As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 2, 2024
1933 Act File No. 333-277773
1940 Act File No. 811-23299
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
☒ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
☐Pre-Effective Amendment No.
☒Post-Effective Amendment No. 2
and
☒ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
☒Amendment No. 31
OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(847) 734-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including Area Code)
Bilal Rashid
10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60606
(Name and address of agent for service)
Copies of Communications to:
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Cynthia M. Krus Dwaune L. Dupree Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 383-0100 |
Approximate date of proposed public offering: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
☐ Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans.
☒ Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan.
☒ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto.
☐ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
☐ Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
☐ when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act.
Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
☒ Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)).
☐ Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act).
☐ Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act).
☒ A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).
☐ Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
☐ Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”).
☐ 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 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.
☐ New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) of OFS Credit Company, Inc. (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), solely for the purpose of adding certain exhibits to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.
PART C — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 25. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
1. Financial Statements:
The following financial statements of OFS Credit Company, Inc. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) have been incorporated by reference in Part A of the Registration Statement:
2. Exhibits:
(c) Not applicable
(f) Not applicable
(h)(3) Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 16, 2021, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2020, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.(6) (h)(4) Amendment No. 2, dated as of April 22, 2021, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of March 16, 2021, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.(8)
(h)(5) Amendment No. 3, dated as of June 8, 2021, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No.1 thereto, dated as of March 16, 2021, and Amendment No.2, dated as April 22, 2021, of by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.(12) (h)(6) Amendment No. 4, dated as of December 7, 2021, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No.1 thereto, dated as of March 16, 2021, Amendment No.2 thereto, dated as April 22, 2021, and Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated June 8, 2021, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.(13) (h)(7) Amendment No. 5, dated as of August 15, 2023, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No.1 thereto, dated as of March 16, 2021, Amendment No.2 thereto, dated as April 22, 2021, Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated June 8, 2021, and Amendment No. 4 thereto, dated December 7, 2021, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.(14) (h)(8) Amendment No. 6, dated as of June 12, 2024, to the Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No.1 thereto, dated as of March 16, 2021, Amendment No.2 thereto, dated as April 22, 2021, Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated June 8, 2021, Amendment No. 4 thereto, dated December 7, 2021, and Amendment No. 5 thereto, dated August 15, 2023, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc and Lucid Capital Markets LLC.(19) (h)(12) Underwriting Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2024, by and among OFS Credit Company, Inc., OFS Capital Management, LLC, OFS Capital Services, LLC and Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named in Schedule I thereto* (i) Not applicable
(m) Not applicable
(o) Not applicable
(q) Not applicable
* Filed Herewith.
(1)Previously filed on June 22, 2018 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-220794 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(2)Previously filed on August 9, 2018 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-220794 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(3)Previously filed on August 1, 2019 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-231738 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(4)Previously filed on January 7, 2020 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(5)Previously filed on January 24, 2020 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(6)Previously filed on March 16, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(7)Previously filed on March 26, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(8)Previously filed on April 22, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(9)Previously filed on April 28, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-234420 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(10)Previously filed May 7, 2021 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299).
(11)Previously filed June 4, 2021 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299).
(12)Previously filed on June 11, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(13)Previously filed on December 8, 2021 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(14)Previously filed on August 15, 2023 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(15)Previously filed on December 11, 2023 with the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form N-CSR (File Nos. 333-255877 and 811-23299).
(16) Previously filed on March 8, 2024 with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(17)Previously filed on May 17, 2024 with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(18)Previously filed on May 24, 2024 with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
(19)Previously filed on June 12, 2024 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) and incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 26. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS
The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in this Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 27. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
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SEC registration fee | $ | 29,520 | | * |
FINRA filing fee | 30,500 | | * |
Nasdaq listing fee | 25,000 | | |
Printing and postage | 15,000 | | |
Legal fees and expenses | 75,000 | | |
Accounting fees and expenses | 50,000 | | |
Miscellaneous | 24,980 | | |
Total | $ | 250,000 | | | |
Note: All listed amounts are estimates.
* This amount has been offset against filing fees associated with unsold securities registered under a previous registration statement.
ITEM 28. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL
The information contained under the heading “Management” in the prospectus contained herein and under the headings “Related-Party Transactions and Certain Relationships” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in our most recent Annual Proxy Statement are incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 29. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth the number of record holders of each class of the Registrant’s securities as of September 26, 2024:
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Title of Class | | Number of Record Holders |
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share | | 4 |
Series C Term Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | | 1 |
Series D Term Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | | 1 |
Series E Term Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | | 1 |
ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION
Directors and Officers
As permitted by Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the Registrant has adopted provisions in its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that limit or eliminate the personal liability of its directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for: any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders; any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.
The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws provide that all directors, officers, employees and agents of the Registrant shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Under Section 145 of the DGCL, the Registrant is permitted to offer indemnification to its directors, officers, employees and agents.
Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other enterprise. Such indemnity may be against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and if, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person did not have reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other enterprise, against any expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the
extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of the law. We have obtained liability insurance for the benefit of our directors and officers.
Adviser and Administrator
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, OFS Capital Management, LLC (the “Advisor”) and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of OFS Advisor’s services under the Investment Advisory Agreement or otherwise as an Advisor of the Registrant.
The Administration Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, OFS Capital Services, LLC and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of OFS Capital Services, LLC’s services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Registrant.
The law also provides for comparable indemnification for corporate officers and agents. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors. The indemnification agreements are intended to provide the Registrant’s directors the maximum indemnification permitted under Delaware law and the 1940 Act. Each indemnification agreement provides that the Registrant shall indemnify the director who is a party to the agreement (an “Indemnitee”), including the advancement of legal expenses, if, by reason of his or her corporate status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to or a witness in any threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Registrant.
ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which OFS Advisor, and each managing director, director or officer of OFS Advisor, is or has been during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in Part A of this Registration Statement in the sections entitled “Management.” Additional information regarding the OFS Advisor and its officers and directors is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the SEC (File No. 801-71366), and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 32. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:
(1) the Registrant, OFS Credit Company, Inc., 10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606;
(2) the Transfer Agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219;
(3) the Custodian, U.S. Bank National Association, 190 S. LaSalle Street, 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603;
(4) OFS Advisor, OFS Capital Management, LLC, 10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606.
ITEM 33. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Not applicable.
ITEM 34. UNDERTAKINGS
(1)Not applicable.
(2)Not applicable.
(3)Registrant undertakes:
a.To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fees Table” in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of Form N-2 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), that is part of the registration statement;
b.that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
c.to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
d.that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement
made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(ii) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
e.that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(4)Registrant undertakes that:
a.For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act, shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
b.For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(5)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(6)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(7)Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No.2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Chicago, Illinois, on the 2nd day of October 2024.
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OFS Credit Company, Inc. |
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By: | | /s/ Bilal Rashid |
Name: | | Bilal Rashid |
Title: | | Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No.2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant, and in the capacities and dates indicated
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Signature | | Title | | Date |
/s/ Bilal Rashid Bilal Rashid | | Director and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | | October 2, 2024 |
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/s/ Jeffrey A. Cerny Jeffrey A. Cerny | | Director and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | | October 2, 2024 |
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/s/ Kyle Spina Kyle Spina | | Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | October 2, 2024 |
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* Kathleen M. Griggs | | Director | | October 2, 2024 |
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* Catherine M. Fitta | | Director | | October 2, 2024 |
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* Romita Shetty | | Director | | October 2, 2024 |
*Signed by Bilal Rashid pursuant to a power of attorney signed by each individual and filed with this Registration Statement.
Exhibit (a)(5)
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
7.875% SERIES F TERM PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2029
OF
OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
OFS Credit Company, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), certifies that pursuant to the authority contained in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors,” which term as used herein shall include any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors) has duly approved and adopted the following resolution on September 11, 2024:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation and as set forth in Section 151 of the DGCL, the Board of Directors does hereby approve the designation of 1,196,000 authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, without designation as to series as 7.875% Series F Term Preferred Stock due 2029 (the “Series F Term Preferred Stock”), having the designations, preferences, relative, participating, optional and other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof that are set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and in this resolution as follows:
ARTICLE I NUMBER OF SHARES; RANKING
1.1. A series of 1,196,000 shares of the preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation are hereby designated as the Series F Term Preferred Stock. Each share of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have such preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law and those that are expressly set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, as are set forth in this Certificate of Designation. The Series F Term Preferred Stock shall constitute a separate series of Capital Stock (as defined below) and each share of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be identical. No fractional shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be issued.
1.2. The Series F Term Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with (i) shares of the Corporation’s 6.125% Series C Term Preferred Stock due 2026, par value $0.001 per share, (ii) shares of the Corporation’s 6.00% Series D Term Preferred Stock due 2026, par value $0.001 per share, (iii) shares of the Corporation’s 5.25% Series E Term Preferred Stock due 2026, par value $0.001 per share, (iv) shares of any other series of preferred stock, whether now or hereafter issued by the Corporation, and (v) any other shares of Capital Stock hereafter authorized and issued by the Corporation of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payments of dividends (together with the Series F Term Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”) as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. The Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have preference with respect to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation over the shares of common stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock” and, together with the Preferred Stock, the “Capital Stock”), of the Corporation as set forth herein.
1.3. No individual, partnership, trust, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof (each, a “Person”) in whose name the Series F Term Preferred Stock or any other security issued by the Corporation is registered in the registration books of the Corporation maintained by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC and its successors, or any other redemption and paying agent appointed by the Corporation with respect to the Series F Term Preferred Stock (the “Redemption and Paying Agent”) or otherwise (such person, a “Holder”) of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have, solely by reason of being such a Holder, any preemptive or other right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, other Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation that it may hereafter issue or sell.
ARTICLE II DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
2.1. The Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by, or under authority granted by, the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor and in preference to dividends and distributions on the Common Stock, cumulative cash dividends and distributions on each share of Series F Term Preferred Stock, calculated separately for each Dividend Period (as defined below) at, as of any date, 7.875% per annum (the “Fixed Dividend Rate”) as adjusted, if a Default Period (as defined below) shall be in existence on such date, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 (the “Dividend Rate”) in effect from time to time for the Series F Term Preferred Stock during such Dividend Period (as defined below), computed on
the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, on an amount equal to $25.00 (the “Liquidation Preference”) for each share of the Series F Term Preferred Stock, and no more. Dividends and distributions on the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall accumulate from October 2, 2024 (the “Date of Original Issue”) and shall be payable monthly in arrears as provided in Section 2.2. Dividends on the Series F Term Preferred Stock will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a dividend period, and for the initial dividend period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.
“Dividend Period” means, with respect to each share of Series F Term Preferred Stock then Outstanding (as defined below), in the case of the first Dividend Period, the period beginning on the Date of Original Issue and ending on and including October 31, 2024 and, for each subsequent Dividend Period, the period beginning on and including the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the previous Dividend Period ended and ending on and including the last calendar day of such month.
2.2. Declaration and Payment; Dividends in Arrears.
(a) Dividends on shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of record of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be such date designated by the Board of Directors that is not more than twenty (20) nor less than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Dividend Payment Date (as defined below) with respect to such Dividend Period.
(b) Dividends declared pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be paid on the last Business Day (as defined below) of each Dividend Period (the “Dividend Payment Date”) to the Holders of shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date for such dividend; provided, however, that dividends with respect to the first Dividend Period of the Series F Term Preferred Stock will be paid on October 31, 2024 to Holders of record of such Series F Term Preferred Stock as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on October 21, 2024.
(c) Dividends in arrears on shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock for any past Dividend Period may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation on such date, not exceeding twenty (20) nor less than seven (7) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
2.3. No full dividends and distributions shall be declared or paid on shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period or part thereof unless full cumulative dividends and distributions due through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor for all Outstanding (as defined below) shares of Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor. If full cumulative dividends and distributions due have not been declared and paid on all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any series, any dividends and distributions being declared and paid on the Series F Term Preferred Stock will be declared and paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends and distributions accumulated but unpaid on each such series of Preferred Stock on the relevant dividend payment date for such series. No Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to any dividends and distributions, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends and distributions as provided in this Section 2.3 on the Series F Term Preferred Stock.
2.4. For so long as any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding (as defined below), the Corporation shall not: (x) declare any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Common Stock) in respect of the Common Stock, (y) call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Stock, or (z) pay any proceeds of the liquidation of the Corporation in respect of the Common Stock, unless, in each case,
(a) immediately thereafter, the Corporation shall have “asset coverage” (“Asset Coverage”), as defined for purposes of Section 18(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute (the “1940 Act”), of at least 200% with respect to all Outstanding senior securities which are stock of the Corporation, including all Outstanding shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock (or such other percentage as may in the future be specified in the 1940 Act or by rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are stock of a closed-end registered investment company), after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution or redemption or purchase price or liquidation proceeds;
(b) all cumulative dividends and distributions on all shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series F Term Preferred Stock due on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition shall have been either (i) declared and paid or (ii) declared and Deposit Securities (as defined below) or
sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock) for the payment thereof shall have been deposited irrevocably with the paying agent for such Preferred Stock; and
(c) the Corporation shall have deposited Deposit Securities or sufficient funds pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.4 hereof with respect to Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 hereof for which a Notice of Redemption (as defined below) shall have been given or shall have been required to be given in accordance with the terms hereof on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition.
“Outstanding” means, as of any date with respect to the Series F Term Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock theretofore issued by the Corporation except (without duplication): (A) any shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock theretofore cancelled or redeemed or delivered to the Redemption and Paying Agent for cancellation or redemption in accordance with the terms hereof; (B) any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock as to which the Corporation shall have given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities or cash to redeem such shares in accordance with ARTICLE V hereof; and (C) any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock as to which the Corporation shall be the Holder or the beneficial owner.
“Deposit Securities” means, as of any date, any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date or mandatory payment date, on its face or at the option of the holder, preceding the relevant Redemption Date (as defined below), Dividend Payment Date or other payment date in respect of which such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit Security: (A) any cash equivalent; (B) any U.S. Government Obligation (as defined below); (C) any Short-Term Money Market Instrument (as defined below); (D) any investment in any money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, or similar investment vehicle described in Rule 12d1-1(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in Short-Term Money Market Instruments or U.S. Government Obligations or any combination thereof; or (E) any letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution that has a credit rating from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such rating agency to bank deposits or short-term debt of similar banks or other financial institutions as of the date of this Certificate of Designation (or such rating’s future equivalent).
“Short-Term Money Market Instruments” means the following types of instruments if, on the date of purchase or other acquisition thereof by the Corporation, the remaining term to maturity thereof is not in excess of one hundred and eighty (180) days: (i) commercial paper rated A-1, if such commercial paper matures within thirty (30) days, or A-1+, if such commercial paper matures in over thirty (30) days; (ii) demand or time deposits in, and bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit of (A) a depository institution or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (B) a United States branch office or agency of a foreign depository institution (provided that such branch office or agency is subject to banking regulation under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia); and (iii) overnight funds.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States treasury bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.
2.5. Any dividend payment made on shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the dividends and distributions accumulated with respect to the earliest Dividend Period for which dividends and distributions have not been paid.
2.6. Not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation shall deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value (as defined below) on such date or cash sufficient to pay the dividends and distributions that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date. The Corporation may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities or cash prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided, that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Securities or cash and provided, further, that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.
“Market Value” of any asset means, for securities for which market quotations are readily available, the market value thereof determined by an independent third-party pricing service designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Market Value of any asset shall include any interest accrued thereon. The pricing service values portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service using methods that include consideration of: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating; indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions.
The pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both, to determine recommended valuations.
2.7. All Deposit Securities or cash paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends payable on the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders entitled to the payment of such dividends pursuant to Section 2.6. Any moneys paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Redemption and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Corporation as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Corporation.
2.8. Dividend Default.
(a) The Dividend Rate on the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be adjusted, for any calendar day, to the Fixed Dividend Rate plus two percent (2.0%) per annum (the “Default Rate”) in the following circumstances. Subject to the cure provisions below, a “Default Period” with respect to the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall commence on any date the Corporation fails to deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (A) a Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities or cash that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Default”) or (B) an applicable Redemption Date, Deposit Securities or cash that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Liquidation Preference for the shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such shares accumulated to (but excluding) the date fixed for such distribution or payment on such shares (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon) (such amount, the “Redemption Price”), payable in respect of such Series on such Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default” and together with a Dividend Default, hereinafter referred to as “Default”). Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.8(b) below, a Default Period with respect to a Default on the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall end on the calendar day on which The Nasdaq Capital Market is open for trading (each such day, a “Business Day”) on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends, in the case of a Dividend Default, or any unpaid Redemption Price, in the case of a Redemption Default, as applicable, shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Redemption and Paying Agent. In the case of any Default on the Series F Term Preferred Stock, the Dividend Rate for each calendar day during the Default Period will be equal to the Default Rate.
(b) No Default Period for the Series F Term Preferred Stock with respect to any Default on the Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be deemed to commence if the amount of any dividend or any Redemption Price due in respect of the Series F Term Preferred Stock (if such Default is not solely due to the willful failure of the Corporation) is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds, with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day that is not later than three (3) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date or Redemption Date with respect to which such Default occurred, together with an amount equal to the Default Rate applied to the amount and period of such non-payment based on the actual number of calendar days comprising such period divided by three hundred and sixty (360).
ARTICLE III LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
3.1. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfying claims of creditors but before any distribution or payment shall be made in respect of the Common Stock, a liquidation distribution of the Liquidation Preference for the shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such shares accumulated to (but excluding) the date fixed for such distribution or payment on such shares (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon), and such Holders shall be entitled to no further participation in any distribution or payment in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
3.2. If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution among the Holders of all Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and any other Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such Holders of the Redemption Price as provided in Section 3.1 above and the amounts due upon liquidation with respect to such other Preferred Stock, then such available assets shall be distributed among the Holders of such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and such other Preferred Stock ratably in proportion to the respective preferential liquidation amounts to which they are entitled. In connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, unless and until the Redemption Price, as provided in Section 3.1 above has been paid in full to the Holders of such shares, no dividends, distributions or other payments will be made on, and no redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the Corporation will be made by the Corporation in respect of, shares of the Common Stock.
3.3. Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Corporation into or with any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity into or with the Corporation shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purpose of this ARTICLE III.
ARTICLE IV ASSET COVERAGE TEST
4.1. Asset Coverage Requirement. For so long as any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall have Asset Coverage, of at least 200% as of the close of business on the last Business Day of any of the three month periods ending January 31, April 30, July 31, or October 31 of each year (each, a “Calendar Quarter”). If the Corporation shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section 5.2(a) shall be applicable, which provisions shall constitute the sole remedy for the Corporation’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.1.
4.2. Calculation of Asset Coverage. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 4.1 are satisfied, (i) no shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section 4.1 if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, either (x) sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock) to pay the full Redemption Price for the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock and the requisite notice of redemption for the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given or (y) sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock) to pay the full Redemption Price for the Series F Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been segregated by a bank, as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be then providing custodian services to the Corporation as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder (the “Custodian,” which shall include any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Custodian) and the Corporation from the assets of the Corporation, by means of appropriate identification on the Custodian’s books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds that shall have been deposited with the applicable paying agent and/or segregated by the Custodian, as applicable, as provided in clause (i) of this sentence shall not be included as assets of the Corporation for purposes of such computation.
ARTICLE V REDEMPTION
Shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be subject to redemption by the Corporation as provided below:
5.1. Term Redemption. The Corporation shall redeem all shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock on October 31, 2029 (the “Term Redemption Date”) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price.
5.2. Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption.
(a) If the Corporation fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section 4.1 as of the last Business Day of any Calendar Quarter and such failure is not cured as of the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following the date of filing with the SEC of the Corporation’s Annual Report or Semi-Annual Report on Form N-CSR, as applicable, or, with respect to any Calendar Quarter, the applicable monthly report on Form N-PORT filed by the Corporation with the SEC with respect to the fiscal period ending as of the last day of such Calendar Quarter (each such report, an “SEC Report,” and such Business Day, the “Asset Coverage Cure Date”), the Corporation shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law, by the close of business on such Asset Coverage Cure Date, fix a redemption date and proceed to redeem in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock, a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock, which at the Corporation’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law) may include any number or proportion of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section 5.2(b). In the event that any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.2(a), the Corporation shall redeem such shares at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price.
(b) On the redemption date for a redemption contemplated by Section 5.2(a), the Corporation shall redeem, out of funds legally available therefor, (x) such number of shares of Preferred Stock (which may include at the sole option of the Corporation any number or proportion of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock) that, when combined with any debt securities redeemed for failure to maintain the asset coverage required by the indenture governing such securities, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Corporation having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of at least 200% (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all
shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock then Outstanding shall be redeemed), or (y) if fewer, the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, provided, further, that in connection with redemption for failure to maintain such Asset Coverage requirement, the Corporation may at its sole option, but is not required to, redeem a sufficient number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.2 that, when aggregated with other shares of Preferred Stock redeemed by the Corporation, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, in the Corporation having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of up to and including 285%. The Corporation shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Corporation therefor, which date shall not be later than ninety (90) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Corporation does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock which have been designated to be redeemed or the Corporation otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to ninety (90) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Corporation shall redeem those shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.2, the number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Directors may determine to be fair and equitable.
5.3. Optional Redemption.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3(b), on any Business Day following the expiration of the “No-Call Period,” which is the period beginning on the Date of Original of Issue and ending at the close of business on October 31, 2026, the Corporation may redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price (any such Business Day referred to in this sentence, an “Optional Redemption Date”).
(b) If fewer than all of the Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.3(a), the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either (A) pro rata, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Directors may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions of this Certificate of Designation and applicable law, the Board of Directors will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.3 from time to time.
(c) The Corporation may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 5.4 in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section 5.3 unless on such date the Corporation has available Deposit Securities or cash for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount due to Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock by reason of the redemption of such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock on such Optional Redemption Date.
5.4. Procedures for Redemption.
(a) If the Corporation shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5.1, Section 5.2, or Section 5.3, the Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means (as defined below) to Holders thereof, or request the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Corporation, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not less than thirty (30) nor more than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the date fixed for redemption in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) the number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis; (E) that dividends on the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (F) the provision(s) of this Certificate of Designation under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such Holder or the method of determining such number. The Corporation may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Certificate of Designation that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Corporation shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.
“Electronic Means” means e-mail transmission, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving party, in any case if operative as between any two parties, or, if not operative, by telephone (promptly
confirmed by any other method set forth in this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Redemption and Paying Agent and the Custodian, shall be sent by such means to each of its representatives set forth in (i) the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement, or other similarly titled agreement, by and among the Redemption and Paying Agent for the Series F Term Preferred Stock and the Corporation and (ii) the Custodian Agreement by and among the Custodian and the Corporation with respect to the Series F Term Preferred Stock, respectively.
(b) If the Corporation shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of such Notice of Redemption and prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date (so long as any conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Corporation), the Corporation shall (A) deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed on the Redemption Date or cash and (B) give the Redemption and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock called for redemption on the Redemption Date. The Corporation may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided, that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds.
(c) Upon the date of the deposit of such Deposit Securities, which in the case of term redemption pursuant to Section 5.1, shall be no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Term Redemption Date (and which in the case of cash, shall be no later than two (2) calendar days prior to the Term Redemption Date), all rights of the Holders of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the Holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever (other than (A) the transfer thereof prior to the applicable Redemption Date and (B) the accumulation of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms hereof up to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date, which accumulated dividends, unless previously or contemporaneously declared and paid as contemplated by Section 5.4(d) below, shall be payable only as part of the applicable Redemption Price on the Redemption Date). The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the Redemption Date, any Deposit Securities or cash in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock called for redemption on the Redemption Date. Any Deposit Securities or cash so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of ninety (90) calendar days from the Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Corporation, after which the Holders of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the Redemption Price thereof. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the Term Redemption Date, any interest on the Deposit Securities or cash so deposited.
(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this ARTICLE V, except as otherwise required by law, the Corporation shall not redeem any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on all Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series F Term Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distributions for all applicable past Dividend Periods (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation) (x) shall have been or are contemporaneously paid or (y) shall have been or are contemporaneously declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock) for the payment of such dividends and distributions shall have been or are contemporaneously deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for such Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock pursuant to an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to Holders of all Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock for which all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions have not been paid.
(e) To the extent that any redemption for which Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by reason of the absence of legally available funds therefor in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable to the extent such funds become available. No Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Corporation shall fail to deposit in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that a Notice of Redemption has been provided with respect to any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock in accordance with their terms if Deposit Securities or cash for the payment of the Redemption Price of such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall not have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose.
5.5. Redemption Date After Record Date and Before Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding Section 5.1, Section 5.2, and Section 5.3, if any Redemption Date occurs after the applicable record date for a dividend, but on or prior to the related Dividend Payment Date, the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of such Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of record of such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock at the close of business on the applicable record date, and shall not be payable as part of the Redemption Price for such shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock.
5.6. Redemption and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Corporation. All Deposit Securities or cash transferred to the Redemption and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.4(c) above.
5.7. Compliance with Applicable Law. In effecting any redemption pursuant to this ARTICLE V, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption under the 1940 Act and any applicable Delaware law, but shall effect no redemption except in accordance with the 1940 Act and any applicable Delaware law.
5.8. Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE V, the Corporation may, in its sole discretion and without a stockholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, provided, that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock or cause the Corporation to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided, further, that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Redemption and Paying Agent without its prior consent.
ARTICLE VI VOTING RIGHTS
6.1. One Vote Per Share of Series F Term Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law, (i) each Holder of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Series F Term Preferred Stock held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation, and (ii) the Holders of Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, including Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, and of Outstanding shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class; provided , however, that the Holders of Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, including Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, shall be entitled, as a class, to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of Capital Stock of the Corporation, to elect two Directors of the Corporation at all times. Subject to Section 6.2, the Holders of Outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, including shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, shall elect the balance of the Directors.
6.2. Voting For Additional Directors.
(a) Voting Period. During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.2(a) shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “Voting Period”), the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be automatically increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two Directors elected exclusively by the Holders of Preferred Stock, including shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors as so increased by such smallest number; and the Holders of Preferred Stock, including Series F Term Preferred Stock, shall be entitled, voting as a class on a one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of capital stock of the Corporation), to elect such smallest number of additional Directors, together with the two Directors that such Holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:
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| (i) | if, at the close of business on any dividend payment date for any Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock including any Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such Outstanding share of Preferred Stock equal to at least two (2) full years’ dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities shall not have been deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends; or upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this Section 6.2(a) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting rights in the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this Section 6.2(a). |
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| (ii) | if at any time Holders of shares of Preferred Stock are otherwise entitled under the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the Board of Directors. |
(b) Notice of Special Meeting. As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors as described in Section 6.2(a), the Corporation shall call a special meeting of such Holders and notify the Redemption and Paying Agent and/or such other Person as is specified in the terms of such Preferred Stock to receive notice (i) by mailing or delivery by Electronic Means or (ii) in such other manner and by such other means as are specified in the terms of such Preferred Stock, a notice of such special meeting to such Holders, such meeting to be held not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the delivery by Electronic Means or mailing of such notice. If the Corporation fails to call such a
special meeting, it may be called at the expense of the Corporation by any such Holder on like notice. The record date for determining the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the Business Day preceding the calendar day on which such notice is mailed. At any such special meeting and at each meeting of Holders of shares of Preferred Stock held during a Voting Period at which Directors are to be elected, such Holders, voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of Capital Stock of the Corporation), shall be entitled to elect the number of Directors prescribed in Section 6.2(a) on a one-vote-per-share basis.
(c) Terms of Office of Existing Directors. The terms of office of the incumbent Directors of the Corporation at the time of a special meeting of Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors in accordance with Section 6.2(a) shall not be affected by the election at such meeting by the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and such other Holders of shares of Preferred Stock of the number of Directors that they are entitled to elect, and the Directors so elected by the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock and such other Holders of shares of Preferred Stock, together with the two (2) Directors elected by the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 6.1 hereof and the remaining Directors elected by the Holders of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, shall constitute the duly elected Directors of the Corporation.
(d) Terms of Office of Certain Directors to Terminate Upon Termination of Voting Period. Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional Directors elected by the Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6.2(a) shall terminate, the remaining Directors shall constitute the Directors of the Corporation and the voting rights of the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors pursuant to Section 6.2(a) shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section 6.2(a).
6.3. Holders of Shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to Vote on Certain Matters.
(a) Certain Amendments Requiring Approval of Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Certificate of Designation, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of Preferred Stock of all series Outstanding at the time, voting together as a separate class, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, or this Certificate of Designation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of such shares of the Preferred Stock or the Holders thereof; provided, however, that (i) a change in the capitalization of the Corporation in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof shall not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock, including the Series F Term Preferred Stock, and (ii) a division of a share of Preferred Stock, including the Series F Term Preferred Stock, shall be deemed to affect such preferences, rights or powers only if the terms of such division materially and adversely affect the Holders of the shares. For purposes of the foregoing, no matter shall be deemed to adversely affect any preference, right or power of a share of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, or the Holder of any such share unless such matter (i) alters or abolishes any preferential right of such share of Preferred Stock, or (ii) creates, alters or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such share (other than as a result of a division of a share of Preferred Stock). So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, file a voluntary application for relief under federal bankruptcy law or any similar application under state law for so long as the Corporation is solvent and does not foresee becoming insolvent.
(b) Certain Amendments Requiring Approval of Series F Term Preferred Stock. The Corporation cannot effect any amendment, alteration or repeal of the obligation to redeem all of the Series F Term Preferred Stock on October 31, 2029 without the prior unanimous consent of the Holders of Series F Term Preferred Stock.
(c) 1940 Act Matters. Unless a higher percentage is provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the Holders of at least “a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock,” including shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required (A) to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares or (B) any action requiring a vote of Holders of the Corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. For purposes of the foregoing, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock” means the vote at an annual or special meeting duly called of (i) sixty-seven percent (67%) or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares are present or represented by proxy at such meeting, or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares, whichever is less.
6.4. Voting Rights Set Forth Herein Are Sole Voting Rights. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights with respect to voting other than those specifically set forth in this ARTICLE VI.
6.5. No Cumulative Voting. The Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have no rights to cumulative voting.
6.6. Voting for Directors Sole Remedy for Corporation’s Failure to Declare or Pay Dividends. In the event that the Corporation fails to declare or pay any dividends on shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock on the Dividend Payment Date therefor, the exclusive remedy of the Holders of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be the right to vote for Directors pursuant to the provisions of this ARTICLE VI. Nothing in this Section 6.6 shall be deemed to affect the obligation of the Corporation to accumulate and, if permitted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Certificate of Designation, pay dividends at the Default Rate in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2.8 hereof.
6.7. Holders Entitled to Vote. For purposes of determining any rights of the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by this Certificate of Designation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, by statute or otherwise, no Holder of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote any share of Series F Term Preferred Stock and no share of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be “Outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently with the time of determination of shares entitled to vote or the time of the actual vote on the matter, as the case may be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such share of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have been given in accordance with this Certificate of Designation and Deposit Securities or cash for the payment of the Redemption Price of such share of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose. No share of Series F Term Preferred Stock held by the Corporation shall have any voting rights or be deemed to be Outstanding for voting or for calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other purposes.
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS
7.1. Issuance of Additional Preferred Stock. So long as any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof, (a) authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of senior securities of the Corporation representing stock under Section 18 of the 1940 Act, ranking on a parity with the Series F Term Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, in addition to then Outstanding shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, and (b) authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such series then Outstanding or so established and created, including additional shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Corporation shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such additional shares of Preferred Stock and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of shares of Preferred Stock with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by Section 4.2 hereof) of at least 200%.
7.2. Status of Redeemed or Repurchased Series F Term Preferred Stock. Shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock that at any time have been redeemed or purchased by the Corporation shall, after such redemption or purchase, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of Capital Stock.
7.3. Registered Name. Prior to the commencement of a Voting Period, (i) all shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock Outstanding from time to time shall be registered in the name of the Depository Trust Company and its successors and assigns, or any other securities depository selected by the Corporation that agrees to follow the procedures required to be followed by such securities depository as set forth in this Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series F Term Preferred Stock (the “Securities Depository”) or its nominee and (ii) no registration of transfer of shares of such Series F Term Preferred Stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation to any Person other than the Securities Depository or its nominee.
7.4. Notice. All notices or communications hereunder, unless otherwise specified in this Certificate of Designation, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by Electronic Means or by overnight mail or delivery or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be deemed given on the date received or, if mailed by first class mail, on the date five (5) calendar days after which such notice is mailed.
7.5. Termination. In the event that no shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, all rights and preferences of the shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation with respect to such Series F Term Preferred Stock shall terminate.
7.6. Amendment. The Board of Directors may, by resolution duly adopted, without stockholder approval (except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Designation or required by applicable law) amend this Certificate of Designation so as to reflect any amendments to the terms applicable to the Series F Term Preferred Stock, including an increase in the number of authorized shares of the Series F Term Preferred Stock.
7.7. Actions on Other than Business Days. Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Certificate of Designation, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made or done on the
nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.
7.8. Modification. The Board of Directors, without the vote of the Holders of Series F Term Preferred Stock, may interpret, supplement or amend the provisions of this Certificate of Designation to supply any omission, resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, including any provision that becomes defective after the date hereof because of impossibility of performance or any provision that is inconsistent with any provision of any other Capital Stock of the Corporation.
7.9. Information Rights. During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation will provide Holders of Series F Term Preferred Stock, without cost, copies of SEC Reports that the Corporation would have been required to file pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation was subject to such provisions or, alternatively, the Corporation will voluntarily file SEC Reports as if the Corporation was subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
7.10. No Additional Rights. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Holders of shares of Series F Term Preferred Stock shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights other than those specifically set forth in this Certificate of Designation.
7.11. Interpretation.
(a) The headings preceding the text of the Articles and Sections included in this Certificate of Designation are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Certificate of Designation or be given any effect in interpreting this Certificate of Designation. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Certificate of Designation. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually.
(b) Reference to any agreement (including this Certificate of Designation), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. Underscored references to Articles and Sections shall refer to those portions of this Certificate of Designation. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Certificate of Designation as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause of this Certificate of Designation.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designation to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer as of this 25th day of September, 2024.
OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ Bilal Rashid
Name: Bilal Rashid
Title: Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
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No. 001 | | OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC. | | 1,040,000 Shares |
| Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware | |
CUSIP NO. 67111Q 503 | | | | |
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Preferred Stock | | Par Value $.001 Per Share |
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SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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THIS CERTIFIES THAT CEDE & CO. IS THE OWNER OF 1,040,000 FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF 7.875% SERIES F TERM PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2029, WITH A PAR VALUE OF $.001 PER SHARE, OF OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC. (the “Corporation”), transferable on the books of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate if properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this Certificate to be endorsed by the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers and to be sealed with the facsimile seal of the Corporation. |
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Dated: October 2, 2024 |
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| | OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC. CORPORATE SEAL
DELAWARE | |
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Secretary | | | Chief Executive Officer |
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Transfer Agent | | | | |
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
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TEN COM | | as tenants in common | | Unif Gift Min Act - Custodian |
TEN ENT | | tenants by the entireties | | (Cust) (Minor) |
JT TEN | | as joint tenants with right of | | Under Uniform Gifts to Minors |
| | survivorship and not as tenants in common | | Act: |
| | | (State) |
Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
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The Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights, and the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series, which are fixed by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, and the certificate of designation for each series, and the resolutions of the board of directors of the Corporation, and the authority of the board of directors to determine variations for future series. Such request may be made to the office of the secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent. This Certificate and the shares of Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the charter and bylaws of the Corporation and all amendments thereto (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Corporation), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents. |
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KEEP THIS CERTIFICATE IN A SAFE PLACE. IF IT IS LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED, THE CORPORATION WILL REQUIRE A BOND OF INDEMNITY AS A CONDITION TO THE ISSUANCE OF A REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. |
For Value Received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
shares of the Preferred Stock represented by this Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney, to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.
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Dated | | | | | | By: | | |
| | | | | | NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
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Signature(s) Guaranteed: |
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By: | | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM) PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. |
OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC.
1,040,000 SHARES
7.875% SERIES F TERM PREFERRED STOCK, $0.001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
September 24, 2024
Lucid Capital Markets, LLC
570 Lexington Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, New York 10022
as Representative of the several Underwriters
named on Schedule I hereto
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
OFS Credit Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), OFS Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”), and OFS Capital Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator” and, collectively with the Company and the Advisor, the “OFS Entities”), confirm their respective agreement with each of the Underwriters listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Lucid Capital Markets, LLC is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to (i) the issuance and sale by the Company of 1,040,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) of 7.875% Series F Term Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), to the several Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto, and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 1(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of an additional 156,000 shares of Preferred Stock (the “Additional Shares”) solely to cover over-allotments, if any, in the sale of the Firm Shares. The Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Additional Shares subject to the option described in Section 1(b) hereof are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Shares.”
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed and delivered.
Prior to the Closing Time (as defined below), the Company will file a statement of resolution of the board of directors of the Company establishing and designating the Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “1940 Act”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299), relating to the Shares. The registration statement as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it most recently became effective, including the information, if any, deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act (“Rule 430B”), and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, is hereinafter referred
to as the “Registration Statement.” The prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective on May 29, 2024 (including the information, if any, deemed to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B) is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectus.” The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated September 24, 2024, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“Rule 424(b)”), and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, that was used prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement is hereinafter referred to, together with the Base Prospectus, as the “Preliminary Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Base Prospectus and the final prospectus supplement (including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference) as filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Any advertising materials, sales literature or other promotional materials or documents, if any, constituting an advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act (“Rule 482”) authorized or prepared by the Company or authorized or prepared on behalf of the Company by the Advisor or any representative thereof for use in connection with the public offering or sale of the Shares are hereinafter referred to as “Sales Materials”; provided, however, that Sales Materials do not include any Roadshow Materials (as defined below).
The Company has filed a notification on Form N-8A (the “Notification”) of registration of the Company as an investment company under the 1940 Act. On or around October 2, 2024, the Company will file with the Commission a Form 8-A to register the Preferred Stock under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
The Company has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with its first taxable year that it was treated as a corporation for Federal income tax purposes.
The Company has entered into (i) an investment advisory and management agreement, dated as of October 4, 2018, with the Advisor (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”); (ii) an administration agreement, dated as of October 4, 2018, with the Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”); and (iii) a license agreement, dated as of October 4, 2018, with Orchard First Source Asset Management, LLC, under which the Advisor is a third-party beneficiary (the “License Agreement” and, collectively with this Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement, the “Company Agreements”).
The Advisor has entered into a staffing agreement, dated as of November 7, 2012 (the “Staffing Agreement”), with Orchard First Source Capital, Inc. (“OFSCI”).
The Company, the Advisor, the Administrator and the Underwriters agree as follows:
1. Sale and Purchase:
(a)Firm Shares. Upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, at a purchase price of $24.21875 per share of Preferred Stock, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the respective number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I opposite their respective names, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I opposite such Underwriter’s name, plus any additional number of Firm Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, subject in each case to
such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Shares.
(b)Additional Shares. In addition, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, all or any part of the Additional Shares, plus any additional number of Additional Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof at the purchase price set forth in paragraph (1)(a) less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on such Additional Shares. The option granted by this Section 1(b) may be exercised only to cover over-allotments, if any, in the sale of the Firm Shares. The option hereby granted will expire on October 24, 2024 and may be exercised in whole or in part within such period. Such option shall be exercised upon written notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Additional Shares as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment for and delivery of such Additional Shares. Any such time and date of delivery and payment (an “Option Closing Time”) shall be determined by the Representative but shall not be later than ten (10) full business days (or earlier, without the consent of the Company, than two (2) full business days) after the exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time (as defined below) or after October 29, 2024. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, the Company will sell that number of Additional Shares then being purchased and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Additional Shares then being purchased which the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, plus any additional number of Firm Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, subject in each case to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Shares.
2. Payment and Delivery:
(a)Firm Shares. The Firm Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form, and registered in such names as the Representative may request in writing at least 48 hours prior to the Closing Time, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representative, including, at the option of the Representative, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified to the Representative by the Company in writing at least 48 hours prior to the Closing Time. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Firm Shares to be made available for checking and packaging not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Time with respect thereto at the office of the Representative, 570 Lexington Avenue, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or at the office of DTC or its designated custodian, as the case may be (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on October 2, 2024 (unless another time and date shall be agreed to by the Representative and the Company). The time and date at which such delivery and payment are actually made is hereinafter called the “Closing Time.”
(b)Additional Shares. Any Additional Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, registered in such names as the Representative may request in writing at least 48 hours prior to each Option Closing Time, if any, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representative, including, at the option of the Representative, through the facilities of DTC for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price
therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified to the Representative by the Company in writing at least 48 hours prior to each Option Closing Time, if any. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Additional Shares to be made available for checking and packaging not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Option Closing Time with respect thereto at the Designated Office. The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the Representative in the notice given by the Representative to the Company of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Additional Shares or on such other time and date as the Company and the Representative may agree upon in writing.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company, the Advisor and the Administrator:
The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with, and the Advisor and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with, each Underwriter (i) as of the date hereof, the Initial Sale Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Time and as of any Option Closing Time, if any, or (ii) as of the time or times otherwise specified in such representation or warranty, as follows:
(a)the Company has prepared and filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. The Company has filed the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b). The Company will file the Prospectus (containing the information required by Rule 430B) relating to the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, the Prospectus shall, except to the extent the Representative shall consent in writing to a modification (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Representative prior to the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, or, to the extent not completed at the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented at the time the Registration Statement was declared effective) as the Company has advised the Representative, prior to the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, will be included or made therein;
(b)the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization,” at the date indicated, as of the Initial Sale Time (as defined below), at the Closing Time, and each Option Closing Time, if any;
(c)all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, Certificate of Designation or other governing document (collectively, the “Charter Documents”) of the Company, under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise; except as disclosed in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding (x) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (y) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock, partnership interest, or membership interest or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or (z) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, partnership interest, or membership interest, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligation, or any such warrants, rights or options;
(d)the Company is a Delaware corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Company Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated therein;
(e)the Company is duly qualified or licensed by, and is in good standing in, each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business, or in which it owns or leases real property or otherwise maintains an office, and in which such qualification or licensing is necessary and in which the failure, individually or in the aggregate, to be so qualified or licensed would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, operations, earnings, properties or condition (financial or otherwise), present or prospective, of the Company (any such effect or change, where the context so requires, is hereinafter called a “Material Adverse Effect” or a “Material Adverse Change”); other than as disclosed in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other equity securities of any other corporation or any ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture or other association;
(f)the Company, subject to the filing of the Prospectus under Rule 424(b), has taken all required action under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement;
(g)the Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees and judgments, including those relating to transactions with affiliates;
(h)the Company is not in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or part of such indebtedness under), its Charter Documents or in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it or its properties is bound or affected, except for such breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(i)the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company, the Company’s use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Company Agreements, and compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereunder and thereunder, will not: (x) conflict with, or result in any breach of, or constitute a default under (or constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under), (A) any provision of the Charter Documents of the Company, (B) any provision of any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected, or (C) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, rule, decree, judgment or order (each a “Legal Requirement”) issued by the U.S. government or any state, local or foreign government, court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental agency, authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, of competent jurisdiction (each a “Governmental Authority”) applicable to the Company, except in the case of clauses (B) or (C) for such conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (y) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any material property or asset of the Company;
(j)each of the Company Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except, in each case, as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, and except to the extent that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 10 hereof or thereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof;
(k)each of the Company Agreements complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”), the Company’s stockholders have approved the Investment Advisory Agreement as required by Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act and the Company’s board of directors has approved the Investment Advisory Agreement as required by Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. The operations of the Company, as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are, and at all times through the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, if any, will be, in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The provisions of the Charter Documents and the investment objective, policies and restrictions described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as so described, comply, and at all times through the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable, will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply with the provisions of Sections 15(a) and 15(c) of the 1940 Act and Section 205 of the Advisers Act;
(l)except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, 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 Underwriter listed in Schedule I hereto;
(m)no (i) approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any Governmental Authority, (ii) authorization, approval, vote or other consent of any holder of securities of the Company or any creditor of the Company, or (iii) waiver or consent under any material agreement is required in connection with the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Company Agreements, its consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and its issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares, other than (A) such as have been obtained, or will have been obtained at the Closing Time or the applicable Option Closing Time, as the case may be, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), (B) such approvals as may be required in connection with the approval of the listing of the Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market and (C) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Underwriters;
(n)except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has all necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, accreditations, certifications, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any Legal Requirement, and has obtained all necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, accreditations, certifications, consents and approvals from other persons required in order to conduct its business as described in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that any failure to have any such licenses, permits, authorizations, accreditations, certifications, consents or approvals to make any such filings or to obtain any such licenses, permits, authorizations, accreditations, certifications, consents or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company is not in violation of, or in default under, or has received any notice regarding a possible violation of, default under, or revocation of, any such license, permit, authorization, accreditation, certification,
consent or approval or any Legal Requirement applicable to the Company the effect of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; and no such license, permit, authorization, accreditation, certification, consent or approval contains a materially burdensome restriction that is not adequately disclosed in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(o)the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement will have become effective upon filing, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission, and the Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with any request on the part of the Commission for additional information;
(p)the Preliminary Prospectus when filed and the Registration Statement as of each effective date and as of the date hereof complied or will comply, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, when they become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the 1940 Act; the conditions to the use of Form N-2 in connection with the offering and the sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby have been satisfied, and each of the Sales Materials complied, at the time it was first used in connection with the public offering of the Shares, and complies as of the date hereof, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including Rule 482), the 1940 Act, and the applicable rules and interpretations of FINRA;
(q)the Preliminary Prospectus when filed and the Registration Statement as of its effective date and as of the date hereof did not, does not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto will not, as of its date and as of the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and at no time during the period that begins at the time each of the Sales Materials was first used in connection with the public offering of the Shares and ends at the Initial Sale Time did any of the Sales Materials (as materials deemed to be a prospectus under Section 10(b) to the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 482), as then amended or supplemented, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that in each case the Company makes no warranty or representation with respect to any statement contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Sales Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the information concerning the Underwriters and furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters through the Representative to the Company expressly for use therein (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 10(b) hereof);
(r)as of 4:35 p.m. (New York City Time) on the date of this Agreement (the “Initial Sale Time”), the Preliminary Prospectus (as most recently amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Initial Sale Time) and the information set forth in Schedule II hereto, when taken together as a whole, did not, and as of the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, the Prospectus will not, contain 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 in each case the Company makes no warranty or representation with respect to
any statement contained in or omitted from the Preliminary Prospectus, as most recently amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Initial Sale Time, or the Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with the information concerning the Underwriters and furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters through the Representative to the Company expressly for use therein (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 10(b) hereof);
(s)in connection with this offering, the Company has not offered and will not offer the Preferred Stock or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Preferred Stock in a manner in violation of the Securities Act; the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and, prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Time and (ii) each Option Closing Time, if any, will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“Rule 405”)) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares other than (A) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, (B) such materials as may be approved by the Representative and filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 482, (C) the Sales Materials and (D) filings made under the Exchange Act following the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any. Any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) and all other promotional materials (including “road show slides” or “road show scripts”) prepared by the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares (collectively, “Roadshow Material”) were used in accordance with Section 5(v). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 163B under the Securities Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405. The Written Testing-the-Waters Communication and the Roadshow Material, if any, are not inconsistent with the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in any material respects, and when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus and the information with respect to the Shares and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B, at the Initial Sale Time, did not contain 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;
(t)the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered or to be delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the public offering of the Shares contemplated herein have been and will be identical to the versions of such documents transmitted to the Commission for filing via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”), except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T;
(u)there are no actions, suits, arbitrations, claims, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, or any of its properties or, to the Company’s knowledge, directors, officers or affiliates, at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, which would reasonably be expected to result in a judgment, decree, award or order having a Material Adverse Effect;
(v)the financial statements, including the notes thereto, included in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the entities to which such financial statements relate (the “Covered Entities”) as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations and changes in financial position and cash flows of the Covered Entities for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and on a consistent basis
during the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein and in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission); the financial statement schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement and the amounts in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; and the Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(w)KPMG LLP, whose reports on the financial statements of the Company are filed with the Commission as part of each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are, and were during the periods covered by such reports, independent public accountants within the meaning of, and as required by, the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the 1940 Act and are registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
(x)subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may be otherwise stated in such documents, there has not been (i) any event, circumstance or change that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Company, contemplated or entered into by the Company, (iii) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly incurred by the Company, other than in the ordinary course of business, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock, or any purchase by the Company of any of its outstanding capital stock;
(y)the Company’s current business operations and investments are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940 Act and, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, will be in compliance in all material respects with the 1940 Act;
(z)the capital stock of the Company, including the Shares and the Certificate of Designation, conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(aa)except as disclosed in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act, except for those registration or similar rights which have been waived with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement, all of which registration or similar rights are fairly summarized in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(bb) the Shares have been duly authorized for issuance, sale and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company are not subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the Charter Documents of the Company, or under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise;
(cc) on or about October 2, 2024, the Company will file a registration statement on Form 8-A to register the Preferred Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act;
(dd) the Company will submit a listing application for the listing of the Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market and use its best efforts to maintain such listing;
(ee) the Company has not taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted, or which might reasonably 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;
(ff) none of the Company or any of its affiliates (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), or (ii) directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association or affiliation with (within the meaning of Article I of the By-laws of FINRA) any member firm of FINRA;
(gg) any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby;
(hh) the Shares conform to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation and the relative rights, preferences, interests and powers of such Shares are set forth in the Certificate of Designation; the Certificate of Designation has been, or prior to the Closing Time will be, duly authorized and executed by the Company in compliance with the Delaware General Corporation Law and filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; the Certificate of Designation is, or by the Closing Time will be, in full force and effect; and the form of the certificate used to evidence the Preferred Stock complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements and with any applicable requirements of the Charter Documents of the Company;
(ii) the Company has good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property, if any, and good title to all personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects, except such as are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company;
(jj) the descriptions in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus of the legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information required to be described therein by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and there are no legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases, or other documents of a character required to be described in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations; all agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles;
(kk) the statements in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus under the headings “Prospectus Summary – Operating and Regulatory Structure,” “Management – Management and Other Agreements,” “U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters,” “Description of the Series F Term Preferred Stock,” “Description of Our Capital Stock,” “Underwriting,” and “Regulation as a Closed-End Management Investment Company” and insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate in all material respects;
(ll) there are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so described, filed or incorporated by reference as required. All descriptions of contracts or documents described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date hereof, the Company has not filed this Agreement or the opinion of Company Counsel (as defined below) with respect to the legality of the Shares as exhibits to the Registration Statement, although all such exhibits will be filed in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act on or before the Closing Time;
(mm) the Company owns or possesses adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, other intangible property rights and know-how (collectively “Intellectual Property”), as are necessary to entitle the Company to conduct the Company’s business described in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure to own, license or have such right would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received written notice of any infringement of or conflict with (and the Company does not know of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(nn) the Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the 1940 Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities to allow timely decisions regarding such disclosures, and (ii) are effective to perform the function for which they were established;
(oo) the Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Company and the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and the Code; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States to calculate net asset value, to maintain asset accountability and to maintain compliance in all material respects with books and records requirements under the 1940 Act; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no (i) significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of its internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information to management and the Company’s board of directors, or (ii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;
(pp) except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or any other similar relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons;
(qq) the Company has filed on a timely basis all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof or has obtained extensions of time from the relevant taxing authority for filing any return that has not been filed (and such extension of time has not expired) and have paid all taxes shown as due thereon except for any tax that is being contested in good faith and that is adequately provided for on the respective books of such entities; and no tax deficiency has been asserted against any such entity, nor does any such entity know of any tax deficiency which is likely to be asserted against any such entity which, if determined adversely to any such entity, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all tax liabilities are adequately provided for on the respective books of such entities;
(rr) the Company maintains insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged; all policies of insurance insuring the Company or its business, assets, employees, officers and directors, including the Company’s directors and officers errors and omissions insurance policy and its fidelity bond required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act, are in full force and effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms of such policies and fidelity bond in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company under any such policies or fidelity bond as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage and fidelity bond as and when such coverage and fidelity bond expires or to obtain similar coverage and fidelity bond from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(ss) the Company is not in violation of nor has it received notice of any violation with respect to any law, rule, regulation, order, decree or judgment applicable to its business, including those relating to transactions with affiliates, except for those violations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(tt) none of the Company, the Advisor, the Administrator or, to the knowledge of the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator, any officer, director, agent or employee purporting to act on behalf of the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator, has at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) made any contributions to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any such contributions, in violation of law, (ii) made any payment to any state, federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or allowed by applicable law (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”)), (iii) engaged in any transactions or maintained any bank account on behalf of the Company or used any corporate funds except for transactions, bank accounts and funds which have been and are reflected in the normally maintained books and records of the Company, (iv) violated any provision of the FCPA, or any applicable law or regulation thereunder, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law or (v) made any other unlawful payment;
(uu) except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of an Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of an Underwriter;
(vv) except as otherwise disclosed in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans, extensions of credit or advances or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors or affiliates of the Company or any of the members of the families of any of them;
(ww) all securities issued by the Company or any trusts established by the Company have been or will be issued and sold in compliance with (i) all applicable federal, state foreign and local securities laws, (ii) the laws of the applicable jurisdiction of incorporation of the issuing entity and (iii) to the extent applicable to the issuing entity, the requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market;
(xx) the Company has (i) appointed a Chief Compliance Officer and (ii) adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) by the Company, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance by each investment advisor, administrator and transfer agent of the Company;
(yy) the Company has filed the Notification of the registration of the Company as an investment company under the 1940 Act;
(zz) any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Sales Materials and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required;
(aaa) except with respect to the Underwriters, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;
(bbb) to the Company’s, the Advisor’s and the Administrator’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater securityholders, except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters in connection with information that may be required to be provided to FINRA, and none of the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator has any material lending or other relationship with a bank or lending institution affiliated with any of the Underwriters, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(ccc) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and which is not so described;
(ddd) as of the date hereof, the Company does not have, and, at the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, the Company will not have, any employees; to the knowledge of the Company, the Advisor and the Administrator, there are no existing or threatened labor disputes with the employees of OFSCI which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator is aware of any plans of any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of OFSCI to terminate their employment;
(eee) the Company and its officers and directors, in their capacities as such, are, and at the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time, if any, will be, in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with which any of them is required to comply;
(fff) the Company intends to direct the investment of the net proceeds of the sale of the Shares and to conduct its activities in such a manner as to comply with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code; the Company reasonably believes that it has been and is currently in compliance with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code necessary to qualify as a RIC and intends to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for any taxable year in which the Company is an investment company registered under the 1940 Act;
(ggg) none of the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator or, to the Company’s knowledge, any affiliates or any director, officer, agent or employee of, or other person associated with or acting on behalf of, the Company, the Advisor or the Administrator (each, a “Person”) is (i) the subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria); and Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any entity, partner or joint venturer or other person or entity for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to the Sanction, or in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise);
(hhh) the operations of the Company 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 Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, the United and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) of 2001, and any other money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), except for any such non-compliance as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened;
(iii) as required by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Company has delivered to the Representative, on or prior to the date of execution of this Agreement, such beneficial ownership certifications and information as the Representative may have requested, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional information and supporting documentation as the Representative may reasonably request in connection with the certification of the foregoing certification;
(jjj) at the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer; and
(kkk) as of the date of this Agreement and on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Company will be in compliance with the applicable asset coverage requirements set forth in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, taking into account the exemption provided under Section 18(e) of the 1940 Act.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Advisor and the Administrator:
The Advisor and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each Underwriter as of the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, as follows:
(a)the Advisor is a limited liability company duly formed and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Administrator is a limited liability company duly formed and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(b)the Advisor is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is registered with the appropriate state authority in all states in which it needs to be registered; the Advisor is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act or any state statute from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement, as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; there does not exist any proceeding, or to the Advisor’s knowledge, any facts or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might materially and adversely affect the registration of the Advisor with the Commission or any applicable state regulatory authority;
(c)the Advisor has or had the requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Staffing Agreement and to accept the benefits under the License Agreement, and the Administrator had the requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Administration Agreement; the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Advisor of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the License Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Advisor, and the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Administrator of its obligations under this Agreement and the Administration Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Administrator; and this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the License Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Advisor and this Agreement and the Administration Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Administrator, and each such agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, enforceable against the Advisor or Administrator in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and subject to the qualification that the enforceability of the Advisor’s obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the Administrator’s obligations hereunder and thereunder, may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles;
(d)the Investment Advisory Agreement is in full force and effect and neither the Advisor nor, to the knowledge of the Advisor, any other party to the Investment Advisory Agreement is in default thereunder, and, no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default by the Advisor under such document;
(e)the Administration Agreement is in full force and effect and neither the Administrator nor, to the knowledge of the Administrator, any other party to the Administration Agreement is in default thereunder, and, no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default by the Administrator under such document;
(f)each of the Advisor and Administrator has the financial, human and other resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and under the Company Agreements, as applicable;
(g)no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving each of the Advisor or the Administrator or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Advisor and the Administrator, threatened that (i) is required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not so described as required, (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Advisor or the Administrator, as the case may be, to fulfill its obligations hereunder or under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the License Agreement or the Administration Agreement, as applicable, or (iii) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Advisor or the Administrator, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (an “Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect”), except as set forth in or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(h)neither the Advisor nor the Administrator is in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or part of such indebtedness under), its respective Charter Documents or in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Advisor or the Administrator is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties is bound or affected, except for such breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect;
(i)since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no event, circumstance or change that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) there have been no transactions entered into by the Advisor or Administrator, which are material to the Advisor or Administrator, as the case may be, other than those in the ordinary course of its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(j)each of the Advisor and the Administrator possesses all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and neither of the Advisor nor the Administrator has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification thereof, except where the failure to possess any such licenses, certificates, permits or other authorizations, or the revocation or modification thereof, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect and would
not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(k)there are no actions, suits, arbitrations, claims, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Advisor or the Administrator, threatened against the Advisor or the Administrator, or any of their respective properties, or to the knowledge of the Advisor or the Administrator, their respective directors, officers or affiliates, at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, in each case which would reasonably be expected to result in a judgment, decree, award or order having an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect;
(l)each of the Advisor and the Administrator owns or possesses adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, other intangible property rights and know-how (collectively “Advisor/Administrator Intellectual Property”), as are necessary to entitle the Advisor and the Administrator to conduct the Advisor’s and the Administrator’s business described in both the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure to own, license or have such right would not reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Advisor nor the Administrator has received written notice of any infringement of or conflict with (and neither the Advisor nor the Administrator knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Advisor/Administrator Intellectual Property which would reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect;
(m)no (i) approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any Governmental Authority, (ii) authorization, approval, vote or other consent of any holder of securities of the Advisor or the Administrator or any creditor of the Advisor or the Administrator, or (iii) waiver or consent under any material agreement is required in connection with the Advisor’s and the Administrator’s execution, delivery and performance of the Company Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the sale and delivery of the Shares, other than (A) such as have been obtained, or will have been obtained at the Closing Time or the applicable Option Closing Time, as the case may be, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations of FINRA, (B) such approvals as may be required in connection with the approval of the listing of the Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market and (C) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Underwriters;
(n)each of the Advisor and the Administrator owns or leases or has access to all properties and assets as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted;
(o)neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Advisor of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement or the License Agreement, or the execution, delivery or performance by the Administrator of this Agreement or the Administration Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, pursuant to, (i) the Charter Documents of the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Advisor or Administrator, as applicable, or any of their respective properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) where such
breach or violation, either singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect;
(p)neither the Advisor nor the Administrator has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the issuance, sale or resale of the Shares and neither the Advisor nor the Administrator is aware of any such action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Advisor or the Administrator;
(q) the operations of the Advisor or the Administrator are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable Money Laundering Laws, except for any such non-compliance as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Advisor or the Administrator with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Advisor or the Administrator, threatened;
(r)the Advisor maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization and (ii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization;
(s)the Advisor (i) has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act by the Advisor; (ii) is conducting its business in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, decisions, directives and orders except for such failure to comply which would not reasonably be expected to result in an Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Advisers Act;
(t)the Administrator maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets and (ii) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences;
(u)the description of each of the Advisor and the Administrator and its business, and the statements attributable to the Advisor and the Administrator, in each of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v)neither the Advisor nor the Administrator is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus will be, required to register as an “investment company” (as defined in the 1940 Act);
(w)each of the Advisor and the Administrator maintains insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for their respective businesses and consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar companies in similar businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Advisor and the Administrator against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and effect;
(x)any certificate signed by any officer of the Advisor or the Administrator and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Advisor or the Administrator, as applicable, to the Underwriters as to matters covered thereby; and
(y)the Advisor’s and the Administrator’s information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Advisor and the Administrator as currently conducted. The Advisor and the Administrator implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect the Company’s, its Subsidiaries’, the Advisor’s and the Administrator’s material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all material IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with its business, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, its Subsidiaries, the Advisor and the Administrator are presently in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
5. Certain Covenants of the Company, the Advisor and the Administrator:
The Company hereby agrees, and the Advisor and the Administrator jointly and severally agree, with each Underwriter:
(a)to use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish such information as may be required and otherwise to cooperate with the Underwriters in qualifying the offering and sale of the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (both domestic and foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect as long as requested by the Representative for the distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, to subject itself to taxation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares);
(b)that if, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary for a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared effective before the offering of the Shares may commence, the Company will endeavor to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective as soon as possible and will advise the Representative promptly and, if requested by the Representative, will confirm such advice in writing, when such post-effective amendment has become effective;
(c)to prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriters and file such Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424(b) and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filing; file any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) (including the pricing terms substantially in the form set forth in Schedule II hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and to furnish promptly (and with respect to the initial delivery of such Prospectus, not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree) to the Underwriters
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) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in such quantities and at such locations as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act Regulations, which Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the version transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T;
(d)to advise the Representative immediately, confirming such advice in writing, of (i) the receipt of any comments from, or any request by, the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or for additional information with respect thereto, (ii) when, prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) 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 the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, 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 and, if the Commission or any other government agency or authority should issue any such order, to make every reasonable effort to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible, (iv) any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement that becomes known to the Company, or (v) if the Company becomes subject to a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of Shares contemplated herein; and, so long as a prospectus is required to be delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), to advise the Representative promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and to file no such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing;
(e)to furnish to the Representative for a period of three (3) years from the date of this Agreement (i) as soon as available, copies of all annual, quarterly and current reports or other communications supplied to holders of shares of Preferred Stock, (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of all reports filed by the Company with the Commission, FINRA or any securities exchange, and (iii) such other information as the Representative may reasonably request regarding the Company (provided, however, that in each case of (i), (ii) and (iii), the filing of same with EDGAR or any successor system of the Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the obligation to furnish any material required to be furnished hereunder);
(f)to advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of any event or development known to the Company within the Prospectus Delivery Period which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters, (i) would require the making of any change in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus so that the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (ii) would make it necessary to amend or supplement the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus in order to comply with any law and, in each case, during such time, to promptly prepare and furnish to the Representative copies of the proposed amendment or supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement with the Commission and thereafter promptly furnish at the Company’s own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, copies in such quantities and at such locations as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request of an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus so that the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not when it (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is so delivered, include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or so that the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus will comply with applicable law;
(g)to file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(f);
(h)within the Prospectus Delivery Period, other than an amendment or supplement consisting solely of a document required to be filed under the Exchange Act following the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus to furnish a copy thereof to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters and to obtain the consent of the Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the filing;
(i)to furnish promptly to the Representative a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the Commission, and of all amendments or supplements thereto (including all exhibits filed therewith) and such number of conformed copies of the foregoing (without exhibits thereto) as the Representative may reasonably request;
(j)to timely file with the Commission any documents required pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the Prospectus Delivery Period in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations;
(k)to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in accordance with its statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(l)to make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement complying with the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act covering a period of twelve (12) months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(m)to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market within thirty (30) days of the Closing Time;
(n)to take all necessary actions to ensure that it is in compliance with all applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules that are currently in effect and applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder that are currently in effect;
(o)to cooperate with the Representative and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the offered Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC;
(p)to refrain from selling, offering to sell, contracting or agreeing to sell, hypothecating, pledging, granting any option to purchase or otherwise disposing of or agreeing to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any securities convertible into or securities exchangeable or exercisable for Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or warrants or other rights to purchase Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company, or filing or causing to be declared effective a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of any Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or other rights to purchase Preferred Stock issued or guaranteed by the Company for a period of thirty (30) days after the date hereof, without the prior written consent of Representative, which may not be unreasonably withheld. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the registration of the Shares and the sales to the Underwriters
pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) the registration, sale and issuance of any common stock of the Company;
(q)not to, and to use its best efforts to cause its officers, directors and affiliates not to, (i) take, directly or indirectly, prior to termination of the underwriting syndicate contemplated by this Agreement, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which may cause or result in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay anyone (other than the Underwriters) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares;
(r)that the Company shall obtain or maintain, as appropriate, directors and officers liability insurance in an amount deemed advisable by the Company in its reasonable discretion;
(s)that the Company will comply with all of the provisions of any undertakings in the Registration Statement;
(t)that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a RIC under the Code with respect to any fiscal year in which the Company is a registered investment company;
(u)that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Advisor is promptly made known to the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls; and (ii) 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; and
(v)that before using, approving or referring to any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications and Roadshow Material, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of such material for review and will not use, approve or refer to any such material to which the Representative reasonably objects.
6. Payment of Expenses:
(a)The Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and any other preliminary prospectus, the Sales Materials, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to soliciting dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters (iii) the printing of this Agreement and any dealer agreements and furnishing of copies of each to the Underwriters and to soliciting dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (iv) the qualification for the offering and the sale of the Shares under state laws that the Company and the Underwriters have mutually agreed are appropriate and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law as aforesaid (including the reasonable legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating thereto and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to
soliciting dealers), (v) filing for review of the public offering of the Shares by FINRA (including the reasonable legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating thereto in an amount not to exceed $7,500), (vi) qualifying the Shares for inclusion in the book entry settlement system of DTC, (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares and documented miscellaneous expenses referred to in the Registration Statement, (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market, (ix) making road show presentations, written communications or sales materials with respect to the sale of the Shares, (x) preparing and distributing copies of the transaction documents for the Underwriters and their legal counsel, and (xi) performing the Company’s other obligations hereunder. It is understood and agreed that, except as provided in this Section 6(a) and Section 6(b) hereof, the Underwriters shall pay all of their own costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, and all travel, lodging and other expenses of the Underwriters or any of their employees incurred by them in connection with any road show.
(b)If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all documented out-of-pocket expenses (such as printing, facsimile, courier service, direct computer expenses, accommodation, travel and fees and disbursements of Underwriters’ counsel, and any other advisors, accountants, appraisers, etc.) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
7. Conditions of the Underwriters’ Obligations:
The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder to purchase Shares at the Closing Time or on each Option Closing Time, as applicable, are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company hereunder as of the Initial Sale Time and as of the Closing Time, and on each Option Closing Time, as applicable, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions at the Closing Time or on each Option Closing Time, as applicable:
(a)the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters at the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time an opinion of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, counsel for the Company (“Company Counsel”), addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Time and such Option Closing Time, substantially in the form in Exhibit A;
(b)the Representative shall have received from KPMG LLP letters dated, respectively: (i) the date of this Agreement; (ii) the Closing Time; and (iii) each Option Closing Time, if any, and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type specified in Accounting Standards No. 6101: “Letters for Underwriters and Certain other Requesting Parties” issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with respect to the financial statements, including any pro forma financial statements, if any, and certain financial information of the Company and the Subsidiaries included in or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and such other matters customarily covered by comfort letters issued in connection with registered public offerings; provided, however, that the letters delivered at the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two (2) business days prior to such date of the Closing Time or such Option Closing Time, as the case may be;
(c) the Representative shall have received at the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time the opinion of Dechert LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Time or such Option
Closing Time, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative;
(d)the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters at the Initial Sale Time, the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time, a certificate of its Chief Financial Officer substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B;
(e)no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been filed to which the Underwriters shall have reasonably objected in writing;
(f)prior to the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time: (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened, by the Commission, and no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, has occurred; and (ii) all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative;
(g)all filings with the Commission required by Rule 424(b) to have been filed by the Closing Time and each Option Closing Time, if any, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by such Rule 424(b);
(h)between the time of execution of this Agreement and the Closing Time or the applicable Option Closing Time, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change or Advisor/Administrator Material Adverse Effect;
(i) the Company shall have applied to have the Shares listed for trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market;
(j) the Company will have delivered, at the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time, to the Underwriters a certificate of the Company signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, to the effect that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Securities Act;
(iii) to the best of the signers’ knowledge, after reasonable investigation, when the Registration Statement became effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable, the representations and warranties in Sections 3(p), 3(q) and 3(r) were true and correct; and
(iv) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been (a) any Material Adverse Change, (b) any transaction that is material to the Company, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) any change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company that is material to the Company, (d) any dividend or distribution of
any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company, or (e) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect;
(k)the Advisor will have delivered, at the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time, to the Underwriters a certificate of the Advisor signed by an executive officer of the Advisor to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Advisor in this Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable, and the Advisor has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable; the Administrator will have delivered, at the Closing Time and on each Option Closing Time to the Underwriters a certificate of the Administrator signed by an executive officer of the Administrator to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Administrator in this Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable, and the Administrator has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as applicable;
(l)FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the Underwriting terms and arrangements; and
(m)the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such other documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the representations, warranties and statements of the Company contained herein, and the performance by the Company of its covenants contained herein, and the fulfillment of any conditions contained herein, as of the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
8. Termination:
(a)The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representative, at any time prior to the Closing Time or any Option Closing Time, (i) if any of the conditions specified in Section 7 hereof shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, or (ii) if there has been since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change, or material change in management of the Company, or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) if there has occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic, political or other conditions, the effect of which on the United States or international financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iv) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or by The Nasdaq Capital Market, or if trading generally on The Nasdaq Capital Market has been suspended (including an automatic halt in trading pursuant to market-decline triggers, other than those in which solely program trading is temporarily halted), or limitations on prices for trading (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by such exchange or FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other Governmental Authority, or (v) any action has been taken by any federal, state, local or foreign government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which, in the reasonable opinion of the Representative, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.
(b)If the Representative elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 8, the Company and the Underwriters shall be notified promptly by telephone, promptly confirmed by e-mail.
(c)If the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under this Agreement or if such sale is not carried out because the Company shall be unable to comply in all material respects with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall not be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 6 and Section 11 hereof) and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 11 hereof) or to one another hereunder.
9. Increase in Underwriters’ Commitments:
If any Underwriter shall default at the Closing Time or on any Option Closing Time in its obligation to take up and pay for the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement on such date, the Representative shall use reasonable efforts, within thirty-six (36) hours after such default, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Shares which such Underwriter shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for (the “Defaulted Shares”). If, during such thirty-six (36) hour period, the Representative shall not have made such arrangements, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six (36) hours within which to make arrangements for another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase the Defaulted Shares. Absent the completion of such arrangements within such thirty-six (36) hour period, (i) if the total number of Defaulted Shares does not exceed 10% of the total number of Shares to be purchased on such date, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall take up and pay for (in addition to the number of Shares which it is otherwise obligated to purchase on such date pursuant to this Agreement) the portion of the total number of Shares agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter on such date in the proportion that its underwriting obligations hereunder bears to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; and (ii) if the total number of Defaulted Shares exceeds 10% of the total number of Shares to be purchased on such date, the Representative may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Company, without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 6 and Section 10 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations hereunder, the Company agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that it will not sell any Shares hereunder on such date unless all of the Shares to be purchased on such date are purchased on such date by the Underwriters (or by substituted underwriters selected by the Representative with the approval of the Company or selected by the Company with the approval of the Representative).
If a new underwriter or underwriters are substituted for a defaulting Underwriter in accordance with the foregoing provision, the Company or the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the applicable Option Closing Time for a period not exceeding five (5) business days in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and other documents may be effected.
The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall refer to and include any underwriter substituted under this Section 9 with the same effect as if such substituted underwriter had originally been named in this Agreement.
10. Indemnity and Contribution by the Company and the Underwriters:
(a)The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, from and against any loss, expense, liability, damage or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, any Underwriter or controlling person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or part thereof), the Preliminary Prospectus (including the information set forth on Schedule II hereto), the Sales Materials or the Prospectus, (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any such Registration Statement, or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading, (iii) any omission or alleged omission from any such Preliminary Prospectus (including the information set forth on Schedule II hereto), Sales Material or Prospectus of a material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iv) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Roadshow Material; except in each case of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above insofar as any such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact contained in and in conformity with the information set forth in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 10(b). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 10(a) shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
If any action is brought against an Underwriter or controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action, and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel and payment of expenses; provided, however, that any failure or delay to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of any obligation hereunder, except to the extent that its ability to defend is actually impaired by such failure or delay. Such Underwriter or controlling person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after delivery of notice of such action or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for the Underwriters or controlling persons in any one action or series of related actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local counsel in any such jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action). Anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any such claim or action effected without its consent.
(b)Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, the Company’s directors, the Company’s officers that signed the Registration Statement, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, expense, liability, damage or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which the Company or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or part thereof), the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any such Registration Statement, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any omission or alleged omission from any such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus of a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only insofar as such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters through the Representative to the Company expressly for use therein. The following statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative to the Company for purposes of Section 3(q), Section 3(r) and this Section 10: (A) the names of the Underwriters set forth on the cover page and back page of the Prospectus and on page S-37, (B) the last paragraph beginning on page S-37, (C) the fourth sentence of the first full paragraph on page S-38, and (D) the last paragraph on page S-39.
If any action is brought against the Company or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Company or such person shall promptly notify the Representative in writing of the institution of such action, and the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel and payment of expenses; provided, however, that any failure or delay to so notify the Representative will not relieve the Representative or any Underwriter of any obligation hereunder, except to the extent that the Representative’s ability to defend is actually impaired by such failure or delay. The Company or such person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company or such person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Representative in connection with the defense of such action or the Representative shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after delivery of notice of such action or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Underwriters (in which case the Representative shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Underwriters shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys in any one action or series of related actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local counsel in any such jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action). Anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, no Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of any such claim or action effected without the written consent of the Representative.
(c)If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 10 in respect of any losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if (but only if) the allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 and of the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and of the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any claim or action.
(d)The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters 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 in subsection (c)(i) and, if applicable, subsection (c)(ii), above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.
11. Survival:
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 10 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Company contained in Section 3, Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement and the warranties and representations of the Advisor and the Administrator contained in Section 3, Section 4 and Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, or any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors and officers, or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the sale and delivery of the Shares. The Company and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify the others of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of the Company’s officers and directors, in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares, or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.
12. Duties:
Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between the parties. The Underwriters undertake to perform such duties and obligations only as expressly set forth herein. Such duties and obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Shares shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement, and the Underwriters shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Shares as are specifically set forth in this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the
transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters); and (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters disclaim any implied duties (including any fiduciary duty), covenants or obligations arising from the Underwriters’ performance of the duties and obligations expressly set forth herein. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the several Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
13. Notices:
Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered to the Representative at Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, 570 Lexington Avenue, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Jeffrey Caliva, with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006-1110, Attention: Matthew J. Carter; if to the Company, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered to the Company at the offices of the Company at 10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, 700 Sixth Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001, Attention: Cynthia M. Krus.
14. Governing Law; Headings:
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles. The section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.
15. Parties at Interest:
The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, each of the OFS Entities and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 10 and Section 11 hereof, and their respective successors, assigns, executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
16. Counterparts and Electronic Signatures:
This Agreement may be signed by the parties in counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. An electronic signature shall constitute an original signature for all purposes.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company, the Advisor and the Administrator on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, please so indicate in the space provided below for the purpose, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Advisor and the Administrator on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters on the other.
| | | | | | | | |
| Very truly yours, |
| | |
| OFS CREDIT COMPANY, INC. |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Name: Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| | |
| | |
| OFS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Name: Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Title: Senior Managing Director |
| | |
| | |
| OFS CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Name: Jeffrey A. Cerny |
| | Title: Senior Managing Director |
| | |
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
| | | | | | | | |
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written: |
|
LUCID CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC |
|
For itself and as Representative of the other |
Underwriters named on Schedule I hereto. |
| |
By: | | /s/ Jeffrey Caliva |
| | Name: Jeffrey Caliva |
| | Title: Managing Director |
| | |
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule I
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Name of Underwriter | | Aggregate Number of Firm Shares To Be Purchased | |
Lucid Capital Markets, LLC | | 454,000 | | |
B. Riley Securities, Inc. | | 291,300 | | |
InspereX LLC | | 213,000 | | |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC | | 60,900 | | |
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. | | 20,800 | | |
Total | | 1,040,000 | |
Schedule II
Pricing Information
| | | | | |
Public Offering Price: | $25.00 |
Number of Initial Shares: | 1,040,000 |
Number of Option Shares: | 156,000 |
Proceeds to the Company per Share: | $24.21875 |
Mandatory Redemption Date: | October 31, 2029 |
Expiration of No-Call Period: | October 31, 2026 |
Dividend Rate: | 7.875% |
Exhibit A
Opinion of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
Exhibit (l)(2)
October 2, 2024
OFS Credit Company, Inc.
10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to OFS Credit Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277773 and 811-23299) (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the offer, issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The Registration Statement provides that the Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to the final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective.
This opinion letter is rendered in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of up to 1,040,000 shares of the Company’s 7.875% Series F Term Preferred Stock due 2029, par value $0.001 per share (collectively, the “Shares”), as described in the prospectus supplement, dated as of September 25, 2024, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Shares are being sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated as of September 24, 2024, by and among the Company, OFS Capital Management, LLC, and OFS Capital Services, LLC, on the one hand, and Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, on the other hand, as representative of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement and have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of the following:
(i)The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, certified as of a recent date by the Delaware Secretary of State (the “Charter”);
(ii)The Certificate of Designation setting forth the terms of the Shares, certified as of a recent date by the Delaware Secretary of State (the “Certificate of Designation”);
| | |
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is part of a global legal practice, operating through various separate and distinct legal entities, under Eversheds Sutherland. For a full description of the structure and a list of offices, please visit www.eversheds-sutherland.com. |
OFS Credit Company, Inc.
October 2, 2024
Page 2
(iii)The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
(iv)The Underwriting Agreement;
(v)A Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the Company issued by the Delaware Secretary of State as of a recent date (the “Certificate of Good Standing”);
(vi)The resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, relating to, among other things, (i) the authorization, offer, issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement; (ii) the authorization, approval and filing of the Certificate of Designation pertaining to the Shares; (iii) the authorization and approval of the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company; and (iv) the authorization of the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company (the “Resolutions”);
With respect to such examination and our opinions expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, (v) that all certificates issued by public officials have been properly issued and (vi) the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company.
This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.
As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions in this opinion letter, we have relied on certificates and/or representations of officers of the Company. We have also relied on certificates and confirmations of public officials. We have not independently established the facts, or in the case of certificates or confirmations of public officials, the other statements, so relied upon.
The opinions set forth below are limited to the effect of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any other laws of State of Delaware or the laws of any other jurisdictions. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.
On the basis of, and subject to the foregoing, and subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in this opinion letter, and assuming that (i) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof will have approved the final terms and conditions of the issuance, offer and sale of the Shares, including those relating to price and amount of Shares to be issued, offered and sold, in accordance with the Resolutions; (ii) the Shares will have been delivered to, and the agreed consideration will have been fully paid at the time of such delivery by, the purchasers thereof; and (iii) the Certificate of Good Standing remains accurate, each of the Charter and the Resolutions remain in effect, without amendment, and the Registration Statement will have become effective under the Securities Act and remains effective at the time of the issuance, offer and sale of the Shares, we are of the opinion that the Shares will have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
OFS Credit Company, Inc.
October 2, 2024
Page 3
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter (a) are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be inferred and (b) are only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the Company or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the “Legal Matters” section in the Registration Statement. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
/s/ EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (US) LLP
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