---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001712543-25-000002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EQS"
cik: "0000878932"
company_name: "EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC."
filed_at: "2025-01-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-28T11:52:39.980408+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Equus appoints Fraser Atkinson as Chairman and John J. May as independent director

## Summary
- Fraser Atkinson appointed independent Chairman of the Board effective December 30, 2024.
- John J. May appointed as independent director to fill vacancy due to passing of Robert L. Knauss.
- May will serve on Audit, Compensation, and Governance & Nominating Committees.
- Atkinson continues as Audit Committee Chair and remains on Compensation and Governance Committees.
- May is Managing Partner of City & Westminster Corporate Finance LLP with 50+ years as chartered accountant.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001712543-25-000002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EQS
- cik: 0000878932
- company_name: EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC.
- filed_at: 2025-01-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/878932/000171254325000002/0001712543-25-000002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/878932/000171254325000002/f8k_equus12302024.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001712543-25-000002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001712543-25-000002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001712543-25-000002.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John J. May was appointed as independent director at EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: independent director
  source text: Also on December 30, 2024, the Board appointed John J. May as an independent director to fill the vacancy on the Board resulting from the recent passing of Robert L. Knauss, to serve until the next annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/878932/000171254325000002/0001712543-25-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Fraser Atkinson was appointed as Chairman at EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman
  source text: On December 30, 2024, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Equus Total Return, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Fraser Atkinson as its independent Chairman.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/878932/000171254325000002/0001712543-25-000002-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.