GECC Great Elm Capital Corporation

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-239839

We are an externally managed non-diversified closed-end management investment company that elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). We seek to generate current income and capital appreciation through debt and income generating equity investments, including investments in specialty finance businesses. Our external investment manager, Great Elm Capital Management, Inc. (“GECM”), provides the administrative services necessary for us to operate.

We are issuing non-transferable subscription rights (“rights”) to our stockholders of record as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 23, 2022, entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for up to an aggregate of 4,601,391 shares of our common stock. Record date stockholders will receive one right for each outstanding share of common stock owned on the record date. No fractional rights or cash in lieu thereof will be issued or paid. The rights entitle the holders to purchase one new share of common stock for every right held (the “primary subscription right”). In addition, record date stockholders who fully exercise their rights will be entitled to subscribe, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus and subject to allotment, for additional shares that remain unsubscribed as a result of any unexercised rights. Rights holders who exercise their rights will have no right to rescind their subscriptions after receipt of their completed subscription certificates together with payment for shares by the subscription agent.

The subscription price per share will be $12.50 (the “Subscription Price”).

Rights holders will be required initially to pay for both the shares of common stock subscribed for pursuant to the primary subscription right and, if eligible, any additional shares of common stock subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege at the Subscription Price.

Great Elm Group, Inc. (“GEG”) intends to subscribe for at least $12.5 million in the rights offering, and certain other affiliates of GEG (together with GEG, the “Participating Shareholders”) have indicated that they intend to subscribe. Any over-subscription by the Participating Shareholders would be effected only after pro rata allocation of over-subscription shares to record date holders (other than the Participating Shareholders) who fully exercise their rights. See “The Offering—Over-Subscription Privilege.”

This offering may substantially dilute the aggregate NAV of the shares owned by stockholders who do not fully exercise their rights. Stockholders who do not fully subscribe should expect to own a smaller proportional interest in us following the completion of this offering. This offering may also cause dilution in the distributions per share we are able to make subsequent to completion of the offering. Such dilution is not currently determinable because it is not known how many shares will be subscribed for or what the NAV or market price of our common stock will be on the Expiration Date (as defined below) of the offering. If the NAV per share at the Expiration Date is substantially more than the Subscription Price, such dilution could be substantial. Any such dilution will disproportionately affect non-exercising stockholders. Because the Subscription Price is expected to be less than our NAV per share at the Expiration Date, all stockholders will experience a decrease in the NAV per share held by them, irrespective of whether they exercise all or any portion of their rights. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to this Offering—Stockholders who do not participate in this rights offering will experience immediate dilution in an amount that may be material” and “Dilution” in this prospectus for more information.

After giving effect to the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering at the Subscription Price and our receipt of the estimated net proceeds from that sale, as of March 31, 2022, our “as adjusted” NAV would be approximately $125.0 million, or approximately $13.58 per share, representing immediate NAV dilution of approximately $1.48 per share to our existing stockholders. These numbers do not include activity subsequent to March 31, 2022.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GECC.” The last reported closing price for our common stock on May 16, 2022 was $12.74 per share. The NAV of our common stock as of March 31, 2022 (the last date prior to the date of this prospectus on which we determined NAV) was $15.06 per share. The rights are non-transferable and will not be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other stock exchange. The rights may not be purchased or sold, and there will not be any market for trading the rights. The shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to this offering will be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GECC.” See “The Offering” for a complete discussion of the terms of this offering.

The offering will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 10, 2022 (the “Expiration Date”), unless extended as described in this prospectus. We, in our sole discretion, may extend the period for exercising the rights. You may exercise the rights at any time during the subscription period.

This prospectus sets forth concisely important information you should know before investing in our common stock. Please read it and the documents we refer you to carefully in their entirety before you invest and keep this prospectus for future reference. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may also obtain free copies of our annual and quarterly reports and make stockholder inquiries by contacting us at Great Elm Capital Corp., 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453 or by calling us collect at (617) 375-3006. We maintain a website at http://www.greatelmcc.com and we make all of our annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other publicly filed information available, free of charge, on or through such website. Information on our website is not incorporated into or a part of this prospectus. The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov where such information is available without charge.

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, that are listed on an exchange frequently trade at a discount to their NAV per share. If our shares trade at a discount to our NAV, it may increase the risk of loss for purchasers in this offering.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider, including the risk of leverage, before investing in our common stock. The securities in which we invest will generally not be rated by any rating agency, and if they were rated, they would be below investment grade. These securities, which may be referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the fees and expenses that an investor in this offering will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The expenses shown in the table under “annual expenses” are based on estimated amounts for our current fiscal year and assume that we issue an aggregate amount of 4,601,391 shares of common stock, assuming all rights are exercised. If we issue fewer shares of common stock and not all rights are exercised pursuant to the offer and the net proceeds to us are less, all other things being equal, the total annual expenses shown would increase. The following table should not be considered a representation of our future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown. 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, our stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as our investors.

This example 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 amounts included in the table above for “Other expenses” represent our estimates for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

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%. The incentive fee under the Investment Management 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. Under the Investment Management Agreement, no incentive fee would be payable if we have a 5% annual return. If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger an incentive fee of a material amount, our expenses, and returns to our investors, would be higher. The example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested at NAV. Under certain circumstances, reinvestment of dividends and other distributions under our dividend reinvestment plan may occur at a price per share that differs from NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.

Because the rights are non-transferable, there is no market or other means for stockholders to directly realize any value associated with the rights. Stockholders must exercise the rights and acquire additional shares of our common stock to realize any value, however, stockholders will not realize any value solely by virtue of exercising the rights.

Upon completion of this offering, we will have 9,202,782 shares of common stock outstanding if the offering is fully subscribed. Following this offering, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the availability of such shares for sale, 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 equity securities should we desire to do so.

It is possible that this offering will not be fully subscribed. Under-subscription of the offering would have an impact on the net proceeds and may adversely impact the benefits we achieve from this offering.

Avanti, located in London, England, is a provider of satellite-enabled data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As of March 31, 2022, Avanti represented less than 1% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments). As of March 31, 2022, we owned approximately 2.8% of Avanti’s outstanding debt, including second lien loan senior secured notes (the “PIK Toggle Notes”), a 1.5 lien secured loan (the “Avanti 1.5L Loan”), a 1.25 lien secured loan (the “Avanti 1.25 Lien Loan”), and a 1.125 lien secured loan (the “Avanti 1.125 Lien Loan”), and approximately 9% of Avanti's outstanding common stock. We acquired our original position in Avanti as part of a portfolio of debt instruments, which we purchased from private investment funds managed by MAST Capital Management, LLC prior to the Merger.

In April 2022, Avanti announced a series of restructuring transactions (the “2022 Restructuring”) pursuant to which certain creditors of Avanti (excluding GECC) contributed additional senior debt financing to Avanti, and the PIK Notes and the Avanti 1.5L Lien Loan were converted to equity.

Following the 2022 Restructuring, we own approximately 2.8% of Avanti’s outstanding debt, including converted factoring receivables (the “Factoring Loan”), the Avanti 1.125 Lien Loan, the Avanti 1.25 Lien Loan and approximately 1.7% of Avanti’s outstanding common stock.

Avanti remains highly leveraged. If there is an event of default under Avanti’s outstanding indebtedness and the obligations are accelerated, Avanti likely will not have sufficient liquidity to pay such obligations. Under such circumstances, Avanti may consider other restructuring options, such as entering into an insolvency procedure under English law or by filing for Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the consequences of which could include a reduction in the value of the assets available to satisfy the Factoring Loan, the Avanti 1.125 Lien Loan or the Avanti 1.25 Lien Loan and the imposition of costs and other additional risks on holders of such instruments. In such an event, we may lose all or part of our investment in Avanti.

As noted above, we owned approximately 1.7% of Avanti’s common stock following the 2022 Restructuring and as of March 31, 2022, we owned approximately 9% of Avanti's common stock. Avanti’s common stock was delisted from its primary exchange in September 2019 and no longer trades on an exchange, which limits the liquidity of our investment. Equity securities also expose us to additional risks should Avanti default on its debt or need additional financing. Equity securities rank lower in the capital structure and would likely not pay current income or PIK income, which we had been receiving on our investment in Avanti prior to the 2022 Restructuring. Please see “—We are not in a position to exercise control over certain of our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments” and “—Certain of the companies in which we invest may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet their future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.”

As of result of the uncertainty surrounding Avanti’s financial condition and ongoing liquidity challenges, as of December 31, 2021, we determined that our investment in the PIK Toggle Notes was fair valued at zero, the fair value of our investment in the Avanti 1.5 Lien Loan was written down and we put our investment in the PIK Toggle Notes and the Avanti 1.5 Lien Loan on non-accrual, with any accrued and uncapitalized interest income reversed as of December 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the fair value of the Factoring Loan, Avanti 1.25 Lien Loan and Avanti 1.125 Lien Loan were written down and we put these investments on non-accrual, with any accrued and uncapitalized interest income reversed as of March 31, 2022. As a result of these write downs and non-accrual status, we determined that the accrued incentive fees payable associated with the Avanti PIK Notes and the Avanti 1.5 Lien Loan should not be recognized as a liability as of December 31, 2021. GECM waived all remaining accrued incentive fees as of March 31, 2022.

As of September 30, 2021, Avanti represented approximately 13% of our investment portfolio at fair value (excluding cash and short-term investments). As of March 31, 2022, Avanti represented less than 1% of our investment portfolio at fair value (excluding cash and short-term investments). The 2022 Restructuring did not address the sustainability of Avanti's business model. In the future, we may need to further write down the fair value of our Avanti investments. We may also sell at a loss all or a portion of our investment in Avanti from time to time as part of our portfolio management strategy. There can be no certainty in this regard.

We compete for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including specialty finance companies, private equity funds, mezzanine funds and small business investment companies), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, including from the Small Business Administration. In addition, increased competition for attractive investment opportunities allows debtors to demand more favorable terms and offer fewer contractual protections to creditors. Some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we do. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to offer. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in lower middle market companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financing sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market would force us to accept less attractive investment terms. GECM may, at its discretion, decide to pursue such opportunities if it believes that they are in our best interest; however, GECM may decline to pursue available investment opportunities that, although otherwise consistent with our investment policies and objectives, in GECM’s view present unacceptable risk/return profiles. Under such circumstances, we may hold a larger percentage of our assets in liquid securities until market conditions improve in order to avoid having assets remain uninvested. Furthermore, many of our competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the Investment Company Act imposes on us as a BDC. We believe that competitors will make first and second lien loans with interest rates and returns that are lower than the rates and returns that we target. Therefore, we do not seek to compete solely on the interest rates and returns offered to prospective portfolio companies.

As a result of our stake in Avanti, we are exposed to risks associated with the wireless telecommunications sector.

For example, Avanti’s operations are regulated by various foreign governments and international bodies. These regulatory regimes restrict or impose conditions on Avanti’s ability to operate in designated areas and to provide specified products or services. In addition, new laws or regulations or changes to the existing regulatory

framework could impose additional costs, impair revenue opportunities and potentially impede Avanti’s ability to provide services. The further regulation of Avanti’s activities could impact Avanti’s ability to compete in the marketplace and limit the return Avanti, and, as a result, we, can expect to achieve.

In addition, Avanti’s business may also be affected by the significant competition in the wireless telecommunications industry. There is rapid development of new technologies, services and products, which brings new competitors to the market. While these changes have enabled companies like Avanti to offer new types of products and services, they have also allowed other providers to broaden the scope of their own competitive offerings. Avanti’s ability to compete effectively will depend on, among other things, how successfully Avanti anticipates and responds to various factors affecting its industry, including new technologies and business models, changes in consumer preferences and demand for existing services, demographic trends and economic conditions. If Avanti is not able to respond successfully to these competitive challenges, Avanti may face challenges in meeting its required payments under its debt securities held by us, which could result in a material decrease in the fair value of such debt securities, and a corresponding material adverse change in our financial position and results of operations.

Our portfolio is likely to hold a limited number of portfolio companies. Beyond the asset diversification requirements associated with qualifying as a RIC, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments are likely to be concentrated in relatively few companies. As our portfolio is less diversified than the portfolios of some funds, we are more susceptible to failure if a single investment fails. Similarly, the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment.

We may from time to time invest a relatively significant percentage of our portfolio in industries in which GECM does not necessarily have extensive historical research coverage. 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.

As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board. Decreases in the fair values of our investments are recorded as unrealized depreciation. Any unrealized losses in our portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us with respect to the affected investments. This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available for distribution in future periods.

We are subject to the risk that investments intended to be held over long periods are, instead, repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we will generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, repay debt or repurchase our common stock, depending on expected future investment opportunities. 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 by them.

We generally do not hold controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and that the management and/or stockholders of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our

interests. Due to the lack of liquidity of the debt and equity investments that we hold in certain of our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of such investments if we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of such investments.

We have made, and may make additional, investments in companies and operating platforms that originate and/or service commercial specialty finance businesses, including factoring, equipment finance, inventory leasing, merchant cash advance and hard money real estate lending and may also invest directly (including via participation) in the investments made by such businesses. The form of investment may vary and may require reliance on management teams to provide the resources necessary to originate new receivables, manage portfolios of performing receivables, and work-out portfolios of stressed or non-performing receivables.

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 our investments and foreclosure on our secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company. If any of these occur, it could materially and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

As part of our lending activities, we may purchase notes or loans from companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although the terms of such financing may result in significant financial returns to us, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful financing to companies experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. We cannot assure you that we will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing our investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, we may lose all or part of the amounts advanced to the borrower or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the investment advanced by us to the borrower.

Senior Secured Loans and Notes. There is a risk that the collateral securing our loans and notes may decrease in value over time, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital, and, in some circumstances, our lien could be subordinated to claims of other creditors. In addition, deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the loan or note. Consequently, the fact that a loan or note is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the loan’s or note’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the loan or note should we be forced to enforce our remedies.

Mezzanine Loans. Our mezzanine debt investments will be generally subordinated to senior loans and will be generally unsecured. As such, other creditors may rank senior to us in the event of an insolvency, which could likely result in a substantial or complete loss on such investment in the case of such insolvency. This may result in an above average amount of risk and loss of principal.

Unsecured Loans and Notes. We may invest in unsecured loans and notes. If the issuer defaults or has an event of insolvency, other creditors may rank senior, be structurally senior or have lien protection that effectively

renders their claim superior to our rights under our unsecured notes or loans, which could likely result in a substantial or complete loss on such investment in the case of such insolvency. This may result in an above average amount of risk and loss of principal.

Unfunded Commitments. From time to time, we purchase revolving credit loans with unfunded commitments in the ordinary course of business. In the event multiple borrowers of such revolving credit loans were to draw these commitments at the same time, including during a market downturn, it could have an adverse impact on our cash reserves and liquidity position at a time when it may be more difficult for us to sell other assets.

Equity Investments. When we invest in senior secured loans or mezzanine loans, we may acquire equity securities, including warrants, as well. In addition, we may invest directly in the equity securities of portfolio companies. The equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.

In addition, investing in middle-market companies involves a number of significant risks, including:

A portion of our portfolio consists of debt and equity investments in privately owned middle-market companies. Investing in middle-market companies involves a number of significant risks. Compared to larger publicly owned companies, these middle-market companies may be in a weaker financial position and experience wider variations in their operating results, which may make them more vulnerable to economic downturns and other business disruptions. Typically, these companies need more capital to compete; however, their access to capital is limited and their cost of capital is often higher than that of their competitors. Our portfolio companies face intense competition from larger companies with greater financial, technical and marketing resources and their success typically depends on the managerial talents and efforts of an individual or a small group of persons. Therefore, the loss of any of their key employees, as well as increased competition in the labor market, could affect a portfolio company’s ability to compete effectively and harm its financial condition. Further, some of

these companies conduct business in regulated industries that are susceptible to regulatory changes. These factors could impair the cash flow of our portfolio companies and result in other events, such as bankruptcy. These events could limit a portfolio company’s ability to repay its obligations to us. Deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition and prospects may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the loan’s collateral and the fair market value of the loan.

Most of the loans in which we invest are not structured to fully amortize during their lifetime. In order to create liquidity to pay the final principal payment, borrowers typically must raise additional capital or sell their assets, which could potentially result in the collateral being sold for less than its fair market value. If they are unable to raise sufficient funds to repay us, the loan will go into default, which will require us to foreclose on the borrower’s assets, even if the loan was otherwise performing prior to maturity. This will deprive us from immediately obtaining full recovery on the loan and prevent or delay the reinvestment of the loan proceeds in other, more profitable investments. Moreover, there are no assurances that any recovery on such loan will be obtained. Most of these companies cannot obtain financing from public capital markets or from traditional credit sources, such as commercial banks. Accordingly, loans made to these types of companies pose a higher default risk than loans made to companies that have access to traditional credit sources.

We invest in privately held companies. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we are required to rely on GECM’s or our specialty finance partners’ ability to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns 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 may lose money on our investments. Also, privately held companies frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than larger competitors. These factors could adversely affect our investment returns as compared to companies investing primarily in the securities of public companies.

We rely on the structural features embedded in our specialty financing and asset-based products to mitigate the credit risk associated with such products. With respect to our asset-based loans, we generally limit our lending to a percentage of the customer’s borrowing base assets that we believe can be readily liquidated in the event of financial distress of the borrower. With respect to our factoring products, we purchase the underlying invoices of our customers and become the direct payee under such invoices, thus transferring the credit risk in such transactions from our customers to the underlying account debtors on such invoices. In the event one or more of our customers fraudulently represents the existence or valuation of borrowing base assets in the case of an asset-based loan, or the existence or validity of an invoice we purchase in the case of a factoring transaction, we may advance more funds to such customer than we otherwise would and lose the benefit of the structural protections of our products with respect to such advances. In such event we could be exposed to material additional losses with respect to such loans or factoring products. Although we believe we have controls in place to monitor and detect fraud with respect to our asset-based lending and factoring products, there is no guarantee such controls will be effective.

Our portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or in some cases senior to, the debt in which we invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which we invested. Also, in 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. After repaying such senior creditors, such portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to us. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which we invest, we would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.

Even though we may have structured investments as secured investments, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, and based upon principles of equitable subordination as defined by existing case law, a bankruptcy court could subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors and transfer any lien securing such subordinated claim to the bankruptcy estate. The principles of equitable subordination defined by case law have generally indicated that a claim may be subordinated only if its holder is guilty of misconduct or where the senior investment is re-characterized as an equity investment and the senior lender has actually provided significant managerial assistance to the bankrupt debtor. We may also be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by us with respect to a borrower’s business or instances where we 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 in rendering managerial assistance or actions to compel and collect payments from the borrower outside the ordinary course of business. To the extent GECC provides significant managerial assistance to the portfolio companies, this risk is exacerbated.

We may purchase loans or notes that are secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral pledged by a portfolio company to secure senior debt owed by the portfolio company to commercial banks or other traditional lenders. Often the senior lender has procured covenants from the portfolio company prohibiting the incurrence of additional secured debt without the senior lender’s consent. Prior to and as a condition of permitting the portfolio company to borrow money from us secured by the same collateral pledged to the senior lender, the senior lender will require assurances that it will control the disposition of any collateral in the event of bankruptcy or other default. In many such cases, the senior lender will require us or the indenture trustee to enter into an “intercreditor agreement” prior to permitting the portfolio company to borrow. Typically the intercreditor agreements expressly subordinate our debt instruments to those held by the senior lender and further provide that the senior lender shall control: (1) the commencement of foreclosure or other proceedings to liquidate and collect on the collateral; (2) the nature, timing and conduct of foreclosure or other collection proceedings; (3) the amendment of any collateral document; (4) the release of the security interests in respect of any collateral; and (5) the waiver of defaults under any security agreement. Because of the control we may cede to senior lenders under intercreditor agreements we may enter, we may be unable to realize the proceeds of any collateral securing some of our loans and notes.

Concerns have been publicized that some of the member banks surveyed by the British Bankers’ Association (the “BBA”) in connection with the calculation of the London Interbank Borrowing Rate (“LIBOR”) across a range of maturities and currencies may have been underreporting or otherwise manipulating the inter-bank lending rate applicable to them in order to profit on their derivatives positions or to avoid an appearance of capital insufficiency or adverse reputational or other consequences that may have resulted from reporting inter-bank lending rates higher than those they actually submitted. A number of BBA member banks have entered into settlements with their regulators and law enforcement agencies with respect to alleged manipulation of LIBOR, and investigations by regulators and governmental authorities in various jurisdictions are ongoing.

In addition, central banks have engaged in quantitative easing, currency purchase programs and other activities that caused government borrowing rates and currencies to trade at prices different than those that would prevail in an unaffected market.

Actions by market participants, like the BBA, or by government agencies, like the Federal Reserve Board, may affect prevailing interest rates and the reference rates for loans to our portfolio companies. Actions by governments may create inflation in asset prices that over-state the value of our portfolio companies and their assets and drive cycles of capital market activities (like mergers and acquisitions) at a rate and at prices in excess of those that would prevail in an unaffected market.

We cannot assure you that actions by market participants, like the BBA, or by government agencies, like the Federal Reserve Board, will not materially adversely affect trading markets or our portfolio companies or us or our and our portfolio companies’ respective business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“ICE”) subsequently announced that it will cease calculating and publishing all LIBOR tenors on June 30, 2023 and cease calculating and publishing certain LIBOR tenors on December 31, 2021. Further, U.K. and U.S. regulatory authorities have recently issued statements encouraging banks to cease entering into new LIBOR based loans as soon as possible and by no later than December 31, 2021 and to continue to transition away from LIBOR based loans in preparation of ICE ceasing to calculate and publish LIBOR based rates on June 30, 2023. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee convened by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Bank of New York has announced the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its recommended alternative to LIBOR for USD obligations. However, because the SOFR is a broad U.S. Treasury repo financing rate that represents overnight secured funding transactions, it differs fundamentally from LIBOR. At this time, it is not possible to predict whether SOFR, or any other LIBOR alternative, will attain market traction as a LIBOR replacement or whether other replacement rates could be adopted by market participants. Even if financial instruments are transitioned to alternative benchmarks, such as SOFR, successfully, the new benchmarks are likely to differ from LIBOR, and our interest rate risk associated may increase. Transitioning to an alternative benchmark rate, such as SOFR, may result in us incurring significant expense and legal risks, as renegotiation and changes to documentation may be required in effecting the transition. Any alternative benchmark rate may be calculated differently than LIBOR, may increase the interest expense associated with our existing or future indebtedness and may not align for our assets and liabilities. Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our borrowing costs, financial condition, results of operations and the value of our investments.

Additionally, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain. Potential changes, or uncertainty related to such potential changes, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities, including our portfolio of LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities, or the cost of our borrowings. In addition, changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market for LIBOR-based securities, including the value of the LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities in our portfolio, or the cost of our borrowings. The potential effect of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR on our cost of capital and net investment income cannot yet be determined.

The effect on our investments will vary depending, among other things, on (1) whether fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts currently exist, and if so, the terms of such provisions and (2) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new investments. We may have discretion to determine a successor or substitute reference rate, including any price or other adjustments to account for differences between the successor or substitute reference rate and previous rate. Such successor or substitute reference rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact our investments and may expose such investments to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks. The elimination of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on our investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new investments, adversely impacting our overall financial condition or results of operations. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on our investments until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted.

Our net investment income depends, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. We cannot assure you that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds could increase, which could reduce our net investment income. Typically, our fixed rate investments are financed primarily with equity and/or long-term debt. 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 Investment Company Act. If we do not implement these techniques properly, we could experience losses on our hedging positions, which could be material.

If interest rates fall, our portfolio companies are likely to refinance their obligations to us at lower interest rates. Our proceeds from these refinancings are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than our refinanced loans resulting in a material decrease in our net investment income.

Our portfolio may include common stock, warrants or other equity securities. We may also take back equity securities in exchange for our debt investments in workouts of troubled investments. Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of further dilution as a result of additional issuances, inability to access additional capital and failure to pay current distributions. Investments in preferred securities involve special risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights. In addition, we may from time to time make non-control, equity investments in portfolio companies. The equity interests we invest in may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, 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. We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests. We may seek puts or similar rights to give it the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company. We may be unable to exercise these put rights if the issuer is in financial distress or otherwise lacks sufficient liquidity to purchase the underlying equity investment.

Our investment strategy contemplates investments in debt securities of foreign companies. Investing in foreign companies may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility. Such investments will generally not represent “qualifying assets” under Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act. Pursuant to the Investment Company Act, qualifying assets must represent at least 70% of our total assets at the time of acquisition of any additional non-qualifying assets. If we do not meet the 70% threshold, we will be limited to purchasing qualifying assets until such threshold is met. See “The Company—Regulation as a Business Development Company.”

Any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments. We may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but we offer no assurance that we will, in fact, hedge currency risk, or that if it does, such strategies will be effective.

We may hold a significant portion of our portfolio assets in cash, cash equivalents, money market mutual funds, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less for many reasons, including, among others:

We may also be required to hold higher levels of cash, money market mutual funds or other short-term securities in order to pay our expenses or make distributions to stockholders in the ordinary course of business given the relatively high percentage of our total investment income represented by non-cash income, including PIK income and accretion of original issue discount (“OID”). During periods when we maintain exposure to cash, money

market mutual funds, or other short-term securities, we may not participate in market movements to the same extent that it would if we were fully invested, which may have a negative impact on our business and operations and, accordingly, our returns may be reduced.

The global capital markets are subject to disruption as evidenced by, among other things, a lack of liquidity in the debt capital markets, significant write-offs in the financial services sector, the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated credit market and the failure of major financial institutions. Despite actions of the U.S. federal government and foreign governments, these events have contributed to worsening general economic conditions that have historically materially and adversely impacted the broader financial and credit markets and reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and financial services firms in particular. We cannot provide any assurance that these conditions will not significantly worsen. Equity capital may be difficult to raise because, as a BDC, we are generally not able to issue additional shares of our common stock at a price less than NAV. In addition, our ability to incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock is limited by applicable regulations such that our asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, must equal at least 150% immediately after each time we incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock. Our asset coverage as of March 31, 2022 is below the minimum asset coverage ratio of 150%, as such we are subject to certain limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities, including the common stock offered hereby, in each case, in accordance with the Investment Company Act and the indentures governing our outstanding notes, until such time we are above the such minimum asset coverage ratio. The debt capital that may be available, if at all, may be at a higher cost and on less favorable terms and conditions in the future. Any inability to raise capital could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Market conditions may in the future make it difficult to extend the maturity of or refinance our existing indebtedness, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business. The expected illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if required. As a result, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded our investments.

In addition, significant changes in the capital markets, including recent volatility and disruption, have had, and may in the future have, a negative effect on the valuations of our investments and on the potential for liquidity events involving our investments. An inability to raise capital, and any required sale of our investments for liquidity purposes, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our quarterly operating results will fluctuate due to a number of factors, including the level of 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. Our quarterly operating results will also fluctuate due to a number of other factors, including the interest rates payable on the debt investments we make and the default rates on such investments. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

Our growth requires that GECM retain and attract new investment and administrative personnel in a competitive market. GECM’s ability to attract and retain personnel with the requisite credentials, experience and skills depends on several factors, including, but not limited to, its ability to offer competitive wages, benefits and professional growth opportunities. Many of the entities, including investment funds (such as private equity funds and mezzanine funds) and traditional financial services companies, which compete for experienced personnel with GECM, have greater resources than GECM.

We intend to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments. We expect to continue to elect to be treated as a RIC and operate in a manner so as to qualify for the U.S. federal income tax treatment applicable to RICs. Among other things, in order to maintain our RIC status, we must distribute to our stockholders on a timely basis generally an amount equal to at least 90% of our investment company taxable income (as defined by the Code), and, as a result, such distributions will not be available to fund new investments. As a result, we must borrow from financial institutions or issue additional securities to fund our growth. Unfavorable economic or capital market conditions, including interest rate volatility, may increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or could result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. There has been and will continue to be uncertainty in the financial markets in general. An inability to successfully access the capital or credit markets for either equity or debt could limit our ability to grow our business and fully execute our business strategy and could decrease our earnings, if any.

If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios imposed upon us by the Investment Company Act or our lenders. Any such failure, or a tightening or general disruption of the credit markets, would affect our ability to issue senior securities, including borrowings, and pay dividends or other distributions, which could materially impair our business.

In addition, with certain limited exceptions we are only allowed to borrow or issue debt securities or preferred stock such that our asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, equals at least 150% immediately after such borrowing, which, in certain circumstances, may restrict our ability to borrow or issue debt securities or preferred stock. Our asset coverage as of March 31, 2022 is below the minimum asset coverage ratio of 150%, as such we are subject to certain limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities, including the common stock offered hereby, in each case, in accordance with the Investment Company Act and the indentures governing our outstanding notes, until such time we are above the such minimum asset coverage ratio. The amount of leverage that we may employ will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s assessments of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing or issuance of debt securities or preferred stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain lines of credit at all or on terms acceptable to us.

The economy is subject to periodic downturns that, from time to time, result in recessions or more serious adverse macroeconomic events. Our portfolio companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay loans or notes during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets may increase and the value of our portfolio may decrease during these periods as we are required to record the market value of our investments. Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of collateral securing some of our investments 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 investments and harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants in its agreements with us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the debt obligations are due and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt that we hold. We may incur additional expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company. In addition, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we actually provided significant 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.

The condition of the global financial market, as well as various social and political tensions in the United States and around the world, may contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and

worldwide financial markets, may cause economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide, and may subject our investments to heightened risks.

These heightened risks could also include to: increased risk of default; greater social, trade, economic and political instability (including the risk of war or terrorist activity); greater governmental involvement in the economy; greater governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and market participants resulting in increased expenses related to compliance; greater fluctuations in currency exchange rates; controls or restrictions on foreign investment and/or trade, capital controls and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the ability to exchange currencies; inability to purchase and sell investments or otherwise settle transactions (i.e., a market freeze); and unavailability of hedging techniques. During times of political uncertainty and/or change, global markets often become more volatile. Markets experiencing political uncertainty and/or change could have substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates typically have negative effects on such countries’ economies and markets. Tax laws could change materially, and any changes in tax laws could have an unpredictable effect on us, our investments and our investors.

Our debt portfolios, including those held by our specialty finance companies, are subject to credit and interest rate risk. “Credit risk” refers to the likelihood that an issuer will default in the payment of principal and/or interest on an instrument. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, subordination, lack or inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancement for a debt instrument may affect its credit risk. Credit risk may change over the life of an instrument, and securities which are rated by rating agencies are often reviewed and may be subject to downgrade. “Interest rate risk” refers to the risks associated with market changes in interest rates. Factors that may affect market interest rates include, without limitation, inflation, slow or stagnant economic growth or recession, unemployment, money supply and the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board and central banks throughout the world, international disorders and instability in domestic and foreign financial markets. The Federal Reserve Board raised the federal funds rate from 2015 to 2018, but cut the rate to near zero by the end of 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Federal Reserve Board increased the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in March 2022 and by an additional 50 basis points in May 2022. The Federal Reserve Board has signaled that there will be additional federal funds interest rate increases during the remainder of 2022. These developments, along with domestic and international debt and credit concerns, could cause interest rates to be volatile, which may negatively impact our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. Interest rate changes may also affect the value of a debt instrument indirectly (especially in the case of fixed rate securities) and directly (especially in the case of instruments whose rates are adjustable). In general, rising interest rates will negatively impact the price of a fixed-rate debt instrument and falling interest rates will have a positive effect on price. Adjustable rate instruments may also react to interest rate changes in a similar manner although generally to a lesser degree (depending, however, on the characteristics of the reset terms, including, among other factors, the index chosen, frequency of reset and reset caps or floors). Interest rate sensitivity is generally more pronounced and less predictable in instruments with uncertain payment or prepayment schedules. We expect that we will periodically experience imbalances in the interest rate sensitivities of our assets and liabilities and the relationships of various interest rates to each other. In a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to manage this risk effectively, which in turn could adversely affect our performance.

We may acquire other funds, portfolios of assets or pools of debt investments. Any such acquisition program has a number of risks, including among others:

We elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Company Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs and their external advisers. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their gross assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or illiquid U.S. public companies below a certain market capitalization, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Furthermore, any failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the Investment Company Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us and/or expose us to claims of private litigants. In addition, upon approval of a majority of our voting securities (as defined under the Investment Company Act), we may elect to withdraw our status as a BDC. If we decide to withdraw our BDC election, or if we otherwise fail to qualify, or to maintain our qualification, as a BDC, we may be subject to substantially greater regulation under the Investment Company Act as a closed-end management investment company. Compliance with such regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility and would significantly increase our costs of doing business.

We may issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, referred to collectively as “senior securities,” up to the maximum amount permitted under the Investment Company Act. Under the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to BDCs, we are permitted to issue senior securities (e.g., notes and preferred stock) in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio, as defined in the Investment Company Act, equals at least 150% of 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 may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. Also, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our stockholders. Furthermore, as a result of issuing senior securities, we would also be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss. Our asset coverage as of March 31, 2022 is below the minimum asset coverage ratio of 150%, as such we are subject to certain limitations on our

ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities, including the common stock offered hereby, in each case, in accordance with the Investment Company Act and the indentures governing our outstanding notes, until such time we are above the such minimum asset coverage ratio.

Our Board has the authority to modify or waive our investment objectives, current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, NAV and operating results.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may be required to include in income certain amounts before our receipt of the cash attributable to such amounts, such as OID, which may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the making of a loan or possibly in other circumstances, or PIK interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. For example, such OID or increases in loan balances as a result of PIK interest will be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments. Also, we may be required to include in income other amounts that we will not receive in cash, including, for example, non-cash income from PIK securities, deferred payment securities and hedging and foreign currency transactions. In addition, we intend to seek debt investments in the secondary market that represent attractive risk-adjusted returns, taking into account both stated interest rates and current market discounts to par value. Such market discount may be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments. Our debt investments in Avanti currently only earn PIK interest and our investment in Avanti equity (including any debt converted to equity) is not expected to earn cash dividends. Since we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, we may have difficulty meeting the U.S. federal income tax requirement to distribute generally an amount equal to at least 90% of our investment company taxable income to maintain our status as a RIC. Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify as a RIC and thus be subject to corporate level income taxes.

However, in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement (as defined below) for a RIC, we may, but have no current intention to, declare a large portion of a dividend in shares of our common stock instead of in cash. As long as a portion of such dividend is paid in cash (which portion may be as low as 20% of such dividend, or 10% with respect to distributions declared on or before June 30, 2022) and certain requirements are met, the entire distribution will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

To the extent we invest in OID instruments, including PIK loans, zero coupon bonds, and debt securities with attached warrants, investors will be exposed to the risks associated with the inclusion of such non-cash income in taxable and accounting income prior to receipt of cash.

The deferred nature of payments on PIK loans creates specific risks. Interest payments deferred on a PIK loan are subject to the risk that the borrower may default when the deferred payments are due in cash at the maturity of the loan. Since the payment of PIK income does not result in cash payments to us, we may also have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations (and thus hold higher cash or cash equivalent balances, which could reduce returns) to pay our expenses or make distributions to stockholders in the ordinary course of business, even if such loans do not default. An election to defer PIK interest payments by adding them to principal increases our gross assets and, thus, increases future base management fees to GECM and, because interest payments will then be payable on a larger principal amount, the PIK election also increases GECM’s future Income Incentive Fees (as defined below) at a compounding rate. The deferral of interest on a PIK loan increases its loan-to-value ratio, which is a measure of the riskiness of a loan.

More generally, market prices of OID instruments are more volatile because they are impacted to a greater extent by interest rate changes than instruments that pay interest periodically in cash. Ordinarily, OID would also create the risk of non-refundable cash payments to GECM based on non-cash accruals that may never be realized; however, this risk is mitigated since the Investment Management Agreement requires GECM to defer any incentive fees on Accrued Unpaid Income (as defined below), the effect of which is that Income Incentive Fees otherwise payable with respect to Accrued Unpaid Income become payable only if, as, when and to the extent cash is received by us or our consolidated subsidiaries in respect thereof.

Additionally, we may be required to make distributions of non-cash income to stockholders without receiving any cash so as to satisfy certain requirements necessary to maintain our RIC status for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such required cash distributions may have to be paid from the sale of our assets without investors being given any notice of this fact. The required recognition of non-cash income, including PIK and OID interest, for U.S. federal income tax purposes may have a negative impact on liquidity because it represents a non-cash component of our taxable income that must, nevertheless, be distributed to investors to avoid us being subject to corporate level taxation.

Further, our investment in Avanti, which represented less than 1% of our investment portfolio (excluding cash and short-term investments) as of March 31, 2022 and approximately 1.04% of our total investment income for the 12 months ended March 31, 2022, has resulted in PIK interest, which increases our exposure to the aforementioned risks. As of March 31, 2022, the fair value of the Factoring Loan, Avanti 1.25 Lien Loan and Avanti 1.125 Lien Loan were written down and we put our investments in such investments on non-accrual, with any accrued and uncapitalized interest income reversed as of March 31, 2022. Please see “—Risks Relating to Our Investments—Our investment in Avanti has been written down and placed on non-accrual status and we may lose all of our investment in Avanti.”

We may distribute a portion of our taxable distributions in the form of shares of our stock. In accordance with certain applicable U.S. Treasury regulations and other related administrative pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service, a RIC may be eligible to treat a distribution of its own stock as fulfilling its RIC distribution requirements if each stockholder is permitted to elect to receive his or her entire distribution in either cash or stock of the RIC, subject to the satisfaction of certain guidelines. If too many stockholders elect to receive cash, each stockholder electing to receive cash must receive a pro rata amount of cash (with the balance of the distribution paid in stock). If these and certain other requirements are met, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of the distribution paid in stock generally will be equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of stock. Taxable stockholders receiving such distributions will be required to include the full amount of the distribution as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of their share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be subject to tax with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a distribution in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the distribution, 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 distributions, including in respect of all or a portion of such distribution that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on distributions, such sales may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.

If we engage in hedging transactions, we may expose our self 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. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions increase. It may not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that is generally anticipated because we may not be able to enter into a hedging transaction at an

acceptable price. 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.

No assurance can be given that we will be able to qualify for and maintain RIC status. To maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code, we must meet certain annual distribution, source of income and asset diversification requirements.

The Annual Distribution Requirement for a RIC will be satisfied if we distribute to our stockholders on an annual basis at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Because we may use debt financing, we may be subject to asset coverage ratio requirements under the Investment Company Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement. If we are unable to make the required distributions, we could fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax.

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 asset diversification requirement will be satisfied if we meet asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of our taxable year. Failure to meet the asset diversification requirements could result in us having to dispose of investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status. Because most of our investments will be relatively illiquid, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses. Further, the illiquidity of our investments may make them difficult or impossible to dispose of in a timely manner.

If we fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment for any reason and become subject to corporate U.S. federal income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions and the value of our shares of common stock.

The incentive fee payable by us to GECM creates an incentive for GECM to pursue investments on our behalf that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such a compensation arrangement. The incentive fee payable to GECM is calculated based on a percentage of our return on invested capital. In addition, GECM’s base management fee is calculated on the basis of our gross assets, including assets acquired through the use of leverage. This may encourage GECM to use leverage to increase the aggregate amount of and the return on our investments, even when it may not be appropriate to do so, and to refrain from reducing debt levels when it would otherwise be appropriate to do so. The use of leverage increases our likelihood of default, which would impair the value of our securities. In addition, GECM will receive the incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. Unlike that portion of the incentive fee based on income, there will be no hurdle rate applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains. As a result, GECM may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities. Such a practice could result in us investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

We may invest in the securities and instruments of other investment companies, including private funds, and we will bear our ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including management and performance fees. We will also remain obligated to pay management and incentive fees to GECM with respect to the assets invested in the securities and instruments of other investment companies. With respect to each of these

investments, each of our stockholders will bear its share of the management and incentive fee payable to GECM, as well as indirectly bearing the management and performance fees and other expenses of any investment companies in which we invest.

In addition, if we purchase our debt instruments and such purchase results in our recording a net gain on the extinguishment of debt for financial reporting and tax purposes, such net gain will be included in our pre-incentive fee net investment income for purposes of determining the Income Incentive Fee payable to GECM under the Investment Management Agreement.

Finally, the incentive fee payable by us to GECM also may create an incentive for GECM to invest on our behalf in instruments that have a deferred interest feature, such as investments with PIK provisions. Under these investments, we would accrue the interest over the life of the investment but would typically not receive the cash income from the investment until the end of the term or upon the investment being called by the issuer. Our net investment income used to calculate the income portion of our incentive fee, however, includes accrued interest. The portion of the incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest, such as PIK, will not be paid to GECM until we receive such interest in cash. Even though such portion of the incentive fee will be paid only when the accrued income is collected, the accrued income is capitalized and included in the calculation of the base management fee. In other words, when deferred interest income (such as PIK) is accrued, a corresponding Income Incentive Fee (if any) is also accrued (but not paid) based on that income. After the accrual of such income, it is capitalized and added to the debt balance, which increases our total assets and thus the base management fee paid following such capitalization. If any such interest is reversed in connection with any write-off or similar treatment of the investment, we will reverse the Income Incentive Fee accrual and an Income Incentive Fee will not be payable with respect to such uncollected interest. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of whether GECM met the hurdle rate to earn the incentive fee will become uncollectible.

Given the structure of the Investment Management Agreement, any general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for GECM to meet the quarterly hurdle rate for payment of Income Incentive Fees under the Investment Management Agreement without any additional increase in relative performance on the part of GECM. In addition, in view of the catch-up provision applicable to Income Incentive Fees under the Investment Management Agreement, GECM could potentially receive a significant portion of the increase in our investment income attributable to such a general increase in interest rates. If that were to occur, our increase in net earnings, if any, would likely be significantly smaller than the relative increase in GECM’s Income Incentive Fee resulting from such a general increase in interest rates.

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

As a publicly traded company, we incur legal, accounting and other expenses, including costs associated with the periodic reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as additional corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and other rules implemented by our government.

We and our portfolio companies are subject to applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and you, potentially with retroactive effect. Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourself of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of GECM to other types of investments in which the investment committee may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In October 2020, the SEC adopted a revised version of Rule 18f-4, which is designed to modernize the regulation of the use of derivatives by registered investment companies and BDCs. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 limits a fund’s derivatives exposure through a value-at-risk test and requires the adoption and implementation of a derivatives risk management program, subject to certain exceptions. Additionally, subject to certain conditions, funds that do not invest heavily in derivatives may be deemed limited derivatives users and would not be subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC also eliminated the asset segregation and cover framework arising from prior SEC guidance for covering derivatives and certain financial instruments. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 will be required in August 2022. Rule 18f-4 could limit our ability to engage in certain derivatives and other transactions and/or increase the costs of such transactions, which could adversely affect our value or performance.

Under the Investment Company Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by us in accordance with our written valuation policy, with our Board having final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our estimate of fair value. Often, there will not be a public market for the securities of the privately held companies in which we invest. As a result, we will value these securities on a quarterly basis at fair value based on input from management, third-party independent valuation firms and our Audit Committee, with the oversight, review and approval of our Board. We consult with an independent valuation firm in valuing all securities in which we invest classified as “Level 3,” other than investments which are less than 1% of NAV as of the applicable quarter end. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Valuation of Portfolio Investments.”

The determination of fair value and consequently, the amount of unrealized gains and losses in our portfolio, are subjective and dependent on a valuation process approved and overseen by our Board. Factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include, among others, estimates of the collectability of the principal and interest on our debt investments and expected realization on our equity investments, as well as external events, such as private mergers, sales and acquisitions involving comparable companies. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies and small cap public companies, are inherently uncertain, they may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates. Our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our NAV on a given date to materially misstate the value that we may ultimately realize on one or more of our investments. As a result, investors purchasing our securities based on an overstated NAV would pay a higher price than the value of our investments might warrant. Conversely, investors selling securities during a period in which the NAV understates the value of our investments will receive a lower price for their securities than the value of our investments might otherwise warrant.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our ability to effectively manage and deploy capital, which depends, in turn, on GECM’s ability to identify, evaluate and monitor, and our ability to finance and invest in, companies that meet our investment criteria.

Accomplishing our investment objective on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of GECM’s handling of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services and its access to investments offering acceptable terms. In addition to monitoring the performance of our existing investments, GECM may also be called upon, from time to time, to provide managerial assistance to some of our portfolio companies. These demands on their time may distract them or slow the rate of investment.

Even if we are able to grow and build out our investment operations, any failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Our results of operations will depend on many factors, including the availability of opportunities for investment, readily accessible short and long-term funding alternatives in the financial markets and economic conditions.

We may hold assets in cash or short-term treasury securities in situations where we or GECM expects downward pricing in the high yield market. Our strategic decision not to be fully invested may, from time to time, reduce funds available for distribution and cause downward pressure on the price of our common stock.

The occurrence of a disaster such as a cyber-attack, a natural catastrophe, an epidemic or pandemic, an industrial accident, a terrorist attack or war, events anticipated or unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems, or a failure in externally provided data systems, 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. Our ability to effectively conduct our business could be severely compromised. The financial markets we operate in are dependent upon third-party data systems to link buyers and sellers and provide pricing information.

We depend heavily upon computer systems to perform necessary business functions. 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 expect to experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, system failures and disruptions. These failures and disruptions may be more likely to occur as a result of employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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, respectively.

Terrorist acts, acts of war, natural disasters or an epidemic or pandemic may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts, including, for example, Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability. For example, the outbreak of COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization to be a “public health emergency of international concern,” and spread across the globe, impacting worldwide economic activity. A public health epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19, poses the risk that we, GECM, our portfolio companies or other business partners may be prevented from conducting business activities for an indefinite period of time, including due to shutdowns that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. While it is not possible at this time to estimate the impact that COVID-19 could have on our business, the continued spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the governments of countries affected could disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of products and adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

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.

Certain of our executive officers and directors, and members of the investment committee of GECM, serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of other entities, including ICAM or funds managed by ICAM, and affiliates of GECM and investment funds managed by our affiliates. Accordingly, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in our or our stockholders' best interests or that may require them to devote time to services for other entities, which could interfere with the time available to provide services to us. For example, Matt Kaplan, our Chief Executive Officer and President, is a portfolio manager at GECM and a member of its investment committee.

Although funds managed by GECM may have different primary investment objectives than we do, they may from time to time invest in asset classes similar to those targeted by us. GECM is not restricted from raising an investment fund with investment objectives similar to ours. Any such funds may also, from time to time, invest in asset classes similar to those targeted by us. It is possible that we may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by investment funds managed by investment managers affiliated with GECM. GECC’s participation in any negotiated co-investment opportunities (other than those in which the only term negotiated is price) with investment funds managed by investment managers under common control with GECM is subject to compliance with the Exemptive Relief Order.

We will pay management and incentive fees to GECM, and will reimburse GECM for certain expenses it incurs. In addition, investors in our common stock will invest on a gross basis and receive distributions on a net basis after expenses, resulting in, among other things, a lower rate of return than one might achieve through direct investments.

GECM's management fee is based on a percentage of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed funds) and GECM may have conflicts of interest in connection with decisions that could affect our total assets, such as decisions as to whether to incur indebtedness.

The part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our pre-incentive fee net investment income is computed and paid on income that may include interest that is accrued but not yet received in cash. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan or note that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible.

The Investment Management Agreement renews for successive annual periods if approved by our Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not interested persons. However, both we and GECM have the right to terminate the agreement without penalty upon 60 days' written notice to the other party. Moreover, conflicts of interest may arise if GECM seeks to change the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including, for example, the terms for compensation.

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, we pay GECM our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by GECM in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including our allocable portion of the cost of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs.

As a result of the arrangements described above, there may be times when our management team has interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict.

Our stockholders may have conflicting investment, tax and other objectives with respect to their investments in us. The conflicting interests of individual stockholders may relate to or arise from, among other things, the nature of our investments, the structure or the acquisition of our investments, and the timing of disposition of our investments. As a consequence, conflicts of interest may arise in connection with decisions made by GECM, including with respect to the nature or structuring of our investments, that may be more beneficial for one

stockholder than for another stockholder, especially with respect to stockholders' individual tax situations. In selecting and structuring investments appropriate for us, GECM will consider the investment and tax objectives of us and our stockholders, as a whole, not the investment, tax or other objectives of any stockholder individually.

The COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing and we expect to continue to experience disruptions that could adversely impact our business. It is unknown how long these disruptions may continue. The outbreak of COVID-19 may also have a material adverse impact on the ability of our portfolio companies to fulfill their end customers’ orders due to supply chain delays, increased costs due to inflation, limited access to key commodities or technologies or other events that impact their manufacturers or their suppliers. Such events have affected, and may in the future affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. As the global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve, the extent to which COVID-19 will continue to impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused inflation and interest rate volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets, including investments the Company holds, and may adversely affect the Company’s investments and operations. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff reductions), supply chains and consumer activity, upward inflationary pressures, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These disruptions have led to instability in the market place, including stock market losses and overall volatility. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19, in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.

The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of our investments, us and your investment in us. In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on either specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in us being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price their investments.

We and GECM have taken steps reasonably designed to ensure that they maintain normal business operations, and that we, our portfolio and assets are protected. However, in the event of a pandemic or an outbreak, such as COVID-19, there can be no assurance that we, the Investment Advisor and service providers, or our portfolio companies, will be able to maintain normal business operations for an extended period of time or will not lose the services of key personnel on a temporary or long-term basis due to illness or other reasons. A pandemic or disease could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the investment manager relies and could otherwise disrupt the ability of our service providers to perform essential tasks.

Governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. Certain of those policy changes, such as the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020, are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities. The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its full impacts are unknown, resulting in a high degree of uncertainty for potentially extended periods of time.

The U.S. capital markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruption following the global outbreak of COVID-19 that began in December 2019. Some economists and major investment banks have expressed concern that the continued spread of the virus globally could lead to a world-wide economic downturn. Disruptions in the capital markets have increased the spread between the yields realized on risk-free and higher risk securities, resulting in illiquidity in parts of the capital markets. These and future market disruptions and/or illiquidity would be expected to have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Unfavorable economic conditions also would be expected to 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 have limited and could continue to limit our investment originations, limit our ability to grow and have a material negative impact on our operating results and the fair values of our debt and equity investments.

We intend to make distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. Stockholders are advised that a distribution does not necessarily indicate a return of profit as such dividends also include a return of capital. 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 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, including the COVID-19 pandemic described above. For example, if the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores and manufacturing facilities and factories in the jurisdictions, including the United States, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were to continue for an extended period of time it could result in reduced cash flows to us from our existing portfolio companies, which could reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make cash distributions. Further, if we invest a greater amount of assets in equity securities that do not pay current dividends, it could reduce the amount available for distribution. The above referenced restrictions on distributions may also inhibit our ability to make required interest payments to holders of our debt, which may cause a default under the terms of our debt agreements. Such a default could materially increase our cost of raising capital, as well as cause us to incur penalties under the terms of our debt agreements.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the market perception that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. As of November 4, 2021, all of the shares of our common stock issued to GEG were registered, which represent approximately 21.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock at March 31, 2022.

The trading price of our common stock will likely fluctuate substantially. The price of our common stock may increase or decrease, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

If the price of shares of our common stock decreases, an investor may lose money if he were to sell his shares of our common stock.

In addition, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Due to the potential volatility of the price of our securities, we may become the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from our business.

The Maryland General Corporation Law and our organizational documents contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of GECC or the removal of our directors. We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act and the Investment Company Act. If our Board, including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons as defined in the Investment Company Act, does not approve a business combination, the Maryland Business Combination Act may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. Our Board could amend our bylaws to repeal our current exemption from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act. The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of GECC and increase the difficulty of consummating such a transaction.

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our organizational documents, our Board 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, our Board is required by Maryland law and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, our Board could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve premium prices for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our common stockholders. Certain matters under the Investment Company Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, holders of preferred stock would vote as a separate class from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations as a BDC. In addition, the Investment Company Act provides that holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote separately from holders of common stock to elect two preferred stock directors. The issuance of preferred stock convertible into shares of common stock may also reduce the net income and NAV per share of our common stock upon conversion. These effects, among others, could have an adverse effect on an investment in our common stock.

Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. This characteristic of closed-end investment companies is separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV per share of common stock may decline.

We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current NAV per share of our common stock if our Board determines that such sale is in the best interests of GECC and our stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board, equals the fair value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount calculated). If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, then the percentage of our existing stockholders’ ownership at that time will decrease, and they may experience dilution.

We intend to make distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution (i.e., not subject to any legal restrictions under Maryland law on the distribution thereof). 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 document. Due to the asset coverage test applicable to us under the Investment Company 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 of an investor’s basis in our stock and, assuming that an investor holds our stock as a capital asset, thereafter as a capital gain. Stockholders who periodically receive the payment of a distribution consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits when they are not. Stockholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from us is net profit.

We currently intend to distribute realized net capital gains (i.e., net long term capital gains in excess of short term capital losses), if any, at least annually, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment and elect to treat such gains as deemed distributions to our stockholders. If this happens, you will be treated as if you had received an actual distribution of the capital gains we retain and reinvested the net after tax proceeds in GECC. 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.

Our current intention is to make any distributions in additional shares of our common stock under our dividend reinvestment plan out of assets legally available therefor, unless you elect to receive your distributions and/or long-term capital gains distributions in cash. If you hold shares in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, you should contact the broker or financial intermediary regarding your election to receive distributions in cash.

We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the Investment Company Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

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 NAV 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.

The Investment Company Act prohibits us from selling shares of our common stock at a price below the current NAV per share of such stock, with certain exceptions. Our shares might trade at premiums that are unsustainable or at discounts from NAV.

Shares of BDCs like us may, during some periods, trade at prices higher than their NAV per share and, during other periods, as frequently occurs with closed-end investment companies, trade at prices lower than their NAV 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 NAV per share.

The possibility that our shares will trade at a discount from NAV or at premiums that are unsustainable are risks separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV 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 NAV per share.

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 Investment Company 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 BDCs by increasing our borrowings or issuing senior securities such as preferred stock or additional debt securities.

We have existing indebtedness and may in the future borrow additional money, including borrowings under a Loan, Guarantee and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with City National Bank (“CNB”), each of which magnifies the potential for loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing with us. Our ability to service our existing and potential future debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. The amount of leverage that we could employ at any particular time will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing.

Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities. Holders of such debt securities would have fixed dollar claims on our consolidated assets that would be superior to the claims of our common stockholders or any preferred stockholders.

If the value of our consolidated assets decreases while we have debt outstanding, leveraging would cause our NAV to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our consolidated income while we have debt outstanding would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make common stock distributions. We cannot assure you that our leveraging strategy will be successful.

Illustration. The following tables illustrate the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns, net of expenses. The first table assumes the actual amount of senior securities outstanding as of March 31, 2022. The second table assumes the maximum amount of senior securities outstanding as permitted under our asset coverage ratio of 150%. See “—Incurring additional indebtedness could increase the risk in investing in our Company.” The calculations in the tables below are hypothetical and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing below.

In 2018, our stockholders approved of the reduction of our required minimum asset coverage ratio from 200% to 150%, permitting us to incur additional leverage. 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.

As of March 31, 2022, we had approximately $145.9 million of total outstanding indebtedness under three series of senior securities (unsecured notes)—the GECCM Notes, the GECCN Notes and the GECCO Notes (each as defined below)—and our asset coverage ratio was 147.5%. Section 18(e) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of Section 18 shall not apply to any senior securities issued or sold for the purpose of redeeming any other senior security. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering of 5.875% notes due 2026 (the “GECCO Notes”) was used to redeem all of the outstanding 6.50% Notes due 2022 (the “GECCL Notes”) and in accordance with Section 18(e), we excluded an amount equal to the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the GECCL Notes from the calculation of the asset coverage ratio as of June 30, 2021.

On May 5, 2021, we entered into the Loan Agreement, which provides for a senior secured revolving line of credit of up to $25 million (subject to a borrowing base). We may request to increase the revolving line in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25 million, which increase is subject to the sole discretion of CNB. Holders of our GECCM Notes, GECCN Notes and GECCO Notes have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders, and such holders may seek to recover against our assets in the event of a default.

If we are unable to meet the financial obligations under any of the Loan Agreement or any series of our outstanding unsecured notes, the holders of such indebtedness would have a superior claim to our assets over our common stockholders in the event of a default by us. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause NAV to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged, thereby magnifying

losses. 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. Our ability to service any debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. Moreover, as the base management fee payable to GECM, our investment advisor, is payable based on the average value of our total assets, including those assets acquired through the use of leverage, GECM will have a financial incentive to incur leverage, which may not be consistent with our stockholders’ interests. In addition, our common stockholders bear the burden of any increase in our fees or expenses as a result of our use of leverage, including interest expenses and any increase in the base management fee payable to GECM.

As of March 31, 2022, our asset coverage ratio fell below the required minimum under the Investment Company Act. Accordingly, we will not be able to incur additional debt until we are able to comply with the asset coverage ratio applicable to us. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to make distributions to stockholders. The actual amount of leverage that we employ will depend on GECM’s and our Board’s 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.

If we incur additional leverage, general interest rate fluctuations may have a more significant negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations than they would have absent such additional incurrence, and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our investment objectives and rate of return on investment capital. A portion of our income will depend upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the interest rate on the debt securities in which we invest. Because we may borrow money to make investments and may issue debt securities, preferred stock or other securities, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities, preferred stock or other securities and the rate at which we invest these borrowed funds.

We expect that a majority of our investments in debt will continue to be at floating rates with a floor. As a result, significant increase in market interest rates could result in an increase in our non-performing assets and a decrease in the value of our portfolio because our floating-rate loan portfolio companies may be unable to meet higher payment obligations. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, resulting in a decrease in our net investment income. Incurring additional leverage will magnify the impact of an increase to our cost of funds. In addition, a decrease in interest rates may reduce net income, because new investments may be made at lower rates despite the increased demand for our capital that the decrease in interest rates may produce. To the extent our additional borrowings are in fixed-rate instruments, we may be required to invest in higher-yield securities in order to cover our interest expense and maintain our current level of return to stockholders, which may increase the risk of an investment in our securities.

For all periods presented in the table above, there was no return of capital included in any distribution.

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 or premium to NAV is separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV will decrease. During the last two fiscal years, our common stock has generally traded below NAV. During the last two fiscal years, using the high and low sales prices within each fiscal quarter compared to the NAV at such quarter end, our common stock has traded as high as a 59.9% premium to NAV and as low as a 51.0% discount to NAV.

The last reported closing price for our common stock on May 16, 2022 was $12.74 per share. As of May 16, 2022, we had 10 record holders of our common stock.

The following table summarizes our distributions declared for record dates since January 1, 2020:

Our Board set the distribution for the quarter ending September 30, 2022 at a rate of $0.45 per share. The full amount of each distribution will be from distributable earnings. The schedule of distribution payments will be established by GECC pursuant to authority granted by our Board. The September distribution will be paid in cash, so long as our asset coverage ratio is 150% or greater at the time of the payment of such distribution. As of March 31, 2022, our asset coverage ratio is below the minimum asset coverage ratio of 150%, as such we are subject to certain limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make cash distributions on junior securities or repurchase junior securities, including the common stock offered hereby, in each case, in accordance with the Investment Company Act and the indentures governing our outstanding notes, until such time we are above the such minimum asset coverage ratio.

Our Board has determined that it is in our best interest and the best interests of our stockholders to raise additional capital (i) to make opportunistic investments, in accordance with our investment objectives and policies, including investments in specialty finance businesses, and (ii) for general corporate purposes. We do not currently intend to use the proceeds from this offering to fund cash distributions. All costs of this rights offering will be borne by our stockholders whether or not they exercise their rights. In connection with the approval of this rights offering, our Board considered a number of factors, including the following factors:

We cannot provide you any assurance of the amount of dilution that a stockholder will experience, that the current offering will be successful, or that by increasing the amount of our available capital, our aggregate expenses and, correspondingly, our expense ratio will be lowered. In addition, the management fee we pay to GECM is based on the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents, but including assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and net proceeds from this offering), so we expect to incur increased management fees payable to GECM as a result of this offering.

In determining that this offering is advisable and in our best interest and in the best interests of our stockholders, we have retained Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Imperial Capital, LLC, the dealer managers for this offering, to provide us with certain marketing and soliciting services relating to this offering, including advice with respect to the structure, timing and terms of the offering.

Although we have no present intention to do so, we may, in the future and in our discretion, choose to make additional rights offerings from time to time for a number of shares and on terms which may or may not be similar to this offering, provided that our Board must determine that each subsequent rights offering is in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. Any such future rights offering will be made in accordance with the Investment Company Act.

We are issuing to record date stockholders non-transferable rights to subscribe for up to approximately 4,601,391 shares of our common stock. Each record date stockholder is being issued one non-transferable right for each whole share of our common stock owned on the record date. No fractional rights or cash in lieu thereof will be issued or paid. The rights entitle each holder, or rights holder, to acquire one share for every right held (one for one), which we refer to as the primary subscription right.

Rights may be exercised at any time during the subscription period, which commences on May 26, 2022 and ends at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 10, 2022, unless extended by us (the “Expiration Date”). The Subscription Price per share will be $12.50.

The rights are non-transferable and will not be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other stock exchange. The rights may not be purchased or sold, and there will not be any market for trading the rights. The shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to this offering will be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GECC.” The rights will be evidenced by subscription certificates which will be mailed to stockholders, except as discussed below under “—Non-U.S. Stockholders.”

Shares for which there is no subscription during the primary subscription right will be offered, by means of the over-subscription privilege, to record date stockholders who fully exercise the rights issued to them pursuant to this offering and who wish to acquire more than the number of shares they are entitled to purchase pursuant to the exercise of their rights. Shares acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege are subject to certain limitations and pro rata allocations. See “—Over-Subscription Privilege” below.

For purposes of determining the number of shares a record date stockholder may acquire pursuant to the offer, broker-dealers, trust companies, banks or others whose shares are held of record by Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or by any other depository or nominee will be deemed to be the holders of the rights that are issued to Cede or the other depository or nominee on their behalf.

There is no minimum number of rights which must be exercised in order for the offering to close.

Shares not subscribed for by rights holders, which we refer to as remaining shares, will be offered, by means of the over-subscription privilege, to record date stockholders who have fully exercised the rights issued to them and who wish to acquire more than the number of shares they are entitled to purchase pursuant to the primary subscription rights. Rights holders should indicate on the subscription certificate that they submit with respect to the exercise of the rights issued to them how many additional shares they are willing to acquire pursuant to the over-subscription privilege. If there are sufficient remaining shares, all rights holders’ over-subscription requests will be honored in full. If record date stockholders’ (other than the Participating Shareholders who may participate in the over-subscription privilege as described below) requests for shares pursuant to the over-subscription privilege exceed the remaining shares available, the available remaining shares will be allocated pro-rata among rights holders who over-subscribe based on the number of shares held on the record date. The percentage of remaining shares each over-subscribing stockholder may acquire will be rounded down to result in delivery of whole shares. The formula to be used in allocating the remaining shares is as follows:

However, if this pro-rata allocation results in any holder being allocated a greater number of shares than the holder subscribed for pursuant to the exercise of the over-subscription privilege, then such holder will be

allocated only such number of shares pursuant to the over-subscription privilege as such holder subscribed for. The allocation process may involve a series of allocations to assure that the total number of remaining shares available for over-subscriptions is distributed on a pro-rata basis.

Banks, brokers, trustees and other nominee holders of rights will be required to certify to the subscription agent, before any over-subscription privilege may be exercised with respect to any particular beneficial owner, as to the aggregate number of rights exercised pursuant to the primary subscription rights and the number of shares subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege by such beneficial owner and that such beneficial owner’s primary subscription right was exercised in full. We will not offer or sell in connection with the offering any shares that are not subscribed for pursuant to the primary subscription rights or the over-subscription privilege.

GEG intends to subscribe for at least $12.5 million in the rights offering, and the Participating Shareholders have indicated that they intend to subscribe. Any over-subscription by the Participating Shareholders would be effected only after pro rata allocation of over-subscription shares to record date holders (other than the Participating Shareholders) who fully exercise their rights. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that certain Participating Shareholders will acquire any shares of our common stock through their exercise of the over-subscription privileges.

The Subscription Price per share will be $12.50. Rights holders who exercise their rights will have no right to rescind their subscriptions after receipt of their completed subscription certificates together with payment for shares by the subscription agent. We do not have the right to withdraw the rights or cancel this offering after the delivery of the shares of our common stock offered hereby.

The offering will expire on the Expiration Date, unless the offering is extended by us. The rights will expire on the Expiration Date and may not be exercised thereafter.

Our Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may determine to extend the subscription period, and thereby postpone the Expiration Date, to the extent our Board, or such committee, determines that doing so is in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. For example, our Board may elect to extend the subscription period in the event there is substantial instability or volatility in the trading price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market at or near the Expiration Date, or if any event occurs which causes trading to cease or be suspended on the Nasdaq Global Market or the financial markets generally. The foregoing are not the only circumstances under which this offering may be extended, and our Board is free to extend the subscription period at its discretion, provided it determines that doing so is in the best interests of our stockholders.

Any extension of the offering will be followed as promptly as practicable by announcement thereof, and in no event later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day following the previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make such announcement, we will not, unless otherwise required by law, have any obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such announcement other than by issuing a press release or such other means of announcement as we deem appropriate.

Any stockholder who chooses not to participate in the offering, or who does not fully exercise their rights, will own a smaller interest in us upon completion of the offering. The offering will dilute the ownership interest and voting power of stockholders who do not fully exercise their primary subscription rights. Further, because the net proceeds per share from the offering will likely be lower than our then-current NAV per share, the offering may substantially reduce our NAV per share. See “Dilution.”

We reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this offering, whether the amended terms are more or less favorable to you. We will comply with all applicable laws, including the federal securities laws, in connection with any such amendment.

We may, in our sole discretion, terminate the rights offering at any time prior to delivery of the shares of our common stock offered hereby by giving oral or written notice thereof to the subscription agent and making a public announcement thereof. If the offering is terminated, all rights will expire without value, and we will promptly arrange for the refund, without interest or penalty, of all funds received from holders of rights. In addition, the dealer managers have the right to terminate the dealer manager agreement. All monies received by the subscription agent in connection with the offering will be held by the subscription agent, on our behalf, in a segregated non-interest-bearing account.

AST Fund Solutions, LLC will act as the information agent and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC will act as the subscription agent in connection with the offering. In its capacity as information agent, AST Fund Solutions, LLC will receive for its services a fee estimated to be approximately $9,500 plus reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses related to the offering. In its capacity as subscription agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC will receive for its administrative, processing, invoicing and other services a fee estimated to be approximately $25,000, plus reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses related to the offering and an execution fee for each exercise. AST Fund Solutions, LLC and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC can be contacted at the below addresses and phone numbers:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

Phone: (877) 248-6417

AST Fund Solutions, LLC

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Phone: (877) 478-5043

Completed subscription certificates must be sent together with full payment of the Subscription Price for all shares subscribed for in the primary subscription rights and pursuant to the over-subscription privilege to the subscription agent by the method described below. We will accept only properly completed and duly executed subscription certificates actually received at any of the addresses listed below, on or prior to the expiration date. See “—Payment for Shares” below.

Any questions or requests for assistance concerning the method of subscribing for shares or for additional copies of this prospectus or subscription certificates may be directed to the information agent at its telephone number and address listed above.

Stockholders may also contact their broker-dealers or nominees for information with respect to the offering.

Rights are evidenced by subscription certificates that, except as described below under “—Non-U.S. Stockholders,” will be mailed to record date stockholders or, if a record date stockholder’s shares are held by Cede or any other depository or nominee on their behalf, to Cede or such depository or nominee. Rights may be

exercised by completing and signing the subscription certificate that accompanies this prospectus and mailing it in the envelope provided, or otherwise delivering the completed and duly executed subscription certificate to the subscription agent, together with payment in full for the shares at the Subscription Price by the Expiration Date. Completed subscription certificates and related payments must be received by the subscription agent on or prior to the Expiration Date at the offices of the subscription agent at the address set forth above.

Record date stockholders who fully exercise all primary subscription rights issued to them may participate in the over-subscription privilege by indicating on their subscription certificate the number of shares they are willing to acquire. If sufficient remaining shares are available after the primary subscription, all over-subscriptions will be honored in full; otherwise remaining shares will be allocated as described under “—Over-Subscription Privilege” above.

Record date stockholders whose shares are held by a nominee, such as a bank, broker-dealer or trustee, must contact that nominee to exercise their rights. In that case, the nominee will complete the subscription certificate on behalf of the record date stockholder and arrange for proper payment as set forth under “— Payment for Shares” below.

Nominees, such as brokers, trustees or depositories for securities, who hold shares for the account of others, should notify the respective beneficial owners of the shares as soon as possible to ascertain the beneficial owners’ intentions and to obtain instructions with respect to the rights. If the beneficial owner so instructs, the nominee should complete the subscription certificate and submit it to the subscription agent with the proper payment as described under “—Payment for Shares” below.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including times of receipt and matters pertaining to beneficial ownership) and the acceptance of subscription forms and the Subscription Price will be determined by us, which determinations will be final and binding. No alternative, conditional or contingent subscriptions will be accepted. We reserve the right to reject any or all subscriptions not properly submitted or the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful.

We reserve the right to reject any exercise if such exercise is not in accordance with the terms of this rights offering or not in proper form or if the acceptance thereof or the issuance of shares of our common stock thereto could be deemed unlawful. We reserve the right to waive any deficiency or irregularity with respect to any subscription certificate. Subscriptions will not be deemed to have been received or accepted until all irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as we determine in our sole discretion. We will not be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in connection with the submission of subscription certificates or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

Subscription certificates will not be mailed to non-U.S. stockholders. Non-U.S. stockholders will receive written notice of this offering. The subscription agent will hold the rights to which those subscription certificates relate for these stockholders’ accounts until instructions are received to exercise the rights, subject to applicable law. If no instructions have been received by the Expiration Date, such rights will expire.

A participating rights holder may send the subscription certificate together with payment for the shares acquired in the primary subscription right and any additional shares subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege to the subscription agent. To be accepted, the estimated payment, together with a properly completed and executed subscription certificate, must be received by the subscription agent at one of the subscription agent’s offices set forth above, on or prior to the Expiration Date.

Participating rights holders will have no right to rescind their subscriptions after receipt of their completed subscription certificates together with payment for shares by the subscription agent.

All payments by a participating rights holder must be in U.S. dollars by check or bank draft drawn on a bank or branch located in the United States and payable to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as subscription agent. A participating rights holder may also wire the transfer of immediately available funds directly to the account maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as subscription agent, for purposes of accepting subscriptions in this rights offering at JP Morgan Chase, SWIFT Code - CHASUS33, ABA # 021000021, Account # 530-354616, Beneficiary: American Stock Transfer, with reference to “American Stock Transfer as Subscription Agent for Great Elm Capital Corp.” and the rights holder’s name. The subscription agent will deposit all funds received by it prior to the final payment date into a segregated account pending pro-ration and distribution of the shares.

The method of delivery of subscription certificates and payment of the Subscription Price to us will be at the election and risk of the participating rights holders, but if sent by mail it is recommended that such certificates and payments be sent by registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, and that a sufficient number of days be allowed to ensure delivery to the subscription agent and clearance of payment on prior to the Expiration Date. Because uncertified personal checks may take at least five business days to clear, you are strongly urged to pay, or arrange for payment, by means of certified or cashier’s check.

If a participating rights holder has not indicated the number of rights being exercised, or if a participating rights holder has not forwarded full payment of the Subscription Price for the number of rights that are indicated as being exercised, the participating rights holder will be deemed to have exercised the primary subscription right with respect to the maximum number of rights which may be exercised for the payment delivered, and to the extent that the payment delivered exceeds the product of the applicable per share Subscription Price multiplied by the number of rights evidenced by the subscription certificate(s) delivered and no direction is given as to the excess, any such excess will be returned to the participating rights holder by mail or similarly prompt means, without interest or deduction, as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date.

On a date within ten business days following the Expiration Date, the subscription agent will send to each participating rights holder (or, if rights are held by Cede or any other depository or nominee, to Cede or such other depository or nominee) a confirmation showing (1) the number of shares purchased pursuant to the primary subscription right, (2) the number of shares, if any, acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, (3) the per share and total purchase price for the shares, and (4) any additional amount payable to us by the participating rights holder or any excess to be refunded by us to the participating rights holder. Any additional payment required from a participating rights holder must be received by the subscription agent within ten business days after the confirmation date. Any excess payment to be refunded by us to a participating rights holder will be mailed by the subscription agent to the rights holder as promptly as practicable. No interest or penalty will be paid on any amounts refunded.

Issuance of the shares purchased is subject to collection of checks and actual payment. If a participating rights holder who subscribes for shares pursuant to the primary subscription right or over-subscription privilege does not make payment of any amounts due by the expiration date, or within ten business days of the confirmation date, as applicable, the subscription agent reserves the right to take any or all of the following actions: (1) reallocate the shares to other participating rights holders in accordance with the over-subscription privilege; (2) apply any payment actually received by it from the participating rights holder toward the purchase of the greatest whole number of shares which could be acquired by such participating rights holder upon exercise of the primary subscription right and/or the over-subscription privilege; and/or (3) exercise any and all other rights or remedies to which it may be entitled, including the right to set off against payments actually received by it with respect to such subscribed for shares.

All questions concerning the timeliness, validity, form and eligibility of any exercise of rights will be determined by us, whose determinations will be final and binding. We in our sole discretion may waive any defect or irregularity, or permit a defect or irregularity to be corrected within such time as we may determine, or reject the purported exercise of any right. Subscriptions will not be deemed to have been received or accepted until all irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as we determine in our sole discretion. The subscription agent will not be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in connection with the submission of subscription certificates or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

We will suspend the offering until we amend this prospectus if, subsequent to the effective date of this prospectus, our NAV declines more than 10% from our NAV as of that date. Accordingly, the Expiration Date would be extended and we would notify record date stockholders of the decline and permit participating rights holders to cancel their exercise of rights.

Participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will have any shares that they acquire pursuant to the offering credited to their stockholder dividend reinvestment accounts in the plan. Stockholders whose shares are held of record by Cede or by any other depository or nominee on their behalf or their broker-dealers’ behalf will have any shares that they acquire credited to the account of Cede or the other depository or nominee. With respect to stockholders who hold shares in certificated form, stock certificates for all shares acquired will be mailed after payment for all the shares subscribed for has cleared, which may take up to fifteen days from the date of receipt of the payment. With respect to all other stockholders, the ownership of shares purchased will be uncertificated and noted in book-entry form. The number of shares purchased will be shown on such stockholders’ statement of account.

benefit plans subject to ERISA (including corporate savings and 401(k) plans) or the Code (including Keogh or H.R. 10 plans of self-employed individuals and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”)) (collectively, “Plans”) or entities whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of a Plan’s investment in such entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”). As a result, a fiduciary of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA should determine whether the exercise of rights as well(including as the purchase, holding and disposition of any shares of common stock) satisfies the various fiduciary standards of ERISA, such as the prudence and diversification requirements, to the extent applicable, and would be consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities, and the documents and instruments governing the Plan. Furthermore, a stockholder that is a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity should determine whether the exercise of rights (including the purchase, holding and disposition of the shares of common stock) would constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code. ERISA and the Code contain certain exemptions from such prohibited transactions, and the U.S. Department of Labor has issued several exemptions, although there can be no assurance that any of these exemptions will be available with respect to the exercise of rights (including the purchase, holding and disposition of the shares of common stock).

Although governmental plans, certain church plans and non-U.S. plans may not be subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or the Code, they may be subject to similar laws that regulate their investments (“Similar Laws”). Consequently, fiduciaries of any such plans should make their own determination as to the requirements, if any, under any Similar Law applicable to the exercise of rights (including the purchase, holding and disposition of the shares of common stock).

In addition, because the exercise of rights will require the future funding of cash, stockholders that are Plans should be aware that additional contributions of cash to the Plan (other than rollover contributions or trustee-to-trustee transfers from other Plans) in order to exercise rights would be treated as contributions to the Plan and, when taken together with contributions previously made, may result in, among other things, excise taxes for excess or nondeductible contributions. In the case of Plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and certain other Plans, additional cash contributions could cause the maximum contribution limitations of Section 415 of the Code and other qualification rules to be violated. It may also be a reportable distribution and there may be other adverse tax and ERISA consequences if rights are sold by a Plan. If any portion of an IRA is used as security for a loan, the portion so used is also treated as distributed to the IRA depositor.

To address the abovementioned concerns about ERISA and the Code, any stockholders that are Plan or Plan Asset Entities that exercise their rights under this offering will be deemed to represent that either (i) the stockholder is not acquiring or holding the shares of common stock with the assets of (a) an “employee benefit plan” that is subject to Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, (c) any entity deemed under ERISA to hold “plan assets” of either of the foregoing by reason of an employee benefit plan or plan’s investment in such entity, or (d) a governmental plan, a church plan that has not made an election under Section 410(d) of the Code, or a non-U.S. plan; or (ii) the acquisition and holding of the shares of common stock by the stockholder will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of any Similar Law.

This summary of ERISA considerations is general in nature and does not address every issue pertaining to ERISA or the Code that may be applicable to us, the rights or a particular investor, and additional special issues may arise in the case of any Plan sponsored or maintained by us or any affiliate of ours. Accordingly, due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties for noncompliance, Plans should consult with their counsel and other advisors regarding the consequences of their exercise of rights (including the purchase, holding and disposition of shares of common stock) under ERISA and the Code or any applicable Similar Law.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Imperial Capital, LLC, each a broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, will act as dealer managers for this offering. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the dealer manager agreement, the dealer managers will provide certain marketing and soliciting services in connection with this offering and will solicit the exercise of rights and participation in the over-subscription privilege. We have agreed to pay the dealer managers a fee for their marketing and soliciting services equal to 1.75% of the Subscription Price for each share issued pursuant to this offering, other than for shares issued to the Participating Shareholders, for which the dealer managers will receive 1.0%. In addition, we

have agreed to pay certain fees and expenses of the dealer managers, including legal fees, in connection with the offering, subject to a cap of $150,000, and to pay the fees and expenses of the dealer managers in connection with review of this offering by FINRA. All costs of this rights offering will be borne by our stockholders whether or not they exercise their rights.

The dealer managers may reallow to other broker-dealers that have executed and delivered a soliciting dealer agreement and have solicited the exercise of rights, solicitation fees up to 0.7% of the Subscription Price for each share issued pursuant to the exercise of rights as a result of their soliciting efforts, subject to a maximum fee based on the number of shares held by each broker-dealer through the Depository Trust Company on the record date. Fees will be paid by us to the broker-dealer designated on the applicable portion of the subscription certificates or, in the absence of such designation, to the dealer managers.

We have agreed to indemnify the dealer managers for, or contribute to losses arising out of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The dealer manager agreement also provides that the dealer managers will not be subject to any liability to us in rendering the services contemplated by the dealer manager agreement except for any act of bad faith, willful misfeasance, fraud, or gross negligence of the dealer managers or reckless disregard by the dealer managers of their obligations and duties under the dealer manager agreement. In addition, we, GEC, GECM and our officers and directors have agreed, with certain exceptions, with the dealer managers that, for a period of 45 days following the date of the dealer manager agreement, to not directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell, enter into any agreement to sell, or otherwise dispose of, any of our equity or equity related securities or securities convertible into such securities without the prior written consent of the dealer managers. However, the dealer managers may in their sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the securities subject to these agreements.

The principal business address of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004. The principal business address of Imperial Capital, LLC is 10100 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 2400, Los Angeles, California 90067.

In connection with the offering, the dealer managers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

This offering is being conducted in compliance with Rule 5110 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

The dealer managers and/or their affiliates have from time to time performed and may in the future perform various commercial banking, financial advisory and investment banking services for us and our affiliates for which they have received or will receive customary compensation. The dealer managers may have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, such transactions or other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us, our affiliates or our portfolio companies, including certain affiliates of the dealer managers having acted as agent in connection with certain of our historical private placement transactions, and as lenders to us or our affiliates. They may have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of its business activities, the dealer managers and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates or our portfolio companies. The dealer managers and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

GECM will benefit from this offering through increased management fees payable to GECM because the management fee we pay to GECM is based on the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents, but including assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and net proceeds from this offering), so we expect to incur increased management fees payable to GECM as a result of this

offering. It is not possible to state precisely the amount of additional compensation GECM will receive as a result of this offering because it is not known how many shares will be subscribed for.

As a result of the terms of this offering, stockholders who do not fully exercise their rights will own, upon completion of this offering, a smaller proportional interest in us than they owned prior to the offering, including with respect to voting rights. To the extent that certain affiliates of GECM exercise their over¬subscription privileges and receive an allocation of shares, their respective ownership interests will increase.

In addition, because the Subscription Price per share will be less than the NAV per share, the offering will result in an immediate dilution of NAV per share for all of our stockholders and such dilution could be substantial. Any such dilution will disproportionately affect non-exercising stockholders. As the Subscription Price will be less than our then-current NAV per share at the Expiration Date, all stockholders will experience a decrease in the NAV per share held by them, irrespective of whether they exercise all or any portion of their rights. This offering will also cause dilution in the dividends per share we are able to make subsequent to completion of the offering. See “Dilution.”

The following table sets forth certain information as of March 31, 2022, for each portfolio company in which we had an investment. Other than these investments, our only formal relationships with our portfolio companies are the significant managerial assistance that we may provide upon request and the board observation or participation rights we may receive in connection with our investment. See “The Company—Our Portfolio at March 31, 2022” for a brief description of each company representing greater than 5% of our assets, excluding cash and short-term investments, at March 31, 2022.