Principles of Consolidation

Under the investment company rules and regulations pursuant to ASC 946, the Company is precluded from consolidating any entity other than another investment company or controlled operating company whose business consists of providing services to the Company. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of the Company include only the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company has determined that SLF JV is an investment company under ASC 946; however, in accordance with such guidance the Company will generally not consolidate its investment in a company other than a wholly owned investment company subsidiary. SLF JV is not a wholly owned investment company subsidiary as the Company and TJHA each have an equal 50% voting interest in SLF JV and thus neither party has a controlling financial interest. Furthermore, FASB ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, concludes that in a joint venture where both members have equal decision making authority, it is not appropriate for one member to consolidate the joint venture since neither has control. Accordingly, the Company does not consolidate its investment in SLF JV.

Operating Segment

Operating Segment

The Company invests in various industries. The Company separately evaluates the performance of each of its investment relationships. However, because each of these investment relationships has similar business and economic characteristics, they have been aggregated into a single investment segment. All applicable segment disclosures are included in or can be derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements (See “Note 3. Investments”).

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Reserve Accounts

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Reserve Accounts

Cash and cash equivalents, reserve accounts include amounts held in designated bank accounts in the form of cash and short-term liquid investments in money market funds, and, at times, such balances may be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits, representing payments received on secured investments or other reserved amounts associated with the Encina Credit Facility held by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, SIF II. The Company is required to use these amounts to pay interest expense, reduce borrowings, or pay other amounts in accordance with the terms of the Encina Credit Facility.

In addition, cash and cash equivalents, reserve accounts also include amounts held in designated bank accounts, in the form of cash and short-term liquid investments in money market funds, within the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, SBIC LP, SBIC II LP and SBIC III LP.

The statements of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and cash and cash equivalents, reserve accounts reported within the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:

	February 29, 2024		February 28, 2023		February 28, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,692,846	$	65,746,494	$	47,257,801
Cash and cash equivalents, reserve accounts		31,814,278		30,329,779		5,612,541
Total cash and cash equivalents and cash and cash equivalents, reserve accounts	$	40,507,124	$	96,076,273	$	52,870,342

Investment Valuation

Investment Valuation

The Company accounts for its investments at fair value in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires the Company to assume that its investments are to be sold or its liabilities are to be transferred at the measurement date in the principal market to independent market participants, or in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market, which may be a hypothetical market. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal or most advantageous market that are independent, knowledgeable, and willing and able to transact.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are fair valued at such market quotations obtained from independent third-party pricing services and market makers subject to any decision by the Company’s board of directors to approve a fair value determination to reflect significant events affecting the value of these investments. The Company values investments for which market quotations are not readily available at fair value as approved, in good faith, by the Company’s board of directors based on input from the Manager, the audit committee of the board of directors and a third-party independent valuation firm.

The Company undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter when valuing investments for which market quotations are not readily available, as described below:

●

Each investment is initially valued by the responsible investment professionals of the Manager and preliminary valuation conclusions are documented, reviewed and discussed with our senior management; and

●

An independent valuation firm engaged by the Company’s board of directors independently reviews a selection of these preliminary valuations each quarter so that the valuation of each investment for which market quotes are not readily available is reviewed by the independent valuation firm at least once each fiscal year. The Company uses a third-party independent valuation firm to value its investment in the subordinated notes of Saratoga Investment Corp. CLO 2013-1, Ltd. (“Saratoga CLO”), the Class F-2-R-3 Notes of the Saratoga CLO, and the Class E Notes of the SLF 2022 every quarter.

In addition, all investments are subject to the following valuation process:

●

The audit committee of the Company’s board of directors reviews and approves each preliminary valuation and the Manager and independent valuation firm (if applicable) will supplement the preliminary valuation to reflect any comments provided by the audit committee; and

●

The Company’s board of directors discusses the valuations and approves the fair value of each investment, in good faith, based on the input of the Manager, independent valuation firm (to the extent applicable) and the audit committee of the board of directors.

The Company uses multiple techniques for determining fair value based on the nature of the investment and experience with those types of investments and specific portfolio companies. The selections of the valuation techniques and the inputs and assumptions used within those techniques often require subjective judgements and estimates. These techniques include market comparables, discounted cash flows and enterprise value waterfalls. Fair value is best expressed as a range of values from which the Company determines a single best estimate. The types of inputs and assumptions that may be considered in determining the range of values of the Company’s investments include the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, market yield trend analysis and volatility in future interest rates, call and put features, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded companies, discounted cash flows and other relevant factors.

The Company’s investments in the subordinated notes of Saratoga CLO, Class F-2-R-3 Notes of the Saratoga CLO and the Class E Notes of SLF 2022 are carried at fair value, which is based on a discounted cash flow valuation technique that utilizes prepayment, re-investment and loss inputs based on historical experience and projected performance, economic factors, the characteristics of the underlying cash flow, and comparable yields for equity interests in collateralized loan obligation funds, when available, as determined by the Manager and recommended to the Company’s board of directors. Specifically, the Company uses Intex cash flows, or an appropriate substitute, to form the basis for the valuation of its investment in the subordinated notes of Saratoga CLO, Class F-2-R-3 Notes of the Saratoga CLO and the Class E Notes of SLF 2022. The inputs are based on available market data and projections provided by third parties as well as management estimates. The Company uses the output from the Intex models (i.e., the estimated cash flows) to perform a discounted cash flow analysis on expected future cash flows to determine the valuation for our investment in Saratoga CLO.

The Company’s equity investment in SLF JV is measured using the proportionate share of the net asset value (“NAV”), or equivalent, of SLF JV as a practical expedient for fair value, provided by ASC 820. The Company’s unsecured loan investment in SLF JV is based on a discounted cash flow valuation technique.

Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private investments and private companies, are inherently uncertain, they may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates. The determination of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these investments existed. The Company’s NAV could be materially affected if the determinations regarding the fair value of its investments were materially higher or lower than the values that the Company ultimately realizes upon the disposal of such investments.

Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 2a-5”) establishes a regulatory framework for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 permits boards of directors, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions, to designate the investment adviser to perform fair value determinations. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must determine the fair value of a security. Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 31a-4”) provides for certain recordkeeping requirements associated with fair value determinations. Finally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rescinded previously issued guidance on related issues, including the role of the board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments. While the Company’s board of directors has not elected to designate Saratoga Investment Advisors as the valuation designee, the Company has established policies and procedures in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4.

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition

Purchases and sales of investments and the related realized gains or losses are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected. The Company stops accruing interest on its investments when it is determined that interest is no longer collectible. Discounts and premiums on investments purchased are accreted/amortized using the effective yield method. The amortized cost of investments represents the original cost adjusted for the accretion of discounts over the life of the investment and amortization of premiums on investments up to the earliest call date.

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected. Accrued interest is generally reserved when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as a reduction in principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past due principal and interest is paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current, although management may make exceptions to this general rule if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection. At February 29, 2024 our investment in three portfolio companies were on non-accrual status with a fair value of approximately $18.9 million, or 1.7% of the fair value of our portfolio. At February 28, 2023, our investment in one portfolio company was on non-accrual status with a fair value of approximately $9.8 million, or 1.0% of the fair value of our portfolio.

Interest income on our investment in the subordinated note of Saratoga CLO is recorded using the effective interest method in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 325-40, Investments-Other, Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets, based on the anticipated yield and the estimated cash flows over the projected life of the investment. Yields are revised when there are changes in actual or estimated cash flows due to changes in prepayments and/or re-investments, credit losses or asset pricing. Changes in estimated yield are recognized as an adjustment to the estimated yield over the remaining life of the investment from the date the estimated yield was changed.

Dividend Income

Dividend Income

Dividend income is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations when earned.

Other Income

Other Income

Other income includes prepayment income fees, and monitoring, administration, redemption and amendment fees and is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations when earned.

Realized Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Realized Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Upon the repayment of debt obligations that are deemed to be extinguishments, the difference between the principal amount due at maturity adjusted for any unamortized debt issuance costs is recognized as a loss (i.e., the unamortized debt issuance costs are recognized as a loss upon extinguishment of the underlying debt obligation).

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company has elected, and intends to qualify annually, to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. By meeting these requirements, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on ordinary income or capital gains timely distributed to stockholders. Therefore, no provision has been recorded for federal income taxes, except as related to the Corporate Blockers (as defined below) and long-term capital gains, when applicable.

In order to qualify as a RIC, among other requirements, the Company generally is required to timely distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of its “investment company taxable income”, as defined by the Code, for each fiscal tax year. The Company will be subject to U.S. federal income tax imposed at corporate rates on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains that it does not timely distribute to shareholders. The Company will be subject to a non-deductible U.S. federal excise tax of 4% on undistributed income if it does not distribute at least (1) 98% of its net ordinary income in any calendar year, (2) 98.2% of its capital gain net income for each one-year period ending on October 31and (3) any net ordinary income and capital gain net income that it recognized for preceding years, but were not distributed during such year, and on which the Company paid no U.S federal income tax.

Depending on the level of investment company taxable income earned in a tax year and the amount of net capital gains recognized in such tax year, the Company may choose to carry forward investment company taxable income and net capital gains in excess of current year dividend distributions into the next tax year and pay U.S. federal income tax, and possibly the 4% U.S. federal excise tax on such income, as required. To the extent that the Company determines that its estimated current year annual investment company taxable income will be in excess of estimated current year dividend distributions for U.S. federal excise tax purposes, the Company accrues the U.S. federal excise tax, if any, on estimated excess taxable income as taxable income is earned. For the years ended February 29, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the excise tax accrual on estimated excess taxable income was $1.8 million, $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

In accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations and published guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), a publicly offered RIC may treat a distribution of its own stock as counting toward its RIC distribution requirements if each stockholder may elect to receive his, her, or its entire distribution in either cash or stock of the RIC. This published guidance indicates that the rule will apply where the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed to all stockholders is not at least 20% of the aggregate declared distribution. Under the published guidance, if too many stockholders elect to receive cash, the cash available for distribution must be allocated among the stockholders electing to receive cash (with the balance of the distribution paid in stock). In no event will any stockholder, electing to receive cash, receive less than 20% of his or her entire distribution in cash. If these and certain other requirements are met, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of the dividend paid in stock will be equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of stock.

The Company may utilize wholly owned holding companies that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes when making equity investments in portfolio companies taxed as pass-through entities to meet its source-of-income requirements as a RIC (“Corporate Blockers”). Corporate Blockers are consolidated in the Company’s U.S. GAAP financial statements and may result in current and deferred U.S. federal and state income tax expense with respect to income derived from those investments. Such income, net of applicable income taxes, is not included in the Company’s tax-basis net investment income until distributed by the Corporate Blocker, which may result in timing and character differences between the Company’s U.S. GAAP and tax-basis net investment income and realized gains and losses. Income tax expense or benefit from Corporate Blockers related to net investment income are included in total operating expenses, while any expense or benefit related to federal or state income tax originated for capital gains and losses are included together with the applicable net realized or unrealized gain or loss line item. Deferred tax assets of the Corporate Blockers are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more-likely than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, (“ASC 740”), provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. ASC 740 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions deemed to meet a “more-likely-than-not” threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current period. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the consolidated statements of operations. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, February 28, 2023 and February 28, 2022 the Company did not incur any interest or penalties. Although we file federal and state tax returns, our major tax jurisdiction is federal. The 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 federal tax years for the Company remain subject to examination by the IRS. At February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, there were no uncertain tax positions. The Company is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly in the next 12 months.

Capital Gains Incentive Fee

Capital Gains Incentive Fee

The Company records an expense accrual on the consolidated statements of operations relating to the capital gains incentive fee payable to the Manager, as recorded on the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities when the net realized and unrealized gain on its investments exceed all net realized and unrealized capital losses on its investments, as a capital gains incentive fee would be owed to the Manager if the Company were to liquidate its investment portfolio at such time.

The actual incentive fee payable to the Manager related to capital gains will be determined and payable in arrears at the end of each fiscal year and only reflect those realized capital gains net of realized and unrealized losses for the period.

Risk Management

Risk Management

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company manages a variety of risks, including market and credit risk. Market risk is the risk of potential adverse changes to the value of investments because of changes in market conditions such as interest rate movements and volatility in investment prices.

Credit risk is the risk of default or non-performance by portfolio companies, equivalent to the investment’s carrying amount. The Company is also exposed to credit risk related to maintaining all of its cash and cash equivalents, including those in reserve accounts, at a major financial institution and credit risk related to any of its derivative counterparties.

The Company has investments in lower rated and comparable quality unrated high yield bonds and bank loans. Investments in high yield investments are accompanied by a greater degree of credit risk. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer is significantly greater for holders of high yield securities, because such investments are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.