Equus Total Return has been a leading private equity business development company since the early 1980s. The company specializes in making investments in small companies, most of which are private, based on its belief that the growth potential is greater in the small to midcap arena. In December 2005, Equus Total Return reported net assets of $92.6 million, an increase of $24 million for the year and a 19.1-percent increase per share. Equus Total Return trades as a closed-end fund on the New York Stock Exchange. The public company maintains operations in Wortham Tower, N.Y.