We do not have a fixed policy as to whether the Chair of the Board should be an independent director and believe that we should maintain the flexibility to select the Chair and reorganize the leadership structure, from time to time, based on the criteria that is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at such times.
Presently, David Wermuth serves as the Chairman of our Board. Mr. Wermuth is an “interested person” of the Company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act by virtue of his role as Managing Director of the Adviser. We believe that Mr. Wermuth’s history with the Company, familiarity with its investment platform, and extensive knowledge of the financial services industry qualify him to serve as the Chairman of our Board. We believe that the Company is best served through this existing leadership structure, as Mr. Wermuth’s relationship with the Adviser provides an effective bridge and encourages an open dialogue between management and the Board, ensuring that both groups act with a common purpose.
Our corporate governance policies include regular meetings of the independent directors in executive session without the presence of interested directors and management, the establishment of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each comprised solely of independent directors, and the appointment of a chief compliance officer, with whom the independent directors meet at least once a year without the presence of interested directors and other members of management, for administering our compliance policies and procedures.
We recognize that different board of directors’ leadership structures are appropriate for companies in different situations. We re-examine our corporate governance policies on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet our needs.
All of the independent directors play an active role on the Board. The independent directors compose a majority of our Board and are closely involved in all material deliberations related to us. Our Board believes that, with these practices, each independent director has an equal involvement in the actions and oversight role of our Board and equal accountability to us and our stockholders. Our independent directors are expected to meet separately (i) as part of each regular Board meeting and (ii) with our Chief Compliance Officer, as part of at least one Board meeting each year.
Our Board believes that its leadership structure is the optimal structure for us at this time. Our Board, which will review its leadership structure periodically as part of its annual self-assessment process, further believes that its structure is presently appropriate to enable it to exercise oversight of our business and affairs.
Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board oversees our business and operations, including certain risk management functions. Risk management is a broad concept comprising many disparate elements (for example, investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risk, and business continuity risk). Our Board implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through its committees. While providing oversight, our Board and its committees receive reports on the Company’s and the Adviser’s activities, including reports regarding our investment portfolio and financial accounting and reporting.
As described below in more detail under “Committees of the Board of Directors,” the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assist the Board in fulfilling its risk oversight responsibilities. The Audit Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, the Company’s systems of internal control over financial reporting, and audits of the Company’s financial statements. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and our management.
Our Board also performs its risk oversight responsibilities with the assistance of our Chief Compliance Officer. Our Board receives a quarterly report from our Chief Compliance Officer, who reports on our compliance with
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