Our partners generally begin by providing a benefit or resource in one particular area and then become integrated into our business in many areas. We draw on this credit facility as we require short-term cash. Our private equity relationships are a critical element of our investment philosophy. Allied Capital invests in companies with a strong equity capital base, and a strong private equity sponsor.
Strong equity sponsorships significantly strengthens our position as a long-term lender.
Investment Intermediaries Investment intermediaries also provide us with significant deal flow. As we continue to increase our loan origination volume, this source of deal originations continues to grow. During the second quarter of 2000, Allied Capital began to invest in, and strategically partner with, select private equity funds focused on investments in technology and the new economy. The strategy for these fund investments is to provide solid investment returns, increase the technology allocation of the overall portfolio, and build strategic relationships with the fund managers and their portfolio companies. We expected that we will have opportunities to co-invest with the funds, as well as, finance their portfolio companies as they mature.