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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event
reported): July 30, 2024
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)
Maryland |
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814-00663 |
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33-1089684 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
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(Commission
File Number) |
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
245 Park Avenue, 44th Floor, New York, NY |
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10167 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code (212) 750-7300
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of
the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading symbol |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, $0.001 par value |
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ARCC |
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NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter)
or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company ¨
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. ¨
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On July 30, 2024, Ares Capital Corporation (the “Company”),
its investment adviser, Ares Capital Management LLC (“Ares Capital Management”) and its administrator, Ares Operations LLC
(“Ares Operations”) entered into separate equity distribution agreements, with each of Truist Securities, Inc. (“Truist”),
Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), Mizuho Securities USA LLC (“Mizuho”), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”)
and Regions Securities LLC (“Regions,” and together with Truist, Jefferies, Mizuho and RBC, the “Sales Agents”).
The equity distribution agreements with the Sales Agents described in the preceding sentences are collectively referred to herein as the
“Equity Distribution Agreements.”
The Equity Distribution Agreements provide that the Company may from
time to time issue and sell shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Shares”), having an aggregate offering
price of up to $1,000,000,000, through the Sales Agents, or to them as principal for their own respective accounts. The sales of Shares,
if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including sales made directly on The NASDAQ Global Select Market or similar securities exchange
or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. The Sales Agents will receive a commission from the Company of up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of any Shares sold through
the Sales Agents under the Equity Distribution Agreements.
Although the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
a Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-279023) on May 1, 2024 (the "Registration Statement") and a prospectus supplement,
dated as of July 30, 2024, pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000
(the “Prospectus Supplement”), the Company has no obligation to sell any Shares under the Equity Distribution Agreements,
and may at any time suspend the offering of Shares under the Equity Distribution Agreements. Actual sales will depend on a variety of
factors to be determined by the Company from time to time, including, among others, market conditions, the trading price of the Company’s
common stock and determinations by the Company of its need for and the appropriate sources of additional capital.
The Equity Distribution Agreements contain customary representations,
warranties and agreements of the Company, conditions to closing, indemnification rights and termination provisions.
The foregoing description is only a summary of the material provisions
of the Equity Distribution Agreements and does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text
of each of the Equity Distribution Agreements, filed as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2, Exhibit 10.3, Exhibit 10.4 and Exhibit 10.5, respectively,
to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
The Shares, if any, will be issued and sold pursuant to the Prospectus
Supplement and the Registration Statement.
This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which
such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state
or other jurisdiction.
Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
Effective as of July 30, 2024, the Company and each of Truist, Jefferies,
Mizuho, RBC and Regions terminated the following agreements, which have been superseded by the Equity Distribution Agreements: (i) the
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company, Ares Capital Management, Ares Operations and Truist,
(ii) the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company, Ares Capital Management, Ares Operations
and Regions, (iii) the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company, Ares Capital Management,
Ares Operations and Jefferies, (iv) the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company, Ares Capital
Management, Ares Operations and RBC, and (v) the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company,
Ares Capital Management, Ares Operations and Mizuho in accordance with their respective terms.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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5.1 |
Opinion of Venable LLP, dated July 30, 2024 |
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10.1 |
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2024, among Ares Capital Corporation, Ares Capital Management LLC, Ares Operations LLC and Truist Securities, Inc. |
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10.2 |
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2024, among Ares Capital Corporation, Ares Capital Management LLC, Ares Operations LLC and Jefferies LLC |
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10.3 |
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2024, among Ares Capital Corporation, Ares Capital Management LLC, Ares Operations LLC and Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
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10.4 |
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2024, among Ares Capital Corporation, Ares Capital Management LLC, Ares Operations LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
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10.5 |
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2024, among Ares Capital Corporation, Ares Capital Management LLC, Ares Operations LLC and Regions Securities LLC |
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23.1 |
Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
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104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
Date: July 30, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Scott C. Lem |
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Name: |
Scott C. Lem |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Exhibit 5.1
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750 E. PRATT STREET SUITE 900 BALTIMORE, MD 21202 |
T 410.244.7400 F 410.244.7742
www.Venable.com |
July 30, 2024
Ares Capital Corporation
245 Park Avenue, 44th Floor
New York, New York 10167
Re: Registration
Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-279023)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We
have served as Maryland counsel to Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain
matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”), of the Company having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Shares”), covered by the above-referenced
Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
The Shares are to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement and the Distribution Agreements (each as defined
herein) in one or more transactions deemed to be “at the market” offerings (each, an “Offering” and, collectively,
the “Offerings”) under Rule 415 of the 1933 Act.
In connection with our representation of the Company,
and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):
1. The
Registration Statement;
2. The
Prospectus, dated May 1, 2024, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “Prospectus Supplement”),
filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under
the 1933 Act;
3. The
charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);
4. The
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
Ares Capital Corporation
July 30, 2024
Page 2
5. A
certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;
6. Resolutions
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to, among other matters, (a) the sale, issuance
and registration of the Shares, (b) the delegation to certain officers of the Company (the “Authorized Officers”) of
the power to determine, subject to certain parameters, the number of Shares and the offering price of each Share to be sold from time
to time pursuant to the Distribution Agreements and (c) the authorization of the execution, delivery and performance by the Company
of the Distribution Agreements (the “Resolutions”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
7. The
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “Truist Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company,
Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Administrator”), and Truist Securities, Inc.;
8. The
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “Jefferies Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator and Jefferies LLC;
9. The
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “Mizuho Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator and Mizuho Securities USA LLC;
10. The
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “RBC Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the
Adviser, the Administrator and RBC Capital Markets, LLC;
11. The
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated July 30, 2024 (the “Regions Distribution Agreement” and, together with the Truist
Distribution Agreement, the Jefferies Distribution Agreement, the Mizuho Distribution Agreement and the RBC Distribution Agreement, the
“Distribution Agreements”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and Regions Securities LLC;
12. A
certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and
13. Such
other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions,
limitations and qualifications stated herein.
Ares Capital Corporation
July 30, 2024
Page 3
In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have
assumed the following:
1. Each
individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.
2. Each
individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.
3. Each
of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents
to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable
in accordance with all stated terms.
4. All
Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not
differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted
to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records
reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained
in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there
has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.
5. Upon
the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number
of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions,
limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:
1. The
Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing
with the SDAT.
2. The
issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and to the extent issued against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Distribution Agreements, the Resolutions and any other actions relating to the Shares taken
by the Board or the Authorized Officers, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Ares Capital Corporation
July 30, 2024
Page 4
The
foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning federal law or
the laws of any other state. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including
the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers or the laws, codes
or regulations of any municipality or other local jurisdiction. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein
would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The
opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of any judicial decision which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify
the terms or the interpretation of agreements.
The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters
specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to
supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion
expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is being furnished to you for submission
to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Offerings (the “Current
Report”), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as
an exhibit to the Current Report and the said incorporation by reference and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this
consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Venable LLP |
Exhibit 10.1
Ares Capital Corporation
Up to $1,000,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
July 30, 2024
Truist Securities, Inc.
3333 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares
Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”), and Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”),
confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with Truist Securities, Inc. (the “Manager”), as
follows. This Agreement supersedes the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of February 7, 2024 among the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager (the “2024 EDA”), and the parties hereto agree that the 2024 EDA is
terminated pursuant to Section 10(c) of the 2024 EDA and the provisions of the 2024 EDA set forth in such section shall survive
termination.
Section 1.
Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager (or any Alternative Manager
(as defined below)), as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms
set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock to be sold through or to the Manager pursuant hereto or pursuant
to a Terms Agreement (as defined below) or through or to an Alternative Manager pursuant to an Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement (each term as defined below) are referred to herein as the “Shares.” For the avoidance
of doubt, as of the date of this Agreement, Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 may be sold pursuant
to this Agreement.
The Company has entered into, and from time to time may also enter
into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively,
the “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements”), dated of even date herewith, with each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto, as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Alternative Manager” and collectively, the “Alternative
Managers”). The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager or an Alternative Manager
as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement” or “Alternative Terms Agreement”,
respectively) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution
Agreements.” The Manager and the Alternative Managers are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution Managers.”
In addition, the Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) pursuant to which
holders of Common Stock of the Company have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company
unless they elect to receive such dividends in cash.
The aggregate offering price for the Shares that may be sold on or
after the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement and any Alternative
Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.
As used herein, “Registration Statement” shall
mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) below, including all exhibits, financial statements and schedules
thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and any prospectus supplement (including any amendment
or supplement thereto) relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the “1933 Act”),
or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B
under the 1933 Act, as amended on each Effective Date (as defined below) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended, and shall also mean any new registration statement or post-effective
amendment as may have been filed pursuant to Section 5(e) of this Agreement. “Effective Date” shall mean
each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. “Basic
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) below contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or
regulations of the Commission. “Prospectus” shall mean any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, relating to the Shares,
including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Commission,
together with the Basic Prospectus.
The Company has entered into the Second Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2019 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with the Adviser,
which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”). The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Administrator. Collectively, the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are herein referred to as the “Company Agreements.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “incorporated” in, or “a part of”,
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto
(and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment
or supplement thereto, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation,
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act (as defined below) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise
deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.
A Form N-54A – Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1933 Act (File No. 814-00663)
(the “Notification of Election”) was filed by the Company with the Commission on April 21, 2004 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “1940
Act”).
Section 2.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
(a) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File No. 333-279023)
on Form N-2, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the 1933 Act of the offering and sale of certain securities
of the Company, including the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments thereto filed prior to the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), has become
effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and the Registration Statement as amended by
any post-effective amendment if the Company shall have made any amendments thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement)
has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with. The Company may have filed, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement
or pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, one or
more amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission one or more prospectus
supplements (including any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) related to
the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the
Company, including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations
of the Commission. As filed, such Prospectus Supplement, together with the Basic Prospectus, shall contain all information required by
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed
to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, as of the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each,
a “Time of Sale”), at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof), and at all times during
which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, meets or will meet the requirements
set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the 1933 Act.
On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable
to the Company, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and, as amended or supplemented, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and at no time during
the period that begins on the date of the Prospectus Supplement and ends at the later of each Settlement Date and the end of the period
during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement,
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Manager consists of the name and
address of the Manager set forth in the last paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution —Conflicts of Interest”
in the Prospectus. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, when read together with the other information in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(b) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Financial
Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of stockholders’
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; there are no financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The “Financial Highlights” included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as of the date presented and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
The pro forma financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus presents
fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and has been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. There is no other pro forma financial information that is required to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not included as required.
(d) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been
no transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(e) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Distribution
Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement; and
the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
The Company’s only subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP are those listed
on Schedule B hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).
Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company
or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of
the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. Except (A) as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and (B) portfolio investments made after the most recently completed fiscal quarter, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest
in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity that is not a Subsidiary.
(g) Capitalization.
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan or pursuant
to reservations or agreements or employee benefit plans, if any, referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible
securities or options, if any, referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(h) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution and delivery and performance by the
Company of its obligations under any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof,
duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements
have been, and any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles
of public policy and subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’
rights generally and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
(i) Authorization
and Description of Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through or to the Distribution Managers
pursuant to the Distribution Agreements or any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth in the Distribution Agreements, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms
in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject
to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(j) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents. Further, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement
or any of the Company Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated (including the issuance and
sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the
Agreements and Instruments, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the
holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require
the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
(k) Absence
of Proceedings. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding
or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiry or investigation, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement or any of the Company
Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Accuracy
of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(m) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated
by them, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property
or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding)
or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement, any of the Company
Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the
caption “Use of Proceeds”), except (A) such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, (B) such
as may be required under state securities laws, and (C) the filing of the Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has
been effected.
(o) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute,
regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.
(p) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification
of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as a “registered management investment
company” under the 1940 Act.
(r) Registration
Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(s) Related
Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(t) Notification
of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required
to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the 1940 Act and (B) did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(u) Investment
Advisory Agreement. (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and
the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15
of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(v) Interested
Persons. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (A) no person is serving or acting as an
officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act,
and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Distribution Managers.
(w) Business
Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the 1940 Act as a business
development company, such election is effective and all required action has been taken by the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Distribution Agreements; (B) the provisions
of the corporate charter and by-laws of the Company, and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the 1940 Act; and (C) the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940
Act applicable to business development companies.
(x) Employees
and Executives. The Company is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar arrangement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, any
of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No
Extension of Credit. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(z) Accounting
Controls. The Company has established and maintains an effective system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (B) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
and (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization.
(aa)
Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and employs effective disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(bb)
Tax Returns. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are
required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions
thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate
reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc)
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made
any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(dd)
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been
conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries with respect to the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ee)
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s
Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering
of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or
other person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject
of Sanctions, (ii) to fund any activities of or business in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region of Ukraine
or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.
(ff)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is, and to
the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, are, in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(gg)
Cybersecurity. (A) The Company is not aware of any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure,
or other compromise relating to the Adviser’s information technology and computer systems, data and databases used by the Company
(collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) to the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser has implemented appropriate
controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy
and security of its IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent in all material respects with industry standards and practices, or as required
by applicable regulatory standards. To the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser is presently in material compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from
unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(hh)
Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items (as defined
below).
(ii) Additional
Disclosure Items. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Manager, (i) it will not distribute
any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items, and (ii) it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement”
as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by,
or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares (the materials and information referred to in this
Section 2(ii)(ii) are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 3.
Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator. The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Manager as follows:
(a) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of this Section 3, “Material Adverse Effect” means, in addition to a “Material Adverse Effect” as defined
in Section 2(d), any material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations
under the Distribution Agreements.
(b) Good
Standing. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability
company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into
and perform its obligations under the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement; the Adviser has
limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement;
the Administrator has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration
Agreement; and each of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Registration
Under Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and
is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts
or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with
the Commission.
(d) Absence
of Proceedings. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating
agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the
Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the
Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of
any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser
and the Administrator with their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults
that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their assets, properties or operations.
(f) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their
obligations under this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution
and delivery and performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their obligations under any Terms Agreement and any
Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof, duly and validly authorized by the Adviser or the Administrator,
as applicable, and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and any Terms
Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed and delivered by the
Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, enforceable against the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity
and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the qualifications
that the enforceability of the Adviser or the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(g) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms
Agreement, any of the Company Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described
in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act.
(h) Description
of Adviser and Administrator. The description of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and the Administrator possess such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Adviser and the
Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force
and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(j) Stabilization
and Manipulation. Neither the Adviser, the Administrator nor any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling
persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, under the Exchange Act, to result in the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable
to the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling persons.
(k) Employment
Status. The Adviser is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any,
any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure,
confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of
the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(l) Internal
Controls. The Adviser is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance
with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession
or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.
(m) Accounting
Controls. The Administrator is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility
for under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s
assets and (B) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Adviser or Administrator
and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 4.
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the following terms.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to
issue and sell Shares on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) (a “Trading
Day”) (other than a Trading Day on which the NASDAQ is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) pursuant
to this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will instruct the Manager by telephone of the parameters in accordance
with which it desires Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be offered, the time period during
which sales are requested to be made, the minimum price below which sales may not be made and any limitation on the number of Shares
that may be sold in any one day (a “Placement Notice”). If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms included
in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company,
wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) or, if later, within three hours after
receipt of the Placement Notice, on the same business day (as defined below) on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager,
issue to the Company a notice by email addressed to all of the authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule C hereto
(the “Authorized Company Representatives”) confirming all of the parameters of the Placement or setting forth the
terms it is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding
sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Manager until the Company delivers to the Manager an acceptance by email
(or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”).
The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by any of the Authorized
Company Representatives of the email notice from the Manager or upon receipt by the Manager of the Company’s Acceptance, as the
case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Shares covered by the Placement Notice have been sold, (ii) in accordance
with Section 4(a)(ii) hereof, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent
Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated
under the provisions of Section 10. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, the performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction of additional conditions specified in Section 6) the Manager shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to offer
and sell all of the Shares designated in the Placement Notice; provided, however, that the Manager shall have no obligation
to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Manager shall have no such obligation in the event an offer
or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company may in the judgment of the Manager constitute the sale of a “block” under
Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act or a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may be deemed an “underwriter” under the 1933 Act in a transaction
that is other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NASDAQ that qualify for delivery
of a Prospectus to the NASDAQ in accordance with Rule 153 under the 1933 Act or (B) directly on or through an electronic communication
network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue (the transactions described in (A) and (B) are hereinafter referred
to as “At the Market Offerings”).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail from such party), suspend
the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or suspend or terminate a previously issued Placement Notice; provided,
however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect
to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(iii) The Manager hereby covenants and agrees
not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 4(a), other than (A) by means of At
the Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as
shall be agreed by the Company and the Manager.
(iv) The gross sales price of any Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Manager acting as sales agent of the Company shall be equal to, in the discretion of the Manager,
the market price prevailing at the time of sale for the Shares sold by the Manager on the NASDAQ or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices (but in no event shall such gross sales price be less than the minimum price per Share designated
by the Company at which such Shares may be sold). The compensation to the Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares
shall be up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(a). The foregoing rate of compensation
shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price
agreed upon at the relevant applicable time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees, transfer taxes or any similar taxes imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with such sales,
shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(v) The Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company as soon as practicable following the close of trading on the NASDAQ each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 4(a) setting
forth the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company, and the aggregate compensation
payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. If requested in the Placement Notice, the Manager shall provide written
confirmation to the Company’s transfer agent (at the address set forth in the Placement Notice) of the aggregate amount of the
Shares sold on such day, at the time the Company is sent such information.
(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares
pursuant to this Section 4(a) will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (provided
that, if such first Trading Day is not a business day, then settlement will occur on the next succeeding Trading Day that is also a business
day), unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Manager (each such date, a “Settlement Date”).
As used herein, the term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. On each Settlement Date, the
Shares sold through the Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment
of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by electronically transferring the
Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to the Manager’s account, or to the account of the Manager’s designee, at The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”)
or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager, which in all cases shall be freely
tradable, transferable, registered shares eligible for delivery through DTC, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the
account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver
the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage
arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be
entitled absent such default. The Authorized Company Representatives, or any designees thereof as notified to the Manager in writing,
shall be the contact persons for the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DWAC for
purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi).
(vii) At each Time of Sale, Settlement Date
and Representation Date (as defined in Section 5(s) hereof), the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall be deemed
to have affirmed their respective representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of the Manager to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein, to the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) (i) If
the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4(a) of any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to notify the Manager
of the proposed terms of such sale. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to
do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager, the
Company and, if applicable, the Alternative Managers will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In
the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will
control. For avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to engage the Manager
or any Alternative Managers in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Company’s securities, including shares of its Common
Stock, whether in connection with an underwritten offering or otherwise.
(c) In
the event the Company engages the Manager for a sale of Shares that would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under
the Exchange Act or a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company
and the Manager will agree to compensation and deliverables that are customary for the Manager with respect to such transactions.
(d)
(i) On or after the date of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of
any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds or the aggregate number of the Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount,
(B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (C) the amount authorized
from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement by the Company’s
board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing, and (D) the amount that would
require approval of the stockholders of the Company under Nasdaq Rule 5635 (or any successor rule). Under no circumstances shall
the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares (i) at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to
time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing and (ii) at
a price (net of the Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to this
Section 4) lower than the Company’s then current net asset value per share (as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act), unless
the Company has received the requisite approval from the Company’s stockholders and the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof as required by the 1940 Act, and notifies the Manager in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 4(d) on the number and the
price of the Shares to be issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager shall
have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The Manager shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect
to the Shares available for sale under the Registration Statement.
(ii) If any party has reason to believe
that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect
to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution
Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. Upon the reasonable
request of the Company in writing to the Manager (which such request may be by electronic mail), the Manager shall promptly calculate
and provide in writing to the Company a report setting forth, for the prior week, the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 100
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock.
(e) Each
sale of the Shares to or through the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, or the respective Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or, if applicable, an
Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall
be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein
contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares
to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights
of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, any provisions relating to the granting
of an option to purchase additional Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements
for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 hereof and any other
information or documents required by the Manager.
(f) Subject
to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein,
or in any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager or any Alternative
Manager, as applicable, offers and sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable,
shall not be requested by the Company and need not be made by the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time when
or during any period in which (i) the Company is or could be deemed to be in possession of material non-public information,
or (ii) without the prior written consent of the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time during the period
commencing on the 5th business day prior to the time the Company issues a press release containing, or otherwise publicly announces,
its earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”)
through and including (A) if the Company incorporates by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed with
the Commission, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or an annual report
on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be,
covered by such Earnings Announcement, or (B) if the Company does not incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement its
periodic reports filed with the Commission, the date on which the Company files with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement under Rule 424(b) relating
to the Shares that includes (x) updated unaudited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent quarterly
period or (y) updated audited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year, as applicable.
(g) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager or any Alternative Manager will be successful
in selling the Shares, (B) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company
or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager or any Alternative
Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations
to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, and
(C) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant
to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, except as otherwise specifically agreed in writing
by the Manager and the Company or any Alternative Manager and the Company, as applicable. For purposes of clarification, the Manager
shall only be deemed to be acting as a sales agent under this Agreement during the period beginning with the delivery of a Placement
Notice from the Company to the Manager and ending upon the suspension or termination of such Placement Notice or the completion of the
sale of Shares in accordance with such Placement Notice.
(h) The
Company agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares
or sales of Common Stock pursuant to any At the Market Offering (as defined herein and within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under
the 1933 Act) shall only be effected by or through the Manager or an Alternative Manager, but in no event may more than one Distribution
Manager be selling Shares under the Distribution Agreements on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more
than one Distribution Manager sell Shares on the same day. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to engage additional Distribution Managers subsequent
to the date hereof. The Company will notify the Manager and the Alternative Managers in the event that it engages one or more additional
Distribution Managers subsequent to the date hereof and Schedule A hereto shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the names of each
of the Distribution Managers (other than the Manager) listed on Schedule A of the Distribution Agreements subsequently entered into by
the Company and such additional Distribution Managers.
Section 5.
Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Manager:
(a) The
Company, subject to Section 5(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 415, Rule 430B and Rule 424, in connection
with the sale of the Shares, and will notify the Manager immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when, during any period
that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 153 or any similar rule), any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating
to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus or of any proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424, was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. During any period that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), the Company
will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The
Company shall notify the Manager promptly of the time on or after the date of this Agreement when any amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed or becomes effective or when the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement to any of the foregoing has been
filed; and the Company shall cause the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
to the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Rule 424
under the 1933 Act, within the time period prescribed.
(c) Upon
the Manager’s written request, the Company will deliver to the Manager, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed, and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and,
upon the Manager’s request, will also deliver to the Manager, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T, or as filed with the Commission in paper form as permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) The
Company shall make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time
to time shall furnish to the Manager, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager may reasonably
request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; in case the Manager is required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered
pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred
to in Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required
pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the 1933 Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, as the case may be.
(e) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the 1933 Act so as to permit the distribution of the Shares as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
the Manager or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus, including,
without limitation, the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(b), such amendment
or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
document incorporated by reference therein, comply with such requirements, and use its reasonable efforts to cause any amendment to the
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible. The Company will furnish to the Manager such number
of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Manager, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under
the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect for as long as the Manager reasonably requests; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject.
(g) The
Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders
as soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) The
Company will use the Net Proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use
of Proceeds”.
(i) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ.
(j) At
any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, the Company shall not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to, (i) sell,
offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including without limitation, any options, warrants
or other rights to purchase Common Stock) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing,
or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without giving the Manager
at least two Trading Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be offered and sold to the Manager or any Alternative Manager pursuant
to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable, (ii) the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, and any registration
related thereto, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment
plan, and any registration related thereto, (v) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees,
and any registration related thereto or (vi) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any
strategic acquisitions. In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (j), the Manager
will suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the
Manager.
(k) The
Company, during the term of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development
company; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a business development company,
with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision.
(l) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to maintain such
qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Adviser is promptly made known to
the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (B) any significant deficiencies
or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and
the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.
(n) If,
at the time the Registration Statement can no longer be used by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Agreement is still in effect or any Shares purchased by the Manager as principal remain unsold, the Company will promptly
file a new registration statement relating to the Shares on a proper form (including, if it is eligible to do so, an automatic shelf
registration statement) in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References
herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(o) The
Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing
of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the printing and delivery to the Manager
of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Company’s, the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers,
(v) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of Blue Sky Surveys and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Blue Sky Survey
and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (ix) the filing
fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares, and (x) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ. Except as set forth herein, the Manager will pay all of its other
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, travel and similar expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated.
(p) The
Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) in connection with the
offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items.
(q) Neither
the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has
constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the
Manager of any violation of Regulation M by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors promptly
after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(r) The
Company shall advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact
that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6
herein.
(s) Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this
Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period (as defined below)), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) by an amendment or supplement that is filed solely to report
sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or an amendment solely to add exhibits
to the Registration Statement, (B) in connection with the filing of any Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than any
Current Reports on Form 8-K which contain capsule financial information, financial statements, supporting schedules or
other financial data) or the incorporation of other documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus except as set
forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) below, or (C) by a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of other securities,
including, without limitation, other shares of Common Stock and any debt securities of the Company), (ii) the Company files an annual
report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, or an amendment thereto, (iii) the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under
the Exchange Act, (iv) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (v) the Manager may reasonably
request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, the date of commencement of the offering of the
Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period and each date referred to in subclauses (i) through
(v) above, each a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith
certificates signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser or Administrator, an authorized officer)
and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the Company, as the
case may be, dated and delivered as of the Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Manager are true
and correct as of such Representation Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such certificates shall state that such
statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to such
date) or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(c), modified
as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such certificate; provided that the obligations under this subsection (s) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending
for any Distribution Manager or for any period that the Company has suspended the offering of Shares pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) hereof
(each, a “Suspension Period”) and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s
submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable
to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(t) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager written opinions
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, special
regulatory counsel for the Company (“Regulatory Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented
to the time of delivery of such opinions; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (t) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(u) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager a written opinion
of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred when no
Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such
Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(v) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith certificates
of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of
this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the
date of such certificates; provided that the obligations under this subsection (v) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is
pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period
and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required
to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(w) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, shall deliver
a written opinion, dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager;
provided that the obligation under this subsection (w) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution
Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission
of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to
the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(x) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accountants of the Company, or
other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered as of or promptly
after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 6(h) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (x) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(y) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish to the Manager forthwith a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Company, dated as of or promptly after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(i) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such certificate; provided that the obligation of the Company
under this subsection (y) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension
Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice
to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time
if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(z) In
connection with each Representation Date, the Company shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent registered public accountants of the Company;
provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (z) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending or for
any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a
Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to conduct a due diligence session at such
time if it was not conducted at the last Representation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, all Distribution Managers shall be invited
by the Company to participate in any due diligence session conducted pursuant to this Section 5(z). The Company shall cooperate
with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Manager (or its counsel or other representatives) from time to time (on a Representation
Date or otherwise) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information
and making available documents and senior corporate officers, as the Manager may reasonably request; provided, however,
that the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company’s or
Company counsel’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business hours.
(aa)
The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its
clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb)
If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) shall not have been satisfied, or any of
the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in this Agreement shall not be true and
correct, on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed
to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase
and pay for such Shares.
(cc)
The Company agrees that on such dates as the 1933 Act shall require, the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or otherwise include in a filed annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q,
which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which prospectus supplement, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as
applicable, will set forth the number of the Shares sold through or to the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company
and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(dd)
The Company agrees to ensure that prior to instructing the Manager to sell Shares the Company shall have obtained all necessary
corporate authority for the offer and sale of such Shares.
(ee)
Concurrently with the delivery of each Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Manager a then current list of “controlled”
companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
(ff)
Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of
a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date
for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
Section 6.
Conditions of Manager’s Obligations. The obligations of the Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the date hereof, any applicable
Representation Date, as of each Time of Sale and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.
(a)
No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Manager. All filings
related to the offering of the Shares with the Commission required by Rule 497 or 424 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, shall have
been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the 1933 Act.
(b) Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, no material
and adverse change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business,
condition or prospects of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, shall occur or become known and no transaction which is material
and adverse to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
shall have been entered into by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.
(c) Each
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall deliver to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(s) of
this Agreement, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser and the Administrator,
an authorized officer) and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of the Company, as the case may be, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser or the
Administrator, as the case may be, as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Representation Date, (ii) the Company,
the Adviser or the Administrator, as the case may be, has performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed
at or before such Representation Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6
have been met. Each certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate
action required to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s
board of directors or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization
or corporate action.
(d) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(t) of this Agreement, opinions of Company Counsel
and Regulatory Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto or as otherwise satisfactory
to the Manager.
(e) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(u) of this Agreement, an opinion of Maryland Counsel,
addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, in substantially
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto or as otherwise satisfactory to the Manager.
(f) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(v) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(g) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(w) of this Agreement, the favorable opinion of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(h) At
such times specified in Section 5(x) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have received from the accountants of the Company
letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(i) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(y) of this Agreement, a certificate of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters, dated the date of delivery thereof and
addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(j) At
such times specified in Section 5(z) of this Agreement and on such other dates as reasonably requested by the Manager, the
Company shall have conducted due diligence sessions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include
the participation of representatives of the management of the Company and the independent registered public accountants of the Company,
and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP access to customary due diligence
materials.
(k) The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the
Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(l) The
Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a) (1) Indemnification
of the Manager by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined
in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, selling agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Additional Disclosure
Item (when taken together with the Prospectus), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below)
any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever,
as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing
or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising
out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(2) Indemnification of the Manager by the Adviser and the
Administrator. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager,
its Affiliates, its directors, officers, selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out
of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense relates to information concerning the Adviser or the Administrator;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement
of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred
in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator,
or any such alleged untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator, to the extent that any such expense is
not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
of Company, Directors, Officers, Adviser and Administrator. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator, each of their directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser
or the Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred,
but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), which information is set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2(a).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder (an “Action”), but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than
on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Manager, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to
the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of
any such Action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
Action or separate but similar or related Actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8
hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation,
proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any such
Action nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has
an obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(1)(ii) or 7(a)(2)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Acknowledgement
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator also acknowledge and agree that
(i) the purchase and sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including any discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager of such Shares, on the other hand, (ii) in connection
with the offering of the Shares and the process leading to such transaction the Manager will act solely as a sales agent of the Company
(unless provided otherwise pursuant to a Terms Agreement), (iii) the Manager will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Manager will not have any obligation to
the Company with respect to the offering except the obligations expressly set forth herein, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates
may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Manager
has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and
the Company has consulted and will consult its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 8.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser
and the Administrator on the one hand and of the Manager on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total compensation received by the Manager pursuant to the Distribution Agreements
and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, in each case as determined as of the date of such Action referred to in Section 7(a) or
(b), as applicable which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator or by the Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even
if the Distribution Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Manager
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold by it under
this Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s Affiliates,
directors, officers, and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Manager, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, Adviser or Administrator within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, Adviser or Administrator,
as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 7 and this Section 8,
no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
Section 9.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager or its Affiliates
or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
Section 10.
Termination.
(a) The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that (i) if any of the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 5(bb)
shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 10(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual
agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that the provisions
of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(d) Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination
shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may
be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, you and the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose
to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices
to the Manager shall be directed to Truist Securities, Inc., 3333 Peachtree Road NE | 11th Floor | Atlanta, GA 30326, Attention:
Equity Capital Markets, with a copy to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 51st
Floor, New York, NY 10007, Attention: Valerie Ford Jacob and Michael Levitt. Notices to the Company, the Adviser and Administrator shall
be directed to them at 245 Park Avenue 44th Floor, New York, NY 10167, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Kirkland &
Ellis LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attention: Monica Shilling and Christopher Wu.
Section 13.
Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation,
other than the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers,
directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York
General Obligations Law.
Section 15.
Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in
any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the
Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect
thereto. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which
any claim or action arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any
indemnified party. The Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether
based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
Section 16.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 17.
Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 18.
USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
October 26, 2001)), the Manager is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including
the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow
the Manager to properly identify its clients.
Section 19.
Research Independence. In addition, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that each Manager’s
research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are
subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Manager’s research analysts may hold and make statements or
investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views
of their investment bankers. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims that the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, may have against the Manager with respect to any
conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research
departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment
banking divisions. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the Manager is a full service securities firm and
as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own accounts or the accounts of their
customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
Section 20.
Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement
shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected with respect
to the Shares.
Section 21.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and
obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state
of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or
a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this
Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could
be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of
the United States.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term
“affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a
“covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a
“covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a
“covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term
in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager.
Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and its acceptance by or on behalf of
the Manager may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
/s/
R. Kipp deVeer |
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Name: R. Kipp deVeer |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
/s/ Joshua Bloomstein |
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Name: Joshua Bloomstein |
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Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
/s/ Naseem Sagati
Aghili |
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Name: Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.
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By: |
/s/ Geoffrey Fennel |
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Name: Geoffrey Fennel |
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Title: Director |
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Annex I
[FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT]
Ares Capital Corporation
[ ] Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
TERMS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[Insert Bank & Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [Month] [Day], [Year] (the
“Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator (each as defined therein)
and [Bank] (the “Manager”), to issue and sell to the Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto
(the “Purchased Securities”)[, and to grant to the Manager the option to purchase the additional securities specified
in Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].
[The Manager shall have the right to purchase from the Company all
or a portion of the Additional Securities at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Manager to the Company for the Purchased
Securities. This option may be exercised by the Manager at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day following the
date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Securities as to which
the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein
referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than
the Time of Delivery (as set forth in Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the
option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same
office as the payment for the Purchased Securities.]
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically
related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of
this Terms Agreement[ and][,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2
and Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement[ and] [,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.
[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity
Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities[ and the Additional
Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.]
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter
agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager, the Company the Adviser and the Administrator.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
[Bank]
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Securities[ and Additional Securities]:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Number of Purchased Securities:
[Number of Additional Securities:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same
day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The
Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the Purchase Price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the time of execution of this Terms Agreement:
(1) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(2) The certificate referred to in Section 5(s).
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the Time of Delivery[ and on any Option Closing Date]:
(1) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 5(s).
(2) The opinions referred to in Section 5(t).
(3) The opinion referred to in Section 5(u).
(4) The certificates referred to in Section 5(v).
(5) The opinion referred to in Section 5(w).
(6) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(7) The certificate referred to in Section 5(y).
(8) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
Schedule A
ALTERNATIVE MANAGERS
Jefferies LLC
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Regions Securities LLC
Schedule B
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
1. | |
AC CORPORATE HOLDINGS, INC. - DE |
2. | |
ACAS CRE CDO 2007-1, LLC - DE |
3. | |
ACAS, LLC - DE |
4. | |
ALLIED CRESCENT EQUITY, LLC - DE |
5. | |
ARCC APEX SPV, LLC – DE |
6. | |
ARCC API CORP. – DE |
7. | |
ARCC BEACON LLC – DE |
8. | |
ARCC BLOCKER CORP. – DE |
9. | |
ARCC BLOCKER II LLC – DE |
10. | |
ARCC BLOCKER IV LLC – DE |
11. | |
ARCC BLOCKER V LLC – DE |
12. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VI LLC – DE |
13. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VII LLC – DE |
14. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VIII LLC - DE |
15. | |
ARCC ED CORP. - DE |
16. | |
ARCC FB FUNDING LLC - DE |
17. | |
ARCC FD CORP. – DE |
18. | |
ARCC FGP LLC – DE |
19. | |
ARCC GG HOLDINGS - DE |
20. | |
ARCC GREEN ENERGY PARTNERS BLOCKER LLC - DE |
21. | |
ARCC HEELSTONE LLC - DE |
22. | |
ARCC HS LLC - DE |
23. | |
ARCC KPS CORP. - DE |
24. | |
ARCC LSQ LLC – DE |
25. | |
ARCC MBU HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
26. | |
ARCC MCF 1, LLC (f/k/a DYNAMIC EQUITY, LLC) – DE |
27. | |
ARCC MCF 2 LLC - DE |
28. | |
ARCC MH LLC - DE |
29. | |
ARCC NV1 CORP. - DE |
30. | |
ARCC NV2 CORP. - DE |
31. | |
ARCC OTG CORP. - DE |
32. | |
ARCC OTG PREFERRED CORP. - DE |
33. | |
ARCC PCGI III AIV BLOCKER, INC. - DE |
34. | |
ARCC PCP GP, LLC - DE |
35. | |
ARCC PCP L.P. - CAYMAN ISLANDS |
36. | |
ARCC PG LLC - DE |
37. | |
ARCC PH CORP. - DE |
38. | |
ARCC PJMB LLC - DE |
39. | |
ARCC PT CORP. - DE |
40. | |
ARCC RB LLC - DE |
41. | |
ARCC RT LLC - DE |
42. | |
ARCC S2 LLC (F/K/A AC POSTLE, LLC) - DE |
43. | |
ARCC SC LLC - DE |
44. | |
ARCC SHC LLC -DE |
45. | |
ARCC SK BLOCKER CORP. - DE |
46. | |
ARCC TM CORP. - DE |
47. | |
ARCC ULTIMUS LLC - DE |
48. | |
ARCC UNIVERSAL CORP. – DE |
49. | |
ARES DIRECT LENDING CLO 1
LLC – DE |
50. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
51. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING LLC - DE |
52. | |
ARES CAPITAL JB FUNDING LLC – DE |
53. | |
ASCLEPIUS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
54. | |
ASCLEPIUS HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
55. | |
BW LANDCO LLC — DE |
56. | |
CALDER EQUITY, LLC - DE |
57. | |
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED – Guernsey |
58. | |
GEDC EQUITY, LLC - DE |
59. | |
HCI EQUITY, LLC - IL |
60. | |
IVY HILL ASSET MANAGEMENT GP, LLC - DE |
61. | |
MULTIAD EQUITY CORP. – DE |
62. | |
POTOMAC ENERGY CENTER, LLC – VA |
63. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II LLC – DE |
64. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS III LLC – DE |
65. | |
S2 EQUITY CORP. – DE |
66. | |
STARTEC EQUITY, LLC – DE |
67. | |
SVP HOLDINGS GP LLC - DE |
Exhibit 10.2
Ares Capital Corporation
Up to $1,000,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
July 30, 2024
Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares
Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”), and Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”),
confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (the “Manager”), as follows. This
Agreement supersedes the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of February 7, 2024 among the Company, the Adviser,
the Administrator and the Manager (the “2024 EDA”), and the parties hereto agree that the 2024 EDA is terminated pursuant
to Section 10(c) of the 2024 EDA and the provisions of the 2024 EDA set forth in such section shall survive termination.
Section 1.
Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager (or any Alternative Manager
(as defined below)), as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms
set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock to be sold through or to the Manager pursuant hereto or pursuant
to a Terms Agreement (as defined below) or through or to an Alternative Manager pursuant to an Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement (each term as defined below) are referred to herein as the “Shares.” For the avoidance
of doubt, as of the date of this Agreement, Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 may be sold pursuant
to this Agreement.
The Company has entered into, and from time to time may also enter
into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively,
the “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements”), dated of even date herewith, with each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto, as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Alternative Manager” and collectively, the “Alternative
Managers”). The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager or an Alternative Manager
as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement” or “Alternative Terms Agreement”,
respectively) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution
Agreements.” The Manager and the Alternative Managers are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution Managers.”
In addition, the Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) pursuant to which
holders of Common Stock of the Company have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company
unless they elect to receive such dividends in cash.
The aggregate offering price for the Shares that may be sold on or
after the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement and any Alternative
Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.
As used herein, “Registration Statement” shall
mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) below, including all exhibits, financial statements and schedules
thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and any prospectus supplement (including any amendment
or supplement thereto) relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the “1933 Act”),
or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B
under the 1933 Act, as amended on each Effective Date (as defined below) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended, and shall also mean any new registration statement or post-effective
amendment as may have been filed pursuant to Section 5(e) of this Agreement. “Effective Date” shall mean
each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. “Basic
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) below contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or
regulations of the Commission. “Prospectus” shall mean any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, relating to the Shares,
including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Commission,
together with the Basic Prospectus.
The Company has entered into the Second Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2019 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with the Adviser,
which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”). The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Administrator. Collectively, the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are herein referred to as the “Company Agreements.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “incorporated” in, or “a part of”,
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto
(and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment
or supplement thereto, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation,
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act (as defined below) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise
deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.
A Form N-54A – Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1933 Act (File No. 814-00663)
(the “Notification of Election”) was filed by the Company with the Commission on April 21, 2004 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “1940
Act”).
Section 2.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
(a) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File No. 333-279023)
on Form N-2, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the 1933 Act of the offering and sale of certain securities
of the Company, including the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments thereto filed prior to the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), has become
effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and the Registration Statement as amended by
any post-effective amendment if the Company shall have made any amendments thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement)
has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with. The Company may have filed, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement
or pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, one or
more amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission one or more prospectus
supplements (including any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) related to
the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the
Company, including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations
of the Commission. As filed, such Prospectus Supplement, together with the Basic Prospectus, shall contain all information required by
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed
to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, as of the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each,
a “Time of Sale”), at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof), and at all times during
which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, meets or will meet the requirements
set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the 1933 Act.
On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable
to the Company, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and, as amended or supplemented, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and at no time during
the period that begins on the date of the Prospectus Supplement and ends at the later of each Settlement Date and the end of the period
during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement,
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Manager consists of the name and
address of the Manager set forth in the last paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution —Conflicts of Interest”
in the Prospectus. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, when read together with the other information in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(b) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Financial
Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of stockholders’
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; there are no financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The “Financial Highlights” included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as of the date presented and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
The pro forma financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus presents
fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and has been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. There is no other pro forma financial information that is required to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not included as required.
(d) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been
no transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(e) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Distribution
Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement; and
the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
The Company’s only subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP are those listed
on Schedule B hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).
Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company
or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of
the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. Except (A) as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and (B) portfolio investments made after the most recently completed fiscal quarter, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest
in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity that is not a Subsidiary.
(g) Capitalization.
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan or pursuant
to reservations or agreements or employee benefit plans, if any, referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible
securities or options, if any, referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(h) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution and delivery and performance by the
Company of its obligations under any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof,
duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements
have been, and any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles
of public policy and subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’
rights generally and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
(i) Authorization
and Description of Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through or to the Distribution Managers
pursuant to the Distribution Agreements or any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth in the Distribution Agreements, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms
in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject
to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(j) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents. Further, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement
or any of the Company Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated (including the issuance and
sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the
Agreements and Instruments, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the
holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require
the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
(k) Absence
of Proceedings. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding
or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiry or investigation, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement or any of the Company
Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Accuracy
of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(m) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated
by them, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property
or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding)
or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement, any of the Company
Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the
caption “Use of Proceeds”), except (A) such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, (B) such
as may be required under state securities laws, and (C) the filing of the Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has
been effected.
(o) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute,
regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.
(p) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification
of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as a “registered management investment
company” under the 1940 Act.
(r) Registration
Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(s) Related
Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(t) Notification
of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required
to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the 1940 Act and (B) did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(u) Investment
Advisory Agreement. (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and
the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15
of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(v) Interested
Persons. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (A) no person is serving or acting as an
officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act,
and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Distribution Managers.
(w) Business
Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the 1940 Act as a business
development company, such election is effective and all required action has been taken by the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Distribution Agreements; (B) the provisions
of the corporate charter and by-laws of the Company, and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the 1940 Act; and (C) the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940
Act applicable to business development companies.
(x) Employees
and Executives. The Company is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar arrangement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, any
of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No
Extension of Credit. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(z) Accounting
Controls. The Company has established and maintains an effective system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (B) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
and (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization.
(aa)
Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and employs effective disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(bb)
Tax Returns. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are
required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions
thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate
reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc)
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made
any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(dd)
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been
conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries with respect to the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ee)
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s
Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering
of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or
other person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject
of Sanctions, (ii) to fund any activities of or business in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region of Ukraine
or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.
(ff)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is, and to
the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, are, in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(gg)
Cybersecurity. (A) The Company is not aware of any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure,
or other compromise relating to the Adviser’s information technology and computer systems, data and databases used by the Company
(collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) to the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser has implemented appropriate
controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy
and security of its IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent in all material respects with industry standards and practices, or as required
by applicable regulatory standards. To the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser is presently in material compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from
unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(hh)
Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items (as defined
below).
(ii) Additional
Disclosure Items. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Manager, (i) it will not distribute
any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items, and (ii) it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement”
as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by,
or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares (the materials and information referred to in this
Section 2(ii)(ii) are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 3.
Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator. The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Manager as follows:
(a) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of this Section 3, “Material Adverse Effect” means, in addition to a “Material Adverse Effect” as defined
in Section 2(d), any material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations
under the Distribution Agreements.
(b) Good
Standing. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability
company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into
and perform its obligations under the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement; the Adviser has
limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement;
the Administrator has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration
Agreement; and each of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Registration
Under Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and
is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts
or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with
the Commission.
(d) Absence
of Proceedings. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating
agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the
Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the
Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of
any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser
and the Administrator with their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults
that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their assets, properties or operations.
(f) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their
obligations under this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution
and delivery and performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their obligations under any Terms Agreement and any
Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof, duly and validly authorized by the Adviser or the Administrator,
as applicable, and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and any Terms
Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed and delivered by the
Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, enforceable against the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity
and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the qualifications
that the enforceability of the Adviser or the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(g) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms
Agreement, any of the Company Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described
in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act.
(h) Description
of Adviser and Administrator. The description of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and the Administrator possess such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Adviser and the
Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force
and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(j) Stabilization
and Manipulation. Neither the Adviser, the Administrator nor any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling
persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, under the Exchange Act, to result in the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable
to the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling persons.
(k) Employment
Status. The Adviser is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any,
any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure,
confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of
the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(l) Internal
Controls. The Adviser is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance
with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession
or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.
(m) Accounting
Controls. The Administrator is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility
for under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s
assets and (B) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Adviser or Administrator
and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 4.
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the following terms.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to
issue and sell Shares on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) (a “Trading
Day”) (other than a Trading Day on which the NASDAQ is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) pursuant
to this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will instruct the Manager by telephone of the parameters in accordance
with which it desires Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be offered, the time period during
which sales are requested to be made, the minimum price below which sales may not be made and any limitation on the number of Shares
that may be sold in any one day (a “Placement Notice”). If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms included
in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company,
wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) or, if later, within three hours after
receipt of the Placement Notice, on the same business day (as defined below) on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager,
issue to the Company a notice by email addressed to all of the authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule C hereto
(the “Authorized Company Representatives”) confirming all of the parameters of the Placement or setting forth the
terms it is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding
sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Manager until the Company delivers to the Manager an acceptance by email
(or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”).
The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by any of the Authorized
Company Representatives of the email notice from the Manager or upon receipt by the Manager of the Company’s Acceptance, as the
case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Shares covered by the Placement Notice have been sold, (ii) in accordance
with Section 4(a)(ii) hereof, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent
Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated
under the provisions of Section 10. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, the performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction of additional conditions specified in Section 6) the Manager shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to offer
and sell all of the Shares designated in the Placement Notice; provided, however, that the Manager shall have no obligation
to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Manager shall have no such obligation in the event an offer
or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company may in the judgment of the Manager constitute the sale of a “block” under
Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act or a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may be deemed an “underwriter” under the 1933 Act in a transaction
that is other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NASDAQ that qualify for delivery
of a Prospectus to the NASDAQ in accordance with Rule 153 under the 1933 Act or (B) directly on or through an electronic communication
network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue (the transactions described in (A) and (B) are hereinafter referred
to as “At the Market Offerings”).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail from such party), suspend
the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or suspend or terminate a previously issued Placement Notice; provided,
however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect
to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(iii) The Manager hereby covenants and agrees
not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 4(a), other than (A) by means of At
the Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as
shall be agreed by the Company and the Manager.
(iv) The gross sales price of any Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Manager acting as sales agent of the Company shall be equal to, in the discretion of the Manager,
the market price prevailing at the time of sale for the Shares sold by the Manager on the NASDAQ or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices (but in no event shall such gross sales price be less than the minimum price per Share designated
by the Company at which such Shares may be sold). The compensation to the Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares
shall be up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(a). The foregoing rate of compensation
shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price
agreed upon at the relevant applicable time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees, transfer taxes or any similar taxes imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with such sales,
shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(v) The Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company as soon as practicable following the close of trading on the NASDAQ each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 4(a) setting
forth the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company, and the aggregate compensation
payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. If requested in the Placement Notice, the Manager shall provide written
confirmation to the Company’s transfer agent (at the address set forth in the Placement Notice) of the aggregate amount of the
Shares sold on such day, at the time the Company is sent such information.
(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares
pursuant to this Section 4(a) will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (provided
that, if such first Trading Day is not a business day, then settlement will occur on the next succeeding Trading Day that is also a business
day), unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Manager (each such date, a “Settlement Date”).
As used herein, the term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. On each Settlement Date, the
Shares sold through the Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment
of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by electronically transferring the
Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to the Manager’s account, or to the account of the Manager’s designee, at The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”)
or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager, which in all cases shall be freely
tradable, transferable, registered shares eligible for delivery through DTC, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the
account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver
the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage
arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be
entitled absent such default. The Authorized Company Representatives, or any designees thereof as notified to the Manager in writing,
shall be the contact persons for the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DWAC for
purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi).
(vii) At each Time of Sale, Settlement Date
and Representation Date (as defined in Section 5(s) hereof), the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall be deemed
to have affirmed their respective representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of the Manager to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein, to the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) (i) If
the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4(a) of any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to notify the Manager
of the proposed terms of such sale. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to
do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager, the
Company and, if applicable, the Alternative Managers will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In
the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will
control. For avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to engage the Manager
or any Alternative Managers in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Company’s securities, including shares of its Common
Stock, whether in connection with an underwritten offering or otherwise.
(c) In
the event the Company engages the Manager for a sale of Shares that would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under
the Exchange Act or a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company
and the Manager will agree to compensation and deliverables that are customary for the Manager with respect to such transactions.
(d)
(i) On or after the date of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of
any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds or the aggregate number of the Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount,
(B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (C) the amount authorized
from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement by the Company’s
board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing, and (D) the amount that would
require approval of the stockholders of the Company under Nasdaq Rule 5635 (or any successor rule). Under no circumstances shall
the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares (i) at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to
time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing and (ii) at
a price (net of the Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to this
Section 4) lower than the Company’s then current net asset value per share (as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act), unless
the Company has received the requisite approval from the Company’s stockholders and the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof as required by the 1940 Act, and notifies the Manager in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 4(d) on the number and the
price of the Shares to be issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager shall
have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The Manager shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect
to the Shares available for sale under the Registration Statement.
(ii) If any party has reason to believe
that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect
to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution
Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. Upon the reasonable
request of the Company in writing to the Manager (which such request may be by electronic mail), the Manager shall promptly calculate
and provide in writing to the Company a report setting forth, for the prior week, the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 100
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock.
(e) Each
sale of the Shares to or through the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, or the respective Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or, if applicable, an
Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall
be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein
contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares
to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights
of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, any provisions relating to the granting
of an option to purchase additional Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements
for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 hereof and any other
information or documents required by the Manager.
(f) Subject
to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein,
or in any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager or any Alternative
Manager, as applicable, offers and sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable,
shall not be requested by the Company and need not be made by the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time when
or during any period in which (i) the Company is or could be deemed to be in possession of material non-public information,
or (ii) without the prior written consent of the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time during the period
commencing on the 5th business day prior to the time the Company issues a press release containing, or otherwise publicly announces,
its earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”)
through and including (A) if the Company incorporates by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed with
the Commission, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or an annual report
on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be,
covered by such Earnings Announcement, or (B) if the Company does not incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement its
periodic reports filed with the Commission, the date on which the Company files with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement under Rule 424(b) relating
to the Shares that includes (x) updated unaudited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent quarterly
period or (y) updated audited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year, as applicable.
(g) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager or any Alternative Manager will be successful
in selling the Shares, (B) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company
or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager or any Alternative
Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations
to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, and
(C) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant
to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, except as otherwise specifically agreed in writing
by the Manager and the Company or any Alternative Manager and the Company, as applicable. For purposes of clarification, the Manager
shall only be deemed to be acting as a sales agent under this Agreement during the period beginning with the delivery of a Placement
Notice from the Company to the Manager and ending upon the suspension or termination of such Placement Notice or the completion of the
sale of Shares in accordance with such Placement Notice.
(h) The
Company agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares
or sales of Common Stock pursuant to any At the Market Offering (as defined herein and within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under
the 1933 Act) shall only be effected by or through the Manager or an Alternative Manager, but in no event may more than one Distribution
Manager be selling Shares under the Distribution Agreements on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more
than one Distribution Manager sell Shares on the same day. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to engage additional Distribution Managers subsequent
to the date hereof. The Company will notify the Manager and the Alternative Managers in the event that it engages one or more additional
Distribution Managers subsequent to the date hereof and Schedule A hereto shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the names of each
of the Distribution Managers (other than the Manager) listed on Schedule A of the Distribution Agreements subsequently entered into by
the Company and such additional Distribution Managers.
Section 5.
Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Manager:
(a) The
Company, subject to Section 5(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 415, Rule 430B and Rule 424, in connection
with the sale of the Shares, and will notify the Manager immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when, during any period
that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 153 or any similar rule), any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating
to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus or of any proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424, was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. During any period that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), the Company
will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The
Company shall notify the Manager promptly of the time on or after the date of this Agreement when any amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed or becomes effective or when the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement to any of the foregoing has been
filed; and the Company shall cause the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
to the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Rule 424
under the 1933 Act, within the time period prescribed.
(c) Upon
the Manager’s written request, the Company will deliver to the Manager, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed, and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and,
upon the Manager’s request, will also deliver to the Manager, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T, or as filed with the Commission in paper form as permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) The
Company shall make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time
to time shall furnish to the Manager, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager may reasonably
request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; in case the Manager is required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered
pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred
to in Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required
pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the 1933 Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, as the case may be.
(e) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the 1933 Act so as to permit the distribution of the Shares as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
the Manager or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus, including,
without limitation, the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(b), such amendment
or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
document incorporated by reference therein, comply with such requirements, and use its reasonable efforts to cause any amendment to the
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible. The Company will furnish to the Manager such number
of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Manager, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under
the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect for as long as the Manager reasonably requests; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject.
(g) The
Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders
as soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) The
Company will use the Net Proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use
of Proceeds”.
(i) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ.
(j) At
any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, the Company shall not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to, (i) sell,
offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including without limitation, any options, warrants
or other rights to purchase Common Stock) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing,
or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without giving the Manager
at least two Trading Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be offered and sold to the Manager or any Alternative Manager pursuant
to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable, (ii) the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, and any registration
related thereto, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment
plan, and any registration related thereto, (v) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees,
and any registration related thereto or (vi) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any
strategic acquisitions. In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (j), the Manager
will suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the
Manager.
(k) The
Company, during the term of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development
company; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a business development company,
with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision.
(l) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to maintain such
qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Adviser is promptly made known to
the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (B) any significant deficiencies
or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and
the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.
(n) If,
at the time the Registration Statement can no longer be used by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Agreement is still in effect or any Shares purchased by the Manager as principal remain unsold, the Company will promptly
file a new registration statement relating to the Shares on a proper form (including, if it is eligible to do so, an automatic shelf
registration statement) in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References
herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(o) The
Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing
of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the printing and delivery to the Manager
of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Company’s, the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers,
(v) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of Blue Sky Surveys and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Blue Sky Survey
and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (ix) the filing
fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares, and (x) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ. Except as set forth herein, the Manager will pay all of its other
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, travel and similar expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated.
(p) The
Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) in connection with the
offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items.
(q) Neither
the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has
constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the
Manager of any violation of Regulation M by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors promptly
after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(r) The
Company shall advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact
that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6
herein.
(s) Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this
Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period (as defined below)), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) by an amendment or supplement that is filed solely to report
sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or an amendment solely to add exhibits
to the Registration Statement, (B) in connection with the filing of any Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than any
Current Reports on Form 8-K which contain capsule financial information, financial statements, supporting schedules or
other financial data) or the incorporation of other documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus except as set
forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) below, or (C) by a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of other securities,
including, without limitation, other shares of Common Stock and any debt securities of the Company), (ii) the Company files an annual
report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, or an amendment thereto, (iii) the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under
the Exchange Act, (iv) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (v) the Manager may reasonably
request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, the date of commencement of the offering of the
Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period and each date referred to in subclauses (i) through
(v) above, each a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith
certificates signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser or Administrator, an authorized officer)
and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the Company, as the
case may be, dated and delivered as of the Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Manager are true
and correct as of such Representation Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such certificates shall state that such
statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to such
date) or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(c), modified
as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such certificate; provided that the obligations under this subsection (s) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending
for any Distribution Manager or for any period that the Company has suspended the offering of Shares pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) hereof
(each, a “Suspension Period”) and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s
submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable
to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(t) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager written opinions
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, special
regulatory counsel for the Company (“Regulatory Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented
to the time of delivery of such opinions; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (t) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(u) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager a written opinion
of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred when no
Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such
Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(v) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith certificates
of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of
this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the
date of such certificates; provided that the obligations under this subsection (v) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is
pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period
and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required
to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(w) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, shall deliver
a written opinion, dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager;
provided that the obligation under this subsection (w) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution
Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission
of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to
the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(x) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accountants of the Company, or
other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered as of or promptly
after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 6(h) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (x) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(y) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish to the Manager forthwith a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Company, dated as of or promptly after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(i) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such certificate; provided that the obligation of the Company
under this subsection (y) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension
Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice
to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time
if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(z) In
connection with each Representation Date, the Company shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent registered public accountants of the Company;
provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (z) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending or for
any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a
Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to conduct a due diligence session at such
time if it was not conducted at the last Representation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, all Distribution Managers shall be invited
by the Company to participate in any due diligence session conducted pursuant to this Section 5(z). The Company shall cooperate
with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Manager (or its counsel or other representatives) from time to time (on a Representation
Date or otherwise) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information
and making available documents and senior corporate officers, as the Manager may reasonably request; provided, however,
that the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company’s or
Company counsel’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business hours.
(aa)
The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its
clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb)
If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) shall not have been satisfied, or any of
the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in this Agreement shall not be true and
correct, on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed
to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase
and pay for such Shares.
(cc)
The Company agrees that on such dates as the 1933 Act shall require, the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or otherwise include in a filed annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q,
which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which prospectus supplement, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as
applicable, will set forth the number of the Shares sold through or to the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company
and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(dd)
The Company agrees to ensure that prior to instructing the Manager to sell Shares the Company shall have obtained all necessary
corporate authority for the offer and sale of such Shares.
(ee)
Concurrently with the delivery of each Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Manager a then current list of “controlled”
companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
(ff)
Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of
a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date
for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
Section 6.
Conditions of Manager’s Obligations. The obligations of the Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the date hereof, any applicable
Representation Date, as of each Time of Sale and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.
(a)
No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Manager. All filings
related to the offering of the Shares with the Commission required by Rule 497 or 424 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, shall have
been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the 1933 Act.
(b) Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, no material
and adverse change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business,
condition or prospects of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, shall occur or become known and no transaction which is material
and adverse to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
shall have been entered into by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.
(c) Each
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall deliver to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(s) of
this Agreement, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser and the Administrator,
an authorized officer) and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of the Company, as the case may be, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser or the
Administrator, as the case may be, as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Representation Date, (ii) the Company,
the Adviser or the Administrator, as the case may be, has performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed
at or before such Representation Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6
have been met. Each certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate
action required to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s
board of directors or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization
or corporate action.
(d) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(t) of this Agreement, opinions of Company Counsel
and Regulatory Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto or as otherwise satisfactory
to the Manager.
(e) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(u) of this Agreement, an opinion of Maryland Counsel,
addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, in substantially
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto or as otherwise satisfactory to the Manager.
(f) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(v) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(g) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(w) of this Agreement, the favorable opinion of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(h) At
such times specified in Section 5(x) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have received from the accountants of the Company
letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(i) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(y) of this Agreement, a certificate of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters, dated the date of delivery thereof and
addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(j) At
such times specified in Section 5(z) of this Agreement and on such other dates as reasonably requested by the Manager, the
Company shall have conducted due diligence sessions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include
the participation of representatives of the management of the Company and the independent registered public accountants of the Company,
and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP access to customary due diligence
materials.
(k) The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the
Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(l) The
Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a) (1) Indemnification
of the Manager by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined
in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, selling agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Additional Disclosure
Item (when taken together with the Prospectus), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below)
any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever,
as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing
or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising
out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(2) Indemnification of the Manager by the Adviser and the
Administrator. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager,
its Affiliates, its directors, officers, selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out
of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense relates to information concerning the Adviser or the Administrator;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement
of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred
in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator,
or any such alleged untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator, to the extent that any such expense is
not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
of Company, Directors, Officers, Adviser and Administrator. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator, each of their directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser
or the Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred,
but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), which information is set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2(a).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder (an “Action”), but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than
on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Manager, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to
the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of
any such Action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
Action or separate but similar or related Actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8
hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation,
proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any such
Action nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has
an obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(1)(ii) or 7(a)(2)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Acknowledgement
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator also acknowledge and agree that
(i) the purchase and sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including any discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager of such Shares, on the other hand, (ii) in connection
with the offering of the Shares and the process leading to such transaction the Manager will act solely as a sales agent of the Company
(unless provided otherwise pursuant to a Terms Agreement), (iii) the Manager will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Manager will not have any obligation to
the Company with respect to the offering except the obligations expressly set forth herein, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates
may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Manager
has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and
the Company has consulted and will consult its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 8.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser
and the Administrator on the one hand and of the Manager on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total compensation received by the Manager pursuant to the Distribution Agreements
and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, in each case as determined as of the date of such Action referred to in Section 7(a) or
(b), as applicable which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator or by the Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even
if the Distribution Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Manager
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold by it under
this Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s Affiliates,
directors, officers, and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Manager, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, Adviser or Administrator within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, Adviser or Administrator,
as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 7 and this Section 8,
no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
Section 9.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager or its Affiliates
or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
Section 10.
Termination.
(a) The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that (i) if any of the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 5(bb)
shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 10(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual
agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that the provisions
of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(d) Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination
shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may
be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, you and the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose
to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices
to the Manager shall be directed to Jefferies LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, Facsimile: (646) 786-5719, Attention: General
Counsel, with a copy to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 51st Floor, New York, NY 10007,
Attention: Valerie Ford Jacob and Michael Levitt. Notices to the Company, the Adviser and Administrator shall be directed to them at
245 Park Avenue 44th Floor, New York, NY 10167, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2049 Century
Park East, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attention: Monica Shilling and Christopher Wu.
Section 13.
Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation,
other than the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers,
directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York
General Obligations Law.
Section 15.
Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in
any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the
Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect
thereto. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which
any claim or action arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any
indemnified party. The Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether
based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
Section 16.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 17.
Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 18.
USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
October 26, 2001)), the Manager is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including
the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow
the Manager to properly identify its clients.
Section 19.
Research Independence. In addition, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that each Manager’s
research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are
subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Manager’s research analysts may hold and make statements or
investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views
of their investment bankers. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims that the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, may have against the Manager with respect to any
conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research
departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment
banking divisions. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the Manager is a full service securities firm and
as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own accounts or the accounts of their
customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
Section 20.
Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement
shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected with respect
to the Shares.
Section 21.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and
obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state
of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or
a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this
Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could
be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of
the United States.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term
“affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a
“covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a
“covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a
“covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term
in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager.
Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and its acceptance by or on behalf of
the Manager may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.
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Very
truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES
CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By
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/s/
R. Kipp deVeer |
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Name: |
R. Kipp deVeer |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
/s/
Joshua Bloomstein |
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Name: |
Joshua Bloomstein |
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Title: |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES
OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
/s/
Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Name: |
Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Title: |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
JEFFERIES LLC
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By: |
/s/ Donald Lynaugh |
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Name: |
Donald Lynaugh |
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Title: |
Managing Director |
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Annex I
[FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT]
Ares Capital Corporation
[ ] Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
TERMS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[Insert Bank & Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [Month] [Day], [Year] (the
“Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator (each as defined therein)
and [Bank] (the “Manager”), to issue and sell to the Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto
(the “Purchased Securities”)[, and to grant to the Manager the option to purchase the additional securities specified
in Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].
[The Manager shall have the right to purchase from the Company all
or a portion of the Additional Securities at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Manager to the Company for the Purchased
Securities. This option may be exercised by the Manager at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day following the
date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Securities as to which
the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein
referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than
the Time of Delivery (as set forth in Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the
option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same
office as the payment for the Purchased Securities.]
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically
related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of
this Terms Agreement[ and][,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2
and Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement[ and] [,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.
[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity
Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities[ and the Additional
Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.]
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter
agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager, the Company the Adviser and the Administrator.
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Very
truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES
CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES
OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
[Bank]
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Securities[ and Additional Securities]:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Number of Purchased Securities:
[Number of Additional Securities:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same
day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The
Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the Purchase Price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the time of execution of this Terms Agreement:
(1) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(2) The certificate referred to in Section 5(s).
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the Time of Delivery[ and on any Option Closing Date]:
(1) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 5(s).
(2) The opinions referred to in Section 5(t).
(3) The opinion referred to in Section 5(u).
(4) The certificates referred to in Section 5(v).
(5) The opinion referred to in Section 5(w).
(6) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(7) The certificate referred to in Section 5(y).
(8) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
Schedule A
ALTERNATIVE MANAGERS
Truist Securities, Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Regions Securities LLC
Schedule B
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
| 1. | AC CORPORATE HOLDINGS, INC. - DE |
| 2. | ACAS CRE CDO 2007-1, LLC - DE |
| 3. | ACAS, LLC - DE |
| 4. | ALLIED CRESCENT EQUITY, LLC - DE |
| 5. | ARCC APEX SPV, LLC – DE |
| 6. | ARCC API CORP. – DE |
| 7. | ARCC BEACON LLC – DE |
| 8. | ARCC BLOCKER CORP. – DE |
| 9. | ARCC BLOCKER II LLC – DE |
| 10. | ARCC BLOCKER IV LLC – DE |
| 11. | ARCC BLOCKER V LLC – DE |
| 12. | ARCC BLOCKER VI LLC – DE |
| 13. | ARCC BLOCKER VII LLC – DE |
| 14. | ARCC BLOCKER VIII LLC - DE |
| 15. | ARCC ED CORP. - DE |
| 16. | ARCC FB FUNDING LLC - DE |
| 17. | ARCC FD CORP. – DE |
| 18. | ARCC FGP LLC – DE |
| 19. | ARCC GG HOLDINGS - DE |
| 20. | ARCC GREEN ENERGY PARTNERS BLOCKER LLC - DE |
| 21. | ARCC HEELSTONE LLC - DE |
| 22. | ARCC HS LLC - DE |
| 23. | ARCC KPS CORP. - DE |
| 24. | ARCC LSQ LLC – DE |
| 25. | ARCC MBU HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 26. | ARCC MCF 1, LLC (f/k/a DYNAMIC EQUITY, LLC) – DE |
| 27. | ARCC MCF 2 LLC - DE |
| 28. | ARCC MH LLC - DE |
| 29. | ARCC NV1 CORP. - DE |
| 30. | ARCC NV2 CORP. - DE |
| 31. | ARCC OTG CORP. - DE |
| 32. | ARCC OTG PREFERRED CORP. - DE |
| 33. | ARCC PCGI III AIV BLOCKER, INC. - DE |
| 34. | ARCC PCP GP, LLC - DE |
| 35. | ARCC PCP L.P. - CAYMAN ISLANDS |
| 36. | ARCC PG LLC - DE |
| 37. | ARCC PH CORP. - DE |
| 38. | ARCC PJMB LLC - DE |
| 39. | ARCC PT CORP. - DE |
| 40. | ARCC RB LLC - DE |
| 41. | ARCC RT LLC - DE |
| 42. | ARCC S2 LLC (F/K/A AC POSTLE, LLC) - DE |
| 43. | ARCC SC LLC - DE |
| 44. | ARCC SHC LLC -DE |
| 45. | ARCC SK BLOCKER CORP. - DE |
| 46. | ARCC TM CORP. - DE |
| 47. | ARCC ULTIMUS LLC - DE |
| 48. | ARCC UNIVERSAL CORP. – DE |
| 49. | ARES
DIRECT LENDING CLO 1 LLC – DE |
| 50. | ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 51. | ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING LLC - DE |
| 52. | ARES CAPITAL JB FUNDING LLC – DE |
| 53. | ASCLEPIUS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 54. | ASCLEPIUS
HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 55. | BW LANDCO LLC — DE |
| 56. | CALDER EQUITY, LLC - DE |
| 57. | EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED – Guernsey |
| 58. | GEDC
EQUITY, LLC - DE |
| 59. | HCI EQUITY, LLC - IL |
| 60. | IVY HILL ASSET MANAGEMENT GP, LLC - DE |
| 61. | MULTIAD EQUITY CORP. – DE |
| 62. | POTOMAC ENERGY CENTER, LLC – VA |
| 63. | POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II LLC – DE |
| 64. | POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS III LLC – DE |
| 65. | S2 EQUITY CORP. – DE |
| 66. | STARTEC EQUITY, LLC – DE |
| 67. | SVP
HOLDINGS GP LLC - DE |
Exhibit 10.3
Ares Capital
Corporation
Up to $1,000,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
July 30, 2024
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY10020
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares
Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”), and Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”),
confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with Mizuho Securities USA LLC (the “Manager”), as follows.
This Agreement supersedes the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of February 7, 2024 among the Company, the Adviser,
the Administrator and the Manager (the “2024 EDA”), and the parties hereto agree that the 2024 EDA is terminated pursuant
to Section 10(c) of the 2024 EDA and the provisions of the 2024 EDA set forth in such section shall survive termination.
Section 1.
Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager (or any Alternative Manager
(as defined below)), as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms set
forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock to be sold through or to the Manager pursuant hereto or pursuant
to a Terms Agreement (as defined below) or through or to an Alternative Manager pursuant to an Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement (each term as defined below) are referred to herein as the “Shares.” For the avoidance
of doubt, as of the date of this Agreement, Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 may be sold pursuant
to this Agreement.
The Company has entered into, and from time to time may also enter
into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively,
the “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements”), dated of even date herewith, with each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto, as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Alternative Manager” and collectively, the “Alternative
Managers”). The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager or an Alternative Manager
as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement” or “Alternative Terms Agreement”,
respectively) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution
Agreements.” The Manager and the Alternative Managers are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution Managers.”
In addition, the Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) pursuant to which
holders of Common Stock of the Company have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company
unless they elect to receive such dividends in cash.
The aggregate offering price for the Shares that may be sold on or
after the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement and any Alternative
Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.
As used herein, “Registration Statement” shall mean
the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) below, including all exhibits, financial statements and schedules thereto
and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and any prospectus supplement (including any amendment or supplement thereto)
relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the “1933 Act”), or such other 1933
Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the
1933 Act, as amended on each Effective Date (as defined below) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective,
shall also mean such registration statement as so amended, and shall also mean any new registration statement or post-effective amendment
as may have been filed pursuant to Section 5(e) of this Agreement. “Effective Date” shall mean each date
and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. “Basic
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) below contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations
of the Commission. “Prospectus” shall mean any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, relating to the Shares, including documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Commission, together with the Basic
Prospectus.
The Company has entered into the Second Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2019 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with the Adviser,
which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”). The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Administrator. Collectively, the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are herein referred to as the “Company Agreements.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “incorporated” in, or “a part of”,
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto (and
all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment
or supplement thereto, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation,
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act (as defined below) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise
deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.
A Form N-54A – Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1933 Act (File No. 814-00663)
(the “Notification of Election”) was filed by the Company with the Commission on April 21, 2004 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “1940
Act”).
Section 2.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
(a) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File No. 333-279023)
on Form N-2, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the 1933 Act of the offering and sale of certain securities
of the Company, including the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments thereto filed prior to the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), has become
effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and the Registration Statement as amended by any
post-effective amendment if the Company shall have made any amendments thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement)
has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with. The Company may have filed, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, one or more
amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission one or more prospectus
supplements (including any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) related to
the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company,
including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the
Commission. As filed, such Prospectus Supplement, together with the Basic Prospectus, shall contain all information required by the 1933
Act and the 1940 Act and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects
in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made.
The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, as of the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each, a “Time
of Sale”), at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof), and at all times during which a prospectus
is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, meets or will meet the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under
the 1933 Act.
On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable
to the Company, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of each Time of Sale, at
each Settlement Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale
of Shares, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act and the 1940 Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and, as amended or supplemented, as of each Time of Sale, at each Settlement
Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, the
Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and at no time during the period that begins
on the date of the Prospectus Supplement and ends at the later of each Settlement Date and the end of the period during which a prospectus
is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes
no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on
behalf of the Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Manager consists of the name and address of the Manager
set forth in the last paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution —Conflicts of Interest” in the Prospectus. The
Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, when read together with the other information in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Financial
Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(as defined below) at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of stockholders’
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; there are no financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The “Financial Highlights” included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as of the date presented and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
The pro forma financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus presents
fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and has been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. There is no other pro forma financial information that is required to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not included as required.
(d) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no
transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(e) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Distribution
Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement; and
the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
The Company’s only subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP are those listed
on Schedule B hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”). Each
of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or
limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. Except (A) as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and (B) portfolio investments made after the most recently completed fiscal quarter, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest
in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity that is not a Subsidiary.
(g) Capitalization.
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan or pursuant
to reservations or agreements or employee benefit plans, if any, referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible
securities or options, if any, referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(h) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution and delivery and performance by the
Company of its obligations under any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof,
duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements
have been, and any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles
of public policy and subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’
rights generally and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
(i) Authorization
and Description of Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through or to the Distribution Managers
pursuant to the Distribution Agreements or any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement against payment of the consideration
set forth in the Distribution Agreements, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms in all material
respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to preemptive or
other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(j) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents. Further, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement
or any of the Company Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated (including the issuance and
sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements
and Instruments, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect,
nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their assets,
properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of
any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase,
redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
(k) Absence
of Proceedings. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding
or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiry or investigation, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement or any of the Company
Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject
which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business,
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Accuracy
of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(m) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated
by them, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or
of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding)
or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement, any of the Company
Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the
caption “Use of Proceeds”), except (A) such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, (B) such
as may be required under state securities laws, and (C) the filing of the Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has
been effected.
(o) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute,
regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.
(p) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses
to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as a “registered management investment
company” under the 1940 Act.
(r) Registration
Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(s) Related
Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(t) Notification
of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required
to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the 1940 Act and (B) did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(u) Investment
Advisory Agreement. (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and
the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15
of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(v) Interested
Persons. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (A) no person is serving or acting as an
officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act,
and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Distribution Managers.
(w) Business
Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the 1940 Act as a business
development company, such election is effective and all required action has been taken by the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Distribution Agreements; (B) the provisions
of the corporate charter and by-laws of the Company, and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the 1940 Act; and (C) the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940 Act
applicable to business development companies.
(x) Employees
and Executives. The Company is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar arrangement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, any
of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No
Extension of Credit. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(z) Accounting
Controls. The Company has established and maintains an effective system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (B) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
and (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization.
(aa)
Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and employs effective disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(bb)
Tax Returns. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are
required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions
thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company
and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves
have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc)
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made
any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(dd)
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted
at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
with respect to the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ee)
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s
Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of
the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other
person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions,
(ii) to fund any activities of or business in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region of Ukraine or (iii) in
any other manner that will result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.
(ff)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is, and to the
knowledge of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, are, in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(gg)
Cybersecurity. (A) The Company is not aware of any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure,
or other compromise relating to the Adviser’s information technology and computer systems, data and databases used by the Company
(collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) to the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser has implemented appropriate
controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and
security of its IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent in all material respects with industry standards and practices, or as required
by applicable regulatory standards. To the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser is presently in material compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from
unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(hh)
Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items (as defined
below).
(ii) Additional
Disclosure Items. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Manager, (i) it will not distribute
any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items, and (ii) it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in
Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement”
as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by,
or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares (the materials and information referred to in this
Section 2(ii)(ii) are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 3.
Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator. The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Manager as follows:
(a) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of this Section 3, “Material Adverse Effect” means, in addition to a “Material Adverse Effect” as defined
in Section 2(d), any material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations
under the Distribution Agreements.
(b) Good
Standing. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate
its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform
its obligations under the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement; the Adviser has limited liability
company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement; the Administrator
has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement; and each
of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each other
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) Registration
Under Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is
not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts
or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with
the Commission.
(d) Absence
of Proceedings. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating
agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the
Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the Administrator
is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of any law, statute,
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative
Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares
as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser and the Administrator with
their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement do not and will not,
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Adviser or the Administrator
pursuant to, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the limited liability
company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser
or the Administrator or any of their assets, properties or operations.
(f) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their
obligations under this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution
and delivery and performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their obligations under any Terms Agreement and any
Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof, duly and validly authorized by the Adviser or the Administrator,
as applicable, and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and any Terms
Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed and delivered by the
Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, enforceable against the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity
and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the qualifications
that the enforceability of the Adviser or the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(g) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement,
any of the Company Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus
under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.
(h) Description
of Adviser and Administrator. The description of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and the Administrator possess such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Adviser and the
Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force
and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator has
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(j) Stabilization
and Manipulation. Neither the Adviser, the Administrator nor any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling
persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, under the Exchange Act, to result in the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable
to the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling persons.
(k) Employment
Status. The Adviser is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any,
any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, the
Subsidiaries or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Internal
Controls. The Adviser is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance with
its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession
or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.
(m) Accounting
Controls. The Administrator is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility for
under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity
with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets and
(B) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Adviser or Administrator
and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 4.
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the following terms.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to
issue and sell Shares on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) (a “Trading
Day”) (other than a Trading Day on which the NASDAQ is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) pursuant
to this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will instruct the Manager by telephone of the parameters in accordance
with which it desires Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be offered, the time period during which
sales are requested to be made, the minimum price below which sales may not be made and any limitation on the number of Shares that may
be sold in any one day (a “Placement Notice”). If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms included in the
Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes
to accept amended terms, the Manager will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) or, if later, within three hours after receipt
of the Placement Notice, on the same business day (as defined below) on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager, issue
to the Company a notice by email addressed to all of the authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule C hereto (the “Authorized
Company Representatives”) confirming all of the parameters of the Placement or setting forth the terms it is willing to accept.
Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not
be binding on the Company or the Manager until the Company delivers to the Manager an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed
to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”). The Placement
Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by any of the Authorized Company Representatives
of the email notice from the Manager or upon receipt by the Manager of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and
until (i) the entire amount of the Shares covered by the Placement Notice have been sold, (ii) in accordance with Section 4(a)(ii) hereof,
the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding
those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 10.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator, the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction
of additional conditions specified in Section 6) the Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal
trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to offer and sell all of the Shares designated in the Placement Notice;
provided, however, that the Manager shall have no obligation to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and
agrees that the Manager shall have no such obligation in the event an offer or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company may in the
judgment of the Manager constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act or a “distribution”
within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may be deemed an “underwriter”
under the 1933 Act in a transaction that is other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the
NASDAQ that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus to the NASDAQ in accordance with Rule 153 under the 1933 Act or (B) directly
on or through an electronic communication network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue (the transactions described in
(A) and (B) are hereinafter referred to as “At the Market Offerings”).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail from such party), suspend the offering
of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or suspend or terminate a previously issued Placement Notice; provided, however,
that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold
hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(iii) The Manager hereby covenants and agrees
not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 4(a), other than (A) by means of At the
Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall
be agreed by the Company and the Manager.
(iv) The gross sales price of any Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Manager acting as sales agent of the Company shall be equal to, in the discretion of the Manager,
the market price prevailing at the time of sale for the Shares sold by the Manager on the NASDAQ or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices (but in no event shall such gross sales price be less than the minimum price per Share designated
by the Company at which such Shares may be sold). The compensation to the Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares
shall be up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(a). The foregoing rate of compensation
shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price agreed
upon at the relevant applicable time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees, transfer taxes or any similar taxes imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with such sales, shall
constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(v) The Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company as soon as practicable following the close of trading on the NASDAQ each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 4(a) setting
forth the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company, and the aggregate compensation payable
by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. If requested in the Placement Notice, the Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company’s transfer agent (at the address set forth in the Placement Notice) of the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on
such day, at the time the Company is sent such information.
(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant
to this Section 4(a) will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (provided that, if
such first Trading Day is not a business day, then settlement will occur on the next succeeding Trading Day that is also a business day),
unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Manager (each such date, a “Settlement Date”). As used
herein, the term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks
in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. On each Settlement Date, the Shares
sold through the Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment of the
Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by electronically transferring the Shares by
the Company or its transfer agent to the Manager’s account, or to the account of the Manager’s designee, at The Depository
Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”) or by such
other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager, which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable,
registered shares eligible for delivery through DTC, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the
Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement
Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result
of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.
The Authorized Company Representatives, or any designees thereof as notified to the Manager in writing, shall be the contact persons for
the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DWAC for purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi).
(vii) At each Time of Sale, Settlement Date
and Representation Date (as defined in Section 5(s) hereof), the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall be deemed
to have affirmed their respective representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of the Manager to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein, to the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) (i) If
the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4(a) of any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to notify the Manager of
the proposed terms of such sale. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do
for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager, the Company
and, if applicable, the Alternative Managers will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In the event
of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.
For avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to engage the Manager or any Alternative
Managers in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Company’s securities, including shares of its Common Stock, whether
in connection with an underwritten offering or otherwise.
(c) In
the event the Company engages the Manager for a sale of Shares that would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under
the Exchange Act or a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company
and the Manager will agree to compensation and deliverables that are customary for the Manager with respect to such transactions.
(d)
(i) On or after the date of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares
if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds or the aggregate number of the Shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount, (B) the
amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (C) the amount authorized from time to time
to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement by the Company’s board of directors,
or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing, and (D) the amount that would require approval of
the stockholders of the Company under Nasdaq Rule 5635 (or any successor rule). Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or
request the offer or sale of any Shares (i) at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s
board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing and (ii) at a price (net of the
Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to this Section 4) lower
than the Company’s then current net asset value per share (as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act), unless the Company has received
the requisite approval from the Company’s stockholders and the board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof as required
by the 1940 Act, and notifies the Manager in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree
that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 4(d) on the number and the price of the Shares to be issued and
sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager shall have no obligation in connection with
such compliance. The Manager shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the Shares available for sale under
the Registration Statement.
(ii) If any party has reason to believe that
the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to
the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution
Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. Upon the reasonable
request of the Company in writing to the Manager (which such request may be by electronic mail), the Manager shall promptly calculate
and provide in writing to the Company a report setting forth, for the prior week, the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 100
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock.
(e) Each
sale of the Shares to or through the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, or the respective Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or, if applicable, an
Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall
be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein
contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares
to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights
of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, any provisions relating to the granting
of an option to purchase additional Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements
for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 hereof and any other information
or documents required by the Manager.
(f) Subject
to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein,
or in any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager or any Alternative
Manager, as applicable, offers and sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable,
shall not be requested by the Company and need not be made by the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time when
or during any period in which (i) the Company is or could be deemed to be in possession of material non-public information,
or (ii) without the prior written consent of the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time during the period
commencing on the 5th business day prior to the time the Company issues a press release containing, or otherwise publicly announces, its
earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”) through
and including (A) if the Company incorporates by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed with the Commission,
the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or an annual report on Form 10-K
that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings
Announcement, or (B) if the Company does not incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed
with the Commission, the date on which the Company files with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement under Rule 424(b) relating
to the Shares that includes (x) updated unaudited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent quarterly
period or (y) updated audited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year, as applicable.
(g) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager or any Alternative Manager will be successful
in selling the Shares, (B) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company
or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager or any Alternative
Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations
to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, and
(C) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant
to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, except as otherwise specifically agreed in writing
by the Manager and the Company or any Alternative Manager and the Company, as applicable. For purposes of clarification, the Manager
shall only be deemed to be acting as a sales agent under this Agreement during the period beginning with the delivery of a Placement
Notice from the Company to the Manager and ending upon the suspension or termination of such Placement Notice or the completion of the
sale of Shares in accordance with such Placement Notice.
(h) The
Company agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares
or sales of Common Stock pursuant to any At the Market Offering (as defined herein and within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under
the 1933 Act) shall only be effected by or through the Manager or an Alternative Manager, but in no event may more than one Distribution
Manager be selling Shares under the Distribution Agreements on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more
than one Distribution Manager sell Shares on the same day. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to engage additional Distribution Managers subsequent
to the date hereof. The Company will notify the Manager and the Alternative Managers in the event that it engages one or more additional
Distribution Managers subsequent to the date hereof and Schedule A hereto shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the names of each
of the Distribution Managers (other than the Manager) listed on Schedule A of the Distribution Agreements subsequently entered into by
the Company and such additional Distribution Managers.
Section 5.
Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Manager:
(a) The
Company, subject to Section 5(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 415, Rule 430B and Rule 424, in connection
with the sale of the Shares, and will notify the Manager immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when, during any period
that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 153 or any similar rule), any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating
to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus or of any proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424, was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. During any period that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), the Company
will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The
Company shall notify the Manager promptly of the time on or after the date of this Agreement when any amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed or becomes effective or when the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement to any of the foregoing has been
filed; and the Company shall cause the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
to the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Rule 424
under the 1933 Act, within the time period prescribed.
(c) Upon
the Manager’s written request, the Company will deliver to the Manager, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed, and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and,
upon the Manager’s request, will also deliver to the Manager, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T, or as filed with the Commission in paper form as permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) The
Company shall make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time to
time shall furnish to the Manager, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager may reasonably
request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; in case the Manager is required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered
pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred
to in Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required
pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the 1933 Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, as the case may be.
(e) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the 1933 Act so as to permit the distribution of the Shares as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
the Manager or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in
the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus, including, without
limitation, the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or
the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(b), such amendment or supplement
as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any document incorporated
by reference therein, comply with such requirements, and use its reasonable efforts to cause any amendment to the Registration Statement
to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible. The Company will furnish to the Manager such number of copies of such
amendment or supplement as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Manager, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under
the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect for as long as the Manager reasonably requests; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise
so subject.
(g) The
Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders
as soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) The
Company will use the Net Proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use
of Proceeds”.
(i) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ.
(j) At
any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, the Company shall not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to, (i) sell,
offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including without limitation, any options, warrants or
other rights to purchase Common Stock) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing, or
(ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the
economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without giving the Manager at
least two Trading Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale. The
foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be offered and sold to the Manager or any Alternative Manager pursuant to
this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable, (ii) the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, and any registration related
thereto, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan, and
any registration related thereto, (v) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees, and any registration
related thereto or (vi) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any strategic acquisitions.
In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (j), the Manager will suspend activity
under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the Manager.
(k) The
Company, during the term of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development
company; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a business development company,
with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision.
(l) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to maintain such
qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Adviser is promptly made known to
the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (B) any significant deficiencies
or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees who have
a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and the audit
committee of the Company’s board of directors.
(n) If,
at the time the Registration Statement can no longer be used by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission,
this Agreement is still in effect or any Shares purchased by the Manager as principal remain unsold, the Company will promptly file a
new registration statement relating to the Shares on a proper form (including, if it is eligible to do so, an automatic shelf registration
statement) in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to
permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References herein
to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(o) The
Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the
Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing
of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the printing and delivery to the Manager
of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Company’s, the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers, (v) the
qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) hereof, including filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of Blue Sky Surveys and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and
any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (ix) the filing fees
incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares, and (x) the fees and expenses incurred
in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ. Except as set forth herein, the Manager will pay all of its other out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including,
without limitation, travel and similar expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement
is terminated.
(p) The
Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) in connection with the
offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items.
(q) Neither
the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has
constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the Manager
of any violation of Regulation M by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors promptly after
the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(r) The
Company shall advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact
that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6
herein.
(s) Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this
Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period (as defined below)), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) by an amendment or supplement that is filed solely to report sales
of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or an amendment solely to add exhibits to the
Registration Statement, (B) in connection with the filing of any Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than any Current
Reports on Form 8-K which contain capsule financial information, financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial
data) or the incorporation of other documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus except as set forth in clauses
(ii) and (iii) below, or (C) by a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of other securities, including,
without limitation, other shares of Common Stock and any debt securities of the Company), (ii) the Company files an annual report
on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, or an amendment thereto, (iii) the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under
the Exchange Act, (iv) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (v) the Manager may reasonably
request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, the date of commencement of the offering of the
Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period and each date referred to in subclauses (i) through
(v) above, each a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith
certificates signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser or Administrator, an authorized officer)
and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the Company, as the
case may be, dated and delivered as of the Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Manager are true
and correct as of such Representation Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such certificates shall state that such
statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to such
date) or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(c), modified
as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such certificate; provided that the obligations under this subsection (s) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending
for any Distribution Manager or for any period that the Company has suspended the offering of Shares pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) hereof
(each, a “Suspension Period”) and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s
submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable
to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(t) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager written opinions
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, special
regulatory counsel for the Company (“Regulatory Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of this
Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented
to the time of delivery of such opinions; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (t) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(u) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager a written opinion
of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred when no
Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such
Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall
be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(v) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith certificates of
the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of
this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the
date of such certificates; provided that the obligations under this subsection (v) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is
pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period
and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to
deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(w) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, shall deliver
a written opinion, dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager; provided
that the obligation under this subsection (w) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager
or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission
of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to
the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(x) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accountants of the Company, or other
independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered as of or promptly
after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 6(h) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (x) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(y) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish to the Manager forthwith a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Company, dated as of or promptly after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(i) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such certificate; provided that the obligation of the Company
under this subsection (y) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension
Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice
to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time
if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(z) In
connection with each Representation Date, the Company shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent registered public accountants of the Company;
provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (z) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending or for
any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement
Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to conduct a due diligence session at such time if it
was not conducted at the last Representation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, all Distribution Managers shall be invited by the Company
to participate in any due diligence session conducted pursuant to this Section 5(z). The Company shall cooperate with any reasonable
due diligence review conducted by the Manager (or its counsel or other representatives) from time to time (on a Representation Date or
otherwise) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and
making available documents and senior corporate officers, as the Manager may reasonably request; provided, however, that
the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company’s or Company
counsel’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business hours.
(aa)
The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its
clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb)
If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) shall not have been satisfied, or any of
the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in this Agreement shall not be true and
correct, on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed
to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase
and pay for such Shares.
(cc)
The Company agrees that on such dates as the 1933 Act shall require, the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or otherwise include in a filed annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q,
which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which prospectus supplement, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as
applicable, will set forth the number of the Shares sold through or to the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company
and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(dd)
The Company agrees to ensure that prior to instructing the Manager to sell Shares the Company shall have obtained all necessary
corporate authority for the offer and sale of such Shares.
(ee)
Concurrently with the delivery of each Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Manager a then current list of “controlled”
companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
(ff)
Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of
a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date
for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
Section 6.
Conditions of Manager’s Obligations. The obligations of the Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the date hereof, any applicable
Representation Date, as of each Time of Sale and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.
(a)
No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Manager. All filings related
to the offering of the Shares with the Commission required by Rule 497 or 424 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, shall have been
made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the 1933 Act.
(b) Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, no material
and adverse change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business,
condition or prospects of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, shall occur or become known and no transaction which is material
and adverse to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
shall have been entered into by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.
(c) Each
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall deliver to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(s) of this
Agreement, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser and the Administrator, an
authorized officer) and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the
Company, as the case may be, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator,
as the case may be, as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Representation Date, (ii) the Company, the Adviser
or the Administrator, as the case may be, has performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before
such Representation Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6 have been met.
Each certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate action required
to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s board of directors
or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization or corporate action.
(d) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(t) of this Agreement, opinions of Company Counsel
and Regulatory Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto or as otherwise satisfactory
to the Manager.
(e) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(u) of this Agreement, an opinion of Maryland Counsel,
addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, in substantially
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto or as otherwise satisfactory to the Manager.
(f) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(v) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(g) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(w) of this Agreement, the favorable opinion of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(h) At
such times specified in Section 5(x) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have received from the accountants of the Company
letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(i) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(y) of this Agreement, a certificate of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters, dated the date of delivery thereof and
addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(j) At
such times specified in Section 5(z) of this Agreement and on such other dates as reasonably requested by the Manager, the Company
shall have conducted due diligence sessions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include the participation
of representatives of the management of the Company and the independent registered public accountants of the Company, and the Company
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP access to customary due diligence materials.
(k) The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the
Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(l) The
Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a) (1) Indemnification
of the Manager by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined
in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, selling agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Additional Disclosure Item (when
taken together with the Prospectus), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below)
any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever,
as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that
any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out
of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(2) Indemnification of the Manager by the Adviser and the
Administrator. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager,
its Affiliates, its directors, officers, selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
relates to information concerning the Adviser or the Administrator;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement
of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator or any such alleged untrue statement or omission
related to the Adviser or the Administrator; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is effected with
the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred
in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator,
or any such alleged untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator, to the extent that any such expense is not
paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
of Company, Directors, Officers, Adviser and Administrator. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator, each of their directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser or
the Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but
only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or
any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), which information is set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2(a).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder (an
“Action”), but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any
liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Manager, and, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such Action; provided, however, that
counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified
party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one Action or separate but similar or
related Actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8
hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a
failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of
the defense of any such Action nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the
indemnifying party that it has an obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the
nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(1)(ii) or 7(a)(2)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Acknowledgement
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator also acknowledge and agree that
(i) the purchase and sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including any discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager of such Shares, on the other hand, (ii) in connection
with the offering of the Shares and the process leading to such transaction the Manager will act solely as a sales agent of the Company
(unless provided otherwise pursuant to a Terms Agreement), (iii) the Manager will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Manager will not have any obligation to
the Company with respect to the offering except the obligations expressly set forth herein, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates may
be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Manager has
not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and the Company
has consulted and will consult its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 8.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and
the Administrator on the one hand and of the Manager on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total compensation received by the Manager pursuant to the Distribution Agreements
and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, in each case as determined as of the date of such Action referred to in Section 7(a) or
(b), as applicable which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator or by the Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Distribution Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Manager
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold by it under this
Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s Affiliates,
directors, officers, and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Manager, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, Adviser or Administrator within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, Adviser or Administrator,
as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 7 and this Section 8,
no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
Section 9.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager or its Affiliates
or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
Section 10.
Termination.
(a) The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that (i) if any of the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 5(bb)
shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 10(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual
agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that the provisions
of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(d) Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall
not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be.
If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, you and the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose
to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices
to the Manager shall be directed to Mizuho Securities USA LLC, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Attention: Ivana Rupcic-Hulin,
Shawn Yang and Daniel Blake, Telephone: 646-949-9839, Email: Ivana.Rupcic-Hulin@mizuhogroup.com; Shawn.Yang@mizuhogroup.com and Daniel.Blake@mizuhogroup.com,
with a copy to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 51st Floor, New York, NY 10007, Attention:
Valerie Ford Jacob and Michael Levitt. Notices to the Company, the Adviser and Administrator shall be directed to them at 245 Park Avenue
44th Floor, New York, NY 10167, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700,
Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attention: Monica Shilling and Christopher Wu.
Section 13.
Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation,
other than the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers,
directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General
Obligations Law.
Section 15.
Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any
court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the Manager,
the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The
Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any claim
or action arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any indemnified
party. The Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf
of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract,
tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
Section 16.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 17.
Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 18.
USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
October 26, 2001)), the Manager is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including
the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow
the Manager to properly identify its clients.
Section 19.
Research Independence. In addition, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that each Manager’s
research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject
to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Manager’s research analysts may hold and make statements or investment
recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their investment
bankers. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that
the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, may have against the Manager with respect to any conflict of interest that
may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research departments may be
different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment banking divisions.
The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the Manager is a full service securities firm and as such from time to
time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own accounts or the accounts of their customers and hold
long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
Section 20.
Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement
shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected with respect
to the Shares.
Section 21.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and
obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of
the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or
a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this
Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could
be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the
United States.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term
“affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a
“covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a
“covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a
“covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in,
and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager.
Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and its acceptance by or on behalf of
the Manager may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
/s/ R. Kipp deVeer |
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Name: R. Kipp deVeer |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
/s/ Joshua Bloomstein |
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Name: Joshua Bloomstein |
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Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
/s/ Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Name: Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC
By: |
/s/ Ivana Rupcic-Hulin |
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Name: Ivana Rupcic-Hulin |
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Title: Managing Director |
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Annex I
[FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT]
Ares Capital Corporation
[ ] Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
TERMS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[Insert Bank & Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [Month] [Day], [Year] (the
“Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator (each as defined therein)
and [Bank] (the “Manager”), to issue and sell to the Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto (the
“Purchased Securities”)[, and to grant to the Manager the option to purchase the additional securities specified in
Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].
[The Manager shall have the right to purchase from the Company all
or a portion of the Additional Securities at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Manager to the Company for the Purchased
Securities. This option may be exercised by the Manager at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day following the date
hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Securities as to which the option
is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred
to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Time
of Delivery (as set forth in Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall
have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Payment of the
purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the
payment for the Purchased Securities.]
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically
related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this
Terms Agreement[ and][,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2
and Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to
be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement[ and] [,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.
[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity
Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities[ and the Additional
Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.]
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter
agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price set
forth in Schedule I hereto.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the respective meanings assigned to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager, the Company the Adviser and the Administrator.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
[Bank]
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Securities[ and Additional Securities]:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Number of Purchased Securities:
[Number of Additional Securities:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same
day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The Depository
Trust Company in return for payment of the Purchase Price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the time of execution of this Terms Agreement:
(1) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(2) The certificate referred to in Section 5(s).
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the Time of Delivery[ and on any Option Closing Date]:
(1) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 5(s).
(2) The opinions referred to in Section 5(t).
(3) The opinion referred to in Section 5(u).
(4) The certificates referred to in Section 5(v).
(5) The opinion referred to in Section 5(w).
(6) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(7) The certificate referred to in Section 5(y).
(8) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably
request.
Schedule A
ALTERNATIVE MANAGERS
Jefferies LLC
Truist Securities, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Regions Securities LLC
Schedule B
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
| 1. | AC CORPORATE HOLDINGS, INC. - DE |
| 2. | ACAS CRE CDO 2007-1, LLC - DE |
| 4. | ALLIED CRESCENT EQUITY, LLC - DE |
| 5. | ARCC APEX SPV, LLC – DE |
| 8. | ARCC BLOCKER CORP. – DE |
| 9. | ARCC BLOCKER II LLC – DE |
| 10. | ARCC BLOCKER IV LLC – DE |
| 11. | ARCC BLOCKER V LLC – DE |
| 12. | ARCC BLOCKER VI LLC – DE |
| 13. | ARCC BLOCKER VII LLC – DE |
| 14. | ARCC BLOCKER VIII LLC - DE |
| 16. | ARCC FB FUNDING LLC - DE |
| 20. | ARCC GREEN ENERGY PARTNERS BLOCKER LLC - DE |
| 21. | ARCC HEELSTONE LLC - DE |
| 25. | ARCC MBU HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 26. | ARCC MCF 1, LLC (f/k/a DYNAMIC EQUITY, LLC) – DE |
| 32. | ARCC OTG PREFERRED CORP. - DE |
| 33. | ARCC PCGI III AIV BLOCKER, INC. - DE |
| 35. | ARCC PCP L.P. - CAYMAN ISLANDS |
| 42. | ARCC S2 LLC (F/K/A AC POSTLE, LLC) - DE |
| 45. | ARCC SK BLOCKER CORP. - DE |
| 48. | ARCC UNIVERSAL CORP. – DE |
| 49. | ARES DIRECT LENDING CLO 1 LLC – DE |
| 50. | ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 51. | ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING LLC - DE |
| 52. | ARES CAPITAL JB FUNDING LLC – DE |
| 53. | ASCLEPIUS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 54. | ASCLEPIUS HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
| 56. | CALDER EQUITY, LLC - DE |
| 57. | EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED – Guernsey |
| 60. | IVY HILL ASSET MANAGEMENT GP, LLC - DE |
| 61. | MULTIAD EQUITY CORP. – DE |
| 62. | POTOMAC ENERGY CENTER, LLC – VA |
| 63. | POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II LLC – DE |
| 64. | POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS III LLC – DE |
| 66. | STARTEC EQUITY, LLC – DE |
| 67. | SVP HOLDINGS GP LLC - DE |
Exhibit 10.4
Ares Capital Corporation
Up to $1,000,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
July 30, 2024
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares
Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”), and Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”),
confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with RBC Capital Markets, LLC (the “Manager”), as follows.
This Agreement supersedes the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of February 7, 2024 among the Company, the Adviser,
the Administrator and the Manager (the “2024 EDA”), and the parties hereto agree that the 2024 EDA is terminated pursuant
to Section 10(c) of the 2024 EDA and the provisions of the 2024 EDA set forth in such section shall survive termination.
Section 1.
Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager (or any Alternative Manager
(as defined below)), as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms
set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock to be sold through or to the Manager pursuant hereto or pursuant
to a Terms Agreement (as defined below) or through or to an Alternative Manager pursuant to an Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement (each term as defined below) are referred to herein as the “Shares.” For the avoidance
of doubt, as of the date of this Agreement, Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 may be sold pursuant
to this Agreement.
The Company has entered into, and from time to time may also enter
into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively,
the “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements”), dated of even date herewith, with each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto, as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Alternative Manager” and collectively, the “Alternative
Managers”). The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager or an Alternative Manager
as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement” or “Alternative Terms Agreement”,
respectively) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution
Agreements.” The Manager and the Alternative Managers are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution Managers.”
In addition, the Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) pursuant to which
holders of Common Stock of the Company have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company
unless they elect to receive such dividends in cash.
The aggregate offering price for the Shares that may be sold on or
after the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement and any Alternative
Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.
As used herein, “Registration Statement” shall
mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) below, including all exhibits, financial statements and schedules
thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and any prospectus supplement (including any amendment
or supplement thereto) relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the “1933 Act”),
or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B
under the 1933 Act, as amended on each Effective Date (as defined below) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended, and shall also mean any new registration statement or post-effective
amendment as may have been filed pursuant to Section 5(e) of this Agreement. “Effective Date” shall mean
each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. “Basic
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) below contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or
regulations of the Commission. “Prospectus” shall mean any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, relating to the Shares,
including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Commission,
together with the Basic Prospectus.
The Company has entered into the Second Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2019 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with the Adviser,
which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”). The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Administrator. Collectively, the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are herein referred to as the “Company Agreements.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “incorporated” in, or “a part of”,
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto
(and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment
or supplement thereto, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation,
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act (as defined below) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise
deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.
A Form N-54A – Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1933 Act (File No. 814-00663)
(the “Notification of Election”) was filed by the Company with the Commission on April 21, 2004 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “1940
Act”).
Section 2.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
(a) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File No. 333-279023)
on Form N-2, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the 1933 Act of the offering and sale of certain securities
of the Company, including the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments thereto filed prior to the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), has become
effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and the Registration Statement as amended by
any post-effective amendment if the Company shall have made any amendments thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement)
has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with. The Company may have filed, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement
or pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, one or
more amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission one or more prospectus
supplements (including any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) related to
the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the
Company, including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations
of the Commission. As filed, such Prospectus Supplement, together with the Basic Prospectus, shall contain all information required by
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed
to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, as of the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each,
a “Time of Sale”), at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof), and at all times during
which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, meets or will meet the requirements
set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the 1933 Act.
On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable
to the Company, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and, as amended or supplemented, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and at no time during
the period that begins on the date of the Prospectus Supplement and ends at the later of each Settlement Date and the end of the period
during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement,
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Manager consists of the name and
address of the Manager set forth in the last paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution —Conflicts of Interest”
in the Prospectus. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, when read together with the other information in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(b) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Financial
Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of stockholders’
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; there are no financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The “Financial Highlights” included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as of the date presented and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
The pro forma financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus presents
fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and has been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. There is no other pro forma financial information that is required to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not included as required.
(d) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been
no transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(e) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Distribution
Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement; and
the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
The Company’s only subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP are those listed
on Schedule B hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).
Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company
or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of
the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. Except (A) as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and (B) portfolio investments made after the most recently completed fiscal quarter, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest
in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity that is not a Subsidiary.
(g) Capitalization.
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan or pursuant
to reservations or agreements or employee benefit plans, if any, referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible
securities or options, if any, referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(h) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution and delivery and performance by the
Company of its obligations under any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof,
duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements
have been, and any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles
of public policy and subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’
rights generally and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
(i) Authorization
and Description of Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through or to the Distribution Managers
pursuant to the Distribution Agreements or any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth in the Distribution Agreements, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms
in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject
to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(j) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents. Further, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement
or any of the Company Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated (including the issuance and
sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the
Agreements and Instruments, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the
holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require
the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
(k) Absence
of Proceedings. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding
or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiry or investigation, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement or any of the Company
Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Accuracy
of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(m) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated
by them, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property
or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding)
or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement, any of the Company
Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the
caption “Use of Proceeds”), except (A) such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, (B) such
as may be required under state securities laws, and (C) the filing of the Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has
been effected.
(o) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute,
regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.
(p) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification
of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as a “registered management investment
company” under the 1940 Act.
(r) Registration
Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(s) Related
Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(t) Notification
of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required
to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the 1940 Act and (B) did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(u) Investment
Advisory Agreement. (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and
the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15
of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(v) Interested
Persons. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (A) no person is serving or acting as an
officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act,
and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Distribution Managers.
(w) Business
Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the 1940 Act as a business
development company, such election is effective and all required action has been taken by the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Distribution Agreements; (B) the provisions
of the corporate charter and by-laws of the Company, and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the 1940 Act; and (C) the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940
Act applicable to business development companies.
(x) Employees
and Executives. The Company is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar arrangement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, any
of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No
Extension of Credit. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(z) Accounting
Controls. The Company has established and maintains an effective system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (B) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
and (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization.
(aa)
Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and employs effective disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(bb)
Tax Returns. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are
required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions
thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate
reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc)
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made
any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(dd)
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been
conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries with respect to the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ee)
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s
Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering
of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or
other person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject
of Sanctions, (ii) to fund any activities of or business in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region of Ukraine
or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.
(ff)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is, and to
the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, are, in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(gg)
Cybersecurity. (A) The Company is not aware of any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure,
or other compromise relating to the Adviser’s information technology and computer systems, data and databases used by the Company
(collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) to the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser has implemented appropriate
controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy
and security of its IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent in all material respects with industry standards and practices, or as required
by applicable regulatory standards. To the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser is presently in material compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from
unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(hh)
Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items (as defined
below).
(ii) Additional
Disclosure Items. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Manager, (i) it will not distribute
any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items, and (ii) it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement”
as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by,
or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares (the materials and information referred to in this
Section 2(ii)(ii) are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 3.
Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator. The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Manager as follows:
(a) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of this Section 3, “Material Adverse Effect” means, in addition to a “Material Adverse Effect” as defined
in Section 2(d), any material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations
under the Distribution Agreements.
(b) Good
Standing. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability
company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into
and perform its obligations under the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement; the Adviser has
limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement;
the Administrator has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration
Agreement; and each of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Registration
Under Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and
is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts
or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with
the Commission.
(d) Absence
of Proceedings. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating
agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the
Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the
Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of
any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser
and the Administrator with their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults
that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their assets, properties or operations.
(f) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their
obligations under this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution
and delivery and performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their obligations under any Terms Agreement and any
Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof, duly and validly authorized by the Adviser or the Administrator,
as applicable, and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and any Terms
Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed and delivered by the
Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, enforceable against the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity
and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the qualifications
that the enforceability of the Adviser or the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(g) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms
Agreement, any of the Company Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described
in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act.
(h) Description
of Adviser and Administrator. The description of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and the Administrator possess such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Adviser and the
Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force
and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(j) Stabilization
and Manipulation. Neither the Adviser, the Administrator nor any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling
persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, under the Exchange Act, to result in the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable
to the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling persons.
(k) Employment
Status. The Adviser is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any,
any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure,
confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of
the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(l) Internal
Controls. The Adviser is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance
with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession
or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.
(m) Accounting
Controls. The Administrator is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility
for under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s
assets and (B) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Adviser or Administrator
and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 4.
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the following terms.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to
issue and sell Shares on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) (a “Trading
Day”) (other than a Trading Day on which the NASDAQ is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) pursuant
to this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will instruct the Manager by telephone of the parameters in accordance
with which it desires Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be offered, the time period during
which sales are requested to be made, the minimum price below which sales may not be made and any limitation on the number of Shares
that may be sold in any one day (a “Placement Notice”). If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms included
in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company,
wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) or, if later, within three hours after
receipt of the Placement Notice, on the same business day (as defined below) on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager,
issue to the Company a notice by email addressed to all of the authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule C hereto
(the “Authorized Company Representatives”) confirming all of the parameters of the Placement or setting forth the
terms it is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding
sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Manager until the Company delivers to the Manager an acceptance by email
(or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”).
The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by any of the Authorized
Company Representatives of the email notice from the Manager or upon receipt by the Manager of the Company’s Acceptance, as the
case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Shares covered by the Placement Notice have been sold, (ii) in accordance
with Section 4(a)(ii) hereof, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent
Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated
under the provisions of Section 10. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, the performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction of additional conditions specified in Section 6) the Manager shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to offer
and sell all of the Shares designated in the Placement Notice; provided, however, that the Manager shall have no obligation
to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Manager shall have no such obligation in the event an offer
or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company may in the judgment of the Manager constitute the sale of a “block” under
Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act or a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may be deemed an “underwriter” under the 1933 Act in a transaction
that is other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NASDAQ that qualify for delivery
of a Prospectus to the NASDAQ in accordance with Rule 153 under the 1933 Act or (B) directly on or through an electronic communication
network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue (the transactions described in (A) and (B) are hereinafter referred
to as “At the Market Offerings”).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail from such party), suspend
the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or suspend or terminate a previously issued Placement Notice; provided,
however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect
to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(iii) The Manager hereby covenants and agrees
not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 4(a), other than (A) by means of At
the Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as
shall be agreed by the Company and the Manager.
(iv) The gross sales price of any Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Manager acting as sales agent of the Company shall be equal to, in the discretion of the Manager,
the market price prevailing at the time of sale for the Shares sold by the Manager on the NASDAQ or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices (but in no event shall such gross sales price be less than the minimum price per Share designated
by the Company at which such Shares may be sold). The compensation to the Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares
shall be up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(a). The foregoing rate of compensation
shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price
agreed upon at the relevant applicable time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees, transfer taxes or any similar taxes imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with such sales,
shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(v) The Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company as soon as practicable following the close of trading on the NASDAQ each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 4(a) setting
forth the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company, and the aggregate compensation
payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. If requested in the Placement Notice, the Manager shall provide written
confirmation to the Company’s transfer agent (at the address set forth in the Placement Notice) of the aggregate amount of the
Shares sold on such day, at the time the Company is sent such information.
(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares
pursuant to this Section 4(a) will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (provided
that, if such first Trading Day is not a business day, then settlement will occur on the next succeeding Trading Day that is also a business
day), unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Manager (each such date, a “Settlement Date”).
As used herein, the term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. On each Settlement Date, the
Shares sold through the Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment
of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by electronically transferring the
Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to the Manager’s account, or to the account of the Manager’s designee, at The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”)
or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager, which in all cases shall be freely
tradable, transferable, registered shares eligible for delivery through DTC, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the
account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver
the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage
arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be
entitled absent such default. The Authorized Company Representatives, or any designees thereof as notified to the Manager in writing,
shall be the contact persons for the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DWAC for
purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi).
(vii) At each Time of Sale, Settlement Date
and Representation Date (as defined in Section 5(s) hereof), the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall be deemed
to have affirmed their respective representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of the Manager to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein, to the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) (i) If
the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4(a) of any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to notify the Manager
of the proposed terms of such sale. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to
do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager, the
Company and, if applicable, the Alternative Managers will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In
the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will
control. For avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to engage the Manager
or any Alternative Managers in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Company’s securities, including shares of its Common
Stock, whether in connection with an underwritten offering or otherwise.
(c) In
the event the Company engages the Manager for a sale of Shares that would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under
the Exchange Act or a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company
and the Manager will agree to compensation and deliverables that are customary for the Manager with respect to such transactions.
(d)
(i) On or after the date of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of
any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds or the aggregate number of the Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount,
(B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (C) the amount authorized
from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement by the Company’s
board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing, and (D) the amount that would
require approval of the stockholders of the Company under Nasdaq Rule 5635 (or any successor rule). Under no circumstances shall
the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares (i) at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to
time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing and (ii) at
a price (net of the Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to this
Section 4) lower than the Company’s then current net asset value per share (as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act), unless
the Company has received the requisite approval from the Company’s stockholders and the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof as required by the 1940 Act, and notifies the Manager in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 4(d) on the number and the
price of the Shares to be issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager shall
have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The Manager shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect
to the Shares available for sale under the Registration Statement.
(ii) If any party has reason to believe
that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect
to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution
Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. Upon the reasonable
request of the Company in writing to the Manager (which such request may be by electronic mail), the Manager shall promptly calculate
and provide in writing to the Company a report setting forth, for the prior week, the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 100
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock.
(e) Each
sale of the Shares to or through the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, or the respective Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or, if applicable, an
Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall
be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein
contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares
to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights
of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, any provisions relating to the granting
of an option to purchase additional Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements
for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 hereof and any other
information or documents required by the Manager.
(f) Subject
to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein,
or in any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager or any Alternative
Manager, as applicable, offers and sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable,
shall not be requested by the Company and need not be made by the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time when
or during any period in which (i) the Company is or could be deemed to be in possession of material non-public information,
or (ii) without the prior written consent of the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time during the period
commencing on the 5th business day prior to the time the Company issues a press release containing, or otherwise publicly announces,
its earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”)
through and including (A) if the Company incorporates by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed with
the Commission, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or an annual report
on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be,
covered by such Earnings Announcement, or (B) if the Company does not incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement its
periodic reports filed with the Commission, the date on which the Company files with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement under Rule 424(b) relating
to the Shares that includes (x) updated unaudited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent quarterly
period or (y) updated audited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year, as applicable.
(g) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager or any Alternative Manager will be successful
in selling the Shares, (B) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company
or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager or any Alternative
Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations
to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, and
(C) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant
to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, except as otherwise specifically agreed in writing
by the Manager and the Company or any Alternative Manager and the Company, as applicable. For purposes of clarification, the Manager
shall only be deemed to be acting as a sales agent under this Agreement during the period beginning with the delivery of a Placement
Notice from the Company to the Manager and ending upon the suspension or termination of such Placement Notice or the completion of the
sale of Shares in accordance with such Placement Notice.
(h) The
Company agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares
or sales of Common Stock pursuant to any At the Market Offering (as defined herein and within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under
the 1933 Act) shall only be effected by or through the Manager or an Alternative Manager, but in no event may more than one Distribution
Manager be selling Shares under the Distribution Agreements on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more
than one Distribution Manager sell Shares on the same day. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to engage additional Distribution Managers subsequent
to the date hereof. The Company will notify the Manager and the Alternative Managers in the event that it engages one or more additional
Distribution Managers subsequent to the date hereof and Schedule A hereto shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the names of each
of the Distribution Managers (other than the Manager) listed on Schedule A of the Distribution Agreements subsequently entered into by
the Company and such additional Distribution Managers.
Section 5.
Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Manager:
(a) The
Company, subject to Section 5(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 415, Rule 430B and Rule 424, in connection
with the sale of the Shares, and will notify the Manager immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when, during any period
that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 153 or any similar rule), any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating
to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus or of any proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424, was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. During any period that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), the Company
will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The
Company shall notify the Manager promptly of the time on or after the date of this Agreement when any amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed or becomes effective or when the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement to any of the foregoing has been
filed; and the Company shall cause the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
to the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Rule 424
under the 1933 Act, within the time period prescribed.
(c) Upon
the Manager’s written request, the Company will deliver to the Manager, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed, and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and,
upon the Manager’s request, will also deliver to the Manager, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T, or as filed with the Commission in paper form as permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) The
Company shall make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time
to time shall furnish to the Manager, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager may reasonably
request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; in case the Manager is required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered
pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred
to in Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required
pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the 1933 Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, as the case may be.
(e) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the 1933 Act so as to permit the distribution of the Shares as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
the Manager or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus, including,
without limitation, the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(b), such amendment
or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
document incorporated by reference therein, comply with such requirements, and use its reasonable efforts to cause any amendment to the
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible. The Company will furnish to the Manager such number
of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Manager, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under
the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect for as long as the Manager reasonably requests; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject.
(g) The
Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders
as soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) The
Company will use the Net Proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use
of Proceeds”.
(i) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ.
(j) At
any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, the Company shall not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to, (i) sell,
offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including without limitation, any options, warrants
or other rights to purchase Common Stock) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing,
or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without giving the Manager
at least two Trading Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be offered and sold to the Manager or any Alternative Manager pursuant
to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable, (ii) the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, and any registration
related thereto, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment
plan, and any registration related thereto, (v) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees,
and any registration related thereto or (vi) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any
strategic acquisitions. In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (j), the Manager
will suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the
Manager.
(k) The
Company, during the term of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development
company; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a business development company,
with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision.
(l) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to maintain such
qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Adviser is promptly made known to
the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (B) any significant deficiencies
or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and
the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.
(n) If,
at the time the Registration Statement can no longer be used by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Agreement is still in effect or any Shares purchased by the Manager as principal remain unsold, the Company will promptly
file a new registration statement relating to the Shares on a proper form (including, if it is eligible to do so, an automatic shelf
registration statement) in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References
herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(o) The
Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing
of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the printing and delivery to the Manager
of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Company’s, the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers,
(v) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of Blue Sky Surveys and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Blue Sky Survey
and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (ix) the filing
fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares, and (x) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ. Except as set forth herein, the Manager will pay all of its other
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, travel and similar expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated.
(p) The
Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) in connection with the
offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items.
(q) Neither
the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has
constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the
Manager of any violation of Regulation M by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors promptly
after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(r) The
Company shall advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact
that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6
herein.
(s) Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this
Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period (as defined below)), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) by an amendment or supplement that is filed solely to report
sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or an amendment solely to add exhibits
to the Registration Statement, (B) in connection with the filing of any Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than any
Current Reports on Form 8-K which contain capsule financial information, financial statements, supporting schedules or
other financial data) or the incorporation of other documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus except as set
forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) below, or (C) by a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of other securities,
including, without limitation, other shares of Common Stock and any debt securities of the Company), (ii) the Company files an annual
report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, or an amendment thereto, (iii) the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under
the Exchange Act, (iv) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (v) the Manager may reasonably
request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, the date of commencement of the offering of the
Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period and each date referred to in subclauses (i) through
(v) above, each a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith
certificates signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser or Administrator, an authorized officer)
and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the Company, as the
case may be, dated and delivered as of the Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Manager are true
and correct as of such Representation Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such certificates shall state that such
statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to such
date) or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(c), modified
as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such certificate; provided that the obligations under this subsection (s) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending
for any Distribution Manager or for any period that the Company has suspended the offering of Shares pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) hereof
(each, a “Suspension Period”) and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s
submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable
to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(t) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager written opinions
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, special
regulatory counsel for the Company (“Regulatory Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented
to the time of delivery of such opinions; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (t) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(u) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager a written opinion
of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred when no
Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such
Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(v) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith certificates
of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of
this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the
date of such certificates; provided that the obligations under this subsection (v) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is
pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period
and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required
to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(w) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, shall deliver
a written opinion, dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager;
provided that the obligation under this subsection (w) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution
Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission
of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to
the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(x) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accountants of the Company, or
other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered as of or promptly
after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 6(h) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (x) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(y) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish to the Manager forthwith a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Company, dated as of or promptly after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(i) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such certificate; provided that the obligation of the Company
under this subsection (y) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension
Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice
to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time
if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(z) In
connection with each Representation Date, the Company shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent registered public accountants of the Company;
provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (z) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending or for
any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a
Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to conduct a due diligence session at such
time if it was not conducted at the last Representation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, all Distribution Managers shall be invited
by the Company to participate in any due diligence session conducted pursuant to this Section 5(z). The Company shall cooperate
with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Manager (or its counsel or other representatives) from time to time (on a Representation
Date or otherwise) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information
and making available documents and senior corporate officers, as the Manager may reasonably request; provided, however,
that the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company’s or
Company counsel’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business hours.
(aa)
The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its
clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb)
If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) shall not have been satisfied, or any of
the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in this Agreement shall not be true and
correct, on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed
to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase
and pay for such Shares.
(cc)
The Company agrees that on such dates as the 1933 Act shall require, the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or otherwise include in a filed annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q,
which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which prospectus supplement, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as
applicable, will set forth the number of the Shares sold through or to the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company
and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(dd)
The Company agrees to ensure that prior to instructing the Manager to sell Shares the Company shall have obtained all necessary
corporate authority for the offer and sale of such Shares.
(ee)
Concurrently with the delivery of each Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Manager a then current list of “controlled”
companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
(ff)
Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of
a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date
for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
Section 6.
Conditions of Manager’s Obligations. The obligations of the Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the date hereof, any applicable
Representation Date, as of each Time of Sale and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.
(a)
No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Manager. All filings
related to the offering of the Shares with the Commission required by Rule 497 or 424 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, shall have
been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the 1933 Act.
(b) Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, no material
and adverse change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business,
condition or prospects of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, shall occur or become known and no transaction which is material
and adverse to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
shall have been entered into by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.
(c) Each
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall deliver to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(s) of
this Agreement, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser and the Administrator,
an authorized officer) and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of the Company, as the case may be, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser or the
Administrator, as the case may be, as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Representation Date, (ii) the Company,
the Adviser or the Administrator, as the case may be, has performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed
at or before such Representation Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6
have been met. Each certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate
action required to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s
board of directors or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization
or corporate action.
(d) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(t) of this Agreement, opinions of Company Counsel
and Regulatory Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto or as otherwise satisfactory
to the Manager.
(e) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(u) of this Agreement, an opinion of Maryland Counsel,
addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, in substantially
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto or as otherwise satisfactory to the Manager.
(f) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(v) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(g) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(w) of this Agreement, the favorable opinion of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(h) At
such times specified in Section 5(x) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have received from the accountants of the Company
letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(i) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(y) of this Agreement, a certificate of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters, dated the date of delivery thereof and
addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(j) At
such times specified in Section 5(z) of this Agreement and on such other dates as reasonably requested by the Manager, the
Company shall have conducted due diligence sessions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include
the participation of representatives of the management of the Company and the independent registered public accountants of the Company,
and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP access to customary due diligence
materials.
(k) The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the
Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(l) The
Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a) (1) Indemnification
of the Manager by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined
in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, selling agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Additional Disclosure
Item (when taken together with the Prospectus), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below)
any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever,
as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing
or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising
out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(2) Indemnification of the Manager by the Adviser and the
Administrator. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager,
its Affiliates, its directors, officers, selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out
of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense relates to information concerning the Adviser or the Administrator;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement
of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred
in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator,
or any such alleged untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator, to the extent that any such expense is
not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
of Company, Directors, Officers, Adviser and Administrator. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator, each of their directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser
or the Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred,
but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), which information is set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2(a).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder (an “Action”), but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than
on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Manager, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to
the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of
any such Action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
Action or separate but similar or related Actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8
hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation,
proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any such
Action nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has
an obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(1)(ii) or 7(a)(2)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Acknowledgement
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator also acknowledge and agree that
(i) the purchase and sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including any discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager of such Shares, on the other hand, (ii) in connection
with the offering of the Shares and the process leading to such transaction the Manager will act solely as a sales agent of the Company
(unless provided otherwise pursuant to a Terms Agreement), (iii) the Manager will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Manager will not have any obligation to
the Company with respect to the offering except the obligations expressly set forth herein, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates
may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Manager
has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and
the Company has consulted and will consult its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 8.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser
and the Administrator on the one hand and of the Manager on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total compensation received by the Manager pursuant to the Distribution Agreements
and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, in each case as determined as of the date of such Action referred to in Section 7(a) or
(b), as applicable which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator or by the Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even
if the Distribution Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Manager
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold by it under
this Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s Affiliates,
directors, officers, and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Manager, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, Adviser or Administrator within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, Adviser or Administrator,
as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 7 and this Section 8,
no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
Section 9.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager or its Affiliates
or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
Section 10.
Termination.
(a) The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that (i) if any of the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 5(bb)
shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 10(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual
agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that the provisions
of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(d) Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination
shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may
be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, you and the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose
to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices
to the Manager shall be directed to RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281; Attention: Equity Syndicate
Department; by phone at (877) 822-4089; or by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com, with a copy to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP,
3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 51st Floor, New York, NY 10007, Attention: Valerie Ford Jacob and Michael Levitt. Notices
to the Company, the Adviser and Administrator shall be directed to them at 245 Park Avenue 44th Floor, New York, NY 10167, Attention:
General Counsel, with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attention:
Monica Shilling and Christopher Wu.
Section 13.
Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation,
other than the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers,
directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York
General Obligations Law.
Section 15.
Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in
any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the
Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect
thereto. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which
any claim or action arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any
indemnified party. The Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether
based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
Section 16.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 17.
Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 18.
USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
October 26, 2001)), the Manager is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including
the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow
the Manager to properly identify its clients.
Section 19.
Research Independence. In addition, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that each Manager’s
research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are
subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Manager’s research analysts may hold and make statements or
investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views
of their investment bankers. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims that the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, may have against the Manager with respect to any
conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research
departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment
banking divisions. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the Manager is a full service securities firm and
as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own accounts or the accounts of their
customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
Section 20.
Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement
shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected with respect
to the Shares.
Section 21.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and
obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state
of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or
a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this
Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could
be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of
the United States.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term
“affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a
“covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a
“covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a
“covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term
in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager.
Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and its acceptance by or on behalf of
the Manager may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
/s/
R. Kipp deVeer |
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Name: R. Kipp deVeer |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
/s/ Joshua Bloomstein |
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Name: Joshua Bloomstein |
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Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
/s/ Naseem Sagati
Aghili |
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Name: Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
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By: |
/s/
Saurabh Monga |
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Name: Saurabh Monga |
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Title: Managing
Director |
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Annex I
[FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT]
Ares Capital Corporation
[ ] Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
TERMS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[Insert Bank & Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [Month] [Day], [Year] (the
“Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator (each as defined therein)
and [Bank] (the “Manager”), to issue and sell to the Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto
(the “Purchased Securities”)[, and to grant to the Manager the option to purchase the additional securities specified
in Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].
[The Manager shall have the right to purchase from the Company all
or a portion of the Additional Securities at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Manager to the Company for the Purchased
Securities. This option may be exercised by the Manager at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day following the
date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Securities as to which
the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein
referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than
the Time of Delivery (as set forth in Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the
option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same
office as the payment for the Purchased Securities.]
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically
related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of
this Terms Agreement[ and][,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2
and Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement[ and] [,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.
[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity
Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities[ and the Additional
Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.]
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter
agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager, the Company the Adviser and the Administrator.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
[Bank]
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Securities[ and Additional Securities]:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Number of Purchased Securities:
[Number of Additional Securities:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same
day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The
Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the Purchase Price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the time of execution of this Terms Agreement:
(1) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(2) The certificate referred to in Section 5(s).
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the Time of Delivery[ and on any Option Closing Date]:
(1) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 5(s).
(2) The opinions referred to in Section 5(t).
(3) The opinion referred to in Section 5(u).
(4) The certificates referred to in Section 5(v).
(5) The opinion referred to in Section 5(w).
(6) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(7) The certificate referred to in Section 5(y).
(8) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
Schedule A
ALTERNATIVE MANAGERS
Jefferies LLC
Truist Securities, Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
Regions Securities LLC
Schedule B
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
1. | |
AC CORPORATE HOLDINGS, INC. - DE |
2. | |
ACAS CRE CDO 2007-1, LLC - DE |
3. | |
ACAS, LLC - DE |
4. | |
ALLIED CRESCENT EQUITY, LLC - DE |
5. | |
ARCC APEX SPV, LLC – DE |
6. | |
ARCC API CORP. – DE |
7. | |
ARCC BEACON LLC – DE |
8. | |
ARCC BLOCKER CORP. – DE |
9. | |
ARCC BLOCKER II LLC – DE |
10. | |
ARCC BLOCKER IV LLC – DE |
11. | |
ARCC BLOCKER V LLC – DE |
12. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VI LLC – DE |
13. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VII LLC – DE |
14. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VIII LLC - DE |
15. | |
ARCC ED CORP. - DE |
16. | |
ARCC FB FUNDING LLC - DE |
17. | |
ARCC FD CORP. – DE |
18. | |
ARCC FGP LLC – DE |
19. | |
ARCC GG HOLDINGS - DE |
20. | |
ARCC GREEN ENERGY PARTNERS BLOCKER LLC - DE |
21. | |
ARCC HEELSTONE LLC - DE |
22. | |
ARCC HS LLC - DE |
23. | |
ARCC KPS CORP. - DE |
24. | |
ARCC LSQ LLC – DE |
25. | |
ARCC MBU HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
26. | |
ARCC MCF 1, LLC (f/k/a DYNAMIC EQUITY, LLC) – DE |
27. | |
ARCC MCF 2 LLC - DE |
28. | |
ARCC MH LLC - DE |
29. | |
ARCC NV1 CORP. - DE |
30. | |
ARCC NV2 CORP. - DE |
31. | |
ARCC OTG CORP. - DE |
32. | |
ARCC OTG PREFERRED CORP. - DE |
33. | |
ARCC PCGI III AIV BLOCKER, INC. - DE |
34. | |
ARCC PCP GP, LLC - DE |
35. | |
ARCC PCP L.P. - CAYMAN ISLANDS |
36. | |
ARCC PG LLC - DE |
37. | |
ARCC PH CORP. - DE |
38. | |
ARCC PJMB LLC - DE |
39. | |
ARCC PT CORP. - DE |
40. | |
ARCC RB LLC - DE |
41. | |
ARCC RT LLC - DE |
42. | |
ARCC S2 LLC (F/K/A AC POSTLE, LLC) - DE |
43. | |
ARCC SC LLC - DE |
44. | |
ARCC SHC LLC -DE |
45. | |
ARCC SK BLOCKER CORP. - DE |
46. | |
ARCC TM CORP. - DE |
47. | |
ARCC ULTIMUS LLC - DE |
48. | |
ARCC UNIVERSAL CORP. – DE |
49. | |
ARES DIRECT LENDING CLO 1
LLC – DE |
50. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
51. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING LLC - DE |
52. | |
ARES CAPITAL JB FUNDING LLC – DE |
53. | |
ASCLEPIUS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
54. | |
ASCLEPIUS HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
55. | |
BW LANDCO LLC — DE |
56. | |
CALDER EQUITY, LLC - DE |
57. | |
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED – Guernsey |
58. | |
GEDC EQUITY, LLC - DE |
59. | |
HCI EQUITY, LLC - IL |
60. | |
IVY HILL ASSET MANAGEMENT GP, LLC - DE |
61. | |
MULTIAD EQUITY CORP. – DE |
62. | |
POTOMAC ENERGY CENTER, LLC – VA |
63. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II LLC – DE |
64. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS III LLC – DE |
65. | |
S2 EQUITY CORP. – DE |
66. | |
STARTEC EQUITY, LLC – DE |
67. | |
SVP HOLDINGS GP LLC - DE |
Exhibit 10.5
Ares Capital Corporation
Up to $1,000,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
July 30, 2024
Regions Securities LLC
615 South College St., Suite 600
Charlotte, NC 28202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares
Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Ares Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”), and Ares Operations LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”),
confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with Regions Securities LLC (the “Manager”), as follows.
This Agreement supersedes the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of February 7, 2024 among the Company, the Adviser,
the Administrator and the Manager (the “2024 EDA”), and the parties hereto agree that the 2024 EDA is terminated pursuant
to Section 10(c) of the 2024 EDA and the provisions of the 2024 EDA set forth in such section shall survive termination.
Section 1.
Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager (or any Alternative Manager
(as defined below)), as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms
set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock to be sold through or to the Manager pursuant hereto or pursuant
to a Terms Agreement (as defined below) or through or to an Alternative Manager pursuant to an Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement (each term as defined below) are referred to herein as the “Shares.” For the avoidance
of doubt, as of the date of this Agreement, Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 may be sold pursuant
to this Agreement.
The Company has entered into, and from time to time may also enter
into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively,
the “Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements”), dated of even date herewith, with each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto, as sales agent and/or principal (each, an “Alternative Manager” and collectively, the “Alternative
Managers”). The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager or an Alternative Manager
as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement” or “Alternative Terms Agreement”,
respectively) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution
Agreements.” The Manager and the Alternative Managers are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Distribution Managers.”
In addition, the Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan (the “Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) pursuant to which
holders of Common Stock of the Company have their dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company
unless they elect to receive such dividends in cash.
The aggregate offering price for the Shares that may be sold on or
after the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement and any Alternative
Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.
As used herein, “Registration Statement” shall
mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) below, including all exhibits, financial statements and schedules
thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and any prospectus supplement (including any amendment
or supplement thereto) relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the “1933 Act”),
or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B
under the 1933 Act, as amended on each Effective Date (as defined below) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended, and shall also mean any new registration statement or post-effective
amendment as may have been filed pursuant to Section 5(e) of this Agreement. “Effective Date” shall mean
each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. “Basic
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) below contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or
regulations of the Commission. “Prospectus” shall mean any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, relating to the Shares,
including documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations of the Commission,
together with the Basic Prospectus.
The Company has entered into the Second Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2019 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with the Adviser,
which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”). The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Administrator. Collectively, the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are herein referred to as the “Company Agreements.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “incorporated” in, or “a part of”,
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto
(and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any amendment
or supplement thereto, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation,
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act (as defined below) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise
deemed under the rules or regulations of the Commission to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.
A Form N-54A – Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1933 Act (File No. 814-00663)
(the “Notification of Election”) was filed by the Company with the Commission on April 21, 2004 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “1940
Act”).
Section 2.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
(a) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File No. 333-279023)
on Form N-2, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the 1933 Act of the offering and sale of certain securities
of the Company, including the Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any post-effective amendments thereto filed prior to the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), has become
effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and the Registration Statement as amended by
any post-effective amendment if the Company shall have made any amendments thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement)
has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with. The Company may have filed, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement
or pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the Company, one or
more amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission one or more prospectus
supplements (including any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) related to
the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable to the
Company, including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules or regulations
of the Commission. As filed, such Prospectus Supplement, together with the Basic Prospectus, shall contain all information required by
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed
to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, as of the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each,
a “Time of Sale”), at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof), and at all times during
which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, meets or will meet the requirements
set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the 1933 Act.
On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or such other 1933 Act rule as may be applicable
to the Company, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and, as amended or supplemented, as of each Time of Sale,
at each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any
sale of Shares, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and at no time during
the period that begins on the date of the Prospectus Supplement and ends at the later of each Settlement Date and the end of the period
during which a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement,
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Manager consists of the name and
address of the Manager set forth in the last paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution —Conflicts of Interest”
in the Prospectus. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, when read together with the other information in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(b) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Financial
Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of stockholders’
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; there are no financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The “Financial Highlights” included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as of the date presented and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
The pro forma financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus presents
fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and has been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. There is no other pro forma financial information that is required to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not included as required.
(d) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been
no transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(e) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Distribution
Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement; and
the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
The Company’s only subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP are those listed
on Schedule B hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).
Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company
or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of
the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. Except (A) as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and (B) portfolio investments made after the most recently completed fiscal quarter, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest
in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity that is not a Subsidiary.
(g) Capitalization.
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan or pursuant
to reservations or agreements or employee benefit plans, if any, referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible
securities or options, if any, referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(h) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution and delivery and performance by the
Company of its obligations under any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof,
duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements
have been, and any Terms Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles
of public policy and subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’
rights generally and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
(i) Authorization
and Description of Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through or to the Distribution Managers
pursuant to the Distribution Agreements or any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth in the Distribution Agreements, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms
in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject
to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(j) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents. Further, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement
or any of the Company Agreements, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated (including the issuance and
sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the
Agreements and Instruments, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the
holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require
the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
(k) Absence
of Proceedings. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding
or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiry or investigation, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which would result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement or any of the Company
Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Accuracy
of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(m) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated
by them, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice
of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property
or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding)
or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms Agreement, any of the Company
Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the
caption “Use of Proceeds”), except (A) such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, (B) such
as may be required under state securities laws, and (C) the filing of the Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has
been effected.
(o) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute,
regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.
(p) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them or currently proposed to be operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification
of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as a “registered management investment
company” under the 1940 Act.
(r) Registration
Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(s) Related
Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(t) Notification
of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required
to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the 1940 Act and (B) did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(u) Investment
Advisory Agreement. (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and
the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15
of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(v) Interested
Persons. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (A) no person is serving or acting as an
officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act,
and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Distribution Managers.
(w) Business
Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the 1940 Act as a business
development company, such election is effective and all required action has been taken by the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as provided in the Distribution Agreements; (B) the provisions
of the corporate charter and by-laws of the Company, and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the 1940 Act; and (C) the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940
Act applicable to business development companies.
(x) Employees
and Executives. The Company is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries,
the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting or similar arrangement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company, any
of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No
Extension of Credit. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(z) Accounting
Controls. The Company has established and maintains an effective system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (B) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
and (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization.
(aa)
Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and employs effective disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms,
and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(bb)
Tax Returns. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are
required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions
thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate
reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc)
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (B) made
any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff,
influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(dd)
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been
conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries with respect to the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ee)
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s
Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering
of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or
other person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject
of Sanctions, (ii) to fund any activities of or business in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region of Ukraine
or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.
(ff)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is, and to
the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, are, in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(gg)
Cybersecurity. (A) The Company is not aware of any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure,
or other compromise relating to the Adviser’s information technology and computer systems, data and databases used by the Company
(collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) to the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser has implemented appropriate
controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy
and security of its IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent in all material respects with industry standards and practices, or as required
by applicable regulatory standards. To the Company’s knowledge, the Adviser is presently in material compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from
unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(hh)
Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items (as defined
below).
(ii) Additional
Disclosure Items. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Manager, (i) it will not distribute
any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items, and (ii) it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement”
as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by,
or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares (the materials and information referred to in this
Section 2(ii)(ii) are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 3.
Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator. The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Manager as follows:
(a) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of this Section 3, “Material Adverse Effect” means, in addition to a “Material Adverse Effect” as defined
in Section 2(d), any material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations
under the Distribution Agreements.
(b) Good
Standing. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability
company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into
and perform its obligations under the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement; the Adviser has
limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement;
the Administrator has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration
Agreement; and each of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Registration
Under Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and
is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts
or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with
the Commission.
(d) Absence
of Proceedings. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Distribution Agreements and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating
agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the
Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the
Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of
any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement
or Alternative Terms Agreement or the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser
and the Administrator with their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults
that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their assets, properties or operations.
(f) Authorization
of Agreements. The execution and delivery of and the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their
obligations under this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and the execution
and delivery and performance by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, of their obligations under any Terms Agreement and any
Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of execution thereof, duly and validly authorized by the Adviser or the Administrator,
as applicable, and this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements and the Company Agreements have been, and any Terms
Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement will have been at the time of the execution thereof, duly executed and delivered by the
Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, enforceable against the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity
and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the qualifications
that the enforceability of the Adviser or the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(g) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Alternative Equity Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreement, any Alternative Terms
Agreement, any of the Company Agreements, or the Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described
in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act.
(h) Description
of Adviser and Administrator. The description of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and the Administrator possess such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure
so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Adviser and the
Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force
and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(j) Stabilization
and Manipulation. Neither the Adviser, the Administrator nor any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling
persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, under the Exchange Act, to result in the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Shares in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable
to the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective partners, officers, affiliates or controlling persons.
(k) Employment
Status. The Adviser is not aware that (A) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any,
any of the Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries, the Adviser or the Administrator or (B) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure,
confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of
the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(l) Internal
Controls. The Adviser is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance
with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession
or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.
(m) Accounting
Controls. The Administrator is using its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility
for under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s
assets and (B) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Adviser or Administrator
and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Adviser or Administrator, as applicable, as to matters covered therein, to the Manager.
Section 4.
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the following terms.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to
issue and sell Shares on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) (a “Trading
Day”) (other than a Trading Day on which the NASDAQ is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) pursuant
to this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will instruct the Manager by telephone of the parameters in accordance
with which it desires Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be offered, the time period during
which sales are requested to be made, the minimum price below which sales may not be made and any limitation on the number of Shares
that may be sold in any one day (a “Placement Notice”). If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms included
in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company,
wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) or, if later, within three hours after
receipt of the Placement Notice, on the same business day (as defined below) on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager,
issue to the Company a notice by email addressed to all of the authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule C hereto
(the “Authorized Company Representatives”) confirming all of the parameters of the Placement or setting forth the
terms it is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding
sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Manager until the Company delivers to the Manager an acceptance by email
(or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”).
The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by any of the Authorized
Company Representatives of the email notice from the Manager or upon receipt by the Manager of the Company’s Acceptance, as the
case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Shares covered by the Placement Notice have been sold, (ii) in accordance
with Section 4(a)(ii) hereof, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent
Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated
under the provisions of Section 10. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, the performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction of additional conditions specified in Section 6) the Manager shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to offer
and sell all of the Shares designated in the Placement Notice; provided, however, that the Manager shall have no obligation
to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Manager shall have no such obligation in the event an offer
or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company may in the judgment of the Manager constitute the sale of a “block” under
Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act or a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may be deemed an “underwriter” under the 1933 Act in a transaction
that is other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NASDAQ that qualify for delivery
of a Prospectus to the NASDAQ in accordance with Rule 153 under the 1933 Act or (B) directly on or through an electronic communication
network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue (the transactions described in (A) and (B) are hereinafter referred
to as “At the Market Offerings”).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail from such party), suspend
the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or suspend or terminate a previously issued Placement Notice; provided,
however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect
to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(iii) The Manager hereby covenants and agrees
not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 4(a), other than (A) by means of At
the Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as
shall be agreed by the Company and the Manager.
(iv) The gross sales price of any Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Manager acting as sales agent of the Company shall be equal to, in the discretion of the Manager,
the market price prevailing at the time of sale for the Shares sold by the Manager on the NASDAQ or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices (but in no event shall such gross sales price be less than the minimum price per Share designated
by the Company at which such Shares may be sold). The compensation to the Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares
shall be up to 1.5% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(a). The foregoing rate of compensation
shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price
agreed upon at the relevant applicable time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees, transfer taxes or any similar taxes imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with such sales,
shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(v) The Manager shall provide written confirmation
to the Company as soon as practicable following the close of trading on the NASDAQ each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 4(a) setting
forth the aggregate amount of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company, and the aggregate compensation
payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. If requested in the Placement Notice, the Manager shall provide written
confirmation to the Company’s transfer agent (at the address set forth in the Placement Notice) of the aggregate amount of the
Shares sold on such day, at the time the Company is sent such information.
(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares
pursuant to this Section 4(a) will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (provided
that, if such first Trading Day is not a business day, then settlement will occur on the next succeeding Trading Day that is also a business
day), unless another date shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Manager (each such date, a “Settlement Date”).
As used herein, the term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. On each Settlement Date, the
Shares sold through the Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment
of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by electronically transferring the
Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to the Manager’s account, or to the account of the Manager’s designee, at The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”)
or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager, which in all cases shall be freely
tradable, transferable, registered shares eligible for delivery through DTC, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the
account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver
the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage
arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be
entitled absent such default. The Authorized Company Representatives, or any designees thereof as notified to the Manager in writing,
shall be the contact persons for the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DWAC for
purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi).
(vii) At each Time of Sale, Settlement Date
and Representation Date (as defined in Section 5(s) hereof), the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall be deemed
to have affirmed their respective representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of the Manager to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein, to the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of their obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) (i) If
the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4(a) of any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to notify the Manager
of the proposed terms of such sale. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to
do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager, the
Company and, if applicable, the Alternative Managers will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In
the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will
control. For avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to engage the Manager
or any Alternative Managers in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Company’s securities, including shares of its Common
Stock, whether in connection with an underwritten offering or otherwise.
(c) In
the event the Company engages the Manager for a sale of Shares that would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under
the Exchange Act or a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company
and the Manager will agree to compensation and deliverables that are customary for the Manager with respect to such transactions.
(d)
(i) On or after the date of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of
any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds or the aggregate number of the Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount,
(B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (C) the amount authorized
from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement by the Company’s
board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing, and (D) the amount that would
require approval of the stockholders of the Company under Nasdaq Rule 5635 (or any successor rule). Under no circumstances shall
the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares (i) at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to
time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing and (ii) at
a price (net of the Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to this
Section 4) lower than the Company’s then current net asset value per share (as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act), unless
the Company has received the requisite approval from the Company’s stockholders and the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof as required by the 1940 Act, and notifies the Manager in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 4(d) on the number and the
price of the Shares to be issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager shall
have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The Manager shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect
to the Shares available for sale under the Registration Statement.
(ii) If any party has reason to believe
that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect
to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Alternative Equity Distribution
Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. Upon the reasonable
request of the Company in writing to the Manager (which such request may be by electronic mail), the Manager shall promptly calculate
and provide in writing to the Company a report setting forth, for the prior week, the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 100
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock.
(e) Each
sale of the Shares to or through the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, or the respective Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or, if applicable, an
Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall
be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein
contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares
to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights
of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, any provisions relating to the granting
of an option to purchase additional Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements
for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 hereof and any other
information or documents required by the Manager.
(f) Subject
to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein,
or in any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager or any Alternative
Manager, as applicable, offers and sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable,
shall not be requested by the Company and need not be made by the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time when
or during any period in which (i) the Company is or could be deemed to be in possession of material non-public information,
or (ii) without the prior written consent of the Manager or any Alternative Manager, as applicable, at any time during the period
commencing on the 5th business day prior to the time the Company issues a press release containing, or otherwise publicly announces,
its earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”)
through and including (A) if the Company incorporates by reference into the Registration Statement its periodic reports filed with
the Commission, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or an annual report
on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be,
covered by such Earnings Announcement, or (B) if the Company does not incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement its
periodic reports filed with the Commission, the date on which the Company files with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement under Rule 424(b) relating
to the Shares that includes (x) updated unaudited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent quarterly
period or (y) updated audited financial information as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year, as applicable.
(g) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager or any Alternative Manager will be successful
in selling the Shares, (B) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company
or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager or any Alternative
Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations
to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, and
(C) neither the Manager nor any Alternative Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant
to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement, as applicable, except as otherwise specifically agreed in writing
by the Manager and the Company or any Alternative Manager and the Company, as applicable. For purposes of clarification, the Manager
shall only be deemed to be acting as a sales agent under this Agreement during the period beginning with the delivery of a Placement
Notice from the Company to the Manager and ending upon the suspension or termination of such Placement Notice or the completion of the
sale of Shares in accordance with such Placement Notice.
(h) The
Company agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares
or sales of Common Stock pursuant to any At the Market Offering (as defined herein and within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under
the 1933 Act) shall only be effected by or through the Manager or an Alternative Manager, but in no event may more than one Distribution
Manager be selling Shares under the Distribution Agreements on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more
than one Distribution Manager sell Shares on the same day. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to engage additional Distribution Managers subsequent
to the date hereof. The Company will notify the Manager and the Alternative Managers in the event that it engages one or more additional
Distribution Managers subsequent to the date hereof and Schedule A hereto shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the names of each
of the Distribution Managers (other than the Manager) listed on Schedule A of the Distribution Agreements subsequently entered into by
the Company and such additional Distribution Managers.
Section 5.
Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Manager:
(a) The
Company, subject to Section 5(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 415, Rule 430B and Rule 424, in connection
with the sale of the Shares, and will notify the Manager immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when, during any period
that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 153 or any similar rule), any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating
to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus or of any proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424, was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. During any period that a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), the Company
will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The
Company shall notify the Manager promptly of the time on or after the date of this Agreement when any amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed or becomes effective or when the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement to any of the foregoing has been
filed; and the Company shall cause the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
to the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Rule 424
under the 1933 Act, within the time period prescribed.
(c) Upon
the Manager’s written request, the Company will deliver to the Manager, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed, and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and,
upon the Manager’s request, will also deliver to the Manager, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T, or as filed with the Commission in paper form as permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) The
Company shall make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time
to time shall furnish to the Manager, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager may reasonably
request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; in case the Manager is required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered
pursuant to Rule 153 or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred
to in Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required
pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the 1933 Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, as the case may be.
(e) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the 1933 Act so as to permit the distribution of the Shares as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
the Manager or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus
will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus, including,
without limitation, the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(b), such amendment
or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
document incorporated by reference therein, comply with such requirements, and use its reasonable efforts to cause any amendment to the
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible. The Company will furnish to the Manager such number
of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Manager, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under
the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect for as long as the Manager reasonably requests; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject.
(g) The
Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders
as soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) The
Company will use the Net Proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use
of Proceeds”.
(i) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ.
(j) At
any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, the Company shall not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to, (i) sell,
offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock (including without limitation, any options, warrants
or other rights to purchase Common Stock) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing,
or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without giving the Manager
at least two Trading Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be offered and sold to the Manager or any Alternative Manager pursuant
to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, as applicable, (ii) the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, and any registration
related thereto, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment
plan, and any registration related thereto, (v) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees,
and any registration related thereto or (vi) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any
strategic acquisitions. In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (j), the Manager
will suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the
Manager.
(k) The
Company, during the term of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development
company; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a business development company,
with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision.
(l) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to maintain such
qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Adviser is promptly made known to
the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (B) any significant deficiencies
or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and
the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.
(n) If,
at the time the Registration Statement can no longer be used by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Agreement is still in effect or any Shares purchased by the Manager as principal remain unsold, the Company will promptly
file a new registration statement relating to the Shares on a proper form (including, if it is eligible to do so, an automatic shelf
registration statement) in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired Registration Statement. References
herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(o) The
Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing
of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the printing and delivery to the Manager
of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares through or to the Manager, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Company’s, the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers,
(v) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of Blue Sky Surveys and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Manager of copies of the Blue Sky Survey
and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (ix) the filing
fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares, and (x) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ. Except as set forth herein, the Manager will pay all of its other
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, travel and similar expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated.
(p) The
Company shall not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) in connection with the
offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus and the Additional Disclosure Items.
(q) Neither
the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has
constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the
Manager of any violation of Regulation M by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors promptly
after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.
(r) The
Company shall advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact
that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6
herein.
(s) Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this
Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period (as defined below)), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) by an amendment or supplement that is filed solely to report
sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Alternative Equity Distribution Agreement or an amendment solely to add exhibits
to the Registration Statement, (B) in connection with the filing of any Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than any
Current Reports on Form 8-K which contain capsule financial information, financial statements, supporting schedules or
other financial data) or the incorporation of other documents by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus except as set
forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) below, or (C) by a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of other securities,
including, without limitation, other shares of Common Stock and any debt securities of the Company), (ii) the Company files an annual
report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, or an amendment thereto, (iii) the Company files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under
the Exchange Act, (iv) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, or (v) the Manager may reasonably
request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, the date of commencement of the offering of the
Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a Suspension Period and each date referred to in subclauses (i) through
(v) above, each a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith
certificates signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser or Administrator, an authorized officer)
and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of the Company, as the
case may be, dated and delivered as of the Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Manager are true
and correct as of such Representation Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such certificates shall state that such
statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to such
date) or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(c), modified
as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such certificate; provided that the obligations under this subsection (s) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending
for any Distribution Manager or for any period that the Company has suspended the offering of Shares pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) hereof
(each, a “Suspension Period”) and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s
submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable
to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(t) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager written opinions
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, special
regulatory counsel for the Company (“Regulatory Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented
to the time of delivery of such opinions; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (t) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(u) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager a written opinion
of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Maryland Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of
this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred when no
Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such
Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company
shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(v) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith certificates
of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated and delivered as of such Representation
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of
this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as amended and supplemented to the
date of such certificates; provided that the obligations under this subsection (v) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is
pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period
and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required
to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(w) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, shall deliver
a written opinion, dated and delivered as of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager;
provided that the obligation under this subsection (w) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution
Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission
of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to
the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(x) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accountants of the Company, or
other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered as of or promptly
after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 6(h) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (x) shall be deferred
when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination
of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the
Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time if it was not delivered at the last Representation
Date).
(y) At
or promptly after each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish to the Manager forthwith a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Company, dated as of or promptly after such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 6(i) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such certificate; provided that the obligation of the Company
under this subsection (y) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending for any Distribution Manager or for any Suspension
Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a Placement Notice
to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to deliver the required deliverable to the Manager at such time
if it was not delivered at the last Representation Date).
(z) In
connection with each Representation Date, the Company shall conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent registered public accountants of the Company;
provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (z) shall be deferred when no Placement Notice is pending or for
any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period and/or the Company’s submission of a
Placement Notice to any Distribution Manager (in which case the Company shall be required to conduct a due diligence session at such
time if it was not conducted at the last Representation Date). For the avoidance of doubt, all Distribution Managers shall be invited
by the Company to participate in any due diligence session conducted pursuant to this Section 5(z). The Company shall cooperate
with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Manager (or its counsel or other representatives) from time to time (on a Representation
Date or otherwise) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information
and making available documents and senior corporate officers, as the Manager may reasonably request; provided, however,
that the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company’s or
Company counsel’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business hours.
(aa)
The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its
clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb)
If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) shall not have been satisfied, or any of
the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in this Agreement shall not be true and
correct, on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed
to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase
and pay for such Shares.
(cc)
The Company agrees that on such dates as the 1933 Act shall require, the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or otherwise include in a filed annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q,
which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which prospectus supplement, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as
applicable, will set forth the number of the Shares sold through or to the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company
and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(dd)
The Company agrees to ensure that prior to instructing the Manager to sell Shares the Company shall have obtained all necessary
corporate authority for the offer and sale of such Shares.
(ee)
Concurrently with the delivery of each Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Manager a then current list of “controlled”
companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act) of the Company.
(ff)
Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of
a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date
for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
Section 6.
Conditions of Manager’s Obligations. The obligations of the Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the date hereof, any applicable
Representation Date, as of each Time of Sale and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.
(a)
No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Manager. All filings
related to the offering of the Shares with the Commission required by Rule 497 or 424 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, shall have
been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the 1933 Act.
(b) Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, no material
and adverse change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business,
condition or prospects of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, shall occur or become known and no transaction which is material
and adverse to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
shall have been entered into by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.
(c) Each
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall deliver to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(s) of
this Agreement, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer or president (or with respect to the Adviser and the Administrator,
an authorized officer) and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
of the Company, as the case may be, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser or the
Administrator, as the case may be, as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Representation Date, (ii) the Company,
the Adviser or the Administrator, as the case may be, has performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed
at or before such Representation Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6
have been met. Each certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate
action required to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s
board of directors or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization
or corporate action.
(d) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(t) of this Agreement, opinions of Company Counsel
and Regulatory Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto or as otherwise satisfactory
to the Manager.
(e) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(u) of this Agreement, an opinion of Maryland Counsel,
addressed to the Manager, and dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, in substantially
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto or as otherwise satisfactory to the Manager.
(f) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(v) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(g) The
Manager shall have received, at such times specified in Section 5(w) of this Agreement, the favorable opinion of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Distribution Managers, dated as of such date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Manager.
(h) At
such times specified in Section 5(x) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have received from the accountants of the Company
letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(i) The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at such times specified in Section 5(y) of this Agreement, a certificate of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters, dated the date of delivery thereof and
addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(j) At
such times specified in Section 5(z) of this Agreement and on such other dates as reasonably requested by the Manager, the
Company shall have conducted due diligence sessions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include
the participation of representatives of the management of the Company and the independent registered public accountants of the Company,
and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP access to customary due diligence
materials.
(k) The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the
Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(l) The
Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a) (1) Indemnification
of the Manager by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined
in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, selling agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Additional Disclosure
Item (when taken together with the Prospectus), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below)
any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever,
as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing
or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising
out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(2) Indemnification of the Manager by the Adviser and the
Administrator. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager,
its Affiliates, its directors, officers, selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out
of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense relates to information concerning the Adviser or the Administrator;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement
of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager), reasonably incurred
in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator,
or any such alleged untrue statement or omission related to the Adviser or the Administrator, to the extent that any such expense is
not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
of Company, Directors, Officers, Adviser and Administrator. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company,
the Adviser, the Administrator, each of their directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser
or the Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred,
but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), which information is set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2(a).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder (an “Action”), but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than
on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Manager, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to
the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of
any such Action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
Action or separate but similar or related Actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8
hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation,
proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any such
Action nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has
an obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(1)(ii) or 7(a)(2)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Acknowledgement
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator also acknowledge and agree that
(i) the purchase and sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including any discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager of such Shares, on the other hand, (ii) in connection
with the offering of the Shares and the process leading to such transaction the Manager will act solely as a sales agent of the Company
(unless provided otherwise pursuant to a Terms Agreement), (iii) the Manager will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Manager will not have any obligation to
the Company with respect to the offering except the obligations expressly set forth herein, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates
may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Manager
has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and
the Company has consulted and will consult its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 8.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser
and the Administrator on the one hand and of the Manager on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total compensation received by the Manager pursuant to the Distribution Agreements
and any Terms Agreement or Alternative Terms Agreement, in each case as determined as of the date of such Action referred to in Section 7(a) or
(b), as applicable which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
on the one hand and the Manager on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator or by the Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even
if the Distribution Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Manager
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold by it under
this Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s Affiliates,
directors, officers, and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Manager, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, Adviser or Administrator within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, Adviser or Administrator,
as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 7 and this Section 8,
no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
Section 9.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager or its Affiliates
or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
Section 10.
Termination.
(a) The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that (i) if any of the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 5(bb)
shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations
of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating
to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 10(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual
agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that the provisions
of Sections 5(o), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(d) Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination
shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may
be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, you and the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose
to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices
to the Manager shall be directed to Regions Securities LLC, 615 South College St., Suite 600, Charlotte, NC 28202, Attention: Ed
Armstrong and Brit Stephens, with a copy to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 51st Floor,
New York, NY 10007, Attention: Valerie Ford Jacob and Michael Levitt. Notices to the Company, the Adviser and Administrator shall be
directed to them at 245 Park Avenue 44th Floor, New York, NY 10167, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis
LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attention: Monica Shilling and Christopher Wu.
Section 13.
Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation,
other than the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers,
directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York
General Obligations Law.
Section 15.
Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in
any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the
Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect
thereto. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which
any claim or action arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any
indemnified party. The Manager, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether
based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
Section 16.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 17.
Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 18.
USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
October 26, 2001)), the Manager is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including
the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow
the Manager to properly identify its clients.
Section 19.
Research Independence. In addition, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that each Manager’s
research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are
subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Manager’s research analysts may hold and make statements or
investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views
of their investment bankers. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims that the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, may have against the Manager with respect to any
conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research
departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment
banking divisions. The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the Manager is a full service securities firm and
as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own accounts or the accounts of their
customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
Section 20.
Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement
shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected with respect
to the Shares.
Section 21.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes
subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and
obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state
of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or
a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this
Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could
be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of
the United States.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term
“affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a
“covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a
“covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a
“covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term
in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Manager.
Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and its acceptance by or on behalf of
the Manager may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.
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Very
truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES
CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By
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/s/
R. Kipp deVeer |
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Name: R. Kipp deVeer |
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Title:
Chief Executive Officer |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
/s/
Joshua Bloomstein |
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Name: Joshua Bloomstein |
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Title:
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES
OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
/s/
Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Name: Naseem Sagati Aghili |
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Title:
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
REGIONS SECURITIES LLC
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By: |
/s/ Edward L. Armstrong |
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Name: Edward L. Armstrong |
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Title: Managing
Director - ECM |
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Annex I
[FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT]
Ares Capital Corporation
[ ] Shares of Common Stock
(par value $0.001 per share)
TERMS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[Insert Bank & Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ares Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [Month] [Day], [Year] (the
“Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator (each as defined therein)
and [Bank] (the “Manager”), to issue and sell to the Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto
(the “Purchased Securities”)[, and to grant to the Manager the option to purchase the additional securities specified
in Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].
[The Manager shall have the right to purchase from the Company all
or a portion of the Additional Securities at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Manager to the Company for the Purchased
Securities. This option may be exercised by the Manager at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day following the
date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Securities as to which
the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein
referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than
the Time of Delivery (as set forth in Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the
option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same
office as the payment for the Purchased Securities.]
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically
related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of
this Terms Agreement[ and][,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2
and Section 3 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement[ and] [,] the Time of Delivery[ and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus
as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.
[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity
Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities[ and the Additional
Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.]
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter
agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally
left blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager, the Company the Adviser and the Administrator.
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Very truly yours, |
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COMPANY: |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADVISER: |
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ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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ADMINISTRATOR: |
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ARES OPERATIONS LLC |
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By |
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Name: |
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Title: |
ACCEPTED as of the date first above written
[Bank]
Schedule I to the Terms Agreement
Title of Purchased Securities[ and Additional Securities]:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Number of Purchased Securities:
[Number of Additional Securities:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by the Manager:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same
day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The
Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the Purchase Price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the time of execution of this Terms Agreement:
(1) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(2) The certificate referred to in Section 5(s).
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to closing at the Time of Delivery[ and on any Option Closing Date]:
(1) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 5(s).
(2) The opinions referred to in Section 5(t).
(3) The opinion referred to in Section 5(u).
(4) The certificates referred to in Section 5(v).
(5) The opinion referred to in Section 5(w).
(6) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 5(x).
(7) The certificate referred to in Section 5(y).
(8) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
Schedule A
ALTERNATIVE MANAGERS
Jefferies LLC
Truist Securities, Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Schedule B
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
1. | |
AC CORPORATE HOLDINGS, INC. - DE |
2. | |
ACAS CRE CDO 2007-1, LLC - DE |
3. | |
ACAS, LLC - DE |
4. | |
ALLIED CRESCENT EQUITY, LLC - DE |
5. | |
ARCC APEX SPV, LLC – DE |
6. | |
ARCC API CORP. – DE |
7. | |
ARCC BEACON LLC – DE |
8. | |
ARCC BLOCKER CORP. – DE |
9. | |
ARCC BLOCKER II LLC – DE |
10. | |
ARCC BLOCKER IV LLC – DE |
11. | |
ARCC BLOCKER V LLC – DE |
12. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VI LLC – DE |
13. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VII LLC – DE |
14. | |
ARCC BLOCKER VIII LLC - DE |
15. | |
ARCC ED CORP. - DE |
16. | |
ARCC FB FUNDING LLC - DE |
17. | |
ARCC FD CORP. – DE |
18. | |
ARCC FGP LLC – DE |
19. | |
ARCC GG HOLDINGS - DE |
20. | |
ARCC GREEN ENERGY PARTNERS BLOCKER LLC - DE |
21. | |
ARCC HEELSTONE LLC - DE |
22. | |
ARCC HS LLC - DE |
23. | |
ARCC KPS CORP. - DE |
24. | |
ARCC LSQ LLC – DE |
25. | |
ARCC MBU HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
26. | |
ARCC MCF 1, LLC (f/k/a DYNAMIC EQUITY, LLC) – DE |
27. | |
ARCC MCF 2 LLC - DE |
28. | |
ARCC MH LLC - DE |
29. | |
ARCC NV1 CORP. - DE |
30. | |
ARCC NV2 CORP. - DE |
31. | |
ARCC OTG CORP. - DE |
32. | |
ARCC OTG PREFERRED CORP. - DE |
33. | |
ARCC PCGI III AIV BLOCKER, INC. - DE |
34. | |
ARCC PCP GP, LLC - DE |
35. | |
ARCC PCP L.P. - CAYMAN ISLANDS |
36. | |
ARCC PG LLC - DE |
37. | |
ARCC PH CORP. - DE |
38. | |
ARCC PJMB LLC - DE |
39. | |
ARCC PT CORP. - DE |
40. | |
ARCC RB LLC - DE |
41. | |
ARCC RT LLC - DE |
42. | |
ARCC S2 LLC (F/K/A AC POSTLE, LLC) - DE |
43. | |
ARCC SC LLC - DE |
44. | |
ARCC SHC LLC -DE |
45. | |
ARCC SK BLOCKER CORP. - DE |
46. | |
ARCC TM CORP. - DE |
47. | |
ARCC ULTIMUS LLC - DE |
48. | |
ARCC UNIVERSAL CORP. – DE |
49. | |
ARES DIRECT LENDING CLO 1
LLC – DE |
50. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
51. | |
ARES CAPITAL CP FUNDING LLC - DE |
52. | |
ARES CAPITAL JB FUNDING LLC – DE |
53. | |
ASCLEPIUS INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
54. | |
ASCLEPIUS HOLDINGS LLC - DE |
55. | |
BW LANDCO LLC — DE |
56. | |
CALDER EQUITY, LLC - DE |
57. | |
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED – Guernsey |
58. | |
GEDC EQUITY, LLC - DE |
59. | |
HCI EQUITY, LLC - IL |
60. | |
IVY HILL ASSET MANAGEMENT GP, LLC - DE |
61. | |
MULTIAD EQUITY CORP. – DE |
62. | |
POTOMAC ENERGY CENTER, LLC – VA |
63. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II LLC – DE |
64. | |
POTOMAC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS III LLC – DE |
65. | |
S2 EQUITY CORP. – DE |
66. | |
STARTEC EQUITY, LLC – DE |
67. | |
SVP HOLDINGS GP LLC - DE |
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