8-K

___________________________________________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 17, 2021

EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	814-00098	76-0345915
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission File	(IRS Employer
Of Incorporation)	Number)	Identification No.)

700 Louisiana Street, 48th Floor Houston, Texas	77020
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 529-0900

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-k filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On August 17, 2021, holders of 55.64% of the outstanding common stock of Equus Total Return, Inc. (the “Company”) authorized the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) to cause the Company’s withdrawal of its election to be classified as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, but in no event later than January 31, 2022. Such action will become effective twenty days after mailing of a definitive information statement to shareholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 20, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the authorization given to the Board by the shareholders as described in Item 5.07 above. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1       Press release issued on August 20, 2021 by Equus Total Return, Inc.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Equus Total Return, Inc.
Date:  August 20, 2021	By:  /s/ Kenneth I. Denos
	Name:  Kenneth I. Denos
	Title:  Secretary

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

EQUUS SHAREHOLDERS GRANT AUTHORIZATION

TO WITHDRAW BDC ELECTION

Authorization Supports Company’s Intent

to Effect a Transformative Transaction

HOUSTON, TX – August 20, 2021 – Equus Total Return, Inc. (NYSE: EQS) (“Equus” or the “Company”) today announced that shareholders, collectively holding 7,511,448 shares (55.64% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock), have authorized the Company’s Board of Directors (hereinafter, the “Board”) to cause the Company’s withdrawal of its election to be classifed as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as part of a potential strategic transformation of Equus into an operating company. In connection with this authorization, the Company has filed an Information Statement on Schedule 14C, dated August 18, 2021.

The Company has examined a number of potential transactions in a variety of sectors, including energy, natural resources, containers and packaging, real estate, media, technology, and telecommunications. These reviews have included consideration of potential strategic transactions to maximize value to shareholders as an operating company not subject to the 1940 Act. The authorization granted by the Company’s shareholders allows the Board to withdraw the Company’s BDC authorization on or prior to January 31, 2022 as part of a potential strategic transformation of Equus into an operating company. Although Equus has been authorized to withdraw and terminate the Company’s BDC election under the 1940 Act, it will not submit any such withdrawal unless and until Equus has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire an operating company.

Risks and Uncertainties

The outbreak of Covid-19 in the United States in February 2020 and the subsequent resurgence of the Delta variant in 2021 has presented a number of challenges to achieving the Company’s operational and strategic objectives. Government travel bans, border closures and directives on social distancing and shelter-in-place mandates have made it difficult to conduct in-person due diligence examinations, negotiations, and other functions which are endemic to the interpersonal nature of the mergers and acquisitions process. The Company cannot give assurance that its endeavors to pursue a transformative transaction will not be adversely affected should these disruptions and restrictions on travel continue throughout 2021 and into 2022.

The transformation of Equus into an operating company is subject to various conditions, risks, and uncertainties. Such risks should be considered in addition to the items identified as “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2021.

Potential Advantages

An operating company structure, in lieu of a closed-end fund structure, could be advantageous to Equus and its shareholders in various ways, including: (i) a greater number of growth opportunities through merger with and acquisition of other operating companies, (ii) a valuation of Equus based on typical operating criteria such as earnings, revenue, and gross profit, instead of net asset value, (iii) lower proportional compliance costs due to Equus not being regulated under the 1940 Act, and (iv) greater flexibility to issue common and preferred equity, as well as other types of securities as consideration for acquisitions and growth of the Company.

Even if the Company utilizes its shares to acquire investment assets and remains a BDC, the Company believes that it could gain cost efficiencies in managing a greater number of assets such that Company expenses as a percentage of assets under management would decrease. In recent years, Company management has made significant efforts to decrease overall costs and costs relative to its net asset value including, for example, reductions in staff and in the number of members of the Company’s Board.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding possible future circumstances. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements including, in particular, the performance of the Company, including our ability to achieve our expected financial and business objectives, our ability to execute our reorganization under the Plan and complete the transactions contemplated thereby, the other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Actual results, events, and performance may differ. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statements are material.

Contacts:

Patricia Baronowski
Pristine Advisers, LLC
(631) 756-2486