1) What are the key criteria that Peter Grisham should use to make any investment decision?
• Operating History. We generally focus on middle market companies that have been in business over ten years and have an attractive operating history, including generating positive cash flow. We generally target companies with significant market share in their products or services relative to their competitors. In addition, we consider factors such as customer concentration, performance during recessionary periods, competitive environment and ability to sustain margins. As of December 31, 2009, our current private finance portfolio companies had an average age of 32 years with 2009 average sales of $159 million and 2009 average adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of $32 million and an EBITDA margin of 20%.
• Growth. We consider a target company’s ability to increase its cash flow. Anticipated growth is a key factor in determining the ability of the company to repay its debt and the value ascribed to any warrants and equity interests acquired by us.
• Liquidation Value of Assets. Although we do not operate as an asset-based lender, liquidation value of the assets collateralizing our loans is a factor in many credit decisions. Emphasis is placed both on tangible assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, plant, property and equipment as well as intangible assets such as brand recognition, market reputation, customer lists, networks, databases and recurring revenue streams.
• Experienced Management Team. We consider the quality of senior management to be extremely important to the long-term performance of most companies. Therefore, we consider it important that senior management be experienced and properly incentivized through meaningful ownership interest in the company.
• Exit Strategy. Almost all of our investments