Saratoga Investment Corp DEF 14A, filed Aug 5, 2025
Saratoga Investment Corp. (SAR)
About this DEF 14A
Saratoga Investment Corp filed this DEF 14A on August 5, 2025.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________________________
SCHEDULE
(RULE 14a-101)
_____________________________________
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
|
Filed by the Registrant |
☒ |
|
|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
☐ |
Check the appropriate box:
|
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|
|
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
|
|
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
|
|
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
|
|
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
___________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|
☒ |
No fee required. |
|
|
☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
|
|
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
Saratoga Investment Corp.
535 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
August 5, 2025
To the Stockholders of Saratoga Investment Corp.:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Saratoga Investment Corp., to be held at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, on September 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on July 29, 2025, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, including any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote electronically via the Internet or by telephone, or sign and return your proxy card so that your shares may be represented at the Annual Meeting. As discussed in the Proxy Statement, voting electronically via the Internet, by telephone or by returning the proxy or voting instruction card does not deprive you of your right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote your shares in person.
We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
Christian L. Oberbeck
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on September 25, 2025.
Our Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 are available at the following cookies-free website that can be accessed anonymously: www.proxyvote.com.
NOTICE OF 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
will be held at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
on September 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time
August 5, 2025
To the Stockholders of Saratoga Investment Corp.:
The 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Saratoga Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, on September 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:
1. to elect each of Steven M. Looney and Charles S. Whitman III as a director of the Company to serve until the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified;
2. to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026; and
3. to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
Holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on July 29, 2025, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you expect to be present in person at the Annual Meeting, please sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided, or vote via the Internet or telephone. Instructions are shown on the proxy card. In the event there are not sufficient votes for a quorum or to approve the foregoing proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Company.
Thank you for your support of Saratoga Investment Corp.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Henri J. Steenkamp
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
New York, New York
August 5, 2025
This is an important meeting. To ensure proper representation at the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the proxy card in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope, or vote your shares electronically through the Internet or by telephone. Please see the Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy for details about electronic voting. Proxies may be revoked at any time before they are exercised by submitting a written notice of revocation or subsequently executed proxy, or by attending the Annual Meeting in person.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
||
|
1 |
||
|
1 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
4 |
||
|
5 |
||
|
7 |
||
|
8 |
||
|
12 |
||
|
17 |
||
|
17 |
||
|
18 |
||
|
PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
20 |
|
|
22 |
||
|
22 |
||
|
24 |
||
|
24 |
||
|
24 |
i
Saratoga Investment Corp.
535 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
––––––––––––––––––––
PROXY STATEMENT
––––––––––––––––––––
2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
GENERAL
We are furnishing you this Proxy Statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). This Proxy Statement, the proxy card and the accompanying proxy materials are being mailed to stockholders on or about August 5, 2025. In this Proxy Statement, except where the context suggests otherwise, we refer to Saratoga Investment Corp. as the “Company,” “Saratoga,” “we,” “our” or “us” and the Board of Directors as the “Board.”
We encourage you to vote your shares, either by voting in person at the Annual Meeting or by granting a proxy (i.e., authorizing someone to vote your shares). If you properly sign and date the accompanying proxy card or otherwise provide voting instructions, either via the Internet or telephone, and the Company receives it in time for the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote the shares registered directly in your name in the manner that you specified. If you give no instructions on your signed proxy card, the shares covered by the proxy card will be voted FOR each of the proposals in accordance with the recommendation of the Board.
ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
Date and Location
We will hold the Annual Meeting on September 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.
Admission
Only record or beneficial owners of Saratoga common stock as of the close of business on July 29, 2025 (the “Record Date”) or their proxies may attend the Annual Meeting. Only holders of record or beneficial owners as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Beneficial owners must also provide evidence of stock holdings, such as a recent brokerage account or bank statement.
Purpose of Annual Meeting
At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to vote on the following:
1. to elect each of Steven M. Looney and Charles S. Whitman III as directors of the Company, each to serve until the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified; and
2. to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026.
1
VOTING INFORMATION
Record Date and Quorum
The Record Date is the close of business on July 29, 2025. You may cast one vote for each share of common stock that you own as of the Record Date. As of the Record Date, 15,951,835 shares of common stock were outstanding. A quorum is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” will be treated as shares present for determining whether a quorum is established. A “broker non-vote” with respect to a matter occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares on behalf of a beneficial owner has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner on a particular proposal and does not have discretionary authority to vote the shares on such proposal.
If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, or if a quorum is present but there are not enough votes to approve the proposals, the person named as chairman of the Annual Meeting may adjourn the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. A stockholder vote may be taken on a proposal in this Proxy Statement prior to any such adjournment if there are sufficient votes for approval of such proposal.
Submitting Voting Instructions for Shares Held Through a Broker
If you hold shares of common stock through a broker, bank or other nominee, you must follow the voting instructions you receive from your broker, bank or nominee. If you hold shares of common stock through a broker, bank or other nominee and you want to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares and present it at the Annual Meeting. Brokers, banks and other nominees will not have discretionary authority to vote on the proposal with respect to the election of directors. Therefore, if you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee is not permitted to vote your shares on the proposal being considered at the Annual Meeting. Brokers, banks and other nominees will have discretionary authority to vote for the ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in the event that they do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares.
Authorizing a Proxy for Shares Held in Your Name
If you are a record holder of shares of common stock, you may authorize a proxy to vote on your behalf by mail, as described on the enclosed proxy card. Authorizing a proxy will not limit your right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. A properly completed, executed and submitted proxy will be voted in accordance with your instructions, unless you subsequently revoke the proxy. If you authorize a proxy without indicating your voting instructions, the proxyholder will vote your shares FOR each of the proposals in accordance with the Board’s recommendations.
Revoking Your Proxy
If you are a stockholder of record, you can revoke your proxy by: (1) delivering a written revocation notice prior to the Annual Meeting to our Secretary, Henri J. Steenkamp, at 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022; (2) delivering a later-dated proxy that we receive no later than the opening of the polls at the Annual Meeting; or (3) voting in person at the Annual Meeting. If you hold shares of common stock through a broker, bank or other nominee, you must follow the instructions you receive from your nominee in order to revoke your voting instructions. Attending the Annual Meeting does not revoke your proxy unless you also vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders have no appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the proposals described herein.
2
Votes Required to Adopt the Proposal
|
Proposal |
Vote Required |
Broker |
Effect of |
|||
|
Proposal 1 — Election of each of Steve M. Looney and Charles S. Whitman III, as a director of the Board each to serve until the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified. |
Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy. |
No |
Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included in determining the number of votes cast and, as a result, do not affect the outcome. |
|||
|
Proposal 2 — Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026. |
Affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy. |
Yes |
Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included in determining the number of votes cast and, as a result, do not affect the outcome. |
3
INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SOLICITATION
The Company will bear the expense of the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. The Company has retained Saratoga Proxy Consulting, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for estimated fees of $7,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses. The proxy solicitor is an independent party, unrelated to the Company. We have requested that brokers, nominees, fiduciaries and other persons holding shares in their names, or in the names of their nominees, which are beneficially owned by others, to forward the proxy materials to, and obtain proxies from, such beneficial owners. We will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses in so doing.
Proxies for the Annual Meeting
The named proxies for the Annual Meeting are Christian L. Oberbeck and Henri J. Steenkamp (or their duly authorized designees), who will follow submitted proxy voting instructions. If a stockholder signs, dates and returns a proxy card but does not make any selection on the proxy card, the named proxies will vote such stockholder’s shares “for” each of the proposals in accordance with the recommendation of the Board. They also will vote on any other matters properly presented at the Annual Meeting in their judgment.
Householding of Proxy Statement Materials
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement and annual report addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
A number of brokerages and other institutional holders of record have implemented householding. A single proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. If you have received notice from your broker that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement, please notify your broker. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Proxy Statement at their addresses and would like to request information about householding of their communications should contact their brokers or other intermediary holder of record. You also can notify us by sending a written request to our Secretary, Henri J. Steenkamp, at 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, or by calling (212) 906-7800.
4
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, the beneficial ownership of each current director, the director nominees, the Company’s executive officers, each person known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and the executive officers and directors as a group.
The percentage ownership is based on 15,951,835 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. The number of shares held by beneficial owners of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock are as of the date of the applicable SEC filing made by those owners (unless otherwise noted). Shares of common stock that are subject to warrants or other convertible securities currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days thereof, are deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding these options or convertible securities, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Ownership information for those persons who beneficially own 5% or more of our shares of common stock is based upon reports filed by such persons with the SEC and other information obtained from such persons, if available. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. To our knowledge, unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned. Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, the address for each listed individual is c/o Saratoga Investment Corp., 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
|
Name of Beneficial Owners |
Amount and |
Percent of |
|||
|
Interested Directors |
|
||||
|
Christian L. Oberbeck(1)(2) |
1,505,809 |
9.4 |
% |
||
|
Henri J. Steenkamp(2) |
43,527 |
* |
|
||
|
|
|||||
|
Independent Directors |
|
||||
|
Steven M. Looney |
4,258 |
* |
|
||
|
Charles S. Whitman III |
5,578 |
* |
|
||
|
G. Cabell Williams |
107,990 |
* |
|
||
|
|
|||||
|
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (5 persons) |
1,667,162 |
10.0 |
% |
||
|
|
|||||
|
Management Ownership of our Common Stock(2) |
|
||||
|
Thomas V. Inglesby |
352,236 |
2.2 |
% |
||
|
Michael J. Grisius |
167,216 |
1.0 |
% |
||
____________
* Less than 1%
(1) Includes 650,426 shares of common stock directly held by Mr. Oberbeck, 87,213 shares of common stock held by CLO Partners LLC, an entity wholly owned by Mr. Oberbeck, 100,000 shares of common stock held by CLO Partners Holdings LLC, an entity wholly owned by Mr. Oberbeck, 117,196 shares of common stock directly held by Mr. Oberbeck’s children, for which Mr. Oberbeck retains the voting rights, 1,791 shares of common stock directly held by Mr. Oberbeck’s wife, for which Mr. Oberbeck retains the voting rights and 549,183 shares of common stock directly held by Elizabeth Birkelund (as described below).
Pursuant to an Agreement Relating to Shares of Common Stock of Saratoga Investment Corp. (the “Transfer Agreement”), Mr. Oberbeck transferred 744,183 shares of common stock beneficially owned by him to Elizabeth Birkelund. Elizabeth Birkelund has full ownership rights with respect to the shares, including without limitation, the right to (A) receive any cash and/or stock dividends and distributions paid on or with respect to the shares and (B) sell the shares in accordance with the provisions of the Transfer Agreement and receive all proceeds therefrom. However, pursuant to the terms of the Transfer Agreement, Mr. Oberbeck has retained the right to vote 549,183 shares of common stock held by Ms. Birkelund, except that Ms. Birkelund has retained the right to vote the shares on all matters submitted to stockholders with respect to any matter that could give rise to dissenters or other rights of an objecting stockholder under Maryland General Corporation Law. The Transfer Agreement also contains a right of first refusal that requires Ms. Birkelund to offer Mr. Oberbeck the opportunity to purchase any shares of common stock owned by her prior to her intended sale of the shares. Any such purchases may be made either directly by Mr. Oberbeck or through entities affiliated with him. Mr. Oberbeck has pledged 600,000 of his shares as collateral for credit facilities.
(2) Mr. Oberbeck, Mr. Grisius, Mr. Inglesby and Mr. Steenkamp are deemed to be affiliates of the Company and beneficially own approximately 13% of the shares of the Company’s common stock on an aggregate basis.
5
The following table sets forth as of the Record Date, the dollar range of our equity securities that is beneficially owned by each of our directors. We are not part of a “family of investment companies,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
|
Dollar Range of |
||
|
Interested Directors |
||
|
Christian L. Oberbeck |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Henri J. Steenkamp |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Independent Directors |
||
|
Steven M. Looney |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
Charles S. Whitman III |
Over $100,000 |
|
|
G. Cabell Williams |
Over $100,000 |
____________
(1) Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
(2) The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by our directors is based on the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) of $24.65 per share as of the Record Date.
(3) The dollar ranges of equity securities beneficially owned are: none, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000, or over $100,000.
6
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board. Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, the Board may modify the number of members of the Board provided that the number of directors will not be fewer than three or greater than eleven and that no decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The Board currently consists of five members, of whom three are not “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”)) of the Company (an “independent director”). Section 303A.01 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires that the Company maintain a majority of independent directors on the Board and further provides that a director of a business development company (“BDC”) shall be considered to be independent if he or she is not an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
Under our Articles of Incorporation, our directors are divided into three classes. Each class of directors will hold office for a three-year term, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at such meeting will be considered for re-election for three-year term expiring at the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, until their respective successor has been duly elected and qualified or their earlier resignation, death or removal.
Each of Messrs. Looney and Whitman have been nominated for re-election for a three-year term expiring at the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Neither Mr. Looney nor Mr. Whitman are being nominated to serve as a director pursuant to any agreement or understanding between either Mr. Looney or Mr. Whitman, on the one hand, and the Company or any other person or entity, on the other hand.
A stockholder can vote “for” or “withhold authority” for each of the director nominees or abstain from voting. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote such proxy FOR the election of each of the director nominees. If the nominees should decline or be unable to serve as a director, it is intended that the proxy will be voted for the election of such person nominated by the Board as a replacement. Each director nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serving as a director if re-elected at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, the Board has no reason to believe that the persons names will be unable or unwilling to serve.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the director nominees.
7
Director and Executive Officer Information
Directors
Information regarding the nominees for election as a director at the Annual Meeting and our continuing directors is set forth below. There were no legal proceedings of the type described in Item 401(f)(7) and (8) of Regulation S-K in the past 10 years against any of our directors, director nominees or officers, and none are currently pending.
Director nominees whose current term will expire at the Annual Meeting:
|
Name |
Age |
Position |
Director Since |
|||
|
Independent Directors |
||||||
|
Steven M. Looney |
75 |
Director |
2007 |
|||
|
Charles S. Whitman III |
83 |
Director |
2007 |
Continuing directors whose terms will expire at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified:
|
Name |
Age |
Position |
Director Since |
|||
|
Independent Directors |
||||||
|
G. Cabell Williams |
71 |
Director |
2007 |
|||
|
Interested Director |
||||||
|
Henri Steenkamp |
49 |
Director |
2020 |
Continuing directors whose terms will expire at our 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified:
|
Name |
Age |
Position |
Director Since |
|||
|
Interested Director |
||||||
|
Christian Oberbeck |
65 |
Director |
2010 |
Biographical information regarding our Board is set forth below. We have divided the directors into two groups — independent directors and interested directors. Interested directors are “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
Executive Officers
|
Name |
Age |
Position |
||
|
Executive Director |
||||
|
Christian L. Oberbeck |
65 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
||
|
Henri J. Steenkamp |
49 |
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
Biographical information regarding our executive officers is set forth below.
Biographical Information
Independent Directors
Steven M. Looney — Mr. Looney has served as member of our Board since 2007. Mr. Looney is a Managing Director of Peale Davies & Co. Inc., a strategic advisory firm specializing in change management and revenue enhancement for middle-market enterprises, and is a CPA and an attorney. Mr. Looney has served as a consultant and director to numerous companies in the healthcare, manufacturing and services industries. Between 2000 and 2005, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PCCI, Inc., a private IT staffing and outsourcing firm. Between 1992 and 2000, Mr. Looney worked at WH Industries as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Mr. Looney is a trustee of Excellent Education for Everyone, a nonprofit organization and founder of its affiliate, TradePrep, and a director and chair of the audit committee of ICG Loan Funding Ltd., a manager of and investor in collateralized loan portfolios in Europe and the United States. Mr. Looney graduated summa cum laude from the University of Washington with a B.A. degree in accounting and received a J.D. from the University of Washington
8
School of Law where he was a member of the law review. He began his career at the SEC. Mr. Looney’s qualifications as director include his experience as a Managing Director of Peale Davies & Co., as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of WH Industries and as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of A.G. Becker-Warburg Paribas Becker, as well as his financial, accounting and legal expertise.
Charles S. Whitman III — Mr. Whitman has served as member of our Board since 2007. Mr. Whitman is senior counsel (retired) at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Mr. Whitman was a partner in Davis Polk’s Corporate Department for 28 years, representing clients in a broad range of corporate finance matters, including shelf registrations, securities compliance for financial institutions, foreign asset privatizations, and mergers and acquisitions. From 1971 to 1973, Mr. Whitman served as Executive Assistant to three successive Chairmen of the SEC. Mr. Whitman graduated from Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School with a LL.B. Mr. Whitman also received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in England. Mr. Whitman’s qualifications as director include his 28 years of experience representing clients, including AT&T, Exxon Mobil, General Motors and BP, in securities matters as a partner in Davis Polk’s corporate department.
G. Cabell Williams — Mr. Williams has served as member of our Board since 2007. Mr. Williams has served as the Managing General Partner of Williams and Gallagher, a private equity partnership located in Chevy Chase, Maryland since 2004. From March 2011 to December 2024, Mr. Williams was a Partner, Senior Manager and Director of Farragut Capital Partners, which is a Mezzanine Fund based out of Chevy Chase, Maryland. In 2004, Mr. Williams concluded a 23-year career at Allied Capital Corporation, a business development company based in Washington, DC, which was acquired by Ares Capital Corporation in 2010. While at Allied, Mr. Williams held a variety of positions, including President, CIO and finally Managing Director following Allied’s merger with its affiliates in 1998. From 1991 to 2004, Mr. Williams either led or co-managed the firm’s Private Equity Group. For the nine years prior to 1999, Mr. Williams led Allied’s Mezzanine investment activities. For 15 years, Mr. Williams served on Allied’s Investment Committee where he was responsible for reviewing and approving all of the firm’s investments. Prior to 1991, Mr. Williams ran Allied’s Minority Small Business Investment Company. He also founded Allied Capital Commercial Corporation, a real estate investment vehicle. Mr. Williams has served on the board of directors of various public and private companies. Mr. Williams attended The Landon School, and graduated from Mercersburg Academy and Rollins College, receiving a B.S. in Business Administration from the latter. Mr. Williams’ qualifications as director include his 28 years of experience managing investment activities at Allied Capital, where he served in a variety of positions, including President, CIO and Managing Director.
Interested Directors
Christian L. Oberbeck — Mr. Oberbeck has over 38 years of experience in leveraged finance, including acquisition financing, distressed investing, and private equity, and has been involved in originating, structuring, negotiating, consummating, managing, operating, and monitoring minority and control investments in a broad array of businesses. Mr. Oberbeck is the Founder and Managing Member of Saratoga Investment Advisors, LLC, the Company’s investment adviser, and has served as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the Company since 2010. Mr. Oberbeck is also the Managing Partner of Saratoga Partners, a middle-market private equity investment firm. Prior to assuming full management responsibility for Saratoga Partners in 2008, Mr. Oberbeck had co-managed Saratoga Partners since 1995. Mr. Oberbeck joined Dillon Read and Saratoga Partners from Castle Harlan, Inc., a corporate buyout firm which he had joined at its founding in 1987 and was a Managing Director, leading successful investments in manufacturing and financial services companies. Prior to that, he worked in the Corporate Development Group of Arthur Young and in corporate finance at Blyth Eastman Paine Webber. Mr. Oberbeck has been a director of numerous middle-market companies. Mr. Oberbeck graduated from Brown University in 1982 with a BS in Physics and a BA in Mathematics. In 1985, he earned an MBA from Columbia University. Mr. Oberbeck’s qualifications as a director include his extensive experience in the investment and finance industry, as well as his intimate knowledge of the Company’s operations gained through his service as an executive officer.
Henri J. Steenkamp — Mr. Steenkamp has served as the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company and the Company’s investment adviser, Saratoga Investment Advisors, since 2014. Mr. Steenkamp has also served as a director of the Company since 2020. Mr. Steenkamp has served as the Chief Financial Officer of MF Global Holdings Ltd., a broker in commodities and derivatives, from April 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Steenkamp held the position of Chief Accounting Officer and Global Controller at MF Global for four years. He joined MF Global, then Man Financial, in 2006 as Vice President of External Reporting and Accounting Policy. After MF Global filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2011, he continued to serve as Chief Financial Officer
9
through January 2013. Before joining MF Global, Mr. Steenkamp spent eight years with PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”), including four years in Transaction Services in its New York office, managing a variety of capital-raising transactions on a global basis. His focus was also on the SEC registration and public company filing process, including technical accounting. He spent four years with PwC in South Africa, where he served as an auditor primarily for SEC registrants and assisted South African companies as they went public in the United States Mr. Steenkamp is a chartered accountant and holds an honors degree in Finance. Mr. Steenkamp’s qualifications as a director include his extensive experience in the investment and finance industry, as well as his intimate knowledge of the Company’s operations gained through his service as an executive officer.
Executive Officers
For information regarding Mr. Oberbeck, the Chairman of the Board and our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Steenkamp, our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary, see “— Directors” above.
Board Leadership and the Board’s Role in the Oversight of Risk Management
Our Board monitors and performs an oversight role with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, including with respect to investment practices and performance, compliance with regulatory requirements and the services, expenses and performance of service providers to the Company. Among other things, our Board approves the appointment of our investment adviser, our administrator and our officers; reviews and monitors the services and activities performed by our investment adviser, our administrator and our officers; and approves the engagement, and reviews the performance of, our independent registered public accounting firm.
Under our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), the Board may designate a chairman to preside over the meetings of the Board and meetings of the stockholders and to perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board. The Company does not have a fixed policy as to whether the chairman of the Board should be an independent director and believes that its flexibility to select its chairman and reorganize its leadership structure from time to time is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Mr. Oberbeck, who is an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company, serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. The Board believes that Mr. Oberbeck, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a principal of Saratoga Investment Advisors, is the director with the most knowledge of our business strategy and is best situated to serve as Chairman of the Board.
Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Company has designated Steven M. Looney, the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), as the presiding director of all executive sessions of independent directors. Executive sessions of the independent directors are held at each Board meeting. Interested parties, stockholders and holders of the Company’s securities that desire to communicate directly with the Board or one or more of its members concerning the affairs of the Company may direct the communication in written correspondence by letter to: Saratoga Investment Corp., attention Mr. Steven M. Looney, Chairman of the Audit Committee, 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York.
The Board, directly and through the Audit Committee and other committees of the Board, takes an active role in the oversight of the Company’s policies with respect to the assessment and management of enterprise risk. Among other things, the Board has policies in place for identifying the senior executives responsible for key risks as well as the Board committees with oversight responsibility for particular key risks. In a number of cases, oversight is conducted by the full Board. Our Board also performs its risk oversight responsibilities with the assistance of the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer is designated to oversee compliance with the federal securities laws.
We believe that our Board and its committees’ role in risk oversight complements our Board’s leadership structure because it allows our independent directors, through three fully independent board committees, auditor and independent valuation providers, our Chief Compliance Officer, and otherwise, to exercise oversight of risk without any conflict that might discourage critical review. We believe that our Board’s leadership structure and the Board’s approach to risk oversight must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and that the Board’s role in risk oversight is appropriate. However, we continually re-examine the manner in which the Board administers its oversight function on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet our needs.
10
Transactions with Related Persons
We have entered into an investment advisory and management agreement (“Management Agreement”) with Saratoga Investment Advisors. The Management Agreement was initially approved by our Board at an in-person meeting of the Board, including a majority of our independent directors, and was approved by our stockholders at the special meeting of stockholders held on July 30, 2010. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Management Agreement remained in effect for an initial period of two years, and has been approved thereafter for additional terms of one year by our Board, including a majority of our independent directors, at in-person meetings. Most recently, on July 7, 2025, our Board approved the renewal of the Management Agreement for an additional one-year term. In approving the Management Agreement, the directors considered, among other things, (i) the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services to be provided to us by Saratoga Investment Advisors; (ii) our investment performance and the investment performance of Saratoga Investment Advisors; (iii) the expected costs of the services to be provided by Saratoga Investment Advisors (including management fees, advisory fees and expense ratios) as compared to other companies within the industry, and the profits expected to be realized by Saratoga Investment Advisors; (iv) the limited potential for economies of scale in investment management associated with managing us; and (v) the estimated pro forma profitability of Saratoga Investment Advisors with respect to managing us.
Pursuant to a separate administration agreement, Saratoga Investment Advisors, which also serves as our administrator, furnishes us with office facilities and equipment, and clerical, book-keeping and record keeping services necessary to conduct our day-to-day operations (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, Saratoga Investment Advisors also performs, or oversees the performance of our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain, preparing reports for our stockholders and reports required to be filed with the SEC. We have also entered into a license agreement with Saratoga Investment Advisors, pursuant to which Saratoga Investment Advisors has agreed to grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “Saratoga” and “Saratoga Partners.” Mr. Oberbeck, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is the primary investor in and controls Saratoga Investment Advisors.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The audit committee is required to review and approve any transactions with related persons (as such term is defined under Item 404 of Regulation S-K).
11
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Documents
We maintain a corporate governance webpage at the “Corporate Governance” link under the “Investor Relations” link at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Our Corporate Governance Procedures, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our Code of Ethics and Board committee charters are available at our corporate governance webpage at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com and are also available to any stockholder who requests them by writing to our Secretary, Henri J. Steenkamp, at Saratoga Investment Corp., 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
Director Independence
In accordance with NYSE rules and the 1940 Act, the Board annually determines the independence of each director. No director is considered independent unless the Board has determined that he or she has no material business or professional relationship with the Company. The Company monitors the status of its directors and officers through the activities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”) and through a questionnaire to be completed by each director no less frequently than annually, with updates periodically if information provided in the most recent questionnaire has changed.
In order to evaluate the materiality of any such relationship, the Board uses the definition of director independence set forth in the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual provides that BDCs, such as the Company, are required to comply with all of the provisions of Section 303A applicable to domestic issuers other than Sections 303A.02, the section that defines director independence. Section 303A.00 provides that a director of a BDC shall be considered to be independent if he or she is not an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company. Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act defines an “interested person” to include, among other things, any person who has, or within the last two years had, a material business or professional relationship with the Company.
The Board has determined that each of the directors is independent and has no material business or professional relationship with the Company, except as a director and stockholder of the Company, with the exception of Messrs. Oberbeck and Steenkamp, who are interested persons of the Company due to their positions as officers of the Company and officers of Saratoga Investment Advisors. Steven M. Looney is the designated lead independent director of our Board.
Annual Evaluation
Our directors perform an evaluation, at least annually, of the effectiveness of the Board and its committees. This evaluation includes a series of questions for the directors to consider, followed by a discussion among the Board, Board committees, the Company’s management and outside legal counsel.
Board Meetings and Committees
Our Board met seven times during fiscal year 2025. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and committees on which the director served during the fiscal year 2025. The Board’s standing committees are set forth below. We require each director to make a diligent effort to attend all Board and committee meetings, as well as each annual meeting of stockholders. All five directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders and other interested parties may contact any member (or all members) of the Board by mail. To communicate with the Board, any individual directors or any group or committee of directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board or any such individual directors or group or committee of directors by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent to Saratoga Investment Corp., 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Secretary. Any communication to report potential issues regarding accounting, internal controls and other auditing matters will be directed to the Audit Committee. Appropriate personnel of the Company will review and sort through communications before forwarding them to the addressee(s).
12
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to, among others, our executive officers, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as well as every officer, director and employee of the Company. Requests for copies should be sent in writing to Saratoga Investment Corp., 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is also available on our website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
If we make any material amendment to, or grant a waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, we will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on Current Report on Form 8-K and on our website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Practices and Policies Regarding Hedging, Speculative Trading and Pledging of Securities
Our insider trading policy generally prohibits the Company’s and Saratoga Investment Advisors’ directors, officers and employees from engaging in any short-term trading, short sales and other speculative transactions involving our securities, including buying or selling puts or calls or other derivative securities based on our securities. In addition, such persons are generally prohibited under our insider trading policy from entering into hedging or monetization transactions or similar arrangements, as well as pledging our securities in a margin account or as collateral for a loan, except in limited circumstances that are pre-approved by our chief compliance officer.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Report
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our shares, to file reports of securities ownership and changes in such ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders also are required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on the Company’s review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by such persons and information provided by the Company’s directors and officers, the Company believes that, during the year ended February 28, 2024, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such persons were met in a timely manner, with the following inadvertent exception: Henri Steenkamp filed a late Form 4 with respect to a transfer of shares given to him as form of compensation on August 12, 2024.
Insider Trading Policies
The Company has
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Company has adopted corporate governance guidelines, which are available on the Company’s website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee
The current members of the Audit Committee are Steven M. Looney (Chairman), Charles S. Whitman III and G. Cabell Williams. Each director who serves on the Audit Committee is an independent director for purposes of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that Mr. Looney is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act, and that each of Messrs. Whitman and Williams are “financially literate” as required by NYSE corporate governance standards. Each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director. The Audit Committee is responsible for approving our independent accountants, reviewing the plans and results of the audit engagement with our independent accountants, approving professional
13
services provided by our independent accountants, reviewing the independence of our independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is also responsible for aiding our Board in determining the fair value of debt and equity investments for which market quotations are not readily available; where appropriate, the Board and the Audit Committee may utilize the services of an independent valuation firm to assist them in determining the fair value of these investments. Finally, the Audit Committee also reviews our financial statements and the disclosure thereof and the adequacy of our disclosure controls and procedures.
Authority
The Audit Committee is authorized (without seeking Board approval) to retain special legal, accounting or other advisors and may request any officer of the Company, employee of Saratoga Investment Advisors or the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditor to meet with any members of, or advisors to, the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has available appropriate funding from the Company as determined by the Audit Committee for payment of: (i) compensation to any accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. The Audit Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the chairman of the Audit Committee when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.
Procedures
The Audit Committee meets as often as it determines is appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under its charter, but not less frequently than quarterly. The chairman of the Audit Committee, in consultation with the other committee members, determines the frequency and length of the committee meetings and sets meeting agendas consistent with its charter. The Audit Committee meets separately, periodically, with management, with internal auditors or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function and with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee met nine times during fiscal year 2025.
The charter of the Audit Committee is available in print to any stockholder who requests it and it is also available on the Company’s website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The current members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Charles S. Whitman III (Chairman), G. Cabell Williams and Steven M. Looney. Each of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an independent director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become board members, and recommending director nominees to the Board for election at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected or to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships that may occur between such meetings, recommending directors for appointment to Board committees, making recommendations to the Board as to determinations of director independence, overseeing the evaluation of the Board, overseeing and setting compensation for the independent directors.
In making its recommendations for Board and committee membership, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews candidates’ qualifications for membership on the Board or a committee of the Board (including making a specific determination as to the independence of each candidate) based on the criteria approved by the Board (and taking into account the enhanced independence, financial literacy and financial expertise standards required under law or the NYSE Listed Company Manual for Audit Committee membership purposes). In evaluating current directors for re-election to the Board or re-appointment to any Board committees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses the performance of such directors, periodically reviews the composition of the Board and its committees in light of the current challenges and needs of the Board, the Company and each committee, and determines whether it may be appropriate to add or remove individuals after considering issues of judgment, diversity, age, skills, background and experience, considers rotation of committee members and committee chairmen and considers any other factors that are set forth in the Company’s corporate governance procedures or are deemed appropriate by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers issues of judgment, diversity, age, skills, background and experience in evaluating candidates for membership on the Board.
14
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal policy on the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Board believes that it is more appropriate to give the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee flexibility in evaluating stockholder recommendations.
In the event that a director nominee is recommended by a stockholder, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will give due consideration to the director nominee and will use the same criteria used for evaluating directors nominated by the Board, in addition to considering the information relating to the director nominee provided by the stockholder.
Authority
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any search firm assisting the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in identifying director candidates, including sole authority to approve all such search firm’s fees and other retention terms. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant assisting the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in the evaluation of director compensation, including sole authority to approve all such compensation consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.
Procedures
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets as often as it determines is appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under its charter. The chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with the other committee members, determines the frequency and length of the committee meetings and shall set meeting agendas consistent with its charter. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once during fiscal year 2025.
The charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is available in print to any stockholder who requests it, and it is also available on the Company’s website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Compensation Committee
The current members of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) are G. Cabell Williams (Chairman), Steven M. Looney and Charles S. Whitman III. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is an independent director. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the Company’s compensation policies generally and making recommendations to the Board with respect to any incentive compensation and equity-based plans of the Company that are subject to Board approval, evaluating executive officer performance and reviewing the Company’s management succession plan, overseeing and setting compensation for the independent directors and, as applicable, its executive officers and, as applicable, preparing the report on executive officer compensation that SEC rules require to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement. Currently, none of our executive officers are compensated by the Company and as such the Compensation Committee is not required to produce a report on executive officer compensation for inclusion in our annual proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant assisting the Compensation Committee, including sole authority to approve all such compensation consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the chairman of the Compensation Committee when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.
Procedures
The Compensation Committee shall meet as often as it determines is appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under its charter. The chairman of the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the other committee members, shall determine the frequency and length of the committee meetings and shall set meeting agendas consistent with its charter. No executive officer should attend that portion of any meeting where such executive’s performance (or, as applicable, compensation) is discussed, unless specifically invited by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee met once during fiscal year 2025.
15
The charter of the Compensation Committee is available in print to any stockholder who requests it and is also available on the Company’s website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During fiscal year 2025, none of the Company’s executive officers served on the Board (or a Compensation Committee thereof or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of any entities that had one or more executive officers serve on the Compensation Committee or on the Board. No current or past executive officers or employees of the Company or its affiliates serve on the Compensation Committee.
16
Executive Compensation
Currently, none of our executive officers are compensated by us. We currently have no employees, and each of our executive officers are employees of Saratoga Investment Advisors. Services necessary for our business are provided by individuals who are employees of Saratoga Investment Advisors, pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement.
Director Compensation
Our independent directors receive an annual fee of $90,000. They also receive $3,500 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending each board meeting and receive $2,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending each committee meeting. In addition, the chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $15,000 and the chairman of each other committee receives an annual fee of $8,000 for their additional services in these capacities. In addition, we have purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on behalf of our directors and officers. Independent directors have the option to receive their directors’ fees in the form of our common stock issued at a price per share equal to the greater of net asset value or the market price at the time of payment. No compensation is paid to directors who are “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
The following table sets forth information concerning total compensation earned by or paid to each of our directors during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025:
|
Name |
Fees Earned or |
Total |
All Other |
|||||
|
Interested Directors |
|
|
||||||
|
Christian L. Oberbeck(1) |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|||
|
Henri J. Steenkamp(1) |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Independent Directors |
|
|
||||||
|
Steven M. Looney |
$ |
126,500 |
$ |
126,500 |
— |
|||
|
Charles S. Whitman III |
$ |
120,000 |
$ |
120,000 |
— |
|||
|
G. Cabell Williams |
$ |
120,000 |
$ |
120,000 |
— |
|||
____________
(1) No compensation was paid to directors who are “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
17
Portfolio Management
The day-to-day management of our portfolio is the responsibility of Saratoga Investment Advisors and overseen by its investment committee.
Investment Committee
The members of Saratoga Investment Advisors’ investment committee include Christian L. Oberbeck, Michael J. Grisius, Thomas V. Inglesby and Charles G. Phillips. See the heading entitled “Biographical Information” above for biography of Mr. Oberbeck. For biographical information for Messrs. Grisius, Inglesby and Phillips, see “Investment Professionals” below.
Investment Professionals
Our investment adviser’s investment personnel, in addition to our investment adviser’s investment committee, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of our portfolio.
The members of our investment adviser’s investment committee and its investment personnel are not employed by us, and receive no compensation from us in connection with their activities. However, they receive compensation from our investment adviser that includes an annual base salary, an annual individual performance bonus, contributions to 401(k) plans, and, in certain circumstances, a portion of the incentive fee or carried interest earned in connection with their services.
Below are the biographies for the members of our investment adviser’s investment committee whose biographies are not included elsewhere in this Proxy Statement and the other investment professionals of our investment adviser.
Michael J. Grisius — Mr. Grisius has over 33+ years of experience in leveraged finance, investment management and financial services. He has originated, structured, negotiated, consummated, managed and monitored numerous successful investments in private equity, senior debt, mezzanine debt, structured products and commercial real estate debt. Mr. Grisius is Co-Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Saratoga Investment Advisors, the Company’s investment adviser. Mr. Grisius joined Saratoga Investment Advisors in July 2011. Prior to joining Saratoga Investment Advisors, Mr. Grisius served as Managing Director at Allied Capital Corporation, where he was an investment professional for 16 years. At Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Grisius held several senior positions including co-head of Mezzanine Finance and member of its Management Committee and its Investment Committee. In 2008, Mr. Grisius was appointed co-chairman of the Allied Capital Corporation’s Investment Committee. He also had responsibility for structuring and managing Unitranche Fund, LLC. During his tenure at Allied, Mr. Grisius built and led teams that made investments in subordinated debt, control equity and real estate mortgage debt. Mr. Grisius has served on the board of directors of numerous middle market companies. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corp., Mr. Grisius worked in leveraged finance at Chemical Bank from 1989 to 1992 and held senior accountant and consultant positions with KPMG LLP from 1985 to 1988. Mr. Grisius graduated with a BS from Georgetown University in 1985 and earned an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management in 1990.
Thomas V. Inglesby — Mr. Inglesby has over 39 years of investment experience including private equity and leveraged finance. Mr. Inglesby is a Managing Director at Saratoga Investment Advisors and is responsible for originating, structuring, negotiating, consummating, managing and monitoring middle market investments.
Prior to joining Saratoga Investment Advisors, Mr. Inglesby was a senior managing director at GSC Group, Inc. From September 2008 through July 2010, Mr. Inglesby was a senior managing director in the Recovery Investment Group at GSC Group. From 2002 to 2008, Mr. Inglesby served as the Head of the U.S. Corporate Debt Group of GSC Group. During this period, GSC Group raised and managed $5.6 billion in capital across 12 corporate credit investment funds. From 1997 to 2002, he served as a managing director at GSC Group focused on middle market buyouts. Prior to joining GSC Group in 1997, Mr. Inglesby served as a managing director with Harbour Group from 1994 to 1997, where he focused on acquisitions of manufacturing companies in fragmented industries. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Inglesby served as a managing director at the South Street Funds, a startup distressed debt investment fund founded by former partners at Goldman Sachs. From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Inglesby served as a vice president in the Merchant Banking Department at PaineWebber.
18
Mr. Inglesby received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, an M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, and a B.S. in Accounting with General Honors from the University of Maryland.
Charles G. Phillips IV — Mr. Phillips has over 28 years of middle-market investment experience spanning private equity and leveraged finance. Mr. Phillips is a Managing Director of Saratoga Investment Advisors and a Member of its Investment Committee. At the Company, and at Saratoga Partners previously, Mr. Phillips has been responsible for originating, structuring, negotiating, consummating, managing and monitoring middle market investments. Mr. Phillips has extensive experience investing in companies across a wide variety of industries, including business and tech-enabled services, financial services, education and manufacturing. Prior corporate finance experience includes mergers and acquisitions and capital markets experience in the packaged foods, branded consumer products, cable television, energy and education sectors. Serving as a director of several Saratoga Partners portfolio companies, Mr. Phillips has executed public financings and sales across many market cycles. Mr. Phillips is a founding member of the Company’s investment adviser since its inception in 2010, having previously joined Saratoga Partners in 1997 after graduating from Harvard Business School. Prior to that, from 1993 to 1995, Mr. Phillips worked in Dillon Read’s corporate finance department, where he was involved in mergers and acquisitions and advisory assignments in a variety of industries. Prior experience includes McCown De Leeuw & Co., a corporate buyout firm.
19
PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board, including a majority of the independent directors, approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026 and are submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification. Ernst & Young LLP has advised us that neither the firm nor any present member or associate of it has a direct financial or material indirect financial interest in the Company or its affiliates. We expect that representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
If stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee and the Board may, but is not required to, reconsider the selection at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
For the fiscal years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, the Company incurred the following fees for services provided by Ernst & Young LLP, including expenses:
|
Fiscal Year |
Fiscal Year |
|||||
|
Audit Fees |
$ |
961,700 |
$ |
642,300 |
||
|
Tax Fees |
|
84,350 |
|
50,350 |
||
|
Total Fees: |
$ |
1,046,050 |
$ |
692,650 |
||
In addition to the services listed above. Ernst & Young LLP provided audit services to the Company’s subsidiaries. The following are the related fees:
|
Fiscal Year |
Fiscal Year |
|||||
|
CLO Audit Fees |
|
— |
|
— |
||
|
Tax Services for Company’s Subsidiaries |
|
— |
|
— |
||
|
All Other Fees |
$ |
65,000 |
$ |
84,925 |
||
|
Total Fees: |
$ |
65,000 |
$ |
84,925 |
||
Audit Fees. Audit fees include fees for services that normally would be provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements and that generally only the independent accountant can provide. In addition to fees for the audit of our annual financial statements, any audit of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and the review of our quarterly financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this category contains fees for comfort letters, statutory audits, consents, and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the independent accountant, such as attest services that are not required by statute or regulation.
Tax Fees. Tax fees include services in conjunction with preparation of the Company’s tax return.
All Other Fees. Fees for other services would include fees for products and services other than the services reported above.
It is the policy of the Audit Committee to pre-approve all audit, review or attest engagements and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, the Audit Committee pre-approved 100% of all audit, review or attest engagements and permissible non-audit services in accordance with the pre-approval policy.
20
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy is required to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included in determining the number of votes cast and, as a result, do not affect the outcome.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026.
21
OTHER MATTERS
Audit Committee Report*
The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board to review the Company’s financial matters. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements established by the 1940 Act and under the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. The Audit Committee is responsible for the selection, engagement, compensation, retention and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also is responsible for recommending to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Company’s financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting and (2) reviewing the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to the public. However, it is not the Audit Committee’s duty to plan or conduct the audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete, accurate and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) or that its internal controls over financial reporting is effective. The Company’s management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of its financial statements, for its accounting and financial reporting principles and for the establishment and effectiveness of internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
In undertaking its oversight function, the Audit Committee relied, without independent verification, on Company management’s representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and on the representations of Ernst & Young LLP included in their report on our financial statements. The Audit Committee is not, however, professionally engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing and does not provide any expert or other special assurance or professional opinion as to the sufficiency of the external or internal audits, whether the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or on the effectiveness of the system of internal control.
The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such financial statements with U.S. GAAP and for auditing and reporting on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
In making its recommendation that the Company’s financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, the Audit Committee took the following steps:
• The Audit Committee discussed management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025.
• The Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, those matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC, including information regarding the scope and results of the audit. These communications and discussions are intended to assist the Audit Committee in overseeing the financial reporting and disclosure process.
• The Audit Committee conducted periodic executive sessions with Ernst & Young LLP, with no members of the Company’s management present during those discussions. Ernst & Young LLP did not identify any material audit issues, questions or discrepancies, other than those previously discussed with management, which were resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.
____________
* The material contained in the foregoing Audit Committee Report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
22
• The Audit Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Ernst & Young LLP’s communications with us concerning independence, and discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence from the Company. The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with Ernst & Young LLP’s independence.
• The Audit Committee determined that there were no former Ernst & Young LLP employees, who previously participated in the Company’s audit, engaged in a financial reporting oversight role at the Company.
• The Audit Committee reviewed, and discussed with the Company’s management and Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s audited consolidated statement of assets and liabilities at February 28, 2025, and consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of changes in net assets and consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended February 28, 2025.
Based on the reviews and actions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 for filing with the SEC. In addition, the Audit Committee has approved, and recommended to the Board that it approve, Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026.
|
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
||
|
Steven M. Looney (Chairman) |
||
|
Chair Charles S. Whitman III |
||
|
G. Cabell Williams |
23
Stockholder Proposals
The Company expects that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in September 2026, but the exact date, time, and location of that meeting have yet to be determined. Any stockholder who wishes to have a qualified proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 14a-8”), must ensure that notice of such proposal is received at our principal executive office no later than April 7, 2026, and that such proposal complies with all applicable requirements of Rule 14a-8. The submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement or presentation at the Annual Meeting unless certain securities law requirements are met.
In addition, any stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including the nomination of a director or any other business to be considered by the stockholders at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (other than a stockholder proposal to be included in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8) must comply with the advance notice provisions and other requirements of our Bylaws and submit the proposal in writing to our Secretary, Henri J. Steenkamp, at 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, and the proposal should be received by the Company between March 6, 2026 and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 7, 2026.
We advise you to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. If the date of 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the first anniversary of the Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals or director nominations must be received not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or such public disclosure is made. Proposals must also comply with the other requirements contained in the Company’s Bylaws, including supporting documentation and other information.
Proxies solicited by the Company will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to any stockholder proposals submitted pursuant to the advance notice provisions of our Bylaws, subject to SEC rules governing the exercise of this authority.
The above procedures and requirements are only a summary of the provisions in our Bylaws regarding stockholder nominations of directors and proposals of business to be considered by the stockholders. Please refer to our Bylaws for more information on stockholder proposal requirements. The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or to take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with the advance notice provisions and informational requirements of our Bylaws and other applicable requirements.
Other Business
The Board does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting, and, so far as is known to the Board, no matters may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting except as specified in the Notice of the Annual Meeting. As to any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, however, the proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the discretion of the proxyholders.
Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, date, sign and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope so that you may be represented at the Annual Meeting.
Annual Reports
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, which includes financial statements, is available on the SEC website and is incorporated herein by reference. The information that we have filed with the SEC is available to stockholders free of charge by contacting us at 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022 or by telephone at (212) 906-7800 or on our website at www.saratogainvestmentcorp.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this document and you should not consider such information to be a part of this document.
24
SARATOGA INVESTMENT CORP. 535 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10022 SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 24, 2025. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 24, 2025. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY V77176-P36704 Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date For Against Abstain SARATOGA INVESTMENT CORP. The Board of Directors recommends you vote “FOR” the following proposals: 2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026. To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. For All Withhold All For All Except 01) Steven M. Looney 02) Charles S. Whitman III 1. The election of the following persons as directors, who will each serve as a director of Saratoga Investment Corp.’s (the “Company”) board of directors until 2028, or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified. Nominees: NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com. V77177-P36704 SARATOGA INVESTMENT CORP. 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Thursday, September 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time This Proxy is Solicited by the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Christian L. Oberbeck and Henri J. Steenkamp, as proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Saratoga Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), to be held at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, located at 1114 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY 10036, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournment or postponement thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast and to otherwise represent the undersigned with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present at the meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and the accompanying Proxy Statement, the terms of each of which are incorporated by reference herein, and revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to such meeting. THIS PROXY IS REVOCABLE. UNLESS A CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST “FOR” EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDER ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. Continued and to be signed on reverse side