CM FINANCE

Michael C. Mauer Chief Executive Officer CM Finance Inc 601 Lexington Avenue, 26^th Floor

Steven B. Boehm, Esq. Stephani M. Hildebrandt, Esq. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

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

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

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

We may offer, from time to time in one or more offerings, up to $500,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights or warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, which we refer to, collectively, as the “securities.” Our securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be disclosed in one or more supplements to this prospectus. In addition, this prospectus relates to 6,000,004 shares of our common stock that may be sold by the selling stockholders identified under “Selling Stockholders.” You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.

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

We are a specialty finance company that invests primarily in the debt of U.S. middle-market companies. We seek to invest primarily in middle-market companies that have annual revenues of at least $50 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of at least $15 million. Our primary investment objective is to maximize the total return to stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing in debt and related equity investments of privately held middle-market companies. The companies in which we invest typically are highly leveraged, and, in most cases, our investments in such companies are not rated by national rating agencies. If such investments were rated, we believe that they would likely receive a rating which is often referred to as “junk.”

A majority of our debt portfolio consists of debt securities for which issuers were not required to make principal payments until the maturity of such debt securities, which could result in a substantial loss to us if such issuers are unable to refinance or repay their debt at maturity. In addition, a majority of our debt investments had variable interest rates that reset periodically based on benchmarks such as LIBOR. As a result, significant increases in such benchmarks in the future may make it more difficult for these borrowers to service their obligations under the debt investments that we hold.

On May 29, 2018 the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $9.55. We are required to determine the net asset value per share of our common stock on a quarterly basis. On March 31, 2018, our net asset value per share was $12.55.

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. If our shares trade at a discount to our net asset value, it will likely increase the risk of loss for purchasers in this offering. In this regard, at a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value.”

Investing in our securities may be speculative and involve a high degree of risk. Before buying any shares, you should read the discussion of the material risks of investing in our common stock in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 21 of this prospectus.

This prospectus, and the accompanying prospectus supplement, contain important information you should know before investing in our common stock. Please read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest and keep it for future reference. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains such information. This information is also available free of charge by contacting us at 601 Lexington Avenue, 26^th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or by calling us at (212) 257-5199 or on our website at http://cmfn-inc.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using the “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer, from time to time, up to $500,000,000 of our securities on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. In addition, this prospectus relates to 6,000,004 shares of our common stock that may be sold by the selling stockholders identified under “Selling Stockholders.” We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by any of the selling stockholders. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Please carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under “Risk Factors” and “Available Information” before you make an investment decision.

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

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. You should read the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus carefully.

We were formed in February 2012 and commenced operations in March 2012 as CM Finance LLC, a Maryland limited liability company. Immediately prior to the pricing of our initial public offering, CM Finance LLC was merged with and into CM Finance Inc, a Maryland corporation (the “CM Finance Merger”), that is an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Except as otherwise indicated, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “CM Finance” refer to CM Finance LLC prior to the CM Finance Merger and CM Finance Inc after the CM Finance Merger; and “CM Investment Partners” and the “Adviser” refer to our investment adviser and administrator, CM Investment Partners LLC.

We are a specialty finance company that invests primarily in the debt of U.S. middle-market companies, which we generally define as those companies that have an enterprise value, that represents the aggregate of debt value and equity value of the entity of less than $750 million. We are externally managed by CM Investment Partners. The Adviser is led by Michael C. Mauer and Christopher E. Jansen, who together have over 40 years of experience in the leveraged debt markets. Our primary investment objective is to maximize total return to stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing in debt and related equity of privately held middle-market companies.

We seek to invest primarily in middle-market companies that have annual revenues of at least $50 million and EBITDA of at least $15 million. We focus on companies with leading market positions, significant asset or franchise values, strong free cash flow and experienced senior management teams, with emphasis on companies with high-quality sponsors. Our investments typically range in size from $5 million to $25 million. We expect that our portfolio companies will use our capital for organic growth, acquisitions, market or product expansion, refinancings, and/or recapitalizations. We invest, and intend to continue to invest, in unitranche loans and standalone second and first lien loans, with an emphasis on floating rate debt. Unitranche loans are loans structured as first lien loans with certain characteristics of mezzanine loan risk in one security. We also selectively invest in unsecured debt, bonds and in the equity of portfolio companies through warrants and other instruments, in most cases taking such upside participation interests as part of a broader investment relationship.

We strive to maintain a strong focus on credit quality, investment discipline and investment selectivity. We believe that investing in the debt of private middle-market companies generally provides a more attractive relative value proposition than investing in broadly syndicated debt due to the conservative capital structures and superior default and loss characteristics typically associated with middle-market companies. We believe that, because private middle-market companies have limited access to capital providers, debt investments in these companies typically carry above-market interest rates and include more favorable protections, resulting in attractive risk-adjusted returns across credit cycles while better preserving capital. The companies in which we invest typically are highly leveraged, and, in most cases, our investments in such companies are not rated by national rating agencies. If such investments were rated, we believe that they would likely receive a rating which is often referred to as “junk” and should be considered speculative.

We have, through CM Finance SPV Ltd. (“CM SPV”), our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a $102.0 million term secured financing facility (the “Term Financing”), due December 5, 2020 with UBS AG, London Branch (together with its affiliates “UBS”). The Term Financing is collateralized by a portion of the debt investments in our portfolio. Borrowings under the Term Financing bear interest (i) at a rate per annum equal to

one-month LIBOR plus 2.75% through December 4, 2018, and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.55% from December 5, 2018 through December 5, 2020. We also incur an annual fee of approximately 1% of the outstanding borrowings under the Term Financing.

On November 20, 2017, we entered into a $50 million revolving financing facility with UBS (the “2017 UBS Revolving Financing”, and together with the Term Financing, the “UBS Financing Facility”). Borrowings under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.55%. We pay a fee on any undrawn amounts of 2.50% per annum; provided that if 50% or less of the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing is drawn, the fee will be 2.75% per annum. Any amounts borrowed under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing will mature, and all accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable, on December 5, 2019. We refer to the Term Financing, the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing and our prior revolving credit facility with Citibank, N.A., discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financing Facility,” together as the “Financing Facilities.”

Portfolio Composition

As of March 31, 2018, our portfolio consisted of debt and equity investments in 24 portfolio companies with a fair value of $297.2 million. As of March 31, 2018, our portfolio consisted of 48.3% first lien investments, 42.4% second lien investments, 0.3% unsecured debt investments 4.2% unitranche loans, and 4.8% equity, warrant and other positions. At March 31, 2018, the weighted average total yield of debt and income producing securities at amortized cost (which includes income and amortization of fees and discounts) was 11.12%. The weighted average total yield was computed using an internal rate of return calculation of our debt investments based on contractual cash flows, including interest and amortization payments, and, for floating rate investments, the spot London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), as of March 31, 2018 of all of our debt investments. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. The weighted average total yield of our debt investments is not the same as a return on investment for our stockholders but, rather, relates to a portion of our investment portfolio and is calculated before payment of all of our fees and expenses, including any sales load paid in connection with an offering of our securities. There can be no assurance that the weighted average total yield will remain at its current level.

The industry composition of our portfolio at fair value at March 31, 2018 was as follows:


	Percentage of Total Portfolio at March 31, 2018
Professional Services		12.70	%
Energy Equipment & Services		12.03
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure		11.34
Commercial Services & Supplies		10.63
Diversified Telecommunication Services		8.53
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels		7.87
Media		6.66
Wireless Telecommunication Services		4.85
Distributors		4.08
Health Care Providers & Services		3.74
Electric Utilities		3.13
Building Products		3.02
Chemicals		2.67
Health Care Equipment & Supplies		2.53
Household Durables		2.36
Electronic Equipment		2.21


	Percentage of Total Portfolio at March 31, 2018
IT Services		1.65	%
Road & Rail		—
Specialty Retail		—
Leisure Products		—

		100.00	%

CM Investment Partners LLC

CM Investment Partners, our external investment adviser, was formed in July 2013 and is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”). The Adviser is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, conducting industry research, performing diligence on potential investments, structuring our investments and monitoring our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. The Adviser is led by its Co-Chief Investment Officers, Michael C. Mauer and Christopher E. Jansen. Mr. Mauer also serves as the Chairman of our board of directors and our Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Jansen also serves as our President and Secretary and as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Mauer was formerly Global Co-Head of Leveraged Finance and Global Co-Head of Fixed Income Currency and Commodity Distribution at Citigroup Inc. and a senior member of its credit committee responsible for all underwriting and principal commitments of leveraged finance capital worldwide. Mr. Jansen was a founding Managing Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager for Stanfield Capital Partners and had a leading role in planning its strategic direction. At Stanfield, Mr. Jansen was responsible for the management of 15 different portfolios aggregating in excess of $7 billion in assets consisting of large corporate loans, middle-market loans, second lien loans, high yield bonds and structured finance securities.

The Adviser’s investment team, led by Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, is supported by four additional investment professionals, who, together with Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, we refer to as the “Investment Team.” The members of the Investment Team have over 100 combined years of structuring customized debt solutions for middle-market companies, which we believe will enable us to generate favorable returns across credit cycles with an emphasis on preserving capital. Messrs. Mauer and Jansen have developed an investment process for reviewing lending opportunities, structuring transactions and monitoring investments throughout multiple credit cycles. The members of the Investment Team have extensive networks for sourcing investment opportunities through direct corporate relationships and relationships with private equity firms, investment banks, restructuring advisors, law firms, boutique advisory firms and distressed/specialty lenders. The members of the Investment Team also have extensive experience across various industries, including aviation, cable, defense, healthcare, media, mining, oil and gas, power, retail, telecommunications, trucking and asset-backed special situations. As a result, we believe we will be able to achieve appropriate risk-adjusted returns by investing in companies that have restructured but do not have sufficient track records to receive traditional lending terms from a commercial bank or the broadly syndicated leveraged finance market. We believe the members of the Investment Team share a common investment philosophy built on a framework of rigorous business assessment, extensive due diligence and disciplined risk valuation methodology.

Every initial investment by us requires the approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee and such majority must include both Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. Every follow-on investment decision in an existing portfolio company and every investment disposition require approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee. The Adviser’s investment committee currently consists of Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, the Co-Chief Investment Officers of the Adviser, Andrew Muns, a managing director of the Adviser, and Michael Nitka, Stifel Venture Corp.’s (“Stifel”) designee to the Adviser’s investment committee.

We have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, pursuant to which we pay the Adviser a management fee equal to 1.75% of our gross assets, payable in arrears on a quarterly basis. In addition, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we pay the Adviser an Incentive Fee equal to 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income, subject to an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0% with a “catch up” fee for returns between the 8.0% hurdle and 10.0%, as well as 20.0% of net capital gains.

Under an administration agreement with the Adviser (the “Administration Agreement”), the Adviser provides us with our chief financial officer, accounting and back-office professionals, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services.

Market Opportunity

We believe that the current investment environment presents a compelling case for investing in secured debt (including unitranche debt and standalone second and first lien loans) and unsecured debt (including mezzanine/structured equity) of middle-market companies. The following factors represent the key drivers of our focus on this attractive market segment:

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Reduced Availability of Capital for Middle-Market Companies. We believe there are fewer providers of financing and less capital available for middle-market companies compared to prior to the recent economic downturn. We believe that, as a result of that downturn:

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many financing providers have chosen to focus on large, liquid corporate loans and syndicated capital markets transactions rather than lending to middle-market businesses;

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recent regulatory changes, including the introduction of international capital and liquidity requirements for banks under the 2012 Basel III Accords, or Basel III, have decreased their capacity to hold non-investment grade leveraged loans, causing banks to curtail lending to middle-market companies;

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hedge funds and collateralized loan obligation managers are less likely to pursue investment opportunities in our target market as a result of reduced availability of funding for new investments; and

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consolidation of regional banks into money center banks has reduced their focus on middle-market lending.

As a result, we believe that less competition facilitates higher quality deal flow and allows for greater selectivity throughout the investment process.

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Robust Demand for Debt Capital. According to Pitchbook, a market research firm, private equity firms had approximately $874 billion of uncalled capital as of December 31, 2017. They have expanded their focus to include middle-market opportunities due to the lack of opportunities in large capital buyout transactions. We expect the large amount of uninvested capital and the expanded focus on middle-market opportunities to drive buyout activity over the next several years, which should, in turn, continue to create lending opportunities for us.

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Attractive Deal Pricing and Structures. We believe that, in general, middle-market debt investments are priced more attractively to lenders than larger, more liquid, public debt financings, due to the more limited universe of lenders as well as the highly negotiated nature of these financings. Middle-market transactions tend to offer stronger covenant packages, higher interest rates, lower leverage levels and better call protection compared to larger financings. In addition, middle-market loans typically offer other investor protections such as default penalties, lien protection, change of control provisions and information rights for lenders.

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Specialized Lending Requirements. We believe that several factors render many U.S. financial institutions ill-suited to lend to U.S. middle-market companies. For example, based on the Investment Team’s experience, lending to private U.S. middle-market companies 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. Lending to smaller capitalization companies requires due diligence and underwriting practices consistent with the demands and economic limitations of the middle-market and may also require more extensive ongoing monitoring by the lender. As a result, middle-market companies historically have been served by a limited segment of the lending community.

Competitive Strengths

We believe that the Adviser’s disciplined approach to origination, portfolio construction and risk management should allow us to achieve favorable risk-adjusted returns while preserving our capital. We believe that the following competitive strengths provide positive returns for our investors:

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Large and Experienced Team with Substantial Resources. The Adviser and its Investment Team is led by Messrs. Mauer and Jansen who each has over 20 years of experience investing in, providing corporate finance services to, restructuring and consulting with middle-market companies. Messrs. Mauer and Jansen are supported by four additional investment professionals, who together have over 100 combined years of structuring strategic capital for business expansion, refinancings, capital restructuring, post-reorganization financing and servicing the general corporate needs of middle-market companies. We believe that the Investment Team and its resources provide a significant advantage and contribute to the strength of our business and enhance the quantity and quality of investment opportunities available to us.

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Capitalize on the Investment Team’s Extensive Relationships with Middle-Market Companies, Private Equity Sponsors and Intermediaries. The members of the Investment Team have extensive networks for sourcing investment opportunities through corporate relationships and relationships with private equity firms, investment banks, restructuring advisors, law firms, boutique advisory firms and distressed/specialty lenders. We believe that the strength of these relationships in conjunction with the Investment Team’s ability to structure financing solutions for companies that incorporate credit protections at attractive returns for us provide us with a competitive advantage in identifying investment opportunities in our target market. In addition, pursuant to the terms of our relationship with Stifel and subject to certain restrictions, Stifel must use its commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Adviser to review and bid on, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated-originated leveraged finance and high yield corporate debt opportunities consistent with our investment strategy.

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Disciplined Underwriting Policies and Rigorous Portfolio Management. Messrs. Mauer and Jansen have an established credit analysis and investment process to analyze investment opportunities thoroughly. This process, followed by the Investment Team, includes structuring loans with appropriate covenants and pricing loans based on our knowledge of the middle-market and our rigorous underwriting standards. We focus on capital preservation by extending loans to portfolio companies with assets that we believe will retain sufficient value to repay us even in depressed markets or under liquidation scenarios. Each investment is analyzed from its initial stages by either Mr. Mauer or Mr. Jansen, as the Adviser’s Co-Chief Investment Officers, and a senior investment professional of the Investment Team. Every initial investment requires approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee and such majority must include both Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. The Adviser’s investment committee consists of Messrs. Mauer, Jansen, Muns and Nitka. Every follow-on investment decision in an existing portfolio company and every investment disposition require approval by at least a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee. Under the supervision of Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, the Investment Team’s senior investment professionals also monitor the portfolio for developments on a daily basis, perform credit updates on each investment, review financial performance on at least a

quarterly basis, and have regular discussions with the management of portfolio companies. We believe the Adviser’s investment and monitoring process and the depth and experience of the Investment Team gives us a competitive advantage in identifying investments and evaluating risks and opportunities throughout the life cycle of an investment.

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Ability to Structure Investments Creatively. Our Investment Team has the expertise and ability to structure investments across all levels of a company’s capital structure. These individuals have extensive experience in cash flow, asset-based lending, workout situations and investing in distressed debt, which should enable us to take advantage of attractive investments in recently restructured companies. Furthermore, with the capital raised in our initial public offering, we believe we are in a better position to leverage the existing knowledge and relationships that the Investment Team has developed to lead investments that meet our investment criteria. We believe that current market conditions allow us to structure attractively priced debt investments and may allow us to incorporate other return-enhancing mechanisms such as commitment fees, original issue discounts, early redemption premiums, payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest and certain forms of equity securities.

Investment Strategy

We invest in unitranche loans, standalone second and first lien loans, and selectively in unsecured debt, bonds and in the equity of portfolio companies through warrants and other instruments, in most cases taking advantage of a potential benefit from an increase in the value of such portfolio company as part of an overall relationship. We seek to invest primarily in middle-market companies that have annual revenues of at least $50 million and EBITDA of at least $15 million. Our investments typically range in size from $5 million to $25 million. We may invest in smaller or larger companies if there is an attractive opportunity, especially when there are dislocations in the capital markets, including the high yield and large syndicated loan markets. During such dislocations, we expect to see more deep value investment opportunities offering prospective returns that are disproportionate to the associated risk profile. We focus on companies with leading market positions, significant asset or franchise values, strong free cash flow and experienced senior management teams, with an emphasis on companies with high-quality sponsors.

Our primary investment objective is to maximize current income and capital appreciation by investing directly in privately held middle-market companies. The Adviser pursues investments for us with favorable risk-adjusted returns, including debt investments that offer cash origination fees and lower leverage levels. The Adviser seeks to structure our debt investments with strong protections, including default penalties, information rights, and affirmative and negative financial covenants, such as lien protection and restrictions concerning change of control. We believe these protections, coupled with the other features of our investments, allow us to reduce our risk of capital loss and achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns, although there can be no assurance that we are always able to structure our investments to minimize risk of loss and achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Investment Criteria

The Investment Team uses the following investment criteria and guidelines to evaluate prospective portfolio companies. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines are used or met in connection with each of our investments.

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Established companies with a history of positive operating cash flow. We seek to invest in established companies with sound historical financial performance. The Adviser typically focuses on companies with a history of profitability on an operating cash flow basis. We do not intend to invest in start-up companies or companies with speculative business plans.

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Defensible and sustainable business. We seek to invest in companies with proven products and/or services that provide a competitive advantage versus its competitors or new entrants. The Adviser places an emphasis on the strength of historical operations and profitability and the generation of free cash flow to reinvest in the business or to utilize for debt service. The Adviser also focuses on the relative strength of the valuation and liquidity of collateral used to provide security for our investments, when applicable.

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Seasoned management team with meaningful equity ownership. The Adviser generally requires that our portfolio companies have a seasoned management team, with strong corporate governance. The Adviser also seeks to invest in companies with management teams that have meaningful equity ownership. The Adviser believes that companies that have proper incentives in place, including having significant equity interests, motivate management teams to enhance enterprise value, which will act in accordance with our interests.

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Significant Invested Capital. The Adviser seeks investments in portfolio companies where it believes that the aggregate enterprise value significantly exceeds aggregate indebtedness, after consideration of our investment. The Adviser believes that the existence of significant underlying equity value (i.e., the amount by which the aggregate enterprise value exceeds the aggregate indebtedness) provides important support to our debt investments.

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Investment Partnerships. We seek to invest where private equity sponsors have demonstrated capabilities in building enterprise value. In addition, we seek to partner with specialty lenders and other financial institutions. The Adviser believes that private equity sponsors and specialty lenders can serve as committed partners and advisors that will actively work with the Adviser, the company and its management team to meet company goals and create value.

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Ability to exert meaningful influence. We target investment opportunities in which we will be a significant investor in the tranche and in which we can add value through active participation in the direction of the company, sometimes through advisory positions.

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Exit strategy. We generally seek to invest in companies that the Adviser believes possess attributes that will provide us with the ability to exit our investments. We typically expect to exit our investments through one of three scenarios: (i) the sale of the company resulting in repayment of all outstanding debt, (ii) the recapitalization of the company through which our loan is replaced with debt or equity from a third party or parties or (iii) the repayment of the initial or remaining principal amount of our loan then outstanding at maturity. In some investments, there may be scheduled amortization of some portion of our loan, which would result in a partial exit of our investment prior to the maturity of the loan.

Conflicts of Interests

As described more fully below, we have entered into certain agreements and arrangements with Stifel, Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. (“Cyrus Capital”) and certain funds (the “Cyrus Funds”) managed by Cyrus Capital that may cause conflicts of interest. In addition, as described more fully below, Stifel and the Cyrus Funds own, in the aggregate, approximately 44% of our total outstanding common stock. The shares held by Stifel and the Cyrus Funds are generally freely tradable in the public market, subject to the volume limitations, applicable holding periods and other provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, the availability of such common stock for sale or the registration of such common stock for sale and the ability of our stockholders, including Stifel and the Cyrus Funds, to sell their respective shares at a price per share that is below our then current net asset value per share could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for our common stock. If this occurs and continues, it could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities should we desire to do so and negatively impact the market of our common stock.

See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Common Stock—Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.”

Stifel Arrangement

Stifel owns approximately 16% of our total outstanding common stock, and also owns a 20% interest in the Adviser. As a result, Stifel will benefit from our performance and our investments. Pursuant to an irrevocable proxy, Stifel has granted us the right to vote the shares of our common stock held by it in excess of 4.9% of our total outstanding common stock in the same percentages as our other stockholders. Stifel has the right to nominate for election a member of our board of directors, who will be considered “interested” (that is, not independent for purposes of the 1940 Act). Stifel has not exercised its right to nominate for election a member of our board of directors. In addition, Stifel has the right to appoint a representative to the Adviser’s three-member board of managers. Stifel does not have any rights to exercise a controlling influence over our day-to-day operations or the operations or investment management function of the Adviser.

Four members of the Investment Team are dual employees of the Adviser and Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates pursuant to a personnel sharing arrangement with Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Although the members of the Investment Team that are dual employees dedicate substantially all of their time to the business and activities of the Adviser, they may continue to engage in investment advisory activities for Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its affiliates from time to time. This arrangement could result in a conflict of interest and may distract these investment professionals from their responsibilities to us. Messrs. Mauer and Jansen monitor the activities of the members of the Investment Team for any conflicts of interest and will seek to resolve them on our behalf, subject to the oversight of our Board. In addition, Mr. Nitka, Stifel’s designee to the Adviser’s investment committee, is a managing director and head of the Credit Investments Group at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Should any conflicts arise as a result of Mr. Nitka’s membership on the Adviser’s investment committee and his role at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Mr. Nitka will recuse himself from consideration of any potential conflict related to Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its affiliates.

Subject to certain restrictions, Stifel will use its commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Adviser the opportunity to review and bid on all Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated-originated leveraged finance and high yield corporate debt opportunities consistent with our investment strategy. Subject to the approval of our board of directors, as necessary under the 1940 Act, and certain other limitations, Stifel may invest in the same portfolio companies that we invest in, and (regardless of whether our investment arose from a Stifel-originated opportunity) Stifel may, through such investments, have interests that conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its interest in the Adviser. We believe that we may co-invest with Stifel and its affiliates upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act.

Cyrus Capital Relationship

The Cyrus Funds, managed by Cyrus Capital, own approximately 28% of our outstanding common stock, and also hold a 38% indirect economic interest, but no voting interest, in the Adviser. As a result, Cyrus Capital benefits from our performance and our investments. Pursuant to an irrevocable proxy, the Cyrus Funds’ shares of our common stock must be voted in the same percentages as our other stockholders (excluding Stifel) vote their shares. Cyrus Capital does not have any rights to exercise a controlling influence over our operations or the operations or investment management function of the Adviser. As a result of the relationship with Cyrus Capital and the Cyrus Funds, we could be presumed to be an affiliate of the Cyrus Funds under the 1940 Act. We believe we may co-invest with the Cyrus Funds upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Cyrus Funds may, through such co-investments, have interests that

conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its economic interest in the Adviser. Cyrus Capital may also provide us with investment opportunities.

Pursuant to a services agreement between the Adviser and Cyrus Capital (the “Services Agreement”), the Adviser can utilize the expertise of the investment professionals of Cyrus Capital to provide investment services to us from time to time on an as needed basis as part of the Adviser’s Investment Team and in connection with the Adviser’s obligations to us under the Investment Advisory Agreement. If the Adviser determines it is in our best interests to utilize the expertise of any of the investment professionals of Cyrus Capital, such investment professionals will also continue to engage in investment advisory activities for the private investment funds managed by Cyrus Capital, including the Cyrus Funds, which could result in a conflict of interest, and may distract them from their responsibilities to us. The Adviser currently utilizes the investment professionals that perform analyst functions provided under the Services Agreement for less than 10% of the aggregate time dedicated to the business by the Adviser’s Investment Team. In addition, we may receive other administrative services from the Adviser, pursuant to the Administration Agreement, which, in turn, upon request by the Adviser, may be provided to us on behalf of the Adviser by Cyrus Capital under the terms of the Services Agreement.

Other Conflicts of Interest

We may also have conflicts of interest arising out of the investment advisory activities of the Adviser. The Adviser may in the future manage other investment funds, accounts or investment vehicles that invest or may invest in assets eligible for purchase by us. To the extent that we compete with entities managed by the Adviser or any of its affiliates for a particular investment opportunity, the Adviser will allocate investment opportunities across the entities for which such opportunities are appropriate, consistent with (a) its internal investment allocation policies, (b) the requirements of the Advisers Act, and (c) certain restrictions under the 1940 Act regarding co-investments with affiliates.

See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—There are significant potential conflicts of interest that could affect our investment returns,” “—Conflict related to obligations the Adviser or its affiliates have to other clients” and “—The Adviser’s incentive fee structure may create incentives to it that are not fully aligned with the interests of our stockholders.”

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are currently located at 601 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and our telephone number is (212) 257-5199. We maintain a website located at www.cmfn-inc.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into or a part of this prospectus.

We are an “emerging growth company,” within the meaning of the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year: (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, which was in February 2014; (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion; or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30^th, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

THE OFFERING

We may offer, from time to time, up to $500,000,000 of our securities, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. Our securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be disclosed in one or more prospectus supplements. In addition, this prospectus relates to 6,000,004 shares of our common stock that may be sold by the selling stockholders identified under “Selling Stockholders.”

We may offer shares of our common stock at a discount to net asset value per share at prices approximating market value less selling expenses upon approval of our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, in certain circumstances. At a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, if applicable.

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

Set forth below is additional information regarding the offering of our securities:

Use of Proceeds

We plan to use the net proceeds of this offering to make new investments in portfolio companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies as described in this prospectus and for general working capital purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to reduce any of our outstanding borrowings. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds primarily in high quality, short-term debt securities consistent with our business development company election and our election to be taxed as a RIC. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by any of the selling stockholders. Each supplement to this prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of the proceeds from such offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Investment Advisory Agreement

We pay the Adviser a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement. This fee consists of two components: a base

management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of our gross assets, including assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and excluding cash and cash equivalents. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part, which is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, equals 20.0% of our “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0% with a “catch up” fee for returns between the 8.0% hurdle and 10.0%. The second part is calculated and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or, upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date) and equals 20.0% of our aggregate cumulative realized capital gains from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of aggregate cumulative realized capital losses and aggregate cumulative unrealized capital depreciation through the end of such year, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. See “Management Agreements—Management Fee and Incentive Fee.”

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, managerial assistance and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under our Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and any distributions paid on any issued and 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 original issue discount (“OID”), debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. The portion of such incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest (such as PIK interest or OID) will be paid to the Adviser, together with interest thereon from the date of deferral to the date of payment, only if and to the extent we actually receive such interest in cash, and any accrual thereof will be reversed if and to the extent such interest is reversed in connection with any write-off or similar treatment of the investment giving rise to any deferred interest accrual.

Our net pre-incentive fee investment income used to calculate this part of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our gross assets used to calculate the 1.75% base management fee.

Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol

“CMFN”

Trading at a discount

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including business development companies, frequently trade in the secondary market at a

discount to their net asset values. The risk that our shares may trade at a discount to our net asset value is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade above, at or below net asset value. See “Risk Factors.”

Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value

We are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below our net asset value per share unless we have prior stockholder approval. In this regard, at a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value.”

Distributions

We pay quarterly distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. Our quarterly distributions, if any, will be determined by our board of directors.

Taxation

We have elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a RIC. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any net ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders. To maintain our qualification as a RIC and the associated tax benefits, we must meet specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually at least 90% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains, if any, in excess of our net long-term capital losses. See “Distributions.”

Leverage

We expect to continue to use borrowed funds in order to make additional investments. We expect to use this practice, which is known as “leverage,” when the terms and conditions are favorable to long-term investing and aligned with our investment strategy and portfolio composition in an effort to increase returns to our stockholders, but this strategy involves significant risks. See “Risk

Factors.” With certain limited exceptions, we are only allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least 200% immediately after each such borrowing. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on the Adviser’s and our board of directors’ assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing.

We have, through CM SPV, our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the Term Financing with UBS, which expires on December 5, 2020. The Term Financing is collateralized by a portion of the debt investments in our portfolio. Borrowings under the Term Financing bear interest (i) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.75% through December 4, 2018, and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.55% from December 5, 2018 through December 5, 2020. As of May 29, 2018, $102.0 million was outstanding under the Term Financing. We have also entered into the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing with UBS, which expires December 5, 2019. Borrowings under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.55%. As of May 29, 2018, $17.8 million was outstanding under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing.

Dividend reinvestment plan

We have adopted an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our stockholders. Under this plan, if we declare a cash distribution to our stockholders, the amount of such distribution will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock unless a stockholder specifically elects not to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan. If a stockholder opts out, that stockholder will receive cash distributions. Stockholders who receive distributions in the form of shares of common stock generally will be subject to the same U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences as stockholders who elect to receive their distributions in cash, but will not receive any corresponding cash distributions with which to pay any applicable taxes. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

Administration Agreement

The Administration Agreement requires us to reimburse the Adviser for our allocable portion (subject to the review of our board of directors) of overhead and other expenses, including furnishing us (through the Services Agreement with Cyrus Capital) with office facilities and equipment and providing clerical, bookkeeping, record keeping and other administrative services at such facilities, and our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and his respective staff. To the extent that the Adviser outsources any of its duties under the Administration Agreement, we will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis, without incremental profit to the Adviser. See “Management Agreements—Administration Agreement.”

License arrangements

We have entered into a license agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license

to use the name “CM Finance.” For a description of the License Agreement, see “Management Agreements—License Agreement.”

Custodian and transfer agent

U.S. Bank National Association serves as our custodian, and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC serves as our transfer and distribution paying agent and registrar. See “Custodian, Transfer and Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar.”

Anti-takeover provisions

Our charter and bylaws, as well as certain federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements, contain certain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us. These anti-takeover provisions may inhibit a change in control in circumstances that could give the holders of our common stock the opportunity to realize a premium over the market price for our common stock. See “Description of Our Common Stock.”

Available information

We are required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information is available at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

We maintain a website at www.cmfn-inc.com and make all of our annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information available, free of charge, on or through our website. Information on our website is not incorporated into or part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and should not be relied upon as such. You may also obtain such information free of charge by contacting us in writing at 601 Lexington Avenue, 26^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Risk Factors

An investment in our securities is subject to risks. The following is a summary of the principal risks that you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. In addition, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 21 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our securities.

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Capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability and we cannot predict when these conditions will occur. Such market conditions could materially and adversely affect debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad, which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We depend upon key personnel of the Adviser for our future success. If the Adviser were to lose any of its key personnel, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.

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Our business model depends to a significant extent upon our Adviser’s network of relationships. Any inability of the Adviser

to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

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Our relationships with Cyrus Capital and Stifel may create conflicts of interest.

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There are significant potential conflicts of interest that could negatively affect our investment returns.

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The members of the Investment Team may, from time to time, possess material non-public information, limiting our investment discretion.

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There are conflicts related to other arrangements with the Adviser.

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Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will depend on our ability to manage our business effectively.

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The Adviser’s incentive fee structure may create incentives to it that are not fully aligned with the interests of our stockholders.

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Our incentive fee may induce the Adviser to make speculative investments.

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The involvement of our interested directors in the valuations process may create conflicts of interest.

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

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We will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.

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Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to, and the way in which we raise additional capital. As a BDC, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.

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Recent legislation may allow us to incur additional leverage.

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Because we finance our investments with borrowed money, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.

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Because we borrow money to make our investments, if market interest rates were to increase, our cost of capital could increase, which could reduce our net investment income.

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We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates including potential effects on our cost of capital and net investment income.

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Adverse developments in the credit markets may impair our ability to secure debt financing.

The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. Moreover, the information set forth below does not include any transaction costs and expenses that investors will incur in connection with each offering of our securities pursuant to this prospectus. As a result, investors are urged to read the “Fees and Expenses” table contained in any corresponding prospectus supplement to fully understand the actual transaction costs and expenses they will incur in connection with each such offering. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “us” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, common stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses.

The incentive fee consists of two components, ordinary income and capital gains:

The ordinary income component, which is payable quarterly in arrears, equals 20.0% of the excess, if any, of our “Pre-incentive Fee Net Investment Income” over a 2.0% quarterly (8.0% annualized) hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets attributable to our common stock, and a “catch-up” provision, measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. Under this provision, in any calendar quarter, the Adviser receives no incentive fee until our net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 2.0% but then receives, as a “catch-up,” 100% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5% subject to a deferral of non-cash amounts. The effect of the “catch-up” provision is that, subject to the deferral provisions discussed below, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any

calendar quarter, the Adviser will receive 20.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply. The ordinary income component of the incentive fee will be computed on income that may include interest that is accrued but not yet received in cash. The portion of such incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest (sometimes referred to as PIK interest, or OID) will be paid to the Adviser only if and to the extent we actually receive such interest in cash, and any accrual thereof will be reversed if and to the extent such interest is reversed in connection with any write-off or similar treatment of the investment giving rise to any deferred interest accrual. Any reversal of such amounts would reduce net income for the quarter by the net amount of the reversal (after taking into account the reversal of incentive fees payable) and would result in a reduction and possibly elimination of the incentive fees for such quarter. Notwithstanding any such incentive fee reduction or elimination, there is no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter and accordingly there is no clawback of amounts previously paid if subsequent quarters are below the quarterly hurdle and there is no delay of payment if prior quarters are below the quarterly hurdle.

The capital gains component of the incentive fee equals 20.0% of our “Incentive Fee Capital Gains,” if any, which equals our aggregate cumulative realized capital gains from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of our aggregate cumulative realized capital losses and our aggregate cumulative unrealized capital depreciation, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. The second component of the incentive fee is payable, in arrears, at the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date). See “Management Agreements—Management Fee and Incentive Fee.”

The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in us. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed a 4.0% sales load and that our annual operating expenses would remain at the levels set forth in the table above. In the event that shares to which this prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement will restate this example to reflect the applicable sales load.

While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5%. Because the income incentive fee under our investment advisory agreement is unlikely to be significant assuming a 5% annual return, the example assumes that the 5% annual return will be generated entirely through the realization of capital gains on our assets and, as a result, will trigger the payment of a capital gains incentive fee under our investment advisory agreement. The “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” under the investment advisory agreement, which, assuming a 5% annual return, would either not be payable or have an immaterial impact on the expense amounts shown above is not included in the example set forth above. If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger sufficient returns on our investments to trigger “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” of a material amount, our expenses, and returns to our investors, would be higher. Further, while the

example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will receive a number of shares of our common stock, determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by (a) 95% of the market price per share of our common stock at the close of trading on the payment date fixed by our board of directors or (b) the average purchase price of all shares of common stock purchased by the administrator of the dividend reinvestment plan in the event shares are purchased in the open market to satisfy the share requirements of the dividend reinvestment plan, which may be at, above or below net asset value.

This example and the expenses in the table above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses (including the cost of debt, if any, and other expenses) may be greater or less than those shown.

The following selected financial data as of and for the years ended June 30, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is derived from our consolidated financial statements which have been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, our former independent registered public accounting firm. The selected financial data at March 31, 2018, and for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, have been derived from unaudited financial data, but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the financial condition and operating results for such interim periods. Interim results as of and for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2018. The data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this report.

Investing in our securities involves a number of significant risks. Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware of various risks, including those described below. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below are the principal risks with respect to an investment in our securities generally and with respect to a business development company with investment objectives, investment policies, capital structures or trading markets similar to ours. However, they may not be 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 securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

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 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 adversely 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 reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and to financial firms, in particular. Additionally, in December 2016, the Federal Reserve raised its federal funds target rate. However, if key economic indicators, such as the unemployment rate or inflation, do not progress at a rate consistent with the Federal Reserve’s objectives, the target range for the federal funds rate may further increase and cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms and may also increase the costs of our borrowers, hampering their ability to repay us.

At various times, these disruptions resulted in, and may in the future result, a lack of liquidity in parts of the debt capital 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 the 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 to extend credit to us. We may in the future have difficulty accessing debt and 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 originate and/or fund, adversely affect the value of our portfolio investments or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Legislative or other actions relating to taxes could have a negative effect on us.

Legislative or other actions relating to taxes could have a negative effect on the Company. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. On December 20, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate each voted to approve H.R. 1 (the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) and, on December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes many changes to the Code, including, among other things, significant changes to the taxation of business entities, the deductibility of interest expense, and the tax treatment of capital investment. We cannot predict with certainty how any changes in the tax laws might affect the Fund, investors, or the Fund’s portfolio investments.

The United Kingdom referendum decision to leave the European Union may create significant risks and uncertainty for global markets and our investments.

The 2016 decision made in the United Kingdom referendum to leave the European Union has led to volatility in global financial markets, and in particular in the markets of the United Kingdom and across Europe, and may also lead to weakening in consumer, corporate and financial confidence in the United Kingdom and Europe. The extent and process by which the United Kingdom will exit the European Union, and the longer term economic, legal, political and social framework to be put in place between the United Kingdom and the European Union are unclear at this stage and are likely to lead to ongoing political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the United Kingdom and in wider European markets for some time. In particular, the decision made in the United Kingdom referendum may lead to a call for similar referenda in other European jurisdictions which may cause increased economic volatility and uncertainty in the European and global markets. This volatility and uncertainty may have an adverse effect on the economy generally and on our ability of and the ability of our portfolio companies to execute our respective strategies and to receive attractive returns.

In particular, currency volatility may mean that our returns and the returns of our portfolio companies are adversely affected by market movements and may make it more difficult, or more expensive, for us to implement appropriate currency hedging. Potential decline in the value of the British Pound and/or the euro against other currencies, along with the potential downgrading of the United Kingdom’s sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of any of our portfolio companies located in the United Kingdom or Europe.

We depend upon key personnel of the Adviser for our future success. If the Adviser were to lose any of its key personnel, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.

We depend on the diligence, skill, experience and network of business contacts of the Investment Team of the Adviser, in particular Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, who are also members of the Adviser’s investment committee, our executive officers and members of our board of directors. We can offer no assurance that Messrs. Mauer and Jansen will continue to provide investment advice to us. The loss of either Mr. Mauer or Mr. Jansen could limit our ability to achieve our investment objective and operate as we anticipate.

In addition, we are dependent on the other members of the Investment Team. If any of the members of the Investment Team were to resign, we may not be able to hire investment professionals with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms. If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption, and our financial condition, business and results of operations may be adversely affected. Even if we are able to retain comparable professionals the integration of such investment professionals 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.

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon our Adviser’s network of relationships. Any inability of the Adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

We depend upon the Adviser to maintain its relationships with private equity sponsors, placement agents, investment banks, management groups and other financial institutions, including Stifel and Cyrus Capital, and we expect to rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If the Adviser or members of the Investment Team fail to maintain such relationships, or to develop new relationships with other sources of investment opportunities, we may not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the Adviser has relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and we can offer no assurance that these relationships will generate investment opportunities for us in the future.

The Cyrus Funds, managed by Cyrus Capital, own approximately 28% of our outstanding common stock. The Cyrus Funds also have a 38% indirect economic interest in the Adviser. Pursuant to the services arrangement with Cyrus Capital, employees of Cyrus Capital, including administrative professionals and investment professionals (the “Cyrus Professionals”), will be made available to the Adviser upon request of the Adviser on an as needed basis. These Cyrus Professionals also engage in investment advisory activities for the private investment funds managed by Cyrus Capital, including the Cyrus Funds, which could result in conflicts of interest with respect to, among other things, the allocation of investment opportunities, and may distract them from their responsibilities to us. Upon request of the Adviser, Cyrus Capital also may provide certain financial, accounting and administrative services to the Adviser pursuant to the Services Agreement upon which the Adviser may rely to satisfy its obligations under the Administration Agreement.

In addition, as a result of the relationship with Cyrus Capital and the Cyrus Funds, we could be presumed to be an affiliate of the Cyrus Funds under the 1940 Act. We believe we may co-invest with the Cyrus Funds upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act. However, we can provide no assurance that the SEC or its staff will not take a contrary position. If the SEC or its staff takes a contrary position, we would be required to obtain an exemptive order from the SEC in order to co-invest with affiliates of Cyrus Capital, including the Cyrus Funds. We can offer no assurance that we will successfully obtain such an order. If we cannot co-invest with affiliates of Cyrus Capital, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In addition, the Cyrus Funds may, through such co-investments, have interests that conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its economic interest in the Adviser.

Stifel owns approximately 16% of our outstanding common stock. Stifel also has a 20% interest in the Adviser. Four members of the Investment Team are dual employees of the Adviser and Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates pursuant to a personnel sharing arrangement with Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Although the members of the Investment Team that are dual employees dedicate substantially all of their time to the business and activities of the Adviser, they may continue to engage in investment advisory activities for Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its affiliates from time to time. This arrangement could result in a conflict of interest and may distract these investment professionals from their responsibilities to us. Stifel has a right to nominate an individual for election on our board of directors. Stifel has not exercised its right to nominate for election a member of our board of directors. We expect that if Stifel exercises its right to nominate an individual for election to our board of directors, such person would also be an employee of Stifel, and would continue to engage in investment advisory activities for Stifel, which could result in a conflict of interest and may distract such director appointee from his or her responsibilities to us. In addition, Mr. Nitka, Stifel’s designee to the Adviser’s investment committee, is a managing director and head of the

Credit Investments Group at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Should any conflicts arise as a result of Mr. Nitka’s membership on the Adviser’s investment committee and his role at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Mr. Nitka will recuse himself from consideration of any potential conflict related to Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its affiliates.

Under the Stifel arrangement and subject to certain restrictions, Stifel will use its commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Adviser to review and bid on, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated-originated leveraged finance and high yield corporate debt opportunities consistent with our investment strategy, subject to the approval of our board of directors, as necessary under the 1940 Act, and certain other limitations. Stifel may invest in the same portfolio companies that we invest in (regardless of whether our investment arose from a Stifel-originated opportunity), and Stifel may, through such investments, have interests that conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its interest in the Adviser. We believe that we may co-invest with Stifel and its affiliates upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act. However, we can provide no assurance that the SEC or its staff will not take a contrary position. If the SEC or its staff takes a contrary position, we would be required to obtain an exemptive order from the SEC in order to co-invest with Stifel and its affiliates. We can offer no assurance that we will successfully obtain such an order. If we cannot co-invest with Stifel and its affiliates, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

In addition, Stifel, through Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a subsidiary of Stifel’s parent, Stifel Financial Corp., will be a “principal underwriter,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by virtue of and during the term of, any future offering in which Stifel may be part of the underwriting syndicate. As a result, our ability to co-invest with Stifel will be limited during the term of any future offering in which Stifel acts as a “principal underwriter.” If we cannot co-invest with affiliates of Stifel, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

There are significant potential conflicts of interest that could negatively affect our investment returns.

There may be times when the Adviser or the members of the Investment Team have interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to conflicts of interest. The members of the Adviser’s investment committee and the Investment Team serve, or may serve, as officers, directors, members, or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, such as Stifel, or of investment funds, accounts, or investment vehicles managed by the Adviser or Stifel. Similarly, the Adviser or the members of the Investment Team may have other clients with similar, different or competing investment objectives. In serving in these multiple capacities, they may have obligations to other clients or investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which may not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders. In addition, the Adviser and some of its affiliates, including our officers and our non-independent directors, are not prohibited from raising money for, or managing, another investment entity that makes the same types of investments as those we target. Four members of the Investment Team are dual employees of the Adviser and Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates pursuant to a personnel sharing arrangement with Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Although the members of the Investment Team that are dual employees dedicate substantially all of their time to the business and activities of the Adviser, they may continue to engage in investment advisory activities for Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its affiliates from time to time. This arrangement could result in a conflict of interest and may distract these investment professionals from their responsibilities to us. As a result, and although the Adviser and its Investment Team are subject to a written conflicts of interest policy, the time and resources the Investment Team could devote to us may be diverted. In addition, we may compete with any such Stifel-advised investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities.

The members of the Investment Team may, from time to time, possess material non-public information, limiting our investment discretion.

Members of the Investment Team may serve as directors of, or in a similar capacity with, portfolio companies in which we invest. In the event that material nonpublic information is obtained with respect to such

companies, or we become subject to trading restrictions under the internal trading policies of those companies or as a result of applicable law or regulations, we could be prohibited for a period of time from purchasing or selling the securities of such companies, and this prohibition may have an adverse effect on us.

We have entered into a License Agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser has agreed to grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “CM Finance.” See “Management Agreements—License Agreement.” In addition, we have entered into an Administration Agreement with the Adviser pursuant to which we are required to pay to the Adviser our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Adviser in performing its obligations under such Administration Agreement, such as rent, equipment and our allocable portion of the cost of our Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Compliance Officer and his respective staff’s compensation and compensation-related expenses. This will create conflicts of interest that our board of directors will monitor. For example, under the terms of the license agreement, we will be unable to preclude the Adviser from licensing or transferring the ownership of the “CM Finance” name to third parties, some of whom may compete against us. Consequently, we will be unable to prevent any damage to goodwill that may occur as a result of the activities of the Adviser or others. Furthermore, in the event the license agreement is terminated, we will be required to change our name and cease using “CM Finance” as part of our name. Any of these events could disrupt our recognition in the market place, damage any goodwill we may have generated and otherwise harm our business.

Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will depend on our ability to manage our business effectively.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our ability to manage our business and to grow our investments and earnings. This will depend, in turn, on the Adviser’s ability to identify, invest in and monitor portfolio companies that meet our investment criteria. The achievement of our investment objective on a cost-effective basis will depend upon the Adviser’s execution of our investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to us and, to a lesser extent, our access to financing on acceptable terms. The Adviser’s investment professionals may have substantial responsibilities in connection with the management of other investment funds, accounts and investment vehicles. The personnel of the Adviser may also be called upon to provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. These activities may distract them from identifying new investment opportunities for us or slow our rate of investment. Any failure to manage our business and our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Adviser’s incentive fee structure may create incentives to it that are not fully aligned with the interests of our stockholders.

In the course of our investing activities, we pay management and incentive fees to the Adviser. We have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser that provides that these fees will be based on the value of our gross assets. As a result, investors in our common stock will invest on a “gross” basis and receive distributions on a “net” basis after expenses, resulting in a lower rate of return than one might achieve through direct investments. Because these fees are based on the value of our gross assets, the Adviser will benefit when we incur debt or use leverage. This fee structure may encourage the Adviser to cause us to borrow money to finance additional investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of borrowed money may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor our stockholders.

Our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how the Adviser addresses these and other conflicts of interests associated with its management services and compensation. While our board of directors is not expected to review or approve each investment decision, borrowing or incurrence of leverage, our independent directors will periodically review the Adviser’s services and fees as well as its portfolio management decisions and

portfolio performance. In connection with these reviews, our independent directors will consider whether our fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) remain appropriate. As a result of this arrangement, the Adviser may from time to time have interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict.

The Adviser receives an incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. Unlike that portion of the incentive fee based on income, there is no hurdle rate applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains. Additionally, under the incentive fee structure, the Adviser may benefit when we recognize capital gains and, because the Adviser will determine when to sell a holding, the Adviser will control the timing of the recognition of such capital gains. As a result, the Adviser may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments likely to result in capital gains, compared to income-producing securities. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

We may be obligated to pay the Adviser incentive compensation even if we incur a loss and may pay more than 20.0% of our net capital gains because we cannot recover payments made in previous years.

The Adviser is entitled to incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter in an amount equal to a percentage of the excess of our investment income for that quarter (before deducting incentive compensation) above a threshold return for that quarter. Thus, we may be required to pay the Adviser incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of our portfolio or we incur a net loss for that quarter. If we pay an incentive fee of 20% of our realized capital gains (net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis) and thereafter experience additional realized capital losses or unrealized capital depreciation, we will not be able to recover any portion of the incentive fee previously paid.

PIK interest payments we receive will increase our assets under management and, as a result, will increase the amount of base management fees and incentive fees payable by us to the Adviser.

Certain of our debt investments contain provisions providing for the payment of PIK interest. Because PIK interest results in an increase in the size of the loan balance of the underlying loan, the receipt by us of PIK interest will have the effect of increasing our assets under management. As a result, because the base management fee that we pay to the Adviser is based on the value of our gross assets, receipt of PIK interest will result in an increase in the amount of the base management fee payable by us. In addition, any such increase in a loan balance due to the receipt of PIK interest will cause such loan to accrue interest on the higher loan balance, which will result in an increase in our pre-incentive fee net investment income and, as a result, an increase in incentive fees that are payable to the Adviser.

The involvement of our interested directors in the valuation process may create conflicts of interest.

We expect to make most of our portfolio investments in the form of loans and securities that are not publicly traded and for which there are limited or no market based price quotations available. As a result, our board of directors will determine the fair value of these loans and securities in good faith as described below in “—Most of our portfolio investments will be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors and, as a result, there may be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.” In connection with that determination, investment professionals from the Adviser may provide our board of directors with valuations based upon the most recent portfolio company financial statements available and projected financial results of each portfolio company. While the valuation for each portfolio investment will be reviewed by an independent valuation firm quarterly, the ultimate determination of fair value will be made by our board of directors and not by such third-party valuation firm. In addition, Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, each an interested member of our board of directors, has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the Adviser. The participation of the Adviser’s investment professionals in our valuation process, and the pecuniary interest in the Adviser by certain members

of our board of directors, could result in a conflict of interest as the Adviser’s management fee is based, in part, on the value of our gross assets, and our incentive fees will be based, in part, on realized gains and realized and unrealized losses.

The Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement with the Adviser 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 the Adviser, 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 the Adviser and its affiliates. Any such decision, however, would breach our fiduciary obligations to our stockholders.

Our incentive fee arrangements with the Adviser may vary from those of other investment funds, account or investment vehicles that the Adviser may manage in the future, which may create an incentive for the Adviser to devote time and resources to a higher fee-paying fund.

If the Adviser is paid a higher performance-based fee from any other fund that it may manage in the future, it may have an incentive to devote more research and development or other activities, and/or recommend the allocation of investment opportunities, to such higher fee-paying fund. For example, to the extent the Adviser’s incentive compensation is not subject to a hurdle or total return requirement with respect to another fund, it may have an incentive to devote time and resources to such other fund. As a result, the investment professionals of the Adviser may devote time and resources to a higher fee-paying fund.

The Adviser’s liability is limited under the Investment Advisory Agreement and we have agreed to indemnify the Adviser against certain liabilities, which may lead the Adviser to act in a riskier manner on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has not assumed any responsibility to us other than to render the services called for under that agreement. It will not be responsible for any action of our board of directors in following or declining to follow the Adviser’s advice or recommendations. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, its officers, members and personnel, and any person controlling or controlled by the Adviser will not be 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, except those resulting from acts constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of the duties that the Adviser owes to us under the Investment Advisory Agreement. In addition, as part of the Investment Advisory Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the Adviser 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, except where attributable to gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of such person’s duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement. These protections may lead the Adviser to act in a riskier manner when acting on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

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 make. We compete with public and private funds, other BDCs, 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 BDC or the source-of-income, asset diversification and distribution requirements we must satisfy to maintain our RIC qualification. 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. 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 will be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax if we are unable to maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.

To maintain our qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, we must meet certain source-of-income, asset diversification and distribution requirements. The source-of-income requirement will be satisfied if we obtain at least 90% of our income for each year from dividends, interest, gains from the sale of stock or securities or similar sources. The distribution requirement for a RIC is satisfied if we 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 on an annual basis. Because we incur debt, we will be subject to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to maintain our qualification as a RIC. If we are unable to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to maintain our qualification as a RIC and, thus, may be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax. To maintain our qualification as a RIC, we must also meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each calendar quarter. Failure to meet these tests may result in our having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of our qualification as a RIC. Because most of our investments are in private or thinly-traded public companies, any such dispositions may be made at disadvantageous prices and may result in substantial losses. No certainty can be provided that we will satisfy the asset diversification requirements of the other requirements necessary to maintain our qualification as a RIC. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a RIC for any reason and become subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate income taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distributions to our stockholders and the amount of funds available for new investments. Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—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 will not be available to fund new investments. An inability on our part 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 would have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.

Our distributions to stockholders may be funded, in part, from waivers of investment advisory fees by the Adviser.

To the extent any distributions by us are funded through waivers of the incentive fee portion of our investment advisory fees, such distributions will not be based on our investment performance, and can only be sustained if we achieve positive investment performance in future periods and/or the Adviser continues to waive such fees. Any such waivers in no way imply that the Adviser will waive incentive fees in any future period. There can be no assurance that we will achieve the performance necessary or that the Adviser will waive all or any portion of the incentive fee necessary to be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.

You may not receive distributions, or our distributions may not grow over time.

We intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this prospectus. Due to the asset coverage test applicable to us under the 1940 Act as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, financial condition, maintenance of RIC status, compliance with applicable BDC, SBA regulations (if applicable) and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relative from time to time. We cannot assure you that we will make distributions to our stockholders in the future.

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 will include in income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as the accrual of OID. 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 OID, which could be significant relative to our overall investment activities, and increases in loan balances as a result of contracted PIK arrangements will be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments. We also may be required to include in income certain other amounts that we will not receive in cash.

Since in certain cases we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty meeting the requirement 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 maintain our qualification as a RIC. In such a case, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous or raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements. If we are not able to obtain such cash from other sources, we may fail to maintain our qualification as a RIC and thus be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation as a RIC.”

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

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in part in our stock. Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable in cash or in shares of stock at the election of stockholders are treated as taxable dividends. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a revenue procedure indicating that this rule will apply if the total amount of cash to be distributed is not less than 20% of the total distribution. Under these rulings, if too many stockholders elect to receive their distributions in cash, each such stockholder would receive a pro rata share of the total cash to be distributed and would receive the remainder of their distribution in shares of stock. If we decide to make any distributions consistent with this revenue procedure

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

We may issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, which we refer to collectively as “senior securities,” up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are permitted as a BDC to issue senior securities in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% of our gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities after each issuance of senior securities. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, we would not be able to borrow additional funds until we were able to comply with the 200% asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act. 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.

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 then-current net asset value per share of our common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in our best interests. At a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. 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 may experience dilution. In addition, neither Stifel nor the Cyrus Funds are subject to these restrictions and may sell their respective shares of our common stock at a per share price that is below net asset value per share, which may negatively affect the prevailing market prices for our common stock and our ability to raise additional capital.

The 1940 Act generally prohibits us from incurring indebtedness unless immediately after such borrowing we have an asset coverage for total borrowings of at least 200% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed 50% of the value of our assets). However, recent legislation has modified the 1940 Act by allowing a BDC to increase the maximum amount of leverage it may incur from an asset coverage ratio of 200% to an asset coverage ratio of 150%, if certain requirements are met. In other words, prior to the enactment of the legislation, a BDC could borrow $1 for investment purposes for every $1 of investor equity. Now, for those BDCs that satisfy the legislation’s approval and disclosure requirements, the BDC can borrow $2 for investment purposes for every $1 of investor equity. Under the legislation, we are allowed to increase our leverage capacity if shareholders representing at least a majority of the votes cast, when quorum is met, approve a proposal to do so. If we receive shareholder approval, we would be allowed to increase our leverage capacity on the first day after such approval. Alternatively, the legislation allows the “required majority” of our independent directors, as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act, to approve an increase in our leverage capacity, and such approval would become effective after one year. In either case, we would be required to make certain disclosures on our website and in SEC filings regarding, among other things, the receipt of approval to increase our leverage, our leverage capacity and usage, and risks related to leverage.

In accordance with the legislation, on May 2, 2018, our board of directors, including a “required majority” approved the modified asset coverage requirements set forth in Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act. As a result, our asset coverage requirements for senior securities will change from 200% to 150%, effective May 2, 2019.

Leverage magnifies the potential for loss on investments and on invested equity capital. As we use leverage to partially finance our investments, you will experience increased risks of investing in our securities. If the value of our assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to increase more sharply than it would have had we not leveraged. Conversely, if the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged our business. Similarly, any increase in our income in excess of interest payable on the borrowed funds would cause our net investment income to increase more than it would without the leverage, while any decrease in our income would cause net investment income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to pay common stock dividends, scheduled debt payments or other payments related to our securities. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business and Structure – Because we finance our investments with borrowed money, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.”

Because we finance our investments with borrowed money, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified 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. If we continue to use leverage to partially finance our investments through banks, insurance companies and other lenders, you will experience increased risks of investment in our common stock. Lenders of these funds have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders, and we would expect such lenders to seek recovery against our assets in the event of a default. As of March 31, 2018, substantially all of our assets were pledged as collateral under the Financing Facilities. In addition, under the terms of the Financing Facilities and any borrowing facility or other debt instrument we may enter into, we are likely to be required to use the net proceeds of any investments that we sell to repay a portion of the amount borrowed under such facility or instrument before applying such net proceeds to any other uses. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged, thereby magnifying losses or eliminating our stake in a leveraged investment. Similarly, any decrease in our revenue or income will cause our net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline

would also negatively affect our ability to make distributions with respect to our common stock or preferred stock. Our ability to service any debt will depend largely on our financial performance and will be subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. Moreover, as the base management fee payable to the Adviser will be payable based on the value of our gross assets, including those assets acquired through the use of leverage, the Adviser will have a financial incentive to incur leverage, which may not be consistent with our stockholders’ interests. In addition, our common stockholders will 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 the Adviser.

As a BDC, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred stock that we may issue in the future, of at least 200%. If this ratio declines below 200%, we will not be able to incur additional debt and could be required to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is otherwise disadvantageous for us to do so. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to make distributions. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on the Adviser’s 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.

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

In addition, our debt facilities may impose financial and operating covenants that restrict our business activities, including limitations that hinder our ability to finance additional loans and investments or to make the distributions required to maintain our qualification as a RIC under the Code.

We may default under the Financing Facilities or any future borrowing facility we enter into or be unable to amend, repay or refinance any such facility on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In the event we default under the Financing Facilities or any other future borrowing facility, our business could be adversely affected as we may be forced to sell a portion of our investments quickly and prematurely at prices that may be disadvantageous to us in order to meet our outstanding payment obligations and/or support working capital requirements under the Financing Facilities or such future borrowing facility, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, following any such default, the agent for the lenders under the Financing Facilities or such future borrowing facility could assume control of the disposition of any or all of our assets, including the selection of such assets to be disposed and the timing of such disposition, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Provisions in the Financing Facilities or any other future borrowing facility may limit our discretion in operating our business.

The Financing Facilities are, and any future borrowing facility may be, backed by all or a portion of our loans and securities on which the lenders will or, in the case of a future facility, may have a security interest. We

may pledge up to 100% of our assets and may grant a security interest in all of our assets under the terms of any debt instrument we enter into with lenders. We expect that any security interests we grant will be set forth in a pledge and security agreement and evidenced by the filing of financing statements by the agent for the lenders. In addition, we expect that the custodian for our securities serving as collateral for such loan would include in its electronic systems notices indicating the existence of such security interests and, following notice of occurrence of an event of default, if any, and during its continuance, will only accept transfer instructions with respect to any such securities from the lender or its designee. If we were to default under the terms of any debt instrument, the agent for the applicable lenders would be able to assume control of the timing of disposition of any or all of our assets securing such debt, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In addition, any security interests as well as negative covenants under the Financing Facilities or any other borrowing facility may limit our ability to create liens on assets to secure additional debt and may make it difficult for us to restructure or refinance indebtedness at or prior to maturity or obtain additional debt or equity financing. In addition, if our borrowing base under the Financing Facilities or any other borrowing facility were to decrease, we would be required to secure additional assets in an amount equal to any borrowing base deficiency. In the event that all of our assets are secured at the time of such a borrowing base deficiency, we could be required to repay advances under the Financing Facilities or any other borrowing facility or make deposits to a collection account, either of which could have a material adverse impact on our ability to fund future investments and to make stockholder distributions.

In addition, under the Financing Facilities or any future borrowing facility we will be subject to limitations as to how borrowed funds may be used, which may include restrictions on geographic and industry concentrations, loan size, payment frequency and status, average life, collateral interests and investment ratings, as well as regulatory restrictions on leverage, which may affect the amount of funding that may be obtained. There may also be certain requirements relating to portfolio performance, including required minimum portfolio yield and limitations on delinquencies and charge-offs, a violation of which could limit further advances and, in some cases, result in an event of default. An event of default under the Financing Facilities or any other borrowing facility could result in an accelerated maturity date for all amounts outstanding thereunder, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. This could reduce our revenues and, by delaying any cash payment allowed to us under the Financing Facilities or any other borrowing facility until the lenders have been paid in full, reduce our liquidity and cash flow and impair our ability to grow our business and maintain our qualification as a RIC.

Because we borrow money to make our investments, if market interest rates were to increase, our cost of capital could increase, which could reduce our net investment income.

Because we borrow money to make investments, our net investment income will depend, 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, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates would not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income in the event we use debt to finance our investments. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which could reduce our net investment income. 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. There is no limit on our ability to enter derivative transactions.

In addition, a rise in the general level of interest rates typically leads to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates may result in an increase of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment income and, as a result, an increase in incentive fees payable to the Adviser.

We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates including potential effects on our cost of capital and net investment income.

General interest rate fluctuations and changes in credit spreads on floating rate loans may have a substantial negative impact on our investments and investment opportunities and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our rate of return on invested capital. In addition, an increase in interest rates would make it more expensive to use debt to finance our investments. Decreases in credit spreads on debt that pays a floating rate of return would have an impact on the income generation of our floating rate assets. Trading prices for debt that pays a fixed rate of return tend to fall as interest rates rise. Trading prices tend to fluctuate more for fixed rate securities that have longer maturities. Although we have no policy governing the maturities of our investments, under current market conditions we expect that we will invest in a portfolio of debt generally having maturities of up to 6 years. This means that we will be subject to greater risk (other things being equal) than an entity investing solely in shorter-term securities.

Adverse developments in the credit markets may impair our ability to secure debt financing.

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. As a result, it may be difficult for us to obtain desired financing to finance the growth of our investments on acceptable economic terms, or at all.

If we are unable to consummate credit facilities on commercially reasonable terms, our liquidity may be reduced significantly. If we are unable to repay amounts outstanding under any facility we may enter into and are declared in default or are unable to renew or refinance any such facility, it would limit our ability to initiate significant originations or to operate our business in the normal course. These situations may arise due to circumstances that we may be unable to control, such as inaccessibility of the credit markets, a severe decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, a further economic downturn or an operational problem that affects third parties or us, and could materially damage our business. Moreover, we are unable to predict when economic and market conditions may become more favorable. Even if such conditions improve broadly and significantly over the long term, adverse conditions in particular sectors of the financial markets could adversely impact our business.

Our ability to enter into transactions involving derivatives and financial commitment transactions may be limited.

The SEC has proposed a new rule under the 1940 Act that would govern the use of derivatives (defined to include any swap, security-based swap, futures contract, forward contract, option or any similar instrument) as well as financial commitment transactions (defined to include reverse repurchase agreements, short sale borrowings and any firm or standby commitment agreement or similar agreement) by BDCs. Under the proposed rule, a BDC would be required to comply with one of two alternative portfolio limitations and manage the risks associated with derivatives transactions and financial commitment transactions by segregating certain assets. Furthermore, a BDC that engages in more than a limited amount of derivatives transactions or that uses complex derivatives would be required to establish a formalized derivatives risk management program. If the SEC adopts this rule in the form proposed, our ability to enter into transactions involving such instruments may be hindered, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Terrorist attacks, acts of war or natural disasters may affect any market for our common stock, impact the businesses in which we invest and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Terrorist acts, acts of war or natural disasters may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts have created, and continue to create, economic and political

uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability. Future terrorist activities, military or security operations, or natural disasters could further weaken the domestic/global economies and create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.

The failure in cyber security systems, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.

The occurrence of a disaster such as a cyber-attack, a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems, or a support failure from external providers, could have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct business and on our results of operations and financial condition, particularly if those events affect our computer-based data processing, transmission, storage, and retrieval systems or destroy data. If a significant number of our managers were unavailable in the event of a disaster, our ability to effectively conduct our business could be severely compromised.

We depend heavily upon computer systems to perform necessary business functions. Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, our computer systems could be subject to cyber-attacks and unauthorized access, such as physical and electronic break-ins or unauthorized tampering. Like other companies, we may experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, system failures and disruptions. If one or more of these events occurs, it could potentially jeopardize the confidential, proprietary and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, which could result in damage to our reputation, financial losses, litigation, increased costs, regulatory penalties and/or customer dissatisfaction or loss.

Third parties with which we do business may also be sources of cybersecurity or other technological risks. We outsource certain functions and these relationships allow for the storage and processing of our information, as well as customer, counterparty, employee and borrower information. While we engage in actions to reduce our exposure resulting from outsourcing, ongoing threats may result in unauthorized access, loss, exposure or destruction of data, or other cybersecurity incidents, with increased costs and other consequences, including those described above.

The effect of global climate change may impact the operations of our portfolio companies.

There may be evidence of global climate change. Climate change creates physical and financial risk and some of our portfolio companies may be adversely affected by climate change. For example, the needs of customers of energy companies vary with weather conditions, primarily temperature and humidity. To the extent weather conditions are affected by climate change, energy use could increase or decrease depending on the duration and magnitude of any changes. Increases in the cost of energy could adversely affect the cost of operations of our portfolio companies if the use of energy products or services is material to their business. A decrease in energy use due to weather changes may affect some of our portfolio companies’ financial condition, through decreased revenues. Extreme weather conditions in general require more system backup, adding to costs, and can contribute to increased system stresses, including service interruptions.

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

As a BDC, 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.

We believe that most of the investments that we may acquire in the future will constitute qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe to be 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 BDCs. As a result of such violation, specific rules under the 1940 Act could prevent us, for example, from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position) or could require us to dispose of investments at inappropriate times in order to come into compliance with the 1940 Act. If we need to dispose of such investments quickly, it could be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. We may not be able to find a buyer for such investments and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss. Any such outcomes would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

If we do not maintain our status as a BDC, we would be subject to regulation as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act. As a registered closed-end investment company, we would be subject to substantially more regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act, which would significantly decrease our operating flexibility.

Most of our portfolio investments are recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors and, as a result, there may be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.

Most of our portfolio investments will take the form of securities that are not publicly traded. The fair value of loans, securities and other investments that are not publicly traded may not be readily determinable, and we will value these investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors, including to reflect significant events affecting the value of our investments. Most, if not all, of our investments (other than cash and cash equivalents) will be classified as Level 3 under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820: Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). This means that our portfolio valuations will be 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 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 independent service providers to review the valuation of these loans and securities. 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 loans and 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 loans and 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 statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including the interest rate payable on the loans and debt securities we acquire, the default rate on such loans and securities, 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 performance in future periods.

We are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are and we will remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, which was in February 2014, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30^th, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on some or all of these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We will take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, which may make it more difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate us since our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates and may result in less investor confidence.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, stockholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or the subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm (when undertaken, as noted below), may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our consolidated financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock.

We are required to disclose changes made in our internal control and procedures on a quarterly basis and our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. However, for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” under the recently enacted JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.

Our status as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act may make it more difficult to raise capital as and when we need it.

Because of the exemptions from various reporting requirements provided to us as an “emerging growth company” and because we will have an extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards, we may be less attractive to investors and it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital as and when we need it. Investors may be unable to compare our business with other companies in our industry if they believe that our financial accounting is not as transparent as other companies in our industry. If we are unable to raise additional capital as and when we need it, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

New or amended laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business.

We and our portfolio companies will be subject to regulation by laws at the U.S. federal, state and local levels. These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, and new laws, regulations and interpretations may also come into effect. Any such new or changed laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Additionally, changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations related to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans set forth in this prospectus and our filings with the SEC, and may shift our investment focus from the areas of expertise of the Adviser to other types of investments in which the Adviser 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.

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 or 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 BDC. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results and the market price of our common stock. Nevertheless, any such changes could adversely affect our business and impair our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

The Adviser can resign as the Adviser or administrator upon 60 days’ notice and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, or at all, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

The Adviser has the right under the Investment Advisory Agreement to resign as the Adviser at any time upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. Similarly, the Adviser has the right under the Administration Agreement to resign at any time upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. If the Adviser were to resign, we may not be able to find a new investment adviser or administrator 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 financial condition, business and results of operations as well as our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders 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 or administrative activities, as applicable, 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 the Adviser. 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.

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 make distributions to our stockholders.

Our business is highly dependent on the communications and information systems of the Adviser, which are provided to us on behalf of the Adviser by Cyrus Capital pursuant to the Services Agreement directly or through third party service providers. Any failure or interruption of such systems, including as a result of the termination of the Services Agreement or an agreement with any such third party service provider, could cause delays or other problems in our activities. This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

The current state of the economy and financial markets of the United States, China and other several countries in the European Union increases the likelihood of adverse effects on our financial position and results of operations.

Due to federal budget deficit concerns, S&P downgraded the federal government’s credit rating from AAA to AA+ for the first time in history on August 5, 2011. Further, Moody’s and Fitch had warned that they may downgrade the federal government’s credit rating. Further downgrades or warnings by S&P or other rating agencies, and the United States government’s credit and deficit concerns in general, could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact both the perception of credit risk associated with our debt portfolio and our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. In addition, a decreased U.S. government credit rating could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which may weigh heavily on our financial performance and the value of our common stock.

In 2010, a financial crisis emerged in Europe, triggered by high budget deficits and rising direct and contingent sovereign debt in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, which created concerns about the ability of these nations to continue to service their sovereign debt obligations. While the financial stability of many of such countries has improved significantly, risks resulting from any future debt crisis in Europe or any similar crisis could have a detrimental impact on the global economic recovery, sovereign and non-sovereign debt in these countries and the financial condition of European financial institutions. In July and August 2015, Greece reached agreements with its international creditors for bailouts that provide aid in exchange for austerity terms that had previously been rejected by Greek voters. Market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, consumer confidence levels and spending, personal bankruptcy rates, levels of incurrence and default on consumer debt and home prices, among other factors. We cannot assure you that market disruptions in Europe, including the increased cost of funding for certain governments and financial institutions, will not impact the global economy, and we cannot assure you that assistance packages will be available, or if available, be sufficient to stabilize countries and markets in Europe or elsewhere affected by a financial crisis. To the extent uncertainty regarding any economic recovery in Europe negatively impacts consumer confidence and consumer credit factors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected.

In the second quarter of 2015, stock prices in China experienced a significant drop, resulting primarily from continued selloff of shares trading in Chinese markets. In addition, in August 2015, Chinese authorities sharply devalued China’s currency. Since then, the Chinese capital markets have continued to experience periods of instability. In June 2016, British voters passed a referendum to exit the European Union leading to heightened volatility in global markets and foreign currencies. These market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, the U.S. capital markets, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In October 2014, the Federal Reserve announced that it was concluding its bond-buying program, or quantitative easing, which was designed to stimulate the economy and expand the Federal Reserve’s holdings of long-term securities, suggesting that key economic indicators, such as the unemployment rate, had showed signs of improvement since the inception of the program. It is unclear what effect, if any, the conclusion of the Federal Reserve’s bond-buying program will have on the value of our investments. Additionally, the Federal Reserve raised the Federal Funds Rate in December 2015, continued to do so throughout 2016 and 2017, and has announced its intention to continue to raise the federal funds rate over time. These developments, along with the United States government’s credit and deficit concerns, the European sovereign debt crisis and the economic slowdown in China, could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms.

Our board of directors is authorized to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock into one or more classes of preferred stock, which could convey special rights and privileges to its owners.

Under Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, our board of directors is authorized to classify and reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of stock into one or more classes of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors will be required by Maryland law and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to stockholder distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or that otherwise might be in their best interest. The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our common stockholders. The issuance of preferred shares convertible into shares of common stock may also reduce the net income and net asset value per share of our common stock upon conversion, provided, that we will only be permitted to issue such convertible preferred stock to the extent we comply with the requirements of Section 61 of the 1940 Act, including obtaining common stockholder approval. These effects, among others, could have an adverse effect on your investment in our common stock. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, the 1940 Act provides that holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote separately from holders of common stock to elect two preferred stock directors. We currently have no plans to issue preferred stock.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and of our charter and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered terms. A classified board may render a change in control of us or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain additional provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of CM Finance Inc or the removal of our directors. We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act, subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution exempting from the Business Combination Act any business combination between us and any other person, subject to prior approval of such business combination by our board of directors, including approval by a majority of our independent directors. If the resolution exempting business combinations is repealed or our board of directors does not approve a business combination, the Business Combination Act may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. Our bylaws exempt from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act acquisitions of our stock by any person. If we amend our bylaws to repeal the exemption from the Control Share Acquisition Act, the Control Share Acquisition Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such a transaction.

We have also adopted measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter classifying our board of directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms, and authorizing our board of directors to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series,

to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, to amend our charter without stockholder approval and 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 charter and bylaws, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders. See “Description of Our Common Stock—Certain Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws.”

Economic recessions or downturns could adversely affect our portfolio companies, leading to defaults on our investments, which would harm our operating results.

Many of the portfolio companies in which we expect to make investments, including those currently included in our portfolio, are likely to be susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during such periods. In such event, the number of our non-performing assets is likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during such periods. Adverse economic conditions may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and debt securities 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 loans and 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.

We may hold the loans and debt securities of leveraged companies that may, due to the significant operating volatility typical of such companies, enter into bankruptcy proceedings, and we could lose all or part of our investment, which would harm our operating results.

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 loans and 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.

Leveraged companies may also 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 adversarial proceedings and are beyond the control of the creditors. A bankruptcy filing by a portfolio company may adversely and permanently affect that company. If the proceeding is converted to a liquidation, the value of the portfolio company may not equal the liquidation value that was believed to exist at the time of the investment. The duration of a bankruptcy proceeding is also difficult to predict, and a creditor’s return on investment can be adversely affected by delays until the plan of reorganization or liquidation ultimately becomes effective. The administrative costs in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding are frequently high and would be paid out of the debtor’s estate prior to any return to creditors. Because the standards for classification of claims under bankruptcy law are vague, our influence with respect to the class of securities or other obligations we own may be lost by increases in the number and amount of claims in the same class or by different classification and treatment. In the early stages of the bankruptcy process, it is often difficult to estimate the extent of, or even to identify, any contingent claims that might be made. In addition, certain claims that have priority by law (for example, claims for taxes) may be substantial.

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 loans or 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.

Credit risk is the potential loss we may incur from a failure of a company to make payments according to the terms of a contract. We are subject to credit risk because of our strategy of investing in the debt of leveraged companies and our involvement in derivative instruments. Our exposure to credit risk on our investments is limited to the fair value of the investments. Our derivative contracts are executed pursuant to an International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreement that we currently have in place with UBS with respect to the Term Financing. Any material exposure due to counter-party risk under the Term Financing or the Financing Facilities, generally, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

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

If one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, even though we may have structured our interest as senior debt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we may have actually 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 that of other creditors. In addition, lenders can be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by them where they become too involved in the borrower’s business or exercise control over the borrower. It is possible that we could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken if we actually render significant managerial assistance.

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

Investment in private and middle-market companies involves a number of significant risks. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we will rely on the ability of the Adviser’s investment professionals to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns and risks from investing in these companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments. Middle-market companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their loans and 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-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 one or more of the portfolio companies we invest in and, in turn, on us. Middle-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 investment adviser may, in the ordinary course of business, be named as defendants in litigation arising from our investments in portfolio companies.

To the extent that we invest in loans with a PIK interest component and the accretion of PIK interest constitutes a portion of our income, we will be exposed to risks associated with the requirement to include such non-cash income in taxable and accounting income prior to receipt of cash, including the following:

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

The success of our hedging transactions will depend on our ability to correctly predict movements in currencies and interest rates. Therefore, while we may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce currency exchange rate and interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in currency exchange rates or interest rates may result in poorer overall investment performance than if we had not engaged in any such hedging transactions. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio positions being hedged may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. In addition, it may 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 is likely to fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.

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

All of our assets may be invested in illiquid loans and securities, and a substantial portion of our investments in leveraged companies will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than more broadly traded public securities. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if the need arises. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our investments. Also, as noted above, we may be limited or prohibited in our ability to sell or otherwise exit certain positions in our initial portfolio as such a transaction could be considered a joint transaction prohibited by the 1940 Act.

Price declines and illiquidity in the corporate debt markets may adversely affect the fair value of our portfolio investments, reducing our net asset value through increased net unrealized depreciation.

As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. As part of the valuation process, we may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of our investments:

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.

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. Beyond the asset diversification requirements associated with our qualification as a RIC under the Code, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers or our investments are concentrated in relatively few industries, 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.

Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries, which may subject us to a risk of significant loss if there is a downturn in a particular industry in which a number of our investments are concentrated.

Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries. A downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could significantly impact the aggregate returns we realize.

As of March 31, 2018, our investments in the professional services industry represented approximately 12.7% of the fair value of our portfolio, our investments in the energy equipment and services industries represented approximately 12.03% of the fair value of our portfolio, and our investments in the hotels, restaurants and leisure industry represented approximately 11.34% of the fair value of our portfolio. If an industry in which we have significant investments suffers from adverse business or economic conditions, as these industries have to varying degrees, a material portion of our investment portfolio could be affected adversely, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

Our investments in the professional services industry face considerable uncertainties including significant regulatory challenges.

Our investments in portfolio companies that operate in the professional services industry represent approximately 12.7% of our total portfolio as of March 31, 2018. Our investments in portfolio companies in the professional services sector include those that provide services related to data and information, building, cleaning and maintenance services, and energy efficiency services. Portfolio companies in the professional services sector are subject to many risks, including the negative impact of regulation, changing technology, a competitive marketplace and difficulty in obtaining financing. Portfolio companies in the professional services industry must respond quickly to technological changes and understand the impact of these changes on customers’ preferences. Adverse economic, business, or regulatory developments affecting the professional services sector could have a negative impact on the value of our investments in portfolio companies operating in this industry, and therefore could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

Our investments in the energy equipment and services and oil, gas and consumable fuels industries face considerable uncertainties including substantial regulatory challenges.

Our investments in portfolio companies that operate in the energy equipment and services and oil, gas and consumable fuels industries represent approximately 19.9% of our total portfolio as of March 31, 2018. The revenues, income (or losses) and valuations of companies in these industries are highly dependent upon the valuations of oil and gas companies, which can fluctuate suddenly and dramatically due to any one or more of the following factors:

Commodity Pricing Risk. In general, commodity prices directly affect oil and gas companies, especially for those who own the underlying commodity. In addition, the volatility of commodity prices can affect other oil and gas companies due to the impact of prices on the volume of commodities produced, transported, processed, stored or distributed and on the cost of fuel for power generation companies. The volatility of commodity prices can also affect oil and gas companies’ ability to access the capital markets in light of market perception that their performance may be directly tied to commodity prices. Historically, energy commodity prices have been cyclical and exhibited significant volatility as evident in the recent and sudden decline in oil prices during the second half of 2014.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in the regulatory environment could adversely affect the profitability of oil and gas companies. Federal, state and local governments heavily regulate the businesses of oil and gas companies in diverse matters, such as the way in which assets are constructed, maintained and operated and the prices oil and gas companies may charge for their products and services. Such regulation can change over time in scope and intensity.

Production Risk. The volume of crude oil, natural gas or other energy commodities available for producing, transporting, processing, storing, distributing or generating power may materially impact the profitability of energy companies. A significant decrease in the production of natural gas, crude oil, coal or other energy commodities, due to the decline of production from existing facilities, import supply disruption, depressed commodity prices, political events, OPEC actions or otherwise, could reduce revenue and operating income or increase operating costs of energy companies and, therefore, their ability to pay debt or dividends.

Demand Risk. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could materially affect revenues and cash flows of energy companies. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, increases in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or shifts in consumer demand for such products.

Depletion and Exploration Risk. Oil and gas companies’ commodities naturally deplete over time. Depletion could have a material adverse impact on such company’s ability to maintain its revenue. Further, estimates of reserves may not be accurate and, even if accurate, reserves may not be produced profitably. In addition, exploration of energy resources, especially of oil and natural gas, is inherently risky and requires large amounts of capital.

Weather Risk. Unseasonable extreme weather patterns could result in significant volatility in demand for energy and power or may directly affect the operations of individual companies. This weather-related risk may create fluctuations in earnings of energy companies.

Operational Risk. Oil and gas companies are subject to various operational risks, such as failed drilling or well development, unscheduled outages, underestimated cost projections, unanticipated operation and maintenance expenses, failure to obtain the necessary permits to operate and failure of third-party contractors to perform their contractual obligations.

Competition Risk. The oil and gas companies in which we may invest will face substantial competition in acquiring properties, enhancing and developing their assets, marketing their commodities, securing trained personnel and operating their properties. Many of their competitors may have financial and other resources that substantially exceed their resources.

Valuation Risk. The valuation of our holdings in oil and gas portfolio companies is subject to uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves of oil, natural gas and coal and in projecting future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures, which are dependent upon many factors beyond our control. The estimates rely on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, commodity prices, operating expenses, capital expenditures and the availability of funds, and are therefore inherently imprecise indications of future net cash flows. Actual future production, cash flows, taxes, operating expenses, development expenditures and quantities of recoverable reserves may vary substantially from those assumed in the estimates. Any significant variance in these assumptions could materially affect the value of our investments in oil and gas companies.

Climate Change. There may be evidence of global climate change. Climate change creates physical and financial risk and some of our portfolio companies may be adversely affected by climate change. For example, the needs of customers of oil and gas companies vary with weather conditions, primarily temperature and humidity. To the extent climate changes affect weather conditions, energy use could increase or decrease depending on the duration and magnitude of any changes. Increased oil and gas use due to weather changes may require additional investments by our portfolio companies in more pipelines and other infrastructure to serve increased demand. A decrease in oil and gas use due to weather changes may affect our portfolio companies’ financial condition through decreased revenues. Extreme weather conditions in general require more system backup, adding to costs, and can contribute to increased system stresses, including service interruptions. Potential lawsuits against or taxes or other regulatory costs imposed on greenhouse gas emitters could also affect oil and gas companies, based on links drawn between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Our investments in the hotels, restaurants and leisure industry face considerable uncertainties including significant technological developments.

Our investments in portfolio companies that operate in the hotels, restaurants and leisure industry represent approximately 11.34% of our total portfolio as of March 31, 2018. Portfolio companies in the hotels, restaurants

and leisure sector are subject to many risks, including the negative impact of regulation, changing technology, a competitive marketplace, difficulty in obtaining financing, rapid obsolescence, and agreements linking future rate increases to inflation or other factors not directly related to the active operating profits of the portfolio company. Portfolio companies in the hotels, restaurants and leisure industry must respond quickly to technological changes and understand the impact of these changes on customers’ preferences. If a portfolio company is unable to participate in new product or distribution technologies, its results of operations may suffer. Adverse economic, business, or regulatory developments affecting the entertainment sector could have a negative impact on the value of our investments in portfolio companies operating in this industry, and therefore could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

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, including exercising warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing; 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 operation. 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 we are inhibited by compliance with BDC requirements of the 1940 Act or the desire to maintain our qualification as a RIC.

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.

We do not hold controlling equity positions in any of the portfolio companies included in our portfolio and, although we may do so in the future, we do not currently intend to hold controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we will be 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 expect to 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.

Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and ability to make stockholder distributions and result in a decline in the market price of our shares.

We are subject to the risk that the debt investments we make in portfolio companies may be repaid prior to maturity. We expect that our investments will generally allow for repayment at any time subject to certain penalties. When this occurs, we intend to generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending their future investment in accordance with our investment strategy. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid, and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies

elects to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact our ability to make, or the amount of, stockholder distributions with respect to our common stock, which could result in a decline in the market price of our shares.

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

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

Additionally, certain loans that we may make to portfolio companies may be secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing senior secured debt of such companies. The first priority liens on the collateral will secure the portfolio company’s obligations under any outstanding senior debt and may secure certain other future debt that may be permitted to be incurred by the portfolio company under the agreements 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 may also make unsecured loans to portfolio companies, meaning that such loans will not benefit from any interest in collateral of such companies. Liens on such portfolio companies’ 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 secured loan obligations. 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.

We currently expect that substantially all of our investments will involve loans and private securities. In connection with the disposition of such an investment, we may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of the portfolio company typical of those made in connection with the sale of a business. We may also be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations turn out to be inaccurate or with respect to potential liabilities. These arrangements may result in contingent liabilities that ultimately result in funding obligations that we must satisfy through our return of distributions previously made to us.

The interest rates of our term loans to our portfolio companies that extend beyond 2021 might be subject to change based on recent regulatory changes.

LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, is the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the London interbank market and is widely used as a reference for setting the interest rate on loans globally. We typically use LIBOR as a reference rate in term loans we extend to portfolio companies such that the interest due to us pursuant to a term loan extended to a partner company is calculated using LIBOR. Some of our term loan agreements with partner companies contain a stated minimum value for LIBOR.

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is unclear if at that time whether or not LIBOR will cease to exist or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large US financial institutions, is considering replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index calculated by short term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. The future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain. Uncertainty as to a LIBOR replacement, or the treatment of securities currently benchmarked to LIBOR, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities, including our portfolio of LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities.

When we invest in loans and debt securities, 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.

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

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, may trade at a discount from net asset value. This characteristic of closed-end investment companies and BDCs is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our common stock will trade at, above or below net asset value. At a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Sales of common stock at prices below net asset value per share dilute the interests of existing stockholders, have the effect of reducing our net asset value per share and may reduce our market price per share. In addition, continuous sales of common stock below net asset value may have a negative impact on total returns and could have a negative impact on the market price of our shares of common stock. See “—Existing stockholders may incur dilution if, in the future, we sell shares of our common stock in one or more offerings at prices below the then current net asset value per share of our common stock” for a discussion of a proposal approved by our stockholders that permits us to issue shares of our common stock below net asset value.

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, and higher volatility or loss of principal, than alternative investment options. Our investments in portfolio companies may be speculative and, therefore, an investment in our common stock may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.

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

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Stifel owns approximately 16% of our total outstanding common stock, and the Cyrus Funds own, in the aggregate, approximately 28% of our total outstanding common stock. The shares issued by us to Stifel and the Cyrus Funds in connection with the CM Finance Merger are generally freely tradable in the public market, subject to the volume limitations, applicable holding periods and other provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, the availability of such common stock for sale or the registration of such common stock for sale and the ability of our stockholders, including Stifel and the Cyrus Funds to sell their respective shares at a price per share that is below our then current net asset value per share could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for our common stock. If this occurs and continues, it could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities should we desire to do so and negatively impact the market of our common stock.

We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds raised from our offerings on acceptable terms, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.

We anticipate that substantially all of the net proceeds raised in our offerings will be utilized within six months of any such offering’s completion, however, delays in investing the net proceeds raised in our offerings may cause our performance to be worse than that of other fully invested BDCs or other lenders or investors pursuing comparable investment strategies. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify any investments that meet our investment objective or that any investment that we make will produce a positive return. We may be unable to invest the net proceeds from any offering on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all, which could harm our financial condition and operating results. We anticipate that, depending on market conditions, it may take a substantial period of time to invest substantially all of the net proceeds of any offering in securities meeting our investment objective. During such a period, we will continue to invest the net proceeds of any offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns which we expect to achieve when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective, and given our expense ratio and the prevailing interest rate climate, there is a possible risk of losing money on the offering proceeds of certain securities, such as debt securities during this interval. As a result, any distributions that we pay during such period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we may be able to pay when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective. In addition, until such time as the net proceeds of any offering are invested in securities meeting our investment objective, the market price for our securities may decline. Thus, the return on your investment may be lower than when, if ever, our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective.

We may not be able to pay distributions to our stockholders, our distributions may not grow over time, and a portion of distributions paid to our stockholders may be a return of capital, which is a distribution of the stockholders’ invested capital.

level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this prospectus. Due to the asset coverage test applicable to us under the 1940 Act as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions.

When we make distributions, we will be required to determine the extent to which such distributions are paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital. To the extent there is a return of capital, investors will be required to reduce their basis in our stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may result in higher tax liability when the shares are sold, even if they have not increased in value or have lost value. In addition, any return of capital will be net of any sales load and offering expenses associated with sales of shares of our common stock. In the future, our distributions may include a return of capital. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

To the extent, any distributions by us are funded through waivers of the incentive fee portion of our investment advisory fees such distributions will not be based on our investment performance, and can only be sustained if we achieve positive investment performance in future periods and/or the Adviser continues to waive such fees. Any such waivers in no way imply that the Adviser will waive incentive fees in any future period. There can be no assurance that we will achieve the performance necessary or that the Adviser will waive all or any portion of the incentive fee necessary to be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.

We may allocate the net proceeds from an offering in ways with which you may not agree.

We will have significant flexibility in investing the net proceeds of an offering and may use the net proceeds from an offering in ways with which you may not agree or for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of the offering. In addition, we can provide you with no assurance that by increasing the size of our available equity capital our expense ratio or debt ratio will be lowered.

Stockholders may experience dilution in their ownership percentage if they do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.

All distributions declared in cash payable to stockholders that are participants in our dividend reinvestment plan are generally automatically reinvested in shares of our common stock. As a result, stockholders that do not participate in the dividend reinvestment plan may experience dilution over time. Stockholders who receive distributions in shares of common stock may experience accretion to the net asset value of their shares if our shares are trading at a premium and dilution if our shares are trading at a discount. The level of accretion or discount would depend on various factors, including the proportion of our stockholders who participate in the plan, the level of premium or discount at which our shares are trading and the amount of the distribution payable to a stockholder.

Existing stockholders may incur dilution if, in the future, we sell shares of our common stock in one or more offerings at prices below the then current net asset value per share of our common stock.

The 1940 Act prohibits us from selling shares of our common stock at a price below the current net asset value per share of such stock, with certain exceptions. One such exception is prior stockholder approval of issuances below net asset value provided that our board of directors makes certain determinations. In this regard, at a meeting initially convened on November 7, 2017 and reconvened on November 30, 2017 and December 21, 2017, our common stockholders voted to allow us to issue common stock at a price below net asset value per share for the period ending on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the date of the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to be held in November 2018. Our stockholders did not specify a maximum discount below net asset value at which we are able to issue our common stock, although the number of shares sold in each offering may not

exceed 25% of our outstanding common stock immediately prior to such sale. In addition, we cannot issue shares of our common stock below net asset value unless our board of directors determines that it would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests to do so. Continued access to this exception will require approval of similar proposals at future stockholder meetings. Any decision to sell shares of our common stock below the then current net asset value per share of our common stock would be subject to the determination by our board of directors that such issuance is in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

If we were to sell shares of our common stock below net asset value per share, such sales would result in an immediate dilution to the net asset value per share. This dilution would occur as a result of the sale of shares at a price below the then current net asset value per share of our common stock and a proportionately greater decrease in a stockholder’s interest in our earnings and assets and voting interest in us than the increase in our assets resulting from such issuance.

Because the number of shares of common stock that could be so issued and the timing of any issuance is not currently known, the actual dilutive effect cannot be predicted; however, the example below illustrates the effect of dilution to existing stockholders resulting from the sale of common stock at prices below the net asset value of such shares. Please see “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” for a more complete discussion of the potentially dilutive impacts of an offering at a price less than net asset value per share.

Illustration: Example of Dilutive Effect of the Issuance of Shares Below Net Asset Value. The example assumes that Company XYZ has 13,500,000 common shares outstanding, $300,000,000 in total assets and $100,000,000 in total liabilities. The current net asset value and net asset value per share are thus $200,000,000 and $14.81. The table illustrates the dilutive effect on nonparticipating Stockholder A of (1) an offering of 1,350,000 shares (10% of the outstanding shares) at $13.33 per share after offering expenses and commissions (a 10% discount from net asset value).

Our shares might trade at premiums that are unsustainable or at discounts from net asset value.

Shares of BDCs like us may, during some periods, trade at prices higher than their net asset value per share and, during other periods, as frequently occurs with closed-end investment companies, trade at prices lower than their net asset value per share. The perceived value of our investment portfolio may be affected by a number of factors including perceived prospects for individual companies we invest in, market conditions for common stock generally, for initial public offerings and other exit events for venture capital backed companies, and the mix of companies in our investment portfolio over time. Negative or unforeseen developments affecting the perceived value of companies in our investment portfolio could result in a decline in the trading price of our common stock relative to our net asset value per share.

The possibility that our shares will trade at a discount from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable are risks separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share will decrease. The risk of purchasing shares of a BDC that might trade at a discount or unsustainable premium is more pronounced for investors who wish to sell their shares in a relatively short period of time because, for those investors, realization

of a gain or loss on their investments is likely to be more dependent upon changes in premium or discount levels than upon increases or decreases in net asset value per share.

If we issue preferred stock and/or debt securities, the net asset value and market value of our common stock may become more volatile.

We cannot assure you that the issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would result in a higher yield or return to the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would likely cause the net asset value and market value of our common stock to become more volatile. If the distribution rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to approach the net rate of return on our investment portfolio, the benefit of leverage to the holders of our common stock would be reduced. If the distribution rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to exceed the net rate of return on our portfolio, the use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return to the holders of common stock than if we had not issued the preferred stock and/or debt securities. Any decline in the net asset value of our investment would be borne entirely by the holders of our common stock. Therefore, if the market value of our portfolio were to decline, the leverage would result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of our common stock than if we were not leveraged through the issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities. This decline in net asset value would also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for our common stock.

There is also a risk that, in the event of a sharp decline in the value of our net assets, we would be in danger of failing to maintain required asset coverage ratios which may be required by the preferred stock and/or debt securities or of a downgrade in the ratings of the preferred stock and/or debt securities or our current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the distribution requirements on the preferred stock or the interest payments on the debt securities. In order to counteract such an event, we might need to liquidate investments in order to fund redemption of some or all of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. In addition, we would pay (and the holders of our common stock would bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. Holders of preferred stock and/or debt securities may have different interests than holders of common stock and may at times have disproportionate influence over our affairs.

The trading market or market value of our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, may be volatile.

Our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, may or may not have an established trading market. We cannot assure investors that a trading market for our debt securities or any convertible debt securities, if issued to the public, would develop or be maintained if developed. In addition to our creditworthiness, many factors may materially adversely affect the trading market for, and market value of, our publicly issued debt securities or any convertible debt securities. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

There also may be a limited number of buyers for our debt securities. This too may materially adversely affect the market value of the debt securities or the trading market for the debt securities. Our debt securities may

include convertible features that cause them to more closely bear risks associated with an investment in our common stock.

Terms relating to redemption may materially adversely affect the return on any debt securities.

If we issue any debt securities or any convertible debt securities that are redeemable at our option, we may choose to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In addition, if the debt securities are subject to mandatory redemption, we may be required to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In this circumstance, a holder of our debt securities may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the debt securities being redeemed.

The issuance of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt that are exchangeable for our common stock, will cause your interest in us to be diluted as a result of any such rights, warrants or convertible debt offering.

Stockholders who do not fully exercise rights, warrants or convertible debt issued to them in any offering of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt to purchase our common stock should expect that they will, at the completion of the offering, own a smaller proportional interest in us than would otherwise be the case if they fully exercised their rights, warrants or convertible debt. We cannot state precisely the amount of any such dilution in share ownership because we do not know what proportion of the common stock would be purchased as a result of any such offering.

In addition, if the subscription price, warrant price or convertible debt price is less than our net asset value per share of common stock at the time of such offering, then our stockholders would experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate net asset value of their shares as a result of the offering. The amount of any such decrease in net asset value is not predictable because it is not known at this time what the subscription price, warrant price, convertible debt price or net asset value per share will be on the expiration date of such offering or what proportion of our common stock will be purchased as a result of any such offering. The risk of dilution is greater if there are multiple rights offerings. However, our board of directors will make a good faith determination that any offering of subscription rights, warrants or convertible debt would result in a net benefit to existing stockholders.

Future offerings of debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, or equity securities, which could dilute our existing stockholders and may be senior to our common stock for the purposes of distributions, may harm the value of our common stock.

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt or equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock, subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act. Upon a liquidation of our company, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings would receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Additional equity offerings by us may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock, or both. Any preferred stock we may issue would have a preference on distributions that could limit our ability to make distributions to the holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their stock holdings in us. In addition, proceeds from a sale of common stock will likely be used to increase our total assets or to pay down our borrowings, among other uses. This would increase our asset coverage ratio and permit us to incur additional leverage under rules pertaining to business development companies by increasing our borrowings or issuing senior securities such as preferred stock or additional debt securities.

Some of the statements in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, involve risks and uncertainties, including statements as to:

Such forward-looking statements may include statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “may,” “might,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or similar words.

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, on information available to us on the date of this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law or SEC rule or regulation. You are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you, including in the form of a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates, or through reports that we in the future may file with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

You should understand that, under Sections 27A(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Act and Section 21E(b)(2)B of the Exchange Act, the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 do not apply to statements made in connection with any offering of securities pursuant to this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any.

Unless otherwise specified in any prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, to make new investments in portfolio companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies as described in this prospectus, to reduce a portion of our outstanding borrowings under the Financing Facilities and for general working capital purposes.

As of March 31, 2018, indebtedness under the Term Financing was $102.0 million and we pay interest on the face amount of the Term Financing monthly at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum through December 4, 2018. For the period from December 5, 2018 through December 5, 2020, we will pay interest on the face amount of the Term Financing monthly at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.55% per annum. As of March 31, 2018, there were $23.4 million in borrowings outstanding under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing, which generally bears interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.55%. We anticipate that substantially all of the net proceeds of any offering of securities will be utilized in the manner described above within six months of the completion of such offering. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds primarily in high quality, short-term debt securities consistent with our business development company election and our election to be taxed as a RIC. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of common stock by any of the selling stockholders.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CMFN.” In connection with our initial public offering, our shares of common stock began trading on February 6, 2014, and before that date, there was no established trading market for our common stock.

The following table sets forth, for each fiscal quarter during the last three most recently completed fiscal years and the current fiscal year to date, the range of high and low closing prices of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the sales price as a percentage of our net asset value, or NAV.

On May 29, 2018, the last reported sales price of our common stock was $9.55 per share. As of May 29, 2018, we had 27 stockholders of record, which did not include stockholders for whom shares are held in nominee or street name.

Shares of business development companies may trade at a market price that is less than the value of the net assets attributable to those shares. The possibility that our shares of common stock will trade at a discount from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term are separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value will decrease. Since they began trading on February 6, 2014, in connection with our initial public offering, our shares of common stock have traded at times at a discount to the net assets attributable to those shares.

To the extent that we have income available, we intend to make quarterly distributions to our stockholders. Our quarterly stockholder distributions, if any, will be determined by our board of directors. Any stockholder distribution to our stockholders will be declared out of assets legally available for distribution.

We have elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code. To maintain RIC tax treatment, we must distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of our net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders. In order to avoid certain U.S. federal excise taxes imposed on RICs, we must also distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of: (a) 98% of our net ordinary income for such calendar year; (b) 98.2% of our capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year; and (c) any net ordinary income and capital gain net income for preceding years that were not distributed during such years and on which we previously paid no U.S. federal income tax. We currently intend to make sufficient distributions each calendar year to avoid incurring excise tax, but we may in the future defer distributions and incur excise tax.

We currently intend to distribute net capital gains (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses), if any, at least annually out of the assets legally available for such distributions. However, we may decide in the future to retain such capital gains for investment and elect to treat such gains as deemed distributions to you. If this happens, you will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as if you had received an actual distribution of the capital gains that we retain and reinvested the net after tax proceeds in us. In this situation, you would be eligible to claim a tax credit (or in certain circumstances a tax refund) equal to your allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to you. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” We cannot assure you that we will achieve results that will permit us to pay any cash distributions, and if we issue senior securities, we may be prohibited from making distributions if doing so would cause us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if such distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

We have adopted an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders. Unless you elect to receive your distributions in cash, we intend to make such distributions in additional shares of our common stock under our dividend reinvestment plan. Although distributions paid in the form of additional shares of our common stock will generally be subject to U.S. federal, state and local taxes in the same manner as cash distributions, investors participating in our dividend reinvestment plan will not receive any corresponding cash distributions with which to pay any such applicable taxes. If you hold shares of our common stock in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, you should contact such broker or financial intermediary regarding your election to receive distributions in cash in lieu of shares of our common stock. Any distributions reinvested through the issuance of shares through our dividend reinvestment plan will increase our gross assets on which the base management fee and the incentive fee are determined and paid to our Adviser. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

The following table summarizes our quarterly cash distributions, including dividends and returns of capital, if any, per share that have been declared by our board of directors during the three most recently completed fiscal years:

The following table contains our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated, computed as set forth below. You should read these ratios of earnings to fixed charges in connection with our Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes to those statements, included in this prospectus.

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent net increase in net assets resulting from operations plus (or minus) income tax expense (benefit) including excise tax expense plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest and credit facility fees expense and amortization of debt issuance costs.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CM Finance Inc (“CMFN,” the “Company”, “us”, “we” or “our”), a Maryland corporation formed in May 2013, is a closed-end, externally managed, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). In addition, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we have elected to be treated and intend to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).

Our primary investment objective is to maximize total return to stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing directly in debt and related equity of privately held middle market companies to help these companies fund organic growth, acquisitions, market or product expansion, refinancings and/or recapitalizations. We invest primarily in middle-market companies in the form of unitranche loans, standalone first and second lien loans. We may also invest in unsecured debt, bonds and in the equity of portfolio companies through warrants.

On February 5, 2014, we priced our initial public offering, selling 7,666,666 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001, including the underwriters’ over-allotment, at a price of $15.00 per share with net proceeds of approximately $111.5 million.

CM Finance LLC, a Maryland limited liability company, commenced operations in March 2012. Immediately prior to our initial public offering, the merger was consummated, whereby CM Finance LLC merged with and into us (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, we issued 6,000,000 shares of common stock and $39.8 million in debt to the pre-existing CM Finance LLC investors, consisting of certain funds (the “Cyrus Funds”) managed by Cyrus Capital. CM Finance Inc had no assets or operations prior to completion of the Merger and, as a result, the books and records of CM Finance LLC became our books and records, as the surviving entity. Immediately after the Merger, we issued 2,181,818 shares of our common stock to Stifel in exchange for $32.7 million in cash. We used all of the proceeds of the sale of shares to Stifel, to repurchase 2,181,818 shares of common stock from the Cyrus Funds. Immediately after the completion of the initial public offering, we had 13,666,666 shares outstanding. We also used a portion of the net proceeds of the initial public offering to repay 100% of the debt issued to the Cyrus Funds in connection with the Merger.

Upon our election to be regulated as a BDC on February 5, 2014, we entered into the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) and the administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) with the Adviser as our investment adviser and administrator, respectively.

We have formed certain additional taxable subsidiaries (collectively, the “Taxable Subsidiaries”), which are taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes. At March 31, 2018, we had four Taxable Subsidiaries: CM Portfolio Companies LLC, U.S. Well Services Blocker, LLC, Bird Electric Blocker, LLC, and Zinc Borrower Blocker, LLC. These Taxable Subsidiaries allow the Company to hold equity securities of portfolio companies organized as pass-through entities while continuing to satisfy the requirements applicable to a RIC under the Code.

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining such estimates could cause actual results to differ. Management considers the following critical accounting policies important to

understanding the financial statements. In addition to the discussion below, our critical accounting policies are further described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

We value our portfolio investments at fair value based upon the principles and methods of valuation set forth in policies adopted by our board of directors. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset that (a) are independent of us, (b) are knowledgeable, having a reasonable understanding about the asset based on all available information (including information that might be obtained through due diligence efforts that are usual and customary), (c) are able to transact for the asset, and (d) are willing to transact for the asset or liability (that is, they are motivated but not forced or otherwise compelled to do so).

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at such market quotations unless the quotations are deemed not to represent fair value. We generally obtain market quotations from recognized exchanges, market quotation systems, independent pricing services or one or more broker dealers or market makers.

Debt and equity securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. Because a readily available market value for many of the investments in our portfolio is often not available, we value many of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors using a consistently applied valuation process in accordance with a documented valuation policy that has been reviewed and approved by our board of directors. Due to the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize. In addition, changes in the market environment and other events may have differing impacts on the market quotations used to value some of our investments than on the fair values of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Market quotations may also be deemed not to represent fair value in certain circumstances where we believe that facts and circumstances applicable to an issuer, a seller or purchaser, or the market for a particular security causes current market quotations not to reflect the fair value of the security. Examples of these events could include cases where a security trades infrequently, causing a quoted purchase or sale price to become stale, where there is a “forced” sale by a distressed seller, where market quotations vary substantially among market makers, or where there is a wide bid-ask spread or significant increase in the bid ask spread.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

Those investments for which market quotations are not readily available or for which market quotations are deemed not to represent fair value are valued utilizing a market approach, an income approach, or both approaches, as appropriate. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities (including a business). The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts (for example, cash flows or earnings) to a single present amount (discounted). The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. In following these approaches, the types of factors that we may take into account in determining the fair value of our investments include, as relevant and among other factors: available current market data, including relevant and applicable market trading and transaction comparables, applicable market yields and multiples, security covenants, call protection provisions, information rights, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, its earnings and discounted cash flows, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public, merger and acquisition comparables, our principal market (as the reporting entity) and enterprise values.

When valuing all of our investments, we strive to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of us. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available under the circumstances.

Our investments are categorized based on the types of inputs used in their valuation. The level in the U.S. GAAP valuation hierarchy in which an investment falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation of the investment in its entirety. Investments are classified by U.S. GAAP into the three broad levels as follows:

As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, all of our investments were classified as Level 3 investments.

Determination of fair value involves subjective judgments and estimates. Accordingly, the notes to our financial statements express the uncertainty with respect to the possible effect of such valuations, and any change in such valuations, on the consolidated financial statements.

Net realized gains (losses) on investments: Gains or losses on the sale of investments are calculated using the specific identification method.

Interest Income: Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on an accrual basis. Origination, closing, commitment, and amendment fees, purchase and original issue discounts associated with loans to portfolio companies are accreted into interest income over the respective terms of the applicable loans. Accretion of discounts or premiums is calculated by the effective interest or straight-line method, as applicable, as of the purchase date and adjusted only for material amendments or prepayments. Upon the prepayment of a loan or debt security, any prepayment penalties and unamortized fees and discounts are recorded as interest income and are non-recurring in nature.

Structuring fees and similar fees are recognized as income as earned, usually when received. Structuring fees, excess deal deposits, net profits interests and overriding royalty interests are included in other fee income.

We may hold debt investments in its portfolio that contain a payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest provision. The PIK interest, which represents contractually deferred interest added to the investment balance that is generally due at maturity, is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent such amounts are expected to be collected.

Non-accrual: Loans are placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest payments are past due 90 days or more or when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected. Accrued interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment about ultimate collectability of principal. 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. PIK interest is not accrued if we do not expect the issuer to be able to pay all principal and interest when due. As of March 31, 2018, we had no investments on non-accrual status, which represented approximately 0.0% of our portfolio at fair value. As of June 30, 2017, we had one investment on non-accrual status, which represented approximately 3.00% of our portfolio at fair value.

We have, through CM SPV Ltd. (“SPV”), our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a $102.0 million term secured financing facility (the “Term Financing”), due December 5, 2020 with UBS AG, London Branch (together with its affiliates “UBS”). The Term Financing is collateralized by a portion of the debt investments in our portfolio. Borrowings under the Term Financing bear interest (i) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.75% through December 4, 2018, and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.55% from December 5, 2018 through December 5, 2020 (the “Term Financing Rate”). We also incur an annual fee of approximately 1% of the outstanding borrowings under the Term Financing. As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, there were $102.0 million and $102.0 million borrowings outstanding under the Term Financing, respectively.

On November 20, 2017, we entered into a $50 million revolving financing facility (the “2017 UBS Revolving Financing”) with UBS. Borrowings under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing will generally bear

interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.55% (the “Revolver Financing Rate”). We pay a fee on any undrawn amounts of 2.50% per annum; provided that if 50% or less of the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing is drawn, the fee will be 2.75% per annum. Any amounts borrowed under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing will mature, and all accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable, on December 5, 2019. As of March 31, 2018, there were $23.4 million borrowings outstanding under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing.

On November 9, 2016, we entered into a $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Citi Revolving Financing”) with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”), which was secured by collateral consisting primarily of commercial loans and corporate bonds. Borrowings under the Citi Revolving Financing generally bore interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 4.85% and the default interest rate was equal to the interest rate then in effect plus 2.00%. As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Citi Revolving Financing. On December 8, 2017, we repaid in full all indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations under, and terminated, the Citi Revolving Financing. In accordance with the termination of the Citi Revolving Financing, all liens on the collateral securing the Citi Revolving Financing were released. We refer to the Term Financing, the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing and the Citi Revolving Financing together as the “Financing Facilities.”

Our level of investment activity can and does vary substantially from period to period depending on many factors, including the amount we have available to invest as well as the amount of debt and equity capital available to middle-market companies, the level of merger and acquisition activity, the general economic environment and the competitive environment for the types of investments we make.

As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For instance, as a BDC, we may not 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). Qualifying assets include investments in “eligible portfolio companies.” Under the relevant SEC rules, the term “eligible portfolio company” includes all private companies, companies whose securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, and certain public companies that have listed their securities on a national securities exchange and have a market capitalization of less than $250 million. In each case, the company must be organized in the United States. As of March 31, 2018, approximately 14.51% of our total assets were non-qualifying assets.

To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level taxes on any income we distribute to our stockholders.

We generate revenues primarily in the form of interest on the debt we hold. We also generate revenue from royalty income, dividends on our equity interests and capital gains on the sale of warrants and other debt or equity interests that we acquire. Our investments in fixed income instruments generally have an expected maturity of three to five years, although we have no lower or upper constraint on maturity. Interest on our debt investments is generally payable quarterly or semi-annually. Payments of principal of our debt investments may be amortized over the stated term of the investment, deferred for several years or due entirely at maturity. In some cases, our debt investments and preferred stock investments may defer payments of cash interest or dividends or PIK interest. Any outstanding principal amount of our debt investments and any accrued but unpaid interest will generally become due at the maturity date. In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of prepayment fees, commitment, origination, structuring or due diligence fees, fees for providing significant managerial assistance, consulting fees and other investment related income.

Our primary operating expenses include the payment of a base management fee and, depending on our operating results, incentive fees, expenses reimbursable by us under the Advisory Agreement, and administration fees and our allocable portion of overhead under the Administration Agreement. The base management fee and incentive compensation remunerates the Adviser for work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, closing and monitoring our investments. We bear all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including, without limitation, those relating to:

We invest primarily in middle-market companies in the form of unitranche loans, standalone first and second lien and loans. We may also invest in unsecured debt, bonds and in the equity of portfolio companies through warrants and other instruments.

At March 31, 2018, our investment portfolio of $297.2 million (at fair value) consisted of investments in 24 portfolio companies, of which 48.3% were first lien investments, 42.4% were second lien investments, 0.3%

were in unsecured debt investments, 4.2% were unitranche loans, and 4.8% were in equities, warrants and other positions. At March 31, 2018, our average and largest portfolio company investment at fair value was $12.4 million and $25.3 million, respectively.

At June 30, 2017, our investment portfolio of $254.9 million (at fair value) consisted of investments in 23 portfolio companies, of which 49.9% were first lien investments, 49.7% were second lien investments, and 0.4% were in equity and warrant positions. At June 30, 2017, our average and largest portfolio company investment at fair value was $11.1 million and $25.9 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively, our weighted average total yield of debt and income producing securities at amortized cost (which includes interest income and amortization of fees and discounts) was 11.12% and 9.73%, respectively. As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively, our weighted average yield on all investments at amortized cost (which includes interest income and amortization of fees and discounts) was 10.71% and 9.64%, respectively.

Beginning March 31, 2018, we use GICS codes to identify the industry groupings. At March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively, the industry composition of our portfolio in accordance with the GICS at fair value was as follows:

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we added three new investments totaling approximately $51.1 million. One of these investments was in a new portfolio company. Of the new investments, 100.0% consisted of first lien investments.

At March 31, 2018, 97.7% of our debt investments bore interest based on floating rates based on indices such as LIBOR (in certain cases, subject to interest rate floors), and 2.3% bore interest at fixed rates. At June 30, 2017, 95.2% of our debt investments bore interest based on floating rates based on indices such as LIBOR (in certain cases, subject to interest rate floors), and 4.3% bore interest at fixed rates.

Our investment portfolio may contain loans that are in the form of lines of credit or revolving credit facilities, which require us to provide funding when requested by portfolio companies in accordance with the terms of the underlying loan agreements. As of March 31, 2018, we had four investments with an unfunded commitment with aggregate unfunded commitments of $3.3 million, and as of June 30, 2017, we had two such investments with an unfunded commitment with aggregate unfunded commitments of $1.2 million.

In addition to various risk management and monitoring tools, we use the Adviser’s investment rating system to characterize and monitor the credit profile and expected level of returns on each investment in our portfolio. This investment rating system uses a five-level numeric rating scale. The following is a description of the conditions associated with each investment rating:

If the Adviser determines that an investment is underperforming, or circumstances suggest that the risk associated with a particular investment has significantly increased, the Adviser 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. While the investment rating system identifies the relative risk for each investment, the rating alone does not dictate the scope and/or frequency of any monitoring that will be performed. The frequency of the Adviser’s monitoring of an investment will be determined by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the trends in the financial performance of the portfolio company, the investment structure and the type of collateral securing the investment.

The following table shows the investment rankings of the investments in our portfolio:

Investment income, attributable primarily to interest and fees on our debt investments, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased to $8.7 million from $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the purchase of portfolio companies with higher yields offset by interest expense related to borrowings and higher incentive fees during the period.

Total expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased to $4.9 million, compared to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to an increase in income-based incentive fees and interest expenses related to borrowings.

Net investment income increased to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to an increase in investment income resulting from the purchase of portfolio companies with higher yields.

Net realized losses on investments totaled $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to a sale of International Wireless Group, Inc.

Net realized losses on investments totaled $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the restructuring of U.S. Well Services, LLC.

We recorded a net change in unrealized appreciation of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to an increase in valuations of certain investments offset by accretion on certain investments.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recorded a net change in unrealized appreciation of $3.7 million, primarily due to the net increase in fair value across our investments in fourteen portfolio companies.

Investment income, attributable primarily to interest and fees on our debt investments, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 decreased to $31.0 million from $35.6 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to the repayment of portfolio companies with higher yields and a higher percentage of uninvested cash during the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Total expenses (including waiver, if applicable) for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 decreased to $15.3 million from $15.7 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, due primarily to an increase in our income-based incentive fee waiver.

Net investment income decreased to $15.7 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 from $19.9 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in investment income primarily due to one investment being on non-accrual and the repayment of portfolio companies with higher yields replaced by lower yielding portfolio companies.

The net realized loss on investments totaled $11.8 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to the restructuring of U.S. Well Services, LLC and AAR Intermediate Holdings LLC during the period.

The net realized gain on investments totaled $0.3 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to on sales activity during the period.

We recorded a net change in unrealized appreciation of $19.7 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to an increase in fair value of our investments in Caelus Energy Alaska 03, LLC and PR Wireless, Inc., the realization of North American Lifting Holdings, Inc. and the restructuring of U.S. Well Services, LLC and AAR Intermediate Holdings LLC during the period.

We recorded a net change in unrealized depreciation of $29.5 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to decline in fair value of our investments in Bird Electric Enterprises, LLC, AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC, and YRC Worldwide, Inc.

Investment income, attributable primarily to interest and fees on our debt investments, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016 decreased to $35.6 million from $36.9 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to two investments in our portfolio being on non-accrual status for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Total expenses (including waiver, if applicable) for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016 decreased to $15.7 million from $16.7 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to a decrease in income based incentive fee, partially offset by an increase in interest expenses.

Net investment income decreased to $19.9 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016 from $20.2 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to a decrease in investment income primarily due to two investments being on non-accrual.

The net realized gain on investments totaled $0.3 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, due to gains on sales activity during the period.

The net realized gain on investments totaled $3.0 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to the gain on sale of common stock in Virgin America, partially offset by loss on sale of our investment in Bennu Oil & Gas, LLC.

We recorded a net change in unrealized depreciation of $29.5 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to a decline in fair value of our investments in Bird Electric Enterprises, LLC, AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC, and YRC Worldwide, Inc.

We recorded a net change in unrealized depreciation of $8.0 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to decline in fair value of our investments in AAR Intermediate Holdings, LLC, Caelus Energy and PR Wireless.

Investment income, attributable primarily to interest and fees on our debt investments, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015 increased to $36.9 million from $21.1 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to the growth of our investment portfolio from the comparable period.

Total expenses for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015 increased to $16.7 million from $5.1 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, due primarily to base and incentive management fees payable to our Adviser, interest expense on the additional borrowings under our Financing Facility and increased operating expenses due to growth in our investment portfolio and operating as a public company.

Net investment income increased to $20.2 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015 from $16.0 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to an increase in investment income resulting from the increase in invested assets over the prior period.

The net realized loss on investments totaled $0.8 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, due to gains or losses on sales activity during the period.

During the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, we recorded an unrealized gain of $1.0 million due to increase in the fair value of several portfolio company investments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, our unrestricted cash balance increased by $1.5 million. During that period, cash decreased by $0.6 million from operating activities, primarily due to payments for the purchase of investments in portfolio companies of $51.1 million, offset by sales of investments of $44.0 million in portfolio companies and an increase in receivables from investments sold of $11.5 million. During the same period, cash from financial activities increased by $2.1 million from financing activities, consisting primarily of $3.4 million of distributions paid to our stockholders and $4.3 million of borrowings under the Financing Facilities.

As of March 31, 2018, we had $6.9 million of cash as well as $2.4 million in restricted cash and $26.6 million of capacity under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing. We intend to generate additional cash primarily from future offerings of securities, future borrowings under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing as well as cash flows from operations, including income earned from investments in our portfolio companies and, to a lesser extent, from the temporary investment of cash in U.S. government securities and other high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Our primary liquidity needs include interest and principal repayments on our Financing Facilities, our unfunded loan commitments (if any), investments in portfolio companies, dividend distributions to our stockholders and operating expenses.

As discussed below in further detail, we have elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code. To maintain our RIC status, we generally must distribute substantially all of our net taxable income to stockholders in the form of dividends. Our net taxable income does not necessarily equal our net income as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. If we continue to qualify as a RIC, we will not be taxed on our investment company taxable income or realized net capital gains, to the extent that such taxable income or gains are distributed, or deemed to be distributed, to stockholders on a timely basis.

Taxable income generally differs from net income for financial reporting purposes due to temporary and permanent differences in the recognition of income and expenses, and generally excludes net unrealized appreciation or depreciation until realized. Dividends declared and paid by us in a year may differ from taxable income for that year as such dividends may include the distribution of current year taxable income or the distribution of prior year taxable income carried forward into and distributed in the current year. Distributions also may include returns of capital.

To continue to qualify for RIC tax treatment, we must, among other things, distribute to our stockholders, with respect to each taxable year, at least 90% of our investment company net taxable income (i.e., our net ordinary income and our realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any). We will also be subject to a federal excise tax, based on distributive requirements of our taxable income on a calendar year basis.

We intend to distribute to our stockholders between 90% and 100% of our annual taxable income (which includes our taxable interest and fee income). However, the covenants contained in the Financing Facility may prohibit us from making distributions to our stockholders, and, as a result, could hinder our ability to satisfy the distribution requirement. In addition, we may retain for investment some or all of our net taxable capital gains (i.e., realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) and treat such amounts as deemed distributions to our stockholders. If we do this, our stockholders will be treated as if they

received actual distributions of the capital gains we retained and then reinvested the net after-tax proceeds in our common stock. Our stockholders also may be eligible to claim tax credits (or, in certain circumstances, tax refunds) equal to their allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to them. To the extent our taxable earnings for a fiscal taxable year fall below the total amount of our dividends for that fiscal year, a portion of those dividend distributions may be deemed a return of capital to our stockholders, which is a distribution of the stockholders’ original invested capital.

We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of these distributions from time to time. In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions due to the asset coverage test for borrowings applicable to us as a BDC under the 1940 Act and due to provisions in Financing Facilities. We cannot assure stockholders that they will receive any distributions or distributions at a particular level.

In accordance with certain applicable Treasury regulations and private letter rulings issued by the Internal Revenue Service, a RIC may treat a distribution of its own stock as fulfilling its RIC distribution requirements if each shareholder elects to receive his or her entire distribution in either cash or stock of the RIC, subject to a limitation that the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed to all stockholders must be at least 20% of the aggregate declared distribution. If too many stockholders elect to receive cash, each shareholder electing to receive cash must receive a pro rata amount of cash (with the balance of the distribution paid in stock). In no event will any shareholder, 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. We have no current intention of paying dividends in shares of our stock in accordance with these Treasury regulations or private letter rulings.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, we have agreed to pay to the Adviser a base management fee of 1.75% of gross assets, including assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and excluding cash and cash equivalents and “fair value of derivatives associated with our financing,” and an incentive fee consisting of two parts.

The first part of the incentive fee, which is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, equals 20.0% of the “pre-incentive fee net investment income” (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a hurdle rate of 2.0% per quarter (8.0% annualized), and is subject to a “catch-up” feature. The incentive fee is subject to a total return requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income will be payable except to the extent 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then current and 11 preceding quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the 11 preceding quarters. The net pre-incentive fee investment income used to calculate this part of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our gross assets used to calculate the 1.75% base management fee.

The second part of the incentive fee is calculated and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year and equals 20.0% of the aggregate cumulative realized capital gains from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of aggregate cumulative realized capital losses and aggregate cumulative unrealized capital depreciation through the end of such year, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees.

The Adviser agreed to permanently waive all or portions of the incentive fee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2016 to the extent required to support an annualized dividend yield of 9.375% per annum. The Adviser has not contractually agreed to voluntarily waive any fees under the Advisory Agreement for the calendar year ended December 31, 2018 or thereafter.

For the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2018, $1,236,620 and $3,551,853 in base management fees were earned by the Adviser, respectively, of which $1,236,620 was payable at March 31, 2018. For the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2017, $1,124,191 and $3,519,672 in base management fees were earned by the Adviser, respectively, of which $1,124,191 was payable at March 31, 2017.

For the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018, we incurred incentive fees of $933,356, and 1,840,114 related to pre-incentive fee net investment income, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, $1,348,295 of previous incentive fees are currently payable to the Adviser, which consist of $729,305 of pre-incentive fees incurred by us that were generated from deferred interest (i.e., PIK and certain discount accretion) and are not payable until such amounts are received in cash. For the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017, we incurred $211,572 and $1,307,087, respectively, of incentive fees related to pre-incentive fee net investment income of which $45,829 and $249,071 were waived, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, $428,606 of previous incentive fees are currently payable to the Adviser which consist of $291,233 of pre-incentive fees incurred by us that were generated from deferred interest (i.e., PIK and certain discount accretion) and are not payable until such amounts are received in cash.

The capital gains incentive fee consists of fees related to both realized gains, realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation. As of March 31, 2018, there were no capital gains incentive fee accrued, earned or payable to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. As of March 31, 2017, there were no capital gains incentive fee payable to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement.

With respect to the incentive fee expense accrual relating to the unrealized capital gains incentive fee, U.S. GAAP requires that the capital gains incentive fee accrual consider the cumulative aggregate unrealized appreciation in the calculation, as a capital gains incentive fee would be payable if such unrealized appreciation were realized, even though such unrealized appreciation is not permitted to be considered in calculating the fee actually payable under the Advisory Agreement.

The Advisory Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons and members, and any other person or entity affiliated with it, are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the Advisory Agreement or otherwise as the Adviser.

Prior to our election to be regulated as a BDC on February 5, 2014, no management or incentive fees were due and payable.

We may be a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of our portfolio companies. As of March 31, 2018, our off-balance sheet arrangements consisted of $3.3 million in unfunded commitments to four of our portfolio companies. As of June 30, 2017, our off-balance arrangements consisted of $1.2 million in unfunded commitments to two of our portfolio companies.

We have evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

Subsequent to the nine months ended March 31, 2018 through May 7, 2018, we invested $11.9 million in new and existing portfolio companies and received repayment or sales proceeds of $18.9 million.

On May 2, 2018, our board of directors declared a distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 of $0.25 per share payable on July 5, 2018 to stockholders of record as of June 15, 2018.

On May 2, 2018, our board of directors authorized a new discretionary share repurchase program of shares of our common stock of up to $5.0 million over 12 months, until the earlier of (i) May 1, 2019 or (ii) the repurchase of $5.0 million in aggregate amount of our common stock unless extended by our board of directors. Under the discretionary repurchase program, we may, but are not obligated to, repurchase our outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market provided that we comply with the prohibitions under our insider trading policies and procedures and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, any repurchases will be conducted in accordance with the 1940 Act.

The timing and number of shares to be repurchased will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions and alternative investment opportunities and no assurances can be given that any common stock, or any particular amount, will be purchased. We will retire immediately all shares of common stock that we purchase in connection with the share repurchase program.

On May 2, 2018, our board of directors, including a “required majority” (as such term is defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act) of the board, approved the modified asset coverage requirements set forth in Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act, as amended by the Small Business Credit Availability Act. As a result, our asset coverage requirements for senior securities will change from 200% to 150%, effective as of May 2, 2019.

We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. At March 31, 2018, 97.8% of our debt investments bore interest based on floating rates, such as LIBOR, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Prime Rate. The interest rates on such investments generally reset by reference to the current market index after one to nine months. Floating rate investments subject to a floor generally reset by reference to the current market index after one to nine months only if the index exceeds the floor.

Generally, we believe higher yielding assets such as those in our investment portfolio do not necessarily follow a linear interest rate relationship and are less sensitive in price to interest rate changes than many other debt investments. Our investments in fixed rate assets are generally exposed to changes in value due to interest rate fluctuations, and our floating rate assets are generally exposed to cash flow variability from fluctuation in rates. Consequently, our net interest income (interest income less interest expense) is exposed to risks related to interest rate fluctuations. Based on our current portfolio with certain interest rate floors and our financing at March 31, 2018, a 1.00% increase in interest rates would increase our net interest income by approximately 6.7% and a 2.00% increase in interest rates would increase our net interest income by approximately 13.5%. Variable-rate instruments subject to a floor generally reset periodically to the applicable floor and, in the case of investments in our portfolio, quarterly to a floor based on LIBOR, only if the floor exceeds the index. Under these loans, we do not benefit from increases in interest rates until such rates exceed the floor and thereafter benefit from market rates above any such floor.

Although management believes that this analysis is indicative of our existing sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for changes in the credit markets, the size, credit quality or composition of the assets in our portfolio and other business developments, including borrowing, that could affect the net increase in net assets resulting from operations or net income. It also does not adjust for the effect of the time lag between a change in the relevant interest rate index and the rate adjustment under the applicable loan. Accordingly, we can offer no assurances that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above.

Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table as of March 31, 2018, and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The report of Ernst & Young LLP, our former independent registered public accounting firm, on the senior securities table as of fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

We are a specialty finance company that invests primarily in the debt of U.S. middle-market companies, which we generally define as those companies that have an enterprise value, that represents the aggregate of debt value and equity value of the entity of less than $750 million. We are externally managed by the Adviser. The Adviser is led by Michael C. Mauer and Christopher E. Jansen, who together have over 40 years of experience in the leveraged debt markets. Our primary investment objective is to maximize total return to stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing in debt and related equity investments of privately held middle-market companies.

We strive to maintain a strong focus on credit quality, investment discipline and investment selectivity. We believe that investing in the debt of private middle-market companies generally provides a more attractive relative value proposition than investing in broadly syndicated debt due to the conservative capital structures and superior default and loss characteristics typically associated with middle-market companies. We believe that, because private middle-market companies have limited access to capital providers, debt investments in these companies typically carry above-market interest rates and include more favorable protections, resulting in attractive risk-adjusted returns across credit cycles while better preserving capital. The companies in which we invest typically are highly leveraged, and, in most cases, our investments in such companies are not rated by national rating agencies. If such investments were rated, we believe that they would likely receive a rating below investment grade (i.e., below BBB or Baa), which are often referred to as “junk.”

We have, through CM SPV, our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the Term Financing with UBS, which expires on December 5, 2020. The Term Financing is collateralized by a portion of the debt investments in our portfolio. Borrowings under the Term Financing bear interest (i) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.75% through December 4, 2018, and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.55% from December 5, 2018 through December 5, 2020. We have also entered into the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing with UBS, which expires December 5, 2019. Borrowings under the 2017 UBS Revolving Financing generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.55%.

As of March 31, 2018, our portfolio consisted of debt and equity investments in 24 portfolio companies with a fair value of $297.2 million. As of March 31, 2018, our portfolio consisted of 48.3% first lien investments, 42.4% second lien investments, 0.3% unsecured debt investments 4.2% unitranche loans, and 4.8% equity, and warrant and other positions. At March 31, 2018, the weighted average total yield of debt and income producing securities at amortized cost (which includes income and amortization of fees and discounts) was 11.12%. The weighted average total yield was computed using an internal rate of return calculation of our debt investments based on contractual cash flows, including interest and amortization payments, and, for floating rate investments, the spot London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), as of March 31, 2018 of all of our debt investments. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. The weighted average total yield of our debt investments is not the same as a return on investment for our stockholders but, rather, relates to a portion of our investment portfolio and is calculated before payment of all of our fees and expenses, including any sales load paid in connection with an offering of our securities. There can be no assurance that the weighted average total yield will remain at its current level.

The industry composition of our portfolio at fair value at March 31, 2018 was as follows:

CM Investment Partners, our external investment adviser, was formed in July 2013 and is a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act. The Adviser is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, conducting industry research, performing diligence on potential investments, structuring our investments and monitoring our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. The Adviser is led by its Co-Chief Investment Officers, Michael C. Mauer and Christopher E. Jansen. Mr. Mauer also serves as the Chairman of our board of directors and our Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Jansen also serves as our President and Secretary and as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Mauer was formerly Global Co-Head of Leveraged Finance and Global Co-Head of Fixed Income Currency and Commodity Distribution at Citigroup Inc. and a senior member of its credit committee responsible for all underwriting and principal commitments of leveraged finance capital worldwide. Mr. Jansen was a founding Managing Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager for Stanfield Capital Partners and had a leading role in planning its strategic direction. At Stanfield, Mr. Jansen was responsible for the management of 15 different portfolios aggregating in excess of $7 billion in assets consisting of large corporate loans, middle-market loans, second lien loans, high yield bonds and structured finance securities.

Team also have extensive experience across various industries, including aviation, cable, defense, healthcare, media, mining, oil and gas, power, retail, telecommunications, trucking and asset-backed special situations. As a result, we believe we will be able to achieve appropriate risk-adjusted returns by investing in companies that have restructured but do not have sufficient track records to receive traditional lending terms from a commercial bank or the broadly syndicated leveraged finance market. We believe the members of the Investment Team share a common investment philosophy built on a framework of rigorous business assessment, extensive due diligence and disciplined risk valuation methodology.

Every initial investment requires approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee and such majority must include both Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. The Adviser’s investment committee consists of Messrs. Mauer, Jansen, Muns and Nitka. Every follow-on investment decision in an existing portfolio company and every investment disposition require approval by at least a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee.

We have entered into the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, pursuant to which we pay the Adviser a management fee equal to 1.75% of our gross assets, payable in arrears on a quarterly basis. In addition, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we pay the Adviser an Incentive Fee equal to 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income, subject to an annualized hurdle rate of 8.0% with a “catch up” fee for returns between the 8.0% hurdle and 10.0% as well as 20.0% of net capital gains.

Under the Administration Agreement, the Adviser provides us with our chief financial officer, accounting and back-office professionals, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services.

As a result, we believe that less competition facilitates higher quality deal flow and allows for greater selectivity throughout the investment process.

The Adviser’s deal-originating efforts are focused on its direct corporate relationships and relationships with private equity firms, investment banks, restructuring advisers, law firms, boutique advisory firms and distressed/specialty lenders. The Adviser’s investment team continues to enhance and expand these relationships. In addition, pursuant to the Stifel arrangement and subject to certain restrictions, Stifel uses its commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Adviser to review and bid on Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated-originated leveraged finance and high yield corporate debt opportunities consistent with our investment strategy, subject to the approval of our board of directors as necessary, under the 1940 Act and certain other limitations.

The origination process is designed to thoroughly evaluate potential financings and to identify the most attractive of these opportunities on the basis of risk-adjusted returns. Each investment is analyzed from its initial stages through our investment by one of the Co-Chief Investment Officers of the Adviser and a senior investment professional. If an opportunity fits our criteria for investment and merits further review and consideration, the

investment is presented to the investment committee. This first stage of analysis involves a preliminary, but detailed, description of the potential financing. An investment summary is then generated after preliminary due diligence. The opportunity may be discussed several times by members of the Investment Team. Prior to funding, every initial investment requires approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee and such majority must include both Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. The Adviser’s investment committee consists of Messrs. Mauer, Jansen, Muns and Nitka. Every follow-on investment decision in an existing portfolio company and every investment disposition require approval by at least a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee.

If the Adviser decides to pursue an opportunity, a preliminary term sheet will be produced for the target portfolio company. This term sheet serves as a basis for the discussion and negotiation of the critical terms of the proposed financing. At this stage, the Adviser begins its formal underwriting and investment approval process as described below. After the negotiation of a transaction, the financing is presented to the investment committee of the Adviser for approval. Upon approval of a financing transaction, the parties will prepare the relevant loan documentation. An investment is funded only after all due diligence is satisfactorily completed and all closing conditions have been satisfied. Each of the investments in our portfolio is monitored on a daily basis by a member of our investment committee aided by the senior investment professionals of the Investment Team, who also perform credit updates on each investment quarterly.

The Adviser makes investment decisions only after considering a number of factors regarding the potential investment including, but not limited to:

This methodology is employed to screen a high volume of potential investment opportunities on a consistent basis.

If an investment is deemed appropriate to pursue, a more detailed and rigorous evaluation is made after considering relevant investment parameters. The following outlines the general parameters and areas of evaluation and due diligence for investment decisions, although not all are necessarily considered or given equal weighting in the evaluation process.

The Adviser undertakes a review and analysis of the financial and strategic plans for the potential investment. There is significant evaluation of and reliance upon the due diligence performed by the private equity sponsor, if applicable, and third party experts, including accountants and consultants. Areas of evaluation include:

The Adviser evaluates the portfolio company’s industry, and may, if considered appropriate, consult or retain industry experts. The following factors are among those the Adviser analyzes:

The Adviser makes an in-depth assessment of the management team, including evaluation along several key metrics:

Among critical due diligence investigations is the evaluation of a private equity sponsor or specialty lender that has, or is also making, an investment in the portfolio company. A private equity sponsor is typically a controlling stockholder upon completion of an investment and as such is considered critical to the success of the investment. In addition, a management team with meaningful equity ownership can serve as a committed partner to us and any private equity sponsor or specialty lender. The Adviser evaluates a private equity sponsor or specialty lender along several key criteria, including:

Unitranche loans. Unitranche loans are loans structured as first lien loans with certain characteristics of mezzanine loan risk in one security. Unitranche loans typically provide for moderate loan amortization in the initial years of the loan with the majority of the principal repayment deferred until loan maturity. Unitranche loans usually provide us with greater control over a portfolio company’s capital structure, as they provide a one-stop financing solution and limit “frictional costs” (e.g., negotiations with, and concessions to, other lien holders) in the event of a workout process. Consistent with our focus on capital preservation, unitranche loans typically have less volatile returns than standalone second lien or mezzanine loans.

Standalone second lien loans. Standalone second lien loans are loans that are typically senior on a lien basis to other liabilities in the issuer’s capital structure and have the benefit of a security interest over the assets of the borrower, although ranking junior to first lien loans. Standalone second lien loans may provide for moderate loan amortization in the early years of the loan, with the majority of the amortization deferred until loan maturity. Standalone second lien loans can incur greater “frictional costs” (e.g., increased professional costs relating to resolving conflicts among the lenders) in the event of a workout and, partly because of this possible impact on recovery rates, we expect to demand a significantly higher risk premium in the form of higher spreads, call protection and/or warrants for extending standalone second lien loans, compared to first lien loans of similar credit quality.

Standalone first lien loans. Standalone first lien loans are loans that are typically senior on a lien basis to other liabilities in the issuer’s capital structure and have the benefit of a security interest on the assets of the portfolio company. Standalone first lien loans may provide for moderate loan amortization in the early years of the loan, with the majority of the amortization deferred until loan maturity.

Mezzanine loans/structured equity. Mezzanine loans are subordinated to senior secured loans on a payment basis, are typically unsecured and rank pari passu with other unsecured creditors of the issuer. As with standalone second lien loans, we expect to demand a significantly higher risk premium in the form of higher spreads, call protection and/or warrants for mezzanine loans, given the lower recovery rates for such securities due in part to the greater “frictional costs” (e.g., increased professional costs relating to resolving conflicts among the lenders) in a protracted workout. We may take mezzanine type risk in the form of “structured equity” investments. In cases where portfolio companies may be constrained in their ability to raise additional capital in the form of debt, we may have the opportunity to structure preferred equity or other equity-like instruments. These equity instruments typically have redemption rights and will either be convertible into common equity at our option, or will have detachable warrants compensating us for the additional risk inherent in such investments. In most cases, these equity instruments will have debt-like characteristics, which provide more downside protection than a typical equity instrument.

Equity components. In connection with some of our debt investments, we will also invest in preferred or common stock or receive nominally priced warrants or options to buy an equity interest in the portfolio company. As a result, as a portfolio company appreciates in value, we may achieve additional investment return from this equity interest. The Adviser may structure such equity investments and warrants to include provisions protecting our rights as a minority-interest holder, as well as a “put,” or right to sell such securities back to the issuer, upon the occurrence of specified events. In many cases, we may also seek to obtain registration rights in connection with these equity interests, which may include demand and “piggyback” registration rights.

Each of the investments in our portfolio is monitored on a daily basis by a member of our investment committee aided by the senior investment professionals of the Investment Team, who also perform credit updates on each investment quarterly.

If the Adviser determines that an investment is underperforming, or circumstances suggest that the risk associated with a particular investment has significantly increased, the Adviser 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. While the investment rating system identifies the relative risk for each investment, the rating alone does not dictate the scope and/or frequency of any monitoring that will be performed. The frequency of the Adviser’s monitoring of an investment is determined by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the trends in the financial performance of the portfolio company, the investment structure and the type of collateral securing the investment.

The following table shows the investment rankings of the debt investments in our portfolio:

The net asset value per share of our outstanding shares of common stock is determined quarterly by dividing the value of total assets minus liabilities by the total number of shares outstanding.

In calculating the value of our total assets, investment transactions will be recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses will be computed using the specific identification method. Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at such market quotations. Debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or whose market price is not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors based on the input of our management and audit committee. In addition, our board of directors retains one or more independent valuation firms to review each quarter, the valuation of each portfolio investment for which a market quotation is not available. We also have adopted Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, or “ASC 820.” This

accounting statement requires us to assume that the portfolio investment is assumed to be sold in the principal market to market participants, or in the absence of a principal market, 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. In accordance with ASC 820, the market in which we can exit portfolio investments with the greatest volume and level activity is considered our principal market.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts (for example, cash flows or earnings) to a single present amount (discounted). The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. In following these approaches, the types of factors that we may take into account in determining the fair value of our investments include, as relevant and among other factors: available current market data, including relevant and applicable market trading and transaction comparables, applicable market yields and multiples, security covenants, call protection provisions, information rights, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, its earnings and discounted cash flows, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public, merger and acquisition comparables, our principal market (as the reporting entity) and enterprise values.

The potential exit scenarios of a portfolio company will play an important role in evaluating investment decisions. The Adviser will formulate specific exit strategies at the time of such investment. Our debt orientation will provide for increased potential exit opportunities, including the sale of investments in the private markets, the refinancing of investments held, often due to maturity or recapitalizations, and other liquidity events including the sale or merger of the portfolio company. Since we seek to maintain a debt orientation in our investments, we generally expect to receive interest income over the course of the investment period, receiving a significant return on invested capital well in advance of final exit.

We may utilize hedging techniques such as interest rate swaps to mitigate potential interest rate risk on our indebtedness. Such interest rate swaps would principally be used to protect us against higher costs on our indebtedness resulting from increases in both short-term and long-term interest rates. We also may use various hedging and other risk management strategies to seek to manage various risks, including changes in currency exchange rates and market interest rates. Such hedging strategies would be utilized to seek to protect the value of our portfolio investments, for example, against possible adverse changes in the market value of securities held in our portfolio.

As a BDC, we offer, and must provide upon request, managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. This assistance could involve monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance. The Adviser will provide such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance. We may receive fees for these services and will reimburse the Adviser for its allocated costs in providing such assistance, subject to the review by our board of directors, including our independent directors.

Our primary competitors in providing financing to middle-market companies include public and private funds, other BDCs, commercial and investment banks, commercial finance companies and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity funds 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 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 BDC or to the distribution and other requirements we must satisfy to maintain our qualification as a RIC.

We use the expertise of the investment professionals of the Adviser (including those provided to the Adviser under the Services Agreement) to assess investment risks and determine appropriate pricing for our investments in portfolio companies. In addition, we the relationships of these investment professionals will enable us to learn about, and compete effectively for, financing opportunities with attractive middle-market companies in the industries in which we seek to invest.

We do not have any direct employees, and our day-to-day investment operations are managed by the Adviser. We have a Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. To the extent necessary, our board of directors may hire additional personnel in the future. Our officers are all employees of the Adviser and our allocable portion of the cost of Rocco DelGuercio, as our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, and his staff, is paid by us pursuant to the Administration Agreement with the Adviser. The Adviser also has a strategic relationship with Cyrus Capital in which the Adviser can utilize the expertise of Cyrus Capital’s investment, accounting and back office professionals on an as needed basis pursuant to a personnel sharing arrangement.

We do not own any real estate. Our principal executive offices are currently located at 601 Lexington Avenue 26th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and our telephone number is (212) 257-5199. All locations are provided to us by the Adviser pursuant to the Administration Agreement and indirectly by Cyrus Capital through the Services Agreement. We believe that our office facilities are and will be suitable and adequate for our business as we contemplate conducting it.

The following table sets forth certain information as of March 31, 2018, for the portfolio companies in which we had a debt or equity investment. Other than these investments, our only formal relationships with our portfolio companies are the managerial assistance ancillary to our investments and the board observer or participation rights we may receive in connection with our investment. We do not “control” any of our portfolio companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, we would “control” a portfolio company if we owned more than 25.0% of its voting securities and would be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if we owned 5.0% or more of its voting securities.

Set forth below is a brief description of each portfolio company in which the fair value of our investment represents greater than 5% of our total assets as of March 31, 2018:

American Gaming Systems, Inc. (“American Gaming”) is a leading designer and supplier of gaming products and services for the gaming industry. American Gaming operates in legalized gaming markets across the globe and provide state-of-the-art, value-add products in three distinct segments: electronic gaming machines, which includes server-based systems and back-office systems that are used by Class II Native American and Mexican gaming jurisdictions and Class III Native American, commercial and charity jurisdictions; table products, which includes live felt table games, side-bets and progressives as well a the card shuffler, “DEX”; and interactive social casino games, which provide social casino games on desktop and mobile devices. Each segment’s activities include the design, development, acquisition, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, installation and servicing of a distinct product line.

CareerBuilder, LLC (“CareerBuilder”) is a global, end-to-end human capital solutions company covering the entire candidate lifecycle and employee lifecycle for businesses. As a global leader in its industry, CareerBuilder specializes in cutting-edge human resources software as a service to help companies with every step of talent acquisition and management. CareerBuilder works with top employers across industries, providing solutions for talent and labor market analytics, job distribution, candidate sourcing, tracking, onboarding, human resources information systems, benefits administration and compliance. It also operates leading job sites around the world.

AP NMT Acquisition BV, also known as Endemol Shine, was established in 1994 and is comprised of more than 120 regional operating companies across all the world’s major markets. Endemol Shine is one of the world’s

largest independent production companies and one of the world’s largest independent distributors of finished programming. Endemol produces content across a wide variety of genres including reality TV, game shows, entertainment, drama, comedy, and children’s entertainment. Endemol creates, produces and distributes premium content/ IP for the world’s major broadcasters and digital media platforms. Endemol has a library of over 2,800 formats which includes many iconic global hits such as Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, and The Money Drop, and airs on more than 275 channels around the world.

Caelus Energy Alaska 03 LLC (“Caelus”) is privately held independent exploration and production company that currently operates the Oooguruk field on the North Slope of Alaska. Caelus specializes in exploration, development, and production of oil and gas. Caelus is currently focused on the pursuit, identification, and development of strategic opportunities across Alaska, and beyond.

Caelus has announced a major discovery at Smith Bay, located about 150 miles west of Prudhoe Bay. Caelus estimates the prospect contains 6-10 billion barrels of oil in place, which would make it about the size of the Kuparuk River field. Caelus plans to drill an additional appraisal well and acquire additional 3-D seismic. In addition, Caelus has sanctioned the onshore Nuna oil development adjacent to Oooguruk and have acquired 350,000 acres of North Slope leases where we conducted two substantial 3-D seismic programs.

Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. (“Montrose”) is a national, high-growth environmental services company offering measurement and analytical services as well as compliance and sustainability solutions to a diverse range of clients in industry and government. Montrose strives to optimize environmental resiliency in a way that effectively complements its clients’ decision-making and operations and efficiently fulfills their project requirements.

Premiere Global Services, Inc. (“Premiere Global”) was established in 1991 and is one of the world’s largest dedicated providers of collaboration software and services, and its broad portfolio of products has served the end-to-end collaboration needs of approximately 50,000 customers around the world, including 75% of the Fortune 100™. Premiere Global created iMeet^®, an expanding portfolio of purpose-built applications designed to meet the daily collaboration and communications needs of business professionals, with solutions for web, video and audio conferencing, smart calendar management, webcasting, project management and sales productivity.

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. The board of directors consists of six members, four of whom are not “interested persons” of the Adviser, or its affiliates as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. We refer to these individuals as our “independent directors.” The board of directors elects our officers, who serve at the discretion of the board of directors. The responsibilities of the board of directors include quarterly valuation of our assets, corporate governance activities, oversight of our financing arrangements and oversight of our investment activities.

Oversight of our investment activities extends to oversight of the risk management processes employed by the Adviser as part of its day-to-day management of our investment activities. The board of directors anticipates reviewing risk management processes at both regular and special board meetings throughout the year, consulting with appropriate representatives of the Adviser as necessary and periodically requesting the production of risk management reports or presentations. The goal of the board of directors’ risk oversight function is to ensure that the risks associated with our investment activities are accurately identified, thoroughly investigated and responsibly addressed. Investors should note, however, that the board of directors’ oversight function cannot eliminate all risks or ensure that particular events do not adversely affect the value of investments.

The board of directors has established an audit committee, a valuation committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee, and may establish additional committees from time to time as necessary. The scope of the responsibilities assigned to each of these committees is discussed in greater detail below. Mr. Mauer serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser. We believe that Mr. Mauer’s history with the Adviser, his familiarity with its investment platform, and his extensive knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry qualify him to serve as the Chairman of the Board.

The board of directors does not have a lead independent director. We are aware of the potential conflicts that may arise when a non-independent director is Chairman of the Board, but believe these potential conflicts are offset by our strong corporate governance practices. Our corporate governance practices include regular meetings of the independent directors in executive session without the presence of interested directors and management, the establishment of an audit committee, a valuation committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee, each of which is comprised solely of independent directors, and the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer, with whom the independent directors meet without the presence of interested directors and other members of management, for administering our compliance policies and procedures.

The board of directors believes that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of our characteristics and circumstances because the structure allocates areas of responsibility among the individual directors and the committees in a manner that affords effective oversight. Specifically, the board of directors believes that the relationship of Messrs. Mauer and Jansen with the Adviser provides an effective bridge between the board of directors and management, and encourages an open dialogue between management and our board of directors, ensuring that these groups act with a common purpose. The board of directors also believes that its small size creates an efficient governance structure that provides ample opportunity for direct communication and interaction among our management, the Adviser and the board of directors.

We have adopted provisions in our articles of incorporation that divide our board of directors into three classes. At each annual meeting, directors will be elected for staggered terms of three years (other than the initial terms, which extend for up to three years), with the term of office of only one of these three classes of directors expiring each year. Each director will hold office for the term to which he or she is elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

The address for each of our directors is c/o CM Finance Inc, 601 Lexington Ave., 26^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Information regarding our executive officers who are not directors is as follows:

The address for each of our executive officers is c/o CM Finance Inc, 601 Lexington Ave., 26^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

The board of directors will consider whether each of the directors is qualified to serve as a director, based on a review of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each director, including those described below. The board of directors will also consider whether each director has significant experience in the investment or financial services industries and has held management, board or oversight positions in other companies and organizations. For the purposes of this presentation, our directors have been divided into two groups—independent directors and interested directors. Interested directors are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act.

Keith Lee serves as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Lee serves as the chief executive officer and co-founder of Feenix Payment Systems, LLC (“Feenix”), a registered agent of Citizens Bank, N.A., Providence, RI and ISO partner with Worldpay US, Inc. Feenix makes equity, debt and hybrid investments in small to medium sized businesses. In connection with its investment activity, Feenix also provides credit card processing services to merchants that accept major credit cards. Prior to co-founding Feenix in July 2017, Mr. Lee served as a senior partner and Managing Director at H/2 Capital Partners, a commercial real estate focused investment manager, from August 2013 to June 2017. At H/2, Mr. Lee was responsible for the firm’s Finance and Capital Markets functions. Mr. Lee previously served from 2011 to 2013 as Managing Director at UBS Securities and Head of Structured Financing for the Americas. In this role, Mr. Lee arranged term financing facilities for UBS clients secured by structured finance assets backed primarily by commercial real estate, residential mortgages and corporate loans and bonds. Prior to joining UBS, Mr. Lee was with Goldman, Sachs & Co, a global investment

banking, securities and investment management firm, in its Principal Funding and Investments Group from 2010 to 2011. Mr. Lee was the head of Goldman, Sachs & Co.’s U.S. CLO business from 2006 to 2010 and previously held a similar position at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Mr. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy from Knox College, and a master’s degree in business administration in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. We believe Mr. Lee’s extensive experience with financial institutions and his knowledge of capital markets and structured financing brings important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Julie Persily serves as a member of our board of directors. Ms. Persily is also currently a member of the board of directors for Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., a closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC. Ms. Persily retired in 2011 after serving as the Co-Head of Leveraged Finance and Capital Markets of Nomura Securities North America, a unit of Nomura Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NMR), a securities and investment banking company, since July 2010. Ms. Persily previously served in various capacities at Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), a financial services company, including as the Co-Head of the Leveraged Finance Group from December 2006 to November 2008, the Head of Acquisition Finance Group from December 2001 to November 2006 and as Managing Director from July 1999 to November 2001. From 1990 to 1999, Ms. Persily served in various capacities including as a Managing Director, Leveraged Finance at BT Securities Corp., a financial services company and a subsidiary of Bankers Trust Corp., which was acquired by Deutsche Bank in April 1999. From 1987 to 1989, Ms. Persily served as an analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert, a securities and investment banking company. Ms. Persily received a B.A. in psychology and economics from Columbia College and a M.B.A in financing and accounting from Columbia Business School. We believe Ms. Persily’s extensive experience with structuring, negotiating and marketing senior loans, high yield and mezzanine financings brings important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Robert Ryder serves as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Ryder currently serves as the chief executive officer of Horsepower Advisors, a consulting company focused on improving business performance. Mr. Ryder previously served from 2007 to July 2015 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a wine, beer and spirits company. From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Ryder served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of IMG, an international sports marketing and media company. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Ryder was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM), a publicly traded, multinational consumer products company. From 1989 to 2002, Mr. Ryder held several management positions of increasing responsibility with PepsiCo, Inc (NYSE: PEP). These included control, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, CFO and Controller positions serving at PepsiCo’s corporate headquarters and at its Frito-Lay International and Frito-Lay North America divisions. Mr. Ryder began his career at Price Waterhouse & Co., where he left as a manager in 1989. Mr. Ryder received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Scranton and is a certified public accountant. We believe Mr. Ryder’s extensive experience with public companies, public boards and knowledge of accounting and public company regulatory issues brings important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Robert Wagner serves as a member of our board of directors. In recent years, Mr. Wagner has been a self-employed management consultant, working closely with client management on company strategy, financing, investor relations and compensation policies since 2013. In February 2012, Mr. Wagner retired from Silver Point Capital, L.P., a credit opportunity hedge fund, where he had served as a senior management leader and operating committee member and Director of Marketing and Investor Relations since May 2006. While at Silver Point Capital, L.P., Mr. Wagner ran its Global Markets team, a deal-sourcing and relationship development team, and served on the firm’s private-side, direct lending investment committee. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Wagner served as a Managing Director and a senior leader in the fixed income division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. (NYSE: GS), a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. From 1993 to 1999, Mr. Wagner served as a Managing Director and team leader of the leveraged loan capital markets group at BT Securities Corp., a financial services company and a subsidiary of Bankers Trust Corp., which was acquired by Deutsche Bank in April 1999. Mr. Wagner served in a similar capacity at Bank of America from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Wagner has

also served as a director of the Loan Syndication & Trading Association on multiple occasions, most recently from 2006 to 2010. Mr. Wagner received a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University—Graduate School of Journalism. We believe Mr. Wagner’s extensive experience in deal-sourcing, investor relations and credit underwriting brings important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Michael C. Mauer has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors and as Co-Chief Investment Officer of CM Investment Partners LLC (our “Adviser”) since February 2014. From January 2012 to February 2014, Mr. Mauer served as the Managing Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CM Investment Partners, LP. Mr. Mauer is also a member of our Adviser’s investment committee and board of managers. Mr. Mauer served as a Senior Managing Director and head of the leveraged loan effort at Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. from September 2011 to February 2014. Mr. Mauer resigned from Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. upon our election to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”). From July 2009 to September 2010, Mr. Mauer worked for Icahn Capital where he was a Senior Managing Director and a member of the investment team. In addition, he was in charge of the firm’s Marketing and Investor Relations. Prior to that, Mr. Mauer was a Managing Director at Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), a financial services company, from 2001 to 2009. During that time he led several businesses including Global Co-Head of Leveraged Finance and Global Co-Head of Fixed Income Currency and Commodity Distribution. In addition, during this period he was a senior member of Citigroup Inc.’s credit committee responsible for all underwriting and principal commitments of leveraged finance capital worldwide. From 1988 to 2001, Mr. Mauer held several positions at JPMorgan including Head of North American Investment Grade and Leverage Loan Syndicate, Sales and Trading businesses. Mr. Mauer began his career in 1982 at Price Waterhouse & Co., where he was a Senior Accountant and a C.P.A. Mr. Mauer received a B.S. from the University of Scranton and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. We believe Mr. Mauer’s extensive investing, finance, and restructuring experience bring important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Christopher E. Jansen has served as our President, Secretary and a member of our board of directors and as Co-Chief Investment Officer of our Adviser since February 2014. From June 2012 to February 2014, Mr. Jansen served as a Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CM Investment Partners, LP. Mr. Jansen is also a member of our Adviser’s investment committee and board of managers. Mr. Jansen also served as a Senior Managing Director at Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. from April 2012 to February 2014. Mr. Jansen resigned from Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. upon our election to be regulated as a BDC. Formerly, Mr. Jansen was a senior advisor at Sound Harbor Partners from April 2011 to March 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Jansen was a founding Managing Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager for Stanfield Capital Partners from inception in 1998 until the sale of the company in 2010. As a member of Stanfield Capital Partners’ Management Committee, Mr. Jansen was involved in planning the strategic direction of the firm. Additional responsibilities included the oversight and administration of the investment process and the implementation of portfolio management procedures of the company’s Collateralized Loan Obligation and bank loan businesses. During his tenure at Stanfield, Jansen was responsible for the management of 15 different portfolios aggregating in excess of $7 billion in assets. These portfolios were comprised of large corporate loans, middle-market loans, second lien loans, high yield bonds and structured finance securities. Prior to Stanfield Capital Partners, Mr. Jansen was Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Chancellor Senior Secured Management from 1990 to 1998. While at Chancellor, Jansen was responsible for the management of 11 different portfolios aggregating in excess of $4 billion in assets. These portfolios were comprised of large corporate loans, middle-market loans and second lien loans. From 1983 to 1990, Mr. Jansen held various positions at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, including as Vice President in the Bank’s Acquisition Finance Group and LBO Management Group. Mr. Jansen received a B.A. from Rutgers College and a M.M. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. We believe Mr. Jansen’s extensive investing, finance, and restructuring experience bring important and valuable skills to our board of directors.

Rocco DelGuercio has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since June 2016 and as our Chief Compliance Officer since September 2016. Mr. DelGuercio has also served as Chief Financial Officer of our Adviser since June 2016 and as Chief Compliance Officer of our Adviser since September 2016. Mr. DelGuercio spent over 10 years at Credit Suisse Assets Management and served in various capacities, including as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Credit Suisse Park View BDC, Inc., a business development company, and Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Inc. and Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, each a closed-end management investment company. Mr. DelGuercio also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of ten open-end management investment companies managed by Credit Suisse Assets Management. From February 2012 to April 2013, Mr. DelGuercio was an independent contractor consulting for a 12 billion dollar money manager and a large global service provider. Prior to that, Mr. DelGuercio served as Director of Legg Mason & Co., LLC from March 2004 to January 2012. Mr. DelGuercio earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts from The College of Staten Island, a B.A. in Business from Chadwick University and an M.B.A. in Finance from New York Institute of Technology.

Our board of directors met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and committees on which the director served that were held while the director was a member. The Board’s standing committees are set forth below. We require each director to make a diligent effort to attend all Board and committee meetings, as well as each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our directors attended our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The members of the audit committee are Mr. Lee, Ms. Persily, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Wagner, each of whom meets the independence standards established by the SEC and the Nasdaq for audit committees and is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act. Mr. Ryder serves as chairman of the audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Ryder is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act. The audit committee is responsible for approving our independent accountants, reviewing with our independent accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by our independent accountants, reviewing the independence of our independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of our internal accounting controls.

The board of directors has adopted a charter of the audit committee, which is available in print to any stockholder who requests it and it is also available on our website at www.cmfn-inc.com. The audit committee met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

The members of the compensation committee are Mr. Lee, Ms. Persily, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Wagner, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and the Nasdaq corporate governance regulations. Ms. Persily serves as chairman of the compensation committee. The compensation committee is responsible for overseeing our compensation policies generally, evaluating executive officer performance, overseeing and setting compensation for our directors and, as applicable, our executive officers and, as applicable, preparing the report on executive officer compensation that SEC rules require to be included in our annual proxy statement. Currently, none of our executive officers is compensated by us, and as such, the compensation committee is not required to produce a report on executive officer compensation for inclusion in our annual proxy statement.

The compensation committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant assisting the compensation committee, including sole authority to approve all such compensation consultants’ fees and other retention terms. The compensation committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the chairman of the compensation committee when it deems appropriate and in our best interests.

The compensation committee met one time during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

The members of the nominating and corporate governance committee are Mr. Lee, Ms. Persily, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Wagner, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and the Nasdaq corporate governance regulations. Mr. Lee serves as chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, selecting nominees to fill vacancies on the board or a committee of the board, developing and recommending to the board a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of the board and our management.

The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider nominees to the board of directors recommended by a stockholder if such stockholder complies with the advance notice provisions of our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a stockholder who wishes to nominate a person for election as a director at a meeting of stockholders must deliver written notice to our corporate secretary. This notice must contain, as to each nominee, all of the information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement meeting the requirements of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and certain other information set forth in the bylaws. In order to be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director by a stockholder, such potential nominee must deliver to our corporate secretary a written questionnaire providing the requested information about the background and qualifications of such person and a written representation and agreement that such person is not and will not become a party to any voting agreements or any agreement or understanding with any person with respect to any compensation or indemnification in connection with service on the board of directors, and would be in compliance with all of our publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines.

The nominating and corporate governance committee has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying individuals for election as members of the board of directors, but the committee will consider such factors as it may deem are in our best interests and those of our stockholders. Those factors may include a person’s differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education and skills, as well as his or her race, gender and national origin. In addition, as part of the board’s annual-self assessment, the members of the nominating and corporate governance committee will evaluate the membership of the board of directors and whether the board maintains satisfactory policies regarding membership selection.

A charter of the nominating and corporate governance committee is available in print to any stockholder who requests it, and it is also available on our website at www.cmfn-inc.com. The nominating and corporate governance committee met one time during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

The valuation committee is composed of Mr. Lee, Ms. Persily, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Wagner, each of whom is not an interested person for purposes of the 1940 Act and is independent for purposes of the Nasdaq corporate governance regulations. Mr. Wagner serves as the chairman of the valuation committee. The valuation committee is responsible for aiding our board of directors in fair value pricing of our debt and equity investments that are not publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available. The Board and valuation committee utilize the services of an independent valuation firm to help them determine the fair value of these securities. The Board has engaged an independent valuation firm to review, on a periodic basis, at least once annually, the valuation for each of our Level 3 investments. We invest primarily in investments classified as Level 3. The Board, including the members of the valuation committee, also meet with the independent valuation firm periodically review the methodology of the independent valuation firm. The valuation committee reviews subsequent transactions to test the accuracy of the independent valuation firm’s valuations. The valuation committee met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

The following table shows information regarding the compensation received by our independent directors for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. No compensation is paid to directors who are “interested persons” for their service as directors.

The independent directors receive an annual fee of $75,000. They also receive $2,500 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending in person or telephonically each regular board of directors meeting and each special telephonic meeting. They also receive $1,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with each committee meeting attended in person and each telephonic committee meeting. The chairman of the audit committee receive an annual fee of $7,500. The chairmen of the valuation committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee and the compensation committee receive an annual fee of $2,500, $2,500 and $2,500, respectively. We have obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on behalf of our directors and officers. Independent directors have the option of having their directors’ fees paid in shares of our common stock issued at a price per share equal to the greater of net asset value or the market price at the time of payment. No compensation is paid to directors who are “interested persons.”

The Adviser’s investment committee consists of Messrs. Mauer, Jansen, Muns and Nitka. Stifel has appointed Mr. Nitka to the Adviser’s investment committee as its designee. The investment committee of the Adviser meets regularly to consider our investments, direct our strategic initiatives and supervise the actions taken by the Adviser on our behalf. Every initial investment requires approval by a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee and such majority must include both Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. Every follow-on investment decision in an existing portfolio company and every investment disposition require approval by at least a majority of the Adviser’s investment committee. The investment committee also monitors the performance of our investment portfolio. After the completion of this offering, the Adviser may increase the size of its investment committee from time to time.

In addition, temporary investments, such as those in cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less, may require approval by the investment committee. The day-to-day management of investments approved by the investment committee will be overseen by Messrs. Mauer and Jansen. Biographical information with respect to Messrs. Mauer and Jansen is set out under “—Biographical Information—Interested Directors.”

The members of the investment committee, receive compensation by the Adviser that includes an annual base salary, an annual individual performance bonus, contributions to 401(k) plans, and a portion of the incentive fee earned in connection with their services.

None of our executive officers receive compensation from us. Each of Messrs. Mauer and Jansen has a direct ownership and financial interest in, and may receive compensation and/or profit distributions from, the Adviser. None of Mr. Mauer, Mr. Jansen, Mr. Muns or Mr. Nitka receives any direct compensation from us. See “Related Party Transactions and Certain Relationships.” Rocco DelGuercio, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer, is paid by the Adviser, as our administrator, subject to reimbursement by us of an allocable portion of such compensation for services rendered by Mr. DelGuercio to us. To the extent that the Adviser outsources any of its functions we will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to the Adviser.

The Adviser was formed in July 2013 and is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act.

Subject to the overall supervision of our board of directors and in accordance with the 1940 Act, the Adviser will manage our day-to-day operations and provide investment advisory services to us. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser:

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we have agreed to pay the Adviser a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee. The cost of both the base management fee and the incentive fee will ultimately be borne by our stockholders.

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of our gross assets, including assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and excluding cash and cash equivalents. For services rendered under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is calculated based on the average value of our gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. Base management fees for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately pro-rated.

We will pay the Adviser an incentive fee. Incentive fees are calculated as below and payable quarterly in arrears (or, upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date). The incentive fee, which provides the Adviser with a share of the income that it generates for us, has two components, ordinary income and capital gains, calculated as follows:

The ordinary income component is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on our pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, subject to a total return requirement and deferral of non-cash amounts, and is 20.0% of the amount, if any, by which our pre-incentive fee net investment income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets attributable to our common stock, for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, exceeds a 2.0% (which is 8.0% annualized) hurdle rate and a “catch-up” provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. Under this provision, in any calendar quarter, the Adviser receives no incentive fee until our pre-incentive fee net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 2.0%, but then receives, as a “catch-up,” 100% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5% (which is 10.0% annualized). The effect of the “catch-up” provision is that, subject to the total return and deferral provisions discussed below, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any

calendar quarter, the Adviser receives 20.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply. For this purpose, 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, managerial assistance and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement and any interest expense and any distributions paid on any issued and 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 OID, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. The foregoing incentive fee is subject to a total return requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income is payable except to the extent 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then current and 11 preceding quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the 11 preceding quarters. In other words, any ordinary income incentive fee that is payable in a calendar quarter is limited to the lesser of (i) 20.0% of the amount by which our pre-incentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter exceeds the 2.0% hurdle, subject to the “catch-up” provision, and (ii) (x) 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters minus (y) the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the 11 preceding calendar quarters. For the foregoing purpose, the “cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations” is the amount, if positive, of the sum of pre-incentive fee net investment income, realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of the Company for the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters. In addition, the portion of such incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest (such as PIK interest or OID) will be paid to the Adviser only if and to the extent we actually receive such interest in cash, and any accrual thereof will be reversed if and to the extent such interest is reversed in connection with any write-off or similar treatment of the investment giving rise to any deferred interest accrual. Any reversal of such accounts would reduce net income for the quarter by the net amount of the reversal (after taking into account the reversal of incentive fees payable) and would result in a reduction and possible elimination of the incentive fees for such quarter. Notwithstanding any such incentive fee reduction or elimination, there is no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter, and accordingly there is no clawback of amounts previously paid if subsequent quarters are below the quarterly hurdle, and there is no delay of payment if prior quarters are below the quarterly hurdle.

Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Because of the structure of the incentive fee, it is possible that we may pay an incentive fee in a quarter where we incur a loss, subject to the total return requirement and deferral of non-cash amounts. For example, if we receive pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the quarterly minimum hurdle rate, we would pay the applicable incentive fee even if we have incurred a loss in that quarter due to realized and unrealized capital losses. Our net investment income used to calculate this component of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our gross assets used to calculate the 1.75% base management fee. These calculations are appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current quarter.

The following is a graphic representation of the calculation of the income-related portion of the incentive fee:

The capital gains component of the incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on December 31, 2014, and is equal to 20.0% of our cumulative aggregate realized capital gains from inception through the end of that calendar year, computed net of our aggregate cumulative realized capital losses and our aggregate cumulative unrealized capital depreciation through the end of such year, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees, provided that the incentive fee determined as of December 31, 2014 will be calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take into account any realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation for the period ending December 31, 2014. If such amount is negative, then no capital gains incentive fee will be payable for such year. Additionally, if the Investment Advisory Agreement is terminated as of a date that is not a calendar year end, the termination date will be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying the capital gains incentive fee.

Under GAAP, we calculate the capital gains component of the incentive fee as if we had realized all assets at their fair values as of the reporting date. Accordingly, we accrue a provisional capital gains incentive fee taking into account any unrealized gains or losses. As the provisional capital gains incentive fee is subject to the performance of investments until there is a realization event, the amount of the provisional capital gains incentive fee accrued at a reporting date may vary from the capital gains incentive that is ultimately realized and the differences could be material.

Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee before Total Return Requirement Calculation:

Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed hurdle rate, therefore there is no income-related incentive fee.

Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate, but does not fully satisfy the “catch-up” provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.2625%.

Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3.5%

Hurdle rate⁽¹⁾ = 2.0%

Management fee⁽²⁾ = 0.4375%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)⁽³⁾ = 0.2%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses) = 2.8625%

Incentive fee = 100% × Pre-incentive fee net investment income (subject to “catch-up”)⁽⁴⁾

Incentive fee = 100% × “catch-up” + (20.0% × (Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income –2.5%))

“Catch-up” = 2.5% – 2.0%

= 0.5%

Incentive fee = (100% × 0.5%) + (20.0% × (2.8625% – 2.5%))

= 0.5% + (20.0% × 0.3625%)

= 0.5% + 0.725%

= 0.5725%

Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate, and fully satisfies the “catch-up” provision, therefore the income related portion of the incentive fee is 0.5725%.

Example 2: Income Portion of Incentive Fee with Total Return Requirement Calculation:

Although our pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate of 2.0% (as shown in Alternative 3 of Example 1 above), no incentive fee is payable because 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters did not exceed the cumulative income and capital gains incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the preceding 11 calendar quarters.

Because our pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate of 2.0% and because 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters exceeds the cumulative income and capital gains incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the preceding 11 calendar quarters, an incentive fee would be payable, as shown in Alternative 3 of Example 1 above.

Year 1: $2.0 million investment made in Company A (“Investment A”), $5.25 million investment made in Company B (“Investment B”) and $4.5 million investment made in Company C (“Investment C”)

Year 2: Investment A sold for $4.5 million, FMV of Investment B determined to be $4.75 million and FMV of Investment C determined to be $4.5 million

Year 3: FMV of Investment B determined to be $5.0 million and Investment C sold for $5.5 million

Year 4: FMV of Investment B determined to be $6.0 million

Year 5: Investment B sold for $4.0 million

Year 1: None

Year 2: $0.4 million capital gains incentive fee—20.0% multiplied by $2.0 million ($2.5 million realized capital gains on Investment A less $0.5 million unrealized capital depreciation on Investment B)

Year 3: $0.25 million capital gains incentive fee⁽¹⁾—$0.65 million (20.0% multiplied by $3.25 million ($3.5 million cumulative realized capital gains less $0.25 million unrealized capital depreciation)) less $0.4 million capital gains incentive fee received in Year 2

Year 4: Capital gains incentive fee of $50,000—$0.7 million ($3.5 million cumulative realized capital gains multiplied by 20.0%) less $0.65 million cumulative capital gains incentive fee paid in Year 2 and Year 3

Year 5: None—$0.45 million (20.0% multiplied by $2.25 million (cumulative realized capital gains of $3.5 million less realized capital losses of $1.25 million)) less $0.7 million cumulative capital gains incentive fee paid in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4⁽²⁾

The base management fee and incentive compensation remunerates the Adviser for work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, closing and monitoring our investments. We bear all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including, without limitation, those relating to:

Unless terminated earlier as described below, the Investment Advisory Agreement will remain 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.” The Investment Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act, by the Adviser 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 may also terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons and members, and any other person or entity affiliated with it, are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the Investment Advisory Agreement or otherwise as the Adviser.

Our board of directors approved the Investment Advisory Agreement at its first meeting, held on October 8, 2013, which became effective in February 2014. At a meeting of our board of directors held in November 2017, our board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors, approved the annual continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement. In its consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the board of directors reviewed a significant amount of information and considered, among other things: (a) the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services to be provided to us by our Adviser; (b) comparative data with respect to advisory fees or similar expenses paid by other business development companies with similar investment objectives; (c) any existing and potential sources of indirect income to our Adviser from its relationships with us and the profitability of those relationships; (d) information about the services to be performed and the personnel performing such services under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (e) the organizational capability and financial condition of our Adviser; and (f) various other factors.

In voting to approve the Investment Advisory Agreement, our board of directors, including all of the directors who are not “interested persons,” of the Company, made the following conclusions:

Conclusions. In view of the wide variety of factors that our board of directors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement, it is not practical to quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors it considered in reaching its decision. Our board of directors did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to the ultimate determination of our board of directors. Rather, our board of directors based its approval on the totality of information presented to, and the investigation conducted by, it. In considering the factors discussed above, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors.

Based on the information reviewed and the discussions, the board of directors, including a majority of the non-interested directors, concluded that the investment management fee rates and terms are reasonable in relation

to the services to be provided and approved the Investment Advisory Agreement as being in the best interests of our stockholders. Our board of directors expects to next consider the Investment Advisory Agreement at a meeting in November 2018.

Under the Administration Agreement, the Adviser furnishes us with office facilities and equipment and will provides us with clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services at such facilities. Under the Administration Agreement, the Adviser performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which includes, among other things, being responsible for the financial and other records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports and other materials filed with the SEC. In addition, the Adviser assists us in determining and publishing our net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports and other materials to our stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Under the Administration Agreement, the Adviser also provides managerial assistance on our behalf to those portfolio companies that have accepted our offer to provide such assistance. The Adviser may satisfy certain of its obligations under the Administration Agreement to us through the Services Agreement with Cyrus Capital, including supplying us with accounting and back-office professionals upon the request of the Adviser. See “Related Party Transactions and Certain Relationships—Cyrus Capital Relationship.”

Payments under the Administration Agreement equal an amount based upon our allocable portion (subject to the review of our board of directors) of the Adviser’s overhead 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 his respective staff’s compensation and compensation-related expenses. In addition, if requested to provide significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, the Adviser will be paid an additional amount based on the services provided, which shall not exceed the amount we receive from such portfolio companies for providing this assistance. The Administration Agreement has an initial term of two years and may be renewed with the 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. To the extent that the Adviser outsources any of its functions, we pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without any incremental profit to the Adviser.

The Administration Agreement provides that, absent criminal conduct, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, the Adviser and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons and members, and any other person or entity affiliated with it, are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as our administrator.

We have entered into a license agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser has agreed to grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “CM Finance.” Under this agreement, we have a right to use the “CM Finance” name for so long as the Adviser or one of its affiliates remains the Adviser. Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to the “CM Finance” name. This license agreement will remain in effect for so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect.

We have entered into agreements with the Adviser, in which our senior management and members of the Adviser’s investment committee have direct ownership and other financial interests. Mr. Mauer, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jansen, our President and Secretary, hold, in the aggregate, a 42% interest in the Adviser. The Adviser may in the future manage other investment funds, accounts or investment vehicles that invest or may invest in assets eligible for purchase by us. To the extent that we compete with entities managed by the Adviser or any of its affiliates for a particular investment opportunity, the Adviser will allocate investment opportunities across the entities for which such opportunities are appropriate, consistent with (a) its internal investment allocation policies, (b) the requirements of the Advisers Act, and (c) certain restrictions under the 1940 Act regarding co-investments with affiliates.

Stifel owns approximately 16% of our total outstanding common stock, and also owns a 20% interest in our Adviser. As a result, Stifel will benefit from our performance and our investments. Pursuant to an irrevocable proxy, Stifel has granted us the right to vote the shares of our common stock held by it in excess of 4.9% of our total outstanding common stock in the same percentages as our other stockholders. Stifel has the right to nominate for election a member of our board of directors, who will be considered “interested” (that is, not independent for purposes of the 1940 Act). Stifel has not exercised its right to nominate for election a member of our board of directors. In addition, Stifel has the right to appoint a representative to our Adviser’s three-member board of managers and a member of our Adviser’s investment committee. Stifel has appointed Michael Nitka to our Adviser’s investment committee. Stifel does not have any rights to exercise a controlling influence over our day-to-day operations or the operations or investment management function of the Adviser.

Subject to certain restrictions, Stifel will use its commercially reasonable efforts to present to the Adviser the opportunity to review and bid on all Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated-originated leveraged finance and high yield corporate debt opportunities consistent with our investment strategy. Subject to the approval of our board of directors, as necessary under the 1940 Act, and certain other limitations, Stifel may invest in the same portfolio companies that we invest in, and (regardless of whether our investment arose from a Stifel-originated opportunity) Stifel may, through such investments, have interests that conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its interest in our Adviser. We believe that we may co-invest with Stifel and its affiliates upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act.

The Cyrus Funds, managed by Cyrus Capital, own approximately 28% of our outstanding common stock, and also hold a 38% indirect economic interest, but no voting interest, in our Adviser. As a result, Cyrus Capital

benefits from our performance and our investments. Pursuant to an irrevocable proxy, the Cyrus Funds’ shares of our common stock must be voted in the same percentages as our other stockholders (excluding Stifel) vote their shares. Cyrus Capital does not have any rights to exercise a controlling influence over our operations or the operations or investment management function of our Adviser. As a result of the relationship with Cyrus Capital and the Cyrus Funds, we could be presumed to be an affiliate of the Cyrus Funds under the 1940 Act. We believe we may co-invest with the Cyrus Funds upon approval of the “required majority” of our directors as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Cyrus Funds may, through such co-investments, have interests that conflict with ours, including receiving fees from the portfolio company directly as well as through its economic interest in our Adviser. Cyrus Capital may also provide us with investment opportunities.

Pursuant to the Services Agreement, our Adviser can utilize the expertise of the investment professionals of Cyrus Capital to provide investment services to us from time to time on an as needed basis as part of our Adviser’s Investment Team and in connection with our Adviser’s obligations to us under the Investment Advisory Agreement. If our Adviser determines it is in our best interests to utilize the expertise of any of the investment professionals of Cyrus Capital, such investment professionals will also continue to engage in investment advisory activities for the private investment funds managed by Cyrus Capital, including the Cyrus Funds, which could result in a conflict of interest, and may distract them from their responsibilities to us. Our Adviser currently utilizes the investment professionals that perform analyst functions provided under the Services Agreement for less than 10% of the aggregate time dedicated to the business by our Adviser’s Investment Team. In addition, we may receive other administrative services from our Adviser, pursuant to the Administration Agreement, which, in turn, upon request by the Adviser, may be provided to us on behalf of the Adviser by Cyrus Capital under the terms of the Services Agreement.

We have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. Pursuant to this agreement, we have agreed to pay to the Adviser a base management fee and an incentive fee. Messrs. Mauer and Jansen, each an interested member of our board of directors, has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the Adviser. See “Management Agreements.” The incentive fee will be computed and paid on income that we may not have yet received in cash at the time of payment. This fee structure may create an incentive for the Adviser to invest in certain types of speculative securities. Additionally, we will rely on investment professionals from the Adviser to assist our board of directors with the valuation of our portfolio investments. The Adviser’s management fee and incentive fee is based on the value of our investments and, therefore, there may be a conflict of interest when personnel of the Adviser are involved in the valuation process for our portfolio investments.

We have entered into a license agreement with the Adviser pursuant to which the Adviser has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “CM Finance.”

We have entered into an Administration Agreement with the Adviser pursuant to which the Adviser will furnish us with office facilities and equipment and will provide us with the clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services necessary to conduct day-to-day operations. Under this Administration Agreement, the Adviser will perform, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. See “Management Agreements.” We will reimburse the Adviser for the allocable portion (subject to the review of our board of directors) of 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 his respective staff. In addition, the Adviser may satisfy certain of its obligations to us under the Administration Agreement through the Services Agreement with Cyrus Capital, including supplying us with accounting and back-office professionals upon request of the Adviser.

The following table sets forth, as of May 29, 2018, the beneficial ownership of each current director, each nominee for director, the Company’s executive officers, each person known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and the executive officers and directors as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Common stock subject to options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 29, 2018 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such options or warrants. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentage of ownership is based on 13,692,131 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 29, 2018.

Unless otherwise indicated, to our knowledge, each stockholder listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder, except to the extent authority is shared by their spouses under applicable law. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all executive officers and directors is c/o CM Finance Inc, 601 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

The Company’s directors are divided into two groups—interested directors and independent directors. Interested directors are “interested persons” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

The following table sets forth as of May 29, 2018, the dollar range of our securities owned by our directors and executive officers.

This prospectus also relates to 6,000,004 shares being offered for resale on behalf of the selling stockholders identified below. We are registering the shares to permit the selling stockholders to resell the shares when and as they deem appropriate. The following table sets forth:

The number of shares in the column “Number of Shares Being Offered” represents all of the shares that the selling stockholders may offer under this registration statement. We do not know how long the selling stockholders will hold the shares before selling them or how many shares it will sell and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the stockholder regarding the sale of any of the shares under this registration statement. The shares offered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by the selling stockholder listed below.

This table is prepared solely based on information supplied to us by the listed stockholder and any public documents filed with the SEC, and assumes the sale of all of the resale shares. The applicable percentages of beneficial ownership are based on an aggregate of 13,692,131 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding on May 29, 2018, adjusted as may be required by rules promulgated by the SEC.

Shares of our common stock sold by the selling stockholders will generally be freely tradable. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, including by the selling stockholders, or the availability of such common stock for sale, whether or not sold, could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for our common stock.

Our board of directors has adopted a written fair value policy in accordance with the 1940 Act. The net asset value per share of our outstanding shares of common stock is determined quarterly by dividing the value of total assets minus liabilities by the total number of shares outstanding.

In calculating the value of our total assets, investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses are computed using the specific identification method. Investments for which market quotations are readily available will be valued at such market quotations. Debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or whose market price is not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors based on the input of our management and audit committee. In addition, our board of directors retains one or more independent valuation firms to review the valuation of each portfolio investment for which a market quotation is not available at least quarterly. We also have adopted SFAS 157 (ASC Topic 820). This accounting statement requires us to assume that the portfolio investment is assumed to be sold in the principal market to market participants, or in the absence of a principal market, 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. In accordance with SFAS 157 (ASC Topic 820), the market in which we can exit portfolio investments with the greatest volume and level activity is considered our principal market.

The valuation process is conducted at the end of each fiscal quarter, with all of our valuations of portfolio companies without market quotations subject to review by one or more independent valuation firms each quarter. When an external event with respect to one of our portfolio companies, such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs, we consider the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate our valuation.

A readily available market value is not expected to exist for most of the investments in our portfolio, and we value these portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors under our valuation policy and process. The types of factors that our board of directors may take into account in determining the fair value of our investments generally include, as appropriate, comparisons of finan



Title of Securities Being Registered	Amount Being Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price⁽¹⁾	Amount of Registration Fee⁽¹⁾⁽⁹⁾
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share⁽²⁾⁽³⁾
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share⁽²⁾
Debt Securities⁽⁴⁾
Warrants⁽⁵⁾
Subscription Rights⁽²⁾
Total⁽⁶⁾			$500,000,000	$62,250
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share⁽⁷⁾	6,000,004	$8.075⁽⁸⁾	$48,450,032	$6,032
Total			$548,450,032	$68,282


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			1
THE OFFERING			10
FEES AND EXPENSES			17
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA			20
RISK FACTORS			21
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			56
USE OF PROCEEDS			57
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DISTRIBUTIONS			58
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			61
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS			62
SENIOR SECURITIES			77
THE COMPANY			78
PORTFOLIO COMPANIES			91
MANAGEMENT			95
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS			103
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS			113
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS			115
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS			117
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE			119
SALES OF COMMON STOCK BELOW NET ASSET VALUE			121
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN			127
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS			129
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON STOCK			137
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK			143
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS			144
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES			146
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS			160
REGULATION			162
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			167
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR			169
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES			169
LEGAL MATTERS			169
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM			169
CHANGE IN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM			169
AVAILABLE INFORMATION			170
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS			F-1


Stockholder Transaction Expenses:
Sales load (as a percentage of offering price)	—	%⁽¹⁾
Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering price)	—	%⁽²⁾
Dividend reinvestment plan expenses	—	%⁽³⁾

Total Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering price	—	%⁽⁴⁾
Annual Expenses (as percentage of net assets attributable to common stock)
Base management fees	3.08	%
Incentive fees payable under the investment advisory agreement (20.0%)	1.19	%
Interest payments on borrowed funds	4.41	%
Other expenses	2.34	%

Total annual expenses	11.02	%


	1 Year		3 Years		5 Years		10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return	$	143	$	330	$	495	$	828


Statement of Operations Data:	For the nine months ended March 31, 2018 (unaudited)			For the year ended June 30, 2017			For the year ended June 30, 2016			For the year ended June 30, 2015			For the year ended June 30, 2014			For the year ended June 30, 2013
Total investment income	$	23,849,561		$	31,012,197		$	35,579,922		$	36,917,105		$	21,134,061		$	6,772,816
Total expenses, net of fee waiver	$	13,412,833		$	15,313,613		$	15,725,966		$	16,699,402		$	5,135,934		$	630,686
Net investment income	$	10,436,728		$	15,698,584		$	19,853,956		$	20,217,703		$	15,998,127		$	6,142,130
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations	$	12,085,898		$	23,579,465		$	(9,344,770	)	$	15,433,288		$	16,176,034		$	7,996,171
Per Share Data:
Net asset value⁽¹⁾	$	12.55		$	12.41		$	11.90		$	14.41		$	14.65			N.A.
Net investment income	$	0.76		$	1.15		$	1.45		$	1.48		$	0.47			N.A.
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations	$	0.88		$	1.72		$	(0.68	)	$	1.13		$	0.51			N.A.
Distributions declared	$	0.75		$	1.20		$	1.83		$	1.37		$	0.52			N.A.
Total return based on market value	$	(10.42	%)		27.93	%		(21.26	%)		4.23	%		0.65	%		16.16	%

Balance Sheet Data:	At March 31, 2018			At June 30, 2017			At June 30, 2016			At June 30, 2015			At June 30, 2014			At June 30, 2013
Investments at fair value	$	297,201,236		$	254,907,171		$	272,114,164		$	330,323,856		$	273,710,465		$	119,209,284
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,350,640		$	10,646,697		$	18,433,066		$	21,535,492		$	24,698,073		$	—
Total assets	$	322,058,703		$	296,033,878		$	319,961,415		$	360,458,841		$	308,300,322		$	186,938,136
Total liabilities	$	150,273,042		$	126,085,766		$	157,211,532		$	163,507,992		$	108,083,501		$	99,687,499
Total net assets	$	171,785,661		$	169,948,112		$	162,749,883		$	196,950,849		$	200,216,821		$	87,250,637

Other Data:
Number of portfolio companies at period end		24			23			22			26			24			11
Weighted average yield on investments (at cost) at period end		11.12	%		9.73	%		9.80	%		10.91	%		10.82	%		10.72	%


	(10.0)%			(5.0)%			0.0%			5.0%			10.0%
Corresponding net return to common stockholder		(22.3	)%		(13.0	)%		(3.6	)%		5.8	%		15.2	%


	Prior to Sale Below NAV			Following Sale Below NAV			Percentage Change
*Reduction to NAV*
Total Shares Outstanding		13,500,000			14,850,000			10.00	%
NAV per share	$	14.81		$	14.68			(0.91	)%
*Dilution to Existing Stockholder*
Shares Held by Stockholder A		135,000			135,000	⁽¹⁾		0.00	%
Percentage Held by Stockholder A		1.00	%		0.91	%		(9.09	)%
Total Interest of Stockholder A in NAV	$	2,000,000		$	1,981,818			(0.91	)%


Fiscal Year Ended	NAV Per Share⁽¹⁾		Closing Sales Price⁽²⁾				Premium or Discount of High Sales to NAV⁽³⁾			Premium or Discount of Low Sales to NAV⁽³⁾
Fiscal Year Ended	NAV Per Share⁽¹⁾		High		Low		Premium or Discount of High Sales to NAV⁽³⁾			Premium or Discount of Low Sales to NAV⁽³⁾
*June 30, 2018*
Fourth quarter (through May 29, 2018)	$	*	$	9.55	$	7.90		*	%		*	%
Third quarter		12.55		8.70		7.75		(30.68	)%		(38.25	)%
Second quarter		12.50		9.65		7.70		(22.80	)%		(38.40	)%
First quarter		12.39		10.30		9.25		(16.87	)%		(25.34	)%
*June 30, 2017*
Fourth quarter		12.41		10.70		10.00		(13.78	)%		(19.42	)%
Third quarter		12.32		10.40		9.35		(15.58	)%		(24.11	)%
Second quarter		12.13		10.05		8.95		(17.15	)%		(26.22	)%
First quarter		11.86		10.14		8.98		(14.50	)%		(24.28	)%
*June 30, 2016*
Fourth quarter		11.90		9.66		7.87		(18.82	)%		(33.87	)%
Third quarter		11.96		10.44		6.92		(12.71	)%		(42.14	)%
Second quarter		12.17		12.01		10.02		(1.31	)%		(17.67	)%
First quarter		13.65		13.74		10.05		0.66	%		(26.37	)%
*June 30, 2015*
Fourth quarter		14.41		14.25		13.24		(1.11	)%		(8.12	)%
Third quarter		14.42		14.00		11.00		(2.91	)%		(23.72	)%
Second quarter		14.90		13.64		10.03		(8.46	)%		(32.68	)%
First quarter		14.65		14.82		13.02		1.16			(11.13	)%


	For The Nine Months Ended March 31, 2018		For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017		For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016	For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015		For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2014	For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013
Earnings to Fixed Charges⁽¹⁾		2.4		4.2	(1.7)		3.3	5.5		49.9



Level 1 –		valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 –		valuation is based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; (b) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly; (c) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or (d) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 –		valuation is based on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. However, the fair value measurement objective remains the same, that is, an exit price from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. Therefore, unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available under the circumstances, which might include the Company’s own data. The Company’s own data used to develop unobservable inputs is adjusted if information is reasonably available without undue cost and effort that indicates that market participants would use different assumptions.


	Percentage of Total Portfolio at March 31, 2018			Percentage of Total Portfolio at June 30, 2017
Professional Services		12.70	%		—	%
Energy Equipment & Services		12.03			6.90
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure		11.34			12.24
Commercial Services & Supplies		10.63			4.61
Diversified Telecommunication Services		8.53			10.18
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels		7.87			8.67
Media		6.66			6.04
Wireless Telecommunication Services		4.85			6.08
Distributors		4.08			3.61
Health Care Providers & Services		3.74			8.26
Electric Utilities		3.13			2.95
Building Products		3.02			3.90
Chemicals		2.67			—
Health Care Equipment & Supplies		2.53			2.91
Household Durables		2.36			2.75
Electronic Equipment		2.21			4.34
IT Services		1.65			7.84
Road & Rail		—			5.41
Specialty Retail		—			2.92
Leisure Products		—			0.39

		100.00	%		100.00	%



Investment Rating 1		Investments that are performing above expectations, and whose risks remain favorable compared to the expected risk at the time of the original investment.

Investment Rating 2		Investments that are performing within expectations and whose risks remain neutral compared to the expected risk at the time of the original investment. All new loans will initially be rated 2.

Investment Rating 3		Investments that are performing below expectations and that require closer monitoring, but where no loss of return or principal is expected. Portfolio companies with a rating of 3 may be out of compliance with their financial covenants.

Investment Rating 4		Investments that are performing substantially below expectations and whose risks have increased substantially since the original investment. These investments are often in workout. Investments with a rating of 4 will be those for which some loss of return but no loss of principal is expected.

Investment Rating 5		Investments that are performing substantially below expectations and whose risks have increased substantially since the original investment. These investments are almost always in workout. Investments with a rating of 5 will be those for which some loss of return and principal is expected.


	As of March 31, 2018							As of June 30, 2017
	Fair Value		% of Portfolio			Number of Investments⁽¹⁾		Fair Value		% of Portfolio			Number of Investments
1	$	6,483,750		2.18	%		1	$	—		—	%		—
2		252,751,882		85.05	%		26		212,729,243		83.45			18
3		26,844,149		9.03	%		4		27,899,860		10.95			3
4		10,381,464		3.49	%		2		6,759,238		2.65			1
5		739,991		0.25	%		3		7,518,830		2.95			2

Total	$	297,201,236		100.00	%		36	$	254,907,171		100.00	%		24


Class and Year	Total Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Treasury Securities⁽¹⁾			Asset Coverage per Unit⁽²⁾		Involuntary Liquidating Preference per Unit⁽³⁾		Average Market Value per Unit⁽⁴⁾
Class and Year				Asset Coverage per Unit⁽²⁾		Involuntary Liquidating Preference per Unit⁽³⁾		Average Market Value per Unit⁽⁴⁾
UBS Financing Facility
March 31, 2018	$	125,380,000	⁽⁵⁾		$2,370		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2017	$	102,000,000		$	2,666		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2016	$	132,478,329	⁽⁶⁾	$	2,229		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2015	$	150,847,459	⁽⁶⁾	$	2,306		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2014	$	85,591,314	⁽⁶⁾	$	3,339		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2013	$	76,500,000		$	1,860		—		N/A
Citi Revolving Financing⁽⁷⁾
March 31, 2018	$	—			N/A		—		N/A
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2017	$	—			N/A		—		N/A



Description⁽¹⁾	Industry	Type of Investment	Interest Rate		Percentage of Class Owned		Maturity Date		Principal Amount/ Shares⁽²⁾		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
1888 Industrial Services, LLC—Revolver⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾ 41350 Country Road 33 Ault, CO 80610	Energy Equipment & Services	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+5.00% (1.00% Floor)		—		9/30/2021	$	990,099	$	792,079	$	792,079

1888 Industrial Services, LLC—Term A⁽⁴⁾ 41350 Country Road 33 Ault, CO 80610	Energy Equipment & Services	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+5.00% (1.00% Floor)		—		9/30/2021		4,950,495		4,950,495		4,950,495

1888 Industrial Services, LLC—Term B⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ 41350 Country Road 33 Ault, CO 80610	Energy Equipment & Services	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+8.00% PIK (1.00% Floor)		—		9/30/2021		11,410,531		5,636,424		8,557,898

1888 Industrial Services, LLC^(12)(11)(12) 41350 Country Road 33 Ault, CO 80610	Energy Equipment & Services	Equity Interest		—		19.8%		—		11,880		—		1

American Gaming Systems Inc.⁽⁶⁾5475 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+4.25% (1.00% Floor)		—		2/15/2024		20,451,967		20,451,967		20,451,967

AP NMT Acquisition BV^(6)(9)(10) De Boelelaan 7 Amsterdam, 1083HJ Netherlands	Media	Senior Secured Second Lien		3M L+9.00% (1.00% Floor)		—		8/13/2022		20,000,000		19,128,147		19,800,000

Bird Electric Enterprises, LLC—Revolver⁽⁵⁾8787 Interstate 20 Eastland, TX 76448	Electric Utilities	Senior Secured Second Lien		Fixed 6.00%		—		6/14/2022		1,000,000		—		—

Bird Electric Enterprises, LLC Class C Preferred Units⁽¹³⁾ 8787 Interstate 20 Eastland, TX 76448	Electric Utilities	Equity Interest – Class C 10.00% Preferred Units		—		100%		—		10		7,852,083		9,300,000

Caelus Energy Alaska 03, LLC⁽⁶⁾ 8401 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75225	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels	Senior Secured Second Lien		3M L+7.50% (1.25% Floor)		—		4/15/2020		26,000,000		24,711,377		23,400,000

CareerBuilder, LLC⁽⁶⁾ 200 N. LaSalle St. Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 60601	Professional Services	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+6.75% (1.00% Floor)		—		7/27/2023		17,550,000		17,070,133		17,374,500

Dayton Superior Corporation⁽⁶⁾ 1125 Byers Road Miamisburg, OH 45342	Building Products	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+8.00% (1.00% Floor)		—		11/15/2021		9,875,000		9,648,157		8,986,250

Endeavour International Holding B.^(10)(11) 1000 Main Street Suite 3300 Houston, TX 77002	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels	Warrants		—		<1.00%		4/30/2018		160,000		368,000		1

FPC Holdings, Inc.⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾ 8401 New Trails Drive, Suite 150 TheWoodlands, TX 77381	Distributors	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+4.50% (1.25% Floor)		—		11/19/2022		12,500,000		12,125,000		12,125,000

GEE Group, Inc.⁽⁶⁾⁽⁸⁾ 184 Shuman Boulevard, Suite 420 Naperville, IL 60563	Professional Services	Senior Secured First Lien		2M L+13.75% (1.00% Floor)		—		3/31/2021		12,500,000		12,500,000		12,500,000

Immucor, Inc.⁽⁶⁾ 3130 Gateway Drive Norcross, GA 30071	Health Care Equipment & Supplies	Senior Secured First Lien		3M L+5.00% (1.00% Floor)		—		6/15/2021		7,443,750		7,380,917		7,518,188


1M L		- 1 month LIBOR (1.88% as of March 31, 2018)
3M L		- 3 month LIBOR (2.31% as of March 31, 2018)
PIK		- Payment-In-Kind


Name	Year of Birth		Position	Director Since		Term Expires
Interested Directors
Michael C. Mauer		1961	Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board		2013		2019
Christopher E. Jansen		1959	President, Secretary and Director		2013		2018

Independent Directors
Julie Persily		1965	Director		2013		2020
Robert Ryder		1960	Director		2013		2019
Robert Wagner		1962	Director		2013		2018
Keith Lee		1971	Director		2013		2020


Name	Aggregate Cash Compensation from CM Finance Inc⁽¹⁾		Total Compensation from CM Finance Inc Paid to Director⁽¹⁾
Interested Directors
Michael C. Mauer	$	—	$	—
Christopher E. Jansen	$	—	$	—
Independent Directors
Keith Lee	$	97,500	$	97,500
Julie Persily	$	97,500	$	97,500
Robert Ryder	$	102,500	$	102,500
Robert Wagner	$	97,500	$	97,500


Name and Address of Beneficial Owner	Number of Shares Owned Beneficially⁽¹⁾			Percentage of Class
Interested Directors
Michael C. Mauer		104,000	⁽²⁾		*
Christopher E. Jansen		87,669	⁽³⁾		*

Independent Directors
Keith Lee		10,003			*
Robert Ryder		33,062			*
Julie Persily		10,064			*
Robert Wagner		4,815			*

Executive Officers
Rocco DelGuercio		2,030			*

Executive officers and directors as a group		251,643			1.84	%

5% Holders
Caxton Corporation		722,746	⁽⁴⁾		5.28	%
Cyrus Opportunities Master Fund II, Ltd. Crescent 1, L.P. CRS Master Fund, L.P. Cyrus Select Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd.		3,818,186	⁽⁵⁾		27.89	%
Stifel Venture Corp.		2,181,818	⁽⁶⁾		15.94	%


Name	Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾
Interested Director:
Michael C. Mauer		Over $100,000
Christopher E. Jansen		Over $100,000

Independent Directors:
Keith Lee		$50,001 – $100,000
Robert Ryder		Over $100,000
Julie Persily		$50,001 – $100,000
Robert Wagner		$10,001 – $50,000

Executive Officers:
Rocco DelGuercio		$10,001 – $50,000


Stockholder	Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering					Number of Shares Being Offered		Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering
Stockholder	Number		Percent			Number of Shares Being Offered		Number		Percent
Cyrus Opportunities Master Fund II, Ltd. 65 East 55^th Street, 35^th Floor New York, New York 10022		2,077,092		15.17	%		2,077,092		—		—

Crescent 1, L.P. 65 East 55^th Street, 35^th Floor New York, New York 10022		717,819		5.24	%		717,819		—		—

CRS Master Fund, L.P. 65 East 55^th Street, 35^th Floor New York, New York 10022		645,274		4.71	%		645,275		—		—

Cyrus Select Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd. 65 East 55^th Street, 35^th Floor New York, New York 10022		378,001		2.76	%		378,001		—		—