bcpi-ncsr_17270.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM N-CSR
 
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number   811-5531
 

 
 

Babson Capital Participation Investors

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


1500 Main Street, P.O. Box 15189, Springfield, MA 01115-5189

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Christopher A. DeFrancis, Vice President and Secretary
1500 Main Street, Suite 2800, P.O. Box 15189, Springfield, MA 01115-5189

(Name and address of agent for service)

 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:                413-226-1000     

Date of fiscal year end:         12/31    

Date of reporting period:       12/31/11   
 

 
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 110 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507.



 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.  REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

Attached hereto is the annual shareholder report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
BABSON CAPITAL PARTICIPATION INVESTORS
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors is a closed-end investment company, first offered to the public in 1988, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE & POLICY
  
Babson Capital Participation Investors (the “Trust”) is a closed-end investment company, first offered to the public in 1988, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “MPV”. The Trust’s share price can be found in the financial section under either the New York Stock Exchange listings or Closed-End Fund listings.
 
The Trust’s investment objective is to maximize total return by providing a high level of current income, the potential for growth of income, and capital appreciation. The Trust’s principal investments are privately placed, below-investment grade, long-term debt obligations purchased directly from their issuers, which tend to be smaller companies. At least half of these investments normally include equity features such as warrants, conversion rights, or other equity features that provide the Trust with the opportunity to realize capital gains. The Trust will also invest in publicly traded debt securities (including high yield securities), again with an emphasis on those with equity features, and in convertible preferred stocks and, subject to certain limitations, readily marketable equity securities. Below-investment grade or high yield securities have predominantly  speculative characteristics with respect to the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. In addition, the Trust may temporarily invest in high quality, readily marketable securities.
 
Babson Capital Management LLC (“Babson Capital”) manages the Trust on a total return basis. The Trust distributes substantially all of its net income to shareholders each year. Accordingly, the Trust pays dividends to shareholders quarterly in January, May, August, and November. All registered shareholders are automatically enrolled in the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan unless cash distributions are requested.
 
In this report you will find a complete listing of the Trust’s holdings. We encourage you to read this section carefully for a better understanding of the Trust. We cordially invite all shareholders to attend the Trust’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on April 27, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. in Springfield, Massachusetts.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
1

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors 

 
 
 
* Data for Babson Capital Participation Investors (the Trust) represents portfolio returns based on change in the Trust's net asset value assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. These returns differ from the total investment return based on market value of the Trust's shares due to the difference between the Trust's net asset value and the market value of its shares outstanding (see page 12 for total investment return based on market value). Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
 

 
2

 
 
2011 Annual Report

 
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
 
I am pleased to share with you the Trust’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
As I am sure you have noticed, in December, we changed the name of the Trust from MassMutual Participation Investors to Babson Capital Participation Investors. The name change was made to clarify the Trust’s relationship with the Trust’s investment adviser, Babson Capital. Babson Capital, and its predecessors, has been the investment adviser for the Trust since the Trust’s inception in 1988, and will continue in this capacity. Other than the name of the Trust, nothing else has changed – the Trust’s investment objectives, philosophies and policies are unchanged; even the Trust’s New York Stock Exchange trading symbol, “MPV”, is unchanged.
 
PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
 
The Trust’s net total portfolio rate of return for 2011 was 10.6%, as measured by the change in net asset value and assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The Trust’s total net assets were $120,319,666, or $11.90 per share, as of December 31, 2011.  This compares to $119,540,235, or $11.89 per share, as of December 31, 2010. The Trust paid a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share for each of the four quarters of 2011, up 8.0% from the $0.25 per share quarterly dividend in 2010. In addition, the Trust declared a special year-end dividend of $0.15 per share, paid in January 2012 to shareholders of record on December 30, 2011, bringing total dividends for the year to $1.23 per share. This represents a 23% increase over the $1.00 per share of total dividends paid in 2010.  Net investment income for the year was $1.14 per share, including approximately $0.12 per share of non-recurring income, representing an 11.8% increase over 2010 net investment income of $1.02 per share, which also included approximately $0.04 per share of non-recurring income.
 
Investors continued to take note of the Trust’s strong performance in 2011 as the Trust’s stock price increased 14.2% during the year, from $13.88 as of December 31, 2010 to $15.85 as of December 31, 2011. This increase is on top of the 13.8% price appreciation that the Trust’s stock price enjoyed in 2010.  The Trust’s stock price of $15.85 as of December 31, 2011 equates to a 33.2% premium over the December 31, 2011 net asset value per share of $11.90. The Trust’s average quarter-end premium for the 3, 5 and 10-year periods was 8.0%, 8.9% and 9.3%, respectively.
 
The table below lists the average annual net returns of the Trust’s portfolio, based on the change in net assets and assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Average annual returns of the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield Index and the Russell 2000 Index for the 1, 3, 5 and 10 years ended December 31, 2011 are provided for comparison purposes only.

 
The Trust
Barclays Capital U.S.
Corporate High Yield Index
Russell
2000 Index
1 Year
10.56%
4.98%
-4.17% 
3 Years
12.20%
24.12%
15.63%
5 Years
7.85%
7.54%
0.15%
10 Years
13.25%
8.85%
5.62% 
 
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
 
 

 
 
3

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

 
PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

New investment activity for the Trust was very sporadic once again in 2011. In the first three quarters of the year, the Trust completed  six new private placement investments. In the fourth quarter, the Trust completed seven new investments. For the full year 2011, the Trust closed 13 new private placement investments and seven add-on investments in existing portfolio companies. Total private placement investments purchased in 2011 were $12,396,081.   Although our investment activity in 2011 was off the near-record pace of 2010, when the Trust closed 19 new private placement transactions and eight add-on investments aggregating $18,434,897, we were pleased with both the quantity and quality of our 2011 investments. Leverage multiples remained reasonable overall during 2011, and pricing and return expectations on our new investments were stable throughout the year, after several years of declines. All in all, market conditions in 2011 continued to be favorable for new investment activity.

New private placement investments completed during 2011 were Arch Global Precision LLC; CHG Alternative Education Holding Company; DPC Holdings LLC; Handi Quilter Holding Company; Ideal Tridon Holdings, Inc.; K & N Parent, Inc.; LPC Holding Company; Marshall Physicians Services LLC; Merex Holding Corporation; NT Holding Company; SouthernCare Holdings, Inc.; Strata/WLA Holding Corporation and WP Supply Holding Corporation.  In addition, the Trust added to existing private placement investments in Advanced Technologies Holdings; K N B Holdings Corporation; K W P I Holdings Corporation; MBWS Ultimate Holdco, Inc.; NetShape Technologies, Inc.; NT Holding Company; and TruStile Doors, Inc.  A brief description of these investments can be found in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

The condition of the Trust's existing portfolio continued to improve during 2011. Sales and earnings for the Trust's portfolio as a whole continued their upward momentum - we now have seen 22 consecutive months of increases in the average sales and EBITDA of our portfolio companies since hitting trough levels in late 2009.  During the year, a number of our portfolio companies resumed paying cash interest on their debt obligations to the Trust due to their improved operating performance and liquidity position.  Patience and, in many cases, additional equity support from the sponsor groups, sometimes coupled with the temporary deferral of interest on our debt obligations, have proven to be the right approach to helping these companies rebound.

We had eight companies exit from the Trust's portfolio during 2011. In six of these exits, the Trust realized a significant positive return on its investment. These investments were Davis Standard LLC; KHOF Holdings, Inc.; Justrite Manufacturing Acquisition Company; Momentum Holding Company; Nesco Holding Corporation; and Total E & S Inc.  We also realized on our investments in Navis Global and Telecorps Holdings, Inc., both of which were underperforming investments.  In addition, we had a number of companies who took advantage of lower interest rates and improved operating performance to refinance and repay their debt obligations to the Trust.
 
OUTLOOK FOR 2012
 
We enter 2012 with a solid backlog of new investment opportunities. We also expect that leverage multiples and expected returns on new investments will continue to be stable during the year. We have a significant number of portfolio companies that are in various stages of a sale process. One exit has already closed in January – Savage Sports Holding, Inc. was sold for a nice gain near the end of the month, and we expect that realization activity will be very strong in 2012.  Strong realization and refinancing activity is a double-edged sword, however, as that could result in a loss of income-producing investments. We have been fortunate that our new investment activity in recent years has been strong and has had a positive impact on net investment income. We will need to maintain a robust level of new investment activity in the face of expected high levels of realization and refinancing activity.
 
 

 
 
4

 
 
2011 Annual Report

 
The Trust weathered the difficult markets of 2008 and early 2009 well, and was able to maintain its dividend level. With improving market conditions in 2010 and 2011, the Trust was able to increase its dividend by 23% in 2011 over the prior year. Despite the unsettled global economic conditions and other challenges, we are optimistic heading into 2012.   Regardless of the market environment, however, the Trust  will continue to employ the investment philosophy that has served it well since its inception: investing in companies which we believe have a strong business proposition, solid cash flow and experienced, ethical management. This philosophy, along with Babson Capital’s  seasoned investment-management  team, positions the Trust well to meet its investment objectives and policies. As always, I would like to thank you for your continued interest in and support of Babson Capital Participation Investors. I look forward to seeing you at the Trust’s annual shareholder meeting in Springfield on April 27, 2012.

Sincerely,
 
 
Michael L. Klofas
President
 
Cautionary Notice: Certain statements contained in this report may be forward looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date in which they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs, and which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and may not be relied upon as investment advice or an indication of the Trust's trading intent. References to specific securities are not recommendations of such securities, and may not be representative of the Trust's current or future investments.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
 
2011
dividends
Record
date
Net Investment
Income
Short-Term
Gains
Tax
Effect
Long-Term Gains
Regular
4/25/2011
 
0.2700
 
-
   
-
 
8/1/2011
 
0.2700
 
-
   
-
 
10/31/2011
 
0.2700
 
-
   
-
 
12/30/2011
 
0.2700
 
-
   
-
Special  12/30/2011   0.1475   0.0025     -
      $   1.2275   $ 0.0025   $1.2300 0.0000
 
The following table summarizes the tax effects of the relation of capital gains for 2011:

 
Amount Per share
Form 2439
2011 Gains Retained
0.0837
 
Line 1a
 
Long-Term Gains Retained
0.0837
     
Taxes Paid
0.0293
 
Line 2 *
 
Basis Adjustment 0.0544   **  
 
        *
If you are not subject to federal capital gains tax (e.g. charitable organizations, IRAs and Keogh Plans) you may be able to claim a refund by filing Form 990-T.
        **
For federal income tax purposes, you may increase the adjusted cost basis of your shares by this amount (the excess of Line 1a over Line 2).
                                                                                                          
Annual dividend
Qualified for Dividend
Received deduction***
Qualified Dividends****
Interest Earned on
U.S. Gov’t. Obligations
Amount
Per Share
Percent
Amount
Per Share
Percent
Amount
Per Share
Percent 
Amount
Per Share
$1.23
5.1246%
  0.0629
4.4150%
 0.0542
0%
0.0000
 
        ***
Not available to individual shareholders
        ****
Qualified dividends are reported in Box 1b on IRS Form 1099-Div for 2011
 

 
5

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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6

 
 
 

 
 
7

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2011
 
Assets:
     
Investments
     
(See Consolidated Schedule of Investments)
     
Corporate restricted securities at fair value
     
(Cost - $117,020,358)
  $ 106,928,715  
Corporate restricted securities at market value
       
(Cost - $4,238,555)
    4,215,617  
Corporate public securities at market value
       
(Cost - $14,436,954)
    14,899,606  
Short-term securities at amortized cost
    7,999,024  
Total investments (Cost - $143,694,891)
    134,042,962  
Cash
    5,132,700  
Interest receivable
    1,278,147  
Other assets
    119,260  
         
   Total assets
    140,573,069  
         
Liabilities:
       
         
Note payable
    15,000,000  
Dividend payable
    4,246,992  
Deferred tax liability
    502,128  
Investment advisory fee payable
    270,719  
Interest payable
    30,675  
Accrued expenses
    202,889  
         
    Total liabilities
    20,253,403  
         
    Total net assets
  $ 120,319,666  
         
Net Assets:
       
Common shares, par value $.01 per share
  $ 101,119  
Additional paid-in capital
    94,046,595  
Retained net realized gain on investments, prior years
    33,183,269  
Undistributed net investment income
    1,259,710  
Accumulated net realized gain on investments
    1,883,030  
Net unrealized depreciation of investments
    (10,154,057 )
    Total net assets
   120,319,666  
Common shares issued and outstanding (14,785,750 authorized)
    10,111,886  
Net asset value per share
  $ 11.90  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 
8

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2011
 
Investment Income:
     
Interest
  $ 13,676,440  
Dividends
    236,104  
Other
    58,946  
         
    Total investment income
    13,971,490  
         
Expenses:
       
Investment advisory fees
       
      1,117,595  
Interest
    691,875  
Trustees' fees and expenses
    257,425  
Professional fees
    206,700  
Reports to shareholders
    80,000  
Transfer agent
    45,400  
Custodian fees
    31,000  
Other
    14,523  
         
    Total expenses     2,444,518  
         
Investment income - net
    11,526,972  
         
Net Realized And Unrealized Gain On Investments:
       
Net realized gain on investments before taxes
    873,131  
Income tax expense
    (245,790
Net realized gain on investments after taxes
    627,341  
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments before taxes
    403,905  
Net change in deferred income tax expense
    (237,663
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments after taxes
    166,242  
Net gain on investments
    793,583  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
  $ 12,320,555  
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 
9

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2011
 
Net increase in cash:
     
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
       
Purchases/Proceeds/Maturities from short-term portfolio securities, net
  $ 2,076,123  
Purchases of portfolio securities
    (28,080,985 )
Proceeds from disposition of portfolio securities
    27,034,051  
Interest, dividends and other income received
    10,778,076  
Interest expense paid
    (750,133 )
Operating expenses paid
    (1,740,091 )
Income taxes paid
    (709,115 )
         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    8,607,926  
         
Cash flows from financing activities:
       
Proceeds from increase in note payable
    3,000,000  
Cash dividends paid from net investment income
    (10,678,279 )
Receipts for shares issued on reinvestment of dividends
    871,579  
         
Net cash used for financing activities
    (6,806,700 )
         
Net increase in cash
    1,801,226  
Cash - beginning of year
    3,331,474  
Cash - end of year
  $ 5,132,700  
         
Reconciliation of net increase in net assets to net
       
cash provided by operating activities:
       
         
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
  $ 12,320,555  
Increase in investments
    (3,373,684 )
Decrease in interest receivable
    51,683  
Increase in other assets
    (119,260 )
Increase in deferred tax liability
    237,663  
Increase in investment advisory fee payable
    2,127  
Decrease in interest payable
    (58,258 )
Increase in accrued expenses
    27,553  
Decrease in accrued taxes payable
    (463,325 )
Decrease in other payables
    (17,128 )
Total adjustments to net assets from operations
    (3,712,629 )
         
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 8,607,926  
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 
10

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
 
    2011     2010  
Increase in net assets:
           
             
Operations:
           
Investment income - net
  $ 11,526,972     $ 10,266,428  
Net realized gain on investments after taxes
    627,341       1,179,654  
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments after taxes     166,242        8,365,960  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
    12,320,555       19,812,042  
                 
Increase from common shares issued on reinvestment of dividends
               
Common shares issued (2011 - 61,615; 2010 - 67,032)
    871,579       828,922  
                 
Dividends to shareholders from:
               
Net investment income (2011 - $1.23 per share; 2010 - $1.00 per share)
    (12,387,295 )     (10,026,104 )
Net realized gains (2011 - $0.00 per share; 2010 - $0.00 per share)
    (25,408 )     -  
Total increase in net assets
    779,431       10,614,860  
                 
Net assets, beginning of year
    119,540,235       108,925,375  
                 
Net assets, end of year (including undistributed net investment
               
income of $1,259,710 and $1,608,268 respectively)
  $ 120,319,666     $ 119,540,235  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 
11

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for each share of beneficial interest outstanding:
 
   
For the years ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net asset value:
                             
Beginning of year
  $ 11.89     $ 10.91     $ 11.10     $ 12.84     $ 12.90  
Net investment income (a)
    1.14       1.02       0.94       1.08       1.23  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
    0.08       0.95       (0.13 )     (1.82 )     (0.05 )
Total from investment operations
    1.22       1.97       (0.81 )     (0.74 )     1.18  
Dividends from net investment income to common shareholders
    (1.23 )     (1.00 )     (1.00 )     (1.00 )     (1.23 )
Dividends from net realized gain on investments to common shareholders
    (0.00 )(b)     -       -       -       (0.02 )
Increase from dividends reinvested
    0.02       0.01       0.00 (b)     0.00 (b)     0.01  
Total dividends
    (1.21 )     (0.99 )     (1.00 )     (1.00 )     (1.24 )
Net asset value: End of year
  $ 11.90     $ 11.89     $ 10.91     $ 11.10     $ 12.84  
Per share market value:
                                       
End of year
  $ 15.85     $ 13.88     $ 12.20     $ 9.05     $ 13.18  
Total investment return
                                       
Net asset value (c)
    10.56 %     18.71 %     7.60 %     (6.01 %)     9.95 %
Market value (c)
    24.16 %     22.94 %     40.86 %     (25.36 %)     (1.30 %)
Net assets (in millions):
                                       
End of year
  $ 120.32     $ 119.54     $ 108.93     $ 110.18     $ 126.63  
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets
    1.42 %     1.46 %     1.41 %     1.33 %     1.36 %
Ratio of interest expense to average net assets
    0.56 %     0.61 %     0.63 %     0.58 %     0.56 %
Ratio of income tax expense to average net assets (d)
    0.20 %     0.46 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.48 %
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets (d)
    2.18 %     2.53 %     2.04 %     1.91 %     2.40 %
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets
    9.33 %     8.96 %     8.55 %     8.74 %     9.32 %
Portfolio turnover
    21 %     27 %     23 %     32 %     33 %

(a)  
Calculated using average shares.
(b)  
Rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c)  
Net asset value return represents portfolio returns based on change in the Trust's net asset value assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions which differs from the total investment return based on the Trust's market value due to the difference between the Trust's net asset value and the market value of its shares outstanding; past performance is no guarantee of future results.
(d)  
As additional information, this ratio is included to reflect the taxes paid on retained long-term gains. These taxes paid are netted against realized capital gains in the Statement of Operations. The taxes paid are treated as deemed distributions and a credit for the taxes paid is passed on to shareholders.

Senior borrowings:
                             
Total principal amount (in millions)
  $ 15     $ 12     $ 12     $ 12     $ 12  
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness
  $ 9,021     $ 10,962     $ 10,077     $ 10,181     $ 11,552  
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
12

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities - 92.37%: (A)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                         
Private Placement Investments - 88.87%
                               
 
A E Company, Inc.
                       
A designer and manufacturer of machined parts and assembly structures for the commercial and military aerospace industries.
             
11% Senior Secured Note due 2015
  $ 715,384       *     $ 705,109     $ 736,277  
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016   $ 807,693     11/10/09       740,181       823,847  
Common Stock (B)
    184,615 shs.      11/10/09       184,615       114,345  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  92,308 shs.     11/10/09       68,566       57,173  
* 11/10/09 and 11/18/09.
                    1,698,471       1,731,642  
 
A H C Holding Company, Inc.
                            -  
A designer and manufacturer of boilers and water heaters for the commercial sector.
                   
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,394,360     11/21/07       1,377,118       1,394,360  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
  12.26% int.     11/21/07       119,009       184,704  
                      1,496,127       1,579,064  
 
A S A P Industries LLC
                               
A designer and manufacturer of components used on oil and natural gas wells.
                               
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 450,500     12/31/08       409,273       450,500  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A-2 (B)
  676 uts.     12/31/08       74,333       259,312  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A-3 (B)
  608 uts.     12/31/08       66,899       233,382  
                      550,505       943,194  
 
A S C Group, Inc.
                               
A designer and manufacturer of high reliability encryption equipment, communications products, computing systems and electronic components primarily for the military and aerospace sectors.
12.75% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,227,273     10/09/09       1,088,464       1,239,546  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
  2,186 uts.       *       214,793       308,707  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
  1,473 uts.     10/09/09       144,716       208,017  
* 10/09/09 and 10/27/10.
                    1,447,973       1,756,270  
 
A W X Holdings Corporation
                               
A provider of aerial equipment rental, sales and repair services to non-residential construction and maintenance contractors operating in the State of Indiana.
 
10.5% Senior Secured Term Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 420,000     05/15/08       413,944       378,000  
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (D)
  $ 420,000     05/15/08       384,627       -  
Common Stock (B)
  60,000 shs.     05/15/08       60,000       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  21,099 shs.     05/15/08       35,654       -  
                      894,225       378,000  
 

 
13

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                                 
 
Advanced Technologies Holdings
                               
A provider of factory maintenance services to industrial companies.
                   
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
  546 shs.     12/27/07     $ 270,000     $ 597,020  
Convertible Preferred Stock Series B (B)
  28 shs.     01/04/11       21,600       30,407  
                      291,600       627,427  
 
Aero Holdings, Inc.
                               
A provider of geospatial services to corporate and government clients.
   
10.5% Senior Secured Term Note due 2014
  $ 697,500     03/09/07       693,367       708,057  
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 720,000     03/09/07       676,704       720,000  
Common Stock (B)
  150,000 shs.     03/09/07       150,000       246,221  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  37,780 shs.     03/09/07       63,730       62,015  
                      1,583,801       1,736,293  
 
All Current Holding Company
 
A specialty re-seller of essential electrical parts and components primarily serving wholesale distributors.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 603,697     09/26/08       567,503       603,697  
Common Stock (B)
  713 shs.     09/26/08       71,303       67,310  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  507 shs.     09/26/08       46,584       47,862  
                      685,390       718,869  
 
American Hospice Management Holding LLC
                               
A for-profit hospice care provider in the United States.
                               
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013
  $ 1,687,503       *       1,653,472       1,687,503  
Preferred Class A Unit (B)
  1,706 uts.       **       170,600       316,433  
Preferred Class B Unit (B)
  808 uts.     06/09/08       80,789       143,534  
Common Class B Unit (B)
  16,100 uts.     01/22/04       1       74,823  
Common Class D Unit (B)
  3,690 uts.     09/12/06       -       17,149  
* 01/22/04 and 06/09/08.
                    1,904,862       2,239,442  
** 01/22/04 and 09/12/06.
                               
 
Apex Analytix Holding Corporation
                               
A provider of audit recovery and fraud detection services and software to commercial and retail businesses in the U.S. and Europe.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 1,012,500     04/28/09       905,576       1,012,500  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
  1,623 shs.     04/28/09       162,269       210,508  
Common Stock (B)
  723 shs.     04/28/09       723       93,821  
                      1,068,568       1,316,829  
 

 
14

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities : (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                                 
 
Arch Global Precision LLC
                               
A leading manufacturer of high tolerance precision components and consumable tools.
   
14.75% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 750,000     12/21/11     $ 730,049     $ 752,596  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
  28 uts.     12/21/11       28,418       26,999  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class C (B)
  222 uts.     12/21/11       221,582       210,501  
                      980,049       990,096  
 
Arrow Tru-Line Holdings, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of hardware for residential and commercial overhead garage doors in North America.
   
8% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 1,054,025     05/18/05       964,526       685,116  
Preferred Stock (B)
  33 shs.     10/16/09       33,224       -  
Common Stock (B)
  263 shs.     05/18/05       263,298       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2012, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  69 shs.     05/18/05       59,362       -  
 
                    1,320,410       685,116  
 
Associated Diversified Services
                               
A provider of routine maintenance and repair services primarily to electric utility companies predominantly on electric power distribution lines.
 
10% Senior Secured Term Note due 2016 (C)
  $ 292,000     09/30/10       285,874       301,328  
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 332,000     09/30/10       300,138       335,320  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
  36,000 uts.     09/30/10       36,000       37,645  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
  27,520 uts.     09/30/10       27,520       28,778  
                      649,532       703,071  
 
Barcodes Group, Inc.
                               
A distributor and reseller of automatic identification and data capture equipment, including mobile computers, scanners, point-of-sale systems, labels, and accessories.
 
13.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 646,800     07/27/10       620,092       659,736  
Preferred Stock (B)
  13 shs.     07/27/10       131,496       131,500  
Common Stock Class A (B)
  44 shs.     07/27/10       437       74,466  
Warrant, exercisable until 2020, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  8 shs.     07/27/10       76       12,922  
                      752,101       878,624  
 
Bravo Sports Holding Corporation
                               
A designer and marketer of niche branded consumer products including canopies, trampolines, in-line skates, skateboards, and urethane wheels.
 
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 1,207,902     06/30/06       1,176,308       603,951  
Preferred Stock Class A (B)
  465 shs.     06/30/06       141,946       -  
Common Stock (B)
  1 sh.     06/30/06       152       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  164 shs.     06/30/06       48,760       -  
                      1,367,166       603,951  
 

 
15

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                                 
 
C D N T, Inc.
                               
A value-added converter and distributor of specialty pressure sensitive adhesives, foams, films, and foils.
   
10.5% Senior Secured Term Note due 2014
  $ 268,169     08/07/08     $ 265,435     $ 268,169  
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 429,070     08/07/08       402,674       429,070  
Common Stock (B)
  41,860 shs.     08/07/08       41,860       36,499  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  32,914 shs.     08/07/08       32,965       28,698  
                      742,934       762,436  
 
Capital Specialty Plastics, Inc.
                               
A producer of desiccant strips used for packaging pharmaceutical products.
           
Common Stock (B)
  55 shs.       *       252       595,089  
*12/30/97 and 05/29/99.
                               
 
CHG Alternative Education Holding Company
                               
A leading provider of publicly-funded, for profit pre-K-12 education services targeting special needs children at therapeutic day schools and “at risk” youth through alternative education programs.
13.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 722,827     01/19/11       683,848       727,579  
Common Stock (B)
  375 shs.     01/19/11       37,500       34,165  
Warrant, exercisable until 2021, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  295 shs.     01/19/11       29,250       26,856  
                      750,598       788,600  
 
Clough, Harbour and Associates
                               
An engineering service firm that is located in Albany, NY.
                               
12.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,270,588     12/02/08       1,208,232       1,270,588  
Preferred Stock (B)
  147 shs.     12/02/08       146,594       174,651  
                      1,354,826       1,445,239  
 
Coeur, Inc.
                               
A producer of proprietary, disposable power injection syringes.
                               
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 642,857     10/10/08       598,809       642,857  
Common Stock (B)
  321 shs.     10/10/08       32,143       17,631  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  495 shs.     10/10/08       48,214       27,124  
                      679,166       687,612  
 
Connecticut Electric, Inc.
                               
A supplier and distributor of electrical products sold into the retail and wholesale markets.
           
10% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 771,051     01/12/07       719,299       693,946  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
  82,613 uts.     01/12/07       82,613       10,228  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class C (B)
  59,756 uts.     01/12/07       59,756       7,398  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class D (B)
  671,525 uts.     05/03/10       -       83,140  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class E (B)
  1,102 uts.     05/03/10       -       137  
                      861,668       794,849  
 

 
16

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                           
Connor Sport Court International, Inc.
                         
A designer and manufacturer of outdoor and indoor synthetic sports flooring and other temporary flooring products.
             
Preferred Stock Series B-2 (B)
 
9,081 shs.
     
07/05/07
    $ 370,796     $ 840,882  
Preferred Stock Series C (B)
 
4,757 shs.
     
07/05/07
      158,912       440,509  
Common Stock (B)
 
380 shs.
     
07/05/07
      4       -  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
 
6.88% int.
      *       103,135       -  
*08/12/04 and 01/14/05.
                  632,847       1,281,391  
                               
CorePharma LLC
                             
A manufacturer of oral dose generic pharmaceuticals targeted at niche applications.
                 
14.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,390,798      
08/04/05
      1,390,799       1,390,798  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.001 per share (B)
 
10 shs.
     
08/04/05
      72,617       295,830  
                      1,463,416       1,686,628  
Crane Rental Corporation
                               
A crane rental company since 1960, headquartered in Florida.
                         
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,215,000      
08/21/08
      1,132,401       1,165,929  
Common Stock (B)
 
135,000 shs.
     
08/21/08
      135,000       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
72,037 shs.
     
08/21/08
              103,143  
                      1,370,544       1,165,929  
Custom Engineered Wheels, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of custom engineered, non-pneumatic plastic wheels and plastic tread cap tires used primarily for lawn and garden products and wheelchairs.
 
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,155,288      
10/27/09
      1,033,684       1,134,865  
Preferred Stock PIK (B)
 
156 shs.
     
10/27/09
      156,468       51,634  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
114 shs.
     
10/27/09
      104,374       37,724  
Common Stock (B)
 
38 shs.
     
10/27/09
      38,244       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
28 shs.
     
10/27/09
      25,735          
                      1,358,505       1,224,223  
DPC Holdings LLC
                               
A provider of accounts receivable management and revenue cycle management services to customers in the healthcare, financial and utility industries.
 
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 892,346      
10/21/11
      874,951       894,099  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
 
11,111 uts.
     
10/21/11
      111,111       105,555  
                      986,062       999,654  
 

 
17

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                           
Duncan Systems, Inc.
                         
A distributor of windshields and side glass for the recreational vehicle market.
                     
10% Senior Secured Term Note due 2013
  $ 154,286      
11/01/06
    $ 153,515     $ 155,158  
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 488,572      
11/01/06
      461,558       488,572  
Common Stock (B)
 
102,857 shs.
     
11/01/06
      102,857       35,078  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
32,294 shs.
     
11/01/06
      44,663       11,014  
 
                    762,593       689,822   
E S P Holdco, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of power protection technology for commercial office equipment, primarily supplying the office equipment dealer network.
 
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,272,510      
01/08/08
      1,257,047       1,272,510  
Common Stock (B)
 
349 shs.
     
01/08/08
      174,701       155,849  
                      1,431,748       1,428,359  
E X C Acquisition Corporation
                               
A manufacturer of pre-filled syringes and pump systems used for intravenous drug delivery.
         
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase                              
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
11 shs.
     
06/28/04
      40,875       43,059  
                                 
Eatem Holding Company
                               
A developer and manufacturer of savory flavor systems for soups, sauces, gravies, and other products produced by food manufacturers for retail and foodservice end products.
 
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 950,000      
02/01/10
      841,922       908,429  
Common Stock (B)
 
50 shs.
     
02/01/10
      50,000       42,894  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
119 shs.
     
02/01/10
      107,100       102,278  
                      999,022       1,053,601  
                                 
F C X Holdings Corporation
 
A distributor of specialty/technical valves, actuators, accessories, and process instrumentation supplying a number of industrial, high purity, and energy end markets in North America.
 
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,232,167      
10/06/08
      1,217,672       1,232,167  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
232 shs.
      *       23,200       30,422  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
 
2,298 shs.
     
10/06/08
      229,804       301,334  
Common Stock (B)
 
1,625 shs.
     
10/06/08
      1,625       28,111  
* 12/30/10 and 07/01/11.
                    1,472,301       1,592,034  
                                 
F F C Holding Corporation
                               
A leading U.S. manufacturer of private label frozen novelty and ice cream products.
                         
16% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 866,523      
09/27/10
      851,857       883,853  
Limited Liability Company Units Preferred (B)
 
171 uts.
     
09/27/10
      153,659       166,616  
Limited Liability Company Units (B)
 
171 uts.
     
09/27/10
      17,073       59,831  
                      1,022,589       1,110,300  
 

 
18

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                           
F G I Equity LLC
                         
A manufacturer of a broad range of filters and related products that are used in commercial, light industrial, healthcare, gas turbine, nuclear, laboratory, clean room, hotel, educational system, and food processing settings.
14.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 442,309      
12/15/10
    $ 431,329     $ 451,155  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B-1 (B)
 
65,789 uts.
     
12/15/10
      65,789       104,557  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B-2 (B)
 
8,248 uts.
     
12/15/10
      8,248       13,109  
 
                    505,366       568,821  
F H Equity LLC
                               
A designer and manufacturer of a full line of automatic transmission filters and filtration systems for passenger vehicles.
                 
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 510,527      
12/20/10
      491,612       519,665  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class C (B)
 
1,575 uts.
     
12/20/10
      16,009       15,650  
 
                    507,621       535,315  
Flutes, Inc.
                               
An independent manufacturer of micro fluted corrugated sheet material for the food and consumer products packaging industries.
         
10% Senior Secured Term Note due 2013 (D)
  $ 524,791      
04/13/06
      519,050       262,396  
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013 (D)
  $ 317,177      
04/13/06
              290,908  
 
                    809,958       262,396  
G C Holdings
                               
A leading manufacturer of gaming tickets, industrial recording charts, security-enabled point-of sale receipts, and medical charts and supplies.
 
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 1,000,000      
10/19/10
      940,506       1,020,000  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
198 shs.
     
10/19/10
      46,958       20,187  
 
                    987,464       1,040,187  
Golden County Foods Holding, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer  of frozen appetizers and snacks.
                               
16% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (D)
  $ 1,012,500      
11/01/07
      938,215       -  
14% PIK Note due 2015 (D)
    250,259      
12/31/08
      217,699        -  
8% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into
                               
common shares (B)
 
151,643 shs.
     
11/01/07
      77,643        -  
                      1,233,557        -  
H M Holding Company
                               
A designer, manufacturer,  and importer of promotional and wood furniture.
                               
7.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 362,700      
10/15/09
      271,181       181,350  
Preferred Stock (B)
 
21 shs.
      *       21,428       -  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
 
1,088 shs.
     
10/15/09
      813,544       -  
Common Stock (B)
 
180 shs.
     
02/10/06
      180,000       -  
Common Stock Class C (B)
 
296 shs.
     
10/15/09
      -       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
67 shs.
     
02/10/06
      61,875       -  
* 09/18/07 and 06/27/08.
                    1,348,028       181,350  
 

 
19

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                         
Handi Quilter Holding Company
                       
A designer and manufacturer of long-arm quilting machines and related components for the consumer quilting market.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 461,539    
11/14/11
    $ 427,241     $ 465,016  
Common Stock (B)
 
38 shs.
   
11/14/11
      38,461       36,537  
Warrant, exercisable until 2021, to purchase
                             
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
28 shs.
   
11/14/11
              25,596  
 
                  491,271       501,553  
Home Décor Holding Company
                             
A designer, manufacturer  and marketer of framed art and wall décor products.
           
Common Stock (B)
 
33 shs.
      *       33,216       62,056  
Warrant, exercisable until 2012, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
106 shs.
      *       105,618       197,301  
    * 06/30/04 and 08/19/04.
                    138,834        259,357  
                                 
HOP Entertainment LLC
                               
A provider of post production equipment and services to producers of television shows and motion pictures.
Limited Liability Company Unit Class F (B)
 
47 uts.
   
10/14/11
      -       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class G (B)
 
114 uts.
   
10/14/11
      -       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class H (B)
 
47 uts.
   
10/14/11
      -       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class I (B)
 
47 uts.
   
10/14/11
      -       -  
                      -       -  
Hospitality Mints Holding Company
                               
A manufacturer  of individually-wrapped imprinted promotional mints.
       
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,415,237    
08/19/08
      1,349,414       1,344,475  
Common Stock (B)
 
251 shs.
   
08/19/08
      251,163       9,593  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
65 shs.
   
08/19/08
      60,233       2,479  
                      1,660,810       1,356,547  
                                 
Ideal Tridon Holdings, Inc.
                               
A designer and manufacturer of clamps and couplings used in automotive and industrial end markets.
   
13.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 909,603    
10/27/11
      891,753       912,847  
Common Stock (B)
 
93 shs.
   
10/27/11
      92,854       88,208  
 
                    984,607        1,001,055   
Insurance Claims Management, Inc.
                               
A third party administrator providing auto and property claim administration services for insurance companies.
   
Common Stock (B)
 
47 shs.
   
02/27/07
      1,424       222,492  
 

 
20

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                           
International Offshore Services LLC
                         
A leading provider of marine transportation services, platform decommissioning, and salvage services to oil and gas producers in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
 
14.25% Senior Subordinated Secured Note due 2017 (D)
  $ 1,350,000      
07/07/09
    $ 1,236,405     $ 675,000  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
 
1,647 uts.
     
07/07/09
      98,833       -  
                      1,335,238       675,000  
J A C Holding Enterprises, Inc.
                               
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 833,333      
   12/20/10
      721,760       755,247  
Preferred Stock A (B)
 
165 shs.
     
  12/20/10
      165,000       -  
Preferred Stock B (B)
 
0.06 shs.
     
  12/20/10
      -       -  
Common Stock (B)
 
33 shs.
     
  12/20/10
      1,667       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2020, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
12 shs.
     
  12/20/10
      105,643       -  
                      994,070       755,247  
Jason Partners Holdings LLC
                               
A diversified manufacturing  company serving various industrial markets.
                               
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
 
48 uts.
     
09/21/10
      449,086       25,511  
                                 
K & N Parent, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer and supplier of automotive aftermarket performance air filters and intake systems.
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
    869,565      
12/23/11
      852,210       874,183  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
102 shs.
     
12/23/11
      96,578       91,748  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
 
28.77 shs.
     
12/23/11
      27,335       25,966  
Common Stock (B)
 
130 shs.
     
12/23/11
      6,522       4,957  
                      982,645       996,854  
K N B Holdings Corporation
                               
A designer, manufacturer and marketer of products for the custom framing market.
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 2,169,317      
04/12/11
      1,990,106       2,169,317  
Common Stock (B)
 
71,053 shs.
     
05/25/06
      71,053       25,476  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
43,600 shs.
     
05/25/06
      37,871       15,633  
                      2,099,030       2,210,426  
K P H I Holdings, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of highly engineered plastic and metal components for a diverse range of end-markets, including medical, consumer and industrial, automotive and defense.
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 892,739      
  12/10/10
      876,816       894,129  
Common Stock (B)
 
232,826 shs.
     
  12/10/10
      232,826       111,187  
                      1,109,642       1,005,316  
 

 
21

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                           
K P I Holdings, Inc.
                         
The largest player in the U.S. non-automotive, non-ferrous die casting segment.
                     
12.75% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,301,869      
07/16/08
    $ 1,226,680     $ 1,236,776  
Convertible Preferred Stock Series C (B)
 
29 shs.
     
06/30/09
      29,348       58,000  
Convertible Preferred Stock Series D (B)
 
13 shs.
     
09/17/09
      12,958       38,880  
Common Stock (B)
 
235 shs.
     
07/15/08
      234,783       17,260  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
51 shs.
     
07/16/08
      50,836       3,737  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
67 shs.
     
09/17/09
            4,955  
                      1,554,605       1,359,608  
K W P I Holdings Corporation
                               
A manufacturer and distributor of vinyl windows and patio doors throughout the northwestern United States.
   
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (D)
  $ 1,674,246      
03/14/07
      1,523,455       1,339,397  
Preferred Stock PIK (B)
 
793 shs.
     
02/07/11
      306,750       230,000  
Common Stock (B)
 
123 shs.
     
03/13/07
      123,000       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
preferred stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
71 shs.
     
07/07/09
      -       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2017, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
89 shs.
     
03/14/07
      85,890       -  
                      2,039,095       1,569,397  
LPC Holding Company
                               
A designer and manufacturer of precision-molded silicone rubber components that are utilized in the medical and automotive end markets.
 
13.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 907, 434      
08/15/11
      889,975       927,127  
Common Stock (B)
 
94 shs.
     
08/15/11
      94,340       112,654  
 
                    984,315       1,039,781  
M V I Holding, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of large precision machined metal components used in equipment which services a variety of industries, including the oil and gas, mining, and defense markets.
 
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 667,711         09/12/08       632,520       667,711  
Common Stock (B)
    32 shs.         09/12/08       32,143       26,870  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
    35 shs.         09/12/08        34,714       29,018  
                      699,377       723,599  
 

 
22

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                         
Mail Communications Group, Inc.
                       
A provider of mail processing and handling services, lettershop services, and commercial printing services.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 516,177    
05/04/07
    $ 501,470     $ 516,177  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
 
12,764 uts.
      *       166,481       210,841  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
1,787 shs.
   
05/04/07
      22,781       29,520  
* 05/04/07 and 01/02/08.
                    690,732       756,538  
                                 
Manhattan Beachwear Holding Company
                               
A designer and distributor of women's swimwear.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 419,971    
01/15/10
      374,421       419,971  
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 105,625    
10/05/10
      103,732       105,625  
Common Stock (B)
 
35 shs.
   
10/05/10
      35,400       89,219  
Common Stock Class B (B)
 
118 shs.
   
01/15/10
      117,647       296,513  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
104 shs.
   
01/15/10
      94,579       262,413  
                      725,779       1,173,741  
Marshall Physicians Services LLC
                               
A provider of emergency department and hospital medicine services to hospitals located in the state of Kentucky. The Company was founded in 1999 and is owned by seven practicing physicians.
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 441,222    
09/20/11
      432,656       446,172  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
 
2,900 uts.
   
09/20/11
      60,000       57,093  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class D (B)
 
291 uts.
   
09/20/11
            5,738  
 
                    492,656       509,003  
MBWS Ultimate Holdco, Inc.
                               
A provider of services throughout North Dakota that address the fluid management and related transportation needs of an oil well.
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,117,495       *       1,024,347       1,139,845  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
1,388 shs.
   
09/07/10
      138,797       495,362  
Common Stock (B)
 
162 shs.
   
03/01/11
      16,226       57,816  
Common Stock (B)
 
153 shs.
   
09/07/10
      15,282       54,604  
Warrant, exercisable until 2020, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
103 shs.
   
03/01/11
      10,325       36,760  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B) 386 shs.
         
09/07/10
      38,623       137,759  
* 09/07/10 and 03/01/11.
                    1,243,600       1,922,146  
 

 
23

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                         
MedSystems Holdings LLC
                       
A manufacturer of enteral feeding products, such as feeding tubes and other products related to assisted feeding.
             
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 628,474    
08/29/08
    $ 577,233     $ 628,474  
Preferred Unit (B)
 
66 uts.
   
08/29/08
      66,451       84,866  
Common Unit Class A (B)
 
671 uts.
   
08/29/08
      671       23,577  
Common Unit Class B (B)
 
250 uts.
   
08/29/08
      63,564       8,773  
 
                  707,919       745,690  
MEGTEC Holdings, Inc.
                             
A supplier of industrial and environmental products and services to a broad array of industries.
                       
Preferred Stock (B)
 
56 shs.
   
09/24/08
      54,040       72,797  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
 
0.74% int.
   
09/16/08
      205,932       272,590  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                             
    common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
18 shs.
   
09/24/08
      18,237       28,618  
 
                  278,209       374,005  
Merex Holding Corporation
                             
A provider of after-market spare parts and components, as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services for “out of production” or “legacy” aerospace and defense systems that are no longer effectively supported by the original equipment manufacturers.
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 367,924    
09/22/11
      360,760       371,573  
Limited Liability Company Unit Series B (B)
 
132,076 uts.
   
09/22/11
      132,076       102,583  
                    492,836       474,156  
MicroGroup, Inc.
                             
A manufacturer of precision parts and assemblies, and a value-added supplier of metal tubing and bars.
                       
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013 (D)
  $ 1,421,795       *       1,364,411       355,449  
Common Stock (B)
 
238 shs.
      *       238,000       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
87 shs.
      *       86,281       -  
    *08/12/05 and 09/11/06.  
                    1,688,692       355,449  
                                 
Milwaukee Gear Company
                               
A manufacturer of high-precision custom gears and gear drives used by original equipment manufacturers operating in a number of industries.
 
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 1,246,154    
07/21/08
      1,205,930       1,246,154  
Preferred Stock (B)
 
139 shs.
   
07/21/08
      138,374       179,013  
Common Stock (B)
 
9 shs.
   
07/21/08
      10,000       138,864  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
6 shs.
   
07/21/08
      5,510       92,576  
                      1,359,814       1,656,607  
 

 
24

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                                 
 
Monessen Holding Corporation
                               
A designer and manufacturer of a broad line of gas, wood, and electric hearth products and accessories.
   
15% Senior Subordinated PIK Note due 2015 (D)
  $ 823,794     06/28/11     $ 547,745     $ -  
7% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 1,350,000     06/28/11       1,281,479       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
    common stock at $.02 per share (B)
  81 shs.     03/31/06       73,125       -  
                      1,902,349       -  
 
Motion Controls Holdings
                               
A manufacturer of high performance mechanical motion control and linkage products.
   
14.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 923,872     11/30/10       908,185       942,349  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B-1 (B)
  93,750 uts.     11/30/10       -       96,091  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B-2 (B)
  8,501 uts.     11/30/10       -       8,713  
                      908,185       1,047,153  
 
NABCO, Inc.
                               
A producer of explosive containment vessels in the United States.
   
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 330,882     02/24/06       306,091       82,720  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
  437 uts.       *       436,984       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
    common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  68 shs.     02/24/06       19,687       -  
     * 02/24/06 and 06/22/07.
                    762,762       82,720  
 
NetShape Technologies, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of powder metal and metal injection molded precision components used in industrial, consumer, and other applications.
         
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 995,697     02/02/07       896,185       696,988  
Limited Partnership Interest of
                               
    Saw Mill PCG Partners LLC (B)
  1.38% int.     02/01/07       588,077       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class D of
                               
    Saw Mill PCG Partners LLC (B)
  9 uts.       *       8,873       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class D-1 of
                               
    Saw Mill PCG Partners LLC (B)
  121 uts.     09/30/09       121,160       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class D-2 of
                               
    Saw Mill PCG Partners LLC (B)
  68 uts.     04/29/11       34,547       -  
* 12/18/08 and 09/30/09.
                    1,648,842       696,988  
 

 
25

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                             
Nicoat Acquisitions LLC
                               
A manufacturer of water-based and ultraviolet coatings for high-performance graphic arts, packaging and other specialty coating applications.
 
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 482,759     11/05/10     $ 442,764     $ 488,711  
Limited Liability Company Unit Series B (B)
  17,241 uts.     11/05/10       17,241       18,536  
Limited Liability Company Unit Series B (B)
  34,931 uts.     11/05/10       34,931       37,555  
Limited Liability Company Unit Series F (B)
  52,172 uts.     11/05/10       -       53,477  
                      494,936       598,279  
 
Northwest Mailing Services, Inc.
                               
A producer of promotional materials for companies that use direct mail as part of their customer retention and loyalty programs.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,492,105       *       1,263,337       1,481,911  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
  1,740 uts.       *       174,006       51,960  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
     common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  2,605 shs.       *       260,479       77,782  
    *07/09/09 and 08/09/10.
                    1,697,822       1,611,653  
 
NT Holding Company
                               
A leading developer, manufacturer and provider of medical products used primarily in interventional pain management.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2019
  $ 883,117     02/02/11       817,243       897,023  
Common Stock (B)
  126 shs.       *       125,883       127,902  
Warrant, exercisable until 2021, to purchase
                               
     common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  59 shs.     02/02/11       52,987       59,693  
    * 02/02/11 and 06/30/11.
                    996,113       1,084,618  
 
Nyloncraft, Inc.
                               
A supplier of engineered plastic components for the automotive industry.
           
Convertible Preferred Stock A (B)
  571 shs.     01/28/02       549,507       966,994  
Common Stock (B)
  178,571 shs.     01/28/02       178,571       244,214  
Warrant, exercisable until 2012, to purchase
                               
    common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  138,929 shs.     01/28/02       92,597       190,000  
                      820,675       1,401,208  
 
O E C Holding Corporation
                               
A provider of elevator maintenance, repair and modernization services.
           
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 444,445     06/04/10       410,101       442,061  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
  554 shs.     06/04/10       55,354       33,026  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
  311 shs.     06/04/10       31,125       18,570  
Common Stock (B)
  344 shs.     06/04/10       344       -  
                      496,924       493,657  
 

 
26

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                             
OakRiver Technology, Inc.
                               
Designs, engineers and assembles high precision automated process equipment for the medical device industry with a focus on defibrillators and stents.
 
Common Stock (B)
  184,176 shs.     01/03/06     $ 184,176     $ 285,879  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
     common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  43,073 shs.     01/03/06       35,900       66,858  
                      220,076       352,737  
 
Ontario Drive & Gear Ltd.
                               
A manufacturer of all-wheel drive, off-road amphibious vehicles and related accessories.
           
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
  1,942 uts.     01/17/06       302,885       798,654  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
     common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  328 shs.     01/17/06       90,424       134,842  
                      393,309       933,496  
 
P K C Holding Corporation
                               
A manufacturer of plastic film and badges for the general industrial, medical, and food industries.
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,584,651     12/21/10       1,549,060       1,604,976  
Preferred Stock Class A (B)
  29 shs.     12/21/10       180,380       289,548  
Common Stock (B)
  29 shs.     12/21/10       13,500       -  
                      1,742,940       1,894,524  
 
P P T Holdings LLC
                               
A high-end packaging solutions provider that targets customers who have multiple packaging needs, require a high number of low volume SKUs, short lead times, technical expertise, and overall supply chain management.
 
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 921,087     12/20/10       905,026       926,875  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
  33 uts.     12/20/10       106,071       79,748  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
  33 uts.     12/20/10       1,072       79,748  
                      1,012,169       1,086,371  
 
Pacific Consolidated Holdings LLC
                               
A manufacturer of rugged, mobile liquid and gaseous oxygen and nitrogen generating systems used in the global defense, oil and gas, and medical sectors.
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2012 (D)
  $ 737,784     04/27/07       719,555       442,670  
5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2012
  $ 42,187     07/21/10       42,187       42,268  
Preferred Shares Series E (B)
  42,187 uts.     07/21/10       -       -  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
  928,962 uts.     04/27/07       33,477       -  
                      795,219       484,938  
 
Paradigm Packaging, Inc.
                               
A manufacturer of plastic bottles and closures for the nutritional, pharmaceutical, personal care, and food packaging markets.
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 843,750     12/19/00       841,596       843,750  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
     common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  197 shs.     12/21/00       140,625       32,567  
                      982,221       876,317  
 

 
27

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A)(Continued)   Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
   
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                                 
 
Pearlman Enterprises, Inc.
                               
A developer and distributor of tools, equipment and supplies to the natural and engineered stone industry.
                 
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
  1,236 shs.     05/22/09     $ 59,034     $ -  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
  7,059 shs.     05/22/09       290,050       -  
Common Stock (B)
  21,462 shs.     05/22/09       993,816       -  
                      1,342,900       -  
 
Postle Aluminum Company LLC
                               
A manufacturer and distributor of aluminum extruded products.
                               
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013
  $ 849,117     06/03/10       839,515       857,608  
3% Senior Subordinated PIK Note due 2014
  $ 1,209,017     10/02/06       1,084,679       1,209,017  
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
  733 uts.     10/02/06       270,000       82,505  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
  76 uts.     05/22/09       340       8,557  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
      common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  4,550 shs.     10/02/06       65,988       512,358  
                      2,260,522       2,670,045  
 
Power Services Holding Company
                               
A provider of industrial motor repair services, predictive and preventative maintenance, and performance improvement consulting serving the petrochemical, mining, power generation, metals, and paper industries.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,255,814     02/11/08       1,182,157       1,255,814  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
  12.55% int.     02/11/08       94,092       97,911  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
      common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  700 shs.     02/11/08       88,723       197,434  
                      1,364,972       1,551,159  
 
Precision Wire Holding Company
                               
A manufacturer of specialty medical wires that are used in non-elective minimally invasive surgical procedures.
   
14.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,393,934     11/12/09       1,283,154       1,421,812  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
      common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  109 shs.     11/12/09       107,970       107,288  
                      1,391,124       1,529,100  
 
Qualis Automotive LLC
                               
A distributor of aftermarket automotive brake and chassis products.
                               
Common Stock (B)
  187,500 shs.     05/28/04       187,500       200,406  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
      common stock at $.01 per share (B)
  199,969 shs.     05/28/04       199,969       213,734  
                      387,469       414,140  
 

 
28

 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                           
RAJ Manufacturing  Holdings LLC
                         
A designer and manufacturer of women’s swimwear sold under a variety of licensed brand names.
                     
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 1,335,212      
12/15/06
    $ 1,282,345     $ 1,335,212  
14.5% Senior Subordinated PIK Note due 2014
  $ 110,639      
12/31/10
      106,481       110,639  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
 
1,497 uts.
     
12/15/06
      149,723       62,267  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
2 shs.
     
12/15/06
      69,609       29,383  
                      1,608,158       1,537,501  
 
R E I Delaware Holding, Inc.
                         
An engineer and manufacturer of highly complex, close tolerance components, assemblies, tooling and custom automation equipment primarily for aerospace, medical and defense/radar markets.
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,350,000      
01/18/08
      1,322,701       1,350,000  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
3 shs.
     
01/18/08
      16,459       180,975  
                      1,339,160       1,530,975  
 
Royal Baths Manufacturing Company
                         
A manufacturer and distributor of acrylic and cultured marble bathroom products.
                     
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 281,250      
11/14/03
      276,491       281,250  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
74 shs.
     
11/14/03
      65,089       21,948  
                      341,580       303,198  
 
Savage Sports Holding, Inc.
                             
A manufacturer  of sporting firearms.
                             
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2012
  $ 814,655      
09/10/04
      803,703       814,655  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
35 shs.
     
05/28/10
      35,038       48,180  
Common Stock (B)
 
324 shs.
      *       340,378       949,951  
Warrant, exercisable until 2012, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
71 shs.
     
09/10/04
      60,129       207,406  
* 09/10/04 and 10/05/07.
                     1,239,248        2,020,192  
 
Sencore Holding Company
A designer, manufacturer,  and marketer of decoders, receivers and modulators sold to broadcasters, satellite, cable and telecom operators for encoding/decoding analog and digital transmission video signals.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)
  $ 1,157,231      
01/15/09
      826,004       -  
Common Stock (B)
 
69 shs.
     
01/15/09
      69,231       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2019, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
149 shs.
     
01/15/09
      149,084       -  
                       1,044,319       -  
 

 
29

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
                                                                                                                                                                                              
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date 
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                           
Smart Source Holdings LLC                          
A short-term computer rental company.                          
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,176,924       *     $ 1,110,935     $ 1,176,924  
Limited Liability Company Unit (B)
 
328 uts.
      *       334,371       286,593  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
83 shs.
     
*
      87,231       72,594  
* 08/31/07 and 03/06/08.
                     1,532,537        1,536,111  
 
Snacks Parent Corporation
                         
The world's largest provider of trail mixes and a leading provider of snack nuts, dried fruits, and other healthy snack products.
     
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 878,450      
11/12/10
      832,920       870,295  
Preferred Stock A (B)
 
1,132 shs.
     
11/12/10
      107,498       67,333  
Preferred Stock B (B)
 
525 shs.
     
11/12/10
      49,884       31,246  
Common Stock (B)
 
6,579 shs.
     
11/12/10
      6,579       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2020, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
1,806 shs.
     
11/12/10
      1,806       -  
 
                    998,687       968,874  
 
SouthernCare Holdings, Inc.
A hospice company providing palliative care services to terminally ill patients.
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 909,091      
12/01/11
      891,040       912,685  
Common Stock (B)
 
909 shs.
     
12/01/11
      90,909       86,355  
                      981,949       999,040  
Spartan Foods Holding Company
                               
A manufacturer  of branded pizza crusts and pancakes.
                               
12.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 1,012,500      
12/15/09
      893,742       759,375  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)   136 shs.       12/15/09       120,234       -  
                       1,013,976       759,375  
Specialty Commodities, Inc.
                               
A distributor of specialty food ingredients.
                               
13.25% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 1,239,498      
10/23/08
      1,183,651       1,239,498  
Common Stock (B)
 
15,882 shs.
     
10/23/08
      158,824       188,469  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
5,852 shs.
     
10/23/08
      53,285       69,445  
                       1,395,760        1,497,412  
 

 
30

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date 
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                           
Stanton Carpet Holding Company
                         
A designer and marketer of high and mid-priced decorative carpets and rugs.
                         
12.13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 790,244      
08/01/06
    $ 767,270     $ 790,244  
Common Stock (B)
 
165 shs.
     
08/01/06
      164,634       201,129  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
55 shs.
     
08/01/06
      49,390       66,986  
 
                    981,294       1,058,359  
 
Strata/WLA Holding Corporation
                         
A leading independent anatomic pathology laboratory that conducts over 320,000 tests annually to customers in 40 U.S. states and in Canada and Venezuela.
14.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 935,540      
07/01/11
      917,915       931,660  
Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
76 shs.
     
07/01/11
      76,046       48,701  
                      993,961       980,361  
 
Sundance Investco LLC
                     
A provider of post-production services to producers of movies and television shows.        
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)     3,405 shs.       03/31/10       -       -  
 
Sunrise Windows Holding Company
                         
A manufacturer and marketer of premium vinyl windows exclusively selling to the residential remodeling and replacement market.
       
14% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 982,407      
12/14/10
      931,336       933,287  
Common Stock (B)
 
38 shs.
     
12/14/10
      38,168       4,994  
Warrant, exercisable until 2020, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
37 shs.
     
12/14/10
      37,249       4,873  
                      1,006,753       943,154  
  
Synteract Holdings Corporation
                         
A provider of outsourced clinical trial management services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
 
14.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 1,407,773      
09/02/08
      1,339,026       1,407,773  
Redeemable Preferred Stock Series A (B)
 
678 shs.
     
09/02/08
      6,630       41,546  
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
6,778 shs.
     
09/02/08
      59,661       -  
                      1,405,317       1,449,319  
 
T H I Acquisition, Inc.
                           
A machine servicing company providing value-added steel services to long steel products.  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase                            
common stock at $.01 per share (B)    
5 shs.
     
01/14/08
      46,617       159,165  
 

 
31

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                           
Terra Renewal LLC                          
A provider of wastewater residual management and required environmental reporting, permitting, nutrient management planning and record keeping to companies involved in poultry and food processing.
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014 (D)   $ 664,062       *     $ 644,369     $ -  
6.9% Term Note due 2012 (C)    $ 775,729       05/31/11       775,730       698,157  
Common Stock Class B   32 shs.       *       3,574       -  
Limited Partnership Interest of                                
Saw Mill Capital Fund V, LLC (B)   2.27% int.       **       117,464       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase                                
common stock at $.01 per share (B)    41 shs.       04/28/06       33,738       -  
 * 04/28/06 and 09/13/06.                     1,574,875       698,157  
 
Torrent Group Holdings, Inc.                          
A contractor specializing in the sales and installation of engineered drywells for the retention and filtration of stormwater and nuisance water flow.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013 (D)   $ 1,300,003       10/26/07       1,136,835       -  
Series B Preferred Stock (B)   97 shs.       03/31/10       -       -  
Common Stock (B)   273 shs.       03/31/10       219,203       -  
                      1,356,038       -  
 
Transpac Holding Company
                         
A designer, importer, and wholesaler of home décor and seasonal gift products.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 938,651      
10/31/07
      881,462       948,038  
Common Stock (B)
 
110 shs.
     
10/31/07
      110,430          
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
50 shs.
     
10/31/07
              46,380  
                      1,038,272       948,038  
 
Tranzonic Companies (The)
                               
A producer  of commercial and industrial supplies, such as safety products, janitorial supplies, work apparel, washroom and restroom supplies and sanitary care products.
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013
  $ 1,356,000      
02/05/98
      1,348,045       1,356,000  
Common Stock (B)
 
315 shs.
     
02/04/98
      315,000       306,780  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
222 shs.
     
02/05/98
      184,416       216,206  
                       1,847,461        1,878,986  
 

 
32

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership
Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
    Cost    
Fair
Value
 
                           
Truck Bodies & Equipment International                          
A designer and manufacturer of accessories for heavy and medium duty trucks, primarily dump bodies, hoists, various forms of flat- bed bodies, landscape bodies and other accessories.
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014   $ 1,222,698       *     $ 1,113,931     $ 1,161,563  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)   128 shs.       10/20/08       127,677       -  
Common Stock (B)   393 shs.       *       423,985       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase   81 shs.       *       84,650       -  
common stock at $.02 per share (B)                                
Warrant, exercisable until 2018, to purchase                                
common stock at $.01 per share (B)    558 shs.       10/20/08       -       -  
* 07/19/05 and 12/22/05.                      1,750,243       1,161,563  
 
TruStile Doors, Inc.
                           
A manufacturer  and distributor of interior doors.
                           
Limited Liability Company Unit
 
5,888 uts.
     
02/28/11
      125,000       59,466  
Warrant, exercisable until 2013, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
3,060 shs.
     
04/11/03
      36,032       -  
                      161,032       59,466  
 
U-Line Corporation
                       
A manufacturer of high-end, built-in, undercounter ice making, wine storage and refrigeration appliances.
12.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2016
  $ 473,338      
04/30/04
      465,670       473,338  
Common Stock (B)
 
96 shs.
     
04/30/04
      96,400       66,879  
Warrant, exercisable until 2016, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
122 shs.
     
04/30/04
      112,106       84,640  
 
                    674,176       624,857  
 
U M A Enterprises, Inc.
                         
An importer and wholesaler of home décor products.
                         
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 989,207      
02/08/08
      977,153       989,207  
Convertible Preferred Stock (B)
 
470 shs.
     
02/08/08
      469,565       303,793  
                      1,446,718       1,293,000  
 
Visioneering, Inc.
                       
A designer and manufacturer of tooling and fixtures for the aerospace industry.
       
10.5% Senior Secured Term Loan due 2013
  $ 437,648      
05/17/07
      436,190       420,975  
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 370,588      
05/17/07
      352,445       348,135  
18% PIK Convertible Preferred Stock (B)
 
21,361 shs.
     
03/13/09
      41,440       -  
Common Stock (B)
 
70,588 shs.
     
05/17/07
      70,588       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
20,003 shs.
     
05/17/07
      31,460       -  
                      932,123       769,110  
 

 
33

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
   
Cost
   
Fair
 Value
 
                           
Vitex Packaging Group, Inc.
                         
A manufacturer  of specialty packaging, primarily envelopes and tags used on tea bags.
10% Senior Subordinated PIK Note due 2012
 
$
101,404
     
10/29/09
   
$
100,881
   
$
97,093
 
5% Senior Subordinated PIK Note due 2012 (D) 
 
$
450,000
     
06/30/07
     
392,576
     
442,632
 
Class B Unit (B)
 
406,525 uts.
     
10/29/09
     
184,266
     
-
 
Class C Unit (B)
 
450,000 uts.
     
10/29/09
     
413,244
     
279,403
 
Limited Liability Company Unit Class A (B)
 
383,011 uts.
     
*
     
229,353
     
-
 
Limited Liability Company Unit Class B (B)
 
96,848 uts.
     
07/19/04
     
96,848
     
-
 
* 07/19/04 and 10/29/09.  
                   
1,417,168
     
819,128
 
 
Wellborn Forest Holding Company
                       
A manufacturer  of semi-custom kitchen and bath cabinetry.
                       
12.13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2014
  $ 911,250      
11/30/06
      867,531       820,125  
Common Stock (B)
 
101 shs.
     
11/30/06
      101,250       5,632  
Warrant, exercisable until 2014, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.01 per share (B)
 
51 shs.
     
11/30/06
      45,790       2,812  
                      1,014,571       828,569  
 
Wheaton Holding Corporation
                         
A distributor and manufacturer of laboratory supply products and packaging.
       
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2017
  $ 1,000,000      
06/08/10
      922,355       1,015,000  
Preferred Stock Series B (B)
 
703 shs.
     
06/08/10
      70,308       78,703  
Common Stock (B)
 
353 shs.
     
06/08/10
      353       39,466  
                      993,016       1,133,169  
 
Whitcraft Holdings, Inc.
                       
A leading independent manufacturer of precision formed, machined, and fabricated flight-critical aerospace components.
 
12% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018
  $ 794,521      
12/16/10
      734,368       810,411  
Common Stock (B)
 
205 shs.
     
12/16/10
      205,480       191,582  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
55 shs.
     
12/16/10
      49,334       51,485  
                      989,182       1,053,478  
 
Workplace Media Holding Company
                         
A direct marketer specializing in providing advertisers with access to consumers in the workplace.
 
13% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (D)
  $ 654,247      
05/14/07
      601,454       163,562  
Limited Partnership Interest (B)
 
12.26% int.
     
05/14/07
      61,308       -  
Warrant, exercisable until 2015, to purchase
                               
common stock at $.02 per share (B)
 
47 shs.
     
05/14/07
      44,186       -  
                      706,948       163,562  
 

 
34

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)
 
Principal Amount,
Shares, Units or
Ownership
 Percentage
     
Acquisition
Date
 
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
                         
WP Supply Holding Corporation                        
A distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery wholesalers and foodservice distributors in the upper Midwest.        
14.5% Senior Subordinated Note due 2018      $ 853,424       11/03/11     $ 836,639     $ 850,138  
Common Stock (B)     1,500 shs.       11/03/11       150,000       142,500  
                      986,639       992,638  
 
Xaloy Superior Holdings, Inc.                                
A provider of melt processing components and ancillary equipment for both plastic injection molding and extrusion applications.  
15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015
  $ 1,248,678      
09/08/08
      1,214,045       1,248,678  
Common Stock (B)
 
150 shs.
     
09/08/08
      150,000       210,317  
                      1,364,045       1,458,995  
                                 
Total Private Placement Investments (E)                   $ 117,020,358     $ 106,928,715  
 

 
35

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
                                                                                    
            Shares or              
    Interest   Maturity    Principal           Market  
Corporate Restricted Securities: (A) (Continued)  
Rate
 
 Date
 
Amount
   
Cost
   
Value
 
                           
Rule 144A Securities - 3.50%:                          
                                   
Bonds - 3.50%                                  
ArcelorMittal
    6.125 %
06/01/18
  $ 500,000     $ 516,539     $ 493,781  
Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P.
    9.375  
05/01/19
    375,000       348,357     $ 360,000  
Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC
    8.625  
11/15/17
    500,000       524,329       530,000  
CHC Helicopter SA
    9.250  
10/15/20
    500,000       452,582       450,000  
Citigroup, Inc.
    7.000  
05/04/15
    500,000       505,808       500,625  
Coffeyville Resources LLC
    9.000  
04/01/15
    26,000       25,911       27,560  
First Data Corporation
    7.375  
06/15/19
    250,000       250,000       235,000  
FMG Resources
    7.000  
11/01/15
    250,000       259,322       252,500  
Hilcorp Energy Company
    7.625  
04/15/21
    325,000       310,608       340,438  
International Automotive Component
    9.125  
06/01/18
    250,000       250,000       223,750  
Nexeo Solutions LLC
    8.375  
03/01/18
    20,000       20,000       19,900  
Northern Tier Energy LLC
    1.000  
12/01/17
    325,000       339,218       347,750  
Pittsburgh Glass Works, LLC
    8.500  
04/15/16
    35,000       35,000       33,688  
Seagate HDD Cayman
    7.000  
11/01/21
    150,000       150,000       153,750  
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
    7.000  
10/01/20
    250,000       250,881       246,875  
Total Bonds
                      4,238,555       4,215,617  
                                   
Convertible Preferred Stock - 0.00%
                                 
ETEX Corporation (B)
              194       -       -  
Total Convertible Preferred Stock
                      -       -  
                                   
Preferred Stock - 0.00%
                                 
TherOX, Inc. (B)
              26       -       -  
Total Preferred Stock
                      -       -  
                                   
Common Stock - 0.00%
                                 
Touchstone Health Partnership (B)
              292       -       -  
Total Common Stock
                      -       -  
                                   
Total Rule 144A Securities
                      4,238,555       4,215,617  
                                   
                                   
Total Corporate Restricted Securities                     $ 121,258,913     $ 111,144,332  
 

 
36

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
                                         
    Interest   Maturity   Principal           Market  
Corporate Public Securities - 12.39%: (A)
 
Rate
 
 Date
 
Amount
   
Cost
   
Value
 
                           
Bonds - 12.37%                          
Accuride Corp
    9.500 %
08/01/18
  $ 500,000     $ 480,053     $ 482,500  
Affinia Group, Inc.
    9.000  
11/30/14
    25,000       24,525       24,750  
Alcoa, Inc.
    6.150  
08/18/20
    600,000       632,840       623,386  
Alere, Inc.
    9.000  
05/15/16
    300,000       318,720       303,000  
Anglogold Holdings PLC
    5.375  
04/15/20
    600,000       605,855       596,073  
Avis Budget Car Rental
    9.750  
03/15/20
    375,000       375,000       385,313  
Bank of America Corporation
    5.875  
01/05/21
    600,000       625,475       571,096  
B E Aerospace, Inc.
    6.875  
10/01/20
    250,000       257,332       272,500  
Centurytel, Inc.
    5.000  
02/15/15
    500,000       510,845       505,890  
Clean Harbors, Inc.
    7.625  
08/15/16
    20,000       20,789       21,250  
Citigroup, Inc.
    5.500  
04/11/13
    500,000       479,940       510,462  
C R H America, Inc.
    5.300  
10/15/13
    500,000       466,666       519,320  
Ensco PLC
    3.250  
03/15/16
    600,000       598,084       612,087  
Equifax, Inc.
    4.450  
12/01/14
    500,000       511,744       527,003  
GATX Corporation
    4.750  
05/15/15
    500,000       507,345       532,933  
General Electric Capital Corporation
    5.500  
01/08/20
    500,000       498,341       550,146  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
    4.750  
07/15/13
    500,000       470,014       506,613  
Headwaters, Inc.
    7.625  
04/01/19
    305,000       305,155       269,925  
Health Management Association
    6.125  
04/15/16
    250,000       258,111       258,750  
Hertz Corporation
    6.750  
04/15/19
    220,000       216,584       220,550  
International Game Technology
    7.500  
06/15/19
    500,000       499,772       576,139  
Johnson Controls, Inc.
    5.500  
01/15/16
    500,000       433,536       559,450  
Kraft Foods, Inc.
    5.375  
02/10/20
    500,000       514,841       576,925  
Masco Corporation
    7.125  
03/15/20
    350,000       349,995       353,228  
Morgan Stanley
    5.500  
01/26/20
    500,000       497,711       455,137  
NBC Universal Media LLC
    5.150  
04/30/20
    500,000       499,384       556,687  
Precision Drilling Corporation
    6.625  
11/15/20
    250,000       258,206       255,625  
Qwest Diagnostic, Inc.
    4.750  
01/30/20
    500,000       498,873       533,709  
Sealed Air Corporation
    7.875  
06/15/17
    500,000       493,932       527,383  
Sprint Nextel Corporation
    6.000  
12/01/16
    500,000       514,248       415,000  
Steelcase, Inc.
    6.375  
02/15/21
    500,000       508,194       531,338  
Thermadyne Holdings Corporation
    9.000  
12/15/17
    250,000       266,981       258,750  
Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    5.000  
02/01/20
    500,000       491,352       547,816  
Tutor Perini Corporation
    7.625  
11/01/18
    300,000       308,942       283,500  
Tyco International Group SA
    8.500  
01/15/19
    125,000       124,998       161,010  
Total Bonds
                      14,424,383       14,885,244  
 

 
37

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
                Market  
Corporate Public Securities: (A) (Continued)   Shares     Cost     Value  
                   
Common Stock - 0.02%                  
Intrepid Potash, Inc. (B)
    185     $ 5,920     $ 4,187  
Nortek, Inc. (B)
    100       1       2,616  
Rue21, Inc. (B)
    350       6,650       7,559  
Total Common Stock
            12,571       14,362  
                         
Total Corporate Public Securities           $ 14,436,954     $ 14,899,606  
 
Short-Term Securities:
Commercial Paper - 6.65%
 
Interest
 Rate/Yield^
 
Maturity
 Date
 
Principal
 Amount
   
Cost
   
Fair
 Value
 
AGL Capital Corp
    0.470 %
01/13/12
  $ 1,500,000     $ 1,499,765     $ 1,499,765  
Autozone, Inc.
    0.550  
01/13/12
    1,500,000       1,499,725       1,499,725  
Oneok, Inc.
    0.500  
01/11/12
    1,500,000       1,499,792       1,499,792  
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
    0.550  
01/04/12
    1,500,000       1,499,931       1,499,931  
Reed Elsevier, Inc.
    0.500  
01/13/12
    1,000,000       999,833       999,833  
Ryder System, Inc.
    0.400  
01/03/12
    1,000,000       999,978       999,978  
Total Short-Term Securities
                    $ 7,999,024     $ 7,999,024  
Total Investments
    111.41 %             $ 143,694,891     $ 134,042,962  
Other Assets
    5.43                         6,530,107  
Liabilities     (16.84 )                       (20,253,403 )
Total Net Assets     100.00 %                     $ 120,319,666  
 
(A) In each of the convertible note, warrant, and common stock investments, the issuer has agreed to provide certain registration rights.
(B) Non-income producing security.
(C) Variable rate security; rate indicated is as of December 31, 2011.
(D) Defaulted security; interest not accrued.
(E) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2011, the values of these securities amounted to $106,928,715 or 88.87% of net assets.
^    Effective yield at purchase
PIK - Payment-in-kind
 

 
38

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
    
Fair Value/
     
Fair Value/
 
Industry Classification:
 
Market Value
     
Market Value
 
                 
AEROSPACE - 3.57%       BUILDINGS & REAL ESTATE - 2.67%        
A E Company, Inc.
  $ 1,731,642   K W P I Holdings Corporation     1,569,397  
B E Aerospace, Inc.     272,500   Masco Corporation     353,228  
Merex Holding Corporation     474,156   Sunrise Windows Holding Company     943,154  
Visioneering, Inc.     769,110   TruStile Doors, Inc.     59,466  
Whitcraft Holdings, Inc.     1,053,478   Tutor Perini Corporation     283,500  
      4,300,886         3,208,745  
AUTOMOBILE - 5.61%         CHEMICAL, PLASTICS & RUBBER - 0.99%        
Accuride Corp     482,500   Capital Specialty Plastics, Inc.     595,089  
Avis Budget Car Rental     385,313   Nicoat Acquisitions LLC     598,279  
F H Equity LLC     535,315         1,193,368  
International Automotive Component     223,750   CONSUMER PRODUCTS - 9.86%        
J A C Holding Enterprises, Inc.     755,247   Aero Holdings, Inc.     1,736,293  
Jason Partners Holdings LLC     25,511  
Bravo Sports Holding Corporation
    603,951  
Johnson Controls, Inc.     559,450  
Custom Engineered Wheels, Inc.
    1,224,223  
K & N Parent, Inc.
    996,854  
Handi Quilter Holding Company
    501,553  
Nyloncraft, Inc.
    1,401,208  
K N B Holdings Corporation
    2,210,426  
Ontario Drive & Gear Ltd.
    933,496  
Manhattan Beachwear Holding Company
    1,173,741  
Pittsburgh Glass Works, LLC
    33,688  
R A J Manufacturing Holdings LLC
    1,537,501  
Qualis Automotive LLC
    414,140  
Tranzonic Companies (The)
    1,878,986  
      6,746,472   WP Supply Holding Corporation     992,638  
BEVERAGE, DRUG & FOOD - 6.09%               11,859,312  
Eatem Holding Company
    1,053,601  
CONTAINERS, PACKAGING & GLASS - 4.54%
       
F F C Holding Corporation
    1,110,300  
Flutes, Inc.
    262,396  
Golden County Foods Holding, Inc.
    -  
P K C Holding Corporation
    1,894,524  
Hospitality Mints Holding Company
    1,356,547   P P T Holdings LLC     1,086,371  
Kraft Foods, Inc.
    576,925   Paradigm Packaging, Inc.     876,317  
Snacks Parent Corporation
    968,874  
Sealed Air Corporation
    527,383  
Spartan Foods Holding Company
    759,375   Vitex Packaging Group, Inc.     819,128  
Specialty Commodities,  Inc.
    1,497,412         5,466,119  
      7,323,034   DISTRIBUTION - 1.90%        
BROADCASTING & ENTERTAINMENT - 1.05%
       
Duncan Systems, Inc.
    689,822  
HOP Entertainment LLC      -   F C X Holdings Corporation     1,592,034  
NBC Universal Media LLC      556,687         2,281,856  
Time Warner Cable, Inc.      547,816            
Sundance Investco LLC     -            
Workplace Media Holding Company     163,562            
      1,268,065            
 

 
39

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
   
Fair Value/
     
Fair Value/
 
Industry Classification: (Continued)
 
Market Value
     
Market Value
 
                 
DIVERSIFIED/CONGLOMERATE, MANUFACTURING - 14.01%       ELECTRONICS - 1.39%        
A H C Holding Company, Inc.
  $ 1,579,064  
Barcodes Group, Inc.
  $ 878,624  
Arrow Tru-Line Holdings, Inc.
    685,116  
Connecticut Electric, Inc.
    794,849  
C D N T, Inc.
    762,436         1,673,473  
F G I Equity LLC
    568,821  
FINANCIAL SERVICES - 3.37%
       
G C Holdings     1,040,187  
Citigroup, Inc.
    1,011,087  
Ideal Tridon Holdings, Inc.
    1,001,055  
DPC Holdings LLC
    999,654  
K P H I Holdings, Inc.
    1,005,316  
GATX Corporation
    532,933  
K P I Holdings, Inc.
    1,359,608  
General Electric Capital Corporation
    550,146  
LPC Holding Company
    1,039,781  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
    506,613  
MEGTEC Holdings, Inc.
    374,005  
Morgan Stanley
    455,137  
Milwaukee Gear Company
    1,656,607         4,055,570  
Nortek, Inc.
    2,616  
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE - 7.43%
       
O E C Holding Corporation
    493,657  
Alere, Inc.
    303,000  
Postle Aluminum Company LLC
    2,670,045  
American Hospice Management Holding LLC
    2,239,442  
Truck Bodies & Equipment International
    1,161,563  
CHG Alternative Education Holding Company
    788,600  
Xaloy Superior Holdings, Inc.
    1,458,995  
Marshall Physicians Services LLC
    509,003  
      16,858,872  
Qwest Diagnostic, Inc.
    533,709  
DIVERSIFIED/CONGLOMERATE, SERVICE - 10.31%
       
SouthernCare Holdings, Inc.
    999,040  
A S C Group, Inc.
    1,756,270  
Strata/WLA Holding Corporation
    980,361  
A W X Holdings Corporation
    378,000  
Synteract Holdings Corporation
    1,449,319  
Advanced Technologies Holdings     627,427   Touchstone Health Partnership     -  
Affinia Group, Inc.     24,750  
Wheaton Holding Corporation
    1,133,169  
Anglogold Holdings PLC
    596,073         8,935,643  
Apex Analytix Holding Corporation
    1,316,829  
HOME & OFFICE FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES,
       
Associated Diversified Services
    703,071  
AND DURABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS - 6.07%
       
Bank of America Corporation
    571,096  
Connor Sport Court International, Inc.
    1,281,391  
C R H America, Inc.
    519,320  
H M Holding Company
    181,350  
Clough, Harbour and Associates     1,445,239  
Home Décor Holding Company
    259,357  
Crane Rental Corporation
    1,165,929  
Monessen Holding Corporation
    -  
Equifax, Inc.
    527,003  
Royal Baths Manufacturing  Company
    303,198  
Insurance Claims Management, Inc.
    222,492  
Stanton Carpet Holding Company
    1,058,359  
Mail Communications Group, Inc.
    756,538  
Steelcase, Inc.
    531,338  
Nexeo Solutions LLC
    19,900  
Transpac Holding Company
    948,038  
Northwest Mailing Services, Inc.
    1,611,653  
U-Line Corporation
    624,857  
Pearlman Enterprises, Inc.
    -  
U M A Enterprises,  Inc.
    1,293,000  
Tyco International Group SA
    161,010  
Wellborn Forest Holding Company
    828,569  
      12,402,600         7,309,457  
 

 
40

 
 
2011 Annual Report

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
   
Fair Value/
     
Fair Value/
 
Industry Classification: (Continued)
 
Market Value
     
Market Value
 
                 
LEISURE, AMUSEMENT, ENTERTAINMENT - 2.16%       NATURAL RESOURCES - 1.89%        
International Game Technology
  $ 576,139   AGL Capital Corp    $ 1,499,765  
Savage Sports Holding, Inc.
    2,020,192  
ArcelorMittal
    493,781  
     
2,596,331
 
Headwaters, Inc. 
    269,925  
MACHINERY - 8.02%
       
Intrepid Potash, Inc.
     4,187  
A S A P Industries LLC       943,194         2,267,658  
Arch Global Precision LLC      990,096  
OIL & GAS - 5.02%
       
E S P Holdco, Inc.       1,428,359   Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P.     360,000  
M V I Holding, Inc.     723,599   Coffeyville Resources LLC      27,560  
Motion Controls Holdings     1,047,153   Ensco PLC     612,087  
NetShape Technologies, Inc.      696,988   Hilcorp Energy Company      340,438  
Pacific Consolidated Holdings LLC      484,938   International Offshore Services LLC     675,000  
Power Services Holding Company     1,551,159   MBWS Ultimate Holdco, Inc.      1,922,146  
R E I Delaware Holding, Inc.      1,530,975   Northern Tier Energy LLC      347,750  
Thermadyne Holdings Corporation       258,750   Oneok, Inc.      1,499,792  
      9,655,211   Precision Drilling Corporation       255,625  
MEDICAL DEVICES/BIOTECH - 4.20%                6,040,398  
Coeur, Inc.        687,612  
PHARMACEUTICALS - 1.61%
       
E X C Acquisition Corporation     43,059   CorePharma LLC     1,686,628  
ETEX Corporation      -   Valeant Pharmaceuticals International      246,875  
Health Management Association    
258,750
       
1,933,503
 
MedSystems Holdings LLC      745,690  
PUBLISHING/PRINTING - 0.83%
       
MicroGroup, Inc.      355,449   Reed Elsevier, Inc.     999,833  
NT Holding Company      1,084,618            
OakRiver Technology, Inc.      352,737  
RETAIL STORES - 1.25%
       
Precision Wire Holding Company       1,529,100   Autozone, Inc.      1,499,725  
TherOX, Inc.     -   Rue21, Inc.     7,559  
      5,057,015         1,507,284  
MINING, STEEL, IRON & NON-PRECIOUS METALS - 0.86%
       
TECHNOLOGY - 1.60%
       
Alcoa, Inc.     623,386   First Data Corporation       235,000  
FMG Resources       252,500   Seagate HDD Cayman       153,750  
T H I Acquisition, Inc.      159,165   Sencore Holding Company     -  
      1,035,051   Smart Source Holdings LLC     1,536,111  
                1,924,861  
 

 
41

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
December 31, 2011
 
   
Fair Value/
     
Fair Value/
 
Industry Classification: (Continued)
 
Market Value
     
Market Value
 
                 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS - 3.05%      
WASTE MANAGEMENT / POLLUTION - 0.60%
       
All Current Holding Company    $ 718,869   Clean Harbors, Inc.   $ 21,250  
Centurytel, Inc.     505,890   Terra Renewal LLC      698,157  
Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC       530,000   Torrent Group Holdings, Inc.      -  
Pacific Gas & Electric Company       1,499,931         719,407  
Sprint Nextel Corporation     415,000            
      3,669,690            
TRANSPORTATION - 1.46%
        Total Investments - 111.41%    $ 134,042,962  
CHC Helicopter SA       450,000            
Hertz Corporation      220,550            
NABCO, Inc.     82,720            
Ryder System, Inc.     999,978            
      1,753,248            
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
42

 
 
2011 Annual Report

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. History  
which may be effected immediately if the market is adequate, restricted securities can be sold only in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or pursuant to a transaction that is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Restricted securities that are valued using public information, such as observable trades or market quotations, are reflected as restricted securities at market value. Valuation of securities in the Trust's portfolio is made on the basis of the market price whenever market quotations are readily available.
 
The value of restricted securities at fair value, and of any other assets for which there are no reliable market quotations, is the fair value as determined in good faith by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”). Each restricted security is valued by the Trustees at the time of its acquisition and at least quarterly thereafter. The Trustees have established guidelines to aid in the valuation of each security. Generally, restricted securities are initially valued at cost at the time of acquisition by the Trust.  Values greater or less than cost are used thereafter for restricted securities in appropriate circumstances.  Among the factors ordinarily considered in the valuation of debt and equity securities at fair value are the results of various valuation methods, which may include comparable company valuation analyses, discounted future cash flow models and recent private transactions. As part of the valuation process, we may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of our investments: the enterprise value of a portfolio company (an estimate of the total fair value of the portfolio company’s debt and equity), the portfolio company’s earnings, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to publicly traded securities with similar characteristics, changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets generally that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future and other relevant factors.  Consideration is also given to corporate governance, marketability, company and industry results and outlooks, and general market conditions. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the price used by other investors or the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security. All of these factors are in accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements under U.S. GAAP. In making valuations, opinions of counsel may be relied upon as to whether or not securities are restricted securities and as to the legal requirements for public sale.
 
When market quotations are readily available for unrestricted securities of an issuer, restricted securities of the same class are generally valued at a discount from the market price of such unrestricted securities. The Trustees, however, consider all factors in fixing any discount, including the filing of a registration statement for such securities under the 1933 Act and any other developments which are likely to increase the probability that the securities may be publicly sold by the Trust without restriction.

 
Babson Capital Participation Investors (the "Trust")  was organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated April 7, 1988. Effective December 16, 2011, the Trust’s name was changed to Babson Capital Participation Investors. Prior to December 16, 2011, the Trust’s name was MassMutual Participation Investors.
 
The Trust is a diversified closed-end management investment company.   Babson Capital Management LLC (“Babson Capital”), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”), acts as its investment adviser.  The Trust’s  investment objective is to maximize total return by providing a high level of current income, the potential for growth of income, and capital appreciation.  The Trust’s principal investments are privately placed, below-investment grade, long-term debt obligations purchased directly from their issuers, which tend to be smaller companies. At least half of these investments normally include equity features such as common stock, warrants, conversion rights, or other equity features that provide the Trust with the opportunity to realize capital gains. The Trust will also invest in publicly traded debt securities (including high yield securities), again with an emphasis on those with equity features, and in convertible preferred stocks and, subject to certain limitations, readily marketable equity securities.  Below-investment grade or high yield securities have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay capital.  In addition, the Trust may temporarily invest in high quality, readily marketable securities.
 
On  January 27, 1998, the Board of Trustees authorized the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trust (“PI Subsidiary Trust”) for the purpose of holding certain investments.  The results of the PI Subsidiary Trust  are consolidated in the accompanying financial statements. Footnote 2.D below discusses the Federal tax consequences of the PI Subsidiary Trust.
 
     
2. Significant Accounting Policies  
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed consistently by the Trust  in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

A. Valuation of Investments:
Nearly all securities which are acquired by the Trust directly from the issuers and shares into which such securities may be converted or which may be purchased on the exercise of warrants attached to such securities will be subject to legal or contractual delays in, or restrictions on, resale and will therefore be “restricted securities.”  Generally speaking, as contrasted with open-market sales of unrestricted securities (public securities),
 

 
43

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
       
Short-term securities with more than sixty days to maturity are valued at fair value and short-term securities having a maturity of sixty days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
 
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under U.S. GAAP, the Trust discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (level 3 measurements). The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:
 
Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
 
Level 2: other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
 
Level 3: significant unobservable inputs (including the Trust’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
 
The Trustees meet at least once each quarter to approve the value of the Trust's portfolio securities as of the close of business on the last business day of the preceding quarter. This valuation requires the approval of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of Babson Capital. In making valuations, the Trustees will consider reports by Babson Capital analyzing each portfolio security in accordance with the relevant factors referred to above. Babson Capital has agreed to provide such reports to the Trust at least quarterly.
 
The consolidated financial statements include private placement restricted securities valued at $106,928,715 (88.87% of net assets) as of December 31, 2011 whose values have been estimated by the Trustees in the absence of readily ascertainable market values. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed, and the differences could be material.
 
The values for Rule 144A restricted securities and corporate public securities are stated at the last reported sales price or at prices based upon quotations obtained from brokers and dealers as of December 31, 2011, subject to discount where appropriate, and are approved by the Trustees.
 
 
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Trust's net assets as of December 31, 2011:
 
Assets:
 
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Restricted Securities
                       
Corporate Bonds
  $ 89,184,873     $ -     $ 4,215,617     $ 84,969,256  
Common Stock - U.S.
    9,972,142       -       -       9,972,142  
Preferred Stock
     5,965,999       -       -       5,965,999  
Partnerships and LLCs
    6,021,318       -       -       6,021,318  
Public Securities
                               
Corporate Bonds
    14,885,244       -       14,885,244       -  
Common Stock - U.S.
    14,362       14,362       -       -  
Short-term Securities
    7,999,024       -       7,999,024       -  
Total
  $ 134,042,962     $ 14,362     $ 27,099,885      $ 106,928,715  
 
See information disaggregated by security type and industry classification in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.
 
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during the year.
 
Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

                                    Unrealized  
                                   
gains & (losses)
 
   
Beginning
   
Accrued
   
Total gains
or (losses)
               
Transfers in
   
Ending
   
in net income
 
   
balance
   
discounts/
   
realized/
               
and/or out
   
balance at
   
from assets
 
Assets:
 
at 12/31/2010
   
premium
   
unrealized
   
Purchases
   
Sales
   
of Level 3
   
12/31/2011
   
still held
 
Restricted Securities
                                                 
Corporate Bonds   $ 91,475,704     $ 669,946     $ (6,284,084 )   $ 17,517,353     $ (18,409,663 )   $ -     $ 84,969,256     $ (5,066,548 )
Common Stock - U.S.     7,253,164       -        3,610,089       873,567       (1,764,678 )     -        9,972,142       3,014,907  
Preferred Stock     4,615,621       -        821,469       539,309       (10,400 )     -        5,965,999       811,069  
Partnerships and LLCs     4,162,642       -       2,349,149       807,014       (1,297,487     -       6,021,318       1,584,336  
    $ 107,507,131     $ 669,946     $ 496,623     $ 19,737,243     $ (21,482,228 )   $ -     $ 106,928,715     $ 343,764  
 

 
44

 
 
2011 Annual Report

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
The inputs and methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
  securities of entities that could cause such trade or business income to be allocable to the Trust. The PI Subsidiary Trust (described in Footnote 1, above) was formed in order to allow investment in such securities without adversely affecting the Trust's status as a regulated investment company.
 
B. Accounting for Investments:
   
Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis, including the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on bonds held using the yield-to-maturity method.  The Trust does not accrue income when payment is delinquent and when management believes payment is questionable.   Net investment income and net realized gains or losses of the Trust as presented under U.S. GAAP may differ from  distributable taxable earnings due to earnings from the PI Subsidiary Trust as well as certain permanent and temporary differences in the recognition of income and realized gains or losses on certain investments. Permanent differences will result in reclassifications to the capital accounts. In 2011, the Trust increased undistributed net investment income by $511,765 decreased accumulated net realized gains by $165,990, increased retained net realized gain on investments, prior years by $311,532 and decreased additional paid in capital by $657,307 to more accurately display the Trust’s capital financial position on a tax-basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These re-classifications had no impact on net asset value.
 
 
 
   
Realized gains and losses on investment transactions and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments are reported for financial statement and Federal income tax purposes on the identified cost method.  
 
     
C. Use of Estimates:
 
 
The PI Subsidiary Trust is not taxed as a regulated investment company. Accordingly, prior to the Trust receiving any distributions from the PI Subsidiary Trust, all of the PI Subsidiary Trust's taxable income and realized gains, including non-qualified income and realized gains, is subject to taxation at prevailing corporate tax rates.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and  assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  
 
   
  The components of income taxes included in the consolidated statement of operations for the  year end December 31, 2011 were as follows:
           
D. Federal Income Taxes:            
The Trust has elected to be taxed as a"regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code, and intends   to maintain this qualification and to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income to its shareholders. In any year when net long-term capital gains are realized by the Trust, management, after evaluating the prevailing economic conditions, will recommend that Trustees either designate the net realized long-term gains as undistributed and pay the federal capital gains taxes thereon, or distribute all or a portion of such net gains. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Trust had a net realized taxable long-term capital gain balance of $845,993 which the Trustees voted to retain and pay the federal capital gain tax thereon. The Trust has incurred income tax expense of $296,098 and ($75,458) respectively, on the Statement of Operations related to the 2011 and 2010 retained realized capital gains.  
Income tax expense (benefit)
       
  Current        
 
Federal
  $ (23,128 )
 
State
    48,277  
 
Total current
    25,149  
  Deferred        
 
Federal
    135,245  
 
State
    102,419  
 
Total deferred
    237,664  
           
 
The Trust is taxed as a regulated investment company and is therefore limited as to the amount of non-qualified income that it may receive as the result of operating a trade or business, e.g. the Trust's pro rata share of income allocable to the Trust by a partnership operating company.  The Trust's violation of this limitation could result in the loss of its status as a regulated investment company, thereby subjecting all of its net income and capital gains to corporate taxes prior to distribution to its shareholders. The Trust, from time-to-time, identifies investment opportunities in the
 
Total income tax expense from continuing operations
  $ 262,813  
           
  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of the existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis.
 
           
           
 

 
45

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2011 we as follows:   The components of capital shown in the following table represent the Trust’s undistributed net investment income,  undistributed net capital gain, losses the Trust may be able to offset against gains in future taxable years, as well as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities and other Fund investments, if any, at December 31, 2011, each of which determined on a U.S. federal tax basis:
 
           
Deferred tax assets:
         
Net operating loss
  $ 28,513      
 Total deferred tax assets     28,513                               Net Unrealized  
Less valuation allowance
    (28,513 )                             Appreciation  
Deferred tax asset
    -        Undistributed                       (Depreciation)  
Deferred tax liabilities:
            (Overdistributed)         Undistributed        Accumulated       on Securities  
Unrealized gain on investments
    502,128       Net Investment       Net Capital       Loss       and Other   
Total deferred tax liabilities  
    502,128        Income        Gain        Carryforward       Investments  
 Net deferred tax liability   $ (502,128 )                                
            $ 1,167,186     $  615,940     $ -0-      $ ( 8,794,443 )
Beginning with the 2009 annual financial statements, the Trust recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable, based solely on its technical merits and consideration of the relevant taxing authority’s widely understood administrative practices and precedents. If this threshold is met, the Trust measures the tax benefit as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Trust has evaluated and determined that the tax positions did not have a material effect on the Trust’s financial position and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011.                                
 
The tax character of distributions declared during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:
                               
  Distributions paid from:       2011       2010  
  Ordinary Income     $ 12,412,703     $ 10,026,104  
  Long-term Capital Gains     $ -     $ -  
 
A reconciliation of the differences between the Subsidiary Trust's income tax expense and the amount  computed by applying the prevailing U.S. federal tax rate to pretax income for the year ended December 31, 2011 is as follows:  
 
 
3.  Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Contract
A. Services:
           
   
Amount
    Percentage     Under an Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Contract (the “Contract”) with the Trust, Babson  Capital has agreed to use its best efforts to present to the Trust a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Trust. Babson Capital represents the Trust in any negotiations with issuers, investment banking firms, securities brokers or dealers and other institutions or investors relating to the Trust's investments.  Under the Contract, Babson Capital also provides administration of the day-to-day operations of the Trust and provides the Trust with office space and office equipment, accounting and bookkeeping services,  and necessary executive, clerical and secretarial personnel for the performance of the foregoing services.
Provision for income taxes at the U.S. federal rate $ 145,223     35.00 %  
State tax, net of federal effect
 
14,833
    3.58 %  
Change in valuation allowance
 
28,513
    6.87 %  
Rate revaluation
 
49,095
    11.83 %  
Other
  25,149     6.06 %  
Income tax expense
$ 262,813     6.34 %  
               
Each of the Trust's Federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.  
   
   
B. Fee:
E.    Distributions to Shareholders:
  For its services under the Contract, Babson Capital is paid a quarterly investment advisory fee equal to 0.225% of the value of the Trust's net assets as of the last business day of each fiscal quarter, an amount approximately equivalent to 0.90% on an annual basis. A majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of Babson Capital, approve the valuation of the Trust's  net assets as of such day.
The Trust records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date.  The Trust’s net investment income dividend is declared four times per year, in April, July, October, and December. The Trust’s net realized capital gain distribution, if any, is declared in December.  
 
 
 
 

 
46

 
 
2011 Annual Report

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
     
4.  Senior Secured Indebtedness    
MassMutual holds the Trust’s $15,000,000 Senior Fixed Rate Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued by the Trust on  December 13, 2011. The Note is due December 13, 2023 and accrues interest at 4.09% per annum. MassMutual, at its option, can convert the principal amount of the Note into common shares. The dollar amount of principal would be  converted into an equivalent dollar amount of common shares based upon the average price of the common shares for ten business days prior to the notice of conversion. For the period December 13 through December 31, 2011, the Trust incurred total interest expense on the Note of $30,675.   6.  Quarterly Results of Investment Operations (unaudited)
   
        March 31, 2011  
        Amount       Per Share  
  Investment income   $ 3,785,681          
  Net investment income     3,201,825     $ 0.32  
    Net realized and unrealized                
The Trust may redeem the Note, in whole or in part, at the principal amount proposed to be redeemed together with the accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the redemption date plus the Make Whole Premium. The Make Whole  Premium equals the excess of (i) the present value of the scheduled payments of principal and interest which the Trust would have paid but for the proposed redemption, discounted at the rate of interest of U.S. Treasury obligations whose maturity approximates that of the Note plus 0.50% over (ii) the principal of the Note proposed to be redeemed.   gain on investments (net of taxes)     1,032,385       0.10  
     
 
        June 30, 2011  
         Amount       Per Share  
    Investment income   $ 4,025,618          
Prior to the issuance of the Note, MassMutual held the Trust’s $12,000,000 Senior Fixed Rate Convertible Note (the “Prior Note”) issued by the Trust in 1995. The Prior Note matured on December 13, 2011 and accrued at 5.80% per  annum. Upon maturity, all principal was returned to MassMutual (including accrued interest). For the period January 1 through December 13, 2011, the Trust incurred total interest expense on the Prior Note of $661,200.   Net investment income     3,429,310     $ 0.34  
  Net realized and unrealized                
  gain on investments (net of taxes)      1,345,218       0.13  
                   
Management estimates that the fair value of the Note was $15,000,000 as of December 31, 2011.
       
 
 
September 30, 2011
 
          Amount       Per Share  
    Investment income   $ 3,420,945          
5.  Purchases and Sales of Investments   Net investment income           $ 0.27  
    Net realized and unrealized     2,804,861          
     
 
 
For the year ended
12/31/2011
     gain on investments (net of taxes)     (407,958 )     (0.04 )
             Proceeds          
December 30, 2011
 
      Cost of      
from
          Amount       Per Share  
      Investments       Sales or     Investment income   $  2,739,246          
      Acquired       Maturities      Net investment income      2,090,976     $ 0.21  
Corporate restricted securities   $  21,762,042     $ 19,839,349     Net realized and unrealized                  
Corporate public securities      6,318,943       6,496,070      gain on investments (net of taxes)      (1,176,062 )      (0.11 )
     
The aggregate cost of investments is substantially the same for financial reporting and Federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2011.  The net unrealized depreciation of investments for financial reporting and Federal tax purposesas of December 31, 2011 is $9,651,929 consists of $13,242,313 appreciation and $22,894,242 depreciation.    
  7.  Aggregate Remuneration Paid to Officers, Trustees, and their Affiliated Persons
  For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Trust paid its Trustees aggregate remuneration of $242,500. During the  period, the Trust did not pay any compensation to any of its Trustees who are "interested persons" (as defined by the 1940
   
Net unrealized depreciation of investments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities reflects the balance net of a deferred tax liability of $502,128 on net unrealized gains on the PI Subsidiary Trust.  
 

 
47

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

 
Act) of the Trust. The Trust classifies Messrs. Noreen and Joyal as "interested persons" of the Trust.
  NYSE's Corporate Governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Trust's principal executive and principal financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms N-CSR and N-Q, relating to, among other things, the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, as applicable.
   
All of the Trust's officers are employees of Babson Capital or MassMutual.  Pursuant to the Contract, the Trust does not compensate its officers who are employees of Babson Capital or MassMutual (except for the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust unless assumed by Babson Capital). For the year ended December 31, 2011, Babson Capital paid the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust.  
 
 
   
    9.  Subsequent Events
Mr. Noreen, one of the Trust's Trustees, is an "affiliated person" (as defined by the 1940 Act) of MassMutual and Babson Capital.   The Trust has evaluated the possibility of subsequent events existing in this report through February 27, 2012.  The Trust has determined that there are no material events that would require recognition or disclosure in this report through this date.
 
   
The Trust did not make any payments to Babson Capital for the year ended December 31, 2011, other than amounts payable to Babson Capital pursuant to the Contract.    
 
8.  Certifications
   
   
As required under New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") Corporate Governance Rules, the Trust's principal executive officer has certified to the NYSE that he was not aware, as of the certification date, of any violation by the Trust of the    
 

 
48

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
         
   
KPMG LLP
Two Financial Center
60 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Shareholders and Board of Trustees of Babson Capital Participation Investors

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of Babson Capital Participation Investors (the “Trust”), including the consolidated schedule of investments,  as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2011 by correspondence with the custodian or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Babson Capital Participation  Investors as of December 31, 2011, the results of their consolidated operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
Boston, Massachusetts
February 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
49

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

INTERESTED TRUSTEES
 
Name (Age), Address             
Clifford M. Noreen* (54)

Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Trustee
(since 2009)
/ Nominee
 
Chairman
(since 2009)
 
 
Term expires
2012
President (since 2008), Vice Chairman (2007-2008), Member of the Board of Managers (since 2006), Managing Director (since 2000),  Babson Capital; President (2005-2009), Vice President (1993-2005) of the Trust. 2
President (since 2009), Senior Vice President (1996-2009), HYP Management LLC (LLC Manager); Director (since 2005), MassMutual Corporate Value Limited (investment company); Director (since 2005), MassMutual Corporate Value Partners Limited (investment company); Senior Vice President (1996-2008), MMHC Investment LLC (passive investor); Managing Director (2006-2009), MassMutual Capital Partners LLC (investment company); Director (since 2008), Jefferies Finance LLC (a finance company); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (since 2009), Manager (since 2007), MMC Equipment Finance LLC; Chairman (since 2009), Trustee (since 2005), President (2005-2009), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; Chairman (since 2009),Trustee (since 2009), President (2005-2009), Vice President (1993-2005), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital); and Member of Investment Committee (since 1999), Diocese of Springfield.
 
 
 
 
*
Mr. Noreen is classified as an “interested person” of each Trust and Babson Capital (as defined by the Investment Act of 1940, as amended) because of his position as an officer of each Trust and President of Babson Capital.
 

 
50

 
 
2011 Annual Report

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Name (Age), Address             
Robert E. Joyal* (67)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Trustee
(since 2003)
 
Term expires
2013
President (2001-2003) of Babson Capital.
67
President (1999-2003) and Trustee (since 2003), of the Trust; Director (since 2006), Jefferies Group, Inc. (financial services); Director (since 2003), Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc. (aircraft maintenance and overhaul); Director (2007-2011), Scottish Re Group Ltd. (global life reinsurance specialist); Trustee (since 2003), MassMutual Select Funds, formerly MassMutual Institutional Funds, (an open-end investment company advised by MassMutual); Trustee  (since 2003), MML Series Investment Fund (an open-end investment company advised by MassMutual); Trustee (1998-2003), Senior Vice President (1998-2001) and President (2001-2003), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; and President (1999-2003), Trustee (since 2003), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital).
 
 
*
Mr. Joyal retired as President of Babson Capital in June 2003. In addition and as noted above, Mr. Joyal is a director of Jefferies Group, Inc., which has a wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary that may execute portfolio transactions and/or engage in principal transactions with the Trust, other investment companies advised by Babson Capital or any other advisory accounts over which Babson Capital has brokerage placement discretion. Accordingly, the Trust has determined to classify Mr. Joyal as an “interested person” of the Trust and Babson Capital (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended).
 

 
51

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
   
Name (Age), Address             
William  J. Barrett (72)

Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 2006)
/ Nominee
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term expires
2012
President (since 2010), W J Barrett Associates, Inc.; President  (2002-2010), Barrett-Gardner Associates, Inc.
2
Trustee (since 2006), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (a closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital); Director (since 1979), TGC Industries, Inc. (geophysical services); Director  and Secretary (since 2001 and from 1996-1997), Chase Packaging Corporation (agricultural services); Chairman and Director (since 2000), Rumson-Fair Haven Bank and Trust Company (commercial bank and trust company); and Director (since 1983), Executive Vice President, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer (since 2004), Supreme Industries, Inc. (specialized truck and body manufacturer).
 
 
  
Donald E. Benson (81)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 1988) 
Term expires  
2013
 
Executive Vice President and Director (since 1992), Marquette  Financial Companies (financial services); Partner (since 1996), Benson Family Limited Partnership No. 1 and Benson Family Limited Partnership No. 2 (investment partnerships).  2
Director (1997-2008), MAIR Holdings, Inc. (commuter airline holding company); Director (since 1997), First California Financial Group, Inc. (bank holding company); and Trustee (since 1986), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital).
 
 
 
 

 
52

 
 
2011 Annual Report

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
 
Name (Age), Address             
Michael H. Brown (55)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 2005)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term expires
2014
Private Investor; and Managing Director (1994-2005), Morgan Stanley.
2
Trustee (since 2005), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (a closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital); Independent Director (since 2006), Invicta Holdings LLC (a derivative trading company).
 
  
Donald Glickman (78)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 1992) 
Term expires  
2013
 
Chairman  (since 1992), Donald Glickman and Company, Inc. (private investments); and Partner (since 1992), J.F. Lehman & Co. (private investments).
 2
Director (since 1984), Monro Muffler and Brake, Inc. (automobile repair service); Lead Director (1998 - 2009), MSC Software Corp. (simulation software); and Trustee (since 1992), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital).

 
 

 
53

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
 
Name (Age), Address             
Martin T. Hart (76)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 1991)
/ Nominee
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term expires
2012
Private Investor; and President and Director (since 1983), H Investment Company LLC (family partnership).
2
Director (since 2004), Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (operates restaurant chain); Director (since 1999), ValueClick Inc. (internet advertising company); Director (2002- 2009), Spectranetics Corp. (medical device company); and Trustee (since 1991), Babson Capital Corporate Investors (closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital).
  
Maleyne M. Syracuse (55)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trustee
(since 2007) 
Term expires  
2014
 
Private Investor; Managing Director (2000- 2007), JP Morgan  Securities, Inc. (investments and banking)  2
Trustee (since 2007), Babson Capital Corporation Investors (a closed-end investment company advised by Babson Capital); Managing Director (1984 - 2000), Deutsche Bank/Bankers Trust Company.
 
 
 

 
54

 
 
2011 Annual Report

OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
 
Name (Age), Address       
Michael L. Klofas (51)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
President  
 
 
Since 2009
President (since 2009), Vice President (1998-2009) of the Trust; Managing Director (since 2000), Babson Capital; President (since 2009), Vice President (2005-2009), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; President (since 2009), Vice President (1998-2009), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
Christopher A. DeFrancis (45)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
Vice
President
and Secretary
Since 2010 
 
Vice President and Secretary (since 2010) and Associate Secretary (2008-2010) of the Trust; Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011), Co-General Counsel, Secretary and Managing Director (since 2010), Senior Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Managing Director (2010) and Assistant Secretary and Counsel (2008-2009), Babson Capital; Counsel (2001-2009), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; Vice President and Secretary (since 2010) and Assistant Secretary (2009-2010), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; and Vice President and Secretary (since 2010) and Associate Secretary (2008-2010), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
 
James M. Roy (49)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Vice
President
and Chief
Financial
Officer
Since 2005
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (since 2005), Treasurer (2003-2005), and Associate Treasurer (1999-2003) of the Trust; Managing Director (since 2005), and Director (2000-2005)  of Babson Capital; Trustee (since 2005), Treasurer (since 2005), and Controller (2003-2005), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (since 2005), Treasurer (2003-2005) and Associate Treasurer (1999-2003), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
 
 
John T. Davitt, Jr. (44)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
 Comptroller  Since 2001 Comptroller (since 2001) of the Trust; Director (since 2000) of Babson Capital; Controller (since 2005), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; and Comptroller (since 2001), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
Melissa M. LaGrant (38)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
Chief
Compliance
Officer
 
Since 2006  Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006) of the Trust; Managing Director (since 2005) of Babson Capital; Vice President and Senior Compliance Trading Manager (2003-2005), Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.; Assistant Vice President-Business Risk Management Group (2002-2003), and Assistant Vice President-Investment  Compliance (2001-2002), Zurich Scudder Investments/Deutsche Asset Management; and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
Daniel J. Florence (39)
 
Babson Capital
Participation Investors
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
 
Treasurer  Since 2008 Treasurer (since 2008) and Associate Treasurer (2006-2008) of the Trust; Associate Director (since 2008), Analyst (2000-2008) of Babson Capital; and Treasurer (since 2008) and Associate Treasurer (2006-2008), Babson Capital Corporate Investors.
 

 
55

 
 
Babson Capital Participation Investors

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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56

 
 
2011 Annual Report
 
 
 
 
 
Members of the Board of Trustees
Left to right:
 
Donald Glickman
Chairman,
Donald Glickman & Company, Inc.
 
Robert E. Joyal
Retired President,
Babson Capital Management LLC
 
William J. Barrett
President,
W J Barrett Associates, Inc.
 
     
Michael H. Brown*
Private Investor
 
Donald E. Benson*
Executive Vice President and Director,
Marquette Financial Companies
 
Clifford M. noreen
President,
Babson Capital Management LLC
 
Martin T. Hart
Private Investor
 
Maleyne M. Syracuse*
Private Investor
 
*Member of the Audit Committee
 
Officers
Clifford M. Noreen
Chairman
 
Michael L. Klofas
President
 
James M. Roy
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
 
Christopher A. DeFrancis
Vice President & Secretary
 
Sean Feeley
Vice President
 
Michael P. Hermsen
Vice President
 
Mary Wilson Kibbe
Vice President
 
Richard E. Spencer, II
Vice President
 
Daniel J. Florence
Treasurer
 
John T. Davitt, Jr.
Comptroller
 
Melissa M. LaGrant
Chief Compliance Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Babson Capital Participation  Investors offers a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. The Plan provides a simple and automatic way for shareholders to add to their holdings in the Trust through the receipt of dividend shares issued by the Trust or through the reinvestment of cash dividends in Trust shares purchased in the open market. The dividends of each shareholder will be automatically reinvested in the Trust by DST Systems, Inc., the Transfer Agent, in accordance with the Plan, unless such shareholder elects not to participate by providing written notice to the Transfer Agent. A shareholder may terminate his or her participation by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing.
 
Participating shareholders may also make additional contributions to the Plan from their own funds. Such contributions may be made by personal check or other means in an amount not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 per quarter. Cash contributions must be received by the Transfer Agent at least five days (but no more then 30 days) before the payment date of a dividend or distribution.
 
Whenever the Trust declares a dividend payable in cash or shares, the Transfer Agent, acting on behalf of each participating  shareholder, will take the dividend in shares only if the net asset value is lower than the market price plus an estimated brokerage commission as of the close of business on the valuation day. The valuation day is the last day preceding the day of dividend payment. When the dividend is to be taken in shares, the number of shares to be received is determined  by dividing the cash dividend by the net asset value as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if greater than net asset value, 95% of the closing share price. If the net asset value of the shares is higher than the market value plus an estimated commission, the Transfer Agent, consistent with obtaining the best price and execution, will buy shares on the open market at current prices promptly after the dividend payment date.
 
The reinvestment of dividends does not, in any way, relieve participating shareholders of any federal, state or local tax. For federal income tax purposes, the amount reportable in respect of a dividend received in newly-issued shares of the Trust will be the fair market value of the shares received, which will be reportable as ordinary income and/or capital gains.
 
As compensation for its services, the Transfer Agent receives a fee of 5% of any dividend and cash contribution (in no event in excess of $2.50 per distribution per shareholder.)
 
Any questions regarding the Plan should be addressed to DST Systems, Inc., Agent for Babson Capital Participation Investors’ Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan, P.O. Box 219086, Kansans City, MO 64121-9086.
 

 
 

 


 
 
 

 
2
ITEM 2.  CODE OF ETHICS.

The Registrant adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (the "Code") on October 17, 2003, which is available on the Registrant's website at www.babsoncapital.com/mpv. During the period covered by this Form N-CSR, there were no amendments to, or waivers from, the Code.

 
ITEM 3.  AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The Registrant's Board of Trustees has determined that Mr. Donald E. Benson, a Trustee of the Registrant and a member of its Audit Committee, is an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Benson is "independent" for purposes of this Item 3 as required by applicable regulation.

 
ITEM 4.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Fees Billed to the Registrant
 
    KPMG LLP     KPMG LLP  
    Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
Audit Fees
  $ 61,500     $ 52,500  
Audit-Related Fees
    0       0  
Tax Fees
    44,100       44,100  
All Other Fees
    0       0  
Total Fees
  $ 105,600     $ 96,600  

Non-Audit Fees Billed to Babson Capital and MassMutual
 
    KPMG LLP     KPMG LLP  
    Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
Audit-Related Fees
  $ 928,575     $ 1,040,600  
Tax Fees
    9,000       64,704  
All Other Fees
    0       0  
Total Fees
  $ 937,575     $ 1,105,304  
 
 
The category "Audit-Related Fees" reflects fees billed by KPMG for various non-audit and non-tax services rendered to the Registrant, Babson Capital Management LLC ("Babson Capital"), and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company ("MassMutual"), such as SAS 70 review, IFRS consulting and agreed upon procedures reports. Preparation of Federal, state and local income tax returns and tax compliance work are representative of the fees reported in the "Tax Fees" category. The category "All Other Fees" represents fees billed by KPMG for consulting rendered to Babson Capital and MassMutual. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and its implementing regulations allows the Registrant's Audit Committee to establish a pre-approval policy for certain services rendered by the Registrant's independent accountants. During 2011, the Registrant's Audit Committee approved all of the services rendered to the Registrant by KPMG and did not rely on such a pre-approval policy for any such services.
 
 

 
The Audit Committee has also reviewed the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for 2010 and 2011 for the Registrant and for the non-audit services provided to Babson Capital, and Babson Capital's parent, MassMutual. As part of this review, the Audit Committee considered whether the provision of such non-audit services was compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.

The 2010 fees billed represent final 2010 amounts, which may differ from the preliminary figures available as of the filing date of the Registrant's 2011 Annual Form N-CSR and includes, among other things, fees for services that may not have been billed as of the filing date of the Registrant's 2011 Annual Form N-CSR, but are now properly included in the 2010 fees billed to the Registrant, Babson Capital and MassMutual.
 

ITEM 5.  AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The Registrant maintains an Audit Committee composed exclusively of Trustees of the Registrant who qualify as "independent" Trustees under the current listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written Audit Committee Charter, which is available (1) on the Registrant's website, www.babsoncapital.com/mpv; and (2) without charge, upon request, by calling, toll-free 866-399-1516. The current members of the Audit Committee are Donald E. Benson, Michael H. Brown and Maleyne M. Syracuse.
 

ITEM 6.  SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments for the Registrant is included as part of this report to shareholders under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
 

ITEM 7. 
DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

The Registrant's Board of Trustees has delegated proxy voting responsibilities relating to voting securities held by the Registrant to its investment adviser, Babson Capital Management LLC ("Babson Capital"). A summary of Babson Capital's proxy voting policies and procedures is set forth below.

Summary of Babson Capital's Proxy Voting Policy

Babson Capital views the voting of proxies as an integral part of its investment management responsibility and believes, as a general principle, that proxies should be acted upon (voted or abstained) solely in the best interest of its clients (i.e. in a manner it believes is most likely to enhance the economic value of the underlying securities held in client accounts). To implement this general principle, Babson Capital has engaged a proxy service provider (the "Service Provider"). The Service Provider is responsible for processing and maintaining records of proxy votes. In addition, the Service Provider has retained the services of an independent third party research provider (the "Research Provider") to provide research and recommendations on proxy voting. It is Babson Capital's Proxy Voting Policy to generally vote proxies in accordance with the recommendations of the Research Provider, or, in cases where the Research Provider has not made any recommendations with respect to a proxy, in accordance with the Research Provider's proxy voting guidelines (the "Guidelines"). If a proxy involves an issue on which the Research Provider has not made a recommendation or has not addressed in the Guidelines, it will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
 
 

 
Babson Capital recognizes, however, that there may be times when Babson Capital determines that it may be in the best interest of clients holding the securities to (1) vote against the Research Provider's recommendations or (2) in cases where the Research Provider has not provided Babson Capital with any recommendations with respect to a proxy, vote against the Research Provider's Guidelines. Babson Capital may vote, in whole or in part, against the Research Provider's recommendations or the Research Provider's Guidelines, as applicable. The procedures set forth in the Proxy Voting Policy are designed to ensure that votes against the Research Provider's recommendations or Guidelines have been made in the best interest of clients and are not the result of any material conflict on interest (a "Material Conflict"). For purposes of the Proxy Voting Policy, a Material Conflict shall mean any position, relationship or interest, financial or otherwise, of Babson Capital (or any person authorized under the Proxy Voting Policy to vote proxies on behalf of Babson Capital) that would or could reasonably be expected to affect Babson Capital's (or such person's) independence or judgment concerning how to vote proxies.

Summary of Babson Capital's Proxy Voting Procedures

Babson Capital will vote all client proxies for which it has proxy voting discretion in accordance with the Research Provider's recommendations or Guidelines, unless (i) a person authorized by the Best Execution and Proxy Committee (each a "Proxy Analyst"), the Best Execution and Proxy Committee or a designated member of the Best Execution and Proxy Committee, as applicable, determines that it is in the client's best interest to vote against the Research Provider's recommendation or Guidelines or (ii) Babson Capital is unable or determines not to vote a proxy in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policy. In these cases: if (i) a Proxy Analyst recommends that a proxy should be voted against the Research Provider's recommendation or Guidelines, (ii) no other Proxy Analyst reviewing such proxy disagrees with such recommendation, and (iii) no known Material Conflict is identified by the Proxy Analyst(s) or by a person designated by Babson Capital's Executive Committee Chair (the "Proxy Administrator"), the Proxy Administrator will vote the proxy or post the proxy for voting in accordance with the Proxy Analyst's recommendation. Otherwise, the proxy is to be submitted to a member of the Best Execution and Proxy Committee, who shall determine how to vote the proxy unless (i) the Proxy Analyst or Proxy Administrator has identified a Babson Capital Material Conflict or (ii) said Best Execution and Proxy Committee member has identified a Material Conflict personal to him or herself or a Babson Capital Material Conflict. In such cases, the proxy shall be submitted to the Best Execution and Proxy Committee, which may authorize a vote against the Research Provider's recommendation or Guidelines only if the Best Execution and Proxy Committee determines that such vote is in the client's best interests.

Nothing herein shall preclude Babson Capital from splitting a vote among different advisory clients in those cases where Babson Capital deems it appropriate.

No associate, officer, director or board of managers member of Babson Capital or its affiliates (other than those assigned such responsibilities under the Proxy Voting Policy) may influence how Babson Capital votes client proxies, unless such person has been requested to provide such assistance by a Proxy Analyst or Best Execution and Proxy Committee member and has disclosed any known Material Conflict. Any pre-vote communications prohibited by the Proxy Voting Policy shall be reported to a Best Execution and Proxy Committee member prior to voting and to Babson Capital's Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel.
 
 

 
Obtaining a Copy of the Proxy Voting Policy

Clients may obtain a copy of Babson Capital's Proxy Voting Policy and information about how Babson Capital voted proxies related to their securities, free of charge, by contacting the Chief Compliance Officer, Babson Capital Management LLC, Independence Wharf, 470 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02210, or calling toll-free, 1-877-766-0014.
 

ITEM 8. 
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

The following disclosure item is made as of the date of this Form N-CSR unless otherwise indicated.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Michael L. Klofas serves as the President of the Registrant (since 2009) and as one of its Portfolio Managers. Mr. Klofas began his service to the Registrant in 1998 as a Vice President. With over 25 years of industry experience, Mr. Klofas is a Managing Director of the Mezzanine and Private Equity Group of Babson Capital Management LLC ("Babson Capital"). Mr. Klofas joined MassMutual in 1988. Prior to joining MassMutual, he spent two years at a small venture capital firm and two years at a national public accounting firm. At MassMutual and then Babson Capital, Mr. Klofas has analyzed and invested in traditional private placements and high yield public bonds. He also spent four years leading Babson Capital's workout and restructuring activities. Since 1993, he has focused on originating, analyzing, structuring and documenting mezzanine and private equity investments. Mr. Klofas holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from Babson College as well as a Certified Public Accountant designation. Mr. Klofas also presently serves as President of MassMutual Participation Investors, another closed-end management investment company advised by Babson Capital.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT TEAM. Mr. Klofas has primary responsibility for overseeing the investment of the Registrant's portfolio, with the day-to-day investment management responsibility of the Registrant's portfolio being shared with the following Babson Capital investment professionals (together with the Portfolio Manager, the "Portfolio Team").

Michael P. Hermsen is a Vice President of the Registrant and a Managing Director of Babson Capital who oversees the Private Finance Group and manages Babson Capital's Mezzanine Investment and Private Equity Investments Team which is responsible for finding, analyzing, negotiating and servicing mezzanine private placement securities for the Registrant.

Mr. Hermsen joined MassMutual in 1990 and has been an officer of the Registrant since 1998. Previously, he worked at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association where he was a generalist private placement analyst. At MassMutual and then Babson Capital, Mr. Hermsen has analyzed and invested in traditional private placements, high yield public and private bonds, and leveraged bank loans. He has also been responsible for managing a small portfolio of distressed investments. Since 1993, he has focused on originating, analyzing, structuring and documenting mezzanine and private equity investments. He holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Mr. Spencer is a Vice President of the Registrant and a Managing Director of Babson Capital who also manages Babson Capital's Mezzanine and Private Equity Investments Team. Mr. Spencer joined MassMutual in 1989 after three years as a corporate loan analyst at a major New England bank. He has been an officer of the Registrant since 2002. At MassMutual and then Babson Capital, Mr. Spencer has analyzed and invested in traditional private placements, high yield public and private bonds, leveraged bank loans, mezzanine debt and private equity. From 1993 to 1999, he was the lead restructuring professional at Babson Capital. Since 1999, Mr. Spencer has been focused on the origination, analysis, structuring and documentation of mezzanine and private equity investments. He holds a B.A. from Bucknell University and an M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
 
Sean Feeley is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Registrant’s public high yield and investment grade fixed income portfolio.  Mr. Feeley has been a Vice President of the Registrant since 2011.  Mr. Feeley is a Managing Director of Babson Capital and head of the High Yield Research Team with over 22 years of industry experience in high yield bonds and loans in various investment strategies.  Prior to joining Babson Capital in 2003, he was a Vice President at Cigna Investment Management in project finance and a Vice President at Credit Suisse in leveraged loan finance.  Mr. Feeley holds a B.S. from Canisius College and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.  Mr. Feeley is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
 
OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO TEAM. The members of the Registrant's portfolio Team also have primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of other Babson Capital advisory accounts, including, among others, closed-end and open-end investment companies, private investment funds, MassMutual-affiliated accounts, as well as separate accounts for institutional clients. These advisory accounts are identified below.
 
 

 
 
            NUMBER OF        
            ACCOUNTS   APPROXIMATE    
        TOTAL   WITH   ASSET SIZE OF    
        NUMBER   APPROXIMATE   PERFORMANCE-   PERFORMANCE-
PORTFOLIO   ACCOUNT   OF   TOTAL ASSET   BASED   BASED ADVISORY
TEAM   CATEGORY   ACCOUNTS   SIZE (A)   ADVISORY FEE   FEE ACCOUNTS (A)
                     
 
 
Registered
         1   $241.9 million          0         N/A
Clifford M.
 
Investment
               
Noreen (B)
 
Companies
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other Pooled
         7   $223.3 million          7   $223.3 million
 
 
Investment
               
 
 
Vehicles
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Accounts
               
                     
                     
 
 
Registered
         3   $541.5 million          0         N/A
Sean
 
Investment
               
Feeley
 
Companies
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other Pooled
         2   $1.7 billion          2   $1.7 billion
 
 
Investment
               
 
 
Vehicles
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other
         3   $339.4 million          0         N/A
 
 
Accounts (C)
               
                     
                               
                   
 
 
Registered
         1   $241.9 million          0         N/A
Michael P.
 
Investment
               
Hermsen (D)
 
Companies
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other Pooled
         6   $1.2 billion          6   $1.2 billion
 
 
Investment
               
 
 
Vehicles (E)
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Accounts
               
                     
                     
 
 
Registered
         1   $241.9 million          0         N/A
Michael L.
 
Investment
               
Klofas
 
Companies
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other Pooled
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Investment
               
 
 
Vehicles (E)
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Accounts
               
                     
                     
 
 
Registered
         1   $241.9 million          0         N/A
Richard E.
 
Investment
               
Spencer, II
 
Companies
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other Pooled
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Investment
               
 
 
Vehicles (E)
               
                     
                     
 
 
Other
         0         N/A          0         N/A
 
 
Accounts
               
 
 
(A) 
Account asset size has been calculated as of December 31, 2011.

(B)
Mr. Noreen, as head of Babson Capital’s Fixed Income Group, has overall responsibility for investment grade publicly traded assets, including corporate debt securities, as well as structured credit products managed by Babson Capital.  Except for the accounts noted in the table above, Mr. Noreen is not primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the other accounts managed by Babson Capital’s Fixed Income Group.

(C)
Mr. Feeley manages the high yield sector of the general investment account of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and C.M. Life Insurance Company; however these assets are not represented in the table above. 

(D)
Mr. Hermsen, as head of Babson Capital’s Private Finance Group, has overall responsibility for public and private bonds, mezzanine and private equity investments.
 
(E)
Messrs. Hermsen, Klofas and Spencer manage private placement mezzanine debt securities for the general investment account of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and C.M. Life Insurance Company; however these assets are not represented in the table above.
 
 

 
MATERIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.  The potential for material conflicts of interest may exist as the members of the Portfolio Management Team, have responsibilities for the day-to-day management of multiple advisory accounts.  These conflicts may be heightened to the extent the individual, Babson Capital and/or an affiliate has an investment in one or more of such accounts.  Babson Capital has identified (and summarized below) areas where material conflicts of interest are most likely to arise, and has adopted policies and procedures that it believes are reasonable designed to address such conflicts.

Transactions with Affiliates:  Babson Capital or its affiliates, including MassMutual and its affiliates, may from time to time, acting as principal, buy securities or other investments for itself from or sell securities or other investments it owns to its advisory clients.  Likewise, Babson Capital may either directly or on behalf of MassMutual, purchase and/or hold securities or other investments that are subsequently sold or transferred to advisory clients.  Babson Capital has a conflict of interest in connection with a transaction where it or an affiliate is acting as principal since it may have an incentive to favor itself or its affiliates over its advisory clients in connection with the transaction.  To address these conflicts of interest, Babson Capital has adopted a Transactions with Affiliates Policy, which ensures any such transaction is consistent with Babson Capital’s fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of its clients, including its ability to obtain best execution in connection with the transaction, and is in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Cross Trades:  Babson Capital may effect cross-trades on behalf of its advisory clients whereby one advisory client buys securities or other investments from or sells securities or other investments to another advisory client.  Babson Capital may also effect cross-transactions involving advisory accounts or funds in which it or its affiliates, including MassMutual, and their respective employees, have an ownership interest or for which Babson Capital is entitled to earn a performance or incentive fee.  As a result, Babson Capital has a conflict of interest in connection with the cross-transaction since it may have an incentive to favor the advisory client or fund in which it or its affiliate has an ownership interest and/or is entitled to a performance or incentive fee.  To address these conflicts of interest, Babson Capital has adopted a Transactions with Affiliates Policy, which ensures any such cross-transaction is consistent with Babson Capital’s fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of each of its advisory clients, including its ability to obtain best execution for each advisory client in connection with the cross-trade transaction, and is in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.  Babson Capital will not receive a commission or any other remuneration (other than its advisory fee) for effecting cross-transactions between advisory clients.

Loan Origination Transactions:  While Babson Capital or its affiliates generally do not act as an underwriter or member of a syndicate in connection with a securities offering, Babson Capital or its affiliates (or an unaffiliated entity in which Babson Capital or its affiliates has an ownership interest) may act as an underwriter, originator, agent, or member of a syndicate in connection with the origination of senior secured loans or other lending arrangements with borrowers, where such loans may be purchased by Babson Capital advisory clients during or after the original syndication.  Babson Capital advisory clients may purchase such loans directly from Babson Capital or its affiliates (or an unaffiliated entity in which Babson Capital or its affiliates has an ownership interest) or from other members of the lending syndicate.  Babson Capital or its affiliates may directly or indirectly receive underwriting, origination, or agent fees in connection with such loan originations.  As a result, Babson Capital has a conflict of interest in connection with such loan origination transactions since it has an incentive to base its investment recommendation to its advisory clients on the amount of compensation, underwriting, origination or agent fees it would receive rather than on its advisory clients’ best interests.  To address this conflict of interest, Babson Capital has adopted a Transactions with Affiliates Policy, which ensures any such transaction is consistent with Babson Capital’s fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of its clients, including its ability to obtain best execution in connection with the transaction, and is in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

 
 

 
MML Investors Services, LLC (“MMLISI”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of MassMutual, is an SEC-registered broker-dealer that may act as an introducing broker for the purpose of effecting securities transactions for brokerage customers.  While a Babson Capital advisory client could request that MMLISI effect securities transactions for it that would result in commissions to MMLISI, currently no Babson Capital advisory client directs Babson Capital to effect securities transactions for its account through MMLISI.

Investments by Advisory Clients:  Babson Capital may invest client assets in securities or other investments that are also held by (i) Babson Capital or its affiliates, including MassMutual, (ii) other Babson Capital advisory accounts, (iii) funds or accounts in which Babson Capital or its affiliates or their respective employees have an ownership or economic interest or (iv) employees of Babson Capital or its affiliates.  Babson Capital may also, on behalf of its advisory clients, invest in the same or different securities or instruments of issuers in which (i) Babson Capital or its affiliates, including MassMutual, (ii) other Babson Capital advisory accounts, (iii) funds or accounts in which Babson Capital, its affiliates, or their respective employees have an ownership or economic interest or (iv) employees of Babson Capital or its affiliates, have an ownership interest as a holder of the debt, equity or other instruments of the issuer.  Babson Capital has a conflict of interest in connection with any such transaction since investments by its advisory clients may directly or indirectly benefit Babson Capital and/or its affiliates and employees by potentially increasing the value of the securities or instruments it holds in the issuer.  Any investment by Babson Capital on behalf of its advisory clients will be consistent with its fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of its advisory clients, and otherwise be consistent with such clients’ investment objectives and restrictions.

Babson Capital or its affiliates may also recommend that clients invest in registered or unregistered investment companies, including private investment funds such as hedge funds, private equity funds or structured funds (i) advised by Babson Capital or an affiliate, (ii) in which Babson Capital, an affiliate or their respective employees has an ownership or economic interest or (iii) with respect to which Babson Capital or an affiliate has an interest in the entity entitled to receive the fees paid by such funds.  Babson Capital has a conflict of interest in connection with any such recommendation since it may have an incentive to base its recommendation to invest in such investment companies or private funds on the fees that Babson Capital or its affiliates would earn as a result of the investment by its advisory clients in the investment companies or private funds.  Any recommendation to invest in a Babson Capital advised fund or other investment company will be consistent with Babson Capital’s fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of its advisory clients, consistent with such clients’ investment objectives and restrictions. Babson Capital may, in certain limited circumstances, offer to clients that invest in private investment funds that it advises an equity interest in entities that receive advisory fees and carried profits interest from such funds.

Employee Co-Investment:  Babson Capital may permit certain of its portfolio managers and other employees to invest in private investment funds advised by Babson Capital or its affiliates and/or share in the performance or incentive fees received by Babson Capital from such funds.  If the portfolio manager or other employee was responsible for both the portfolio management of the private fund and other Babson Capital advisory accounts, such person would have a conflict of interest in connection with investment decisions since the person may have an incentive to direct the best investment ideas, or to allocate trades, in favor of the fund in which he or she is invested or otherwise entitled to share in the performance or incentive fees received from such fund.  To address these conflicts of interest, Babson Capital has adopted a Side by Side Management of Private Investment Funds and Other Advisory Accounts Policy which requires, among others things, that Babson Capital treat each of its advisory clients in a manner consistent with its fiduciary obligations and prohibits Babson Capital from favoring any particular advisory account as a result of the ownership or economic interests of Babson Capital, its affiliates or employees, in such advisory account.  Any investment by a Babson Capital employee in one of its private funds is also governed by Babson Capital’s Employee Co-Investment Policy, which ensures that any co-investment by a Babson Capital employee is consistent with Babson Capital’s Code of Ethics.

Management of Multiple Accounts:  As noted above, Babson Capital’s portfolio managers are often responsible for the day-to-day management of multiple accounts, including, among others, separate accounts for institutional clients, closed-end and open-end registered investment companies, and/or private investment funds (such as hedge funds, private equity funds and structured funds), as well as for proprietary accounts of Babson Capital and its affiliates, including MassMutual and its affiliates.  The potential for material conflicts of interest exist whenever a portfolio manager has responsibility for the day-to-day management of multiple advisory accounts.  These conflicts may be heightened to the extent a portfolio manager is responsible for managing a proprietary account for Babson Capital or its affiliates or where the portfolio manager, Babson Capital and/or an affiliate has an investment in one or more of such accounts or an interest in the performance of one or more of such accounts (e.g., through the receipt of a performance or incentive fee).

 
 

 
Investment Allocation:  Such potential conflicts include those relating to allocation of investment opportunities.  For example, it is possible that an investment opportunity may be suitable for more than one account managed by Babson Capital, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for all accounts to participate fully.  Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by multiple accounts.  A conflict arises where the portfolio manager has an incentive to treat an account preferentially because the account pays Babson Capital or its affiliates a performance-based fee or the portfolio manager, Babson Capital or an affiliate has an ownership or other economic interest in the account.  As noted above, Babson Capital also acts as an investment manager for certain of its affiliates, including MassMutual.  These affiliate accounts co-invest jointly and concurrently with Babson Capital’s other advisory clients and therefore share in the allocation of such investment opportunities.  To address these conflicts of interest associated with the allocation of trading and investment opportunities, Babson Capital has adopted an Investment Allocation Policy and trade allocation procedures that govern the allocation of portfolio transactions and investment opportunities across multiple advisory accounts, including affiliated accounts.  In addition, as noted above, to address these conflicts of interest, Babson Capital has adopted a Side by Side Management of Private Investment Funds and Other Advisory Accounts Policy which requires, among others things, that Babson Capital treat each of its advisory clients in a manner consistent with its fiduciary obligations and prohibits Babson Capital from favoring any particular advisory account as a result of the ownership or economic interests of Babson Capital, its affiliates or employees, in such advisory accounts.  Any investment by a Babson Capital employee in one of its private funds is also governed by Babson Capital’s Employee Co-Investment Policy, which ensures that any co-investment by a Babson Capital employee is consistent with Babson Capital’s Code of Ethics.

Personal Securities Transactions; Short Sales:  Potential material conflicts of interest may also arise related to the knowledge and timing of an account’s trades, investment opportunities and broker selection.  Babson Capital and its portfolio managers have information about the size, timing and possible market impact of the trades of each account they manage.  It is possible that portfolio managers could use this information for their personal advantage and/or the advantage or disadvantage of various accounts which they manage.  For example, a portfolio manager could, or cause a favored account to, “front run” an account’s trade or sell short a security for an account immediately prior to another accounts sale of that security.  To address these conflicts, Babson Capital has adopted policies and procedures, including a Short Sales Policy, which ensures that the use of short sales by Babson Capital is consistent with Babson Capital’s fiduciary obligations to its clients, a Side by Side Management of Private Investment Funds and Other Advisory Accounts Policy, which requires, among other things, that Babson Capital treat each of its advisory clients in a manner consistent with its fiduciary obligations and prohibits Babson Capital from favoring any particular account as a result of the ownership or economic interest of Babson Capital, its affiliates or employees and a Code of Ethics.

Trade Errors:  Potential material conflicts of interest may also arise if a trade error occurs in a client account.  A trade error is deemed to occur if there is a deviation by Babson Capital from the applicable standard of care in connection with the placement, execution or settlement of a trade for an advisory account that results in (1) Babson Capital purchasing securities not permitted or authorized by a client’s investment advisory agreement or otherwise failing to follow a client’s specific investment directives; (2) Babson Capital purchasing or selling the wrong security or the wrong amount of securities on behalf of a client’s account; or (3) Babson Capital purchasing or selling securities for, or allocating securities to, the wrong client account.  When correcting these errors, conflicts of interest between Babson Capital and its advisory accounts may arise as decisions are made on whether to cancel, reverse or reallocate the erroneous trades.  In order to address these conflicts, Babson Capital has adopted an Errors Policy governing the resolution of trading errors, and will follow the Errors Policy in order to ensure that trade errors are handled promptly and appropriately and that any action taken to remedy an error places the interest of a client ahead of Babson Capital’s interest.

Best Execution; Directed Brokerage:  With respect to securities transactions for most of the accounts it manages, Babson Capital determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its fiduciary duty to seek best execution of the transaction.  Babson Capital manages certain accounts, however, for clients who limit its discretion with respect to the selection of brokers or direct it to execute such client’s transaction through a particular broker.  In these cases, trades for such an account in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, those in the same security for other accounts.  Placing separate transaction orders for a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or otherwise affect the execution of the transaction to the possible detriment of one or more of the other account(s) involved.  In order to address these conflicts, Babson Capital has adopted a Best Execution Policy, which establishes the necessary controls to satisfy its obligations regarding best execution and ensures it places advisory client trades in such a manner that the advisory client’s total costs or proceeds are the most favorable under the circumstances, and a Directed Brokerage Policy, which ensures all directed brokerage instructions are executed in accordance with written client instructions and applicable legal requirements.

Babson Capital and its portfolio managers or employees may have other actual or potential conflicts of interest in managing an advisory account, and the list above is not a complete description of every conflict of interest that could be deemed to exist.
 
COMPENSATION. The current Babson Capital compensation and incentive program for investment professionals is designed to attract, motivate and retain high-performing individuals.

To help Babson Capital make informed decisions, Babson Capital participates in annual compensation surveys of investment management firms using McLagan Partners, in addition to other industry specific resources. The firms selected for periodic peer-group comparisons typically have similar asset size or business mix. Annually, a review is conducted of total compensation versus market, to ensure that individual pay is competitive with the defined overall market.
 
 

 
The compensation package for the members of the Portfolio Team is comprised of a market-driven base salary, a performance-driven annual bonus, and discretionary long-term incentives. The performance-driven annual bonus is based on the overall performance of Babson Capital as well as the performance of the accounts managed by the members of the Portfolio Team relative to appropriate benchmarks, including with respect to the Registrant, to the Russell 2000 Index and Lehman Brothers U.S. Corporate High Yield Index. Performance of the Registrant, like other accounts Portfolio Team members manage, are evaluated on a pre-tax basis, and are reviewed over one and three-year periods, with greater emphasis given to the latter. There are other factors that affect bonus awards to a lesser extent, such as client satisfaction, teamwork, and the assets under management.  Such factors are considered as a part of the overall annual bonus evaluation process by the management of Babson Capital.

Long-Term incentives are designed to share with participants the longer-term value created in Babson Capital. Long-term incentives may take the form of deferred cash awards (including deferred cash awards that provide a portfolio manager with the economic equivalent of a "shareholder" interest in Babson Capital by linking the value of the award to a formula which ties to the value of the business), and/or, in the case of a portfolio manager who manages a private investment fund with a performance fee, a deferred cash award or a direct profit sharing interest that results in the portfolio manager receiving amounts based on the amount of the performance fee paid by such fund. These long-term incentives vest over time and are granted annually, based upon the same criteria used to determine the performance-driven annual bonus detailed above. Because the Portfolio Team members are generally responsible for multiple accounts (including the Registrant), they are compensated on the overall performance of the accounts that they manage, rather than a specific account, except for the portion of compensation relating to any performance fee award.
 
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. As of December 31, 2011, members of the Portfolio Team beneficially owned the following dollar range of equity securities in the Registrant:
                                
Portfolio Team:
Dollar Range of Beneficially
Owned* Equity Securities of the Registrant:
Clifford M. Noreen
None
Sean Feeley
None
Michael P. Hermsen
$10,001-$50,000
Michael L. Klofas
None
Richard E. Spencer II
None

*
Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (Shares "beneficially owned" include the number of shares of the Registrant represented by the value of a Registrant-related investment option under Babson Capital's non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain officers of Babson Capital (the "Plan").  The Plan has an investment option that derives its value from the market value of the Registrant's shares. However, neither the Plan nor the participation in the Plan has an actual ownership interest in the Registrant'sshares.)

 
ITEM 9. 
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable for this filing.
 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not applicable for this filing.

 
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 
(a) 
The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Registrant evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act")) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report and based on that evaluation have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

 
(b) 
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) during the Registrant's second fiscal half year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 
(a)(1)
ANY CODE OF ETHICS, OR AMENDMENTS THERETO, THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY ITEM 2, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE REGISTRANT INTENDS TO SATISFY THE ITEM 2 REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE FILING OF AN EXHIBIT.

None.

 
(a)(2)
A SEPARATE CERTIFICATION FOR EACH PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE REGISTRANT AS REQUIRED BY RULE 30a-2 UNDER THE ACT.

Attached hereto as EX-99.31.1
Attached hereto as EX-99.31.2

 
(a)(3)
ANY WRITTEN SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE SECURITIES UNDER RULE 23c-1 UNDER THE ACT (17 CFR 270.23c-1) SENT OR GIVEN DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE REPORT BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTRANT TO 10 OR MORE PERSONS.

Not applicable for this filing.

 
(b) 
CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO RULE 302-2(b) UNDER THE ACT.

Attached hereto as EX-99.32
 
 

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
(Registrant):    Babson Capital Participation Investors  
     
     
By: /s/ Michael L. Klofas  
 
Michael L. Klofas, President
 
     
Date:
March 9, 2012
 
     
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By: /s/ Michael L. Klofas  
 
Michael L. Klofas, President
 
     
Date:
March 9, 2012
 
     
     
By: /s/ James M. Roy  
 
James M. Roy, Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
     
Date:
March 9, 2012