loan was sold. To the extent we fail to satisfy any such repurchase obligation, the trustee of the 2010 Debt Securitization may, on behalf of the 2010 Issuer, bring an action against us to enforce these repurchase obligations.

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provide for additional issuances of Class A 2010 Notes or Class B 2010 Notes without amendment of the 2010 Debt Securitization documents. The total purchase price for any additional Subordinated 2010 Notes that may be issued may not always equal 100% of the par value of such 2010 Notes, depending on several factors, including fees and closing expenses.

Under the terms of the 2014 Debt Securitization documents, the 2014 Issuer could issue additional 2014 Notes in any class at any time during the reinvestment period on apro rata basis for each class of notes or, if additional Class A 2014 Notes are not being issued, on apro ratabasis for all classes that are subordinate to the Class A 2014 Notes and use the net proceeds of such issuance to purchase additional portfolio loans or for another permitted use as provided in the 2014 Debt Securitization documents. Any such additional issuance, however, would require the consent of the collateral manager to the 2014 Debt Securitization and either the holders of a majority the Class A 2014 Notes or, in the case of an additional issuance of Class A 2014 Notes, the holders of a supermajority of the Class A 2014 Notes. Among the other conditions that must be satisfied in connection with an additional issuance of 2014 Notes, the aggregate principal amount of all additional issuances of any class of 2014 Notes may not exceed 100% of the outstanding principal amount of such class of 2014 Notes; the 2014 Issuer must notify each rating agency of such issuance prior to the issuance date and such rating agency, if it then rates any class of 2014 Notes, must confirm in writing that no immediate withdrawal or reduction with respect to its then-current rating of any such class of 2014 Notes will occur as a result of such issuance; and the terms of the 2014 Notes to be issued must be identical to the terms of previously issued 2014 Notes of the same class (except that all monies due on such additional 2014 Notes will accrue from the issue date of such notes and that the prices of such 2014 Notes do not have to be identical to

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The ability to sell investments held by Funding is limited.

The Credit Facility places significant restrictions on our ability, as servicer, to sell investments. As a result, there may be times or circumstances during which we are unable to sell investments or take other actions that might be in our best interests.

We are subject to risks associated with our SBIC Funds.

As a result of our SBIC Funds, we are subject to a variety of risks, including those set forth below.

Our interests in the SBIC Funds are subordinated and we may not receive cash on our equity interests from either of the SBIC Funds.

We own 100% of the equity interests in SBIC IV and SBIC V. We consolidate the financial statements of the SBIC Funds in our consolidated financial statements. Our interests in the SBIC Funds are subordinated in priority of payment to the SBA-guaranteed debentures issued by the respective SBIC Fund. We receive cash from SBIC IV and SBIC V only to the extent that we receive distributions on our equity interests in each such SBIC Fund. Our SBIC Funds may be limited by SBA regulations governing SBICs from making certain distributions to us unless we request a waiver of the SBA restrictions. We cannot assure you that the SBA would grant any such waiver. In the event that we fail to receive cash from our SBIC Funds, we could be unable to make distributions to our stockholders in amounts sufficient to maintain our status as a RIC, or at all. We also could be forced to sell investments in portfolio companies at less than their fair value in order to continue making such distributions.

Our SBIC Funds are licensed by the SBA and are subject to SBA regulations which limit the scope of investments available to the SBIC Funds.

Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, SBIC IV and SBIC V, received licenses to operate as SBICs under the Small Business Act of 1958, as amended, or the 1958 Act, and are regulated by the SBA. The SBA places certain limitations on the financing terms of investments by SBICs in portfolio companies and regulates the types of financings and prohibits investing in certain industries. Compliance with SBIC requirements may cause our SBIC Funds to invest at less competitive rates in order to qualify investments under the 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 regulations. If our SBIC Funds fail to comply with applicable regulations, the SBA could, depending on the severity of the violation, limit or prohibit their use of debentures, declare outstanding debentures immediately due and payable, and/or limit them from making new investments. In addition, the SBA could revoke or suspend our SBIC Funds’ licenses for willful or repeated violation of, or willful or repeated failure to observe, any provision of the 1958 Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. These actions by the SBA could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to invest in public companies may be limited in certain circumstances.

To maintain our status as a business development company, we are not permitted to acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” specified in the 1940 Act unless, at the time the acquisition is made, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets (with certain limited exceptions). Subject to certain exceptions for follow-on investments and investments in distressed companies, an investment in an issuer that has outstanding securities listed on a national securities exchange may be treated as qualifying assets only if such issuer has a common equity market capitalization that is less than $250.0 million at the time of such investment.

To the extent we use debt to finance our investments, changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

To the extent we borrow money to make investments, our net investment income depends, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. As a result,

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a percentage of the fair value of the pledged collateral. At the maturity of the reverse repurchase agreement, we will be required to repay the loan and correspondingly receive back our collateral. While used as collateral, the assets continue to pay principal and interest which are for the benefit of us.

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

Adverse developments in the credit markets may impair our ability to enter into new debt financing arrangements.

During the economic downturn in the United States that began in mid-2007, many commercial banks and other financial institutions stopped lending or significantly curtailed their lending activity. In addition, in an effort to stem losses and reduce their exposure to segments of the economy deemed to be high risk, some financial institutions limited routine refinancing and loan modification transactions and even reviewed the terms of existing facilities to identify bases for accelerating the maturity of existing lending facilities. To the extent these circumstances arise again in the future, it may be difficult for us to finance the growth of our investments on acceptable economic terms, or at all and one or more of our leverage facilities could be accelerated by the lenders.

If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could fail to qualify as a business development company or be precluded from investing according to our current business strategy.

As a business development company, we may not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets. See “Business — Regulation — Qualifying Assets.”

In the future, we believe that most of our investments will constitute qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could violate the 1940 Act provisions applicable to business development companies. As a result of such

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significant events affecting the value of our securities. As discussed in more detail under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies,” most, if not all, of our investments (other than cash and cash equivalents) are classified as Level 3 under Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 820,Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, or ASC Topic 820, as amended. This means that our portfolio valuations are based on unobservable inputs and our own assumptions about how market participants would price the asset or liability in question. Inputs into the determination of fair value of our portfolio investments require significant management judgment or estimation. Even if observable market data are available, such information may be the result of consensus pricing information or broker quotes, which may include a disclaimer that the broker would not be held to such a price in an actual transaction. The non-binding nature of consensus pricing and/or quotes accompanied by disclaimers materially reduces the reliability of such information.

We have retained the services of several independent service providers to review the valuation of these securities. At least once annually, the valuation for each portfolio investment for which a market quote is not readily available is reviewed by an independent valuation firm. The types of factors that the board of directors may take into account in determining the fair value of our investments generally include, as appropriate, comparison to publicly traded securities, including such factors as yield, maturity and measures of credit quality, the enterprise value of a portfolio company, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business and 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. Our net asset value could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of our investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon the disposal of such securities.

We adjust quarterly the valuation of our portfolio to reflect our board of directors’ determination of the fair value of each investment in our portfolio. Any changes in fair value are recorded in our consolidated statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including the interest rate payable on the debt securities we acquire, the default rate on such securities, the number and size of investments we originate or 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 markets and general economic conditions. In light of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of our performance in future periods.

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companies. In addition, if we do not comply with applicable laws and regulations, we could lose any licenses that we then hold for the conduct of our business and may be subject to civil fines and criminal penalties.

Additionally, changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations, including those associated with RICs, may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities or result in the imposition of corporate-level taxes on us. Such changes could result in material differences to our strategies and plans and may shift our investment focus from the areas of expertise of GC Advisors to other types of investments in which GC Advisors may have little or no expertise or experience. Any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment. If we invest in commodity interests in the future, GC Advisors may determine not to use investment strategies that trigger additional regulation by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, or may determine to operate subject to CFTC regulation, if applicable. If we or GC Advisors were to operate subject to CFTC regulation, we may incur additional expenses and would be subject to additional regulation.

In addition, certain regulations applicable to debt securitizations implementing credit risk retention requirements that have taken effect or will take effect in both the U.S. and in Europe may adversely affect certain amendments to or new issuances by the 2010 Debt Securitization or the 2014 Debt Securitization and may adversely affect or prevent us from entering into any future securitization transaction. The impact of these risk retention rules on the loan securitization market are uncertain, and such rules may cause an increase in our cost of funds under or may prevent us from completing any future securitization transactions or certain amendments to or new issuances by our existing debt securitizations.

Over the last several years, there also has been an increase in regulatory attention to the extension of credit outside of the traditional banking sector, raising the possibility that some portion of the non-bank financial sector will be subject to new regulation. While it cannot be known at this time whether any regulation will be implemented or what form it will take, increase regulation of no-bank credit extension could negatively impact our operations, cash flows or financial condition, impose additional costs on us, intensify the regulatory supervision of us or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our board of directors may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval.

Our board of directors has the authority, except as otherwise provided in the 1940 Act, to modify or waive our investment objective and certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. However, absent stockholder approval, we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a business development company. Under Delaware law, we also cannot be dissolved without prior stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current investment objective, operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results and the price value of our common stock. Nevertheless, any such changes could adversely affect our business and impair our ability to make distributions.

Provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, contains provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of us or the removal of our directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that limit liability and provide for indemnification of our directors and officers. These provisions and others also may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management. We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, the application of which is subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. This section generally prohibits us from engaging in mergers and other business combinations with stockholders that beneficially own 15% or more of our voting stock, or with their affiliates, unless our directors or stockholders approve the business combination

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We have also adopted measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our certificate of incorporation classifying our board of directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms, and provisions of our certificate of incorporation authorizing our board of directors to classify or reclassify shares of our preferred stock in one or more classes or series, to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, and to amend our certificate of incorporation, without stockholder approval, to increase or decrease the number of shares of stock that we have authority to issue. These provisions, as well as other provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our securityholders.

GC Advisors can resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

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

The Administrator can resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

The Administrator has the right to resign under the Administration Agreement at any time upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. If the Administrator resigns, we may not be able to find a new administrator or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption, our financial condition, business and results of operations as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected and the market price of our shares may decline. In addition, the coordination of our internal management and administrative activities is likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a service provider or individuals with the expertise possessed by the Administrator. Even if we are able to retain a comparable service provider or individuals to perform such services, whether internal or external, their integration into our business and lack of familiarity with our investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We incur significant costs as a result of being a publicly traded company.

As a publicly traded company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules implemented by the SEC.

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a diversion of management’s time and attention. We cannot ensure that our evaluation, testing and remediation process is effective or that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective. In the event that we are unable to maintain compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules, we and the market price of our securities would be adversely affected.

We are highly dependent on information systems and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends and other distributions.

Our business depends on the communications and information systems of GC Advisors and its affiliates. Any failureThese systems are subject to potential attacks, including through adverse events that threaten the confidentiality, integrity or interruptionavailability of suchour information resources (i.e., cyber incidents). These attacks could involve gaining unauthorized access to our information systems could cause delaysfor purposes of misappropriating assets, stealing confidential information, corrupting data or other problemscausing operational disruption and result in disrupted operations, misstated or unreliable financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection and insurance costs, litigation and damage to our activities. This,business relationships, any of which could, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our securities and our ability to pay dividends and other distributions to our securityholders. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our information systems, both internal and those provided by GC Advisors and third-party service providers.

Risks Relating to Our Investments

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

Many of our portfolio companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could prevent us from increasing our investments and 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 assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company. In addition, lenders in certain cases can be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by them when they become too involved in the borrower’s business or exercise control over a borrower. It is possible that we could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken if we render significant managerial assistance to the borrower. Furthermore, if one of our portfolio companies were to file for bankruptcy protection, even though we may have structured our investment as senior secured debt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize our debt holding and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to claims of other creditors.

Global capital markets could enter a period of severe disruption and instability. These conditions have historically affected and could again materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and around the world and our business.

The U.S. and global capital markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption during the economic downturn that began in mid-2007, and the U.S. economy was in a recession for several consecutive calendar quarters during the same period. This economic decline materially and adversely affected the broader financial and credit markets and has reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and to financial firms, in particular. At various times, these disruptions resulted in a lack of liquidity in parts of the debt capital markets, significant write-offs in the financial services sector relating to subprime mortgages and

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Our investments in leveraged portfolio companies may be risky, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Investment in leveraged companies involves a number of significant risks. Leveraged companies in which we invest may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt securities that we hold. Such developments may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of our realizing any guarantees that we may have obtained in connection with our investment. Smaller leveraged companies also may have less predictable operating results and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance their expansion or maintain their competitive position.

Our investments in private and middle marketmiddle-market portfolio companies are risky, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Investment in private and middle marketmiddle-market companies involves a number of significant risks. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we rely on the ability of GC Advisors’ investment professionals to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies. If GC Advisors is unable to uncover all material information about these companies, it may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments. Middle marketMiddle-market companies generally have less predictable operating results and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. Middle marketMiddle-market companies may have limited financial resources, may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt securities that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of our realizing any guarantees we may have obtained in connection with our investment. In addition, such companies typically have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. Additionally, middle marketmiddle-market companies 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. Middle marketMiddle-market companies also may be parties to litigation and may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence. In addition, our executive officers, directors and GC Advisors may, in the ordinary course of business, be named as defendants in litigation arising from our investments in the portfolio companies.

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When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs, we use the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate our valuation. We record decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments as unrealized depreciation. Declines in prices and liquidity in the corporate debt markets may result in significant net unrealized depreciation in our portfolio. The effect of all of these factors on our portfolio may reduce our net asset value by increasing net unrealized depreciation in our portfolio. Depending on market conditions, we could incur substantial realized losses and may suffer additional unrealized losses in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our portfolio companies may prepay loans, which may reduce our yields if capital returned cannot be invested in transactions with equal or greater expected yields.

The loans in our investment portfolio may be prepaid at any time, generally with little advance notice. Whether a loan is prepaid will depend both on the continued positive performance of the portfolio company and the existence of favorable financing market conditions that allow such company the ability to replace existing financing with less expensive capital. As market conditions change, we do not know when, and if, prepayment may be possible for each portfolio company. In some cases, the prepayment of a loan may reduce our achievable yield if the capital returned cannot be invested in transactions with equal or greater expected yields, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our portfolio companies may be unable to repay or refinance outstanding principal on their loans at or prior to maturity, and rising interests rates may make it more difficult for portfolio companies to make periodic payments on their loans.

Our portfolio companies may be unable to repay or refinance outstanding principal on their loans at or prior to maturity. This risk and the risk of default is increased to the extent that the loan documents do not require the portfolio companies to pay down the outstanding principal of such debt prior to maturity. In addition, if

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cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less from the date of investment. We expect these temporary investments to earn yields substantially lower than the income that we expect to receive in respect of investments in senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loans and equity securities. As a result, any distributions we make during this period may be substantially smaller than the distributions that we expect to pay when our portfolio is fully invested.

We are a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and therefore we are not limited with respect to the proportion of our assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer.

We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, our net asset value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. Beyond our asset diversification requirements as a RIC under the Code, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies.

Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of portfolio companies and industries, which will subject us to a risk of significant loss if any of these companies defaults on its obligations under any of its debt instruments or if there is a downturn in a particular industry.

Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of portfolio companies and industries. As a result, the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly and adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment. Additionally, while we are not targeting any specific industries, our investments may be concentrated in relatively few industries. As a result, a downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could also significantly impact the aggregate returns we realize.

We may hold the debt securities of leveraged companies that may, due to the significant volatility of such companies, enter into bankruptcy proceedings.

Leveraged companies may experience bankruptcy or similar financial distress. The bankruptcy process has a number of significant inherent risks. Many events in a bankruptcy proceeding are the product of contested matters and adversary proceedings and are beyond the control of the creditors. A bankruptcy filing by an

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Our failure to make follow-on investments in our portfolio companies could impair the value of our portfolio.

Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in seeking to:

We have discretion to make follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources. Failure on our part to make follow-on investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and our initial investment, or may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful portfolio company. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our level of risk, because we prefer other opportunities or because of regulatory or other considerations. Our ability to make follow-on investments may also be limited by GC Advisors’ allocation policy.

Because we generally do not hold controlling equity interests in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to exercise control over our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments.

To the extent we do not hold controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and that the management and/or stockholders of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests. Due to the lack of liquidity of the debt and equity investments that we typically hold in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of our investments in the event we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of our investments.

Defaults by our portfolio companies will 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 assets. This could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize such 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.

Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in such companies.companies and such portfolio companies may not generate sufficient cash flow to service their debt obligations to us.

We have invested a portion of our capital in second lien and subordinated loans issued by our portfolio companies and intend to continue to do so in the future. The portfolio companies usually have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt securities in which we invest.

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governing the loans. The holders of obligations secured by 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 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 were 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 portfolio company’s remaining assets, if any.

We have made in the past, and may make in the future, unsecured loans to portfolio companies, meaning that such loans will not benefit from any interest in collateral of such companies. Liens on a portfolio company’s collateral, if any, will secure the portfolio company’s obligations under its outstanding secured debt and may secure certain future debt that is permitted to be incurred by the portfolio company under its secured loan agreements. The holders of obligations secured by such liens will generally control the liquidation of, and be entitled to receive proceeds from, any realization of such collateral to repay their obligations in full before us. In addition, the value of such 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 sales of such collateral would be sufficient to satisfy our unsecured loan obligations after payment in full of all loans secured by collateral. If such proceeds were not sufficient to repay the outstanding secured loan obligations, then our unsecured claims would rank equally with the unpaid portion of such secured creditors’ claims against the portfolio 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 such senior debt. Under a typical intercreditor agreement, at any time that obligations that have the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any of the following actions that may be taken in respect of the collateral will be at the direction of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens:

We may not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if our rights are adversely affected.

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of our board of directors in following or declining to follow GC Advisors’ advice or recommendations. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each of the collateral management agreements, GC Advisors, its officers, members, personnel, and any person controlling or controlled by GC Advisors are not liable to us, any subsidiary of ours, our directors, our stockholders or any subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the collateral management agreements, except those resulting from acts constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of GC Advisors’ duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the collateral management agreements. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify GC Advisors and each of its officers, directors, members, managers and employees from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our business and operations or any action taken or omitted on our behalf pursuant to authority granted by the Investment Advisory Agreement and the collateral management agreements, except where attributable to gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of such person’s duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the collateral management agreements. These protections may lead GC Advisors to act in a riskier manner when acting on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

We may be subject to risks under hedging transactions and may become subject to risks if we invest in foreign securities.

Under the 1940 Act, a business development company may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in the 1940 Act, which are referred to as “qualifying assets,” unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the company’s total assets. In order for our investments to be classified as “qualifying assets,” among other requirements, such investments must be in issuers organized under the laws of, and which have their principal place of business in, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or any other possession of the United States.

As of September 30, 2014,2015, we were not invested in securities of non-U.S. companies. WeSecurities issued by non U.S. companies are not “qualifying assets” under the 1940 Act, and we may invest in non-U.S. companies, including emerging market issuers, to the limited extent such investments are permitted under the 1940 Act. We expect that these investments would focus on the same types of investments that we make in U.S. middle marketmiddle-market companies and accordingly would be complementary to our overall strategy and

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such imperfect correlation could prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. In addition, it might not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies because the value of those securities would likely fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations. Our ability to engage in hedging transactions may also be adversely affected by rules adopted by the CFTC.

We may not realize gains from our equity investments.

When we invest in one stop, second lien and subordinated loans, we may acquire warrants or other equity securities of portfolio companies as well. We may also invest in equity securities directly. To the extent we hold equity investments, we will attempt to dispose of them and realize gains upon our disposition of them. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and may decline in value. As a result, 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.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

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.

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Our stockholders will experience dilution in their ownership percentage if they do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.

All dividends declared in cash payable to stockholders that are participants in our dividend reinvestment plan are automatically reinvested in shares of our common stock. As a result, our stockholders that do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan will experience dilution in their ownership percentage of our common stock over time.

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PART II

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

Price Range of Common Stock

Our common stock began trading on April 15, 2010 and is currently traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GDBC”. The following table lists the high and low closing sale price for our common stock, the closing sale price as a percentage of net asset value, or NAV, and quarterly distributions per share since October 1, 2012.2013.

Period		NAV(1)				Closing Sales Price								Premium of High Sales Price to NAV(2)				Premium (Discount) of Low Sales Price to NAV(2)				Dividends and Distributions Declared				NAV(1)				Closing Sales Price								Premium of High Sales Price to NAV(2)				Premium (Discount) of Low Sales Price to NAV(2)				Dividends and Distributions Declared
						High				Low																				High				Low
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2015
Fourth quarter																										$	15.80			$	17.13			$	15.90				8.4	%			0.6	%		$	0.32
Third quarter																											15.74				17.90				16.56				13.7				5.2				0.32
Second Quarter																											15.61				18.04				17.05				15.6				9.2				0.32
First Quarter																											15.55				18.15				16.15				16.7				3.9				0.32
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2014	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2014
Fourth quarter		$	15.55			$	17.80			$	15.95				14.5	%			2.6	%		$	0.32			$	15.55			$	17.80			$	15.95				14.5	%			2.6	%		$	0.32
Third quarter			15.44				17.97				15.94				16.4				3.2				0.32				15.44				17.97				15.94				16.4				3.2				0.32
Second Quarter			15.41				19.26				17.64				25.0				14.5				0.32				15.41				19.26				17.64				25.0				14.5				0.32
First Quarter			15.23				19.11				16.74				25.5				9.9				0.32				15.23				19.11				16.74				25.5				9.9				0.32
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2013
Fourth quarter		$	15.21			$	18.50			$	16.76				21.6	%			10.2	%		$	0.32
Third quarter			15.12				17.98				16.02				18.9				6.0				0.32
Second Quarter			14.80				16.66				15.82				12.6				6.9				0.32
First Quarter			14.66				16.32				14.75				11.3				0.6				0.32

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Record Dates		Payment Date				Dividends and Distributions Declared
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2013
September 13, 2013			September 27, 2013			$	0.32
June 13, 2013			June 27, 2013			$	0.32
March 14, 2013			March 28, 2013			$	0.32
December 14, 2012			December 28, 2012			$	0.32
Total(1)						$	1.28

Record Dates		Payment Date				Dividends and Distributions Declared
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2014
September 16, 2014			September 26, 2014			$	0.32
June 16, 2014			June 27, 2014				0.32
March 17, 2014			March 28, 2014				0.32
December 17, 2013			December 27, 2013				0.32
Total						$	1.28

On November 17, 2014,2015, our board of directors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.32 per share payable on December 29, 20142015 to holders of record as of December 18, 2014.11, 2015.

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of our dividends and other distributions on behalf of our stockholders. As a result, if our board of directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend or other distribution, then our stockholders who have not “opted out” ofparticipate in our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distribution automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash distribution.

Stock Performance Graph

This graph compares the stockholder return on our common stock from April 14,September 30, 2010 (initial public offering) to September 30, 20142015 with that of the NASDAQ Financial 100 Stock Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index. This graph assumes that on April 14,September 30, 2010, $100 was invested in our common stock, the NASDAQ Financial 100 Stock Index, and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index. The graph also assumes the reinvestment of all cash dividends prior to any tax effect. The graph and other information furnished under this Part II Item 5 of this annual report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of, the Exchange Act. The stock price performance included in the below graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.

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Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data of Golub Capital BDC as of and for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 2011 and 20102011 is derived from the consolidated financial statements that have been audited by RSM US LLP (formerly McGladrey LLP through October 25, 2015), independent registered public accounting firm. The financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.

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		Golub Capital BDC(1) As of and for the years ended September 30,																				Golub Capital BDC As of and for the years ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2012				2011				2010				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011
		(In thousands, except per share data)																				(In thousands, except per share data)
Other data:
Weighted average annualized yield on income producing investments at fair value(3)(1)			8.3	%			9.1 %				9.3	%			8.6	%			8.4	%			7.8	%			8.3 %				9.1	%			9.3	%			8.6	%
Number of portfolio companies at period end			145				135				121				103				94				164				145				135				121				103

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statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K 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 as “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this report on information available to us on the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.report. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, youYou are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we have filed or in the future may file with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, registration statements on Form N-2, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. This annual report on Form 10-K contains statistics and other data that have been obtained from or compiled from information made available by third-party service providers. We have not independently verified such statistics or data.

Overview

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 1940 Act. In addition, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a business development company and a RIC, we are also subject to certain constraints, including limitations imposed by the 1940 Act and the Code. We were formed in November 2009 to continue and expand the business of our predecessor, GCMF, which commenced operations in July 2007, in making investments in senior secured, one stop (a loan that combines characteristics of traditional first lien senior secured loans and second lien or subordinated loans), second lien and subordinated (a loan that ranks senior only to a borrower’s equity securities and ranks junior to all of such borrower’s other indebtedness in priority of payment) loans and warrants and minority equity securities of middle market companies that are, in most cases, sponsored by private equity firms.

Our shares are currently listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GBDC”.

Our investment objective is to maximize the total return to our stockholders in the form ofgenerate current income and capital appreciation through debtby investing primarily in senior secured and one stop loans of U.S. middle-market companies. We may also selectively invest in second lien and subordinated loans of, and warrants and minority equity investments.securities in U.S. middle-market companies. We intend to achieve our investment objective by (1) accessing the established loan origination channels developed by Golub Capital, a leading lender to middle marketmiddle-market companies with over $10.0$15.0 billion in capital under management as of September 30, 2014,2015, (2) selecting investments within our core middle marketmiddle-market company focus, (3) partnering with experienced private equity firms, or sponsors, in many cases with whom we haveGolub Capital has invested alongside in the past, (4) implementing the disciplined underwriting standards of Golub Capital and (5) drawing upon the aggregate experience and resources of Golub Capital.

Our investment activities are managed by GC Advisors and supervised by our board of directors of which a majority of the members are independent of us.us, GC Advisors and its affiliates.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, which was most recently reapproved by our board of directors in May 2014,2015, we have agreed to pay GC Advisors an annual base management fee based on our average adjusted gross assets as well as an incentive fee based on our investment performance. Under the Administration Agreement, we are provided with certain administrative services by the Administrator, which is currently Golub Capital LLC. Under the Administration Agreement, we have agreed to reimburse the Administrator for our allocable portion (subject to the review and approval of our independent directors) of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement.

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As of September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, our portfolio at fair value was comprised of 19.5% senior secured loans, 69.8% onethe following:

		As of September 30, 2015								As of September 30, 2014
Investment Type		Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments				Investments at Fair Value (In thousands)				Percentage of Total Investments
Senior secured		$	197,329				12.9	%		$	262,859				19.5	%
One stop			1,134,222				74.1				940,729				69.8
Second lien			39,774				2.6				59,964				4.4
Subordinated debt			1,715				0.1				3,710				0.3
Subordinated notes in SLF(1)			76,563				5.0				25,589				1.9
LLC equity interests in SLF(1)			22,373				1.5				9,242				0.7
Equity			57,808				3.8				45,519				3.4
Total		$	1,529,784				100.0	%		$	1,347,612				100.0	%

One stop loans 4.4% second lieninclude loans 0.3% subordinatedto technology companies undergoing strong growth due to new services, increased adoption and/or entry into new markets. We refer to loans 3.4%to these companies as late stage lending loans. Other targeted characteristics of late stage lending businesses include strong customer revenue retention rates, a diversified customer base and backing from growth equity or venture capital firms. In some cases, the borrower’s high revenue growth is supported by a high level of discretionary spending. As part of the underwriting of such loans and 2.6%consistent with industry practice, we may adjust our characterization of investments in SLF.the earnings of such borrowers for a reduction or elimination of such discretionary expenses, if appropriate. As of September 30, 2013, our portfolio2015, one stop loans included $88.2 million of late stage lending loans at fair value. During the three months ended December 31, 2014, we recharacterized $47.1 million of late stage lending loans at fair value was comprised of 28.9%from senior secured loans 54.1%to one stop loans. As of September 30, 2014, one stop loans 11.0% second lienincluded $83.3 million of late stage lending loans 2.2% subordinatedat fair value and senior secured loans 3.3% equity and 0.5%included $47.1 million of investments in SLF.late stage lending loans at fair value.

As of September 30, 2015, 2014 2013 and 2012,2013, we had debt and equity investments in 164, 145 135 and 121135 portfolio companies, respectively, and investments in subordinated notes and LLC equity interests in SLF. For the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013

The weighted average annualized income yield and 2012,weighted average annualized investment income yield of our income producing assets,debt investments, which represented nearly 100% of our total portfolio, had a weighted average income yield (which is calculateddebt investments, for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was as income from interest and fees excluding amortization of capitalized fees and discounts divided by the average fair value of earning investments) of 8.3%, 9.1% and 9.3%, respectively, and a weighted average investment income yield (which is calculated as income from interest, fees and amortization of capitalized fees and discounts divided by average fair value of earning investments) of 9.0%, 10.1%, and 10.2%, respectively.follows:

		For the years ended September 30,
		2015				2014				2013
Weighted average income yield(1)			7.8	%			8.3	%			9.1	%
Weighted average investment income yield(2)			8.4	%			9.0	%			10.1	%

Revenues:  We generate revenue in the form of interest and fee income on debt investments and capital gains and distributions, if any, on portfolio company investments that we originate or acquire. Our debt investments, whether in the form of senior secured, one stop, second lien or subordinated loans, typically have a term of three to seven years and bear interest at a fixed or floating rate. In some instances, we receive payments on our debt investments based on scheduled amortization of the outstanding balances. In addition, we receive repayments of some of our debt investments prior to their scheduled maturity date. The frequency or volume of these repayments fluctuates significantly from period to period. Our portfolio activity also

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reflects the proceeds of sales of securities. In some cases, our investments provide for deferred interest payments or PIK interest. The principal amount of loans and any accrued but unpaid interest generally become due at the maturity date. In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of commitment, origination, amendment, structuring or due diligence fees, fees for providing managerial assistance and consulting fees. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we accrete or amortize such amounts as interest income. We record prepayment premiums on loans as fee income. Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded as dividend income on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly traded portfolio companies. Distributions received from LLC and limited partnership, or LP, investments are evaluated to determine if the distribution should be recorded as dividend income or a return of capital. Generally, we will not record distributions from equity investments in LLCs and LPs as dividend income unless there are sufficient accumulated tax-basis earnings and profits in the LLC or LP prior to the distribution. Distributions that are classified as a return of capital are recorded as a reduction in the cost basis of the investment.

We recognize realized gains or losses on investments based on the difference between the net proceeds from the disposition and the cost basis of the investment or derivative instrument, without regard to unrealized gains or losses previously recognized. We record current period changes in fair value of investments and derivative instruments that are measured at fair value as a component of the net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

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We expect our general and administrative expenses to be relatively stable or decline as a percentage of total assets during periods of asset growth and to increase during periods of asset declines.

GC Advisors, as collateral manager for the 2010 Issuer under a collateral management agreement, or the 2010 Collateral Management Agreement, is entitled to receive an annual fee in an amount equal to 0.35% of the principal balance of the portfolio loans held by the 2010 Issuer at the beginning of the collection period relating to each payment date, which is payable in arrears on each payment date. This fee, which is less than the management fee payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement, is paid directly by the 2010 Issuer to GC Advisors and offset against such management fee. Accordingly, the 1.375% management fee paid by us to GC Advisors under the Investment Advisory Agreement on all of our assets, including those indirectly held through the 2010 Issuer, is reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by an amount equal to such 0.35% fee paid to GC Advisors by the 2010 Issuer. Under the 2010 Collateral Management Agreement, the term “collection period” refers to a quarterly period running from the day after the end of the prior collection period to the fifth business day of the calendar month in which a payment date occurs. This fee may be waived by the collateral manager. The 2010 Collateral Management Agreement does not include any incentive fee payable to GC Advisors. In addition, the 2010 Issuer paid Wells Fargo Securities, LLC a structuring and placement fee for its services in connection with the initial structuring and subsequent amendment of the 2010 Debt Securitization. The 2010 Issuer also agreed to pay ongoing administrative expenses to the trustee, collateral manager, independent accountants, legal counsel, rating agencies and independent managers in connection with developing and maintaining reports, and providing required services in connection with, the administration of the 2010 Debt Securitization.

GC Advisors, as collateral manager for the 2014 Issuer under a collateral management agreement, or the 2014 Collateral Management Agreement, is entitled to receive an annual fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the principal balance of the portfolio loans held by the 2014 Issuer at the beginning of the collection period relating to each payment date, which is payable in arrears on each payment date. This fee, which is less than the management fee payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement, is paid directly by the 2014 Issuer to GC Advisors and offset against such management fee. Accordingly, the 1.375% management fee paid by us to GC Advisors under the Investment Advisory Agreement on all of our assets, including those indirectly held through the 2014 Issuer, is reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by an amount equal to such 0.25% fee paid to GC Advisors by the 2014 Issuer. Under the 2014 Collateral Management Agreement, the term “collection period” refers to a quarterly period running from the day after the end of the prior collection period to the tenth business day prior to the payment date. This fee may be waived

Collateral management fees are paid directly by the collateral manager. The2010 Issuer and the 2014 Collateral Management Agreement does not include any incentive fee payableIssuer to GC Advisors.Advisors and offset against the management fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement. In addition, the 2010 Issuer and 2014 Issuer paid Wells Fargo Securities, LLC a structuring and placement feefees for its services in connection with the initial structuring of the 2010 Debt Securitization, the 2014 Debt Securitization and the amendment of the 2010 Debt Securitization. The 2010 Issuer and 2014 Issuer also agreed to pay ongoing administrative expenses to the trustee, collateral manager, independent accountants, legal counsel, rating agencies and independent managers in connection with developing and maintaining reports, and providing required services in connection with the administration of the 20142010 Debt Securitization.

The administrative expenses of each of the 2010 IssuerSecuritization and the 2014 Issuer are paid on each payment date in two parts: (1) a component that is paid in a priority to other amounts distributed byDebt Securitization, collectively, the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer,Debt Securitizations, as applicable, subject to a cap equal to the sum of 0.04% per annum of the adjusted principal balance of the portfolio loans and other assets held by the 2010 Issuer of the 2014 Issuer, as applicable, on the last day of the collection period relating to such payment date, plus $150,000 per annum, and (2) a component that is paid in a subordinated position relative to other amounts distributed by the 2010 Issuer or the 2014 Issuer, as applicable, equal to any amounts that exceed the aforementioned administrative expense cap. applicable.

We believe that these administrative expenses approximate the amount of ongoing fees and expenses that we would be required to pay in connection with a traditional secured credit facility. Our common stockholders indirectly bear all of these expenses.

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management team, lending to U.S. middle marketmiddle-market companies (1) is generally more labor intensive than lending to larger companies due to the smaller size of each investment and the fragmented nature of information for such companies, (2) requires due diligence and underwriting practices consistent with the demands and economic limitations of the middle marketmiddle-market and (3) may also require more extensive ongoing monitoring by the lender.

Demand for Debt Capital.  We believe there is a large pool of uninvested private equity capital for middle marketmiddle-market companies. We expect private equity firms will seek to leverage their investments by combining equity capital with senior secured loans and subordinated debt from other sources, such as us.

Competition from Bank LendersLenders..  We believe that many traditional bank lenders to middle market businessescommercial and investment banks have, either exited orin recent years, de-emphasized their service and product offerings to middle-market businesses in the middle market. These traditional lenders have instead focused onfavor of lending and providing other services to large corporate clients.clients and managing capital markets transactions. In addition, these lenders may be constrained in their ability to underwrite and hold bank loans for middle-market issuers as they seek to meet existing and future regulatory capital requirements. We believe this has resultedthese factors may result in fewer key playersopportunities for alternative funding sources to middle-market companies and the reduced availability of debt capital to the companies we target.therefore more market opportunities for us.

Market Environment:  We believe that as part of the path of economic recovery following the credit crisis, there has been increased competition for new middle marketmiddle-market investments due to some new non-bank finance companies that have entered the market and due to improving financial performance of middle marketmiddle-market companies. However, we believe that our scale and strong market position will continue to allow us to find investment opportunities with attractive risk-adjusted returns.

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Net income can vary substantially from period to period for various reasons, including the recognition of realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation. As a result, annual comparisons of net income may not be meaningful.

Investment Income

Investment income increased from 20132014 to 20142015 by $25.8$10.4 million as a result of an increase in the average earning investment balance, which is the annual average balance of accruing loans in our investment portfolio, of $209.5 million and an increase in interest income from subordinated notes of SLF of $1.8 million. These increases were partially offset by a decline in the weighted average investment income yield of 0.6% and a decline in fee income of $1.2 million that was primarily driven by a decrease in prepayment fees. Investment income increased from 2013 to 2014 by $25.8 million as a result of an increase in the average earning investment balance of $384.2 million and an increase in fee income of $0.6 million that was primarily driven by an increase in prepayment fees. These increases were partially offset by a decline in the weighted average investment income yield of 1.1% and a decline in dividend income of $0.4 million. Investment income increased from 2012 to 2013 by $25.9 million as a result of an increase

The decrease in the average earning investment balance, which is the annual average balance of accruing loans in our investment portfolio, of $246.6 million, an increase in prepayment fees of $1.3 million and an increase in dividend income of $1.8 million, which were partially offsetyield from 2014 to 2015 was driven primarily by a decline in the weighted average investment income (which includes interest income and amortization of fees and discounts) yield of 0.1%.

rate compression on new investments. The decrease in the yield from 2013 to 2014 was driven primarily by interest rate compression on new investments and the change in asset mix of our portfolio. Higher yielding subordinated debt investments decreased from 2.2% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2013 to 0.3% of the portfolio as September 30, 2014 while lowerLower yielding one stop investments increased from 54.1% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2013 to 69.8% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2014. The decrease in the yield from 20122014 and to 2013 was driven primarily by the change in asset mix of our portfolio. Higher yielding subordinated debt investments decreased from 10.0%74.1% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2012 to 2.2% of the portfolio as September 30, 2013 while lower yielding one stop investments increased from 30.5% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2012 to 54.1% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2013.