(1) | Includes management investment companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act. |
Portfolio Manager Compensation
The Adviser’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary and a discretionary bonus.
. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation and employee benefits based on their individual seniority and/or their position with the firm.
Discretionary Compensation
. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary compensation. Discretionary compensation is based on individual seniority, contributions to the Adviser and performance of the client assets that the portfolio manager has primary responsibility for. The discretionary compensation is not based on a precise formula, benchmark or other metric. These compensation guidelines are structured to closely align the interests of employees with those of the Adviser and its clients.
Securities Ownership of the Portfolio Manager
The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities owned by the portfolio manager in the Company as of December 31, 2021.
| | |
Name of Portfolio Manager | | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Company |
Brad Marshall | | Over 1,000,000 |
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MANAGEMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
The information included under the captions “Business—Our Administrator”, “Business —Investment Advisory Agreement”, “Business —Administration Agreement”, “Business—Certain Terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement”, “Business—Expense Support”, “Business—Distributions” and “Business-Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in Part 1, Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K
are incorporated herein by reference.
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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As of July 1, 2022, there were 168,243,901 shares of the Company’s beneficial interest outstanding.
No person is deemed to control the Company, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.
The following table sets forth, as of July 1, 2022, information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common shares by:
| • | | each person known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s beneficial interest; |
| • | | each of the Company’s trustees and each named executive officer; and |
| • | | all of the Company’s trustees and executive officers as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 168,243,901 shares of the Company’s beneficial interest outstanding as of July 1, 2022.
Unless otherwise indicated, to the Company’s knowledge, each shareholder listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the shareholder, except to the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law. Unless otherwise indicated, each shareholder maintains an address of c/o Blackstone Secured Lending Fund, 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, New York 10154.
Ownership information for those persons, if any, who own, control or hold the power to vote, 5% or more of our shares is based upon Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G, Form 13F or other filings by such persons with the SEC and other information obtained from such persons, if available. Such ownership information is as of the date of the applicable filing and may no longer be accurate.
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Trustees and Executive Officers: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Robert Bass | | | 10,926 | | | | * | |
Tracy Collins | | | — | | | | — | |
Vicki L. Fuller | | | — | | | | — | |
James F. Clark | | | — | | | | — | |
Michelle Greene | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Brad Marshall | | | 121, 285 | | | | * | |
Vikrant Sawhney | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Stephan Kuppenheimer | | | 12,457 | | | | * | |
Abby Miller | | | — | | | | — | |
Beth Chartoff | | | 2,077 | | | | * | |
Marisa J. Beeney | | | — | | | | — | |
Katherine Rubenstein | | | — | | | | — | |
Carlos Whitaker | | | — | | | | — | |
Trustees and Executive Officers as a Group (13 persons) 5% Holders: | | | | | | | * | |
QIA FIG Glass Holding Limited | | | 13,723,035 | | | | 8.2 | % |
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Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities held in the Company by each Trustee as of December 31, 2021.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Company (1)(2) | | | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund Complex (1)(2)(3) | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | Over $100,000 | | | | Over $100,000 | |
| | | Over $100,000 | | | | Over $100,000 | |
| | | None | | | | None | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | Over $100,000 | | | | Over $100,000 | |
| | | None | | | | None | |
| | | None | | | | None | |
| | | None | | | | None | |
| | | None | | | | None | |
(1) | Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Exchange Act. |
(2) | The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned are: none, $1 - $10,000, $10,001 - $50,000, $50,001 - $100,000 or over $100,000. |
(3) | The “Fund Complex” consists of the Company, Blackstone Secured Lending Fund, the Blackstone Credit Closed-End Funds (Blackstone Senior Floating Rate Term Fund, Blackstone Long-Short Credit Income Fund, Blackstone Strategic Credit Fund and Blackstone Floating Rate Enhanced Income Fund), as well as the Blackstone Alternative Alpha Funds (Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund, Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund II and Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund) and Blackstone Alternative Multi-Strategy Fund. |
(4) | Mr. Smith resigned as Trustee effective May 3, 2022. |
(5) | Ms. Greene was appointed Trustee effective May 2, 2022. |
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The information included under the caption “Business—Valuation Procedures” in Part 1, Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K
is incorporated herein by reference.
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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
The information included under the caption “Business—Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in Part 1, Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K
are incorporated herein by reference.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares and preferred shares (collectively, for purposes of this discussion, “shares”). This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion applies only to U.S. shareholders that hold our shares as capital assets. A U.S. shareholder is a shareholder that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a U.S. corporation, (iii) a trust if it (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court in the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person, or (iv) any estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source. This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). This discussion does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to special classes of taxpayers including, without limitation, financial institutions, insurance companies, partnerships or other pass-through entities (or investors therein), U.S. shareholders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar,
tax-exempt
organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities or commodities that elect mark to market treatment, or persons that will hold our shares as a position in a “straddle,” “hedge” or as part of a “constructive sale” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, this discussion does not address U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, the application of the Medicare tax on net investment income or the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, or any tax consequences attributable to persons being required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of our shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing jurisdiction.
This summary does not discuss the tax consequences of an investment in our debt securities, subscription rights or warrants. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of such an investment will be discussed in the relevant prospectus supplement. In addition, we may issue preferred shares with terms resulting in U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders of such preferred shares that are different from those set forth in this summary. In such instances, such differences will be discussed in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company
The Company has elected to be treated, and intends to operate in a manner so as to continue to qualify, as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code.
To qualify for the favorable tax treatment accorded to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code, the Company must, among other things: (1) have an election in effect to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year; (2) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; and (b) net income derived from an interest in certain publicly traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in (a) above (each, a “Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership”); and (3) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year of the Company (a) at least 50% of the value of the Company’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities and securities of other RICs, and other securities for purposes of this calculation limited, in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Company’s total assets, and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Company’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of (I) any one issuer, (II) any
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two or more issuers which the Company controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (described in 2(b) above).
If the Company fails to satisfy as of the close of any quarter the asset diversification test referred to in the preceding paragraph, it will have 30 days to cure the failure by, for example, selling securities that are the source of the violation. Other cure provisions are available in the Code for a failure to satisfy the asset diversification test, but any such cure provision may involve the payment of a penalty excise tax.
As a RIC, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes in each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income and its net
tax-exempt
income for such taxable year. Generally, the Company intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gains, if any.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Company must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the
one-year
period ending October 31 of the calendar year and (iii) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. For these purposes, the Company will be deemed to have distributed any income or gains on which it paid U.S. federal income tax.
A dividend will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Company in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Company during January of the following calendar year. Such dividends will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the dividends are received.
If the Company failed to qualify as a RIC or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Company would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on its taxable income (including distributions of net capital gain), even if such income were distributed to its shareholders, and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividend income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of individual and other
non-corporate
shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Company could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (which could be subject to interest charges) before requalifying for taxation as a RIC.
Distributions to shareholders by the Company of ordinary income, and of net short-term capital gains, if any, realized by the Company will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent such distributions are paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions, if any, of net capital gains properly reported as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned our shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which will be applied against and reduce the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares. Distributions paid by the Company generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations or for the reduced rates applicable to certain qualified dividend income received by
non-corporate
shareholders.
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Distributions will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or invested in additional common shares pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional common shares will generally be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of cash that they would have received if they had elected to receive the distribution in cash, unless the Company issues additional common shares with a fair market value equal to or greater than net asset value, in which case such shareholders will generally be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of the fair market value of the distributed common shares. The additional common shares received by a shareholder pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the common shares are credited to the shareholder’s account.
The Company may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained. In such case, the Company may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders, who will be treated as if each received a distribution of his pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will (i) be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Company on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income and capital gains) based upon the percentage of total dividends paid to each class for the tax year. Accordingly, if the Company issues preferred shares, the Company intends to allocate capital gain dividends, if any, between its common shares and preferred shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each class with respect to such tax year. However, distributions in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, would not be allocated proportionately between the common shares and preferred shares. Since the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would first be used to pay dividends on the preferred shares, distributions in excess of such earnings and profits, if any, would be made disproportionately to holders of common shares. Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal tax status of distributions.
Sale or Exchange of Shares
Upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of our shares, a shareholder will generally realize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares sold. Such gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. For
non-corporate
taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently eligible for reduced rates of taxation.
No loss will be allowed on the sale or other disposition of shares if the owner acquires (including pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan) or enters into a contract or option to acquire securities that are substantially identical to such shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the securities acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Losses realized by a shareholder on the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less are treated as long-term capital losses to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gain received (or amounts designated as undistributed capital gains) with respect to such shares.
Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
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Nature of the Company’s Investments
Certain of the Company’s hedging and derivatives transactions are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower-taxed long-term capital gain into higher-taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Company to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the intended characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above.
These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders and the Company’s status as a RIC. The Company will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.
Below Investment Grade Instruments
The Company expects to invest in debt securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for the Company. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Company may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Company, to the extent necessary, to preserve its status as a RIC and to distribute sufficient income to not become subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Original Issue Discount and Market Discount
For federal income tax purposes, we may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive a corresponding payment in cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as zero coupon securities, debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or debt instruments that were issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Furthermore, we have elected to amortize market discount (as determined for federal income tax purposes) and include such amounts in our taxable income on a current basis, instead of upon disposition of the applicable debt obligation. Because any original issue discount or market discount will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of the accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our shareholders in order to satisfy the annual distribution requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount. As a result, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code. We may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may not qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus we may become subject to corporate-level income tax.
Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Company accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Company actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are
78
generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts, certain foreign currency options or futures contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.
The Company’s investment in
non-U.S.
securities may be subject to
non-U.S.
withholding taxes. In that case, the Company’s yield on those securities would be decreased. Shareholders will generally not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Company.
Preferred Shares or Borrowings
If the Company utilizes leverage through the issuance of preferred shares or borrowings, it may be restricted by certain covenants with respect to the declaration of, and payment of, dividends on common shares in certain circumstances. Limits on the Company’s payments of dividends on common shares may prevent the Company from meeting the distribution requirements described above, and may, therefore, jeopardize the Company’s qualification for taxation as a RIC and possibly subject the Company to the 4% excise tax. The Company will endeavor to avoid restrictions on its ability to make dividend payments.
The Company may be required to withhold from all distributions to U.S. shareholders who fail to provide the Company with their correct taxpayer identification numbers or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
U.S. taxation of a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate or a foreign corporation, as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “foreign shareholder”), depends on whether the income from the Company is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder.
If the income from the Company is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income will be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions. However, dividends paid by the Company that are “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” will generally be exempt from such withholding, in each case to the extent the Company properly reports such dividends to shareholders. For these purposes, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally represent distributions of interest or short-term capital gains that would not have been subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the source if received directly by a foreign shareholder, and that satisfy certain other requirements. A foreign shareholder whose income from the Company is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Company that are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares. However, a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements will nevertheless be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% on such capital gain dividends, undistributed capital gains and gains realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares.
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If the income from the Company is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income, any capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Company that are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations. Foreign corporate shareholders may also be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code.
The Company may be required to withhold from distributions that are otherwise exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (or taxable at a reduced treaty rate) unless the foreign shareholder certifies his or her foreign status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.
The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Company.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as “FATCA”), a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax may apply to any dividends that the Company pays to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the Code), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States “account” holders (as specifically defined in the Code) and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a
non-financial
foreign entity, whether such
non-financial
foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such entity provides a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each such substantial United States owner and certain other specified requirements are met. In certain cases, the relevant foreign financial institution or
non-financial
foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. In addition, foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding FATCA and whether it may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of our shares.
Shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their distributions from the Company. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Company.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR SHARES
The following description is based on relevant portions of Delaware law and on our Fourth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”) and bylaws. This summary is not necessarily complete, and we refer you to Delaware law, our Declaration of Trust and our bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below.
Description of our Shares
The terms of the Declaration of Trust authorize an unlimited number of shares, which may include preferred shares.
None of our shares are subject to further calls or to assessments, sinking fund provisions, obligations of the Company or potential liabilities associated with ownership of the security (not including investment risks). In addition, except as may be provided by the Board in setting the terms of any class or series of Common Shares, no shareholder of the Company (“Shareholder”) will be entitled to exercise appraisal rights in connection with any transaction.
The following are the Company’s outstanding classes of securities as of March 31, 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (3) Amount Held by the Company or for the Company’s Account | | | (4) Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amounts Shown Under (3) | |
Common Shares | | | Unlimited | | | | — | | | | 169,691,412 | |
Preferred Shares | | | Unlimited | | | | — | | | | — | |
Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, we retain the right to issue common shares. In addition, Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of Shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights in the election or removal of the trustees. Accordingly, subject to the rights of any outstanding preferred shares, holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote in any election of trustees may elect all of the trustees standing for election. Shareholders are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends declared by the Board, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred shares. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Shareholders will be entitled to receive ratably our net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and will be subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred shares. Shareholders have no redemption or preemptive rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of Shareholders are subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred shares that we may designate and issue in the future.
Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, the Board is authorized to issue preferred shares in one or more series without Shareholder approval. The 1940 Act limits our flexibility as certain rights and preferences of the preferred shares require, among other things: (i) immediately after issuance and before any distribution is made with respect to Shares, we must meet an asset coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and preferred shares, of at least 150%; and (ii) the holders of preferred shares, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two trustees at all times and to elect a majority of the trustees if and for so long as dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid in an amount equal to two full years of dividends on the preferred shares.
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Redemptions by the Company
Each Share is subject to redemption (out of the assets of the Company) by the Company at the redemption price equal to the then current NAV per Share of the Company determined in accordance with the Declaration of Trust at any time if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that a Shareholder has breached any of its representations or warranties contained in such Shareholder’s subscription agreement with the Company, and upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so redeemed will have no further right with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such redemption price.
Limitation on Liability of Trustees and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses
Delaware law permits a Delaware statutory trust to include in its declaration of trust a provision to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee or beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever with the exception of any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Our Declaration of Trust provides that no Shareholder will be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person (as defined in the Declaration of Trust”) in connection with Trust Property (as defined in the Declaration of Trust”) or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Company. Shareholders will have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. No trustee or officer of the Company will be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability to the Company or its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons will look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Company. If any Shareholder, trustee or officer, as such, of the Company, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he will not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification of the applicable section of the Declaration of Trust will not adversely affect any right or protection of a trustee or officer of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
Pursuant to our Declaration of Trust, the Company will indemnify each person who at any time serves as a trustee, officer or employee of the Company (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in the applicable section of the Declaration of Trust by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he will not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Company or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he will have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee will be indemnified thereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misconduct, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification will be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Board or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in the Declaration of Trust will continue as to a person who has ceased to be a trustee or officer of the Company and will inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of the Declaration of Trust or
repeal of any of its provisions will limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a trustee or officer of the Company or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not indemnify an indeminitee unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Company (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested
Non-Party
Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding will be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph below.
In addition, the Declaration of Trust permits the Company to make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Company receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Company unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee will provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Company will be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested
Non-Party
Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, will conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and the Declaration, the Company will have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Company or serving in any capacity at the request of the Company or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Board.
Delaware Law and Certain Declaration of Trust Provisions
Organization and Duration
We were formed in Delaware on March 26, 2018, and will remain in existence until dissolved in accordance with our Declaration of Trust or pursuant to Delaware law.
Under the Declaration of Trust, we are permitted to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a BDC within the meaning of the 1940 Act and engage in any business activity that lawfully may be conducted by a statutory trust organized under Delaware law and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon us pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity.
Term and Election; Certain Transactions
The Company’s Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Company or to change the composition of our Board of Trustees. This could have the effect of depriving shareholders of an opportunity to sell their common shares at a
premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control over the Company. Such attempts could have the effect of increasing the expenses of the Company and disrupting the normal operation of the Company. On October 18, 2021 the Board was divided into three classes, with the terms
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of one class expiring at each annual meeting of shareholders. At each annual meeting, one class of trustees is elected to a three-year term. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. A trustee may be removed from office for cause only, and not without cause, and only by the action of a majority of the remaining trustees followed by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote for the election of the respective trustee.
The Declaration of Trust grants special approval rights with respect to certain matters to members of the Board of Trustees who qualify as “Continuing Trustees,” which term means trustees who either (i) have been members of the Board of Trustees for a period of at least
thirty-six
months (or since the commencement of the Company’s operations, if less than
thirty-six
months) or (ii) were nominated to serve as members of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board of Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust requires the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the trustees and holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Company’s outstanding shares (including common shares and preferred shares, if any) to authorize certain Company transactions not in the ordinary course of business, including a merger, conversion or consolidation, certain issuances or transfers by the Company of the Company’s shares (except as may be pursuant to a public offering, the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan or upon exercise of any stock subscription rights), certain sales, transfers or other dispositions of Company assets, or any shareholder proposal regarding specific investment decisions, unless the transaction is authorized by both a majority of the trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case no shareholder authorization would be required by the
By-Laws
and Declaration of Trust, but may be required in certain cases under the 1940 Act).
The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a third party. These provisions also provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Company to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Company’s investment objective and policies. The provisions of the Declaration of Trust described above could have the effect of discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Company in a tender offer or similar transaction. The Board of Trustees has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Shareholders will only have voting rights as required by the 1940 Act, and Exchange Listing or as otherwise provided for in the Declaration of Trust. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Company will hold annual meetings. A special meeting of the Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and will be called by any trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than thirty-three and
one-third
percent (33
1
/
3
%) of the outstanding shares of the Company, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called, provided that in the case of a meeting called by any trustee at the request of Shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees or removing the Adviser, written request of Shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than
fifty-one
percent (51%) of the outstanding Shares of the Company or class or series of Shares having voting rights on the matter will be required. For a special Shareholder meeting to be called for a proper purpose (as used in the preceding sentence), it is not a requirement that such purpose relate to a matter on which Shareholders are entitled to vote, provided that if such meeting is called for a purpose for which Shareholders are not entitled to vote, no vote will be taken at such meeting. Any shareholder meeting, including a special meeting, will be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Board will designate, and may be held virtually.
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Amendment of the Declaration of Trust; No Approval by Shareholders
The Board may, without Shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement the Declaration of Trust by making an amendment, a Declaration of Trust supplemental thereto or an amended and restated Declaration of Trust. Shareholders will only have the right to vote on any amendment: (i) which would eliminate their right to vote granted in the Declaration of Trust, (ii) to the amendment provision of the Declaration of Trust, (iii) that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Shares as determined by the Board Trustees in good faith and (iv) submitted to them by the Board. A proposed amendment to the Declaration of Trust requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board for adoption.
An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, will become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the Board setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Board, will be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Company or at such other time designated by the Board.
No person, other than a Trustee, who is not a Shareholder will be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of the Company. No Shareholder may maintain a derivative action on behalf of the Company unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares join in the bringing of such action.