CION Investment Corporation operates as a Business Development Company (BDC) with a core focus on providing capital to middle-market businesses. It specializes in various debt instruments, including senior secured loans (such as unitranche, First Lien, and second lien loans), long-term subordinated loans, mezzanine debt, corporate bonds, and other debt securities. Additionally, the firm acquires equity interests, like warrants or options, in these target companies. CION supports diverse corporate initiatives, ranging from funding for growth and acquisitions to leveraged buyouts, market and product expansion, refinancing existing debt, and recapitalization efforts. Up to 30% of its assets may also be allocated to opportunistic investments, which can include securities issued by larger public corporations and foreign holdings. The company actively participates in the secondary loan market but explicitly avoids investing in start-up ventures, companies undergoing turnaround situations, or those with speculative business models. Its investment activities are predominantly focused within the United States. CION demonstrates a broad investment appetite across numerous sectors, including high technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, business services, media, chemicals, plastics, rubber, telecommunications, consumer services, advertising, printing and publishing, consumer goods (both durables and non-durables), diversified financials, homebuilding, restaurants, hospitality (beverage and tobacco bars), broadcasting, various distribution channels, food and beverage, energy (oil, gas, and consumables fuels), insurance, aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, paper and forest products, information technology, metals and mining, and real estate. Typically, the firm commits between $5 million and $50 million per investment to companies generating an EBITDA of $25 million to $75 million, with an average target hold size of $25 million. CION also acquires minority stakes, in the form of either common or preferred equity, within target companies. These equity investments are generally made in conjunction with its debt offerings or through co-investments alongside financial sponsors. Successful exits from its investments are usually achieved via an initial public offering (IPO), a merger, a direct sale, or other recapitalization events.
