Equus Total Return Inc SEC Filings

Equus Total Return, Inc. filed an amended annual report mainly to add the required Inline XBRL tags, leaving its previously filed 2024 results and disclosures in place. The company operates as a closed-end business development company focused on debt and equity investments in small and middle market businesses, with an increasing emphasis on energy-related assets.

Equus reports net investment losses in each of the past five years, including a net investment loss of $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net asset value was $2.17 per share as of December 31, 2024, while the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was $8,388,688, computed using a $1.32 share price on June 30, 2024. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Equus elected not to qualify as a regulated investment company, so any operating or net investment income will be taxed at regular corporate rates unless it later requalifies. In early 2025, it issued a $2.0 million one-year senior convertible note at 10.0% interest and invested $1.5 million in a similar 10% convertible note from General Enterprise Ventures, each paired with stock purchase warrants, while continuing to evaluate a potential transformation from a BDC into an operating company or permanent capital vehicle subject to shareholder approvals.

Equus Total Return, Inc. reported a net increase in net assets of approximately $3.9 million, or $0.30 per basic share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared with a $2.4 million decrease a year earlier. Net asset value per share rose to $2.52 from $2.17 as total investments at fair value grew to $33.0 million, heavily concentrated in energy holdings such as Morgan E&P, LLC.

During the quarter, Equus issued a $2.0 million 10% senior convertible note at $1.50 per share and 1,999,999 common stock warrants at the same price, added a $1.5 million 10% convertible note and warrants from General Enterprise Ventures, Inc., and sold Equus Energy for $1.25 million in cash plus 27,500 preferred shares redeemable at $100.00 per share. Operating activities used $1.6 million of cash, leaving only $0.7 million of cash and equivalents.

Management states that Equus does not currently have sufficient cash on hand or projected cash flows to fund operating activities for at least twelve months and discloses substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. This document is Amendment No. 1 to the Q1 2025 report, filed solely to add required Inline XBRL tagging without changing previously reported figures.

Equus Total Return, Inc. reported Q2 2025 results that show higher net asset value but very limited liquidity and a going concern warning. Net assets rose to approximately $34.1 million, or $2.51 per share, up from $2.17 at December 31, 2024, mainly from $9.8 million of net unrealized gains on portfolio securities in the first half of 2025.

For the quarter, the company recorded a small net loss of $86,000 as investment income of $357,000 was more than offset by $967,000 of expenses. Equus reshaped its portfolio by selling Equus Energy for $1.25 million in cash plus redeemable preferred stock and by investing $1.5 million in a 10% convertible note and warrants of General Enterprise Ventures, Inc. It also raised $2.0 million through a 10% senior convertible note and issued 1,999,999 stock purchase warrants at $1.50 per share.

Despite these transactions, cash and cash equivalents were only $69,000 as of June 30, 2025, and management states that the company does not currently have sufficient cash or committed financing to fund operations for the next 12 months, concluding that substantial doubt exists about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Equus Total Return, Inc. filed an amended quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2025 solely to add required Inline XBRL tagging; the underlying financial results are unchanged from the original report.

The business development company reported a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of $8,101 thousand for the quarter and $4,244 thousand for the nine months, or $0.59 and $0.31 per share, respectively. Net asset value per share declined to $1.90 from $2.17 at December 31, 2024, with total investments at fair value of $28,028 thousand versus net assets of $26,504 thousand.

Equus remains highly concentrated in energy, with its Morgan E&P investment representing 86.2% of net asset value and a new position in General Enterprise Ventures adding environmental exposure. Cash and cash equivalents were $0.3 million, and the company disclosed substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern despite issuing a $2.0 million, 10% senior convertible note in February 2025.

Equus Total Return, Inc. reported that it has released a press release announcing its net asset value for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The company stated that this press release was issued on November 24, 2025 and has been attached as an exhibit to this report. Net asset value is a key measure for a closed-end fund, as it reflects the value of the fund’s portfolio on a per-share basis and helps investors understand how the share price compares to underlying holdings.

Equus Total Return, Inc. (EQS) reported a net asset value of $26.5M, or $1.90 per share as of September 30, 2025, down from $29.5M and $2.17 per share at year-end 2024. For the first nine months of 2025, the Fund recorded a net decrease in net assets from operations of $4.2M, driven by a $3.1M net investment loss and sizeable realized and unrealized losses.

Results reflect a $2.7M realized loss on the sale of Equus Energy and large fair value declines in the new General Enterprise Ventures position, partly offset by earlier gains. The portfolio is highly concentrated in Morgan E&P, Inc., with energy investments representing 86.2% of NAV. Management discloses that only $0.3M of cash is on hand and states that substantial doubt exists about the Fund’s ability to continue as a going concern without new financing or asset sales.

To support liquidity, Equus issued a $2.0M 10% senior convertible note and associated warrants, adding leverage and a $1.7M warrant liability. Despite weaker fundamentals, the market price rose from $1.10 to $2.25 over the period, producing a total return on market price of 104.55%.

John A. Hardy, director, CEO and 10% owner of Equus Total Return, Inc. (EQS), reported an insider acquisition on 09/16/2025. The Form 4 shows Mr. Hardy received 133,682 shares of Equus common stock at an acquisition price of $2.51 per share, increasing the total beneficial ownership to 3,861,706 shares.

The filing explains the shares were awarded as restricted stock under the company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and that 3,228,024 of the shares are held by Benton Capital Inc., a company controlled by Mr. Hardy, which he can direct. The transaction is reported as an acquisition and is filed on a Form 4.

Kenneth I. Denos, a director and the secretary of Equus Total Return, Inc. (EQS), received an award of 250,000 restricted shares on 09/16/2025 under the registrant's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares were awarded at an indicated price of $2.51 per share and increase Mr. Denos's beneficial ownership to 332,595 shares following the transaction. The filing notes that 250,000 of the shares are held directly by Acadia Law Group, P.C., a professional corporation beneficially owned and controlled by the reporting person who has execution authority on its behalf. The Form 4 is filed by one reporting person and is signed by Mr. Denos on the transaction date.