U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-17f-2 CERTIFICATE OF ACCOUNTING OF SECURITIES AND SIMILAR INVESTMENTS IN THE CUSTODY OF MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Pursuant to Rule 17f-2 [17 CRF 270.17f-2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Investment Company Act File Number: Date examination completed: 814-00138 December 31, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. State Identification Number: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AL AK AZ AR CA CO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CT DE DC FL GA HI ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ID IL IN IA KS KY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LA ME MD MA MI MN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MS MO MT NE NV NH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NJ NM NY NC ND OH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK OR PA RI SC SD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TN TX UT VT VA WA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WV WI WY PUERTO RICO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other (specify): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Exact name of investment company as specified in registration statement: Allied Capital Corporation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Address of principal executive office:(number, street, city, state, zip code) 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.; Washington, DC 20006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUCTIONS This Form must be completed by the investment companies that have custody of securities or similar investments. Investment Company 1. All items must be completed by the investment company. 2. Give this Form to the independent public accountant who, in compliance with Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law, examines securities and similar investments in the custody of the investment company. Accountant 3. Submit this Form to the Securities and Exchange Commission and appropriate state securities administrators when filing the certificate of accounting required by Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law. File the original and one copy with the Securities and Exchange Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C., one copy with the regional office for the region in which the investment company's principal business operations are conducted, and one copy with the appropriate state administrator(s), if applicable. THIS FORM MUST BE GIVEN TO YOUR INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT Management Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Allied Capital Corporation (the "Company"), is responsible for complying with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2, "Custody of Investments by Registered Management Investment Companies," of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company is also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective controls over compliance with those requirements. The Company has performed an evaluation of its compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 as of December 31, 2001. Based on this evaluation, the Company asserts that it was in compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as of December 31, 2001 with respect to securities and similar investments reflected in the investment account of the Company. ALLIED CAPITAL CORPORATION By: /s/ Penni F. Roll -------------------------------------- Penni F. Roll Chief Financial Officer [MATTHEWS, CARTER AND BOYCE LETTERHEAD] Board of Directors Allied Capital Corporation 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20006 In compliance with Rule 17f-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, we have made an examination of the investment accounts shown by the books and records of Allied Capital Corporation as of December 31, 2001 (Investment Company Act File Number 814-138). Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Securities owned as of the close of business on December 31, 2001, shown by the books and records, were examined by us by count, inspection or confirmation, except for those which related to recently disbursed investments or those out for transfer on that date, which were accounted for by other means. /s/MATTHEWS, CARTER AND BOYCE May 6, 2002