As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2013
Securities Act File No. 333-182941
Investment Company Act File No. 811-22725
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-2
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 3
o
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in the Charter)
10 East 40
th
Street, 44
th
Floor
New York, NY 10016
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(212) 448-0702
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
M. Grier Eliasek
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
10 East 40
th
Street, 44
th
Floor
New York, NY 10016
(Name and address of agent for service)
COPIES TO:
Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
John J. Mahon, Esq.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Tel: (202) 383-0100
Fax: (202) 637-3593
Approximate date of proposed public offering:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
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, as amended, other than securities offered in connection with a distribution reinvestment plan, check the following box. ý
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box): o when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Title of Securities
Being Registered |
Amount to be
Registered |
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per Share (1) |
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
100,000,000 shares | $15.00 | $1,500,000,000 | $182,800 (2) | ||||
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Minimum Offering of 133,334 Shares
Maximum Offering of 100,000,000 Shares
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
We are a newly-formed, externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Our investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We expect to seek to achieve our investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of our total assets, or net assets plus borrowings, in senior secured loans made to companies whose debt is rated below investment grade or, in limited circumstances, unrated, which we collectively refer to as "Senior Secured Loans," with an emphasis on current income. Our investments may take the form of the purchase of Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets) or through investments in entities that in turn own a pool of Senior Secured Loans. This investment objective may be changed by our Board of Directors if we provide our stockholders with at least 60 days prior notice. We intend to implement our investment objective in part by purchasing (either in the primary or secondary markets) the equity and junior debt tranches of a type of such pools known as Collateralized Loan Obligations, or "CLOs." We refer to such investments, together with direct investments in Senior Secured Loans, collectively as "Target Securities." Structurally, CLOs are entities that are formed to manage a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans. The Senior Secured Loans within a CLO are limited to Senior Secured Loans which meet specified credit and diversity criteria and are subject to concentration limitations in order to create an investment portfolio that is diverse by Senior Secured Loan, borrower, and industry, with limitations on non-U.S. borrowers.
We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We are managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a private investment firm that is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is an affiliate of ours. Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC oversees the management of our activities and is responsible for making investment decisions for our portfolio. Our administrator, Prospect Administration LLC, will provide administration services necessary for us to operate.
Through Behringer Securities LP, an affiliate of our investment adviser and the dealer manager for this offering, we are offering up to 100,000,000 shares of our common stock (our "shares") in this offering at an initial offering price of $15.00 per share. The dealer manager is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares but will use its best efforts to sell the shares offered. The minimum permitted purchase is $1,000 of our shares. We will not sell any shares unless we raise gross offering proceeds of $2.0 million, all of which must be from persons who are not affiliated with us or Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, by one year from the date of this prospectus, which we refer to as the minimum offering requirement. Pending satisfaction of this condition, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for our subscribers' benefit, pending release to us. If we do not meet the minimum offering requirement by one year from the date of this prospectus, we will promptly return all funds in the escrow account (including interest), and we will stop offering shares. We will not deduct any fees or expenses if we return funds from the escrow account.
We are offering our shares on a continuous basis at an initial offering price of $15.00 per share; however, to the extent that our net asset value increases, we will sell at a price necessary to ensure that shares are not sold at a price per share, after deduction of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, that is below our net asset value per share. In the event of a material decline in our net asset value per share, which we consider to be a non-temporary 5% decrease below our current net offering price, we will reduce our offering price accordingly. We consider any decrease existing at the end of two consecutive fiscal quarters to be non-temporary. Therefore, persons who tender subscriptions for our shares in this offering must submit subscriptions for a certain dollar amount, rather than a number of shares and, as a result, may receive fractional shares. We intend to file post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, that are subject to SEC review, to allow us to continue this offering for three years.
Our shares will not be publicly traded and you should not expect to be able to sell your shares regardless of how we perform. If you are able to sell your shares, you will likely receive less than your purchase price. Our shares are not currently listed on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a secondary market in the shares to develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. We intend to, but are not obligated to, implement a share repurchase program, but only a limited number of shares will be eligible for repurchase by us. You will have no right to
require us to repurchase your shares or any portion thereof. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. See "Share Repurchase Program." Accordingly, you should consider that you may not have access to the money you invest until we complete a liquidity event, which may not occur until three years following the completion of this offering, if at all. This offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. The completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there is no assurance that we will complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all. Accordingly, you may be unable to sell your shares and receive proceeds until at least 2019. As a result of the foregoing, an investment in our shares is not suitable for investors that require short-term liquidity. See "Liquidity Strategy."
Investing in our shares may be considered speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of a substantial loss of investment. Shares of publicly traded closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. If our shares begin trading publicly and trade at a discount to our net asset value, it may increase the risk of loss for purchasers in this offering. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 30 to read about the risks you should consider before buying our shares, including the risk of leverage.
Purchasers of our shares are subject to dilution as a result of expenses we will incur in connection with this offering. In addition, we intend to continue to issue shares, which subjects your ownership percentage in us to further dilution. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to an Investment in Our SharesInvestors in this offering will incur dilution" and "Your interest in us will be diluted if we issue additional shares, which could reduce the overall value of an investment in us."
This prospectus contains important information about us that a prospective investor should know before investing in our shares. Please read this prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. We have filed with the SEC a statement of additional information dated as of the date of this prospectus, as may be amended ("SAI"), containing additional information about us. The SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus. See "Available Information" for a listing of the contents of the SAI. We will also file annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the "SEC." This information and the SAI will be available free of charge by contacting us at 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York, 10016, or by telephone at (212) 448-0702 or on our website at www.priority-incomefund.com . The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains the SAI, and any amendments thereto, and other information regarding us.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Per Share
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Total Minimum
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Total Maximum
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Price to Public (1) |
$15.00 | $2,000,000 | $1,500,000,000 | |||
Sales Load (2) |
$1.20 | $160,000 | $120,000,000 | |||
Proceeds to the Registrant and Other Persons (3) |
$13.80 | $1,840,000 | $1,380,000,000 | |||
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Because you will pay a sales load of up to 8% and estimated offering expenses of up to 1.5% (assuming that the maximum number of shares is sold), if you invest $150 in our shares and pay the full sales load, $135.75 of your investment will actually be used by us for investments. As a result, based on the initial public offering price of $15.00, you would have to experience a total return on your investment of 10.5% in order to recover these expenses. See "Use of Proceeds."
The date of this prospectus is , 2013.
Behringer Securities LP
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC, using a continuous offering process. Periodically, as we make material investments or have other material developments, we will provide a prospectus supplement that may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We will endeavor to avoid interruptions in the continuous offering of our shares, including, to the extent permitted under the rules and regulations of the SEC, by filing an amendment to the registration statement with the SEC if our net asset value declines more than 10% from our net asset value as of the effective date of this registration statement. There can be no assurance, however, that our continuous offering will not be suspended while the SEC reviews such amendment, until the registration statement, as amended, is declared effective.
Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a subsequent prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detailed descriptions of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under "Available Information."
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. Neither we nor the dealer manager have authorized any other person to provide you with different information from that contained in this prospectus. The information contained in this prospectus is complete and accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or sale of our shares. If there is a material change in the affairs of our company, we will amend or supplement this prospectus.
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PAGE | |||
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS |
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY |
1 | |||
FEES AND EXPENSES |
19 | |||
COMPENSATION OF THE DEALER MANAGER AND THE INVESTMENT ADVISER |
22 | |||
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS OFFERING |
25 | |||
RISK FACTORS |
30 | |||
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
54 | |||
USE OF PROCEEDS |
55 | |||
DISTRIBUTIONS |
56 | |||
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGY |
57 | |||
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE |
71 | |||
MANAGEMENT |
74 | |||
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT |
85 | |||
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT |
87 | |||
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENTS |
93 | |||
DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN |
94 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES |
96 | |||
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS |
105 | |||
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
113 | |||
LIQUIDITY STRATEGY |
119 | |||
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM |
120 | |||
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DISTRIBUTION PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR |
122 | |||
LEGAL MATTERS |
122 | |||
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
122 | |||
AVAILABLE INFORMATION |
122 | |||
PRIVACY NOTICE |
123 | |||
APPENDIX A: FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT |
A-1 |
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This summary highlights some of the information in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. To understand this offering fully, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled " Risk Factors, " before making a decision to invest in our shares.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms " we, " " us, " " our, " and the " Company " refer to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.; the term the " Adviser " refers to Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC; the term " Prospect Capital Management " refers to Prospect Capital Management LLC; the term " Behringer Harvard " refers to Behringer Harvard Holdings, LLC; and the terms " Prospect Administration " and the " Administrator " refer to Prospect Administration LLC. In addition, in this prospectus, we use the term " day " to refer to a calendar day, and we use the term " business day " to refer to any day other than Saturday, Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required to close.
Unless otherwise specified, this prospectus assumes that each investor will purchase Class R shares and that such purchase will incur a full sales load.
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
We are a newly formed, externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. As such, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. See "Regulation" in the statement of additional information, or SAI. We are managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act, which oversees the management of our activities and is responsible for making investment decisions for our portfolio. We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.
Our investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We expect to seek to achieve our investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of our total assets, or net assets plus borrowings, in senior secured loans made to companies whose debt is rated below investment grade or, in limited circumstances, unrated, which we collectively refer to as "Senior Secured Loans," with an emphasis on current income. Our investments may take the form of the purchase of Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets) or through investments in entities that in turn own a pool of Senior Secured Loans. This investment objective may be changed by our Board of Directors if we provide our stockholders with at least 60 days prior notice. We intend to implement our investment objective in part by purchasing (either in the primary or secondary markets) the equity and junior debt tranches of a type of such pools known as Collateralized Loan Obligations, or "CLOs." We refer to such investments, together with direct investments in Senior Secured Loans, collectively as "Target Securities." Structurally, CLOs are entities that are formed to manage a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans. The Senior Secured Loans within a CLO are limited to Senior Secured Loans which meet specified credit and diversity criteria and are subject to concentration limitations in order to create an investment portfolio that is broadly assorted across different Senior Secured Loans, borrowers, and industries, with limitations on non-U.S. borrowers. The typical underlying borrowers for Senior Secured Loans are U.S.-based privately-held and publicly-held companies across a wide range of industries and sectors.
Our Adviser will manage our investments and its affiliate, Prospect Administration, will provide the administrative services necessary for us to operate.
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About Our Adviser
We are managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"). Our Adviser is owned 50% by Prospect Capital Management, an asset management firm and registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and 50% by Behringer Harvard, a national sponsor of alternative investment products designed for the individual and institutional investor. Our Adviser is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act and is led by a team of investment professionals from the investment and operations team of Prospect Capital Management. These individuals are responsible for our day-to-day operations on behalf of our Adviser and are responsible for developing, recommending and implementing our investment strategy. Prospect Capital Management also manages Prospect Capital Corporation, a business development company traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to our Adviser and Its Affiliates." Prospect Capital Corporation commenced operations on July 27, 2004, focusing on generating current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation for stockholders, primarily by making investments in senior secured loans, subordinated debt, unsecured debt, Target Securities and equity of a broad portfolio of U.S. companies. Prospect Capital Corporation had (i) total assets of approximately $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2012, and (ii) capital under management of approximately $4 billion (including undrawn credit facilities) as of December 31, 2012.
Our Adviser's investment professionals have significant experience and an extensive track record of investing in companies, managing high-yielding debt and equity investments, and managing and investing in CLOs and Target Securities. Such parties also have extensive knowledge of the managerial, operational and regulatory requirements of publicly registered investment companies. Our Adviser does not currently have employees, but has access to certain investment, finance, accounting, legal and administrative personnel of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration and Behringer Harvard and may retain additional personnel as our activities expand. In particular, our Adviser has entered into a personnel agreement with Prospect Capital Management pursuant to which certain personnel will be made available to our Adviser to assist it in managing our portfolio and operations, provided that they are supervised at all times by our Adviser's management team. See "Investment Objective and StrategyAbout Our Adviser." We believe that this depth of experience and disciplined investment approach will help our Adviser to successfully execute our investment strategy. See "Management" and "Portfolio Management" for biographical information regarding our Adviser's professionals.
All investment decisions will be made by our Adviser's professionals. Our Board of Directors, including a majority of independent directors, will oversee and monitor our investment performance and relationship with our Adviser. See "Investment Advisory Agreement."
Risk Factors
An investment in our shares involves a high degree of risk and may be considered speculative. You should carefully consider the information found in "Risk Factors" before deciding to invest in our shares. The following are some of the risks an investment in us involves:
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Therefore, our Adviser may not be able to successfully operate our business or achieve our investment objective.
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See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 30 and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our shares.
Investment Strategy
Our investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We expect to seek to achieve our investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of our total assets, or net assets plus borrowings, in Senior Secured Loans, with an emphasis on current income. Our investments may take the form of the purchase of Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets) or through investments in entities that in turn own a pool of Senior Secured Loans. This investment objective may be changed by our Board of Directors if we provide our stockholders with at least 60 days prior notice. We intend to implement our investment objective in part by directly purchasing (either in the primary or secondary markets) CLOs. Structurally, CLOs are entities that are formed to manage a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans. The Senior Secured Loans within a CLO are limited to Senior Secured Loans which meet specified credit and diversity criteria and are subject to concentration limitations in order to create an investment portfolio that is broadly assorted across different Senior Secured Loans, borrowers, and industries, with limitations on non-U.S. borrowers.
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The CLOs in which we intend to invest typically will be issued by special purpose vehicles and will be predominantly collateralized against pools of Senior Secured Loans. Such Senior Secured Loans typically will be BB or B rated (non-investment grade) and in limited circumstances, unrated, Senior Secured Loans originated in the U.S., with a first lien on the borrower's assets. We expect to invest in new issue transactions in the primary market and transactions in the secondary market.
We will identify potential investments using our Adviser's market knowledge, experience and industry relationships. Our Adviser's relationships with CLO collateral managers, underwriters and trading desks will be used to source transactions. In determining when to sell an investment, our Adviser will consider the following factors: the performance of such investment, the expected performance by evaluating the company if such investment is a Senior Secured Loan or evaluating the pool of Senior Secured Loans if such investment is in a CLO, current market conditions, the capital needs of the Fund, and other factors.
We expect to seek to invest a majority of our assets in a broad portfolio of cashflow CLOs. We intend to invest so as to obtain exposure across a relatively broad range of underlying borrowers and credit ratings, sectors, CLO collateral managers, and CLO maturity profiles. We also intend to take into consideration any correlation between different underlying securities. In order to comply with diversification requirements applicable to RICs, with respect to half of our investment portfolio, our interest in any one investment will not exceed 5% of the value of our gross assets, and with respect to the other half of our portfolio, our interest in any one investment will not exceed 25% of the value of our gross assets. By virtue of our investments in cashflow CLOs, which will be predominantly collateralized against pools of Senior Secured Loans, we expect to be broadly invested with respect to credit exposure to any one particular industry or borrower although we will have no restrictions on the industry or borrower exposure of the underlying assets and we do not intend to operate as a "diversified" investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act. We do not intend to invest in any CLOs or investments companies managed by our Adviser or its affiliates. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTaxation as a Regulated Investment Company" for our detailed RIC diversification requirements.
As a stockholder of the Company, you will not be able to directly enforce any rights and remedies in the event of a default of a Senior Secured Loan. In the case of CLO securities owned by the Company, the Company will not be able to directly enforce any rights and remedies in the event of a default of a Senior Secured Loan held by a CLO vehicle.
Our Target Securities, and particularly our investments in CLOs, are difficult to value by virtue of the fact that they are not publicly traded or actively traded on a secondary market but, instead, are traded on a privately negotiated over-the-counter secondary basis by institutional investors. As a result, we will value these securities quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors.
We will be subject to certain regulatory restrictions in making our investments. For example, we generally will not be permitted to co-invest with certain entities affiliated with our Adviser in transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates unless we obtain an exemptive order from the SEC or co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. However, we will be permitted to, and may, co-invest in syndicated investments and secondary market investments where price is the only negotiated point. We may seek exemptive relief from the SEC to engage in co-investment transactions with our Adviser and/or its affiliates. However, there can be no assurance that we will seek or obtain such exemptive relief. Even if we receive exemptive relief, neither our Adviser nor its affiliates are obligated to offer us the right to participate in any transactions originated by them. Prior to obtaining exemptive relief, we intend to co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates only in accordance with existing regulatory guidance.
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To seek to enhance our returns, we may borrow money from time to time at the discretion of our Adviser within the levels permitted by the 1940 Act (which generally allows us to incur leverage for up to one-third of our assets) when the terms and conditions available are favorable to long-term investing and well-aligned with our investment strategy and portfolio composition, although we do not intend to incur leverage, or issue preferred shares in the 12 months following effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, or until after the proceeds of this offering are substantially invested in accordance with our investment objective. In determining whether to borrow money, we will analyze the maturity, covenant package and rate structure of the proposed borrowings as well as the risks of such borrowings compared to our investment outlook. The use of borrowed funds or the proceeds of preferred stock to make investments would have its own specific set of benefits and risks, and all of the costs of borrowing funds or issuing preferred stock would be borne by holders of our shares. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Debt Financing" for a discussion of the risks inherent to employing leverage.
While a registered closed-end management investment company may list its shares for trading in the public markets, we have currently elected not to do so. We believe that a non-traded structure initially is appropriate for the long-term nature of the assets in which we invest. This structure allows us to operate with a long-term view, similar to that of other types of private investment fundsinstead of managing to quarterly market expectationsand to pursue our investment objective without subjecting our investors to the daily share price volatility associated with the public markets because our shares will not be listed on a national securities exchange. To provide our stockholders with limited liquidity, we intend to, but are not obligated to, conduct quarterly repurchase offers pursuant to our share repurchase program beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet our minimum offering requirement. This will be the only method of liquidity that we offer prior to a liquidity event. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. See "Share Repurchase Program." Therefore, stockholders may not be able to sell their shares promptly or at a desired price.
Our shares are not currently listed on an exchange, and we do not expect a public market to develop for them in the foreseeable future, if ever.
We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. See "Liquidity Strategy" for a discussion of what constitutes a liquidity event. The completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that we will complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all.
After the completion of this offering, our Board of Directors may determine that we should deregister as an investment company and instead elect to be regulated as a BDC, to the extent it believes doing so is in our best interest. As a BDC, we would be subject to different restrictions on the types of investments we may make which would require us to alter our investment strategy.
See "Investment Objective and Strategy" for additional information regarding our investment strategy.
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Market Opportunity
CLOs are investment vehicles that own a broadly assorted pool of Senior Secured Loans. A CLO uses the cash flows from a broadly assorted portfolio of Senior Secured Loans to service multiple classes of rated debt securities, the proceeds of which together with the junior capital tranches are used to fund the purchase of the underlying Senior Secured Loans. A CLO is a special purpose vehicle (typically formed in the Cayman Islands or another similar foreign jurisdiction) formed to purchase the Senior Secured Loans and issue rated debt securities and equity tranches and/or unrated debt securities (generally treated as equity interests). The rated debt tranches consist of long-term, financing with specified financing terms, including floating interest rates at a stated spread to LIBOR. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our InvestmentsInvestments in foreign securities may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments" and "Our financial results may be affected adversely if one or more of our significant equity or junior debt investments in a CLO vehicle defaults on its payment obligations or fails to perform as we expect."
Debt tranches of CLOs typically are rated and have a stated coupon. Equity tranches of CLOs are typically unrated and do not have a stated coupon. Rather, payments to the equity tranches of CLOs are dependent on the residual cashflows after all interest, fees and expenses on the debt tranches have been paid. The equity tranche of a CLO is the most sensitive to defaults and realized losses as it is the most subordinated tranche in the CLO's capital structure, whereas CLO debt tranches are not impacted by defaults and realized losses until total losses exceed the value of the equity tranche. CLO payment provisions are detailed in a CLO's indenture and are referred to as the "priority of payments" or "waterfall."
Each tranche within a CLO has voting rights on any amendments that would have a material effect on such tranche. Neither the debt tranches nor equity tranche of CLOs have voting rights on the management of the underlying Senior Secured Loan portfolio. The holders of the equity tranches of CLOs typically have the right to approve and/or replace the CLO collateral manager after such CLO manager has triggered a default. The equity tranche of a CLO has the ability to call the debt tranches following a non-call period. Debt tranches of CLOs do not have the right to call the other CLO security tranches.
We believe that the Senior Secured Loan and CLO markets have represented and continue to represent attractive areas for investment. We believe that while the U.S. Senior Secured Loan market is relatively large, with Standard & Poor's estimating the total par value outstanding at approximately U.S. $514.3 billion as of June 30, 2012, this market remains largely inaccessible to a significant portion of investors that are not lenders or approved institutions.
The Senior Secured Loan market is characterized by various factors, including:
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increases in interest rates and inflation. Also, the debt tranches of a CLO have floating interest rates as well, which provides a partial matching of changes in the interest rates on the CLO's assets and liabilities.
In the current environment, we believe the above attributes are particularly desirable. We believe that the potential returns on Senior Secured Loans will remain attractive for at least the next two to three years, particularly taking into account that corporate issuers need to refinance approximately U.S.$400 billion of Senior Secured Loans over the next six years (4) and that funding for such refinancing, including by CLOs, may remain scarce. We believe any such supply and demand imbalance is likely to result in attractive yields for Target Securities.
We believe that the CLO securities in which we intend to invest currently represent, as a class, an opportunity to obtain attractive risk-adjusted investment returns. We believe that a number of factors support this conclusion, including:
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We caution investors that the past performance described above is not indicative of future returns and the results do not include fees, expenses or taxes that a stockholder may incur. The results described above may not be representative of our portfolio.
Potential Competitive Strengths
We believe that we offer our investors the following potential competitive strengths:
Established platform with seasoned investment professionals. We will benefit from the wider resources of our Adviser through the personnel it utilizes from Prospect Capital Management, which is focused on sourcing, structuring, executing, monitoring and exiting a broad range of investments. We believe these personnel possess market knowledge, experience and industry relationships that enable them to identify potentially attractive investment opportunities in Target Securities.
Long-term investment horizon. Unlike private equity and venture capital funds, we will not be subject to standard periodic capital return requirements. Such requirements typically stipulate that capital invested in these funds, together with any capital gains on such investment, can be invested only once and must be returned to investors after a pre-determined time period. We believe our ability to make investments with a longer-term view and without the capital return requirements of traditional private investment vehicles will provide us with greater flexibility to seek investments that can generate attractive returns on invested capital.
Efficient Tax Structure. As a regulated investment company, or "RIC," we generally will not be required to pay federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we receive from our investments and distribute to our stockholders as dividends. Because we are not required to pay federal income taxes on our income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders, we expect to be able to offer investment terms to potential issuers that are comparable to those offered by our corporate-taxpaying competitors, and achieve after-tax net returns that are often greater than their after-tax net returns. Furthermore, tax-exempt investors in our shares who do not finance their acquisition of our shares with indebtedness should not be required to recognize unrelated business taxable income, or "UBTI." Although, as a RIC, dividends received by us from taxable entities and distributed to our stockholders will not be subject to federal income taxes, any taxable entities we own will generally be subject to federal and state income taxes on their income. As a result, the net return to us on such investments that are held by such subsidiaries will be reduced to the extent that the subsidiaries are subject to income taxes.
Disciplined, income-oriented investment philosophy. Our Adviser expects to employ a conservative investment approach focused on current income and long-term investment performance. This investment approach involves a multi-stage selection process for each investment opportunity, as well as ongoing monitoring of each investment made, with particular emphasis on early detection of deteriorating credit conditions at issuers of Target Securities which could result in adverse portfolio developments. This strategy is designed to maximize current income and minimize the risk of capital loss while maintaining potential for long-term capital appreciation.
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Investment expertise across all levels of the corporate capital structure. We believe the personnel available to our Adviser have broad expertise and experience investing in companies, managing high-yielding debt and equity investments, and managing and investing in Target Securities. We will attempt to capitalize on this expertise in an effort to produce and maintain an investment portfolio that will perform well in a broad range of economic conditions.
Plan of Distribution
This is a continuous offering of our shares as permitted by the federal securities laws. We are offering to the public three classes of shares, Class R shares, Class RIA shares and Class I shares. We are offering to sell any combination of our shares, with an aggregate number of shares up to the maximum offering of shares. The classes of shares differ with respect to the sales load you must pay. For example, you will pay (i) selling commissions and dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class R shares, (ii) dealer manager fees, but no selling commissions, for the purchase of our Class RIA shares and (iii) no selling commissions or dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class I shares. However, regardless of class, each share of our common stock will have identical rights with respect to voting and distributions, and will likewise bear its own pro rata portion of our expenses and have the same net asset value as each other share of our common stock.
We intend to file post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, that are subject to SEC review, to allow us to continue this offering for three years. The dealer manager is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares but will use its best efforts to sell the shares offered. The minimum permitted purchase is $1,000. Pursuant to this prospectus, we are required to raise at least $2.0 million, all of which must be from purchasers not affiliated with us or our Adviser, within one year from the commencement of our offering in order to meet the minimum offering requirement. Upon satisfying the minimum offering requirement, offering proceeds will be released to us and we will commence operations.
We are offering our shares on a continuous basis at an initial offering price of $15.00 per share; however, to the extent that our net asset value increases, we will sell at a price necessary to ensure that shares are not sold at a price per share, after deduction of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, that is below our net asset value per share. In the event of a material decline in our net asset value per share, which we consider to be a non-temporary 5% decrease below our current net offering price, we will reduce our offering price accordingly. We consider any decrease existing at the end of two consecutive fiscal quarters to be non-temporary. Promptly following any such adjustment to the offering price per share, we will file a prospectus supplement with the SEC disclosing the adjusted offering price, and we will also post the updated information on our website at www.priority-incomefund.com .
In addition, a non-temporary decline in our net asset value per share to an amount more than 5% below our current offering price, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, creates a rebuttable presumption that there has been a material change in the value of our assets such that a reduction in the offering price per share is warranted. This presumption may only be rebutted if our Board of Directors, in consultation with our Adviser, reasonably and in good faith determines that the decline in net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, rather than a more fundamental shift in the valuation of our portfolio. In the event that (i) net asset value per share decreases to more than 5% below our current net offering price and (ii) our Board of Directors believes that such decrease in net asset value per share is the result of a non-temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, our Board of Directors will undertake to establish a new net offering price that is not more than 5% above our net asset value per share plus selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses. If, instead, our Board of Directors determines that the decline in our net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, investors will purchase shares at an offering price per share, net of selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses, which represents a premium to the net asset value per share of greater than 5%.
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Behringer Securities LP will act as the dealer manager in connection with the sale of shares registered in this offering. The dealer manager was formed in 2001 and is an affiliate of our Adviser.
To purchase shares in this offering, you must complete and sign a subscription agreement (in the form attached to this prospectus as Appendix A) for a specific dollar amount equal to or greater than $1,000 and pay such amount at the time of subscription. Prior to our meeting the minimum offering requirement, you should make your check payable to "UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." Subsequent to our meeting the minimum offering requirement, you should make your check payable to "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Pending acceptance of your subscription, proceeds will be deposited into an account for your benefit. Subscriptions received prior to our meeting the minimum offering requirement will be deposited into an interest-bearing account. See "How to Subscribe."
How to Subscribe
Investors seeking to purchase our shares should proceed as follows:
Via Mail: | Via Express/Overnight Delivery: | |
UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for | UMB Bank, N. A., as escrow agent for | |
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | |
P.O. Box 219768 | 430 West 7th Street | |
Kansas City, MO 64121-9768 | Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 | |
866-655-3650 | 866-655-3650 |
Subsequent to our meeting the minimum offering requirement, you should make your check payable to:
Via Mail: | Via Express/Overnight Delivery: | |
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | |
c/o Behringer Harvard Shareholder Services | c/o Behringer Harvard Shareholder Services | |
P.O. Box 219768 | 430 West 7th Street | |
Kansas City, MO 64121-9768 | Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 | |
866-655-3650 | 866-655-3650 |
After you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement, additional purchases must be in increments of $500, except for purchases made pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Subscriptions will be accepted or rejected within 30 days of receipt by
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us and, if rejected, all funds shall be returned to subscribers within such timeframe without deduction for any expenses.
An approved trustee must process and forward to us subscriptions made through IRAs, Keogh plans and 401(k) plans. In the case of investments through IRAs, Keogh plans and 401(k) plans, we will send the confirmation and notice of our acceptance to the trustee.
Pending meeting the minimum offering requirement, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by our escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for our subscribers' benefit, pending release to us. If we do not raise gross offering proceeds of $2.0 million by one year from the date of this prospectus, we will promptly return all funds in the escrow account (including interest), and we will stop offering shares.
Use of Proceeds
We intend to use substantially all of the proceeds from this offering, net of expenses, to make investments, with an emphasis on current income. Those investments may take the form of the purchase of Target Securities. The remainder we expect to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. There can be no assurance we will be able to sell all the shares we are registering. If we sell only a portion of the shares we are registering, we may be unable to achieve our investment objective or provide variation in our portfolio.
We estimate that it will take up to three to six months for us to substantially invest the net proceeds from each closing of this continuous offering, depending on the availability of attractive opportunities and market conditions. However, we can offer no assurance that we will be able to achieve this goal. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds of this offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, consistent with our election to be taxed as a RIC. See "Use of Proceeds."
Share Repurchase Program
Our shares are not currently listed on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a public market for them to develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. Therefore, stockholders should not expect to be able to sell their shares promptly or at a desired price.
Beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet the minimum offering requirement, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, we intend to offer to repurchase shares on such terms as may be determined by our Board of Directors unless, in the judgment of our Board of Directors, such repurchases would not be in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders, or would violate applicable law. In months in which we repurchase shares, we will conduct repurchases on the same date that we hold our first closing in such month for the sale of shares in this offering. We will conduct such repurchase offers in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 14E and Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act. Any offer to repurchase shares will be conducted solely through tender offer materials mailed to each stockholder and is not being made through this prospectus.
We will limit the number of shares to be repurchased in any calendar year to 20% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding in the prior calendar year, or 5% in each quarter, though the actual number of shares that we offer to repurchase may be less in light of the limitations noted below. At the discretion of our Board of Directors, we may use cash on hand, cash available from borrowings and cash from the sale of investments as of the end of the applicable period to repurchase shares. In addition, we intend to limit the number of shares to be repurchased during any calendar year to the number of shares we can repurchase with the proceeds we receive from the sale of our shares under
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our distribution reinvestment plan. We will offer to repurchase such shares at a price equal to the net asset value per share of our common stock most recently disclosed in a periodic filing with the SEC immediately prior to the date of repurchase.
In connection with its consideration of whether to repurchase shares, our Board of Directors will consider any requests it has received from stockholders. If you wish to submit your shares to be repurchased, you must either submit at least 25% of the shares you purchased in the offering or all of the shares that you own. If you choose to submit only a portion of your shares, you must maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 worth of shares following any repurchase. If the amount of repurchase requests exceeds the number of shares we seek to repurchase, we will repurchase shares on a pro-rata basis. As a result, we may repurchase less than the full amount of shares that you request to have repurchased. Further, we will not be obligated to repurchase shares if doing so would violate restrictions on distributions under applicable federal or Maryland law prohibiting distributions that would cause us to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency. If we do not repurchase the full amount of your shares that you have requested to be repurchased, or we determine not to make repurchases of our shares, you may not be able to dispose of your shares, even if we under-perform. Any periodic repurchase offers will be subject in part to our available cash and compliance with the RIC qualification and diversification rules promulgated under the Code and the 1940 Act.
While we intend to conduct quarterly repurchase of our shares as described above, we are not required to do so and may suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. See "Share Repurchase Program."
Liquidity Strategy
We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. A liquidity event could include, among other things, (1) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation, (2) a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by our Board of Directors in which our stockholders will receive cash or shares of a publicly traded company. We refer to the aforementioned scenarios as "liquidity events." While our intention is to pursue a liquidity event immediately following the completion of this offering, the completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that a suitable transaction will be available or that market conditions will permit a liquidity event. As a result, a liquidity event may not occur within our projected timeframe or at all. In making a determination of what type of liquidity event is in the best interest of our stockholders, our Board of Directors, including our independent directors, may consider a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to, portfolio diversification, portfolio performance, our financial condition, potential access to capital as a listed company, market conditions for the sale of our assets or listing of our shares, internal management considerations and the potential for stockholder liquidity. If we determine to pursue a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange in the future, at that time we may consider either an internal or an external management structure.
Prior to the completion of a liquidity event, our share repurchase program may provide a limited opportunity for you to have your shares repurchased, subject to certain restrictions and limitations, at a
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price which may reflect a discount from the purchase price you paid for the shares being repurchased. See "Share Repurchase Program" for a detailed description of our share repurchase program.
Advisory Fees
Our Adviser will be compensated for its services. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, our Adviser is entitled to a fee consisting of two componentsa base management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.0% of our total assets. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated based on the average value of our total assets as of the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The subordinated incentive fee, which we refer to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon our "pre-incentive fee net investment income" for the immediately preceding quarter and will be subordinated to a preferred return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter equal to 1.5% per quarter, or an annualized rate of 6.0%. See "Investment Advisory AgreementOverview of Our AdviserAdvisory Fees."
Administration
We have entered into an administration agreement (the "Administration Agreement") under which we have agreed to reimburse Prospect Administration for our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including furnishing us with office facilities, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such facilities, as well as providing us with other administrative services. Prospect Administration is controlled by Prospect Capital Management, which owns 50% of our Adviser. In addition, we have entered into an investor services agreement (the "Investor Services Agreement") under which we have agreed to reimburse a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard for providing investor relations support and related back-office services with respect to our investors. Behringer Harvard owns 50% of our Adviser. See "Administration Agreements."
Conflicts of Interest
Our Adviser and certain of its affiliates may experience conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business affairs, including, but not limited to, the following:
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Available Information
Following the effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This
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information will be available at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . The public may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. This information will also be available free of charge by contacting us at 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York, 10016, or by telephone at (212) 448-0702 or on our website at www.priority-incomefund.com . These reports should not be considered a part of or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus, or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Distributions
Subject to our Board of Directors' discretion and applicable legal restrictions, we intend to authorize and declare ordinary cash distributions on a quarterly basis and pay such distributions on a monthly basis beginning no later than the end of the first full calendar quarter after the minimum offering requirement is met. We will then calculate each stockholder's specific distribution amount for the period using weekly record dates with each stockholder eligible to receive distributions beginning the week we accept the stockholder's subscription for our shares. From time to time, we may also pay interim special distributions in cash or in our shares at the discretion of our Board of Directors. For example, our Board of Directors may periodically declare share distributions in order to reduce our net asset value per share if necessary to ensure that we do not sell shares at a price below net asset value per share. Our distributions may exceed our earnings, especially during the period before we have substantially invested the proceeds from this offering. Therefore, portions of the distributions that we make may be a return of the money that you originally invested and represent a return of capital to you for tax purposes. Such a return of capital is not immediately taxable, but reduces your tax basis in our shares, which may result in higher taxes for you even if your shares are sold at a price below your original investment. Each year a statement on Form 1099-DIV identifying the source of the distribution will be mailed to our stockholders. There can be no assurance that we will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations."
We intend to make our ordinary distributions in the form of cash, out of assets legally available, unless stockholders elect to receive their distributions in additional shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. Any distributions reinvested under the plan will nevertheless remain taxable to a U.S. stockholder. If stockholders hold shares in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, they should contact the broker or financial intermediary regarding their election to receive distributions in additional shares.
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
We have adopted an "opt in" distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to which you may elect to have the full amount of your cash distributions reinvested in additional shares. Participants in our distribution reinvestment plan are free to elect or revoke reinstatement in the distribution reinvestment plan within a reasonable time as specified in the plan. If you do not elect to participate in the plan you will automatically receive any distributions we declare in cash. For example, if our Board of Directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash distribution, then if you have "opted in" to our distribution reinvestment plan you will have your cash distributions reinvested in additional shares, rather than receiving the cash distributions. During this offering, we generally intend to coordinate distribution payment dates so that the same price that is used for the closing date immediately following such distribution payment date will be used to calculate the purchase price for purchasers under the distribution reinvestment plan. In such case, your reinvested distributions will purchase shares at a price equal to 95% of the price that shares are sold in the offering at the closing immediately following the distribution payment date. See "Distribution Reinvestment Plan." No commissions or fees will be assessed pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
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Taxation
We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders from our tax earnings and profits. To maintain our RIC tax treatment, we must meet specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements and distribute annually at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations."
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York, 10016. We maintain a website at www.priority-incomefund.com . Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus.
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The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor in this offering will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by "you," "us" or "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.," or that "we" will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in us.
Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering price) (1)
Sales load to dealer manager (2) |
8.00 | % | ||
Offering expenses (3) |
5.00 | % | ||
Distribution reinvestment plan fees (4) |
| |||
Total stockholder transaction expenses |
13.00 | % |
Annual expenses (as a percentage of average net assets attributable to shares) (1)
Management fee (5) |
2.00 | % | ||
Incentive fees payable under our Investment Advisory Agreement (up to 20% on net investment income, subject to a hurdle rate of 6% annualized) (6) |
0.00 | % | ||
Interest payments on borrowed funds (7) |
0.00 | % | ||
Other expenses (8) |
1.65 | % | ||
Acquired fund fees and expenses (9) |
4.75 | % | ||
Total Annual Expenses |
8.40 | % |
Example
The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in our shares. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed our annual operating expenses would remain at the percentage levels set forth in the table above and that stockholders would pay a sales load of 8.0%, comprised of a selling commission of 6.0% and a dealer manager fee of 2.0%, with respect to shares sold by us in this offering.
|
1
Year |
3
Years |
5
Years |
10
Years |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5.0% annual return: (1)(6) |
$ | 202 | $ | 338 | $ | 466 | $ | 748 |
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The example and the expenses in the tables above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5.0% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5.0%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value, we generally intend that participants in our distribution reinvestment plan during this offering will receive a number of our shares determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by a price equal to 95% of the price that shares are sold in the offering at the closing immediately following the distribution payment date. See "Distribution Reinvestment Plan" for additional information regarding our distribution reinvestment plan. See "Plan of Distribution" for additional information regarding stockholder transaction expenses.
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COMPENSATION OF THE DEALER MANAGER AND THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
The dealer manager receives compensation and reimbursement for services relating to this offering, and we compensate our Adviser for the investment and management of our assets. The most significant items of compensation, fees and other payments that we expect to pay to these entities and their affiliates are included in the table below. The selling commissions and dealer manager fee may vary for different categories of purchasers. See "Plan of Distribution." This table assumes the shares are sold through distribution channels associated with the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees. For illustrations of how the base management fee and the subordinated incentive fee on income are calculated, see "Investment Advisory AgreementOverview of Our AdviserAdvisory Fees."
Type of Compensation
|
Determination of Amount |
Estimated Amount for
Maximum Offering (100,000,000 Shares) (1) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Fees to the Dealer Manager |
||||
Sales load selling commissions (2) |
Up to 6.0% of gross offering proceeds from the offering; all selling commissions are expected to be re-allowed to selected broker-dealers. |
$90 million |
||
Dealer manager fee (2) |
2.0% of gross proceeds, up to 1.15% of which may be re-allowed to selected broker-dealers. |
$30 million |
||
Reimbursement to Our Investment Adviser |
||||
Other organization and offering expenses (3) |
We reimburse our Adviser for the organizational and offering costs it has incurred on our behalf only to the extent that the reimbursement would not cause the selling commissions, dealer manager fee, accountable due diligence expenses and the other organizational and offering expenses borne by us to exceed 13.0% of the gross offering proceeds as the amount of proceeds increases. If we issue the maximum amount offered, we estimate that these expenses would be $22.5 million, or 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds. |
$22.5 million |
||
Investment Adviser Fees |
||||
Base management fee |
The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.0% of our total assets. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated based on the average value of our total assets as of the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The base management fee may or may not be taken in whole or in part at the discretion of our Adviser. All or any part of the base management fee not taken as to any quarter shall be deferred without interest and may be taken in any such other quarter as our Adviser shall determine. |
$30 million annually |
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Type of Compensation
|
Determination of Amount |
Estimated Amount for
Maximum Offering (100,000,000 Shares) (1) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Subordinated incentive fee on income |
The subordinated incentive fee on income is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon our "pre-incentive fee net investment income" for the immediately preceding quarter, and will be subordinated to a preferred return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter equal to 1.5% per quarter (an annualized rate of 6.0%). (4) No subordinated incentive fee on income is payable in any calendar quarter in which pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the preferred quarterly return of 1.5% on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For any calendar quarter in which pre-incentive fee net investment income is greater than the preferred quarterly return, but less than 1.875%, the subordinated incentive fee on income shall equal the amount of pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the preferred quarterly return. This fee is referred to as the catch-up (5) and provides an increasing fee, but is in no event greater than the 20.0% of the pre-incentive fee net investment income, as the pre-incentive fee net investment income increases from a 1.5% to a 1.875% quarterly return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For any calendar quarter in which the pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 1.875% of the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, the subordinated incentive fee on income shall equal 20.0% of pre-incentive fee net investment income. |
These amounts cannot be estimated since they are based upon the performance of the assets held by the Company. The Company has not commenced operations and has no prior performance. |
||
Other Expenses |
||||
Other operating expenses |
We will reimburse the expenses incurred by Prospect Administration in connection with its provision of administrative services provided to us, including the compensation payable by Prospect Administration to our chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, treasurer and secretary and other administrative personnel of Prospect Administration. We will also reimburse our Adviser for routine non-compensation overhead expenses and reimburse a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard for costs incurred under the Investor Services Agreement. |
We have estimated these annual expenses to be approximately $3.0 million. Actual amounts may be lower or higher than this. |
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Certain of the advisory fees payable to our Adviser are not based on the performance of our investments. See "Investment Advisory Agreement" in this prospectus and "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" in the SAI for a more detailed description of the fees and expenses payable to our Adviser, the dealer manager and its affiliates, and the conflicts of interest related to these arrangements.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS OFFERING
Set forth below are some of the more frequently asked questions and answers relating to our structure, our management, our business and an offering of this type. See "Prospectus Summary" and the remainder of this prospectus for more detailed information about our structure, our business and this offering.
In the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, funds managed by Prospect Capital Management have invested over $450 million in the Target Securities of CLOs managed by third party CLO collateral managers. Our Adviser's professionals will utilize its experience in investing in CLOs and make recommendations to our Adviser in a manner that is consistent with its existing investment and monitoring processes.
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registered investment advisers. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only through (1) fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, of investment dealers, (2) participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients, (3) certain registered investment advisors or (4) bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers. If you are eligible to purchase multiple classes of shares, you should consider, among other things, the amount of your investment, the length of time you intend to hold the shares, the selling commission and fees attributable to each class of shares. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor regarding your account type and the classes of shares you may be eligible to purchase.
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of the U.S. stockholder's holding period for his, her or its shares and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. stockholder's adjusted tax basis in such stockholder's shares and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. stockholder. We do not expect that special share distributions that we pay ratably to all investors from time to time, if any, will be taxable.
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complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. A liquidity event could include, among other things, (1) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation, (2) a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by our Board of Directors in which our stockholders will receive cash or shares of a publicly traded company. We refer to the aforementioned scenarios as "liquidity events." While our intention is to pursue a liquidity event immediately following the completion of this offering, the completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that a suitable transaction will be available or that market conditions will permit a liquidity event. As a result, a liquidity event may not occur within our projected timeframe or at all.
Behringer Securities LP
15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600
Addison, Texas, 75001
(866) 655-3650
Attention: Shareholder Services
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Investing in our shares involves a number of significant risks. In addition to the other information contained elsewhere in this prospectus, you should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our shares. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, the net asset value of our shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Structure
We have not identified any specific investments that we will make with the proceeds from this offering, and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our investments prior to purchasing our shares.
Neither we nor our Adviser has presently identified, made investments in or contracted to make any investments. As a result, you will not be able to evaluate the economic merits, transaction terms or other financial or operational data concerning our investments prior to purchasing our shares. You must rely on our Adviser and our Board of Directors to implement our investment policies, to evaluate our investment opportunities and to structure the terms of our investments. Because investors are not able to evaluate our investments in advance of purchasing our shares, this offering may entail more risk than other types of offerings. This additional risk may hinder your ability to achieve your own personal investment objectives related to portfolio diversification, risk-adjusted investment returns and other objectives.
We are a new company and have no operating history.
We were formed in July 2012 and will not commence operations until we receive gross proceeds of $2.0 million, all of which must be from persons who are not affiliated with us or our Adviser, which we refer to as meeting the minimum offering requirement. We are subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that we will not achieve our investment objective and that the value of our shares could decline substantially.
Our Board of Directors may change our investment objective by providing our stockholders with 60 days prior notice, or may modify or waive our current operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.
Our investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We expect to seek to achieve our investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of our total assets, or net assets plus borrowings, in Senior Secured Loans, with an emphasis on current income. Our investments may take the form of the purchase of Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets) or through investments in entities that in turn own a pool of Senior Secured Loans. This investment objective may be changed by our Board of Directors if we provide our stockholders with at least 60 days prior notice. In addition, our Board of Directors has the authority to modify or waive our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our investment objective, current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, net asset value, operating results or the value of our shares. However, the effects might be adverse, which could negatively impact our ability to pay you distributions and cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Moreover, we will have significant flexibility in investing the net proceeds of this offering and may use the net proceeds from our public offering in ways with which investors may not agree or for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of our public offering. Finally, since our shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, you will be limited in your ability to sell your shares in response to any changes in our investment objective, operating policies, investment criteria or strategies.
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Price declines in the markets for Target Securities may adversely affect the fair value of our portfolio, reducing our net asset value through increased net unrealized depreciation.
Prior to the onset of the financial crisis, CLOs, hedge funds and other investment vehicles, comprised the majority of the market for purchasing and holding Senior Secured Loans (both with first liens and second liens). As the secondary market pricing of the loans underlying these portfolios deteriorated during the fourth quarter of 2008, it is our understanding that many investors, as a result of their generally high degrees of leverage, were forced to raise cash by selling their interests in performing loans in order to satisfy margin requirements or the equivalent of margin requirements imposed by their lenders. This resulted in a forced deleveraging cycle of price declines, compulsory sales, and further price declines, with widespread redemption requests and other constraints resulting from the credit crisis generating further selling pressure. The pervasive forced selling and the resultant price declines led to the elimination or significant impairment of many of our leveraged competitors for investment opportunities, especially those having built their investment portfolios prior to the financial crisis.
While prices appreciated measurably during 2009 and 2010, conditions in the markets for Target Securities may deteriorate again, which may cause pricing levels to decline. As a result, we may suffer unrealized depreciation and could incur realized losses in connection with the sale of our investments, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Economic activity in the United States was impacted by the global financial crisis of 2008 and has yet to fully recover.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2007, global credit and other financial markets suffered substantial stress, volatility, illiquidity and disruption. These forces reached extraordinary levels in late 2008, resulting in the bankruptcy of, the acquisition of, or government intervention in, the affairs of several major domestic and international financial institutions. In particular, the financial services sector was negatively impacted by significant write-offs as the value of the assets held by financial firms declined, impairing their capital positions and abilities to lend and invest. We believe that such value declines were exacerbated by widespread forced liquidations as leveraged holders of financial assets, faced with declining prices, were compelled to sell to meet margin requirements and maintain compliance with applicable capital standards. Such forced liquidations also impaired or eliminated many investors and investment vehicles, leading to a decline in the supply of capital for investment and depressed pricing levels for many assets. These events significantly diminished overall confidence in the debt and equity markets, engendered unprecedented declines in the values of certain assets, and caused extreme economic uncertainty.
Economic activity continues to be somewhat subdued as unemployment rates remain high. Despite this, capital has steadily flowed into the financial markets since the nadir of the credit crisis, as general risk aversion has subsided. As a result, corporate interest rate risk premiums, otherwise known as credit spreads, declined significantly throughout most of 2009 and 2010. However, credit spreads remain above historical averages, particularly in Senior Secured Loans. The improving economic and market conditions which have driven these declines in credit spreads may reverse themselves if uncertainty returns to the markets. Such a reversal could negatively impact credit spreads as well as our ability to obtain financing, particularly from the debt markets.
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Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our Adviser ' s ability to manage and support our investment process. If our Adviser were to lose access to its professionals, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.
Since we have no employees, we will depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of our Adviser. Our Adviser will evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute, monitor and service our investments. Our future success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of the professionals of our Adviser. The departure of any of our Adviser's professionals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.
Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our Adviser's ability to identify, analyze, invest in, finance and monitor companies and investments that meet our investment criteria. Our Adviser's capabilities in structuring the investment process, providing competent, attentive and efficient services to us, and facilitating access to financing on acceptable terms depend on the employment of investment professionals in an adequate number and of adequate sophistication to match the corresponding flow of transactions. To achieve our investment objective, our Adviser may need to hire, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals to participate in our investment selection and monitoring process. our Adviser may not be able to find investment professionals in a timely manner or at all. Failure to support our investment process could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Both the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement have termination provisions that allow the parties to terminate the agreements without penalty. For example, the Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by our Adviser upon 60 days' notice to us. If either agreement is terminated, it may adversely affect the quality of our investment opportunities. In addition, in the event such agreements are terminated, it may be difficult for us to replace our Adviser or Prospect Administration.
Because our business model depends to a significant extent upon relationships with investment banks, commercial banks and CLO collateral managers, the inability of our Adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.
We expect that our Adviser will depend on its relationships with investment banks, commercial banks and CLO collateral managers, and we will rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If our Adviser fails to maintain its existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sources of investment opportunities, we may not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom our Adviser have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and, therefore, there is no assurance that such relationships will generate investment opportunities for us.
We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities, which could delay deployment of our capital, reduce returns and result in losses.
We compete for investments with other investment companies and investment funds (including private equity funds, mezzanine funds and CLOs), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Moreover, alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, invest in Target Securities. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in Target Securities may intensify. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we have. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety
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of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to do. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors' pricing, terms and structure. If we are forced to match our competitors' pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for Target Securities is underserved by financing sources generally. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms. Furthermore, many of our competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act will impose on us as a registered closed-end management investment company.
A significant portion of our investment portfolio will be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and, as a result, there will be uncertainty as to the value of our investments.
Under the 1940 Act, we are required to carry our investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by our Board of Directors. Typically, there will not be a public market for the investments that we intend to make. Our Target Securities, and particularly our investments in CLOs, are difficult to value by virtue of the fact that they are not publicly traded or actively traded on a secondary market but, instead, are traded on a privately negotiated over-the-counter secondary market for institutional investors. As a result, we will value these securities quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. Certain factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include dealer quotes for securities traded on the secondary market for institutional investors, the nature and realizable value of any collateral and estimates of the value of securities in which we invest, which will be supplied, directly or indirectly, by banks, other market counterparties or pricing systems or estimates approved for such purpose by our board or directors. Such estimates may be unaudited or may be subject to little verification or other due diligence and may not comply with generally accepted accounting practices or other valuation principles. In addition, these entities may not provide estimates of the value of the securities in which we invests on a regular or timely basis or at all with the result that the values of such investments may be estimated by our Adviser on the basis of information available at the time. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these non-traded securities existed or if we tried to sell our investments. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our net asset value on a given date to materially understate or overstate the value that we may ultimately realize upon the sale of one or more of our investments.
There is a risk that investors in our shares may not receive distributions or that our distributions may not grow over time.
We intend to make distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a registered closed-end management investment company, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions. See "RegulationSenior Securities" in the SAI.
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The amount of any distributions we may make is uncertain. Our distribution proceeds may exceed our earnings, particularly during the period before we have substantially invested the net proceeds from our public offering. Therefore, portions of the distributions that we make may be a return of the money that you originally invested and represent a return of capital to you for tax purposes.
We intend, subject to change by our Board of Directors, to declare distributions on a quarterly basis and pay distributions on a monthly basis. We will pay these distributions to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. While our Adviser may agree to limit our expenses to ensure that such expenses are reasonable in relation to our income, we cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a targeted level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by, among other things, the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this prospectus. In addition, the inability to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to us as an investment company may limit our ability to pay distributions. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our RIC status, compliance with applicable investment company regulations and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that we will pay distributions to our stockholders in the future. In the event that we encounter delays in locating suitable investment opportunities, we may pay all or a substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of our public offering or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital. Such a return of capital is not immediately taxable, but reduces your tax basis in our shares, which may result in you recognizing more gain (or less loss) when your shares are sold. Distributions from the proceeds of our public offering or from borrowings also could reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in our investments.
If we internalize our management and administrative functions, your interest in us could be diluted, and we could incur other significant costs associated with being self-managed.
Our Board of Directors may decide in the future to internalize our management and administrative functions. If we do so, we may elect to negotiate to acquire certain assets and personnel of our Adviser, Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration or Behringer Harvard. At this time, we cannot anticipate the form or amount of consideration or other terms relating to any such acquisition. Such consideration could take many forms, including cash payments, promissory notes and our shares. The payment of such consideration could result in dilution of your interests as a stockholder and could reduce the earnings per share attributable to your investment.
In addition, while we would no longer bear the costs of the various fees and expenses we expect to pay to our Adviser, Prospect Administration and a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement and Investor Services Agreement, respectively, we would incur the compensation and benefits costs of our officers and other employees and consultants that are now being paid by our Adviser or its affiliates. In addition, we may issue equity awards to officers, employees and consultants. These awards would decrease net income and may further dilute your investment. We cannot reasonably estimate the amount of fees we would save or the costs we would incur if we became self-managed. If the expenses we assume as a result of an internalization are higher than the expenses we avoid paying to our Adviser, our earnings per share would be lower as a result of the internalization than it otherwise would have been, potentially decreasing the amount of funds available to distribute to our stockholders and the value of our shares. As we are currently organized, we will not have any employees. If we elect to internalize our operations, we would employ personnel and would be subject to potential liabilities commonly faced by employers, such as workers disability and compensation claims and other employee-related liabilities and grievances.
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If we internalize our management functions, we could have difficulty integrating these functions as a stand-alone entity. Currently, individuals employed by Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration, Behringer Harvard and their affiliates perform asset management and general and administrative functions, including accounting and financial reporting, for multiple entities. These personnel have a great deal of know-how and experience. We may fail to properly identify the appropriate mix of personnel and capital needs to operate as a stand-alone entity. An inability to manage an internalization transaction effectively could thus result in our incurring excess costs and/or suffering deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting. Such deficiencies could cause us to incur additional costs, and our management's attention could be diverted from effectively managing our investments.
Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.
We, the Target Securities in which we intend to invest, and the companies whose securities are held by CLOs will be subject to regulation at the local, state and federal level. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and our stockholders, potentially with retroactive effect.
Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to our strategies and plans as set forth in this prospectus and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of our Adviser to other types of investments in which our Adviser may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
Efforts to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will involve significant expenditures, and non-compliance with such regulations may adversely affect us.
Upon commencement of this offering, we will be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. We will be required to periodically review our internal control over financial reporting, and evaluate and disclose changes in our internal controls over financial reporting. As a newly-formed company, developing an effective system of internal controls may require significant expenditures, which may negatively impact our financial performance and our ability to make distributions. This process will also result in a diversion of management's time and attention. We cannot be certain as to the timing of the completion of our evaluation, testing and remediation actions or the impact of the same on our operations and we may not be able to ensure that the process is effective or that our internal controls over financial reporting are or will be effective in a timely manner. In the event that we are unable to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls and maintain or achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules, we may be adversely affected.
The impact of recent financial reform legislation on us is uncertain.
In light of current conditions in the U.S. and global financial markets and the U.S. and global economy, legislators, the presidential administration and regulators have increased their focus on the regulation of the financial services industry. The recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, institutes a wide range of reforms that will have an impact on all financial institutions. Many of the requirements called for in the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented over time, most of which will be subject to implementing regulations over the course of several years. Given the uncertainty associated with the manner in which the provisions of the
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Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented by the various regulatory agencies and through regulations, the full impact such requirements will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition is unclear. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes in order to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any such laws, regulations or principles, or changes thereto, may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. While we cannot predict what effect any changes in the laws or regulations or their interpretations would have on us as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, these changes could be adverse to us and our stockholders.
We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.
We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including our ability or inability to make investments that meet our investment criteria, the yield earned or interest rate payable on the securities we acquire, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any previous period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
We may be more susceptible than a diversified fund to being adversely affected by any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.
We are classified as "non-diversified" under the 1940 Act. As a result, we can invest a greater portion of our assets in obligations of a single issuer than a "diversified" fund. We may therefore be more susceptible than a diversified fund to being adversely affected by any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence. We intend to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, and thus we intend to satisfy the diversification requirements of Subchapter M, including its less stringent diversification requirements that apply to the percentage of our total assets that are represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and certain other securities.
Regulations governing our operation as a registered closed-end management investment company affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so. As a registered closed-end management investment company, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.
We may in the future issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, which we refer to collectively as "senior securities," up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we will be permitted, as a registered closed-end management investment company, to issue senior securities representing indebtedness so long as our asset coverage ratio with respect thereto, defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness, is at least 300% after each issuance of such senior securities. In addition, we will be permitted to issue additional shares of preferred stock so long as our asset coverage ratio with respect thereto, defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness, plus the aggregate involuntary liquidation preference of our outstanding preferred stock, is at least 200% after each issuance of such preferred stock. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy these tests. If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness or redeem outstanding shares of preferred stock, in each case at a time when doing so may be disadvantageous. Also, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness or preferred
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dividends would not be available for distributions to our common stockholders. Furthermore, as a result of issuing senior securities, we would also be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss. If we issue preferred stock, the preferred stock would rank "senior" to common stock in our capital structure, preferred stockholders would have separate voting rights on certain matters and might have other rights, preferences, or privileges more favorable than those of our common stockholders, and the issuance of shares of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in your best interest. If we deregister as an investment company and elect to be regulated as a BDC after the completion of this offering, we will be subject to less stringent limitations on our ability to borrow money and issue senior securities.
We will not generally be able to issue and sell our shares at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our shares at a price below the then-current net asset value per share if our Board of Directors determines that such sale is in the best interests of us and our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). If we raise additional funds by issuing more shares, then the percentage ownership of our stockholders at that time will decrease, and you may experience dilution.
Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates will be restricted.
We will be prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities will be our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act and we will generally be prohibited from buying or selling any securities from or to such affiliate. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain "joint" transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company or CLO (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of our voting securities, we will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person's affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers or directors or its affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, we may be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to any portfolio company or CLO of an investment fund managed by our Adviser or its affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC, which may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us.
We are uncertain of our sources for funding our future capital needs; if we cannot obtain equity or debt financing on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected.
The net proceeds from the sale of shares will be used for our investment opportunities, operating expenses and for payment of various fees and expenses such as base management fees, incentive fees and other fees. Any working capital reserves we maintain may not be sufficient for investment purposes, and we may require debt or equity financing to operate. Accordingly, in the event that we develop a need for additional capital in the future for investments or for any other reason, these sources of funding may not be available to us. Consequently, if we cannot obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected. As a result, we would be less able to broaden our portfolio and achieve our investment objective, which may negatively impact our results of operations and reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
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If we deregister as an investment company and elect to be regulated as a BDC after the completion of this offering, we will be subject to an alternate set of regulations under the 1940 Act.
After the completion of this offering, our Board of Directors may determine that we should deregister as an investment company and instead elect to be regulated as a BDC, to the extent it believes doing so is in our best interest. A BDC is not subject to the same regulatory provisions as a registered investment company. For example, as a BDC, we would be subject to (i) less stringent limitations on our ability to borrow money and issue senior securities, (ii) different restrictions on the types of investments we may make which would require us to alter our investment strategy, and (iii) fewer restrictions on our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates. Also, under the terms of our Investment Advisory Agreement, if we elect to be regulated as a BDC, our Adviser would become eligible to receive an additional incentive fee based on our capital gains.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Shares
Investors will not know the purchase price per share at the time they submit their subscription agreements and could receive fewer shares than anticipated if our Board of Directors determines to increase the offering price to comply with the requirement that we avoid selling shares below net asset value per share.
After meeting the minimum offering requirement, the purchase price at which you purchase shares will be determined at each closing date to ensure that the sales price, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is equal to or greater than the net asset value of our shares. As a result, in the event of an increase to our net asset value per share, your purchase price may be higher than the prior closing price per share, and therefore you may receive a smaller number of shares than if you had subscribed at the prior closing price. See "Determination of Net Asset Value."
Investors will not know the purchase price per share at the time they submit their subscription agreements and could pay a premium for their shares if our Board of Directors does not decrease the offering price in the event of a decline to our net asset value per share.
After meeting the minimum offering requirement, the purchase price at which you purchase shares will be determined at each closing date to ensure that the sales price, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is equal to or greater than the net asset value of our shares. In the event of a decrease to our net asset value per share, you could pay a premium of more than 5% for your shares if our Board of Directors does not decrease the offering price. A non-temporary decline in our net asset value per share to an amount more than 5% below our current offering price, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, creates a rebuttable presumption that there has been a material change in the value of our assets such that a reduction in the offering price per share is warranted. This presumption may only be rebutted if our Board of Directors, in consultation with our Adviser, reasonably and in good faith determines that the decline in net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, rather than a more fundamental shift in the valuation of our portfolio. In the event that (i) net asset value per share decreases to more than 5% below our current net offering price and (ii) our Board of Directors believes that such decrease in net asset value per share is the result of a non-temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, our Board of Directors will undertake to establish a new net offering price that is not more than 5% above our net asset value per share, plus selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses. If instead, our Board of Directors determines that the decline in our net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets, investors will purchase shares at an offering price per share, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which represents a premium to the net asset value per share of greater than 5%. See "Plan of Distribution."
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This is a " best efforts " offering, and if we are unable to raise substantial funds, we will be limited in the number and type of investments we may make, and the value of your investment in us may be reduced in the event our assets under-perform.
This offering is being made on a best efforts basis, whereby the dealer manager and broker-dealers participating in the offering are only required to use their best efforts to sell our shares and have no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. Even though we have established a minimum size of our offering necessary for us to release funds from the escrow account and utilize subscription funds, such amount will not, by itself, be sufficient for us to purchase a relatively diversified portfolio of investments. To the extent that less than the maximum number of shares is subscribed for, the opportunity to make a broad range of investments may be decreased and the returns achieved on those investments may be reduced as a result of allocating all of our expenses among a smaller capital base.
The shares sold in this offering will not be listed on an exchange or quoted through a quotation system for the foreseeable future, if ever. Therefore, if you purchase shares in this offering, you will have limited liquidity and may not receive a full return of your invested capital if you sell your shares.
The shares offered by us are illiquid assets for which there is not expected to be any secondary market nor is it expected that any will develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. Our Board of Directors, in the exercise of its fiduciary duty to our stockholders, may determine to pursue a liquidity event when it believes that then-current market conditions are favorable for a liquidity event, and that such an event is in the best interests of our stockholders. A liquidity event could include, among other things, (1) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation, (2) a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by our Board of Directors in which our stockholders will receive cash or shares of a publicly traded company. Prior to the completion of a liquidity event, our share repurchase program may provide a limited opportunity for investors to achieve liquidity, subject to certain restrictions and limitations, at a price which may reflect a discount from the purchase price you paid for the shares being repurchased. See "Share Repurchase Program" for a detailed description of our share repurchase program. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. However, the completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that we will complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all. If we do not successfully complete a liquidity event, liquidity for an investor's shares will be limited to our share repurchase program, which we have no obligation to maintain.
In making the decision to apply for listing of our shares, our directors will try to determine whether listing our shares or liquidating our assets will result in greater value for our stockholders. In making a determination of what type of liquidity event is in the best interest of our stockholders, our Board of Directors, including our independent directors, may consider a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to, market conditions, portfolio diversification, portfolio performance, our financial condition, potential access to capital as a listed company, market conditions for the sale of our assets or listing of our shares, and the potential for stockholder liquidity. If our shares are listed, we cannot assure you that a public trading market will develop. Further, even if we do complete a liquidity event, you may not receive a return of all of your invested capital.
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We are not obligated to complete a liquidity event by a specified date; therefore, it will be difficult or impossible for an investor to sell his or her shares.
Our securities are not currently listed on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a public market for them to develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. Therefore, stockholders should not expect to be able to sell their shares promptly or at a desired price. No stockholder will have the right to require us to repurchase his or her shares or any portion thereof. Because no public market will exist for our shares, and none is expected to develop, stockholders will not be able to liquidate their investment prior to our liquidation or other liquidity event, other than through our share repurchase program, or, in limited circumstances, as a result of transfers of shares to other eligible investors.
We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. A liquidity event could include, among other things, (1) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation, (2) a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by our Board of Directors in which our stockholders will receive cash or shares of a publicly traded company. However, the completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that we will complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all. If we do not successfully complete a liquidity event, liquidity for an investor's shares will be limited to our share repurchase program, which we have no obligation to maintain.
We established the initial offering price for our shares on an arbitrary basis, and the initial offering price may not accurately reflect the value of our assets.
The price of our shares prior to meeting the minimum offering requirement was established on an arbitrary basis and is not based on the amount or nature of our assets or our book value. Therefore, at any given time, the initial offering price may be higher than the value of our investments.
The dealer manager in our continuous offering has no experience selling shares on behalf of a registered closed-end management investment company and may be unable to sell a sufficient number shares for us to achieve our investment objective.
The dealer manager for our public offering is Behringer Securities LP. Although certain personnel of our dealer manager have experience selling shares on behalf of a registered closed-end management investment company, our dealer manager has no such experience. There is no assurance that it will be able to sell a sufficient number of shares to allow us to have adequate funds to purchase a relatively broad portfolio of investments and generate income sufficient to cover our expenses. As a result, we may be unable to achieve our investment objective, and you could lose some or all of the value of your investment.
Because the dealer manager is an affiliate of our Adviser, you will not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review of us, which is customarily performed in firm commitment underwritten offerings; the absence of an independent due diligence review increases the risks and uncertainty you face as a stockholder.
The dealer manager, Behringer Securities LP, is an affiliate of our Adviser. As a result, its due diligence review and investigation of us and this prospectus cannot be considered to be an independent review. Therefore, you do not have the benefit of an independent review and investigation of this
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offering of the type normally performed by an unaffiliated, independent underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten public securities offering.
Our ability to successfully conduct our continuous offering is dependent, in part, on the ability of the dealer manager to successfully establish, operate and maintain a network of broker-dealers.
The success of our public offering, and correspondingly our ability to implement our business strategy, is dependent upon the ability of the dealer manager to establish and maintain a network of licensed securities broker-dealers and other agents to sell our shares. If the dealer manager fails to perform, we may not be able to raise adequate proceeds through our public offering to implement our investment strategy. If we are unsuccessful in implementing our investment strategy, you could lose all or a part of your investment.
Beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet our minimum offering requirement, we intend to offer to repurchase your shares on a quarterly basis. As a result you will have limited opportunities to sell your shares and, to the extent you are able to sell your shares under the program, you may not be able to recover the amount of your investment in our shares.
Beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet our minimum offering requirement, we intend to commence repurchase offers to allow you to sell us your shares on a quarterly basis at a price equal to the net asset value per share of our common stock most recently disclosed in a periodic filing with the SEC immediately prior to the date of repurchase. The share repurchase program will include numerous restrictions that limit your ability to sell your shares. We intend to limit the number of shares repurchased pursuant to our proposed share repurchase program as follows: (1) we currently intend to limit the number of shares to be repurchased during any calendar year to the number of shares we can repurchase with the proceeds we receive from the sale of our shares under our distribution reinvestment plan, although at the discretion of our Board of Directors, we may also use cash on hand, cash available from borrowings and cash from liquidation of investments as of the end of the applicable period to repurchase shares; (2) we will not repurchase shares in any calendar year in excess of 20% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding in the prior calendar year, or 5% in each quarter; (3) unless you submit all of your shares for repurchase by us, you must submit at least 25% of the amount of shares you have purchased in the offering and must maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 subsequent to submitting a portion of your shares for repurchase by us; and (4) to the extent that the number of shares submitted to us for repurchase exceeds the number of shares that we are able to purchase, we will repurchase shares on a pro rata basis, not on a first-come, first-served basis. Further, we will have no obligation to repurchase shares if the repurchase would violate the restrictions on distributions under federal law or Maryland law, which prohibits distributions that would cause a corporation to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency. These limits may prevent us from accommodating all repurchase requests made in any year. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. Our Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the repurchase program upon 30 days' notice. We will notify you of such developments (1) in our quarterly reports or (2) by means of a separate mailing to you, accompanied by disclosure in a current or periodic report under the Exchange Act. In addition, although we have adopted a share repurchase program, we have discretion to not repurchase your shares, to suspend the plan, and to cease repurchases. Further, the plan has many limitations and should not be relied upon as a method to sell shares promptly and at a desired price.
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The timing of our repurchase offers pursuant to our share repurchase program may be at a time that is disadvantageous to our stockholders.
When we make quarterly repurchase offers pursuant to the share repurchase program, we may offer to repurchase shares at a price that is lower than the price that investors paid for shares in our offering. As a result, to the extent investors have the ability to sell their shares to us as part of our share repurchase program, the price at which an investor may sell shares, which will be the net asset value per share of our common stock most recently disclosed in a periodic filing with the SEC immediately prior to the date of repurchase, may be lower than what an investor paid in connection with the purchase of shares in our offering.
In addition, in the event an investor chooses to participate in our share repurchase program, the investor will be required to provide us with notice of intent to participate prior to knowing what the net asset value per share will be on the repurchase date. Although an investor will have the ability to withdraw a repurchase request prior to the repurchase date, to the extent an investor seeks to sell shares to us as part of our periodic share repurchase program, the investor will be required to do so without knowledge of what the repurchase price of our shares will be on the repurchase date.
We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds of our offering on acceptable terms in an acceptable timeframe.
Delays in investing the net proceeds of our offering may impair our performance. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify any investments that meet our investment objective or that any investment that we make will produce a positive return. We may be unable to invest the net proceeds of our offering on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.
In addition, even if we are able to raise significant proceeds, we will not be permitted to use such proceeds to co-invest with certain entities affiliated with our Adviser in transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates unless we first obtain an exemptive order from the SEC or co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. We may seek exemptive relief from the SEC to engage in co-investment transactions with our Adviser and its affiliates. However, there can be no assurance that we will seek or obtain such exemptive relief.
Before making investments, we will invest the net proceeds of our public offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which may produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns which we expect to achieve when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective. As a result, any distributions that we pay while our portfolio is not fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective may be lower than the distributions that we may be able to pay when our portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting our investment objective.
Investors in this offering will incur dilution.
Investors in this offering will purchase shares at an initial price of $15.00 per share, but, after deducting a sales load of up to 8% and estimated offering expenses of up to 1.5% (assuming that the maximum number of shares is sold), $13.575 of the purchase price of each share will actually be used by us for investments. As a result, investors in this offering will incur immediate dilution and, based on the initial public offering price of $15.00, would have to experience a total return on their investment of 10.5% in order to recover the sales load and offering expenses.
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Your interest in us will be diluted if we issue additional shares, which could reduce the overall value of an investment in us.
Potential investors will not have preemptive rights to any shares we issue in the future. Our charter authorizes us to issue 200,000,000 shares. Pursuant to our charter, a majority of our entire Board of Directors may amend our charter to increase the number of authorized shares without stockholder approval. After an investor purchases shares, our Board of Directors may elect to sell additional shares in the future, issue equity interests in private offerings or issue share-based awards to our independent directors or investment personnel of our Adviser. To the extent we issue additional equity interests after an investor purchases our shares, an investor's percentage ownership interest in us will be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings and the value of our investments, you may also experience dilution in the book value and fair value of your shares.
Certain provisions of our charter and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the value of our shares.
Our charter and bylaws, as well as certain statutory and regulatory requirements, contain certain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire us. Our charter classifies our Board of Directors into three classes, serving staggered three-year terms, and provides that a director may be removed only for "cause," as defined in our charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.
Under our charter, certain charter amendments and certain transactions such as a merger, conversion of the Company to an open-end company, liquidation, or other transactions that may result in a change of control of us, must be approved by stockholders entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter, unless the matter has been approved by at least two-thirds of our "continuing directors," as defined in our charter. Additionally, our Board of Directors may, without stockholder action, authorize the issuance of shares in one or more classes or series, including preferred shares; and our Board of Directors may, without stockholder action, amend our charter to increase the number of our shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue. These and other takeover defense provisions may inhibit a change of control in circumstances that could give the holders of our shares the opportunity to realize a premium over the value of our shares.
We entered into a royalty-free license to use the name " Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. " which may be terminated if our Adviser is no longer our investment adviser.
We entered into a royalty-free license agreement with our Adviser. Under this agreement, our Adviser has granted us a non-exclusive license to use the name "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." Under the license agreement, we will have the right to use the "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." name for so long as our Adviser remains our investment adviser.
Risks Related to Our Adviser and Its Affiliates
Our Adviser has no prior entity experience managing a registered closed-end management investment company or a regulated investment company, or RIC.
While our Adviser's management team consists of personnel from the investment and operations team of Prospect Capital Management, the investment adviser to Prospect Capital Corporation, and of Prospect Administration, and members of the management team have significant experience investing in Target Securities, our Adviser is a new entity and has no prior entity experience managing a registered closed-end management investment company or a RIC and has no prior entity experience investing in Target Securities. Therefore, our Adviser may not be able to successfully operate our
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business or achieve our investment objective. As a result, an investment in our shares may entail more risk than the shares of a comparable company with a substantial operating history.
The 1940 Act and the Code impose numerous constraints on the operations of registered closed-end management investment companies and RICs that do not apply to the other types of investment vehicles. Moreover, qualification for RIC tax treatment under subchapter M of the Code requires satisfaction of source-of-income, diversification and other requirements. The failure to comply with these provisions in a timely manner could prevent us from qualifying as a RIC or could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties, which could be material. Our Adviser has no experience managing a registered closed-end management investment company or RIC. Its lack of experience in managing a portfolio of assets under such constraints may hinder our Adviser's ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve our investment objective.
Our Adviser and its affiliates, including our officers and some of our directors, will face conflicts of interest caused by compensation arrangements with us and our affiliates, which could result in actions that are not in the best interests of our stockholders.
Our Adviser and its affiliates will receive substantial fees from us in return for their services, and these fees could influence the advice provided to us. Among other matters, the compensation arrangements could affect their judgment with respect to public offerings of equity by us, which allow the dealer manager to earn additional dealer manager fees and our Adviser to earn increased asset management fees. In addition, if we decide to utilize leverage, it will increase our assets and, as a result, will increase the amount of management fees payable to our Adviser.
We may be obligated to pay our Adviser incentive compensation even if we incur a net loss due to a decline in the value of our portfolio.
Our Investment Advisory Agreement entitles our Adviser to receive incentive compensation on income regardless of any capital losses. In such case, we may be required to pay our Adviser incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of our portfolio or if we incur a net loss for that quarter.
Any incentive fee payable by us that relates to our net investment income may be computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received. If an investment defaults and was structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously included in the calculation of the subordinated incentive fee will become uncollectible. Our Adviser is not under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the subordinated incentive fee it received that was based on accrued income that we never received as a result of a default by an entity on the obligation that resulted in the accrual of such income, and such circumstances would result in our paying a subordinated incentive fee on income we never received.
Our Adviser ' s professionals' time and resources may be diverted due to obligations they have to other clients.
Our Adviser's professionals serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, or of investment funds managed by the same personnel. In serving in these multiple capacities, they may have obligations to other clients or investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which may not be in our best interests or in the best interest of our stockholders. Our investment objective may overlap with the investment objectives of such investment funds, accounts or other investment vehicles. For example, we rely on our Adviser to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. Our Adviser and certain of its affiliates are currently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with activities which are unrelated to us. As a result of these activities, our Adviser, its personnel and certain of its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and resources between us and other activities in which they are or may become involved, including, but not limited to, the management of Prospect Capital
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Management, Prospect Capital Corporation and Behringer Harvard's affiliates. Our Adviser and its personnel will devote only as much of its or their time and resources to our business as our Adviser and its personnel, in their judgment, determine is reasonably required, which may be substantially less than their full time and resources.
Furthermore, our Adviser and its affiliates may have existing business relationships or access to material, non-public information that may prevent it from recommending investment opportunities that would otherwise fit within our investment objective. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time, effort and ability of the members of our Adviser and its affiliates and their officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to our business but will be allocated between us and the management of the monies of other advisees of our Adviser and its affiliates.
We may face additional competition due to the fact that individuals associated with our Adviser are not prohibited from raising money for or managing another entity that makes the same types of investments that we target.
Our Adviser's professionals are not prohibited from raising money for and managing another investment entity that makes the same types of investments as those we target. For example, certain professionals of our Adviser are simultaneously providing advisory services to other affiliated entities, including Prospect Capital Management, which serves as the investment adviser to Prospect Capital Corporation. Prospect Capital Corporation is a publicly-traded business development company that focuses on generating current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation for stockholders, primarily by making investments in senior secured loans, subordinated debt, unsecured debt, Target Securities and equity of portfolio companies. As a result, the time and resources that our Adviser's professionals may devote to us may be diverted to another investment entity. In addition, we may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities. If we pursue and are able to obtain exemptive relief from the SEC, we may co-invest with any such investment entity to the extent permitted by such exemptive relief and the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. There is no assurance that we will pursue or obtain such relief. In the event that we do not pursue, or the SEC does not grant us, relief, we could be limited in our ability to invest in certain portfolio companies in which our Adviser or any of its affiliates, including Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Capital Corporation, are investing or are invested. Even if we are able to receive exemptive relief, we will be unable to participate in certain transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates prior to receipt of such relief unless we co-invest in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. To the extent we are able to make co-investments with our Adviser's affiliates, these co-investment transactions may give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest among us and the other participating accounts.
Affiliates of our Adviser have no obligation to make their originated investment opportunities available to our Adviser or to us, and such opportunities may be provided to Prospect Capital Corporation or another affiliate of our Adviser.
To mitigate the foregoing conflicts, our Adviser and its affiliates will seek to allocate portfolio transactions on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account such factors as the relative amounts of capital available for new investments, the applicable investment programs and portfolio positions, the clients for which participation is appropriate and any other factors deemed appropriate.
Our incentive fee may induce our Adviser to make speculative investments.
The subordinated incentive fee payable by us to our Adviser may create an incentive for it to make investments on our behalf that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The way in which the subordinated incentive fee payable to our Adviser is determined may encourage it to use leverage to increase the return on our investments. In addition, the fact that our base management fee is payable based upon our average total assets, which
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would include any borrowings for investment purposes, may encourage our Adviser to use leverage to make additional investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of a default, which would adversely affect holders of our shares. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be in our best interests, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during cyclical economic downturns.
Risks Related to Our Investments
Our investments in CLOs may be riskier and less transparent to us and our stockholders than direct investments in the underlying companies.
We intend to invest primarily in CLOs. Generally, there may be less information available to us regarding the underlying debt investments held by CLOs than if we had invested directly in the debt of the underlying companies. As a result, our stockholders will not know the details of the underlying securities of the CLOs in which we will invest. Our CLO investments will also be subject to the risk of leverage associated with the debt issued by such CLOs and the repayment priority of senior debt holders in such CLOs. Our investments in prospective portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.
CLOs typically will have no significant assets other than their underlying Senior Secured Loans; payments on CLO investments are and will be payable solely from the cashflows from such Senior Secured Loans.
CLOs typically will have no significant assets other than their underlying Senior Secured Loans. Accordingly, payments on CLO investments are and will be payable solely from the cashflows from such Senior Secured Loans, net of all management fees and other expenses. Payments to us as a holder of CLO investments are and will be met only after payments due on the senior notes (and, where appropriate, the junior secured notes) from time to time have been made in full. This means that relatively small numbers of defaults of Senior Secured Loans may adversely impact our returns.
Our CLO investments are exposed to leveraged credit risk.
We may be in a subordinated position with respect to realized losses on the Senior Secured Loans underlying our investments in CLOs. The leveraged nature of CLOs, in particular, magnifies the adverse impact of Senior Secured Loan defaults. CLO investments represent a leveraged investment with respect to the underlying Senior Secured Loans. Therefore, changes in the market value of the CLO investments could be greater than the change in the market value of the underlying Senior Secured Loans, which are subject to credit, liquidity and interest rate risk.
There is the potential for interruption and deferral of cashflow.
If certain minimum collateral value ratios and/or interest coverage ratios are not met by a CLO ( e.g. , due to Senior Secured Loan defaults), then cashflow that otherwise would have been available to pay the distribution on the CLO investments may instead be used to redeem any senior notes or to purchase additional Senior Secured Loans, until the ratios again exceed the minimum required levels or any senior notes are repaid in full. This could result in an elimination, reduction or deferral in the distribution and/or principal paid to the holders of the CLO investments, which would adversely impact our returns.
Investments in foreign securities may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
Our investment strategy involves investments in securities issued by foreign entities, including foreign CLOs. Investing in foreign entities may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and
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social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility. Further, we, and the CLOs in which we invest, may have difficulty enforcing creditor's rights in foreign jurisdictions. In addition, the underlying companies of the CLOs in which we invest may be foreign, which may create greater exposure for us to foreign economic developments.
Although we expect that most of our investments will be U.S. dollar-denominated, any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments. We may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but we can offer no assurance that we will, in fact, hedge currency risk, or that if we do, such strategies will be effective.
Our investments in Target Securities may be illiquid.
We may invest a substantial percentage of our portfolio in securities that are considered illiquid. "Illiquid securities" are securities which cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value used by us in determining our net asset value. We may not be able to readily dispose of such securities at prices that approximate those at which we could sell such securities if they were more widely-traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, we may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet our obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the volatility and market price of securities, thereby adversely affecting our net asset value and ability to make dividend distributions. Target Securities may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. Target Securities Loans are generally not listed on any U.S. national securities exchange and no active trading market may exist for the securities in which we will invest. Although a secondary market may exist for our investments, the market for our investments may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. As a result, these types of investments may be more difficult to value. In addition, we believe that ownership of Target Securities has generally been distributed across a wide range of holders, some of whom we believe may continue to face near- to intermediate-term liquidity issues. Further, we believe that larger institutional investors with sufficient resources to source, analyze and negotiate the purchase of these assets may refrain from purchases of the size that we are targeting, thereby reducing the prospective investor population, which would limit our ability to sell our Target Securities if we choose to or need to do so. We have no limitation on the amount of our assets which may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or are subject to restrictions on resale.
We may invest in assets with no or limited performance or operating history.
We may invest in assets with no or limited investment history or performance record upon which our Adviser will be able to evaluate their likely performance. Our investments in entities with no or limited operating history are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties associated with a new business, including the risk that such entities will not achieve target returns. Consequently, our profitability, net asset value and share price could be adversely affected.
We are exposed to underlying borrower fraud through the Target Securities held in our portfolio.
Investing in Target Securities involves the possibility of our investments being subject to potential losses arising from material misrepresentation or omission on the part of borrowers whose Senior Secured Loans we hold, either directly or indirectly through CLOs. Such inaccuracy or incompleteness may adversely affect the valuation of our investments or may adversely affect the ability of the relevant
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investment to perfect or effectuate a lien on the collateral securing the loan. The CLOs in which we will invest will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of representations made by the underlying borrowers to the extent reasonable, but cannot guarantee such accuracy or completeness. In addition, the quality of our investments in Target Securities is subject to the accuracy of representations made by the underlying issuers.
In addition, we are subject to the risk that the systems used by the CLO collateral managers to control for such accuracy are defective.
The payment of underlying portfolio manager fees and other charges could adversely impact our returns.
We may invest in securities where the underlying portfolios may be subject to management, administration and incentive or performance fees, in addition to those payable by us. Payment of such additional fees could adversely impact the returns we achieve.
The inability of a CLO collateral manager to reinvest the proceeds of the prepayment of Senior Secured Loans may adversely affect us.
There can be no assurance that, in relation to any Target Security investment, in the event that any of the Senior Secured Loans of a CLO underlying such investment are prepaid, the CLO collateral manager will be able to reinvest such proceeds in new Senior Secured Loans with equivalent investment returns. If the CLO collateral manager cannot reinvest in new Senior Secured Loans with equivalent investment returns, the interest proceeds available to pay interest on the rated liabilities and investments may be adversely affected.
Our investments are subject to prepayments and calls, increasing re-investment risk.
Our investments and/or the underlying Senior Secured Loans may prepay more quickly than expected, which could have an adverse impact on our value. Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic and other factors beyond our control and consequently cannot be predicted with certainty. In addition, for a CLO collateral manager there is often a strong incentive to refinance well performing portfolios once the senior tranches amortize. The yield to maturity of the investments will depend on, inter alia, the amount and timing of payments of principal on the loans and the price paid for the investments. Such yield may be adversely affected by a higher or lower than anticipated rate of prepayments of the debt.
Furthermore, our investments generally will not contain optional call provisions, other than a call at the option of the holders of the equity tranches for the senior notes and the junior secured notes to be paid in full after the expiration of an initial period in the deal (referred to as the "non-call period").
The exercise of the call option is by the relevant percentage (usually a majority) of the holders of the equity tranches and, therefore, where we do not hold the relevant percentage we will not be able to control the timing of the exercise of the call option. The equity tranches also generally have a call at any time based on certain tax event triggers. In any event, the call can only be exercised by the holders of equity tranches if they can demonstrate (in accordance with the detailed provisions in the transaction) that the senior notes and junior secured notes will be paid in full if the call is exercised.
Early prepayments and/or the exercise of a call option otherwise than at our request may also give rise to increased re-investment risk with respect to certain investments, as we may realize excess cash earlier than expected. If we are unable to reinvest such cash in a new investment with an expected rate of return at least equal to that of the investment repaid, this may reduce our net income and, consequently, could have an adverse impact on our ability to pay dividends.
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We will have limited control of the administration and amendment of Senior Secured Loans owned by the CLOs in which we invest.
We will not be able to directly enforce any rights and remedies in the event of a default of a Senior Secured Loan held by a CLO vehicle. In addition, the terms and conditions of the Senior Secured Loans underlying our CLO investments may be amended, modified or waived only by the agreement of the underlying lenders. Generally, any such agreement must include a majority or a super majority (measured by outstanding loans or commitments) or, in certain circumstances, a unanimous vote of the lenders. Consequently, the terms and conditions of the payment obligations arising from Senior Secured Loans could be modified, amended or waived in a manner contrary to our preferences.
We will have limited control of the administration and amendment of any CLO in which we invest.
The terms and conditions of Target Securities may be amended, modified or waived only by the agreement of the underlying security holders. Generally, any such agreement must include a majority or a super majority (measured by outstanding amounts) or, in certain circumstances, a unanimous vote of the security holders. Consequently, the terms and conditions of the payment obligation arising from the CLOs in which we invest be modified, amended or waived in a manner contrary to our preferences.
Senior Secured Loans of CLOs may be sold and replaced resulting in a loss to us.
The Senior Secured Loans underlying our CLO investments may be sold and replacement collateral purchased within the parameters set out in the relevant CLO indenture between the CLO and the CLO trustee and those parameters may typically only be amended, modified or waived by the agreement of a majority of the holders of the senior notes and/or the junior secured notes and/or the equity tranche once the CLO has been established. If these transactions result in a net loss, the magnitude of the loss from the perspective of the equity tranche would be increased by the leveraged nature of the investment.
Our financial results may be affected adversely if one or more of our significant equity or junior debt investments in a CLO vehicle defaults on its payment obligations or fails to perform as we expect.
We expect that a majority of our portfolio will consist of equity and junior debt investments in CLOs, which involve a number of significant risks. CLOs are typically highly levered (~10 times), and therefore the junior debt and equity tranches that we will invest in are subject to a higher risk of total loss. In particular, investors in CLOs indirectly bear risks of the underlying debt investments held by such CLOs. We will generally have the right to receive payments only from the CLOs, and will generally not have direct rights against the underlying borrowers or the entity that sponsored the CLOs. Although it is difficult to predict whether the prices of indices and securities underlying CLOs will rise or fall, these prices (and, therefore, the prices of the CLOs) will be influenced by the same types of political and economic events that affect issuers of securities and capital markets generally.
The investments we intend to make in CLOs will likely be thinly traded or have only a limited trading market. CLO investments are typically privately offered and sold, in the primary and secondary markets. As a result, investments in CLOs may be characterized as illiquid securities. In addition to the general risks associated with investing in debt securities, CLOs carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from the underlying Senior Secured Loans will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the underlying Senior Secured Loans may decline in value or default; and (iii) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the CLO or unexpected investment results. Further, our investments in equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs will be subordinate to the senior debt tranches thereof.
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Investments in structured vehicles, including equity and junior debt instruments issued by CLOs, involve risks, including credit risk and market risk. Changes in interest rates and credit quality may cause significant price fluctuations. Additionally, changes in the underlying Senior Secured Loans held by a CLO may cause payments on the instruments we hold to be reduced, either temporarily or permanently. Structured investments, particularly the subordinated interests in which we invest, are less liquid than many other types of securities and may be more volatile than the Senior Secured Loans underlying the CLOs in which we invest.
Non-investment grade debt involves a greater risk of default and higher price volatility than investment grade debt.
The Senior Secured Loans underlying our CLO investments typically will be BB or B rated (non-investment grade) and in limited circumstances, unrated, Senior Secured Loans. Non-investment grade securities are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due and therefore involve a greater risk of default and higher price volatility than investment grade debt.
We will have no influence on management of underlying investments managed by non-affiliated third party CLO collateral managers.
We will not be responsible for and will have no influence over the asset management of the portfolios underlying the CLO investments we hold where those portfolios are managed by non-affiliated third party CLO collateral managers. Similarly, we will not be responsible for and will have no influence over the day-to-day management, administration or any other aspect of the issuers of the individual securities. As a result, the values of the portfolios underlying our CLO investments could decrease as a result of decisions made by third party CLO collateral managers.
Our investments in CLOs may be subject to special anti-deferral provisions that could result in us incurring tax or recognizing income prior to receive cash distributions related to such income.
We anticipate that the CLOs in which we invest may constitute "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"). If we acquire shares in a PFIC (including in CLOs that are PFICs), we may be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by us to our stockholders. Certain elections may be available to mitigate or eliminate such tax on excess distributions, but such elections (if available) will generally require us to recognize our share of the PFICs income for each year regardless of whether we receive any distributions from such PFICs. We must nonetheless distribute such income to maintain our status as a RIC.
If we hold more than 10% of the shares in a foreign corporation that is treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") (including in a CLO treated as a CFC), we may be treated as receiving a deemed distribution (taxable as ordinary income) each year from such foreign corporation in an amount equal to our pro rata share of the foreign corporation's income for the tax year (including both ordinary earnings and capital gains). If we are required to include such deemed distributions from a CFC in our income, we will be required to distribute such income to maintain our RIC status regardless of whether or not the CFC makes an actual distribution during such year.
If we are required to include amounts in income prior to receiving distributions representing such income, 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 fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of a RIC, see "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTaxation as a Regulated Investment Company."
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Risks Related to Debt Financing
If we borrow money, the potential for loss on amounts invested in us will be magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us.
We may borrow funds to make investments, although we have no current intention to incur leverage in the first 12 months following effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The use of borrowings, also known as leverage, increases the volatility of investments and magnifies the potential for loss on invested equity capital. If we use leverage to partially finance our investments, through borrowing from banks and other lenders, you will experience increased risks of investing in our shares. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause net income attributable to our stockholders to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make share distribution payments. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. In addition, the decision to utilize leverage will increase our assets and, as a result, will increase the amount of management fees payable to our Adviser.
Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.
If we borrow funds to make investments, which we do not expect to do before we have fully invested the initial proceeds of this offering in accordance with our investment objective, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. As a result, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates when we have debt outstanding, our cost of funds will increase, which could reduce our net investment income. We expect that our long-term fixed-rate investments will be financed primarily with equity and long-term debt. We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged portfolio. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, we have limited experience in entering into hedging transactions, and we may have to purchase or develop such expertise.
You should also be aware that a rise in the general level of interest rates can be expected to lead to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates may make it easier for us to meet or exceed the subordinated incentive fee preferred return and may result in a substantial increase of the amount of incentive fees payable to our Adviser with respect to pre-incentive fee net investment income. See "Investment Advisory Agreement."
Federal Income Tax Risks
We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or to satisfy RIC distribution requirements.
To maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code, we must meet the following annual distribution, income source and asset diversification requirements. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations."
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to certain financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement. If we are unable to obtain cash from other sources, we could fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.
If we fail to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment for any reason and are subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.
We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.
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 or equity investments that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, 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. We may also have to include in income other amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as deferred loan origination fees that are paid after origination of the loan or are paid in non-cash compensation such as warrants or stock. We anticipate that a portion of our income may constitute original issue discount or other income required to be included in taxable income prior to receipt of cash. Further, we may elect to amortize market discounts and include such amounts in our taxable income in the current year, instead of upon disposition, as an election not to do so would limit our ability to deduct interest expenses for tax purposes.
The recognition of income in connection with investments that we purchase with original issue discount may result in the payment of an incentive fee to our Adviser without a corresponding receipt of cash income.
In the event we recognize loan interest income in excess of the cash we receive in connection with an investment that we purchase with original issue discount, we may be required to liquidate assets in order to pay a portion of the incentive fee. Our Adviser, however, is not required to reimburse us for the portion of any incentive fees attributable to non-cash income in the event of a subsequent default on such investment and non-payment of such non-cash income.
Because any original issue discount or other amounts accrued 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 stockholders in order to satisfy the annual distribution requirement, even though we will not have
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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 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 fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. If we fail to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment for any reason and are subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of a RIC, see "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTaxation as a Regulated Investment Company."
If we do not qualify as a " publicly offered regulated investment company, " as defined in the Code, you will be taxed as though you received a distribution of some of our expenses.
A "publicly offered regulated investment company" is a RIC whose shares are either (i) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, (ii) regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. If we are not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate stockholder's allocable portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees, will be treated as an additional distribution to the stockholder and will be deductible by such stockholder only to the extent permitted under the limitations described below. For non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, trusts, and estates, significant limitations generally apply to the deductibility of certain expenses of a non-publicly offered RIC, including advisory fees. In particular, these expenses, referred to as miscellaneous itemized deductions, are deductible to an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such a stockholder's adjusted gross income, and are not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes. While we anticipate that we will constitute a publicly offered RIC for our first tax year, there can be no assurance that we will in fact so qualify for any of our taxable years.
We may in the future choose to pay dividends in part in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.
We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of each stockholder. Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable in cash or in shares of stock at the election of stockholders are treated as taxable dividends. The Internal Revenue Service has issued private rulings indicating that this rule will apply even where the total amount of cash that may be distributed is limited to no more than 20% of the total distribution. Under these rulings, if too many stockholders elect to receive their distributions in cash, each such stockholder would receive a pro rata share of the total cash to be distributed and would receive the remainder of their distribution in shares of stock. If we decide to make any distributions consistent with these rulings that are payable in part in our stock, taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend (whether received in cash, our stock, or a combination thereof) as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus may include statements as to:
In addition, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect" and "intend" indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:
We have based the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus on information available to us on the date of this prospectus, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we in the future may file with the SEC. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act.
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The following table sets forth our estimates of how we intend to use the gross proceeds from this offering. Information is provided assuming that we sell (1) the minimum number of shares to meet our minimum offering requirement, or 133,334 shares, and (2) the maximum number of shares registered in this offering, or 100,000,000 shares. The amount of net proceeds may be more or less than the amount depicted in the table below depending on the initial public offering price of the shares and the actual number of shares we sell in the offering.
We intend to use substantially all of the proceeds from this offering, net of expenses, to make investments, with an emphasis on current income. Those investments may take the form of the purchase of Target Securities (either in the primary or secondary markets). The remainder we expect to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. There can be no assurance we will be able to sell all the shares we are registering. If we sell only a portion of the shares we are registering, we may be unable to achieve our investment objective or make a broad range of investments within our portfolio.
We estimate that it will take up to three to six months for us to substantially invest the net proceeds from each closing of this continuous offering, depending on the availability of attractive opportunities and market conditions. However, we can offer no assurance that we will be able to achieve this goal. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds of this offering primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements and high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, consistent with our election to be taxed as a RIC.
The amounts in this table assume that the full fees and commissions are paid on all of our shares offered to the public on a best efforts basis. All or a portion of the selling commission and dealer manager fee may be reduced or eliminated in connection with certain categories of sales such as sales for which a volume discount applies, sales through investment advisers or banks acting as fiduciaries and sales to our affiliates. See "Plan of Distribution." The reduction in these fees will be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the per share purchase price but will not affect the amounts available to us for investments. Because amounts in the following table are estimates, they may not accurately reflect the actual receipt or use of the offering proceeds.
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Minimum Offering | Maximum Offering | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
Gross Proceeds |
$ | 2,000,000 | 100 | % | $ | 1,500,000,000 | 100 | % | |||||
Less: |
|||||||||||||
Selling Commission (1) |
$ | 120,000 | 6.0 | % | $ | 90,000,000 | 6.0 | % | |||||
Dealer Manager Fee (1) |
$ | 40,000 | 2.0 | % | $ | 30,000,000 | 2.0 | % | |||||
Offering Expenses |
$ | 100,000 | 5.0 | % | $ | 22,500,000 | 1.5 | % | |||||
Net Proceeds/Amount Available for Investments |
$ | 1,740,000 | 87.0 | % | $ | 1,357,500,000 | 90.5 | % | |||||
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Subject to our Board of Directors' discretion and applicable legal restrictions, we intend to authorize and declare ordinary cash distributions on a quarterly basis and pay such distributions on a monthly basis beginning no later than the end of the first full calendar quarter after the minimum offering requirement is met. We will then calculate each stockholder's specific distribution amount for the period using weekly record dates with each stockholder eligible to receive distributions beginning the week we accept the stockholder's subscription for our shares. From time to time, we may also pay interim special distributions in the form of cash or shares at the discretion of our Board of Directors. For example, our Board of Directors may periodically declare share distributions in order to reduce our net asset value per share if necessary to ensure that we do not sell shares at a price below net asset value per share or to comply with RIC tax regulations. Each year a statement on Form 1099-DIV, identifying the source of the distribution ( i.e ., paid from ordinary income, paid from net capital gains on the sale of securities, and/or a return of paid-in capital surplus, which is a nontaxable distribution) will be mailed to our stockholders. Our distributions may exceed our earnings, especially during the period before we have substantially invested the proceeds from our offering. As a result, a portion of the distributions we make may represent a return of capital for tax purposes.
From time to time and not less than quarterly, our Adviser must review our accounts to determine whether cash distributions are appropriate. We shall distribute pro rata to our stockholders funds received by us which our Adviser deems unnecessary for us to retain.
We intend to make our ordinary distributions in the form of cash, out of assets legally available, unless stockholders elect to receive their distributions in additional shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. Any distributions reinvested under the plan will nevertheless remain taxable to a U.S. stockholder. If stockholders hold shares in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, they should contact the broker or financial intermediary regarding their election to receive distributions in additional shares.
To qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment, we must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we currently intend to distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our net ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year and (3) any net ordinary income and net capital gains for preceding years that were not distributed during such years and on which we paid no federal income tax. We may make interim special distributions to meet our RIC distribution requirements. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings. See "Regulation" in the SAI and "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations."
We have adopted an "opt in" distribution reinvestment plan for our stockholders. As a result, if we make a distribution, our stockholders will receive their distributions in cash unless they specifically "opt in" to the distribution reinvestment plan so as to have their cash distributions reinvested in additional shares. See "Distribution Reinvestment Plan."
We may fund our cash distributions to stockholders from any sources of funds available to us, including offering proceeds, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets and non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets.
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGY
We were organized in July 2012 to invest primarily in Target Securities, with an emphasis on current income, and will commence operations after satisfying our minimum offering requirement of selling $2,000,000 of our shares, all of which must be to persons who are not affiliated with us or our Adviser. We are an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that intends to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a RIC under the Code.
We are managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, which oversees the management of our activities and is responsible for making investment decisions for our portfolio.
Investment Strategy
Our investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We expect to seek to achieve our investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of our total assets, or net assets plus borrowings, in Senior Secured Loans, with an emphasis on current income. Our investments may take the form of the purchase of Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets) or through investments in entities that in turn own a pool of Senior Secured Loans. This investment objective may be changed by our Board of Directors if we provide our stockholders with at least 60 days prior notice. We intend to implement our investment objective in part by investing in CLOs. Structurally, CLOs are entities that are formed to manage a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans. The Senior Secured Loans within a CLO are limited to Senior Secured Loans which meet specified credit and diversity criteria and are subject to concentration limitations in order to create an investment portfolio that is diverse by Senior Secured Loan, borrower, and industry, with limitations on non-U.S. borrowers. The typical underlying borrowers for Senior Secured Loans are U.S.-based privately-held and publicly-held companies across a wide range of industries and sectors.
The CLOs in which we intend to invest typically will be special purpose vehicles and will be predominantly collateralized against pools of Senior Secured Loans. The collateral typically will be BB or B rated (non-investment grade) and in limited circumstances, unrated, Senior Secured Loans originated in the U.S., with a first lien on the borrower's assets. We expect to invest in new issue transactions in the primary market and transactions in the secondary market.
We will identify potential investments using our Adviser's market knowledge, experience and industry relationships. Our Adviser's relationships with CLO collateral managers, underwriters and trading desks, will be used to source transactions. In determining when to sell an investment, our Adviser will consider the following factors: the performance of such investment, the expected performance by evaluating the company if such investment is a Senior Secured Loan or evaluating the pool of Senior Secured Loans if such investment is a CLO, current market conditions, the capital needs of the Fund, and other factors.
We expect to seek to invest in a broad portfolio of Target Securities. We intend to invest so as to obtain exposure across a relatively broad range of underlying borrowers and credit ratings, sectors, CLO collateral managers, and CLO maturity profiles. We also intend to take into consideration any correlation between different underlying securities. In order to comply with diversification requirements applicable to RICs, with respect to half of our investment portfolio, our interest in any one investment will not exceed 5% of the value of our gross assets, and with respect to the other half of our portfolio, our interest in any one investment will not exceed 25% of the value of our gross assets. By virtue of our investments in cashflow CLOs, which will be predominantly collateralized against pools of Senior Secured Loans, we expect to be broadly invested with respect to credit exposure to any one particular industry or borrower although we will have no restrictions on the industry or borrower exposure of the
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underlying assets and we do not intend to operate as a "diversified" investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act. We do not intend to invest in any CLOs or investments companies managed by our Adviser or its affiliates. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTaxation as a Regulated Investment Company" for our detailed RIC diversification requirements.
About our Adviser
Our Adviser is owned 50% by Prospect Capital Management, an asset management firm and registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and 50% by Behringer Harvard, a national sponsor of alternative investment products designed for the individual and institutional investor. Our Adviser is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act and is led by a team of investment professionals from the investment and operations team of Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Administration. These individuals are responsible for our day-to-day operations on behalf of our Adviser and are responsible for developing, recommending and implementing our investment strategy. Prospect Capital Management also manages Prospect Capital Corporation, a business development company traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Adviser and Its Affiliates." Prospect Capital Corporation commenced operations on July 27, 2004, focusing on generating current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation for stockholders, primarily by making investments in senior secured loans, subordinated debt, unsecured debt, Target Securities and equity of a broad portfolio of U.S. companies. Prospect Capital Corporation had (i) total assets of approximately $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2012, and (ii) capital under management of approximately $4 billion (including undrawn credit facilities) as of December 31, 2012.
Our Adviser's investment professionals have significant experience and an extensive track record of investing in companies, managing high-yielding debt and equity investments, and managing and investing in Senior Secured Loans and CLOs. The team also has extensive knowledge of the managerial, operational and regulatory requirements of publicly registered investment companies. Our Adviser does not currently have employees, but has access to certain investment, finance, accounting, legal and administrative personnel of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration and Behringer Harvard and may retain additional personnel as our activities expand. In particular, our Adviser has entered into a personnel agreement with Prospect Capital Management pursuant to which certain personnel will be made available to our Adviser to assist it in managing our portfolio and operations, provided that they are supervised at all times by our Adviser's management team. See "Investment Objective and StrategyAbout Our Adviser." We believe that the depth of experience and disciplined investment approach of our Adviser's management team will help our Adviser to successfully execute our investment strategy. See "Management" and "Portfolio Management" for biographical information regarding our Adviser's professionals.
Our Board of Directors, including a majority of independent directors, will oversee and monitor our investment performance and beginning with the second anniversary of the date of the Investment Advisory Agreement will annually review the compensation we pay to our Adviser to determine that the provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement are carried out. See "Investment Advisory Agreement."
Market Opportunity
Overview
CLO market background
CLOs are investment vehicles backed by a diversified pool of Senior Secured Loans. A CLO uses the cash flows from a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans to back the issuance of multiple classes of
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rated debt securities, which together with the junior capital tranches are used to fund the purchase of the underlying Senior Secured Loans.
A special purpose vehicle (typically formed in the Cayman Islands or another similar jurisdiction) is formed to purchase the Senior Secured Loans and issue rated debt securities and equity tranches and/or unrated debt securities (generally treated as equity interests). The rated debt tranches consist of long-term, non-recourse financing with fixed financing terms, including floating interest rates at a stated spread to LIBOR. Additionally, the underlying Senior Secured Loans in the CLOs are generally not required to be marked-to-market; therefore leverage in the structure should remain the same regardless of market movements, all other things being equal. The capital structure of a typical CLO involves the issue by the special purpose vehicle of multiple tranches of debt securities. The amount of each tranche is determined, among other things, by the credit rating assigned by rating agencies to the securities. These various tranches have different rankings as to entitlement to payment of interest and principal. Each tranche provides credit enhancement to the tranches which rank senior to it, since the holders of the senior tranches are entitled to payment before payments are made to the holders of the junior tranches. In the event of a default and realized loss on any of the Senior Secured Loans underlying a CLO, any shortfall is absorbed first by any additional credit enhancement in the transaction (such as over-collateralization or a cash reserve) and then by the most junior tranches of the securities issued to the extent of the credit enhancement provided by that tranche, and then by the next most senior tranche or tranches until the shortfall has been absorbed in its entirety. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our InvestmentsInvestments in foreign securities may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments" and "Our financial results may be affected adversely if one or more of our significant equity or junior debt investments in a CLO vehicle defaults on its payment obligations or fails to perform as we expect."
In a typical CLO, as shown in the chart below, the capital structure would include approximately 90% debt, with the remainder comprising the junior most CLO securities, typically referred to as the CLO's equity tranche. Interest and principal repayment cashflows derived from the pool of Senior Secured Loans are allocated sequentially first to cover the operational and administrative costs of the CLO, second to the debt service of the highest ranking debt tranche, third to the debt service of the next highest ranking debt tranche and so on until all obligations of the CLO have been met. This sequential cashflow allocation is usually referred to as the "payment waterfall." The most subordinated
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tranche of securities is therefore the most sensitive to defaults and realized losses in relation to the underlying assets, and the most senior tranche is the least sensitive to them.
The equity tranche represents the most junior tranche in the CLO capital structure. The equity tranche is typically not rated and is subordinated to the debt tranches. The holders of this tranche are typically entitled to any cash reserves that form part of the structure at the point at which such reserves are permitted to be released. The equity tranche captures available payments at the bottom of the payment waterfall, after operational and administrative costs of the CLO and servicing of the debt securities. Economically, the equity tranche benefits from the difference between the interest received from the Senior Secured Loans and the interest paid to the holders of debt tranches of the CLO structure. Should a default or decrease in expected payments to a particular CLO occur, that deficiency typically first affects the equity tranche in that holders of that position generally will be the first to have their payments decreased by the deficiency.
Debt tranches of CLOs typically are rated and have a stated coupon. Equity tranches of CLOs are typically unrated and do not have a stated coupon. Rather, payments to the equity tranches of CLOs are dependent on the residual cashflows after all interest, fees and expenses on the debt tranches have been paid. The equity tranche of a CLO is the most sensitive to defaults and realized losses as it is the most subordinated tranche in the CLO's capital structure, whereas CLO debt tranches are not impacted by defaults and realized losses until total losses exceed the value of the equity tranche. CLO payment provisions are detailed in a CLO's indenture and are referred to as the "priority of payments" or "waterfall."
Each tranche within a CLO has voting rights on any amendments that would have a material effect on such tranche. Neither the debt tranches nor equity tranche of CLOs have voting rights on the management of the underlying Senior Secured Loan portfolio. The holders of the equity tranches of CLOs typically have the right to approve and/or replace the CLO collateral manager after such CLO manager has triggered a default. The equity tranche of a CLO has the ability to call the debt tranches following a non-call period. Debt tranches of CLOs do not have the right to call the other CLO security tranches.
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To the extent that certain interest and asset coverage tests are not met at any time, residual cash flows are generally either diverted to repay principal on the prior ranking debt tranches, or reinvested in additional underlying Senior Secured Loans until such tests are again in compliance. Principal collections received from the Senior Secured Loans are generally reinvested in additional Senior Secured Loans during the reinvestment period, which is typically approximately three to five years. Following the reinvestment period, principal proceeds received are typically used to pay down the debt tranches in order of priority.
Transactions generally do not contain optional call provisions, other than a call at the option of the holders of the equity tranches for the debt tranches to be paid in full after the expiration of an initial period of the life of the special purpose entity (referred to as the "non-call period"). The exercise of the call option is by a specified percentage of the holders of the equity tranches. The equity tranches also generally have a call at any time based on certain tax event triggers. In any event, the call can only be exercised by the holders of equity tranches if they can demonstrate (in accordance with the detailed provisions in the transaction) that the debt tranches will be paid in full if the call is exercised.
Transactions generally contain provisions outlining the rights of noteholders following an event of default. Events of default typically include (among others) failure to meet payment requirements on senior notes, and other material defaults under the transaction documents. It is also often an event of default if the par value of the collateral is less than 100% to 102.5% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the senior notes representing the controlling class. The controlling class of noteholders will generally be the most senior debt tranche then outstanding.
If an event of default occurs, the transaction can be accelerated at the discretion of the trustee for the noteholders and/or by the applicable majority of the controlling class of noteholders. The transaction may also contain provisions for early redemption at the option of the controlling class of noteholders for certain tax events. The early termination of the transaction in any of these circumstances could expose the holders of CLOs to the risk that the underlying Senior Secured Loans will have to be sold at depressed prices.
An investment in a CLO offers access to a diversified and actively managed portfolio of Senior Secured Loans in a single investment with the potential to provide enhanced returns generated by the difference between the yield on the underlying assets in the portfolio and the cost of funding of the rated debt liabilities.
The most junior tranches of all U.S. CLOs (typically referred to as CLO equity tranches) have delivered nearly 20% annual average cash yields since January 2003, as shown in the chart below, (1) and, according to Moody's CLO Interest (July 2012) no CLO issued since 2002 has suffered a principal loss on a rated debt tranche (including during the credit crisis).
Average CLO Equity Tranche Annualized Yields
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Cashflow transactions
We intend to invest primarily in cashflow CLO transactions. The underlying assets of cashflow CLOs are comprised primarily of Senior Secured Loans. Cashflow CLOs differ from market value CLOs in that they do not include mark-to-market covenants. For example, the cashflow CLOs that the Fund targets have covenants that are primarily based on the par value of the Senior Secured Loans owned by the CLO, whereas market value CLOs have covenants that are primarily based on the market value of the Senior Secured Loans owned by the CLO. Thus, the performance of a cashflow CLO is less sensitive than the performance of a market value CLO to the market volatility of the Senior Secured Loans owned by the CLO. Cashflow CLOs typically have a stated maturity of 10 to 12 years with an actual average life of approximately 5 to 9 years.
The underlying assets of cashflow transactions may be either actively managed by a CLO collateral manager, or structured as static pools where few if any changes can be made to the initial asset selection. We intend to invest primarily in actively-managed transactions where the portfolio will be managed according to typically stringent investment guidelines set out at the inception of the transaction. These guidelines likely will include specific requirements determined by the rating agencies (Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and/or Fitch), such as a broadly invested portfolio and weighted average rating requirements on the Senior Secured Loans in the portfolio.
Broad investment variety is a key feature of the portfolios of the CLOs in which we intend to invest, and is aimed at minimizing the effect of potential credit deterioration. Typical guidelines require broad investment variety by issuer and industry. Individual CLO portfolios will generally consist of a large number of issuers in various industries.
Returns to investors in CLOs are dependent on a number of factors. One of the principal drivers is the number and timing of defaults in the portfolio, as well as recovery rates on any defaulted Senior Secured Loans. Other factors which contribute to return performance are correlation among assets, portfolio purchase price, repayment rate, reinvestment rate, trading gains/losses, test levels, frequency of payment on assets and liabilities, and allocation of cashflows.
Outlook
The U.S. Senior Secured Loan market
We believe that while the U.S. Senior Secured Loan market is relatively large, with Standard & Poor's estimating the total par value outstanding at approximately U.S. $514.3 billion as of June 30, 2012, this market remains largely inaccessible to a significant portion of investors that are not lenders or approved institutions. CLOs permit wider exposure to Senior Secured Loans, but this market is almost exclusively private and predominantly institutional.
The Senior Secured Loan market is characterized by various factors, including:
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S&P/LSTA Index: Total Returns (%)
Average U.S. Corporate Debt Recovery Rates (%)
Source: Moody's Corporate Default and Recovery Rates, 1987-2011.
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In the current environment, we believe the above attributes are particularly desirable. We believe that the potential for returns on Senior Secured Loans will remain attractive for at least the next two to three years, particularly taking into account that corporate issuers need to refinance approximately U.S. $400 billion of Senior Secured Loans over the next six years (5) and that funding for such refinancing, including by CLOs, may remain scarce. We believe any such supply and demand imbalance is likely to result in attractive yields for Target Securities.
Deal Sourcing
Deals will typically be sourced through our Adviser's direct contact and access to major U.S.-based CLO collateral managers and extensive relationships and contacts with U.S. Senior Secured Loan and CLO originating and trading operations at banks and other financial institutions.
Analysis of Collateral
In addition to the in-depth due diligence that we believe the CLO collateral manager will typically conduct on the Senior Secured Loans in a CLO portfolio, our Adviser also will typically perform in-depth due diligence on the individual Senior Secured Loans in the CLO portfolio. Our Adviser's evaluation process for corporate credit portfolios typically focuses on identifying high-risk issuers, evaluating the key events which could lead to their default, and understanding the timing of these events and the expected severity of loss should these events take place.
We caution investors that the past performance described above is not indicative of future returns and the results do not include fees, expenses or taxes that a stockholder may incur. The results described above may not be representative of our portfolio.
In this process of evaluation, input generally will be obtained from our Adviser's professionals. In addition, our Adviser will have access to its experienced credit team for information with which to screen issuers according to qualitative and quantitative criteria. Credit statistics are typically reviewed for each corporate issuer in our portfolio. This review usually will be used in the investment modeling process and stress case analysis, which our Adviser believes will produce a thorough assessment of underlying potential default and recovery characteristics of Target Securities.
Analysis of CLO Collateral Manager
Assessment of the CLO collateral manager's expertise in the underlying asset class and track record generally will be a key component in the investment evaluation process. Typical criteria that will be used to evaluate prospective CLO collateral managers include:
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In addition to reviewing offering materials and reporting documentation, our Adviser's professionals expect to conduct interviews with the senior management and portfolio managers of prospective investee CLO collateral managers and obtain references from other investors in prior vehicles, credit analysts and risk management professionals of prospective managers as part of the investment due diligence process.
CLO Structural Analysis
We expect to utilize both proprietary and third party financial models to assess credit and structural risks of each prospective CLO investment and to determine expected returns. Typically these models incorporate many of the following structural variables and assumptions in respect of each transaction:
Utilizing our default and recovery assumptions generated for portfolios of underlying Senior Secured Loans, a risk analysis generally will be performed to determine the probability of achieving various return levels for each investment. Transactions which demonstrate stable return profiles with high breakeven probabilities typically will be targeted and transactions with significant tail risk ( i.e. , probability of achieving below targeted returns) typically will be avoided.
Our Adviser also expects to utilize in-house legal professionals and/or external legal counsel to review CLO legal documents as part of the investment process.
The structural analysis generally will also be used to identify and manage risk concentrations in the aggregate investment portfolio ( i.e. , asset, asset class, sector, rating and manager) and to ensure ongoing compliance with our investment strategy.
Management of Investments
Investment decisions by our Adviser will generally be based on a rigorous credit and structural review and relative value analysis performed by its team, and potential investments will generally be
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analyzed on the merits of the individual transaction in terms of absolute return targets and relative value versus comparable opportunities.
Our Adviser's team generally will prepare an investment memorandum that documents an investment hypothesis and supporting information. Supporting information often includes, among other items, due diligence performed on the underlying portfolio, identification of credits to be included in the transaction, the CLO structural analysis set out above, due diligence performed on the CLO collateral manager, a review and analysis of the offering documentation, and modeling of "downside" and "stress" scenarios.
Our Adviser's sale and purchase decisions will be reviewed and approved by multiple professionals. Our Adviser's professionals typically use a consensus approach to decision making, wherein each purchase or sale of an investment must be approved by a majority of such professionals. If a majority consensus is not reached, an investment sale or purchase typically will not be made. Our Adviser's professionals expect to confer as often as is necessary to discuss potential new investments and existing positions whenever action is required. As part of its investment decisions, our Adviser's professionals may also take into consideration an analysis of a potential investment's impact on our portfolio's structure. See "Portfolio Management" for additional information on our Adviser's professionals.
In relation to Target Securities in which we invest, our Adviser's professionals intend to conduct rigorous ongoing analysis on the Senior Secured Loans, the CLO structure and the CLO collateral manager which generally will include monthly reporting providing an overview of:
Further, our Adviser is expected to hold formal reviews with CLO collateral managers to whom we are exposed on a periodic basis.
Risk management is expected to be an on-going process that may include regular benchmarking of investment performance against the initial investment hypothesis and the maintenance and monitoring of a "risk rating list" by our Adviser on a monthly basis derived from general market information including security prices, press releases, news and statements and ongoing due diligence to assist our Adviser in forecasting the occurrence of specific credit events and modeling outcomes.
Cash Uses and Cash Management Activities
In accordance with our investment strategy, our principal use of cash (including the net offering proceeds) will be to fund investments sourced by our Adviser, as well as initial expenses related to this offering, ongoing operational expenses and payment of dividends and other distributions to stockholders in accordance with our distribution policy. See "Distributions".
Potential Competitive Strengths
We believe that we offer our investors the following potential competitive strengths:
Established platform with seasoned investment professionals. We will benefit from the wider resources of our Adviser through the personnel it utilizes from Prospect Capital Management, which is
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focused on sourcing, structuring, executing, monitoring and exiting a broad range of investments. We believe these personnel possess market knowledge, experience and industry relationships that enable them to identify potentially attractive investment opportunities in Target Securities.
Long-term investment horizon. Unlike private equity and venture capital funds, we will not be subject to standard periodic capital return requirements. Such requirements typically stipulate that capital invested in these funds, together with any capital gains on such investment, can be invested only once and must be returned to investors after a pre-determined time period. We believe our ability to make investments with a longer-term view and without the capital return requirements of traditional private investment vehicles will provide us with greater flexibility to seek investments that can generate attractive returns on invested capital.
Efficient Tax Structure. As a regulated investment company, or "RIC," we generally will not be required to pay federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we receive from our investments and distribute to our stockholders as dividends. Because we are not required to pay federal income taxes on our income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders, we expect to be able to offer investment terms to potential issuers that are comparable to those offered by our corporate-taxpaying competitors, and achieve after-tax net investment returns that are often greater than their after-tax net investment returns. Furthermore, tax-exempt investors in our shares who do not finance their acquisition of our shares with indebtedness should not be required to recognize unrelated business taxable income, or "UBTI." Although, as a RIC, dividends received by us from taxable entities and distributed to our stockholders will not be subject to federal income taxes, any taxable entities we own will generally be subject to federal and state income taxes on their income. As a result, the net return to us on such investments that are held by such subsidiaries will be reduced to the extent that the subsidiaries are subject to income taxes.
Disciplined, income-oriented investment philosophy. Our Adviser expects to employ a conservative investment approach focused on current income and long-term investment performance. This investment approach involves a multi-stage selection process for each investment opportunity, as well as ongoing monitoring of each investment made, with particular emphasis on early detection of deteriorating credit conditions at issuers of Target Securities which could result in adverse portfolio developments. This strategy is designed to maximize current income and minimize the risk of capital loss while maintaining potential for long-term capital appreciation.
Investment expertise across all levels of the corporate capital structure. We believe the personnel available to our Adviser have broad expertise and experience investing in companies, managing high-yielding debt and equity investments, and managing and investing in Target Securities. We will attempt to capitalize on this expertise in an effort to produce and maintain an investment portfolio that will perform well in a broad range of economic conditions.
Operating and Regulatory Structure
Our investment activities will be managed by our Adviser and supervised by our Board of Directors, a majority of whom are independent. Under our Investment Advisory Agreement, we have agreed to pay our Adviser a base management fee based on our average total assets as well as a subordinated incentive fee based on our performance. In addition, we will reimburse our Adviser for routine non-compensation overhead expenses. See "Investment Advisory Agreement" for a description of the payments we will make to our Adviser.
Prospect Administration will provide us with general ledger accounting, fund accounting, and other administrative services.
While a registered closed-end management investment company may list its shares for trading in the public markets, we have currently elected not to do so. We believe that a non-traded structure
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initially is appropriate for the long-term nature of the assets in which we invest. This structure allows us to operate with a long-term view, similar to that of other types of private investment fundsinstead of managing to quarterly market expectationsand to pursue our investment objective without subjecting our investors to the daily share price volatility associated with the public markets because our shares will not be listed on a national securities exchange. To provide our stockholders with limited liquidity, we intend to conduct quarterly repurchase offers pursuant to our share repurchase program beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet our minimum offering requirement. This will be the only method of liquidity that we offer prior to a liquidity event. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account. See "Share Repurchase Program." Therefore, stockholders may not be able to sell their shares promptly or at a desired price.
Our shares are not currently listed on an exchange, and we do not expect a public market to develop for them in the foreseeable future, if ever.
We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. See "Liquidity Strategy" for a discussion of what constitutes a liquidity event. The completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all.
We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders as dividends. To continue to qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, to qualify for RIC tax treatment we must distribute to our stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of our "investment company taxable income," which is generally our ordinary income plus the excess of our realized net short-term capital gains over our realized net long-term capital losses.
We will be subject to certain regulatory restrictions in making our investments. For example, we generally will not be permitted to co-invest with certain entities affiliated with our Adviser in transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates unless we obtain an exemptive order from the SEC or co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. However, we will be permitted to, and may, co-invest in syndicated deals and secondary loan market transactions where price is the only negotiated point. We may seek exemptive relief from the SEC to engage in co-investment transactions with our Adviser and/or its affiliates. However, there can be no assurance that we will seek or obtain such exemptive relief. Even if we receive exemptive relief, neither our Adviser nor its affiliates are obligated to offer us the right to participate in any transactions originated by them. Prior to obtaining exemptive relief, we intend to co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates only in accordance with existing regulatory guidance.
To seek to enhance our returns, we may borrow money from time to time at the discretion of our Adviser within the levels permitted by the 1940 Act (which generally allows us to incur leverage for up to one-third of our assets) when the terms and conditions available are favorable to long-term investing and well-aligned with our investment strategy and portfolio composition. We do not plan to incur
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leverage or issue preferred shares in the first 12 months following effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms, or until after the proceeds of this offering are substantially invested in accordance with our investment objective. In determining whether to borrow money, we intend to analyze the maturity, covenant package and rate structure of the proposed borrowings as well as the risks of such borrowings compared to our investment outlook. The use of borrowed funds or the proceeds of preferred stock to make investments would have its own specific set of benefits and risks, and all of the costs of borrowing funds or issuing preferred stock would be borne by holders of our shares. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Debt Financing" for a discussion of the risks inherent to employing leverage.
Valuation Procedures
The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements likely will be the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded. There generally is no single method for determining fair value in good faith. As a result, determining fair value usually requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make. We will be required to specifically fair value each individual investment on a quarterly basis.
Our Board of Directors will determine the value of our investment portfolio each quarter, after consideration of our audit committee's recommendation of fair value. Our Adviser will compile the relevant information, including a financial summary, covenant compliance review and recent trading activity in the security, if known. All available information, including non-binding indicative bids which may not be considered reliable, typically will be presented to our audit committee to consider in making its recommendation of fair value to our Board of Directors. In some instances, there may be limited trading activity in a security even though the market for the security is considered not active. In such cases our audit committee generally will consider the number of trades, the size and timing of each trade, and other circumstances around such trades, to the extent such information is available, in making its recommendation of fair value to our Board of Directors. We may elect to engage third-party valuation firms to provide assistance to our audit committee and Board of Directors in valuing certain of our investments. Our audit committee expects to evaluate the impact of such additional information, and factor it into its consideration of fair value. See "Determination of Net Asset Value" for a discussion of how net asset value is determined.
Competition
We expect to compete for investments with other investment funds (including other equity and debt funds, mezzanine funds and business development companies), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks, investment banks, finance companies, insurance companies and other sources of funding. Additionally, because we believe competition for investment opportunities generally has increased among alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including CLOs. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in CLOs may intensify. Many of these entities may have greater financial and managerial resources than we do. We believe we will be able to compete with these entities primarily on the basis of the experience and contacts of our Adviser, and our responsive and efficient investment analysis and decision-making processes.
Employees
Our day-to-day investment operations are managed by our Adviser. Our Adviser does not currently have employees, but has access to certain investment, finance, accounting, legal, and administrative personnel of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration and Behringer Harvard. In
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particular, our Adviser has entered into a personnel agreement with Prospect Capital Management pursuant to which certain personnel will be made available to our Adviser to assist it in managing our portfolio and operations, provided that they are supervised at all times by our Adviser. In addition, we reimburse Prospect Administration for an allocable portion of expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including a portion of the rent and the compensation of our chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, treasurer and secretary and other administrative support personnel. We also reimburse a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard for providing investor relations support and related back-office services with respect to our investors under the Investor Services Agreement.
Facilities
We do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operation. Our corporate headquarters are located at 10 East 40th Street, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10016, where we occupy office space pursuant to an Administration Agreement with Prospect Administration.
Legal Proceedings
Neither we nor our Adviser is currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, is any material legal proceeding threatened against us or against our Adviser.
From time to time, our Adviser, its affiliates or its professionals may be party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights with respect to our investments. While the outcome of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that any such proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition or results of operations.
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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
We expect to determine the net asset value per share of our common stock by dividing the value of our investments, cash and other assets (including interest accrued but not collected) less all our liabilities (including accrued expenses, borrowings and interest payables) by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on a quarterly basis. The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements likely will be the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded. There generally is no single method for determining fair value in good faith. As a result, determining fair value usually requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make. We will be required to specifically fair value each individual investment on a quarterly basis.
Our Board of Directors will determine the value of our investment portfolio each quarter, after consideration of our audit committee's recommendation of fair value. Our Adviser will compile and review relevant information, including the operating metrics of Target Securities that are CLO securities, including compliance with collateralization tests, defaulted and restructured Senior Secured Loans that comprise a CLO's portfolio, payment defaults, if any, recent trading activity in the security, if known, and the most recent trustee reports and note valuation reports. The values of Target Securities that are CLO securities are primarily determined using a third-party cash flow modeling tool. The model will contain certain assumption inputs that are reviewed by a third party and our audit committee and adjusted as appropriate to incorporate how historic, current and potential market developments might potentially impact the performance of such investments.
The Fund may also invest directly in Senior Secured Loans (either in the primary or secondary markets). In valuing such investments, our Adviser will prepare an analysis of each Senior Secured Loan, including a financial summary, covenant compliance review, recent trading activity in the security, if known, and other business developments related to the issuer of such Senior Secured Loan.
We seek to derive a value at which market participants could transact in an orderly market and also seek to benchmark the model inputs and resulting outputs to observable market data, when available and appropriate. Available information, including non-binding indicative bids which may not be considered reliable, typically will be presented to our audit committee to consider in making its recommendation of fair value to our Board of Directors. We may elect to engage third-party valuation firms to provide assistance to our audit committee and Board of Directors in valuing certain of our investments. Our audit committee expects to evaluate the impact of such additional information, and factor it into its consideration of fair value.
Determinations in Connection With Offerings
We are offering our shares on a continuous basis at an initial offering price of $15.00 per share; however, to the extent that our net asset value increases, we will sell at a price necessary to ensure that shares are not sold at a price per share, after deduction of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, that is below our net asset value per share. To the extent that our net asset value per share increases subsequent to the last closing, the offering price per share may increase. In the event of a material decline in our net asset value per share, which we consider to be a non-temporary 5% decrease below our current net offering price, we will reduce our offering price accordingly. We consider any decrease existing at the end of two consecutive fiscal quarters to be non-temporary. Our intent is that our public offering price will be not more than 5% above our net asset value per share plus selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses.
Therefore, persons who subscribe for shares in this offering must submit subscriptions for a certain dollar amount, rather than a number of shares and, as a result, may receive fractional shares. In connection with each closing of a sale of shares, our Board of Directors or a committee thereof is
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required within 48 hours of the time that each closing and sale is made to make the determination that we are not selling our shares at a price which, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is below our then current net asset value per share. Our Board of Directors or a committee thereof will consider the following factors, among others, in making such determination:
Importantly, this determination does not require that we calculate net asset value in connection with each closing and sale of our shares, but instead it involves the determination by our Board of Directors or a committee thereof that we are not selling our shares at a price which, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is below the then current net asset value per share at the time at which the closing and sale is made.
Moreover, to the extent that there is even a remote possibility that we may (i) issue our shares at a price which, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is below the then current net asset value per share of our shares at the time at which the closing and sale is made or (ii) trigger the undertaking (which we provided to the SEC in the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part) to suspend the offering of our shares pursuant to this prospectus if the net asset value per share fluctuates by certain amounts in certain circumstances until the prospectus is amended, our Board of Directors or a committee thereof will elect, in the case of clause (i) above, either to postpone the closing until such time that there is no longer the possibility of the occurrence of such event or to undertake to determine net asset value within two days prior to any such sale to ensure that such sale will not be at a price which, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, is below our then current net asset value per share, and, in the case of clause (ii) above, to comply with such undertaking or to undertake to determine net asset value to ensure that such undertaking has not been triggered.
In addition, a non-temporary decline in our net asset value per share to an amount more than 5% below our current offering price, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, creates a rebuttable presumption that there has been a material change in the value of our assets such that a reduction in the offering price per share is warranted. This presumption may only be rebutted if our Board of Directors, in consultation with our Adviser, reasonably and in good faith determines that the decline in net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, rather than a more fundamental shift in the valuation of our portfolio. In the event that (i) net asset value per share decreases to more than 5% below our current net offering price and (ii) our Board of Directors believes that such decrease in net asset value per share is the result of a non-temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, our Board of Directors will undertake to establish a new net offering price that is not more than 5% above our net asset value per share plus selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses. If our Board of Directors determines that the decline in our net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, investors will purchase shares at
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an offering price per share, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which represents a premium to the net asset value per share of greater than 5%.
These processes and procedures are part of our compliance policies and procedures. Records will be made contemporaneously with all determinations described in this section and these records will be maintained with other records we are required to maintain under the 1940 Act. Promptly following any adjustment to the offering price per share of our shares offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will update this prospectus by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC. We will also make updated information available via our website, www.priority-incomefund.com .
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Pursuant to our charter and bylaws, our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. The responsibilities of our Board of Directors include, among others, the oversight of our investment activities, the quarterly valuation of our assets, oversight of our financing arrangements and corporate governance activities. Our Board of Directors currently has an audit committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee and may establish additional committees from time to time as necessary. Each director will serve until the expiration of such director's term and until his or her successor is duly elected. Although the number of directors may be increased or decreased, a decrease will not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Any director may resign at any time and may be removed only for cause by the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.
Any vacancy on our Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy on our Board of Directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.
Board of Directors and Executive Officers
Our Board of Directors will consist of five members, three of whom are not "interested persons" of us or our Adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. We refer to these individuals as our independent directors. Members of our Board of Directors have been divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The initial terms of the first, second and third classes will expire in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, and in each case, those directors will serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Beginning in 2013, upon expiration of their current terms, directors of each class will be elected to serve for three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify and each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. We are prohibited from making loans or extending credit, directly or indirectly, to our directors or executive officers under section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Directors
Information regarding our Board of Directors is set forth below. We have divided the directors into two groupsinterested directors and independent directors. The address for each director is c/o Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
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Interested Directors
The following directors are "interested persons" as defined in the 1940 Act.
Name and Age
|
Position(s)
Held with Company |
Term at Office and
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years |
Directorships
Held by Director During Past 5 Years |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M. Grier Eliasek, 39 |
Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President | Class III Director since July 2012; Term expires 2015 | President and Chief Operating Officer of our Adviser, President and Chief Operating Officer of Prospect Capital Corporation, Managing Director of Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Administration | Prospect Capital Corporation | ||||
Robert S. Aisner, 66 |
Director |
Class II Director since July 2012; Term expires 2014 |
Executive positions of the following entities: Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I, Inc., Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT II, Inc., Behringer Harvard Multifamily REIT I, Inc., Behringer Harvard Holdings, Adaptive Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. |
Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I, Inc., Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT II, Inc., Behringer Harvard Multifamily REIT I, Inc., Adaptive Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. |
Independent Directors
The following directors are not "interested persons" as defined in the 1940 Act.
Name and Age
|
Position(s)
Held with Company |
Term at Office and
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years |
Other
Directorships Held by Director During Past 5 Years |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew C. Cooper, 51 |
Director | Class III Director since October 2012; Term expires 2015 | Mr. Cooper is an entrepreneur, who over the last 12 years has founded, built, run and sold three companies. He is Co-Chief Executive Officer of Unison Site Management, Inc., a specialty finance company focusing on cell site easements, and Executive Director of Brand Asset Digital, a digital media marketing and distribution company. | Prospect Capital Corporation |
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Name and Age
|
Position(s)
Held with Company |
Term at Office and
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years |
Other
Directorships Held by Director During Past 5 Years |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William J. Gremp, 70 |
Director |
Class II Director since October 2012; Term expires 2014 |
Mr. Gremp has been responsible for traditional banking services, credit and lending, private equity and corporate cash management with Merrill Lynch & Co. from 1999 to present. |
Prospect Capital Corporation |
||||
Eugene S. Stark, 55 |
Director |
Class I Director since October 2012; Term expires 2013 |
Principal Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice PresidentAdministration of General American Investors Company, Inc. from May 2005 to present. |
Prospect Capital Corporation |
Director Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes that, collectively, the directors have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, which allow our Board of Directors to operate effectively in governing the Company and protecting the interests of its stockholders. Below is a description of the various experiences, qualifications, attributes and/or skills with respect to each director considered by our Board of Directors.
M. Grier Eliasek
Mr. Eliasek has been the Chairman of our Board of Directors and our Chief Executive Officer and President since inception. Mr. Eliasek also currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of our Adviser, as a Managing Director of our Administrator and as President, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Prospect Capital Corporation. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Prospect Capital Corporation and leads each of Prospect Capital Management's investment committees in the origination, selection, monitoring and portfolio management of investments. Prior to joining Prospect Capital Management in 2004, Mr. Eliasek served as a Managing Director with Prospect Street Ventures, an investment management firm which, together with its predecessors, invested in various investment strategies through publicly traded closed-end funds and private limited partnerships. Prior to joining Prospect Street Ventures, Mr. Eliasek served as a consultant with Bain & Company, a global strategy consulting firm. Mr. Eliasek received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar and a Rodman Scholar.
Mr. Eliasek brings to our Board of Directors business leadership and experience and knowledge of Target Securities, other debt, private equity and venture capital investments and, as well, a knowledge of diverse management practices. His depth of experience in managerial positions in investment management, securities research and financial services, as well as his extensive knowledge of our business and operations, provides our Board of Directors valuable industry-specific knowledge and expertise on these and other matters. Mr. Eliasek's service as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, as Chief Operating Officer and President of our Adviser and as a Managing Director of Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Administration
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provide him with a specific understanding of the Company, its operation, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Company.
Robert S. Aisner
Mr. Aisner serves as a director of Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., as Chairman of the Board and a director of Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I, Inc. and Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT II, Inc., as Chief Executive Officer, President, Chairman of Board and a director of Adaptive Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., and as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Behringer Harvard Multifamily REIT I, Inc. Mr. Aisner is also a member of the Board of Managers, Chief Executive Officer and President of Behringer Harvard Holdings. All of the foregoing entities are affiliates of our Adviser.
Mr. Aisner was selected as a director based on his familiarity with our dealer manager's operations and extensive investment management experience. From 1996 until joining Behringer Harvard in 2003, Mr. Aisner served as (1) Executive Vice President of AMLI Residential Properties Trust, formerly a NYSE-listed REIT focused on the development, acquisition and management of upscale apartment communities, which served as advisor and asset manager for institutional investors with respect to their multifamily real estate investment activities, (2) President of AMLI Management Company that oversaw all of AMLI's apartment operations in 80 communities, (3) President of the AMLI Corporate Homes division that managed AMLI's corporate housing properties, (4) Vice President of AMLI Residential Construction, a division of AMLI that performed real estate construction services, and (5) Vice President of AMLI Institutional Advisors, the AMLI division that served as institutional advisor and asset manager for institutional investors with respect to their multifamily real estate activities. Mr. Aisner also served on AMLI's Executive Committee and Investment Committee. From 1994 until 1996, Mr. Aisner owned and operated Regents Management, Inc., which had both a multifamily development and construction group and a general commercial property management group. From 1984 to 1994, he was employed by HRW Resources, Inc., a real estate development and management company, where he served as Vice President. Mr. Aisner is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, the Board of Directors of the National Multi-Housing Council, the Urban Land Institute and the Pension Real Estate Association. Mr. Aisner received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of New Hampshire. Our Board of Directors believes that this experience allows Mr. Aisner to offer valuable insight and advice with respect to raising capital and implementing our investment strategies.
Andrew C. Cooper
Mr. Cooper's over 25 years of experience in venture capital management, venture capital investing and investment banking provides our Board of Directors with a wealth of leadership, business investing and financial experience. Mr. Cooper's experience as the co-founder, director and former co-CEO of Unison Site Management LLC, a leading cellular site owner with 2,000 plus cell sites which generate more than $40 million in annual cash flow, and as co-founder, former CFO and VP of business development for Avesta Technologies, an enterprise, information and technology management software company bought by Visual Networks in 2000, provides our Board of Directors with the benefit of leadership and experience in finance and management. Mr. Cooper also serves on the board of Brand Asset Digital, Aquatic Energy and the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club of New York. Further, Mr. Cooper's time as a director of CSG Systems, Protection One Alarm, LionBridge Technologies and Weblink Wireless, provides our Board of Directors with a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of management practices. Mr. Cooper's knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve on the Company's Audit Committee and his independence from the Company,
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the Adviser and Prospect Administration enhances his service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
William J. Gremp
Mr. Gremp brings to our Board of Directors a broad and diverse knowledge of business and finance as a result of his career as an investment banker, spanning over 40 years working in corporate finance and originating and executing transactions and advisory assignments for energy and utility related clients. Since 1999, Mr. Gremp has been responsible for traditional banking services, credit and lending, private equity and corporate cash management with Merrill Lynch & Co. From 1996 to 1999, he served at Wachovia as senior vice president, managing director and co-founder of the utilities and energy investment banking group, responsible for origination, structuring, negotiation and successful completion of transactions utilizing investment banking, capital markets and traditional commercial banking products. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Gremp was the managing director of global power and project finance at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and from 1970 to 1990, Mr. Gremp was with Merrill Lynch & Co., starting out as an associate in the mergers and acquisitions department, then in 1986 becoming the senior vice president, managing director and head of the regulated industries group. Mr. Gremp's knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve on the Company's Audit Committee and his independence from the Company, the Adviser and Prospect Administration enhances his service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Eugene S. Stark
Mr. Stark brings to our Board of Directors over 20 years of experience in directing the financial and administrative functions of investment management organizations. Our Board of Directors benefits from his broad experience in financial management; SEC reporting and compliance; strategic and financial planning; expense, capital and risk management; fund administration; due diligence; acquisition analysis; and integration activities. Since May 2005, Mr. Stark's position as the Principal Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Administration at General American Investors Company, Inc., where he is responsible for operations, compliance, and financial functions, allows him to provide our Board of Directors with added insight into the management practices of other financial companies. From January to April of 2005, Mr. Stark was the Chief Financial Officer of Prospect Capital Corporation, prior to which he worked at Prudential Financial, Inc. between 1987 and 2004. His many positions within Prudential include 10 years as Vice President and Fund Treasurer of Prudential Mutual Funds, four years as Senior Vice President of Finance of Prudential Investments, and two years as Senior Vice President of Finance of Prudential Amenities. Mr. Stark is also a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Stark's knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve on the Company's Audit Committee and his independence from the Company, the Adviser and Prospect Administration enhances his service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Stark is also a member of Mount Saint Mary Academy's Finance Committee.
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Information about Executive Officers Who are Not Directors
Name, Address and Age
|
Position(s)
Held with Company |
Term at Office and
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael D. Cohen, 38 |
Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President since July 2012 | Mr. Cohen is also the Executive Vice President of our Adviser and has served in numerous executive roles with other entities affiliated with Behringer Harvard Holdings since 2005. | |||
Frank V. Saracino, 46 |
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary since October 2012 |
Mr. Saracino is also the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of our Adviser and a Managing Director of Prospect Administration. From August 2008 to June 2012, he served in various executive capacities within Macquarie Group's Finance divisions. Prior to that, he served as Chief Accounting Officer of eSpeed, Inc. (now BGC Partners, Inc.), a publicly-traded subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald. |
Mr. Cohen has served as our Executive Vice President since inception. Mr. Cohen also serves as Executive Vice President of our Adviser and of a number of other entities affiliated with Behringer Harvard Holdings, as well as a member of the board of directors of Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT II, Inc., an investment program sponsored by Behringer Harvard Holdings. Mr Cohen is also a member of the Board of Managers of Behringer Harvard Holdings. Mr. Cohen works closely with our dealer manager to develop institutional investments and manage relationships with the company's institutional investors. Mr. Cohen joined Behringer Harvard in 2005 from Crow Holdings, the investment office of the Trammell Crow Company, where he concentrated on the acquisition and management of the firm's office, retail, and hospitality assets. Mr. Cohen began his career in 1997 at Harvard Property Trust and Behringer Partners, predecessor companies to Behringer Harvard. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and a Master's degree in Business and Finance from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a member of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate.
Mr. Saracino has served as our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary since October 2012. Mr. Saracino also currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of our Adviser and as a Managing Director of our Administrator, concentrating on portfolio management, strategic and growth initiatives and other management functions. Mr. Saracino joined us and Prospect in 2012 from Macquarie Group, where he was Managing Director and Finance head for its Americas non-trading businesses which included private equity, asset management, lease financing, private wealth, and investment banking. From 2004 to 2008, he served first as Controller and then as Chief Accounting Officer of eSpeed, Inc. (now BGC Partners, Inc.), a publicly-traded subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald. Prior to that, Mr. Saracino worked as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank advising clients in the telecom industry. Mr. Saracino started his career in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) where he earned a CPA and subsequently worked in internal auditing for The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University.
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The address for our executive officers is c/o Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., 10 East 40th Street, 44th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
Director Independence
Our Board of Directors annually determines each director's independence. We do not consider a director independent unless our Board of Directors has determined that he or she has no material relationship with us. We monitor the relationships of our directors and officers through a questionnaire each director completes no less frequently than annually and updates periodically as information provided in the most recent questionnaire changes.
In order to evaluate the materiality of any such relationship, our Board of Directors uses the definition of director independence set forth in the rules promulgated by the NASDAQ Stock Market. Rule 5605(a)(2) provides that a director, shall be considered to be independent if he or she is not an "interested person" of us, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the directors is independent and has no relationship with us, except as a director and stockholder, with the exception of Mr. Eliasek, as a result of his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of us and President and Chief Operating Officer of our Adviser, and his executive positions at certain affiliates of our Adviser, and Mr. Aisner, as a result of his executive positions at certain affiliates of our Adviser.
Board Leadership Structure
Our Board of Directors monitors and performs an oversight role with respect to our business and affairs, including with respect to investment practices and performance, compliance with regulatory requirements and our services and expenses and performance of our service providers. Among other things, our Board of Directors approves the appointment of our investment adviser and executive officers, reviews and monitors the services and activities performed by our investment adviser and executive officers and approves the engagement, and reviews the performance of, our independent registered public accounting firm.
Under our bylaws, our Board of Directors may designate a Chairman to preside over the meetings of our Board of Directors and meetings of the stockholders and to perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by our Board of Directors. We do not have a fixed policy as to whether the Chairman of our Board of Directors should be an independent director and believe that we should maintain the flexibility to select the Chairman and reorganize the leadership structure, from time to time, based on the criteria that is in the best interests of us and our stockholders at such times.
Presently, Mr. Eliasek serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Eliasek is an "interested person" of us as described above. We believe that Mr. Eliasek's history with us, familiarity with our investment platform, and extensive knowledge of the financial services industry, and the investment valuation process, in particular, qualify him to serve as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. We believe that we are best served through this existing leadership structure, as Mr. Eliasek's relationship with our Adviser provides an effective bridge and encourages an open dialogue between management and our Board of Directors, helping these groups act with a common purpose.
Our Board of Directors does not currently have a designated lead independent director. We are aware of the potential conflicts that may arise when a non-independent director is Chairman of our Board of Directors, but believe these potential conflicts are offset by our strong corporate governance policies. Our corporate governance policies include regular meetings of the independent directors in executive session without the presence of interested directors and management, the establishment of audit and nominating and corporate governance committees comprised solely of independent directors and the appointment of a chief compliance officer, with whom the independent directors meet regularly without the presence of interested directors and other members of management, for administering our compliance policies and procedures.
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We recognize that different board leadership structures are appropriate for companies in different situations. We re-examine our corporate governance policies on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet our needs.
Board's Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function primarily through (i) its two standing committees, which report to the entire Board of Directors and are comprised solely of independent directors, and (ii) active monitoring of our chief compliance officer and our compliance policies and procedures.
As described below in more detail under "Committees of the Board of Directors," our audit committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee assist our Board of Directors in fulfilling its risk oversight responsibilities. Our audit committee's risk oversight responsibilities include establishing guidelines and making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the valuation of our investments, overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes, our systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting, and audits of our financial statements. Our nominating and corporate governance committee's risk oversight responsibilities include selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, developing and recommending to our Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of our Board of Directors and our management.
Our Board of Directors also performs its risk oversight responsibilities with the assistance of our chief compliance officer. Our Board of Directors annually reviews a written report from our chief compliance officer discussing the adequacy and effectiveness of our compliance policies and procedures and our service providers. Our chief compliance officer's annual report addresses at a minimum (i) the operation of our compliance policies and procedures and our service providers since the last report; (ii) any material changes to such policies and procedures since the last report; (iii) any recommendations for material changes to such policies and procedures as a result of our chief compliance officer's annual review; and (iv) any compliance matter that has occurred since the date of the last report about which our Board of Directors would reasonably need to know to oversee our compliance activities and risks. In addition, our chief compliance officer meets separately in executive session with the independent directors at least quarterly.
We believe that our Board of Directors' role in risk oversight is effective and appropriate given the extensive regulation to which we are already subject as a registered closed-end management investment company. As a registered closed-end management investment company, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements that control the levels of risk in our business and operations. For example, our ability to incur indebtedness is currently limited such that our asset coverage must equal at least 300% immediately after each time we incur indebtedness and we are limited in our ability to invest in any company in which one of our affiliates currently has an investment.
We recognize that different board roles in risk oversight are appropriate for companies in different situations. We will re-examine the manner in which our Board of Directors administers its oversight function on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet our needs.
Committees of our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors has the following committees:
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is responsible for establishing guidelines and making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the valuation of our Senior Secured Loans and investments; selecting,
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engaging and discharging our independent accountants, reviewing the plans, scope and results of the audit engagement with our independent accountants; approving professional services provided by our independent accountants (including compensation therefore); reviewing the independence of our independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting. The members of our audit committee will be Messrs. Cooper, Gremp and Stark, all of whom are independent. Mr. Stark will serve as the Chairman of our audit committee and our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Stark is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined under SEC rules.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee selects and nominates directors for election by our stockholders, selects nominees to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors or a committee thereof, develops and recommends to our Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles and oversees the evaluation of our Board of Directors and our management. The committee will be composed of Messrs. Cooper, Gremp and Stark. Mr. Gremp will serve as Chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee does not currently have a written policy with regard to nominees recommended by our stockholders. The absence of such a policy does not mean, however, that a stockholder recommendation will not be considered if one is received.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee will consider qualified director nominees recommended by stockholders when such recommendations are submitted in accordance with our bylaws and any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding director nominations. When submitting a nomination for consideration, a stockholder must provide certain information that would be required under applicable SEC rules, including the following minimum information for each director nominee: full name, age and address; principal occupation during the past five years; current directorships on publicly held companies and investment companies; number of our shares owned, if any; and, a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by our Board of Directors and to serve if elected by our stockholders.
In evaluating director nominees, the members of our nominating and corporate governance committee consider the following factors:
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Our nominating and corporate governance committee's goal is to assemble a Board of Directors that brings to us a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high quality business and professional experience.
Other than the foregoing there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the members of our nominating and corporate governance committee may consider such other factors as they may deem are in the best interests of us and our stockholders. Our nominating and corporate governance committee also believes it appropriate for certain key members of our management to participate as members of our Board of Directors.
The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee identify nominees by first evaluating the current members of our Board of Directors willing to continue in service. Current members of our Board of Directors with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of our Board of Directors with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of our Board of Directors does not wish to continue in service or if our Board of Directors decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the independent members of our Board of Directors identify the desired skills and experience of a new nominee in light of the criteria above. The entire Board of Directors is polled for suggestions as to individuals meeting the aforementioned criteria. Research may also be performed to identify qualified individuals. Our Board of Directors and our nominating and corporate governance committee has not engaged any third parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying potential nominees, although each reserves the right in the future to retain a third party search firm, if necessary.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. In determining whether to recommend a director nominee, our nominating and corporate governance committee considers and discusses diversity, among other factors, with a view toward the needs of our Board of Directors as a whole. Our nominating and corporate governance committee generally conceptualizes diversity expansively to include, without limitation, concepts such as race, gender, national origin, differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill and other qualities that contribute to our Board of Directors, when identifying and recommending director nominees. Our nominating and corporate governance committee believes that the inclusion of diversity as one of many factors considered in selecting director nominees is consistent with our nominating and corporate governance committee's goal of creating a Board of Directors that best serves our needs and the interest of our stockholders.
Compensation of Directors
Prior to meeting our minimum offering requirement, our directors are not entitled to compensation. Subsequent to meeting our minimum offering requirement, our directors who do not also serve in an executive officer capacity for us or our Adviser are entitled to receive annual cash retainer fees, determined based on our net asset value as of the end of each fiscal quarter. These directors will be Messrs. Cooper, Gremp and Stark. Amounts payable under the arrangement will be determined and paid quarterly in arrears as follows:
Net Asset Value
|
Annual
Cash Retainer |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
$0 million - $100 million |
$ | 0 | ||
$100 million - $300 million |
$ | 35,000 | ||
$300 million - $500 million |
$ | 50,000 | ||
$500 million - $1 billion |
$ | 75,000 | ||
>$1 billion |
$ | 100,000 |
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We will also reimburse each of the above directors for all reasonable and authorized business expenses in accordance with our policies as in effect from time to time, including reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending each board meeting and each committee meeting not held concurrently with a board meeting.
We do not pay compensation to our directors who also serve in an executive officer capacity for us or our Adviser.
Compensation of Executive Officers
Our executive officers will not receive any direct compensation from us. We do not currently have any employees and do not expect to have any employees. Services necessary for our business are provided by individuals who are employees of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration or Behringer Harvard or by individuals who were contracted by such entities to work on behalf of us, pursuant to the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement and Investor Services Agreement. Each of our executive officers is an employee of our Adviser, Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration, Behringer Harvard or an outside contractor, and the day-to-day investment operations and administration of our portfolio are managed by our Adviser. In addition, we reimburse Prospect Administration for our allocable portion of expenses incurred by Prospect Administration, as applicable, in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including the allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, treasurer and secretary and other administrative support personnel under the Administration Agreement.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that our Adviser and its officers, directors, controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with it acting as our agent shall be entitled to indemnification (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) for any liability or loss suffered by our Adviser or such other person, and our Adviser and such other person shall be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by us, if (i) our Adviser has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in our best interests, (ii) our Adviser or such other person was acting on behalf of or performing services for us, (iii) the liability or loss suffered was not the result of negligence or misconduct by our Adviser or an affiliate thereof acting as our agent, and (iv) the indemnification or agreement to hold our Adviser or such other person harmless is only recoverable out of our net assets and not from our stockholders.
Control Persons
Immediately prior to this offering, our Adviser will own 100% of our outstanding common stock. Following the completion of this offering, the share ownership position in us of our Adviser is expected to represent less than 1% of our outstanding common stock.
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The management of our investment portfolio will be the responsibility of our Adviser and its professionals, which currently includes John F. Barry III, Chief Executive Officer of our Adviser, M. Grier Eliasek, President and Chief Operating Officer of our Adviser and our Chief Executive Officer and President, Michael D. Cohen, Executive Vice President of our Adviser and our Executive Vice President, and Frank V. Saracino, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of our Adviser and our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, as well as Robert J. Klein, John W. Kneisley, and Nishil Mehta. For more information regarding the business experience of Messrs. Eliasek, Cohen and Saracino, see "ManagementBoard of Directors and Executive Officers," and of Messrs. Barry, Klein, Kneisley, and Mehta, see "Investment Personnel" below. For information regarding our shares owned by our Adviser's professionals, see "Control Persons and Principal Stockholders" in the SAI. Our Adviser's professionals will not be employed by us, and will receive no compensation from us in connection with their portfolio management activities.
Our executive officers, certain of our directors and certain finance professionals of our Adviser are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key professionals of other Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration, and/or Behringer Harvard entities and Prospect Capital Corporation. These persons have legal obligations with respect to those entities that are similar to their obligations to us. In the future, these persons and other affiliates of Prospect Capital Management or Behringer Harvard may organize other investment programs and acquire for their own account investments that may be suitable for us. In addition, Prospect Capital Management or Behringer Harvard may grant equity interests in our Adviser to certain management personnel performing services for our Adviser.
Set forth below is additional information regarding additional entities that are managed by the professionals of our Adviser:
Name
|
Entity | Investment Focus |
Gross
Assets (1) |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prospect Capital Corporation (2) |
Business Development Company | Investments in senior secured loans, subordinated debt, unsecured debt, Target Securities and equity of a broad portfolio of U.S. companies | $3.5 billion |
Investment Personnel
Messrs. Barry, Eliasek, Cohen and Saracino are assisted by Robert J. Klein, John W. Kneisley and Nishil Mehta, who serve as Managing Director, Managing Director and Vice President, respectively, for our Adviser.
Information regarding Messrs. Barry, Klein, Kneisley and Mehta is set forth below.
John F. Barry III is the Chief Executive Officer of our Adviser with 30 years of finance industry experience. He also currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prospect Capital Corporation, as well as a Managing Director of Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Administration. Mr. Barry has served on the boards of directors of private and public companies, including financial services, financial technology and energy companies. Mr. Barry also managed an investment bank, focusing on private equity and debt financing for energy and other companies, and was the founding member of the project finance group at Merrill Lynch & Co. Prior to that, Mr. Barry was a corporate securities lawyer at a premiere United States law firm, advising energy companies and
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their commercial and investment bankers. Mr. Barry is also chairman of the board of directors of the Mathematics Foundation of America, a non-profit foundation which enhances opportunities in mathematics education for students from diverse backgrounds.
Robert J. Klein is a Managing Director of our Adviser with 25 years of finance industry experience. Mr. Klein is responsible for originating, executing, and managing our investments in CLOs and, along with Mr. Mehta, manages our relationships with CLO collateral managers and CLO underwriters. Mr. Klein serves a similar role at Prospect Capital Management. From 2002 to 2011, Mr. Klein worked at American Capital, Ltd. where he was a Managing Director and led the New York private equity portfolio team as well as numerous debt investments with financial sponsor clients. From 1992 to 2001, Mr. Klein worked at American Securities and American Industrial Partners, both active middle-market private equity firms. Mr. Klein began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions groups of First Boston and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Klein holds a JD with Distinction from Stanford Law School and a BA summa cum laude from Yale College where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Klein has been admitted to the California bar (inactive status). He serves on the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and on the Committee for Ancient and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is a former Professional Fellow of the New York University Center for Law and Business.
John W. Kneisley is a Managing Director of our Adviser with 21 years of finance industry experience. Mr. Kneisley is part of the senior management team overseeing investment approval, portfolio management, growth initiatives, and other management functions. Mr. Kneisley serves a similar role at Prospect Capital Management. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Kneisley was a senior member of the private investment group at Silver Point Capital, a credit-oriented hedge fund. At Silver Point Capital, Mr. Kneisley was responsible for portfolio management, origination, and execution of Senior Secured Loans and certain control investments. Mr. Kneisley also managed Silver Point's five CLOs. From 1991 through 2006, Mr. Kneisley worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co., most recently as a Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance group where he was responsible for originating, structuring and executing Senior Secured Loans, high yield bonds, bridge loans and acquisition financings for corporate and sponsor clients. Mr. Kneisley holds a BA summa cum laude from DePauw University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Nishil Mehta is a Vice President of our Adviser with nine years of finance industry experience. Mr. Mehta is responsible for originating, executing, and managing our investments in CLOs and, along with Mr. Klein, manages our relationships with CLO collateral managers and CLO underwriters. Mr. Mehta serves a similar role at Prospect Capital Management where he manages capital-raising for Prospect Capital Corporation and critical relationships with Prospect Capital Corporation's investors, lenders, investment banks, and rating agencies. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Mehta worked at CIT Asset Management, where he served as one of four credit analysts managing a portfolio of middle-market and broadly syndicated leveraged loans funded through CLOs. From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Mehta worked at Wachovia Securities, where he raised and managed structured debt, including for CLOs, for U.S. and European collateral managers. Mr. Mehta also originated and purchased leveraged loans for the purpose of building and managing Wachovia's CLO portfolios. Mr. Mehta holds a BBA with honors from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
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Overview of Our Adviser
Management Services and Responsibilities
Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC has registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and serves as our investment adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement in accordance with the 1940 Act. Subject to the overall supervision of our Board of Directors, our Adviser oversees our day-to-day operations and provides us with investment advisory services. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, our Adviser:
Our Adviser's services under the Investment Advisory Agreement may not be exclusive, and our Adviser is free to furnish similar services to other entities so long as its services to us are not impaired. In addition, our Adviser has entered into a personnel agreement with Prospect Capital Management pursuant to which certain personnel will be made available to our Adviser to assist it in managing our portfolio and operations, provided that they are supervised at all times by our Adviser's management team.
Advisory Fees
We will pay our Adviser a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two componentsa base management fee and an incentive fee. The cost of both the base management fee payable to our Adviser and any incentive fees it earns will ultimately be borne by our stockholders.
Base Management Fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.0% of our total assets. The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated based on the average value of our total assets as of the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The base management fee may or may not be taken in whole or in part at the discretion of our Adviser. All or any part of the base management fee not taken as to any quarter shall be deferred without interest and may be taken in such other quarter as our Adviser shall determine. The base management fee for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately prorated.
Subordinated Incentive Fee. The subordinated incentive fee, which we refer to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon our "pre-incentive fee net investment income" for the immediately preceding quarter. The subordinated incentive fee on income will be subject to a quarterly preferred return to investors, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, of 1.5% (6.0% annualized), subject to a "catch up" feature. For purposes of this fee "pre-incentive fee net investment income" means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses reimbursed under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement and Investor Services Agreement, any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the organization and offering expenses and subordinated incentive fee on income). Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the
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case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter is as follows:
The following is a graphical representation of the calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income:
Quarterly Subordinated Incentive Fee on Income
Pre-incentive fee net investment income
(expressed as a percentage of the value of our net assets at
the end of the immediately preceding
calendar quarter)
Percentage of pre-incentive fee net investment income allocated to incentive fee
These calculations will be appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months.
Example: Subordinated Incentive Fee on Income for Each Calendar Quarter
Scenario 1
Assumptions
Investment
income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 1.25%
Preferred return
(1)
= 1.5%
Base management fee
(2)
= 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)
(3)
= 0.2%
Pre-incentive fee net investment income
(investment income - (base management fee + other expenses)) = 0.55%
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Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the preferred return rate, therefore there is no subordinated incentive fee on income payable.
Scenario 2
Assumptions
Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 2.525%
Preferred return (1) = 1.5% Base management fee (2) = 0.5% Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.) (3) = 0.2% Pre-incentive fee net investment income (investment income - (base management fee + other expenses)) = 1.825% |
||
|
|
Subordinated incentive fee on income = 100% × pre-incentive fee net investment income (subject to "catch-up") (4) |
|
|
= 100% × (1.825% - 1.5%) = 0.325% |
Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the preferred return rate, but does not fully satisfy the "catch-up" provision, therefore the subordinated incentive fee on income is 0.325%.
Scenario 3
Assumptions
Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3.5%
Preferred return (1) = 1.5% Base management fee (2) = 0.5% Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.) (3) = 0.2% Pre-incentive fee net investment income (investment income - (base management fee + other expenses)) = 2.8% |
||
|
|
Catch up = 100% × pre-incentive fee net investment income (subject to "catch-up") (4) |
|
|
Subordinated incentive fee on income = 100% × "catch-up" + (20.0% × (pre-incentive fee net investment income - 1.875)) |
Catch up |
|
= 1.875% - 1.5% = 0.375% |
|
|
Subordinated incentive fee on income = (100% × 0.375%) + (20.0% × (2.8% - 1.875%)) |
|
|
= 0.375% + (20% × 0.925%) = 0.375% + 0.185% = 0.56% |
Pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the preferred return and fully satisfies the "catch-up" provision, therefore the subordinated incentive fee on income is 0.56%.
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Capital Gains Incentive Fee
Under the terms of our Investment Advisory Agreement, our Adviser would be eligible to receive an incentive fee based on our capital gains if we elect to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act or if such a fee would be otherwise permissible under the Advisers Act and 1940 Act. Such incentive fee would be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), and would equal 20.0% of our incentive fee capital gains, which would equal our realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from the date our Adviser becomes eligible to receive capital gains incentive fees, calculated as of the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on such a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees.
Payment of Our Expenses
Our primary operating expenses will be the payment of advisory fees and other expenses under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement and Investor Services Agreement, and other expenses necessary for our operations. Our investment advisory fee will compensate our Adviser for its work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, executing, monitoring and servicing our investments. We bear all other expenses of our operations and transactions, including (without limitation) fees and expenses relating to:
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Duration and Termination
Unless earlier terminated as described below, the Investment Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for a period of two years from the date it was executed and will remain in effect from year-to-year thereafter if approved annually by our Board of Directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not interested persons. An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities is also necessary in order to make material amendments to the Investment Advisory Agreement.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that we may terminate the agreement without penalty upon 60 days written notice to our Adviser. If our Adviser wishes to voluntarily terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement, it must give stockholders a minimum of 60 days' notice prior to termination and must pay all expenses associated with its termination. The Investment Advisory Agreement may also be terminated, without penalty, upon the vote of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
Without the vote of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, our Investment Advisory Agreement may not be amended in a manner economically material to our stockholders. In addition, should we or our Adviser elect to terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement, a new investment adviser may not be appointed without approval of a majority of our outstanding shares, except in limited circumstances where a temporary adviser may be appointed without stockholder consent, consistent with the 1940 Act for a time period not to exceed 150 days following the date on which the previous contract terminates.
Indemnification
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, our Adviser and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement or otherwise as our investment adviser.
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Organization of Our Adviser
Our Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company that is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. The principal address of our Adviser is Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
Board Approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement
A discussion regarding the basis for our Board of Directors' approval of our Investment Advisory Agreement will be included in our first annual or semi-annual report filed subsequent to the effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
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We have also entered into an Administration Agreement with Prospect Administration under which Prospect Administration, among other things, provides (or oversees, or arranges for, the provision of) administrative services and facilities for us. For providing these services, we reimburse Prospect Administration for our allocable portion of overhead incurred by Prospect Administration in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the costs of our chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, treasurer and secretary and other administrative support personnel. Under the Administration Agreement, Prospect Administration furnishes us with office facilities, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such facilities. Prospect Administration also performs, arranges, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records that we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, Prospect Administration assists us in determining and publishing our net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days' written notice to the other party. Prospect Administration is an affiliate of Prospect Capital Management and our Adviser.
In addition, we have entered into the Investor Services Agreement under which we have agreed to reimburse a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard for providing investor relations support and related back-office services with respect to our investors.
Indemnification
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, Prospect Administration and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of Prospect Administration's services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as our administrator. Similar provisions are made with respect to a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard and its representatives under the Investor Services Agreement.
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DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN
Subject to our Board of Directors' discretion and applicable legal restrictions, we intend to authorize and declare ordinary cash distributions on a quarterly basis and pay such distributions on a monthly basis beginning no later than the first full calendar quarter after the minimum offering requirement is met. We have adopted an "opt in" distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to which you may elect to have the full amount of your cash distributions reinvested in additional shares. Any distributions of our shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan are dependent on the continued registration of our securities or the availability of an exemption from registration in the recipient's home state. Participants in our distribution reinvestment plan are free to elect or revoke reinstatement in the distribution plan within a reasonable time as specified in the plan. If you do not elect to participate in the plan you will automatically receive any distributions we declare in cash. For example, if our Board of Directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash distribution, then if you have "opted in" to our distribution reinvestment plan, you will have your cash distributions reinvested in additional shares, rather than receiving the cash distributions. During this offering, we generally intend to coordinate distribution payment dates so that the same price that is used for the closing date immediately following such distribution payment date will be used to calculate the purchase price for purchasers under the distribution reinvestment plan. In such case, your reinvested distributions will purchase shares at a price equal to 95% of the price that shares are sold in the offering at the closing immediately following the distribution payment date. Shares issued pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan will have the same voting rights as our shares offered pursuant to this prospectus.
If you wish to receive your distribution in cash, no action will be required on your part to do so. If you are a registered stockholder, you may elect to have your entire distribution reinvested in shares by notifying DST Systems, Inc., the reinvestment agent, and our transfer agent and registrar, in writing so that such notice is received by the reinvestment agent no later than the record date for distributions to stockholders. If you elect to reinvest your distributions in additional shares, the reinvestment agent will set up an account for shares you acquire through the plan and will hold such shares in non-certificated form. If your shares are held by a broker or other financial intermediary, you may "opt in" to our distribution reinvestment plan by notifying your broker or other financial intermediary of your election.
We intend to use newly issued shares to implement the plan and determine the number of shares we will issue to you as follows:
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There will be no selling commissions, dealer manager fees or other sales charges to you if you elect to participate in the distribution reinvestment plan. We will pay the reinvestment agent's fees under the plan.
If you receive your ordinary cash distributions in the form of shares, you generally are subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as you would be had you elected to receive your distributions in cash. Your basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of shares received in a distribution from us will be equal to the total dollar amount of the distribution payable in cash. Any shares received in a distribution will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to your account.
We reserve the right to amend, suspend or terminate the distribution reinvestment plan. We may terminate the plan upon notice in writing mailed to you at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any distribution by us. You may terminate your account by calling Shareholder Services at (866) 655-3650 or by writing to the reinvestment agent at Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 219768, Kansas City, MO 64121-9768.
All correspondence concerning the plan should be directed to the reinvestment agent by mail at Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 219768, Kansas City, MO 64121-9768 or by telephone at (866) 655-3650.
We have filed the complete form of our distribution reinvestment plan with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You may obtain a copy of the plan by request of the plan administrator or by contacting us.
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The following description is based on relevant portions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and on our charter and bylaws. This summary is not intended to be complete and we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below.
Stock
Our authorized stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which are initially designated as common stock and 180,000,000 of which are Class R shares, 10,000,000 of which are Class RIA shares and 10,000,000 of which are Class I shares. There is currently no market for our shares, and we do not expect that a market for our shares will develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. No shares have been authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans. Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally will not be personally liable for our debts or obligations.
Set forth below is a chart describing the classes of our securities to be outstanding as of the date we commence our offering:
Under our charter, our Board of Directors is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock without obtaining stockholder approval. As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that our Board of Directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue.
Common Stock
All shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, voting, and dividends and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized by our Board of Directors and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor. Shares of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, redemption or appraisal rights and are freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that holders of a majority of the
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outstanding shares of common stock can elect all of our directors, and holders of less than a majority of such shares will be unable to elect any director.
Our three classes of shares differ with respect to the sales load you must pay. For example, you will pay (i) selling commissions and dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class R shares, (ii) dealer manager fees, but no selling commissions, for the purchase of our Class RIA shares and (iii) no selling commissions or dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class I shares. However, regardless of class, each share of our common stock will have identical rights with respect to voting and distributions, and will likewise bear its own pro rata portion of our expenses and have the same net asset value as each other share of our common stock. Class R shares are available to the general public. Class RIA shares are only available to accounts managed by registered investment advisers. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only through (1) fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, of investment dealers, (2) participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients, (3) certain registered investment advisors or (4) bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers. If you are eligible to purchase multiple classes of shares, you should consider, among other things, the amount of your investment, the length of time you intend to hold the shares, the selling commission and fees attributable to each class of shares. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor regarding your account type and the classes of shares you may be eligible to purchase.
Preferred Stock
Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our existing common stockholders. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, our Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. You should note, however, that any issuance of preferred stock must comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires, among other things, that (1) immediately after issuance and before any dividend or other distribution is made with respect to our common stock and before any purchase of common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 50% of our gross assets after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, and (2) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if dividends on such preferred stock are in arrears by two full years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions. However, we do not currently have any plans to issue preferred stock.
Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the
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cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors' and officers' liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as our director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, managing member or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as our director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, managing member or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of us in any of the capacities described above and any of our employees or agents or any employees or agents of our predecessor. In accordance with the 1940 Act, we will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either, case a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer in advance of final disposition of a proceeding upon the corporation's receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors. The indemnification agreements provide our directors the maximum indemnification permitted under Maryland law and the 1940 Act.
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Our insurance policy does not currently provide coverage for claims, liabilities and expenses that may arise out of activities that our present or former directors or officers have performed for another entity at our request. There is no assurance that such entities will in fact carry such insurance. However, we note that we do not expect to request our present or former directors or officers to serve another entity as a director, officer, partner or trustee unless we can obtain insurance providing coverage for such persons for any claims, liabilities or expenses that may arise out of their activities while serving in such capacities.
Certain Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws
The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquirer to acquire us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the negotiation of such proposals may improve their terms.
Classified Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors will be divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The initial terms of the first, second and third classes will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, and in each case, those directors will serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Beginning in 2013, upon expiration of their current terms, directors of each class will be elected to serve for three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify and each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. A classified board may render a change in control of us or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. We believe, however, that the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified Board of Directors will help to ensure the continuity and stability of our management and policies.
Election of Directors
Our charter and bylaws provide that each director shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. Pursuant to our charter our Board of Directors may amend the bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.
Number of Directors; Vacancies; Removal
Our charter provides that the number of directors will be set only by our Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, unless our bylaws are amended, the number of directors may never be less than three nor more than eight. Any vacancy on our Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy on our Board of Directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.
Our charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause, as defined in our charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.
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Action by Stockholders
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or (unless the charter provides for stockholder action by less than unanimous written consent, which our charter does not) by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting. These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders discussed below, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting.
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by our Board of Directors or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting or (2) provided that the special meeting was called for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.
The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our Board of Directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our Board of Directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our Board of Directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.
Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our Board of Directors and certain of our officers. Additionally, our bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction of certain procedural and informational requirements by the stockholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of stockholders will be called by the secretary of the corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.
Approval of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and Bylaws
Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless advised by the corporation's Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast
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on the matter. Our charter generally provides for approval of charter amendments and extraordinary transactions by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, our charter provides that the following matters require the approval of stockholders entitled to cast at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter:
However, if such amendment, proposal or transaction is approved by at least two-thirds of our continuing directors (in addition to approval by our Board of Directors), the amendment, proposal or transaction may be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such amendment, proposal or transaction; provided further that any transaction related to Transacting Persons that would not otherwise require stockholder approval under the Maryland General Corporation Law would not require further stockholder approval (unless another provision of our charter or bylaws requires such approval) if approved by at least two-thirds of our continuing directors. In any event, in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, any such amendment or proposal that would have the effect of changing the nature of our business so as to cause us to cease to be a registered management investment company would be required to be approved by a majority of our outstanding voting securities, as defined under the 1940 Act. The "continuing directors" are defined in our charter as (1) our current directors, (2) those directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of our current directors then on our Board of Directors or (3) any successor directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of continuing directors or the successor continuing directors then in office.
Our charter and bylaws provide that our Board of Directors will have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of our bylaws.
No Appraisal Rights
As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights unless a majority of our Board of Directors shall determine such rights apply.
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Control Share Acquisitions
The Maryland General Corporation Law provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter (the "Control Share Act"). Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquirer crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel our Board of Directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations, including, as provided in our bylaws compliance with the 1940 Act. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.
The Control Share Act does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation. The Control Share Act does not apply to a registered closed-end investment company, such as the Company, unless the board of directors adopts a resolution to be subject to the Act. Our Board has not adopted such a resolution and our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Control Share Act any and all acquisitions by any person of our shares of stock. There can be no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future. However, we will adopt a resolution and amend our bylaws to be subject to the Control Share Act only if our Board of Directors determines that it would be in our best interests and if the SEC
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staff does not object to our determination that our being subject to the Control Share Act does not conflict with the 1940 Act.
Business Combinations
Under Maryland law, "business combinations" between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder (the "Business Combination Act"). These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
A person is not an interested stockholder under this statute if our Board of Directors approved in advance the transaction by which the stockholder otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our Board of Directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our Board of Directors.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our Board of Directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation's common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by our Board of Directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. The Business Combination Act does not apply to a registered closed-end investment company, such as the Company, unless the board of directors adopts a resolution to be subject to the Act. Our Board has not adopted such a resolution and our Board of Directors will adopt resolutions so as to make us subject to the provisions of the Business Combination Act only if our Board of Directors determines that it would be in our best interests and if the SEC staff does not object to our determination that our being subject to the Business Combination Act does not conflict with the 1940 Act.
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Conflict with 1940 Act
Our bylaws provide that if and to the extent that any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any provision of our charter or bylaws conflicts with any provision of the 1940 Act, the applicable provision of the 1940 Act will control.
Reports to Stockholders
After the effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information will be available at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . The public may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. This information will also be available free of charge by contacting us at 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York, 10016, or by telephone at (212) 448-0702 or on our website at www.priority-incomefund.com . These reports should not be considered a part of or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus, or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Subject to availability, you may authorize us to provide prospectuses, prospectus supplements, periodic reports and other information ("documents") electronically by so indicating on your subscription agreement, or by sending us instructions in writing in a form acceptable to us to receive such documents electronically. Unless you elect in writing to receive documents electronically, all documents will be provided in paper form by mail. You must have internet access to use electronic delivery. While we impose no additional charge for this service, there may be potential costs associated with electronic delivery, such as on-line charges. Documents will be available on our website. You may access and print all documents provided through this service. As documents become available, we will notify you of this by sending you an e-mail message that will include instructions on how to retrieve the document. If our e-mail notification is returned to us as "undeliverable," we will contact you to obtain your updated e-mail address. If we are unable to obtain a valid e-mail address for you, we will resume sending a paper copy by regular U.S. mail to your address of record. You may revoke your consent for electronic delivery at any time and we will resume sending you a paper copy of all required documents. However, in order for us to be properly notified, your revocation must be given to us a reasonable time before electronic delivery has commenced. We will provide you with paper copies at any time upon request. Such request will not constitute revocation of your consent to receive required documents electronically.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and to an investment in our shares. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the income tax considerations applicable to such an investment. For example, we have not described tax consequences that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, including stockholders subject to the alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, pension plans and trusts and financial institutions. This summary assumes that investors hold our shares as capital assets (within the meaning of the Code). The discussion is based upon the Code, Treasury regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations, each as of the date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to change, possibly retroactively, which could affect the continuing validity of this discussion. We have not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding this offering. This summary does not discuss any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or foreign, state or local tax. It does not discuss the special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws that could result if we invested in tax-exempt securities or certain other investment assets.
A "U.S. stockholder" generally is a beneficial owner of our shares who is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
A "non-U.S. stockholder" generally is a beneficial owner of our shares that is not a U.S. stockholder.
If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A prospective stockholder that is a partner in a partnership holding our shares should consult his, her or its tax advisers with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our shares.
Tax matters are very complicated and the tax consequences to an investor of an investment in our shares will depend on the facts of his, her or its particular situation. We encourage investors to consult their own tax advisers regarding the specific consequences of such an investment, including tax reporting requirements, the applicability of federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, eligibility for the benefits of any applicable tax treaty and the effect of any possible changes in the tax laws.
Election to be Taxed as a RIC
We intend to elect, effective as of the date of our formation, to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any income that we distribute to our stockholders from our tax earnings and profits. To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, in order to obtain RIC tax treatment, we must distribute to our stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of our "investment company taxable
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income," which is generally our net ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses (the "Annual Distribution Requirement").
Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company
If we:
then we will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of our income we distribute (or are deemed to distribute) to stockholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate rates on any income or capital gains not distributed (or deemed distributed) to our stockholders. We will be subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on certain undistributed income unless we distribute in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our net ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of our capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income recognized, but not distributed, in preceding years and on which we paid no federal income tax, or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement. We generally will endeavor in each taxable year to avoid any U.S. federal excise tax on our earnings.
In order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:
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 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. We may also have to include in income other amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as deferred loan origination fees that are paid after origination of the loan or are paid in non-cash compensation such as warrants or stock. We anticipate that a portion of our income may constitute original issue discount or other income required to be included in taxable income prior to receipt of cash.
Because any original issue discount or other amounts accrued 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
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stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement, even though we will not have received all of the 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 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 fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.
Although we do not presently expect to do so, we are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our stockholders while our debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain "asset coverage" tests are met. See "RegulationSenior Securities" in the SAI. Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
We anticipate that the CLOs in which we invest may constitute "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"). If we acquire shares in a PFIC (including equity tranche investments in CLOs that are PFICs), we may be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by us to our stockholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on us in respect of deferred taxes arising from any such excess distributions or gains. If we invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" under the Code (a "QEF"), in lieu of the foregoing requirements, we will be required to include in income each year our proportionate share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the PFIC, even if such income is not distributed to us. Alternatively, we can elect to mark-to-market at the end of each taxable year our shares in a PFIC; in this case, we will recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it does not exceed prior increases included in our income. Under either election, we may be required to recognize in a year income in excess of our distributions from PFICs and our proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and we must distribute such income to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement.
If we hold more than 10% of the shares in a foreign corporation that is treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") (including equity tranche investments in a CLO treated as a CFC), we may be treated as receiving a deemed distribution (taxable as ordinary income) each year from such foreign corporation in an amount equal to our pro rata share of the corporation's income for the tax year (including both ordinary earnings and capital gains), whether or not the corporation makes an actual distribution during such year. This deemed distribution is required to be included in the income of a U.S. Shareholder of a CFC regardless of whether the shareholder has made a QEF election with respect to such CFC. In general, a foreign corporation will be classified as a CFC if more than 50% of the shares of the corporation, measured by reference to combined voting power or value, is owned (directly, indirectly or by attribution) by U.S. Shareholders. A "U.S. Shareholder," for this purpose, is any U.S. person that possesses (actually or constructively) 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of shares of a corporation. If we are treated as receiving a deemed distribution from a CFC, we will be required to include such distribution in our investment company taxable income regardless of whether we receive any actual distributions from such CFC, and we must distribute such income to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement.
Legislation enacted in 2010 imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments of U.S. source interest and dividends paid after December 31, 2013, or gross proceeds from the disposition of an instrument
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that produces U.S. source interest or dividends paid after December 31, 2016, to certain non-U.S. entities, including certain non-U.S. financial institutions and investment funds, unless such non-U.S. entity complies with certain reporting requirements regarding its United States account holders and its United States owners. The CLOs in which we invest may be treated as non-U.S. financial entities for this purpose, and therefore would be required to comply with these reporting requirements to avoid the 30% withholding. If a CLO in which we invest fails to properly comply with these reporting requirements, it could reduce the amounts available to distribute to equity and junior debt tranche holders in such CLO, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
The remainder of this discussion assumes that we qualify as a RIC and have satisfied the Annual Distribution Requirement.
Taxation of U.S. Stockholders
Distributions by us generally are taxable to U.S. stockholders as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions of our "investment company taxable income" (which is, generally, our net ordinary income plus realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. stockholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. To the extent such distributions paid by us to non-corporate stockholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, such distributions, or Qualifying Dividends, may be eligible for a current maximum tax rate of 20%. In this regard, it is anticipated that distributions paid by us will generally not be attributable to dividends and, therefore, generally will not qualify for the current 20% maximum rate applicable to Qualifying Dividends. Distributions of our net capital gains (which is generally our realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) properly designated by us as "capital gain dividends" will be taxable to a U.S. stockholder as long-term capital gains that are currently taxable at a current maximum rate of 20% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. stockholder's holding period for his, her or its shares and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. stockholder's adjusted tax basis in such stockholder's shares and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. stockholder.
We may retain some or all of our realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses, but designate the retained net capital gain as a "deemed distribution." In that case, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. stockholder will be required to include his, her or its share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been actually distributed to the U.S. stockholder, and the U.S. stockholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to his, her or its allocable share of the tax paid thereon by us. Because we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gains at our regular corporate tax rate, and because that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by U.S. stockholders taxed at individual rates on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual U.S. stockholders will be treated as having paid will exceed the tax they owe on the capital gain distribution and such excess generally may be refunded or claimed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder's other U.S. federal income tax obligations. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the U.S. stockholder's cost basis for his, her or its common stock. In order to utilize the deemed distribution approach, we must provide written notice to our stockholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year. We cannot treat any of our investment company taxable income as a "deemed distribution."
We do not expect that special share distributions that we pay ratably to all investors from time to time, if any, will be taxable. However, in the future, we may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in cash or shares of our common stock at the election of each stockholder. Under certain applicable provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations, distributions payable in cash or in
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shares of stock at the election of stockholders are treated as taxable dividends whether a stockholder elects to receive cash or shares. The Internal Revenue Service has issued private rulings indicating that this rule will apply even where the total amount of cash that may be distributed is limited to no more than 20% of the total distribution. Under these rulings, if too many stockholders elect to receive their distributions in cash, each such stockholder would receive a pro rata share of the total cash to be distributed and would receive the remainder of their distribution in shares of stock. If we decide to make any distributions consistent with these rulings that are payable in part in our stock, taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend (whether received in cash, our stock, or a combination thereof) as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale.
For purposes of determining (1) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (2) the amount of dividends paid for that year, we may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If we make such an election, the U.S. stockholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any dividend declared by us in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by our U.S. stockholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
If an investor purchases our shares shortly before the record date of a distribution, the price of the shares will include the value of the distribution and the investor will be subject to tax on the distribution even though economically it may represent a return of his, her or its investment.
A stockholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of his, her or its shares. The amount of gain or loss will be measured by the difference between such stockholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares sold and the amount of the proceeds received in exchange. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the stockholder has held his, her or its shares for more than one year. Otherwise, it will be classified as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of our shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of our shares may be disallowed if other shares are purchased (whether through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.
In general, individual U.S. stockholders currently are subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 20% on their net capital gain ( i.e. , the excess of realized net long-term capital gains over realized net short-term capital losses), including any long-term capital gain derived from an investment in our shares. Such rate is lower than the maximum rate on ordinary income currently payable by individuals. In addition, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, individuals with income in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of married individuals filing jointly) and certain estates and trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on their "net investment income," which generally includes net income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents, and net capital gains (other than certain amounts earned from trades or businesses). Corporate U.S. stockholders currently are subject to federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum 35% rate also applied to ordinary income. Non-corporate stockholders with net capital losses for a year ( i.e. , capital losses in excess of capital
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gains) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital losses of a non-corporate stockholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate stockholders generally may not deduct any net capital losses for a year, but may carry back such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.
If we are not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate stockholder's pro rata portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees, will be treated as an additional dividend to the stockholder and will be deductible by such stockholder only to the extent permitted under the limitations described below. For non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, trusts, and estates, significant limitations generally apply to the deductibility of certain expenses of a nonpublicly offered RIC, including advisory fees. In particular, these expenses, referred to as miscellaneous itemized deductions, are deductible only to individuals to the extent they exceed 2% of such a stockholder's adjusted gross income, and are not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes. A "publicly offered" RIC is a RIC whose shares are either (i) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, (ii) regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. While we anticipate that we will constitute a publicly offered RIC for our first tax year, there can be no assurance that we will in fact so qualify for any of our taxable years.
We will send to each of our U.S. stockholders, as promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, a notice reporting the amounts includible in such U.S. stockholder's taxable income for such year as ordinary income and as long-term capital gain. In addition, the federal tax status of each year's distributions generally will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS (including the amount of dividends, if any, eligible for the current 20% maximum rate). Dividends paid by us generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or the preferential tax rate applicable to Qualifying Dividends because our income generally will not consist of dividends. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on a U.S. stockholder's particular situation.
We may be required to withhold federal income tax, or backup withholding from all distributions to any non-corporate U.S. stockholder (1) who fails to furnish us with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such stockholder is exempt from backup withholding or (2) with respect to whom the IRS notifies us that such stockholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual's taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder's federal income tax liability, provided that proper information is provided to the IRS.
Taxation of non-U.S. Stockholders
Whether an investment in the shares is appropriate for a non-U.S. stockholder will depend upon that person's particular circumstances. An investment in the shares by a non-U.S. stockholder may have adverse tax consequences. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisers before investing in our shares.
Distributions of our investment company taxable income to non-U.S. stockholders (including interest income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized long-term capital losses, which generally would be free of withholding if paid to non-U.S. stockholders directly) will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits unless an applicable exception applies. If the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder, and, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, we will not be required to withhold U.S. federal tax if the non-U.S. stockholder complies with applicable
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certification and disclosure requirements, although the distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. persons. (Special certification requirements apply to a non-U.S. stockholder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust, and such entities are urged to consult their own tax advisers.)
For distributions made to non-U.S. stockholders for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, no withholding is required and the distributions generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax if (i) the distributions are properly reported to our stockholders as "interest-related dividends" or "short-term capital gain dividends," (ii) the distributions were derived from sources specified in the Code for such dividends and (iii) certain other requirements were satisfied. No assurance can be given as to whether legislation will be enacted to extend the application of this provision to taxable years beginning after January 1, 2014, or, whether any significant amount of our distributions would be designated as eligible for this exemption from withholding.
Actual or deemed distributions of our net capital gains to a non-U.S. stockholder, and gains realized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale of our shares, will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless (i) the distributions or gains, as the case may be, are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. stockholder in the United States, or (ii) such non-U.S. stockholder is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the year of the distribution or gain.
If we distribute our net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions, a non-U.S. stockholder will be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the stockholder's allocable share of the tax we pay on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the non-U.S. stockholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the non-U.S. stockholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return. For a corporate non-U.S. stockholder, distributions (both actual and deemed) and gains realized upon the sale of our shares that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty). Accordingly, investment in the shares may not be appropriate for a non-U.S. stockholder.
A non-U.S. stockholder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on dividends unless the non-U.S. stockholder provides us or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a non-U.S. stockholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.
Legislation enacted in 2010 generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on payments of certain types of income to foreign financial institutions that fail to enter into an agreement with the United States Treasury to report certain required information with respect to accounts held by United States persons (or held by foreign entities that have United States persons as substantial owners). The types of income subject to the tax include U.S. source dividends paid after December 31, 2013, and the gross proceeds from the sale of any property that could produce U.S.-source dividends received after December 31, 2016. The information required to be reported includes the identity and taxpayer identification number of each account holder that is a U.S. person and transaction activity within the holder's account. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, this legislation also imposes a 30% withholding on payments to foreign entities that are not financial institutions unless the foreign entity certifies that it does not have a greater than 10% U.S. owner or provides the withholding agent with identifying information on each greater than 10% U.S. owner. When these provisions become effective, depending on the status of a
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non-U.S. Holder and the status of the intermediaries through which they hold their shares, non-U.S. Holders could be subject to this 30% withholding tax with respect to distributions on their shares and proceeds from the sale of their shares. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. Holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.
Non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the shares.
Failure to Qualify as a RIC
If we were unable to qualify for treatment as a RIC, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income at regular corporate rates, regardless of whether we make any distributions to our stockholders. Distributions would not be required, and any distributions would be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income. Subject to certain limitations in the Code, such distributions would be eligible for the current 20% maximum rate to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate distributees would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder's tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.
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General
This is a continuous offering of our shares as permitted by the federal securities laws. We are offering to the public three classes of shares, Class R shares, Class RIA shares and Class I shares. We are offering to sell any combination of our shares with a dollar value up to the maximum offering amount. The classes of shares differ with respect to the sales load you must pay. For example, you will pay (i) selling commissions and dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class R shares, (ii) dealer manager fees, but no selling commissions, for the purchase of our Class RIA shares and (iii) no selling commissions or dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class I shares. However, regardless of class, each share of our common stock will have identical rights with respect to voting and distributions, and will likewise bear its own pro rata portion of our expenses and have the same net asset value as each other share of our common stock.
Class R shares are available to the general public. Class RIA shares are only available to accounts managed by registered investment advisers. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only through (1) fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, of investment dealers, (2) participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients, (3) certain registered investment advisors or (4) bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers.
We intend to file post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, that are subject to SEC review, to allow us to continue this offering for three years. The dealer manager is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares but will use its best efforts to sell the shares offered. The minimum permitted purchase is $1,000 of our shares. We will not sell any shares unless we raise gross offering proceeds of $2.0 million, all of which must be from persons who are not affiliated with us or our Adviser, by one year from the date of this prospectus. Additional purchases must be in increments of $500, except for purchases made pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. Pending meeting the minimum offering requirement, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for our subscribers' benefit, pending release to us. If we do not raise gross offering proceeds of $2.0 million by one year from the date of this prospectus, we will promptly return all funds in the escrow account (including interest) and we will stop offering shares. We will not deduct any fees or expenses if we return funds from the escrow account. Upon meeting the minimum offering requirement as noted above, funds will be released from escrow to us within approximately 30 days and investors with subscription funds held in the escrow will be admitted as stockholders as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 days after such release. The dealer manager will notify the network of selected broker-dealers once the minimum offering requirement has been attained. The selected broker-dealers will, in turn, notify the registered representatives, who obtain subscription documents from investors.
We intend to begin accepting subscriptions on Thursday of each week and close subscriptions the following Wednesday. Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Subscriptions will be accepted or rejected within 30 days of receipt by us and, if rejected, all funds shall be returned to subscribers within such timeframe without deduction for any expenses. Shares issued pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan typically will be issued on the same date that we hold our first closing of each month for the sale of shares in this offering. In addition, in months in which we repurchase shares, we expect to conduct repurchases on the same such date.
Subsequent to meeting the minimum offering requirement, we will then sell our shares on a continuous basis at closings at an initial offering price of $15.00 per share; however, to the extent that our net asset value increases, we will sell at a price necessary to ensure that shares are not sold at a price that is below net asset value per share. In the event of a material decline in our net asset value
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per share, which we consider to be a non-temporary 5% decrease below our current net offering price, we will reduce our offering price accordingly. We consider any decrease existing at the end of two consecutive fiscal quarters to be non-temporary.
In addition, a non-temporary decline in our net asset value per share to an amount more than 5% below our current offering price, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, creates a rebuttable presumption that there has been a material change in the value of our assets such that a reduction in the offering price per share is warranted. This presumption may only be rebutted if our Board of Directors, in consultation with our Adviser, reasonably and in good faith determines that the decline in net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, rather than a more fundamental shift in the valuation of our portfolio. In the event that (i) net asset value per share decreases to more than 5% below our current net offering price and (ii) our Board of Directors believes that such decrease in net asset value per share is the result of a non-temporary movement in the credit markets or the value of our assets, our Board of Directors will undertake to establish a new net offering price that is not more than 5% above our net asset value per share plus selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organizational and offering expenses. If, instead, our Board of Directors determines that the decline in our net asset value per share is the result of a temporary movement in the credit markets, investors will purchase shares at an offering price per share, net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which represents a premium to the net asset value per share of greater than 5% shares.
To purchase shares in this offering, you must complete and sign a subscription agreement (in the form attached to this prospectus as Appendix A) for a specific dollar amount equal to or greater than $1,000 and pay such amount at the time of subscription. Prior to our meeting the minimum offering requirement, you should make your check payable to:
Via Mail: | Via Express/Overnight Delivery: | |
UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for | UMB Bank, N. A., as escrow agent for | |
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | |
P.O. Box 219768 | 430 West 7th Street | |
Kansas City, MO 64121-9768 | Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 | |
866-655-3650 | 866-655-3650 |
Subsequent to our meeting the minimum offering requirement, you should make your check payable to:
Via Mail: | Via Express/Overnight Delivery: | |
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | |
c/o Behringer Harvard Shareholder Services | c/o Behringer Harvard Shareholder Services | |
P.O. Box 219768 | 430 West 7th Street | |
Kansas City, MO 64121-9768 | Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 | |
866-655-3650 | 866-655-3650 |
Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Pending acceptance of your subscription, proceeds will be deposited into an account for your benefit. Subscriptions received prior to our meeting the minimum offering requirement will be deposited into an interest-bearing account.
An approved trustee must process and forward to us subscriptions made through IRAs, Keogh plans and 401(k) plans. In the case of investments through IRAs, Keogh plans and 401(k) plans, we will send the confirmation and notice of our acceptance to the trustee.
Pending meeting the minimum offering requirement, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by our escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for our subscribers' benefit, pending
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release to us. If we do not raise gross offering proceeds of $2.0 million by one year from the date of this prospectus, we will promptly return all funds in the escrow account (including interest), and we will stop offering shares.
About the Dealer Manager
The dealer manager is Behringer Securities LP. The dealer manager was formed in December, 2001. The dealer manager registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, in August, 2002. The dealer manager is an affiliate of our Adviser. The dealer manager receives compensation for services relating to this offering and provides certain sales, promotional and marketing services to us in connection with the distribution of the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. For additional information about the dealer manager, including information related to its affiliation with us and our adviser, see "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" in the SAI.
The principal business address of the dealer manager is 15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, Addison, TX 75001.
Compensation of Dealer Manager and Selected Broker-Dealers
Except as provided below, the dealer manager receives selling commissions of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of shares sold in the offering. The dealer manager also receives a dealer manager fee of 2.0% of the gross offering proceeds as compensation for acting as the dealer manager.
The dealer manager authorizes other broker-dealers that are members of FINRA, which we refer to as selected broker-dealers, to sell our shares. The dealer manager may re-allow all of its selling commissions attributable to a selected broker-dealer.
The dealer manager, in its sole discretion, may re-allow to any selected broker-dealer a portion of its dealer manager fee for reimbursement of marketing expenses. The amount of the reallowance will be based on such factors as the number of shares sold by the selected broker-dealer, the assistance of the broker-dealer in marketing the offering and due diligence expenses incurred. The maximum aggregate amount of the reallowances of the 2.0% dealer manager fee will be 1.15% of the gross proceeds from shares sold in the offering.
In addition to the payment of selling commissions and the dealer manager fee, we reimburse the dealer manager and selected broker-dealers for bona fide accountable due diligence expenses that are incurred by the dealer manager and/or selected broker-dealers, provided that such expenses are detailed on itemized invoices.
We will not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. The amount that would have been paid as selling commissions and dealer-manager fees if the shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan had been sold pursuant to this public offering of shares will be retained and used by us. Therefore, the net proceeds to us for sales under our distribution reinvestment plan will be greater than the net proceeds to us for sales pursuant to this prospectus.
We have agreed to indemnify the participating broker-dealers, including the dealer manager, against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the dealer manager agreement. The broker-dealers participating in the offering of our shares are not obligated to obtain any subscriptions on our behalf, and we cannot assure you that any shares will be sold.
Our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and personnel of our Adviser and its affiliates and their immediate family members and other individuals
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designated by management, and, if approved by our Board of Directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, may purchase our shares in this offering and may be charged a reduced rate for certain fees and expenses in respect of such purchases. Except for certain share ownership and transfer restrictions contained in our charter, there is no limit on the number of our shares that may be sold to such persons. In addition, the selling commission and the dealer manager fee may be reduced or waived in connection with certain categories of sales, including but not limited to sales for which a volume discount applies, sales to certain institutional investors, sales to employees of selected broker-dealers, sales made by certain selected dealers at the discretion of the dealer manager, sales made to investors whose contract for investment advisory and related brokerage services includes a fixed or "wrap" fee or other asset-based fee arrangement, unless that contract is with a federally registered investment adviser that is dually registered as a broker-dealer and provides financial planning services, sales through banks acting as directors or fiduciaries and sales to our affiliates. We may also make certain sales directly to these groups designated by management without a broker-dealer intermediary. For such direct sales, all selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be waived. The amount of net proceeds to us will not be affected by reducing or eliminating the selling commissions or the dealer manager fee payable in connection with sales to such institutional investors and affiliates. Our Adviser and its affiliates will be expected to hold their shares purchased as stockholders for investment and not with a view towards distribution.
We are offering to the public three classes of shares, Class R shares, Class RIA shares and Class I shares, which differ with respect to the sales load you must pay. You will pay (i) selling commissions and dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class R shares, (ii) dealer manager fees, but no selling commissions, for the purchase of our Class RIA shares and (iii) no selling commissions or dealer manager fees for the purchase of our Class I shares. However, regardless of class, each share of our common stock will have identical rights with respect to voting and distributions, and will likewise bear its own pro rata portion of our expenses and have the same net asset value as each other share of our common stock. Class R shares are available to the general public. Class RIA shares are only available to accounts managed by registered investment advisers. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only through (1) fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, of investment dealers, (2) participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients, (3) certain registered investment advisors or (4) bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers.
To the extent permitted by law and our charter, we will indemnify the selected broker-dealers and the dealer manager against some civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the dealer manager agreement.
We are offering volume discounts to investors who purchase more than $999,999 worth of our shares through the same selected broker-dealer in our offering. The net proceeds to us from a sale eligible for a volume discount will be the same, but the selling commissions payable to the selected
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broker-dealer will be reduced. The following table shows the discounted price per share and the reduced selling commissions payable for volume sales of our shares.
Dollar Amount of Shares Purchased
|
Purchase Price per
Incremental Unit in Volume Discount Range (1) |
Commission
Rate |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$1,000 - $999,999 |
$ | 15.00 | 6.0 | % | |||
$1,000,000 - $2,499,999 |
$ | 14.85 | 5.0 | % | |||
$2,500,000 - $4,999,999 |
$ | 14.70 | 4.0 | % | |||
$5,000,000 and up |
$ | 14.55 | 3.0 | % |
We will apply the reduced selling price per share and selling commissions to the incremental shares within the indicated range only. Thus, for example, assuming a price per share of $15.00, a purchase of $1.25 million of shares would result in a weighted average purchase price of $14.97 per share as shown below:
The following persons may combine their purchases as a "single purchaser" for the purpose of qualifying for a volume discount:
In the event a person wishes to have his or her order combined with others as a "single purchaser," that person must request such treatment in writing at the time of subscription setting forth the basis for the discount and identifying the orders to be combined. Any request will be subject to our verification that the orders to be combined are made by a single purchaser. If the subscription agreements for the combined orders of a single purchaser are submitted at the same time, then the commissions payable and discounted share price will be allocated pro rata among the combined orders on the basis of the respective amounts being combined. Otherwise, the volume discount provisions will apply only to the order that qualifies the single purchaser for the volume discount and the subsequent orders of that single purchaser.
Only shares purchased in our offering pursuant to this prospectus are eligible for volume discounts. Shares purchased through our distribution reinvestment plan will not be eligible for a volume discount nor will such shares count toward the threshold limits listed above that qualify you for the different discount levels.
Other Discounts
The dealer manager may, at its sole discretion, enter into an agreement with a selected broker-dealer whereby such selected broker-dealer may aggregate subscriptions on part of a combined order
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for the purpose of offering investors reduced aggregate selling commissions and/or dealer manager fees. The specific terms of any such arrangement will be subject to negotiation between the dealer manager and the selected broker-dealer and will not reduce the amount of net proceeds available to us from the sale of our shares. Any reduction in the selling commissions and dealer manager fees would be prorated among the separate subscribers.
Transfer on Death Designation
You have the option of placing a transfer on death, or "TOD," designation on your shares purchased in this offering. A TOD designation transfers ownership of your shares to your designated beneficiary upon your death. This designation may only be made by individuals, not entities, who are the sole or joint owners with right of survivorship of the shares. However, this option is not available to residents of the state of Louisiana. If you would like to place a TOD designation on your shares, you must check the TOD box on the subscription agreement and you must complete and return the transfer on death form available upon request to us in order to effect the designation.
Supplemental Sales Material
In addition to this prospectus, we intend to use supplemental sales material in connection with the offering of our shares, although only when accompanied by or preceded by the delivery of this prospectus, as supplemented. We will file all supplemental sales material with the SEC prior to distributing such material. The supplemental sales material will not contain all of the information material to an investment decision and should only be reviewed after reading this prospectus. The sales material expected to be used in permitted jurisdictions includes:
All of the foregoing material will be prepared by our Adviser or its affiliates with the exception of the third-party article reprints, if any. In certain jurisdictions, some or all of such sales material may not be available. In addition, the sales material may contain certain quotes from various publications without obtaining the consent of the author or the publication for use of the quoted material in the sales material.
We are offering shares in this offering only by means of this prospectus, as the same may be supplemented and amended from time to time. Although the information contained in our supplemental sales materials will not conflict with any of the information contained in this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, the supplemental materials do not purport to be complete and should not be considered a part of or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus, or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
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We intend to pursue a liquidity event for our stockholders, such as a public listing of our shares, immediately following the completion of this offering, subject to then-current market conditions. We expect that it may take up to three years after the completion of this offering to complete a liquidity event. We intend to continue this offering for up to three years and this offering will be complete when we have sold the maximum number of shares offered hereby, or earlier in the event we determine in our sole discretion to cease offering additional shares for sale to investors. A liquidity event could include, among other things, (1) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation, (2) a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by our Board of Directors in which our stockholders will receive cash or shares of a publicly traded company. We refer to the aforementioned scenarios as "liquidity events." While our intention is to pursue a liquidity event immediately following the completion of this offering, the completion of a liquidity event is in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and depending upon the event, may require shareholder approval, and there can be no assurance that a suitable transaction will be available or that market conditions will permit a liquidity event. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will complete a liquidity event within our proposed timeframe or at all. In making a determination of what type of liquidity event is in the best interest of our stockholders, our Board of Directors, including our independent directors, may consider a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to, portfolio diversification, portfolio performance, our financial condition, potential access to capital as a listed company, market conditions for the sale of our assets or listing of our securities, internal management considerations and the potential for stockholder liquidity. If we determine to pursue a listing of our securities on a national securities exchange in the future, at that time we may consider either an internal or an external management structure.
Prior to the completion of a liquidity event, our share repurchase program may provide a limited opportunity for you to have your shares repurchased, subject to certain restrictions and limitations, at a price which may reflect a discount from the purchase price you paid for the shares being repurchased. See "Share Repurchase Program" for a detailed description of our share repurchase program.
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Our securities are not currently listed on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a public market for them to develop in the foreseeable future, if ever. Therefore, stockholders should not expect to be able to sell their shares promptly or at a desired price. No stockholder will have the right to require us to repurchase his or her shares or any portion thereof. Because no public market will exist for our shares, and none is expected to develop, stockholders will not be able to liquidate their investment prior to our liquidation or other liquidity event, other than through our share repurchase program, or, in limited circumstances, as a result of transfers of shares to other eligible investors.
Beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that we meet the minimum offering requirement, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, we intend to offer to repurchase shares on such terms as may be determined by our Board of Directors unless, in the judgment of our Board of Directors, such repurchases would not be in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders, or would violate applicable law. In months in which we repurchase shares, we will conduct repurchases on the same date that we hold our first closing in such month for the sale of shares in this offering. We will conduct such repurchase offers in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 14E and Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act. Any offer to repurchase shares will be conducted solely through tender offer materials mailed to each stockholder and is not being made through this prospectus.
Our Board of Directors also will consider the following factors, among others, in making its determination regarding whether to cause us to offer to repurchase shares and under what terms:
We will limit the number of shares to be repurchased in any calendar year to 20% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding in the prior calendar year, or 5% in each quarter, though the actual number of shares that we offer to repurchase may be less in light of the limitations noted below. At the discretion of our Board of Directors, we may use cash on hand, cash available from borrowings and cash from the sale of investments as of the end of the applicable period to repurchase shares. In addition, we intend to limit the number of shares to be repurchased during any calendar year to the number of shares we can repurchase with the proceeds we receive from the sale of our shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. We will offer to repurchase such shares at a price equal to the net asset value per share of our common stock most recently disclosed in a periodic filing with the SEC immediately prior to the date of repurchase.
If you wish to submit your shares to be repurchased by us, you must either submit at least 25% of the shares you purchased in the offering or all of the shares that you own. If you choose to submit only a portion of your shares, you must maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 worth of shares following any repurchase. If the amount of repurchase requests exceeds the number of shares we seek to repurchase, we will repurchase shares on a pro-rata basis. As a result, we may repurchase less than the full amount of shares that you request to have repurchased. If we do not repurchase the full amount of your shares that you have requested to be repurchased, or we determine not to make repurchases of our shares, you may not be able to dispose of your shares, even if we under-perform. Any periodic
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repurchase offers will be subject in part to our available cash and compliance with the RIC qualification and diversification rules promulgated under the Code and the 1940 Act.
Our Board of Directors will require that we repurchase shares or portions thereof from you pursuant to written offers only on terms they determine to be fair to us and to all of our stockholders. Repurchases of your shares by us will be paid in cash. Repurchases will be effective after receipt and acceptance by us of all eligible written submissions for repurchase of shares from our stockholders.
When our board of directors determines that we will offer to repurchase shares or fractions thereof, tender offer materials will be provided to you describing the terms thereof, and containing information you should consider in deciding whether and how to participate in such repurchase opportunity.
Any repurchase offer presented to our stockholders will remain open for a minimum of 20 business days following the commencement of the repurchase offer. In the materials that we will send to our stockholders, we will include the date that the repurchase offer will expire. All tenders must be received prior to the expiration of the repurchase offer in order to be valid. If there are any material revisions to the tender offer materials (not including the price at which shares may be tendered) sent to our stockholders, we will send revised materials reflecting such changes and will extend the repurchase offer period by a minimum of an additional five business days. If the price at which shares may be tendered is changed, we will extend the repurchase offer period by a minimum of an additional ten business days.
In order to submit shares to be repurchased, stockholders will be required to complete a letter of transmittal, which will be included in the materials sent to our stockholders, as well as any other documents required by the letter of transmittal. At any time prior to the expiration of the repurchase offer, stockholders may withdraw their submissions by sending a notice of withdrawal to us. If shares have not been accepted for payment by us, tenders may be withdrawn any time after the date that is 40 business days following the commencement of the repurchase offer.
We will not repurchase shares, or fractions thereof, if such repurchase will cause us to be in violation of the securities or other laws of the United States, Maryland or any other relevant jurisdiction, including laws that prohibit distributions that would cause a corporation to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency.
While we intend to conduct quarterly repurchase offers as described above, we are not required to do so and may suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time. Also, if you invest through a fee-based program, also known as a wrap account, of an investment dealer, your liquidity may be further restricted by the terms and conditions of such program, which may limit your ability to request the repurchase of your shares that are held in such account.
In the event that our Adviser or any of its affiliates holds shares in the capacity of a stockholder, any such affiliates may submit shares for repurchase in connection with any repurchase offer we make on the same basis as any other stockholder, except for the initial capital contribution of our Adviser. Our Adviser will not submit its shares for repurchase as long as our Adviser remains our investment adviser.
We intend to apply for exemptive relief from Regulation M under the Exchange Act from the Division of Trading and Markets of the SEC in connection with our share repurchase program.
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CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DISTRIBUTION PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Our securities are held under a custody agreement by U.S. Bank National Association. The address of the custodian is: 1719 Range Way, Florence, South Carolina 29501. DST Systems, Inc. will act as our transfer agent, distribution paying agent and registrar. The principal business address of our transfer agent is 430 W. 7 th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105, telephone number: (866) 655-3650.
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for us by Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Washington, D.C. and Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BDO USA, LLP, is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-2, together with all amendments and related exhibits, under the Securities Act, with respect to our shares offered by this prospectus. The registration statement contains additional information about us and our shares being offered by this prospectus, including a SAI. The SAI, as it may be amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference herein to this prospectus. For your reference, the SAI discusses the following topics:
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
REGULATION
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We are required to file with or submit to the SEC annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. You may inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information, as well as the registration statement and related exhibits and schedules, at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Copies of these reports, proxy and information statements and other information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. This information will also be available free of charge by contacting us at 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York, 10016, or by telephone at (212) 448-0702 or on our website at www.priority-incomefund.com .
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We are committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy notice explains the privacy policies of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. and its affiliated companies. This notice supersedes any other privacy notice you may have received from Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
We will safeguard, according to strict standards of security and confidentiality, all information we receive about you. The only information we collect from you is your name, address, number of shares you hold and your social security number. This information is used only so that we can send you periodic reports and other information about us, and send you proxy statements or other information required by law.
We do not share this information with any non-affiliated third party except as described below.
123
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations that are not contained in this prospectus. If any such information or statements are given or made, you should not rely upon such information or representation. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell any securities other than those to which this prospectus relates, or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. This prospectus speaks as of the date set forth above. You should not assume that the delivery of this prospectus or that any sale made pursuant to this prospectus implies that the information contained in this prospectus will remain fully accurate and correct as of any time subsequent to the date of this prospectus.
Up to 100,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
of
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
PROSPECTUS
, 2013
Behringer Securities LP
APPENDIX A: FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
APPLICATION
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS APPLICATION,
PLEASE CALL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AT 866.655.3650
(2)
NON- |
o | Individual | o |
Trust
Include title and signature pages |
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CUSTODIAL | o | Joint Tenant: | ||||||||||
OWNERSHIP | Type of Joint Tenancy | |||||||||||
Joint accounts will be registered as joint tenants with rights of survivorship unless otherwise indicated |
o | Corporation (specify below) | |||||||||||||||
o S-Corp | o | Pension or Profit Sharing Plan | o | Partnership | ||||||||||||
o C-Corp | Include Plan Documents |
o | Other: | ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
Specify | ||||||||
(3) | o | IRA: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | o | Pension or Profit-Sharing Plan | o | Other: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||||
CUSTODIAL | Type of IRA (Traditional, Roth, or SEP) | Specify |
OWNERSHIP | Custodian Name: | ________________________________________ | Custodian Tax ID: | ________________________________________ |
Send all | Street/P.O. Box: | ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
paperwork directly | City, State, Zip: | ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
to the custodian | Custodial Account #: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Custodian Telephone #: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
(4) | Please print name(s) in which shares are to be registered. If establishing a retirement plan, include both custodian and investor names and | |||
INVESTOR | Taxpayer ID numbers. |
INFORMATION | o | U.S. Citizen | o | Resident Alien | o | Non-Resident Alien |
REQUIRED | Country or Origin: | Country or Origin: | ||||||||||||||||
Owner/Trustee Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Tax ID/SS# | ____________________________________________________________ | Date of Birth: | ____________________________________________________________ |
Jt. Owner/Minor/Co-Trustee Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Tax ID/SS# | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Date of Birth: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Entity/Trust Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Date of Birth: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Street Address (required): | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
City: | ____________________________________________________________ | State: | ____________________________________________________________ | Zip code: | ____________________________________________________________ |
If Non-U.S., Specify Country: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Daytime Phone: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Mailing Address (optional): | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
City: | ____________________________________________________________ | State: | ____________________________________________________________ | Zip code: | ____________________________________________________________ |
If Non-U.S., Specify Country: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Daytime Phone: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
E-mail Address (optional): | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
A-1
Institution/Payee Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |||||||
Account #: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |||||||
Name on Account: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |||||||
Street/P.O. Box: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
City: | ____________________________________________________________ | State: | ____________________________________________________________ | Zip Code: | ____________________________________________________________ | |||||||||||
o | Direct Depositplease attach a pre-printed voided check. I authorize Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. or its agent to deposit my distribution to my checking or savings account. This authority will remain in force until I notify Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. in writing to cancel it. In the event that Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. deposits funds erroneously into my account, they are authorized to debit my account for an amount not to exceed the amount of the erroneous deposit. | |||||||||||||||
(7)
BROKER DEALER/ FINANCIAL ADVISOR INFORMATION (All fields must be completed) |
The Financial Advisor must sign below to complete order. The Financial Advisor hereby warrants that he/she is duly licensed and may lawfully sell shares in the state designated as the investor's legal residence. |
Broker-Dealer Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Phone Number: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Street/P.O. Box: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
City: | ____________________________________________________________ | State: | ____________________________________________________________ | Zip code: | ____________________________________________________________ |
Financial Advisor Name: | ________________________________________________________________________________ | Phone Number: | ________________________________________________________________________________ |
Advisor Mailing Address: | ____________________________________________________________ |
City: | ____________________________________________________________ | State: | ____________________________________________________________ | Zip code: | ____________________________________________________________ |
o | Registered Investment Adviser (RIA): All sales of securities must be made through a Broker-Dealer. If an RIA has introduced a sale, the sale must be conducted through (1) the RIA in his or her capacity as a Registered Representative of a Broker-Dealer, if applicable; (2) a Registered Representative of a Broker-Dealer which is affiliated with the RIA, if applicable; (3) if neither (1) nor (2) is applicable, an unaffiliated Broker-Dealer (Section 7 must be filled in). | |||||
The undersigned confirm on behalf of the Broker-Dealer that they (1) have reasonable ground to believe that the information and representations concerning the investor identified herein are true, correct and complete in all respects; (2) have discussed such investor's prospective purchase of shares with such investor; (3) have advised such investor of all pertinent facts with regard to the lack of liquidity and marketability of the shares; (4) have delivered a current Prospectus and related supplements, if any, to such investor; (5) have reasonable grounds to believe that the investor is purchasing these shares for his or her own account; (6) have reasonable grounds to believe that the purchase of shares is a suitable investment for such investor, that such investor meets the suitability standards required by applicable law, regulation or rule, as well as any suitability standards applicable to such investor set forth in the Prospectus and related supplements, if any, and that such investor is in a financial position to enable such investor to realize the benefits of such an investment and to suffer any loss that may occur with respect thereto. |
A-2
(8)
SUBSCRIBER SIGNATURES |
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CONFIRMATION (required): The investor signing below, under penalties of perjury, certifies that (1) the number shown on this application is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), (2) I am not subject to backup withholding because I am exempt from backup withholding, I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and (3) I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien) unless I have otherwise indicated in section 4 above. | |||||||||
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I understand that I will not be admitted as a stockholder until my investment has been accepted. Depositing of my check alone does not constitute acceptance. The acceptance process includes, but is not limited to, reviewing the Application for completeness and signatures, conducting an Anti-Money Laundering check as required by the USA PATRIOT Act and depositing funds. |
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Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. is required by law to obtain, verify and record certain personal information from your or persons on your behalf in order to establish the account. Required information includes name, date of birth, permanent residential address and social security/taxpayer identification number. We may also look to see other identifying documents. If you do not provide the information, Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. may not be able to open your account. By signing the Application, you agree to provide this information and confirm that this information is true and correct. If we are unable to verify your identity, or that of another person(s) authorized to act on your behalf, or if we believe we have identified potentially criminal activity, we reserve the right to take action as we deem appropriate which may include closing your account. |
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Please separately initial each of the representations below. Except in the case of fiduciary accounts, you may not grant any person a power of attorney to make such representations on your behalf. In order to induce Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. to accept this application, I hereby represent and warrant to you as follows: |
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ALL ITEMS MUST BE READ AND INITIALED |
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Owner |
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Joint Owner |
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(1) |
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I have received the final Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. Prospectus. |
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(2) | I acknowledge that there is no public market for the shares and, thus, my investment in shares is not liquid. | |||||||||
(3) | I (we) represent that I am (we are) purchasing the shares for my (our) own account, or, if I am (we are) purchasing shares on behalf of a trust or other entity of which I am (we are) trustee(s) or authorized agent(s), then I (we) represent that I (we) have due authority to execute the Application and do hereby legally bind the trust or other entity of which I am (we are) trustee(s) or authorized agent(s). | |||||||||
We will deliver a confirmation of sale to you after your purchase is completed. | ||||||||||
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If you participate in the Distribution Reinvestment Plan or make subsequent purchases of shares of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., including purchases made pursuant to our Automatic Purchase Plan, you agree that, if you fail to meet the suitability requirements for making an investment in shares or can no longer make the representations or warranties set forth in this Section 8, you are required to promptly notify Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. and your Broker-Dealer in writing. |
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The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. |
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MUST BE SIGNED BY CUSTODIAN OR TRUSTEE IF IRA OR QUALIFIED PLAN IS ADMINISTERED BY A THIRD PARTY. |
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All items on the Application must be completed in order for your application to be processed. Subscribers are encouraged to read the Prospectus in its entirety for a complete explanation of an investment in Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. |
Owner/Trustee Signature |
Date |
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Jt. Owner/Trustee/Custodian Signature |
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Date |
A-3
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The information in this preliminary statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Preliminary Statement of Additional Information
Subject to Completion, dated February 15, 2013
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION , 2013
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, or SAI, is NOT A PROSPECTUS and should only be read in conjunction with our prospectus, dated , 2013, relating to this offering and any accompanying prospectus supplement. A copy of the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement may be obtained, without charge, by calling us at (212) 448-0702, or by visiting our website at www.priority-incomefund.com .
Our prospectus and this SAI omit certain of the information contained in the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The registration statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed, or inspected at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, or via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , at no charge.
We are a newly formed entity and therefore have no operating history to report. We have not operated under any other name or conducted other business activity.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms "we," "us," "our," and "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." refer to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. Terms not defined herein have the same meaning as given to them in the prospectus.
SAI-1
|
Page | |||
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
SAI-2 | |||
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
SAI-3 | |||
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS |
SAI-6 | |||
REGULATION |
SAI-8 | |||
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES |
SAI-13 | |||
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
F-1 |
SAI-2
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with our Adviser. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we will pay our Adviser a base management fee and an incentive fee, and will reimburse our Adviser for routine non-compensation overhead expenses. See "Investment Advisory Agreement" in the Prospectus for a description of how the fees payable to our Adviser will be determined.
We have also entered into an Administration Agreement with Prospect Administration. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, we will reimburse Prospect Administration for administrative services provided to us and our allocable portion of overhead incurred by Prospect Administration in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement. See "Administration Agreements" in the Prospectus for a description of our reimbursement obligation to Prospect Administration. In addition, our Adviser has entered into a personnel agreement with Prospect Capital Management pursuant to which certain personnel will be made available to our Adviser to assist it in managing our portfolio and operations, provided that they are supervised at all times by our Adviser's management team. We have also entered into the Investor Services Agreement under which we have agreed to reimburse a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard for providing investor relations support and related back-office services with respect to our investors.
Certain of the executive officers, directors and finance professionals of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration, and Behringer Harvard who perform services for us on behalf of our Adviser are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key professionals of other Prospect Capital Management entities (including Prospect Capital Corporation), and Behringer Harvard entities. These persons have legal obligations with respect to those entities that are similar to their obligations to us. In the future, these persons and other affiliates of Prospect Capital Management and Behringer Harvard may organize other investment programs and acquire for their own account investments that may be suitable for us. In addition, Prospect Capital Management and Behringer Harvard may grant equity interests in our Adviser to certain management personnel performing services for our Adviser.
Prior to the occurrence of a liquidity event, all future transactions with affiliates of ours shall be on terms no less favorable than could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party and must be approved by a majority of our directors, including a majority of our independent directors.
We entered into a license agreement with our Adviser, pursuant to which our Adviser agreed to grant us a nonexclusive, royalty free license to use the name "Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc." Under this agreement, we have a right to use such name for so long as our Adviser remains our investment adviser. Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to our name. This license agreement will remain in effect for so long as the Investment Advisory Agreement with our Adviser is in effect.
Our Adviser has funded offering costs and organization costs in the amount of approximately $821,000 as of October 12, 2012. There will be no liability on our part for the offering or organization costs funded by our Adviser until we have met the minimum offering requirement. At such time, our Adviser will be entitled to receive up to 5% of the gross proceeds raised from outside investors until all offering costs and organization costs funded by our Adviser or its affiliates have been recovered.
Allocation of our Adviser's Time
We rely, in part, on our Adviser to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. Our Adviser and certain of its affiliates are currently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with activities which are unrelated to us. As a result of these activities, our Adviser, its personnel and certain of its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other activities in which they are or may become involved, including, but not limited to,
SAI-3
the management of Prospect Capital Management, Prospect Administration, Prospect Capital Corporation, and Behringer Harvard. Our Adviser and its personnel will devote only as much of its and their time to our business as our Adviser and its personnel, in their judgment, determine is reasonably required, which may be substantially less than their full time. Therefore, our Adviser, its personnel and certain affiliates may experience conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among us and any other business ventures in which they or any of their key personnel, as applicable, are or may become involved. This could result in actions that are more favorable to other affiliated entities than to us.
However, Prospect Capital Management and Behringer Harvard believe that our Adviser's professionals have sufficient time to fully discharge their responsibilities to us and to the other businesses in which they are involved. We believe that our affiliates and executive officers will devote the time required to manage our business and expect that the amount of time a particular executive officer or affiliate devotes to us will vary during the course of the year and depend on our business activities at the given time. Because we have not commenced operations, it is difficult to predict specific amounts of time an executive officer or affiliate will devote to us. We expect that our executive officers and affiliates will generally devote more time to programs raising and investing capital than to programs that have completed their offering stages, though from time to time each program will have its unique demands. Because many of the operational aspects of Prospect Capital Management-sponsored and Behringer Harvard-sponsored programs are very similar, there are significant efficiencies created by the same team of individuals at our Adviser providing services to multiple programs. For example, our Adviser has streamlined the structure for financial reporting, internal controls and investment approval processes for the programs.
Allocation of Investments
Concurrent with this offering, certain professionals of our Adviser are simultaneously providing advisory services to other affiliated entities, including Prospect Capital Management, which serves as the investment adviser to Prospect Capital Corporation. Prospect Capital Corporation is a publicly-traded business development company that focuses on generating current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation for stockholders, primarily by making investments in senior secured loans, subordinated debt, unsecured debt, Target Securities and equity of portfolio companies. As a result, we may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities. If we pursue and are able to obtain exemptive relief from the SEC, we may co-invest with any such investment entity to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. There is no assurance that we will pursue or obtain such relief. In the event that we do not pursue, or the SEC does not grant us, relief, we could be limited in our ability to invest in certain portfolio companies in which our Adviser or any of its affiliates, including Prospect Capital Management and Prospect Capital Corporation, are investing or are invested. Even if we are able to receive exemptive relief, we will be unable to participate in certain transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates prior to receipt of such relief unless we co-invest in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. To the extent we are able to make co-investments with our Adviser's affiliates, these co-investment transactions may give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest among us and the other participating accounts.
Affiliates of our Adviser have no obligation to make their originated investment opportunities available to our Adviser or to us, and such opportunities may be provided to Prospect Capital Corporation or another affiliate of our Adviser.
To mitigate the foregoing conflicts, our Adviser and its affiliates will seek to allocate portfolio transactions on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account such factors as the relative amounts of capital available for new investments, the applicable investment programs and portfolio positions, the clients for which participation is appropriate and any other factors deemed appropriate.
SAI-4
Affiliated Dealer Manager
The dealer manager is an affiliate of our Adviser. This relationship may create conflicts in connection with the dealer manager's due diligence obligations under the federal securities laws. Although the dealer manager will examine the information in this prospectus for accuracy and completeness, due to its affiliation with our Adviser, no independent review of us will be made in connection with the distribution of our shares in this offering.
SAI-5
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
After this offering, no person will be deemed to control us, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act. The following table sets forth, as of the date of this prospectus, information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares by:
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. There are no shares subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the offering. Unless otherwise specified, the address of each beneficial owner is 10 East 40th Street, 44th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
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Shares Beneficially Owned as of the
Date of This Prospectus |
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Name
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Number of
Shares |
Percentage
of class assuming minimum is purchased |
Percentage
assuming maximum amount is purchased |
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5% or Greater Stockholders: |
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Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC (1) |
17,865 |
11.8 |
% |
* |
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Interested Directors: |
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M. Grier Eliasek |
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Robert S. Aisner |
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Independent Directors: |
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Andrew C. Cooper |
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William J. Gremp |
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Eugene S. Stark |
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Executive Officers: |
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Michael D. Cohen |
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Frank V. Saracino |
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All officers and members of our Board of Directors as a group (persons) |
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SAI-6
The following table sets forth, as of the date of this prospectus, the dollar range of our equity securities that are beneficially owned by each member of our Board of Directors, based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share.
Name of Director
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Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned (1) (2) |
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Interested Directors: |
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M. Grier Eliasek |
None |
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Robert S. Aisner |
None | |
Independent Directors: |
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Andrew C. Cooper |
None |
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William J. Gremp |
None | |
Eugene S. Stark |
None |
The following table sets forth, as of the date of this prospectus, the dollar range of our equity securities that are owned by each of our Adviser's professionals that do not serve on our Board of Directors, based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share.
Name of Professional
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Dollar Range of Equity
Securities (1) |
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John F. Barry III (2) |
$100,001 - $500,000 | |
Michael D. Cohen |
None | |
Frank V. Saracino |
None | |
Robert J. Klein |
None | |
John W. Kneisley |
None | |
Nishil Mehta |
None |
SAI-7
We are a newly organized, non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. As a registered closed-end investment company, we are subject to regulation under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, unless authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, we may not:
A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (a) 67% or more of such company's voting securities present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company.
As with other companies regulated by the 1940 Act, a registered closed-end management investment company must adhere to certain substantive regulatory requirements. A majority of our directors must be persons who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. Additionally, we will be required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the closed-end management investment company. Furthermore, as a registered closed-end management investment company, we will be prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office. We may also be prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC.
As a registered closed-end management investment company, we are generally required to meet an asset coverage ratio with respect to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness, defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness, of at least 300% after each issuance of senior securities representing indebtedness. In addition, we are generally required to meet an asset coverage ratio with respect to our outstanding preferred stock, as defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness, plus the aggregate involuntary liquidation preference of our outstanding preferred stock, of at least 200% immediately after each issuance of such preferred stock. We are also prohibited from issuing or selling any senior security if, immediately after such issuance, we would have outstanding more than (i) one class of senior security representing indebtedness, exclusive of any promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed, or (ii) one class of senior security which is stock, except that in each case any such class of indebtedness or stock may be issued in one or more series.
SAI-8
We will generally not be able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and StructureRegulations governing our operation as a registered closed-end management investment company affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so. As a registered closed-end management investment company, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage" in the Prospectus. We may, however, sell our common stock, or at a price below the then-current net asset value of our common stock if our Board of Directors determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In addition, we may generally issue new shares of our common stock at a price below net asset value in rights offerings to existing stockholders, in payment of dividends and in certain other limited circumstances.
As a registered closed-end management investment company, we will generally be limited in our ability to invest in any portfolio company in which our Adviser or any of its affiliates currently has an investment or to make any co-investments with our Adviser or its affiliates without an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain exceptions.
We may borrow funds to make investments, although we do not intend to incur leverage or issue preferred shares in the first 12 months following effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, or until the proceeds of this offering are substantially invested in accordance with our investment objective. Although we do not expect to do so, we may also borrow funds, consistent with the limitations of the 1940 Act, in order to make the distributions required to maintain our status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.
We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.
As a registered closed-end management investment company, we will be subject to certain risks and uncertainties. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and Structure" in the Prospectus.
Fundamental Investment Policies
The restrictions identified as fundamental below, along with our investment objective, are our only fundamental policies. Fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act.
As a matter of fundamental policy, we will not: (1) act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers (except to the extent that we may be deemed an "underwriter" of securities we purchase that must be registered under the Securities Act before they may be offered or sold to the public); (2) purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real estate investment trusts (except that we may (A) purchase and sell real estate or interests in real estate in connection with the orderly liquidation of investments, or in connection with foreclosure on collateral, or (B) own the securities of companies that are in the business of buying, selling or developing real estate); (3) sell securities short (except with regard to managing the risks associated with publicly-traded securities we may hold in our portfolio); (4) purchase securities on margin (except to the extent that we may purchase securities with borrowed money); or (5) engage in the purchase or sale of commodities or commodity contracts, including futures contracts (except where necessary in working out distressed investment situations or in hedging the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations), and, in such cases, only after all necessary registrations (or exemptions from registration) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have been obtained.
We do not have any fundamental policies with respect to the concentration of our investments in a particular industry or group of industries, and we do not intend to operate as a diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. We may invest up to 100% of our assets in Target Securities, which may be acquired directly in privately negotiated transactions or in secondary market purchases. Our
SAI-9
intention is to not write (sell) or buy put or call options to manage risks associated with any publicly-traded securities we may hold, except that we may enter into hedging transactions to manage the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations, and, in such cases, only after all necessary registrations (or exemptions from registration) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have been obtained.
As a registered closed-end management investment company, we are subject to certain regulatory restrictions in making our investments. For example, we generally will not be permitted to co-invest with certain entities affiliated with our Adviser in transactions originated by our Adviser or its affiliates unless we obtain an exemptive order from the SEC or co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates in accordance with existing regulatory guidance. However, we are permitted to, and may co-invest in syndicated deals and secondary loan market transactions where price is the only negotiated point. We may seek exemptive relief from the SEC to engage in co-investment transactions with our Adviser and/or its affiliates. However, there can be no assurance that we will seek or obtain such exemptive relief. Even if we receive exemptive relief, neither our Adviser nor its affiliates are obligated to offer us the right to participate in any transactions originated by them. Prior to obtaining exemptive relief, we intend to co-invest alongside our Adviser or its affiliates only in accordance with existing regulatory guidance.
We may borrow money or issue senior securities up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. See "Senior Securities" below.
Temporary Investments
Pending investment in portfolio securities consistent with our investment objective and strategies described in this prospectus, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements, or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments. Typically, we will invest in U.S. Treasury bills or in repurchase agreements, provided that such agreements are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor, such as us, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25% of our gross assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would not meet the diversification tests in order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. Our Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions.
Senior Securities
We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue one class of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock if our asset coverage with respect thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 300% immediately after such issuance of senior securities representing indebtedness, and 200% immediately after each issuance of senior securities which are stock. We are also permitted to issue promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness in consideration of a loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed, provided that our asset coverage with respect to our outstanding senior securities representing indebtedness is at least equal to 300% immediately thereafter. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our gross assets for temporary or emergency purposes without
SAI-10
regard to asset coverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Debt Financing" in the Prospectus.
Business Development Company Election
After the completion of this offering, our Board of Directors may determine that we should deregister as an investment company and instead elect to be regulated as a BDC, to the extent it believes doing so is in our best interest. A BDC is not subject to the same regulatory provisions as a registered investment company. For example, as a BDC, we would be subject to (i) less stringent limitations on our ability to borrow money and issue senior securities, (ii) different restrictions on the types of investments we may make which would require us to alter our investment strategy, and (iii) fewer restrictions on our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates.
Code of Ethics
We and our Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, respectively, that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to the codes may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the codes' requirements. We have attached our code of ethics as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You may also read and copy our code of ethics at the SEC's Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, our code of ethics is available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov .
Compliance Policies and Procedures
We and our Adviser have adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws and are required to review these compliance policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation. Our chief compliance officer is responsible for administering these policies and procedures.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
We have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to our Adviser. The proxy voting policies and procedures of our Adviser are set forth below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by our Adviser and our non-interested directors, and, accordingly, are subject to change.
Introduction
As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, our Adviser has a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of its clients. As part of this duty, it recognizes that it must vote client securities in a timely manner free of conflicts of interest and in the best interests of its clients.
These policies and procedures for voting proxies for the investment advisory clients of our Adviser are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.
Proxy Policies
Our Adviser will vote proxies relating to our securities in the best interest of its clients' stockholders. It will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted for a stockholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by its clients. Although our Adviser will generally
SAI-11
vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on its clients' portfolio securities, it may vote for such a proposal if there exists compelling long-term reasons to do so.
The proxy voting decisions of our Adviser are made by the senior officers who are responsible for monitoring each of its clients' investments. To ensure that its vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, it will require that: (a) anyone involved in the decision-making process disclose to its chief compliance officer any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (b) employees involved in the decision making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how our Adviser intends to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.
Proxy Voting Records
You may obtain information, without charge, regarding how we voted proxies with respect to our portfolio securities by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Chief Compliance Officer, Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., 10 East 40 th Street, 44 th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
Other
We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.
We are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect us against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a registered closed-end management investment company, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes a wide variety of regulatory requirements on publicly-held companies and their insiders. Many of these requirements affect us. For example:
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to review our current policies and procedures to determine whether we comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. We will continue to monitor our compliance with all regulations that are adopted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and will take actions necessary to ensure that we are in compliance therewith.
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BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
Since we intend to generally acquire and dispose of our investments in privately negotiated transactions, we expect to infrequently use brokers in the normal course of our business. Subject to policies established by our Board of Directors, our Adviser is primarily responsible for the execution of the publicly-traded securities portion of our portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage commissions. Our Adviser does not execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but seeks to obtain the best net results for us, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firm's risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While our Adviser will generally seek reasonably competitive trade execution costs, we will not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available. Subject to applicable legal requirements, our Adviser may select a broker based partly upon brokerage or research services provided to it and us and any other clients. In return for such services, we may pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if our Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.
SAI-13
The following financial statements of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. are included in this statement of additional information:
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PAGE |
|
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
F-2 | ||||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of February 6, 2013 |
F-3 | ||||||
Statement of Operations for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013 |
F-4 | ||||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013 |
F-5 | ||||||
Statement of Cash Flows for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013 |
F-6 | ||||||
Notes to Financial Statements |
F-7 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. (the "Company") as of February 6, 2013, and the related statements of operations, changes in net assets and cash flows for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. at February 6, 2013, and the results of its operations, changes in net assets and its cash flows for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
February 15, 2013
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Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
February 6, 2013
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Assets |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 246,565 | ||
Deferred offering cost |
945,955 | |||
Total assets |
$ | 1,192,520 | ||
Liabilities |
||||
Due to Adviser |
$ | 1,092,514 | ||
Total liabilities |
1,092,514 | |||
Net Assets |
$ | 100,006 | ||
Components of Net Assets: |
||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized and 17,865 shares issued and outstanding |
179 | |||
Capital in excess of par |
246,386 | |||
Accumulated net investment loss |
(146,559 | ) | ||
Net assets |
100,006 | |||
Net asset value per share |
$ | 5.60 | ||
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
F-3
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Statement of Operations
Period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013
Investment Income |
$ | | ||
Operating Expenses |
||||
Organization expenses |
146,559 | |||
Total Operating Expenses |
146,559 | |||
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | (146,559 | ) | |
Net investment loss per share |
$ | (8.20 | ) | |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
F-4
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Operations |
||||
Net investment loss |
$ | (146,559 | ) | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations |
(146,559 | ) | ||
Capital shares transactions |
||||
Issuance of common stock |
246,565 | |||
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions |
100,006 |
|||
Total increase in net assets |
100,006 | |||
Net assets, at beginning of period |
| |||
Net assets, at end of period |
$ | 100,006 | ||
Capital Share Activity |
||||
Shares issued from subscriptions |
17,865 | |||
Shares outstanding, at end of period |
17,865 | |||
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
F-5
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Statement of Cash Flows
Period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Operating Activities: |
||||
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | (146,559 | ) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used in operating actives: |
||||
Increase In: |
||||
Deferred offering costs |
(945,955 | ) | ||
Due to Adviser |
1,092,514 | |||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| |||
Financing activities |
||||
Issuance of common stock |
246,565 | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
246,565 | |||
Total increase in cash |
246,565 | |||
Cash, at beginning of period |
|
|||
Cash, at end of period |
$ | 246,565 | ||
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
F-6
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
February 6, 2013
Note 1. Principal Business and Organization
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated under the general corporation laws of the State of Maryland on July 19, 2012 and has been inactive since that date except for matters relating to its organization and registration as an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company's investment objective is to generate current income, and to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. The Company anticipates that at least 80% of its portfolio will comprise senior secured loans made to companies whose debt is rated below investment grade or, in limited circumstances, unrated, which are collectively referred to as "Senior Secured Loans," or pools of Senior Secured Loans, with an emphasis on current income. The Company intends to implement its investment objective in part by purchasing (either in the primary or secondary markets) the equity and junior debt tranches of a type of such pools known as Collateralized Loan Obligations or "CLO", which are entities formed to manage a portfolio of Senior Secured Loans.
The Company will be managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management LLC (the "Adviser"), an affiliate of the Company that is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), pursuant to an investment advisory agreement. (See Note 4).
The Company's capitalization as of February 6, 2013 is approximately $100,000. The Company contemplates offering up to 100,000,000 shares of its common stock, on a best efforts basis, at an initial offering price of $10 per share. Until the Company raises gross proceeds of at least $2,000,000, all from persons not affiliated with Company or the Adviser, within 12 months from the date of the commencement of the offering (the "Minimum Offering Requirement"), no fees will be payable by the Company to the Adviser. If the Company does not meet the Minimum Offering Requirement, it will return all funds, including any interest earned on such funds, to stockholders and stop offering shares. The Company expects the share offering period to last for up to 36 months from the date of the commencement of the offering.
Beginning with the first calendar quarter following the one-year anniversary of the date that the Company meets the Minimum Offering Requirement, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the Company intends to offer to repurchase shares. The Company will not be required to repurchase shares and will only do so on such terms as may be determined by its Board of Directors.
The Company's fiscal year-end is June 30.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation: The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP).
Organization and Offering Expenses: Organization expenses, including reimbursement payments to the Adviser, are expensed on the Company's statement of operations. Offering costs prior to the commencement of operations are capitalized on the Company's statement of assets and liabilities as deferred charges until operations begin and thereafter will be amortized to expense over twelve months on a straight-line basis. Commencement of operations is considered to be the date the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC) declares the Company's registration statement on Form N-2 effective. The company will charge all offering costs incurred after the commencement of operations against
F-7
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
February 6, 2013
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
capital in excess of par value on the statement of assets and liabilities. Both organization and offering expenses were determined to be probable of repayment and determinable at February 6, 2013.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments, with maturities of ninety days or less when purchased, as cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents held at financial institutions, at times, may exceed insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Companies.
Income Taxes: The Company intends to elect to operate so as to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company ("RIC") as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). Generally, a RIC is not required to pay corporate-level federal income tax on income and gains distributed to shareholders provided that it distributes at least 90% of "Investment Company Taxable Income," as defined in the Code, each year and meets specified source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. Dividends paid up to one year after the current tax year can be carried back to the prior tax year for determining the dividends paid in such tax year. The Company intends to distribute sufficient dividends to maintain its RIC status each year. The Company is also subject to nondeductible federal excise taxes if it does not distribute an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its net ordinary income for the calendar year; (2) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year; and (3) any net ordinary income and net capital gains for preceding years that were not distributed during such years and on which it paid no federal income tax. The Company will generally endeavor each year to avoid any federal excise taxes.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statement. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be material.
Note 3. Initial Capital Contribution
The Company entered into a series of stock purchase agreements with the Adviser. On October 10, 2012 and February 6, 2013, the Adviser contributed cash consideration of $100,000 and $146,565 to purchase 11,111 and 6,754 shares of Class I common stock at $9.00 and $21.70 per share, respectively.
Note 4. Transactions with Affiliates
The Company intends to enter into an investment advisory agreement (the "Investment Advisory Agreement") with the Adviser. The Adviser is 50% owned by Prospect Capital Management LLC ("PCM") and 50% by Behringer Harvard Holdings, LLC ("BHH").The Adviser is responsible for the Company's day-to-day operations. Pursuant to such Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is expected to be paid a 2.0% base management fee and certain incentive fees, if applicable.
Additionally, the Company intends to enter into an administration agreement (the "Administration Agreement") with Prospect Administration LLC (the "Administrator"), an affiliate of the Adviser. Pursuant to such Administration Agreement, the Administrator is expected to perform, oversee or arrange for the performance of administrative services necessary for the operation of the Company.
F-8
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
February 6, 2013
Note 4. Transactions with Affiliates (Continued)
These services are expected to include, but are not limited to, accounting, finance and legal services. The Company is expected to reimburse the Administrator for the costs incurred by the Administrator to provide these services.
The Company also intends to enter into an investor services agreement (the "Investor Services Agreement") under which the Company will reimburse a subsidiary of BHH for providing investor relations support and related back-office services with respect to the Company's investors.
The Adviser, on behalf of the Company, paid organization and offering costs of approximately $147,000 and $946,000, respectively, as of February 6, 2013. Organization and offering expenses consists of costs incurred by the Adviser for the registration, marketing and distribution of the Company's shares. These expenses include, but are not limited to legal, accounting, printing, and marketing, and will include salaries and direct expenses of the Adviser's its employees, employees of its affiliates and others for providing these services. As of February 6, 2013, organization and offering costs attributable to the salaries and direct expenses of such employees for providing primarily legal and marketing services was approximately $74,000 and $261,000, respectively.
Once the Company commences operations and has achieved the Minimum Offering Requirement, the Adviser will be entitled to receive up to 5.0% of gross proceeds from the offering as reimbursement for organizational and offering expenses that it has funded, until all of the organizational and offering costs listed above and any future offering expenses paid by the Adviser have been recovered.
The Investment Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement and Investor Services Agreement will become effective at the commencement of the offering.
Behringer Securities, LP (the "Dealer Manager"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BHH, intends to act as dealer manager for the offering. In this role, it will manage a group of selling dealers, including other unaffiliated broker dealers who enter into Selected Dealer Arrangements with the Dealer Manager. The Company will be offering to the public three classes of shares: Class R shares, Class RIA shares and Class I shares. Class R shares are available to the general public. Class RIA shares are only available to accounts managed by registered investment advisors. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only through (1) fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, of investment dealers, (2) participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients, (3) certain registered investment advisors or (4) bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers. These classes of shares differ only with respect to the sales load purchasers in the offering must pay, as follows:
F-9
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
February 6, 2013
Note 4. Transactions with Affiliates (Continued)
The Dealer Manager is expected to re-allow the full amount of selling commissions to selected dealers and may re-allow up to 1.15% of the dealer manager fee to selected dealers for reimbursement of marketing expenses.
Note 5. Subsequent Events
The management of the Company has evaluated events and transactions through February 15, 2013, and has determined that there are no material events that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Company's financial statements.
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Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Financial statements are presented in the statement of additional information.
(a) | Form of Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Registrant* | |
(b) |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (1) |
(d) |
|
Form of Subscription Agreement (included in the Prospectus as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference)* |
(e) |
|
Form of Distribution Reinvestment Plan (1) |
(g) |
|
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Registrant and Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC* |
(h)(1) |
|
Form of Dealer Manager Agreement* |
(h)(2) |
|
Form of Selected Dealer Agreement (included as Exhibit A to the Form of Dealer Manager Agreement)* |
(j) |
|
Custodian Agreement (1) |
(k)(1) |
|
Form of Administration Agreement by and between the Registrant and Prospect Administration LLC (1) |
(k)(2) |
|
Form of Investor Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Behringer Harvard Priority Investor Services LLC (1) |
(k)(3) |
|
Form of Escrow Agreement (1) |
(k)(4) |
|
Form of Trademark License Agreement by and between Registrant and Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC* |
(l) |
|
Opinion of Venable LLP, as special Maryland counsel for Registrant* |
(n)(1) |
|
Consent of Venable LLP, as special Maryland counsel for Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (l) hereto)* |
(n)(2) |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm* |
(n)(3) |
|
Power of Attorney (1) |
(r) |
|
Code of Ethics |
C-1
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
SEC registration fee |
$ | 182,800 | ||
FINRA filing fee |
$ | 225,500 | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Legal fees and expenses |
$ | 1,500,000 | ||
Printing and engraving |
$ | 600,000 | ||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
$ | 18,991,700 | ||
Total |
$ | 22,500,000 |
The amounts set forth above, except for the SEC and FINRA fees, are in each case estimated. All of the expenses set forth above shall be borne by the Registrant.
Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control
See "Management" in the Prospectus and "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" in the Statement of Additional Information contained herein.
Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities
The following table sets forth the number of record holders of the Registrant's capital shares at January 31, 2013.
Title of Class
|
Number of
Record Holders |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Shares of common stock | 1 |
Directors and Officers
Reference is made to Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law and the Registrant's charter and bylaws.
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Registrant's charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors' and officers' liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
The Registrant's charter authorizes the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as the Registrant's director or officer and at the Registrant's request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, managing member or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The Registrant's bylaws obligate the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by
C-2
Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as the Registrant's director or officer and at the Registrant's request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, manager, managing member or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The charter and bylaws also permit the Registrant to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of the Registrant in any of the capacities described above and any of the Registrant's employees or agents or any employees or agents of the Registrant's predecessor. In accordance with the 1940 Act, the Registrant will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which the Registrant's charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer in advance of final disposition of a proceeding upon the corporation's receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
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, Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC (the "Adviser") 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 the Adviser's services under the Investment Advisory Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser 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, Prospect Administration LLC and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from
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the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of Prospect Administration LLC's services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Registrant. Similar provisions are made with respect to a subsidiary of Behringer Harvard and its representatives under the Investor Services Agreement.
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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Maryland 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 Advisers
A description of any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which the Adviser, and each director or executive officer of the Adviser, 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 "ManagementBoard of Directors," and "Executive Officers" and "Investment Advisory Agreement." Additional information regarding the Adviser and its officers and directors is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 801-77270), 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:
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Not Applicable.
We hereby undertake:
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communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on February 15, 2013.
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. | ||||||
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By |
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/s/ M. GRIER ELIASEK |
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Name: | M. Grier Eliasek | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
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/s/ M. GRIER ELIASEK
M. Grier Eliasek |
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) | February 15, 2013 | ||||
/s/ FRANK V. SARACINO Frank V. Saracino |
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Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
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February 15, 2013 |
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/s/ ROBERT S. AISNER* Robert S. Aisner |
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Director |
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February 15, 2013 |
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/s/ ANDREW C. COOPER* Andrew C. Cooper |
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Director |
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February 15, 2013 |
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/s/ WILLIAM J. GREMP* William J. Gremp |
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Director |
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February 15, 2013 |
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/s/ EUGENE S. STARK* Eugene S. Stark |
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Director |
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February 15, 2013 |
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*By: |
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/s/ M. GRIER ELIASEK as Attorney-in-Fact |
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Exhibit (a)
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
FORM OF
SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
FIRST : Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Corporation), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND : The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter of the Corporation (the Charter) currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation (the Corporation) is:
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force, including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), or as a business development company, subject to making an election under the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE III
PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT
The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company whose address is 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, MD 21202. The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, MD 21202.
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING
AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE
CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 4.1 Number, Classification and Election of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation is five, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws, but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the MGCL). The names of the directors who shall serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:
M. Grier Eliasek
Robert S. Aisner
Andrew C. Cooper
William J. Gremp
Eugene S. Stark
The directors may fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or otherwise, on the Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
On the first date on which the Corporation shall have more than one stockholder of record, the directors (other than any director elected solely by holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock in connection with dividend arrearages) shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as determined by the Board of Directors, one class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, another class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and another class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, with the members of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At each annual meeting of the stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.
Section 4.2 Extraordinary Actions . Except as specifically provided in Section 4.9 (relating to removal of directors), and in Section 6.2 (relating to certain actions and certain amendments to the Charter), notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Section 4.3 Election of Directors . Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the
Corporation, each director shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.
Section 4.4 Quorum . The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast (without regard to class) shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders, except with respect to any such matter that, under applicable statutes or regulatory requirements, requires approval by a separate vote of one or more classes of stock, in which case the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by each such class on such a matter shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4.5 Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of its stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration, if any, as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.
Section 4.6 Preemptive Rights . Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell.
Section 4.7 Appraisal Rights . No holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to exercise the rights of an objecting stockholder under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock or any proportion of the shares thereof, to a particular transaction or all transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.
Section 4.8 Determinations by Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the Charter, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or
conditions of redemption of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.9 Removal of Directors . Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, cause shall mean, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Corporation through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1 Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 200,000,000 shares of stock, initially consisting of 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (Common Stock), 180,000,000 of which are classified as Class R Common Stock (the Class R Common Stock), 10,000,000 of which are classified as Class RIA Common Stock (the Class RIA Common Stock), and 10,000,000 of which are classified as Class I Common Stock (the Class I Common Stock). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $2,000,000. If shares of one class or series of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class or series of stock pursuant to this Article V, the number of authorized shares of the former class or series shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class or series shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes and series that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. A majority of the Board of Directors, without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.
Section 5.2 Common Stock .
(a) Description . Except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of Common Stock, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote per share on all matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote pursuant to Article VI. The Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of stock.
(b) Rights Upon Liquidation . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or any distribution of the assets of the Corporation, such assets or the proceeds thereof shall be distributed among the holders of the Class R Common Stock, the Class RIA Common Stock and the Class I Common Stock ratably in the same proportion as the respective amounts that would be payable on such Class R Common Stock, Class RIA Common Stock and Class I Common Stock.
(c) Voting Rights . Except as may be provided otherwise in the Charter, and subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock, each holder of a share of Common Stock shall vote together with the holders of all other shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, and the holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters (as to which a common stockholder shall be entitled to vote pursuant to applicable law) at all meetings of the stockholders.
(d) Mandatory Declassification . Upon the occurrence or effectiveness of a Listing, all outstanding shares of Class R Common Stock, Class RIA Common Stock and Class I Common Stock shall automatically be declassified and converted into identical shares of Common Stock. The term Listing shall mean the listing of the Common Stock on a national securities exchange, but shall not include the listing of the Common Shares on any over-the-counter market or any exchange operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc.
Section 5.3 Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors may classify any unissued shares of stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of stock of any class or series from time to time, in one or more classes or series of preferred stock (Preferred Stock).
Section 5.4 Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the express terms of any class or series of stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (SDAT). Any of the terms of any class or series of stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board of Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.
Section 5.5 Inspection of Books and Records . A stockholder that is otherwise eligible under applicable law to inspect the Corporations books of account, stock ledger, or other specified documents of the Corporation shall have no right to make such inspection if the Board of Directors determines that such stockholder has an improper purpose for requesting such inspection.
Section 5.6 Charter and Bylaws . The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all stock are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS; CERTAIN EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTIONS
Section 6.1 Amendments Generally . The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to its Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any shares of outstanding stock. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation.
Section 6.2 Approval of Certain Extraordinary Actions and Charter Amendments .
(a) Required Votes . The affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, each voting as a separate class, shall be necessary to effect:
(i) Any amendment to the Charter of the Corporation to make the
Corporations Common Stock a redeemable security or to convert the Corporation, whether by merger or otherwise, from a closed-end company to an open-end company (as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act);
(ii) The liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation and any amendment to the Charter of the Corporation to effect any such liquidation or dissolution;
(iii) Any amendment to Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.9, Section 6.1 or this Section 6.2;
(iv) Any merger, consolidation, share exchange or sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation that the MGCL requires be approved by the stockholders of the Corporation; and
(v) Any transaction between the Corporation and a person, or group of persons acting together (including, without limitation, a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision), and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such person or member of such group, that is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise, or acquire the right to exercise or direct the exercise, directly or indirectly, other than solely by virtue of a revocable proxy, of one-tenth or more of the voting power in the election of directors generally;
provided, however , that, if the Continuing Directors (as defined herein), by a vote of at least two-thirds of such Continuing Directors, in addition to approval by the Board of Directors, approve such proposal, transaction or amendment, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast shall be sufficient to approve such proposal, transaction or amendment; and provided further , that, with respect to any transaction referred to in (a)(v) above, if such transaction is approved by the Continuing Directors, by a vote of at least two-thirds of such Continuing Directors, no stockholder approval of such transaction shall be required unless the MGCL or another provision of the Charter or Bylaws otherwise requires such approval.
(b) Continuing Directors . Continuing Directors means (i) the directors identified in Section 4.1, (ii) the directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies on the Board is approved by a majority of the directors identified in Section 4.1, who are on the Board at the time of the nomination or election, as applicable, or (iii) any successor directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors or successor Continuing Directors, who are on the Board at the time of the nomination or election, as applicable.
Section 6.3 Tender Offers . If any person makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a mini-tender offer, such person must comply with all of the provisions set forth in Regulation 14D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without
limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, that would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however , that, unless otherwise required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such documents are not required to be filed with the SEC. In addition, any such person must provide notice to the Corporation at least 10 Business Days prior to initiating any such tender offer. If any person initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions set forth above (a Non-Compliant Tender Offer), the Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to redeem such non-compliant persons shares of Common Stock and any shares of Common Stock acquired in such tender offer (collectively, the Tendered Shares) at the lesser of (i) the most recently disclosed estimated value per share as determined in accordance with the Corporations valuation policy, as such valuation policy is amended from time to time or (ii) the lowest tender offer price offered in such Non-Compliant Tender Offer. The Corporation may purchase such Tendered Shares upon delivery of the purchase price to the person initiating such Non-Compliant Tender Offer and, upon such delivery, the Corporation may instruct any transfer agent to transfer such purchased shares of Common Stock to the Corporation. In addition, any person who makes a Non-Compliant Tender Offer shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Corporation in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.3, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer and expenses incurred in connection with any purchase of Tendered Shares by the Corporation. The Corporation maintains the right to offset any such expenses against the dollar amount to be paid by the Corporation for the purchase of Tendered Shares pursuant to this Section 6.3. In addition to the remedies provided herein, the Corporation may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer. This Section 6.3 shall be of no force or effect upon a Listing.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
Section 7.1 Limitation of Liability . To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.
Section 7.2 Indemnification and Advance of Expenses . The Corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, manager, managing member or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity. The Corporation shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above
and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.
Section 7.3 1940 Act . The provisions of this Article VII shall be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act.
Section 7.4 Amendment or Repeal . Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VII, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sections of this Article VII with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
THIRD : The amendment to and restatement of the Charter as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the board of directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.
FOURTH : The current address of the principal office of the Corporation in Maryland is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Charter.
FIFTH : The name and address of the Corporations current resident agent in Maryland is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Charter.
SIXTH : The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Charter.
SEVENTH : The foregoing amendment and restatement of the Charter does not change the authorized stock of the Corporation.
EIGHTH : The undersigned President acknowledges these Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned President acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested by its Secretary as of [ ], 2013.
ATTEST: |
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PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED |
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INCOME FUND, INC. |
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By: |
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(SEAL) |
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Name: |
Frank V. Saracino |
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M. Grier Eliasek |
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Secretary |
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President |
Exhibit (g)
FORM OF
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
AND
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME MANAGEMENT, LLC
Agreement made this [ ] day of [ ] 2013, by and between Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Corporation), and Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Adviser).
WHEREAS, the Corporation is a newly formed, externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act);
WHEREAS, the Adviser is a newly organized investment adviser that has registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act);
WHEREAS, the Corporation may in the future file with the Securities and Exchange Commission an election to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act on Form N-54A (a BDC Election); and
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Corporation on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the Adviser wishes to be retained to provide such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Duties of the Adviser .
(a) The Corporation hereby employs the Adviser to act as the investment adviser to the Corporation and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Corporation, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, for the period and upon the terms herein set forth, (i) in accordance with the investment objective, policies and restrictions that are set forth in the Corporations Registration Statement on Form N-2, dated July 31, 2012, as the same shall be amended from time to time (as amended, the Registration Statement), (ii) in accordance with the Investment Company Act and (iii) during the term of this Agreement in accordance with all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Corporations articles of incorporation and by-laws, as each may be amended from time
to time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the Corporation, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Corporation; (iii) close and monitor the Corporations investments; (iv) determine the securities and other assets that the Corporation will purchase, retain, or sell; (v) perform due diligence on prospective investments; and (vi) provide the Corporation with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Corporation may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds. The Adviser shall have the power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to effectuate its investment decisions for the Corporation, including the execution and delivery of all documents relating to the Corporations investments and the placing of orders for other purchase or sale transactions on behalf of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to acquire debt financing, the Adviser will arrange for such financing on the Corporations behalf, subject to the oversight and approval of the Corporations Board of Directors. If it is necessary for the Adviser to make investments on behalf of the Corporation through a special purpose vehicle, the Adviser shall have authority to create or arrange for the creation of such special purpose vehicle and to make such investments through such special purpose vehicle in accordance with the Investment Company Act.
(b) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees during the term hereof to render the services described herein for the compensation provided herein.
(c) Subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act, the Adviser is hereby authorized to enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with other investment advisers (each, a Sub-Adviser) pursuant to which the Adviser may obtain the services of the Sub-Adviser(s) to assist the Adviser in fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder. Specifically, the Adviser may retain a Sub-Adviser to recommend specific securities or other investments based upon the Corporations investment objective and policies, and work, along with the Adviser, in structuring, negotiating, arranging or effecting the acquisition or disposition of such investments and monitoring investments on behalf of the Corporation, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Corporation. The Adviser, and not the Corporation, shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Adviser. Any sub-advisory agreement entered into by the Adviser shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act and other applicable federal and state law and shall contain a provision requiring the Sub-Adviser to comply with Sections 1(e) and 1(f) of this Agreement below as if it were the Adviser.
(d) The Adviser shall for all purposes herein provided be deemed to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized herein, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Corporation in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Corporation.
(e) The Adviser shall keep and preserve for the period required by the Investment Company Act any books and records relevant to the provision of its investment advisory services to the Corporation and shall specifically maintain all books and records with respect to the Corporations portfolio transactions and shall render to the Corporations Board of Directors such periodic and special reports as the Corporations Board of Directors may reasonably request. The Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains for the Corporation are the property
of the Corporation and will surrender promptly to the Corporation any such records upon the Corporations request, provided that the Adviser may retain a copy of such records.
(f) The Adviser shall have adopted and implemented within a reasonable period of time prior to [ ], 2013 written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of Federal securities laws by the Adviser. The Adviser shall provide the Corporation, at such times as the Corporation shall reasonably request, with a copy of such policies and procedures and a report of such policies and procedures; such report shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required to comply with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act and to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
2. Corporations Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Corporation . All investment professionals of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services hereunder, and the compensation of such personnel allocable to such services, will be provided and paid for by the Adviser and not by the Corporation. The Corporation, either directly or through reimbursement of the Adviser, will bear all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, including (without limitation) those relating to: organization and offering; calculating the Corporations net asset value (including the cost and expenses of any independent valuation firms); expenses incurred by the Adviser, Prospect Administration LLC (the Administrator) or affiliates thereof payable to third parties, including agents, consultants or other advisors (such as independent valuation firms, accountants and legal counsel), in monitoring financial and legal affairs for the Corporation and in monitoring the Corporations investments and performing due diligence on its prospective investments; interest payable on debt, if any, incurred to finance the Corporations investments; offerings of the Corporations debt, common stock and other securities; investment advisory and management fees; administration fees, if any, payable under the Administration Agreement between the Corporation and the Administrator; fees payable to third parties, including agents, consultants or other advisors, relating to, or associated with, evaluating and making investments; transfer agent and custodial fees; fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts (including attendance at investment conferences and similar events); federal and state registration fees; all costs of registration and listing the Corporations securities on any securities exchange; federal, state and local taxes; Directors fees and expenses; costs of preparing and filing reports or other documents required by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental agency; costs of any reports, proxy statements or other notices to stockholders, including printing costs; the Corporations allocable portion of the fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums; direct costs and expenses of administration, including printing, mailing, long distance telephone, copying, secretarial and other staff, independent auditors and outside legal costs; research and market data expenses including, without limitation, news and quotation equipment and services; computer software specific to the business of the Corporation; any unreimbursed expenses incurred in connection with transactions not consummated; routine non-compensation overhead expenses of Adviser and investment affiliates; and all other expenses incurred by the Corporation or the Administrator in connection with administering the Corporations business, including payments under the Administration Agreement between the Corporation and the Administrator based upon the Corporations allocable portion of the Administrators overhead in performing its obligations
under the Administration Agreement, including rent and the allocable portion of the cost of the Corporations chief compliance officer and chief financial officer and their respective staffs. The Adviser will be entitled to receive reimbursement from the Company of organization and offering expenses it has paid on behalf of the Company, up to 5.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the offering of the Companys securities until all of the organization and offering expenses incurred and/or paid by the Adviser have been recovered.
3. Compensation of the Adviser . The Corporation agrees to pay, and the Adviser agrees to accept, as compensation for the services provided by the Adviser hereunder, a base management fee (Base Management Fee) and an income incentive fee (Incentive Fee) and, if applicable, a capital gains incentive fee (Capital Gains Fee), as hereinafter set forth. The Corporation shall make any payments due hereunder to the Adviser or to the Advisers designee as the Adviser may otherwise direct.
(a) The Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of the Corporations average total assets as described below. For the first quarter of the Corporations operations commencing with the initial closing of the Corporations offering of its common stock to which the Registration Statement relates (the Initial Closing), the Base Management Fee will be calculated based on the average value of the Corporations total assets as of the date of the Initial Closing and at the end of the calendar quarter during which the Initial Closing occurred, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Subsequently, the Base Management Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears, and shall be calculated based on the average value of the Corporations total assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base Management Fees for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately pro rated.
(b) (i) The Incentive Fee shall be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the pre-Incentive Fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, pre-Incentive Fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Corporation receives) accrued by the Corporation during the calendar quarter, minus the Corporations operating expenses for the quarter (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the organization and offering expenses, the Incentive Fee and any Capital Gains Fee). Pre-Incentive Fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Corporation has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive Fee net investment income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Corporations net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, will be compared to a preferred return of 1.5% per quarter (6% annualized). The Corporation will pay the Adviser an Incentive Fee with respect to the Corporations pre-Incentive Fee net investment income in each calendar quarter as follows: (1) no Incentive Fee in any calendar quarter in which
the Corporations pre-Incentive Fee net investment income does not exceed the preferred return; (2) 100% of the Corporations pre-Incentive Fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-Incentive Fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the preferred return but is less than 1.875% in any calendar quarter (7.5% annualized); and (3) 20% of the amount of the Corporations pre-Incentive Fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 1.875% in any calendar quarter (7.5% annualized). These calculations will be appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months.
(ii) In the event that (A) the Corporation has a filed a BDC Election, and such BDC Election remains in effect and has not otherwise been withdrawn by the Corporation, or otherwise terminated or revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or (B) a Capital Gains Fee is otherwise permissible under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act, then, in each case, a Capital Gains Fee will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year subsequent to the date of filing of such BDC Election or such date as a Capital Gains Fee otherwise becomes permissible under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act, as applicable (each, a Capital Gains Fee Commencement Date) (or upon termination of this Agreement as set forth below), and will equal 20.0% of the Corporations realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from the Capital Gains Fee Commencement Date, through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis at the end of such year, less the amount of any previously paid Capital Gains Fees; provided that the Capital Gains Fee for the calendar year in which such Capital Gains Fee Commencement Date falls will be calculated for the period beginning on such Capital Gains Fee Commencement Date and ending on December 31 of such calendar year. In the event that this Agreement shall terminate, the BDC Election, if filed, shall have been withdrawn, terminated or revoked, or a Capital Gains Fee shall no longer be permitted under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act, in each case as of a date that is not a calendar year end, such date shall be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying a Capital Gains Fee.
4. Covenants of the Adviser . The Adviser covenants that it is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. The Adviser agrees that its activities will at all times be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws governing its operations and investments.
5. Excess Brokerage Commissions . The Adviser is hereby authorized, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, to cause the Corporation to pay a member of a national securities exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission another member of such exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firms risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities, that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Corporations portfolio, and constitutes the best net results for the Corporation.
6. Limitations on the Employment of the Adviser . The services of the Adviser and its affiliates to the Corporation are not exclusive, and the Adviser and its affiliates may engage in any other business or render similar or different services to others including, without limitation, the direct or indirect sponsorship or management of other investment based accounts or commingled pools of capital, however structured, having investment objectives similar to those of the Corporation, so long as its services to the Corporation hereunder are not impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager, partner, officer or employee of the Adviser and its affiliates to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith (including fees for serving as a director of, or providing consulting services to, one or more of the Corporations portfolio companies, subject to applicable law). So long as this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment remains in effect, the Adviser shall be the only investment adviser for the Corporation, subject to the Advisers right to enter into sub-advisory agreements. The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder. It is understood that directors, officers, employees and stockholders of the Corporation are or may become interested in the Adviser and its affiliates, as directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that the Adviser and directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members and managers of the Adviser and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Corporation as stockholders or otherwise.
7. Responsibility of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees . If any person who is a manager, director, member, partner, officer or employee of the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates is or becomes a manager, director, member, partner, officer and/or employee of the Corporation and acts as such in any business of the Corporation, then such manager, director, member, partner, officer and/or employee of the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Corporation, and not as a manager, director, member, partner, officer or employee of the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates or under the control or direction of the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates, even if paid by the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates.
8. Limitation of Liability of the Adviser; Indemnification . The Adviser and its affiliates (and their respective officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the them, including without limitation the Administrator) shall not be liable to the Corporation for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Corporation, except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services, and the Corporation shall indemnify, defend and protect the Adviser and its affiliates (and their respective officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with them, including without limitation the Administrator, each of whom shall be deemed a third party beneficiary hereof) (collectively, the Indemnified Parties) and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other
proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Advisers duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 8 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Corporation or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Advisers duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Advisers duties and obligations under this Agreement (as the same shall be determined in accordance with the Investment Company Act and any interpretations or guidance by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff thereunder).
9. Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective as of the first date above written. This Agreement shall remain in effect for two years, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the vote of the Corporations Board of Directors, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation and (b) the vote of a majority of the Corporations Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act) of any such party, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days written notice, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or by the vote of the Corporations Directors or by the Adviser. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act). The provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser and its representatives shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination or expiration of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Agreement as aforesaid, the Adviser shall be entitled to any amounts owed under Section 3 of this Agreement through the date of termination or expiration.
10. Notices . Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at its principal office.
11. Amendments . This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Corporation must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.
12. Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely within the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date above written.
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PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME MANAGEMENT, LLC |
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Exhibit (h)(1)
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
Up to $1,500,000,000 in Shares of Common Stock
FORM OF DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT
[ , 2013]
Behringer Securities LP
15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600
Addison, Texas 75001
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), is registering for public sale a maximum of $1,500,000,000 in shares of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the Shares or the Stock) to be issued and sold (the Offering) (specifically, Class R Common Shares (Class R Shares) for an initial offering price of $15.00 per Share to be sold to the public through broker-dealers subject to selling commissions and dealer manager fees; Class RIA Common Shares (Class RIA Shares) for an initial offering price of $14.10 per Share to be sold to the public through registered investment advisors (RIAs) and broker-dealers that are managing wrap or other fee-based accounts, subject to dealer manager fees but no selling commissions; Class I Common Shares (Class I Shares) for an initial offering price of $13.80 per Share to be sold through traditional institutional investment arrangements without selling commissions and dealer manager fees; and shares pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan (DRP) for an initial offering price of $14.25 per share), in each case subject to the Companys right to allocate Share amounts and classes of Shares as described in the Prospectus (as defined below) and subject to discounts and other price adjustments as described in the Prospectus). There shall be a minimum initial purchase by any one person of $1,000 of Shares or as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or in any letter or memorandum from the Company to Behringer Securities LP (the Dealer Manager). In connection therewith, the Company hereby agrees with you, the Dealer Manager, as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Dealer Manager and each dealer with whom the Dealer Manager has entered into or will enter into a Selected Dealer Agreement (the Selected Dealer Agreement) in the form attached to this Dealer Manager Agreement (the Agreement or this Agreement) as Exhibit A (said dealers being hereinafter called the Dealers) that:
1.1 A registration statement with respect to the Offering has been prepared by the Company in accordance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the applicable rules and regulations (the Rules and Regulations) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) promulgated thereunder, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (collectively, the 1940 Act) covering the Company and the Shares. Such registration statement, which includes a preliminary prospectus, was initially filed with the SEC on or about [ ], 2013. Copies of such registration statement and each amendment thereto have been or will be delivered to the Dealer Manager. The registration statement, as amended, and the prospectus contained therein, as amended or supplemented, on file with the SEC at the effective date of the registration statement (including financial statements, exhibits and all other documents related thereto filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein), and any registration statement filed under Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations, are respectively hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except that if the Registration Statement is amended by a post-effective amendment, the term Registration Statement shall, from and
after the declaration of effectiveness of such post-effective amendment, refer to the Registration Statement as so amended and the term Prospectus shall refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to date, and if the Prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 497 of the Rules and Regulations shall differ from the Prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment shall become effective, the term Prospectus shall refer to the Prospectus filed pursuant to such Rules and Regulations from and after the date on which it shall have been filed with the SEC. Further, if a separate prospectus is filed and becomes effective with respect solely to the Companys distribution reinvestment plan (a DRIP Prospectus), the term Prospectus shall refer to such DRIP Prospectus from and after the declaration of effectiveness of such DRIP Prospectus. Terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.
1.2 The Company has been duly and validly organized and formed as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland, with the power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.
1.3 On the effective date of the Registration Statement, on the date of the Prospectus and on the date any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the SEC, the Registration Statement and Prospectus, as applicable, complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and do not and will not contain any untrue statements of material facts or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; provided , however , that the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.3 will not extend to such statements contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or Prospectus as are primarily within the knowledge of the Dealer Manager or any of the Dealers and are based upon information furnished by or through the Dealer Manager or by any Dealer in writing to the Company specifically for inclusion therein.
1.4 The Company intends to use the funds received from the sale of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus.
1.5 No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares, except such as may be required under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act or applicable state securities laws, or by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA).
1.6 No order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending, threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by the SEC; and to the knowledge of the Company, no order suspending the offering of the Shares in any jurisdiction has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened or are contemplated.
1.7 There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, that will have a material adverse effect on the business or property of the Company.
1.8 The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company do not and will not conflict with or constitute a default under any charter, bylaw, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, except to the extent that the
enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws and to the extent that the enforceability of this Agreement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws that affect creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to the availability of remedies.
1.9 The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws and to the extent that the enforceability of this Agreement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws that affect creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to the availability of remedies.
1.10 At the time of the issuance of the Shares, the Shares will have been duly authorized and validly issued, and upon payment therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
1.11 The Company is not in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or its Bylaws.
1.12 The financial statements of the Company filed as part of the Registration Statement and those included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the date indicated and, if applicable, the results of its operations for the periods indicated; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
1.13 The Company is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a closed-end management investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable terms and conditions of the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations. No person is serving or acting as an officer or director of, or investment adviser to, the Company except in compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the Advisers Act). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement 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 the Dealer Manager.
1.14 Each of this Agreement, the Selected Dealer Agreement, the Companys Articles of Incorporation and its Bylaws, the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [ ], 2013 (the Advisory Agreement), by and between the Company and Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC (the Adviser), as investment adviser thereunder, and the Administration Agreement, dated [ ], 2013, by and between the Company and Prospect Administration LLC, as administrator thereunder, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations, and all approvals of such documents required under the 1940 Act by the Companys stockholders and/or Board of Directors have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
1.15 The Company has (a) appointed a Chief Compliance Officer and (b) adopted and implemented written policies and procedures which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws in a manner required by and consistent with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and is in compliance in all material respects with such Rule.
1.16 The Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Advisory Agreement as an investment adviser to the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened by the SEC.
2. Covenants of the Company
The Company covenants and agrees with the Dealer Manager that:
2.1 It will, at no expense to the Dealer Manager, furnish the Dealer Manager with such number of printed copies of the Registration Statement, including all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request. It will similarly furnish to the Dealer Manager and others designated by the Dealer Manager as many copies as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request in connection with the offering of the Shares of: (a) the Prospectus in preliminary and final form and every form of supplemental or amended prospectus; and (b) any and all authorized printed sales literature or other sales materials prepared and authorized by the Company for use with potential investors in connection with the Offering (Authorized Sales Materials).
2.2 It will furnish such proper information and execute and file such documents as may be necessary for the Company to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Dealer Manager may reasonably designate and will file and make in each year such statements and reports as may be required. The Company will furnish to the Dealer Manager a copy of such papers filed by the Company in connection with any such qualification.
2.3 It will: (a) if not effective upon the date hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective; (b) furnish copies of any proposed amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or Prospectus to the Dealer Manager; (c) file every amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may be required by the SEC; and (d) if at any time the SEC shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.
2.4 If at any time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of either the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Prospectus or any other prospectus then in effect would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will effect the preparation of an amended or supplemental prospectus which will correct such statement or omission. The Company will then promptly prepare such amended or supplemental prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to comply in all material respects with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.
2.5 If at any time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of either the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Prospectus or any other prospectus then in effect would include an untrue statement of a material fact or, in view of the circumstances under which they were made, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will affect the preparation of an amended or supplemental prospectus which will correct such statement or omission. The Company will then promptly prepare such amended or supplemental prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.
2.6 Each of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company will comply with each covenant and agreement contained in this Agreement.
2.7 It will be duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which it will own or lease property of a nature, or transact business of a type that will make such qualification necessary.
2.8 It intends to satisfy the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), for qualification of the Company as a regulated investment company. The Company will elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code at such time as it so qualifies and will direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering of the Shares in such a manner, and will exercise reasonable diligence to operate the business of the Company so as to comply with such requirements.
2.9 The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Dealer Manager will not be responsible for typical issuer organization and offering costs or expenses which include, but are not limited to, costs and expenses related to (a) the preparation, filing and printing of the Registration Statement, (b) the preparation, printing and delivery of any offering and marketing materials in connection with the offer, sale, issuance and delivery of the Shares, (c) the Companys counsel, accountants and other advisors, (d) SEC, FINRA and state blue sky offering related filings and comment process correspondence, (e) transfer agent activities, and (f) travel, meals and lodging of representatives of the Companys adviser, sponsor and the Company.
3. Obligations and Compensation of the Dealer Manager
3.1 The Company hereby appoints the Dealer Manager as its agent and principal distributor for the purpose of selling for cash up to a maximum of $1,500,000,000 in Shares, subject to the Companys right to allocate Share amounts and classes of Shares as described in the Prospectus, directly or through Dealers, all of whom shall be members of FINRA, or registered investment advisors who are paid no commission, or as otherwise described in the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager may also sell Shares for cash directly to its own clients and customers at the public offering price and subject to the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby accepts such agency and distributorship and agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Shares on said terms and conditions. The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that (a) it is a member of FINRA; (b) it and its employees and representatives have all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement; and (c) it has established and implemented anti-money laundering compliance programs in accordance with applicable law, including applicable FINRA rules, SEC rules and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, or will require that its Dealers establish and implement such programs, reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the sale of Shares of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, any subscription processing services, transfer agent-related services and other similar stockholder services performed by persons associated with the Dealer Manager are performed on behalf of the Company and are governed by the terms of the Advisory Agreement. The Dealer Manager agrees to be bound by the terms of the escrow agreement executed as of [ ], 2013 among UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent, the Dealer Manager and the Company (the Escrow Agreement ).
3.2 Promptly after the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Dealer Manager and the Dealers shall commence the offering of the Shares for cash to the public in jurisdictions in which the Shares are registered or qualified for sale or in which such offering is otherwise permitted. The Dealer Manager and the Dealers will suspend or terminate offering of the Shares upon request of the Company at any time and will resume offering the Shares upon subsequent request of the Company.
3.3 (a) Subject to the volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus or this Section 3.3, the Company agrees to pay the Dealer Manager selling commissions in the amount of 6.0% of the selling price of each Class R Share for which a sale is completed from the Shares offered in the Offering. The
Company will not pay selling commissions for sales of DRP Shares, Class RIA Shares or Class I Shares. Dealer Manager will reallow all the selling commissions, subject to federal and state securities laws, to the Dealer who sold Class R Shares, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement. In no event shall the Dealer Manager be entitled to payment of any compensation in connection with the Offering that is not completed according to this Agreement; provided, however, that the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, reasonable and documented expenses actually incurred by the Dealer Manager or person associated with the Dealer Manager shall not be presumed to be unfair or unreasonable and shall be payable under normal circumstances. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of commissions to any Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions to Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, at the discretion of the Company, the Company may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions to Dealers on behalf of the Dealer Manager without incurring any liability.
(b) Subject to the special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus or this Section 3.3, as compensation for acting as the dealer manager, the Company will pay the Dealer Manager, a dealer manager fee in the amount of 2.0% of the selling price of each Class R Share (the Dealer Manager Fee) for which a sale is completed from the Class R Shares or Class RIA Shares offered in the Offering. The Dealer Manager may retain or re-allow all or a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee, subject to federal and state securities laws, to a Dealer who sold Shares, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement. No Dealer Manager Fee will be paid in connection with DRP Shares or Class I Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no commissions, payments or amounts whatsoever will be paid to the Dealer Manager under this Section 3.3 unless or until subscriptions for the purchase of Shares have been accepted by the Company and the gross proceeds of the Shares sold are received by the Company. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of commissions to such Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions to the Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, at its discretion, the Company may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions to such Dealers without incurring any liability therefor. The Company will not pay selling commissions or a dealer manager fee for shares sold under the DRP as set forth in the Plan of Distribution Section of the Prospectus.
3.4 The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company, each owner, director, officer and employee of the Company and each person that signs the Registration Statement that the information under the caption Plan of Distribution in the Prospectus and all other information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
3.5 The Dealer Manager shall use and distribute in conjunction with the offer and sale of any Shares only the Prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time-to-time) and Authorized Sales Materials.
3.6 The Dealer Manager and the Dealers shall cause Shares to be offered and sold only in such jurisdictions where the Dealer Manager and the respective Dealer are licensed to do so. In addition, the Dealer Manager shall cause Shares to be offered and sold only in those jurisdictions specified in writing by the Company where the offering and sale of its Shares have been authorized by appropriate regulatory authorities and such list of jurisdictions shall be updated by the Company as additional states are added. No Shares shall be offered or sold for the account of the Company in any other jurisdiction.
3.7 The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company that it will not represent or imply that the escrow agent, as identified in the Prospectus, has investigated the desirability or advisability of investment in the Company, or has approved, endorsed or passed upon the merits of the Shares or the Company, nor will it use the name of said escrow agent in any manner whatsoever in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares other than by acknowledgment that it has agreed to serve as escrow agent.
3.8 The Dealer Manager is a limited partnership validly existing under the laws of the State of Texas.
3.9 No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Dealer Manager of this Agreement, except such as may be required under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
3.10 There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of the Dealer Manager, threatened against the Dealer Manager at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Dealer Manager or the ability of the Dealer Manager to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to participate in the Offering as contemplated by the Prospectus.
3.11 The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Dealer Manager will not conflict with or constitute a default under any operating agreement or other similar agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Dealer Manager, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.
3.12 The Dealer Manager has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.
4. Indemnification
4.1 The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealers and the Dealer Manager, their respective officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls such Dealer or Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Dealers or Dealer Manager, their respective officers and directors, or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto, (ii) any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) in any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company or on its behalf specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of any jurisdiction or based upon written information furnished by the Company under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a Blue Sky Application), or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of
the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Dealer or Dealer Manager, its respective officers and directors and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Dealer or Dealer Manager, its respective officers and directors, or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Dealer or Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to such Dealer or Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendment thereof, any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; and further provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case if it is determined that such Dealer or Dealer Manager was at fault in connection with the loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
4.2 The Dealer Manager will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors (including any person named in the Registration Statement with his consent to become a director) and each person or firm which has signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any of the aforesaid parties may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof, (ii) any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) in any Blue Sky Application, or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any unauthorized use of sales materials or use of unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Shares by the Dealer Manager, or use of For Broker-Dealer Use Only materials with members of the public in the offer and sale of the Shares or (e) any failure to comply with applicable laws governing privacy issues, money laundering abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA rules, SEC rules, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the regulations and programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and will reimburse the aforesaid parties, in connection with investigation or defending such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Dealer Manager may otherwise have.
4.3 Each Dealer severally will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each of their officers and directors (including any persons named in any of the Registration Statements with his consent to become a director), each person who has signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Dealer Manager
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Dealer Manager, any such director or officer, or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof, (ii) any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) in any Blue Sky Application, or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of such Dealer specifically for use with reference to such Dealer in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any unauthorized use of sales materials or use of unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Shares by such Dealer or Dealers representatives or agents in violation of Section IX of the Selected Dealer Agreement or otherwise, or (e) any failure to comply with applicable laws governing privacy issues, money laundering abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA rules, SEC rules, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the regulations and programs administered by the OFAC at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and will reimburse the Company and the Dealer Manager and any such directors or officers, or controlling person, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Dealer may otherwise have.
4.4 Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 4, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof and the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will relieve such indemnifying party from any liability under this Section 4 as to the particular item for which indemnification is then being sought, but not from any other liability which it may have to any indemnified party. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses (subject to Section 4.5) incurred by such indemnified party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party.
4.5 The indemnifying party shall pay all legal fees and expenses of the indemnified party in the defense of such claims or actions for which indemnification is sought pursuant to this Section 4; provided , however , that the indemnifying party shall not be obligated to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one indemnified party. If such claims or actions are
alleged or brought against more than one indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm that has been selected by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and in the event a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an indemnified party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.
4.6 The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 4 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Dealer, or any person controlling any Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company, the Dealer Manager or any officer or director thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Dealer Manager, (b) delivery of any Shares and payment therefor, and (c) any termination of this Agreement. A successor of any Dealer or of any of the parties to this Agreement, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity agreements contained in this Section 4 .
4.7 No party shall be entitled to indemnification under this Section 4 if such indemnification of such party would violate Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.
5. Survival of Provisions
The respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Dealers set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or any person controlling the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company or any person controlling the Company, and (c) the acceptance of any payment for the Shares.
6. Applicable Law; Jurisdiction; Venue
This Agreement was executed and delivered in, and its validity, interpretation and construction shall be governed by the laws of, the State of Delaware; provided , however , that causes of action for violations of federal or state securities laws shall not be governed by this Section 6. Jurisdiction for any cause of action arising under this Agreement shall lie exclusively with courts located in the State of Delaware. Venue for any action brought hereunder shall lie exclusively in Wilmington, Delaware.
7. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
8. Successors, Amendment and Waiver
8.1 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Dealer Manager and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person any right, remedy or claim, except as otherwise specifically provided herein. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Dealers to the extent set forth in Sections 1 and 4 hereof.
8.2 This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by a formal written instrument (and not by an email or series of emails) signed in blue ink by M. Grier Eliasek as President of the Company or his successor and by the Dealer Manager. No term or provision of this Agreement may be waived except by a formal written instrument signed (and not by an email or series of emails) by the
party against whom such waiver is sought; provided, that in the case of the Company, such waiver must be signed in blue ink by M. Grier Eliasek as President of the Company or his successor.
9. Term
This Agreement may be terminated by either party (a) immediately upon notice to the other party in the event that the other party shall have materially failed to comply with any of the material provisions of this Agreement on its part to be performed during the term of this Agreement or if any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of such party contained herein shall not have been materially complied with or satisfied within the times specified or (b) by either party on 60 days written notice.
In any case, this Agreement shall expire at the close of business on the effective date that the Offering is terminated. The provisions of Section 4 hereof shall survive such termination. In addition, the Dealer Manager, upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, shall (a) promptly deposit any and all funds in its possession which were received from investors for the sale of Shares into the appropriate account as designated by the Company; and (b) promptly deliver to the Company all records and documents in its possession which relate to the Offering and are not designated as dealer copies. The Dealer Manager, at its sole expense, may make and retain copies of all such records and documents, but shall keep all such information confidential. The Dealer Manager shall use its best efforts to cooperate with the Company to accomplish an orderly transfer of management of the Offering to a party designated by the Company. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all commissions to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 3 at such time as such commissions become payable.
10. Confirmation
The Company hereby agrees and assumes the duty to confirm on its behalf and on behalf of the Dealers who sell the Shares all orders for purchase of Shares accepted by the Company. To the extent practicable and permitted by law, all such confirmations may be provided electronically.
11. Suitability of Investors
The Dealer Manager will offer Shares, and will require in its agreements with the Dealers that the Dealers offer Shares, only to persons who meet the financial qualifications if and to the extent set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company and will only make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing by the Company that the Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Shares, the Dealer Manager will, and in its agreements with the Dealers, the Dealer Manager will require that the Dealers will, comply with the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors. The Dealer Manager shall maintain, or in its agreements with the Dealers shall require the Dealers to maintain, for at least six years, a record of the information obtained to determine that an investor meets the financial qualification and suitability standards imposed on the offer and sale of the Shares (both at the time of the initial subscription and at the time of any additional subscriptions, including initial enrollments and increased participations in the DRP).
12. Submission of Orders
12.1 Until the Required Capital has been obtained and released from escrow, those persons who purchase Shares will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Dealer to make their checks payable as provided in the Escrow Agreement. Thereafter, those persons who purchase Shares will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Dealer to make their checks payable to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. The Dealer Manager and any Dealer receiving a check not conforming to the instructions set forth in the Escrow Agreement or as set forth above, as applicable, shall return such check directly to such subscriber not later than noon Eastern Time of the next business day following its receipt. Checks received by the Dealer Manager or any Dealer which conform to the instructions set
forth in the Escrow Agreement or as set forth above, as applicable, shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section 12. The Dealer Manager may authorize certain Dealers which are $250,000 broker-dealers to instruct their customers to make their checks for Shares subscribed for payable directly to the Dealer. In such case, the Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscribers checks and issue a check for the aggregate amount of the subscription proceeds made payable to the order of the escrow agent, or if instructed by the Dealer Manager as provided above, made payable to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. Checks of rejected subscribers will be promptly returned to such subscribers. Transmittal of received investor funds will be made in accordance with the following procedures.
12.2 Where, pursuant to a Dealers internal supervisory procedures, internal supervisory review is conducted at the same location at which subscription documents and checks are received from subscribers, checks will be transmitted by noon Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the Company for deposit with the Company.
12.3 Where, pursuant to a Dealers internal supervisory procedures, final internal supervisory review is conducted at a different location, checks will be transmitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the office of the Dealer conducting such final internal supervisory review (the Final Review Office). The Final Review Office will in turn transmit by noon Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt at a different location by the Final Review Office such checks to the Company for deposit directly with the Company.
12.4 If requested by the Company, the Dealer Manager shall obtain, and shall cause the Dealers to obtain, from subscribers for the Shares, other documentation reasonably deemed by the Company to be required under applicable law or as may be necessary to reflect the policies of the Company. Such documentation may include, without limitation, subscribers written acknowledgement and agreement to the privacy policies of the Company.
13. Treatment Under Texas Margin Tax
Selling commissions and any reallowed dealer manager fee paid to the Dealer Manager by the Company under this Agreement, and then paid by the Dealer Manager to the Dealers, are intended to be and shall be treated as flow-through funds as that term is used in Section 171.1011(f) and (g) of the Texas Tax Code and as sales commissions as that term is used in Section 171.1011(g)(1) of the Texas Tax Code. The terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the characterization of the amounts of selling commissions and any reallowed dealer manager fees paid by the Dealer Manager to the Dealers as flow-through funds for purposes of Section 171.1011(f) and (g) of the Texas Tax Code and sales commissions for purposes of Section 171.1011(g)(1). The references in this paragraph to Sections of the Texas Tax Code include subsequent amendments to such Sections, and subsequent statutes with different designations that contain the same reimbursement requirements.
14. Due Diligence
The Company will authorize a collection of information regarding the Offering (the Due Diligence Information), which collection the Company may amend and supplement from time to time, to be delivered by the Dealer Manager to the Dealers (or their agents performing due diligence) in connection with their due diligence review of the Offering. In the event the Dealer Manager or a Dealer (or its agent performing due diligence) reasonably requests access to additional information or otherwise wishes to conduct additional due diligence regarding the Offering, the Company and the Dealer Manager will reasonably cooperate with such Dealer to accommodate such request; provided , however , any additionally provided information will be subject to the terms of a confidentiality agreement executed by the Dealer Manager and the Dealer.
15. Notices
15.1 Subject to Section 15.3 below, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by two of the following methods: by hand, by overnight courier service, by certified or registered mail, by telefacsimile or by email (in portable document format (pdf) or tagged image file format (TIFF)) as follows:
If to the Dealer Manager: |
Behringer Securities LP |
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15601 Dallas Parkway |
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Suite 600 |
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Addison, Texas 75001 |
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Facsimile: (214) 655-1610 |
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Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
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Email: |
fmuller@behringersecurities.com |
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seigenbrodt@behringerharvard.com |
15.2 Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number or email address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to all of the other parties hereto in accordance with Section 15.1.
15.3 All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given (i) in the case of notices and other communications delivered by hand or overnight courier service, upon actual receipt thereof, (ii) in the case of notices and other communications delivered by certified or registered mail, upon the earlier of actual delivery and the third business day after the date deposited in the U.S. mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed, (iii) in the case of notices and other communications delivered by telefacsimile, upon receipt by the sender of an acknowledgment or transmission report generated by the machine from which the telefacsimile was sent indicating that the telefacsimile was sent in its entirety to the recipients telefacsimile number and (iv) in the case of notices and other communications delivered by email, upon receipt by the sender of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, a return email or other written acknowledgement), provided, that no notice or communication shall be effective until twenty-four (24) hours following the time such notice is deemed to be given pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) above, as applicable, provided, further, that if a
notice or other communication would be deemed to have been given in accordance with the foregoing at any time other than during the recipients normal business hours on a business day for such recipient, such notice or other communication shall be deemed given on the next succeeding business day for such recipient.
16. Severability
All provisions of this Agreement are severable, and the unenforceability or invalidity of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the invalid or unenforceable portion or portions shall be removed (and no more) only in that jurisdiction, and the remainder shall be enforced as fully as possible (removing the minimum amount possible) in that jurisdiction. In lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision, the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith to add automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
17. No Waiver
Failure by either party to promptly insist upon strict compliance with any of the obligations of the other party under this Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to enforce strict compliance with respect to any obligation hereunder.
18. Assignment
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party, except with the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us as of the date first above written.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us effective as of the date first above written.
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Very truly yours, |
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PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC. |
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By: |
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M. Grier Eliasek |
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Chief Executive Officer and President |
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Accepted and agreed effective as of the date first above written. |
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BEHRINGER SECURITIES LP |
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EXHIBIT A
PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME FUND, INC.
Up to $1,500,000,000 in Shares of Common Stock
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Behringer Securities LP, as the dealer manager (the Dealer Manager) for Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. (the Company), a Maryland corporation, invites you (the Dealer) to participate in the distribution of shares of common stock of the Company (Shares) subject to the following terms:
I. Dealer Manager Agreement
The Dealer Manager has entered into an agreement with the Company called the Dealer Manager Agreement dated [ , 2013], attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Dealer Manager Agreement). The terms of the Dealer Manager Agreement relating to the Dealer are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth verbatim and capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Dealer Manager Agreement. By your acceptance of this Selected Dealer Agreement (the Agreement or this Agreement), you will become one of the Dealers referred to in the Dealer Manager Agreement and will be entitled and subject to the indemnification provisions contained in the Dealer Manager Agreement, including the provisions of the Dealer Manager Agreement wherein the Dealers severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each officer and director thereof, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Except as otherwise specifically stated herein, all terms used in this Agreement have the meanings provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement.
The Dealer hereby agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Shares for cash on the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to make the Dealer an employee, agent, representative or partner of the Dealer Manager or of the Company, and the Dealer is not authorized to act for the Dealer Manager or the Company or to make any representations on their behalf except as set forth in the Prospectus and such other printed information furnished to the Dealer by the Dealer Manager or the Company to supplement the Prospectus (supplemental information).
II. Submission of Orders
Until the Required Capital (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) has been obtained and released from escrow, those persons who purchase Shares will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Dealer to make their checks payable as provided in the Escrow Agreement. Thereafter, those persons who purchase Shares will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Dealer to make their checks payable to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. Any Dealer receiving a check not conforming to the instructions set forth in the Escrow Agreement or as set forth above, as applicable, shall return such check directly to such subscriber not later than the end of the next business day following its receipt. Checks received by the Dealer which conform to the instructions set forth in the Escrow Agreement or as set forth above, as applicable, shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods in this Article II. The Dealer Manager may authorize the Dealer if the Dealer is a $250,000 broker-dealer to instruct its customers to make its checks for Shares subscribed for payable directly to the Dealer, in which case the Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscribers checks and issue a check for the aggregate amount of the subscription proceeds made payable to the order of the escrow agent, or if the Required Capital has been obtained and released from escrow, made payable to Priority Senior Secured Income
Fund, Inc. Checks of rejected subscribers will be promptly returned to such subscribers. Transmittal of received investor funds will be made in accordance with the following procedures:
Where, pursuant to the Dealers internal supervisory procedures, internal supervisory review is conducted at the same location at which subscription documents and checks are received from subscribers, checks will be transmitted by noon Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the Company for deposit directly with the Company.
Where, pursuant to the Dealers internal supervisory procedures, final and internal supervisory review is conducted at a different location, checks will be transmitted by noon Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the office of the Dealer conducting such final internal supervisory review (the Final Review Office). The Final Review Office will in turn transmit by 5:00 pm Eastern Time of the next business day following receipt at a different location by the Final Review Office such checks to the Company for deposit directly with the Company.
If requested by the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Dealer shall obtain from subscribers for the Shares, other documentation reasonably deemed by the Company or the Dealer Manager to be required under applicable law or as may be necessary to reflect the policies of the Company or the Dealer Manager. Such documentation may include, without limitation, subscribers written acknowledgement and agreement to the privacy policies of the Company or the Dealer Manager.
III. Pricing
Except for discounts described in or as otherwise provided in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus, Shares are to be issued and sold in the Offering for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,00,000 (specifically, Class R Shares for an initial offering price of $15.00 per Share to be sold to the public through broker-dealers subject to selling commissions and dealer manager fees; Class RIA Shares for an initial offering price of $14.10 per Share to be sold to the public through RIAs and broker-dealers that are managing wrap or other fee-based accounts, subject to dealer manager fees but no selling commissions; Class I Shares for an initial offering price of $13.80 per Share to be sold through traditional institutional investment arrangements without selling commissions and dealer manager fees; and shares pursuant to the DRP for an initial offering price of $14.25 per share, in each case subject to the Companys right to allocate Share amounts and classes of Shares as described in the Prospectus and subject to discounts and other price adjustments as described in the Prospectus). Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or in any letter or memorandum sent to the Dealer by the Company or the Dealer Manager, a minimum initial purchase by any one person is $1,000 of Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus, additional investments may be made in cash in minimal increments of at least $500 in Shares. The Shares are nonassessable. The Dealer hereby agrees to place any order for the full purchase price.
IV. Representations and Warranties of Dealer
Dealer represents and warrants to the Company and the Dealer Manager and agrees that:
(a) Dealer will undertake all reasonable investigation, review, and inquiry to ensure, to the best of its reasonable knowledge and belief, that the investment is suitable for such potential investor upon the basis of the information known to Dealer or disclosed by such potential investor as to his other security holdings and as to his financial situation and needs. Dealer shall keep written records supporting this representation and warranty and such records shall be made available to the Company or Dealer Manager promptly upon request.
(b) Dealer shall deliver to each prospective investor, prior to any submission by such prospective investor, a written offer to buy any Shares, a copy of the Prospectus.
(c) Dealer will not deliver to any offeree any written documents pertaining to the Company or the Shares, other than the Prospectus, and any other materials specifically designated for distribution to prospective investors that are supplied to Dealer by the Company or its affiliates. Without intending to limit the generality of the foregoing, Dealer shall not deliver to any prospective investor any material pertaining to the Company or any of its affiliates that has been furnished as broker/dealer information only.
(d) Dealer will make reasonable inquiry to determine whether a prospective investor is acquiring Shares for his own account or on behalf of other persons and not for the purpose of resale or other distribution thereof.
(e) Dealer will not give any information or make any representation or warranty in connection with the Offering, the Company or the Shares other than those contained in the Prospectus and any Authorized Sales Materials.
(f) Dealer will abide by, and will take reasonable precautions to ensure compliance by prospective investors from whom Dealer has solicited an offer to purchase, all provisions contained in the Prospectus regulating the terms and manner of the Offering.
(g) In its solicitation of offers for the Shares, Dealer will comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, as well as the published rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules and regulations of all state securities authorities, as applicable, to the best of its knowledge, after due inquiry and investigation and to the extent within its direct control.
(h) Dealer is (and will continue to be) a member in good standing with FINRA, will abide by the rules and regulations of FINRA, is in full compliance with all applicable requirements under the Exchange Act, and is registered as a broker-dealer in all of the jurisdictions in which Dealer solicits offers to purchase the Shares.
(i) Dealer will not take any action in conflict with, or omit to take any action the omission of which would cause Dealer to be in conflict with, the conditions and requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, or applicable state securities or blue sky laws.
(j) Dealer will use reasonable efforts to ensure that all investors who are acquiring Shares have and will satisfy all conditions described in the Prospectus and the Subscription Agreement.
(k) Each of the representations and warranties made by each prospective investor to the Company under the Subscription Agreement, is, to the Dealers best knowledge, information, and belief, after due inquiry, true and correct as of the date thereof and as of the date of purchase of the Shares by such investor.
V. Dealers Commissions
(a) Subject to the volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus or this Section V, the Dealer Manager agrees to pay the Dealer selling commissions in the amount of 6.0% of the selling price of each Class R Share for which a sale is completed from the Shares offered in the Offering. Dealer Manager will not pay selling commissions for sales of DRP Shares, Class RIA Shares or Class I Shares. Dealer Manager will reallow all the selling commissions, subject to federal and state securities laws, to the Dealer who sold Class R Shares, as described more fully in this Agreement. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of commissions to any Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions to Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, at the discretion of the Company, the Company may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions to Dealers on behalf of the Dealer Manager without incurring any liability.
(b) Subject to the special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus or this Section V, as compensation for acting as the dealer manager, the Company will pay the Dealer Manager, a dealer manager fee in the amount of 2.0% of the selling price of each Class R Share (the Dealer Manager Fee) for which a sale is completed from the Class R or Class RIA Shares offered in the Offering. The Dealer Manager may retain or re-allow all or a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee, subject to federal and state securities laws, to a Dealer who sold Shares, as described more fully in the Prospectus. No Dealer Manager Fee will be paid in connection with DRP Shares or Class I Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no commissions, payments or amounts whatsoever will be paid to the Dealer under this Section V unless and until subscriptions for the purchase of Shares have been accepted by the Company and the gross proceeds of the Shares sold are received by the Company. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of commissions to such Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions to the Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, at its discretion, the Company may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions to such Dealers without incurring any liability therefor. The Company will not pay selling commissions or a dealer manager fee for shares sold under the DRP as set forth in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus. For these purposes, a sale of Shares shall occur if and only if a transaction has closed with a securities purchaser pursuant to all applicable offering and subscription documents and the Company has thereafter distributed the commission to the Dealer Manager in connection with such transaction. The Dealer hereby waives any and all rights to receive payment of commissions due until such time as the Dealer Manager is in receipt of the commission from the Company. The Dealer affirms that the Dealer Managers liability for commissions payable is limited solely to the proceeds of commissions receivable associated therewith.
The Dealer acknowledges and agrees that no commissions, payments or amounts whatsoever will be paid to the Dealer unless or until the gross proceeds of the Shares sold are disbursed to the Company pursuant to paragraph 2(b) of the Escrow Agreement. Until the Required Capital is obtained, investments will be held in escrow and, if the Required Capital is not obtained, such investments will be returned to the investors in accordance with the Prospectus. In the event that a subscription is revoked or rescinded, the Dealer shall be obligated to return to the Dealer Manager any commissions or reallowed dealer manager fee previously paid to the Dealer in connection with such subscription.
The parties hereby agree that the foregoing commission and dealer manager fee reallowance as set forth in the Plan of Distribution section of the Prospectus is not and will not be in excess of the usual and customary distributors or sellers arrangements received in the sale of securities similar to the Shares, that the Dealers interest in the offering is limited to such commission and, as applicable, reallowed dealer manager fee, from the Dealer Manager and the Dealers indemnity referred to in Section 4 of the Dealer Manager Agreement, and that the Company is not liable or responsible for the direct payment of such commission or, if applicable, reallowed dealer manager fee, to the Dealer.
VI. Applicability of Indemnification Clauses
Each of the Dealer and Dealer Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that it will be subject to the obligations set forth in, and entitled to the benefits of all the provisions of, the Dealer Manager Agreement, including but not limited to, the representations and warranties and the indemnification obligations contained in such Dealer Manager Agreement, including specifically the provisions of Section 4 of the Dealer Manager Agreement. Such indemnification obligations shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Dealer Manager Agreement.
VII. Payment
Payments of selling commissions will be made by the Dealer Manager (or by the Company as provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement) to the Dealer within 30 days of the receipt by the Dealer Manager of the gross commission payments from the Company. The Dealer acknowledges and agrees that selling commissions, and, to the extent applicable, dealer manager fee reallowances or other payments to the Dealer will be made solely via Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer to the account listed on the signature page to this Agreement.
VIII. Right to Reject Orders or Cancel Sales
All orders, whether initial or additional, are subject to acceptance by and shall only become effective upon confirmation by the Company, which reserves the right to reject any order for any or no reason. Orders not accompanied by a Subscription Agreement and signature page and the required check in payment for the Shares may be rejected. Issuance and delivery of the Shares will be made only after actual receipt of payment therefor. If any check is not paid upon presentment, or if the Company is not in actual receipt of clearinghouse funds or cash, certified or cashiers check or the equivalent in payment for the Shares within 15 days of sale, the Company reserves the right to cancel the sale without notice. In the event an order is rejected, canceled or rescinded for any reason, Dealer agrees to return to the Dealer Manager any commission theretofore paid with respect to such order within 30 days thereafter and, failing to do so, the Dealer Manager shall have the right to offset amounts owed against future commissions due and otherwise payable to Dealer.
IX. Prospectus and Supplemental Information; Teleconferences and Seminars
The Dealer is not authorized or permitted to give, and will not give, any information or make any representation concerning the Shares except as set forth in the Prospectus and supplemental information. The Dealer Manager will supply the Dealer with reasonable quantities of the Prospectus, any supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus, as well as any supplemental information, for delivery to investors, and the Dealer will deliver a copy of the Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to each investor to whom an offer is made prior to or simultaneously with the first solicitation of an offer to sell the Shares to an investor. The Dealer Manager may rely upon the Dealer to only request reasonable quantities of such materials. The Dealer will only request reasonable quantities of such materials, will be responsible for correctly placing orders of such materials, and will reimburse the Dealer Manager for any costs incurred in connection with unreasonable or mistaken orders of such materials. The Dealer agrees that it will not send or give any supplemental information to that investor unless it has previously sent or given a Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to that investor or has simultaneously sent or given a Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus with such supplemental information. The Dealer agrees that it will not show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing which is supplied to it by the Dealer Manager and marked broker-dealer use only or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public. The Dealer agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Shares any material or writing which relates to another company supplied to it by the Company or the Dealer Manager bearing a legend which states that such material may not be used in connection with the offer or sale of any securities other than the company to which it relates. The Dealer further agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Shares any materials or writings which have not been previously approved by the Dealer Manager. The Dealer agrees, if the Dealer Manager so requests, to furnish a copy of any revised preliminary Prospectus to each person to whom it has furnished a copy of any previous preliminary Prospectus, and further agrees that it will itself mail or otherwise deliver all preliminary and final Prospectuses required for compliance with the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act. Regardless of the termination of this Agreement, the Dealer will deliver a Prospectus in connection with transactions in the Shares for a period of 90 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement or such longer period as may be required by the Exchange Act. On becoming a Dealer, and in offering and selling Shares, the Dealer agrees to comply with all the applicable requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or the payment of any
amount to the Dealer, the Dealer agrees to pay Dealers proportionate share of any claim, demand or liability asserted against the Dealer and the other Dealers on the basis that the Dealers or any of them constitute an association, unincorporated business or other separate entity, including in each case the Dealers proportionate share of any expenses incurred in defending against any such claim, demand or liability.
The Dealer is not authorized or permitted to, and agrees that it shall not, access any information made available on the Dealer Managers website or otherwise made available, attend any teleconferences or seminars, or participate in any other manner in any informational or promotional events or activities relating to any offering for which the Dealer Manager acts as dealer manager, except for the Offering and any other offering for which the Dealer has entered into a selling agreement with the Dealer Manager that remains in full force and effect.
X. License and Association Membership
Dealers acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Dealer is a properly registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act, is duly licensed as a broker-dealer and authorized to sell Shares under Federal and state securities laws and regulations and in all states where it offers or sells Shares, and that it is a member in good standing of FINRA. Dealer agrees to notify the Dealer Manager immediately in writing and this Agreement shall automatically terminate if Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA, is subject to a FINRA suspension, or its registration as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act is terminated or suspended. Dealer hereby agrees to abide by all applicable FINRA rules.
Dealer Manager represents and warrants that it is currently, and at all times while performing its functions under this Agreement will be, a properly registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and under state securities laws to the extent necessary to perform the duties described in this Agreement, and that it is a member in good standing of FINRA. The Dealer Manager agrees to notify Dealer immediately in writing if it ceases to be a member in good standing with FINRA, is subject to a FINRA suspension, or its registration as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act is terminated or suspended. The Dealer Manager hereby agrees to abide by all applicable NASD Conduct Rules under FINRA and other applicable FINRA rules.
XI. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Programs
Dealers acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Dealer has established and implemented an anti-money laundering compliance program (AML Program) in accordance with applicable law, including applicable NASD Conduct Rules under FINRA and other applicable FINRA rules, SEC Rules and Section 352 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act (collectively, the AML Rules), reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the sale of Shares of the Company. In addition, the Dealer represents that it has established and implemented a program (OFAC Program) for compliance with Executive Order 13224 and all regulations and programs administered by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and will continue to maintain its OFAC Program during the term of this Agreement. Dealer hereby agrees to furnish, upon request, a copy of its AML Program and OFAC Program to the Dealer Manager for review and to promptly notify the Dealer Manager of any material changes to its AML Program and/or OFAC Program. The Dealer hereby represents that it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and all OFAC requirements, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.
XII. Limitation of Offer
The Dealer will offer Shares (both at the time of an initial subscription and at the time of any additional subscriptions, including initial enrollments and increased participations in the DRP) only to persons who meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the
Company or the Dealer Manager and will only make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing that the Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Shares, the Dealer will comply with the provisions of the applicable FINRA rules and the NASD Conduct Rules set forth in the FINRA Manual, as well as all other applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors.
Dealer further represents, warrants and covenants that no Dealer, or person associated with Dealer, shall offer or sell Shares in any jurisdiction except to investors who satisfy the investor suitability standards and minimum investment requirements under the most restrictive of the following: (1) applicable provisions of the Prospectus; (2) the laws of the jurisdiction of which such investor is a resident; or (3) NASD Conduct Rules set forth in the FINRA Manual and other applicable FINRA rules. Dealer agrees to ensure that, in recommending the purchase, sale or exchange of Shares to an investor, each Dealer, or person associated with Dealer, shall have reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of information obtained from the investor (and thereafter maintained in the manner and for the period provided in such Rules) concerning his age, investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs, and any other information known to Dealer, or person associated with Dealer, that: (A) the investor is or will be in a financial position appropriate to enable him to realize to a significant extent the benefits described in the Prospectus, including the tax benefits to the extent they are a significant aspect of the Company; (B) the investor has a fair market net worth sufficient to sustain the risks inherent in an investment in Shares in the amount proposed, including loss, and lack of liquidity of such investment; (C) the investor has an apparent understanding of the fundamental risks of an investment in Shares, the lack of liquidity of the Shares, the background and qualifications of the adviser to the Company and their affiliates, and the tax consequences of an investment in the Shares; and (D) an investment in Shares is otherwise suitable for such investor. Dealer further represents, warrants and covenants that Dealer, or a person associated with Dealer, will make every reasonable effort to determine the suitability and appropriateness of an investment in Shares of each proposed investor by reviewing documents and records disclosing the basis upon which the determination as to suitability was reached as to each purchaser of Shares pursuant to a subscription solicited by Dealer, whether such documents and records relate to accounts which have been closed, accounts which are currently maintained, or accounts hereafter established. Dealer agrees to retain such documents and records in Dealers records for a period of six years from the date of the applicable sale of Shares and to make such documents and records available to (i) the Dealer Manager and the Company upon request, and (ii) to representatives of the SEC, FINRA and applicable state securities administrators upon Dealers receipt of an appropriate document subpoena or other appropriate request for documents from any such agency or organization. Dealer shall not purchase any Shares for a discretionary account without obtaining the prior written approval of Dealers customer and his or her signature on a Subscription Agreement.
XIII. Compliance with Record Keeping Requirements
Dealer agrees to comply with the record keeping requirements of the Exchange Act, including but not limited to, Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Dealer further agrees to keep such records with respect to each customer who purchases Shares, his suitability and the amount of Shares sold and to retain such records for such period of time as may be required by the SEC, any state securities commission, FINRA or the Company.
XIV. Termination; Survival
This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution hereof by Dealer and receipt of such executed Agreement by the Dealer Manager; provided, however, that in the event of the execution of this Agreement prior to the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective with the SEC, this Agreement shall not become effective prior to the Registration Statement becoming effective with the SEC and shall instead become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
The Dealer will suspend or terminate its offer and sale of Shares upon the request of the Company or the Dealer Manager at any time and will resume its offer and sale of Shares hereunder upon subsequent request of the Company or the Dealer Manager. Any party may terminate this Agreement by written notice. Such
termination shall be effective 48 hours after the mailing of such notice. This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, between the parties hereto. Prior to any termination of this Agreement by the Dealer, the Dealer shall in good faith attempt to negotiate an acceptable amendment to this Agreement to govern the relationship going forward.
This Agreement may be amended at any time by the Dealer Manager by written notice to the Dealer, and any such amendment shall be deemed accepted by the Dealer upon placing an order for sale of Shares after he has received such notice.
The respective agreements and obligations of the Dealer Manager and the Dealer set forth in Sections IV, VI, VII, VIII, XI and XII through XV of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement.
Dealer acknowledges and understands that subsequent to any termination of this Agreement, Dealers customers that are Company stockholders and their financial advisors, will continue to receive periodic communications from the Company or the Dealer Manager related to the Customers investment in the Company and their shares in the Company.
XV. Privacy Laws
The Dealer Manager and the Dealer (each referred to individually in this section as party ) agree as follows:
(a) Each party agrees to abide by and comply in all respects with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLB Act) and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable federal or state law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time;
(b) Each party agrees to refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except to service providers (when necessary and as permitted under the GLB Act) or as otherwise required by applicable law;
(c) Except as expressly permitted under the FCRA, each party shall not disclose any information that would be considered a consumer report under the FCRA; and
(d) The Dealer shall be responsible for determining which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving a list of such customers (the List) to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights. In the event either party expects to use or disclose nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than servicing the customer, or as otherwise required by applicable law, that party must first consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. Each party understands that it is prohibited from using or disclosing any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures.
XVI. Notice
Any notice in this Agreement permitted to be given, made or accepted by either party to the other, must be in writing and may be given or served by (1) overnight courier, (2) depositing the same in the United States mail, postpaid, certified, return receipt requested, or (3) facsimile transfer. Notice deposited in the United States mail shall be deemed given when mailed. Notice given in any other manner shall be effective when received at
the address of the addressee. For purposes hereof the addresses of the parties, until changed as hereafter provided, shall be as follows:
To Dealer Manager: |
Behringer Securities LP |
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Attention : Chief Executive Officer |
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15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, |
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Addison, Texas 75001 |
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Fax: (214) 655-1610 |
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To Dealer: |
Address Specified By Dealer on Dealer Signature Page |
XVII. Attorneys Fees, Applicable Law, Jurisdiction and Venue
In any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or to secure damages for its breach, the prevailing party shall recover its costs and reasonable attorneys fees. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware and shall take effect when signed by the Dealer and countersigned by the Dealer Manager. Jurisdiction for any cause of action arising under this Agreement shall lie exclusively with courts located in the State of Delaware. Venue for any action (including arbitration) brought hereunder shall lie exclusively in Wilmington, Delaware.
XVIII. Treatment Under Texas Margin Tax
The selling commission and any reallowed dealer manager fee payable to the Dealer by the Dealer Manager are intended to be and shall be treated as flow-through funds as that term is used in Section 171.1011(f) and (g) of the Texas Tax Code and as sales commissions as that term is used in Section 171.1011(g)(1) of the Texas Tax Code. The terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the characterization of the selling commission and any reallowed dealer manager fee as flow-through funds for purposes of Section 171.1011(f) and (g) of the Texas Tax Code and sales commissions for purposes of Section 171.1011(g)(1). The references in this paragraph to Sections of the Texas Tax Code include subsequent amendments to such Sections, and subsequent statutes with different designations that contain the same reimbursement requirements.
XIX. Due Diligence
Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company will authorize a collection of information regarding the Offering (the Due Diligence Information), which collection the Company may amend and supplement from time to time, to be delivered by the Dealer Manager to the Dealer (or their agents performing due diligence) in connection with its due diligence review of the Offering. In the event the Dealer (or its agent performing due diligence) reasonably requests access to additional information or otherwise wishes to conduct additional due diligence regarding the Offering, the Company and the Dealer Manager will reasonably cooperate with the Dealer to accommodate such request; provided , however , that the Due Diligence Information, together with any additionally provided information, will be subject to the terms of a separate confidentiality agreement.
Dealer Manager and Dealer agree that ongoing due diligence activities may continue with respect to the Offering and other offerings sponsored by Behringer Harvard Holdings, LLC that are not affected hereby; and active wholesaling by registered representatives of the Dealer Manager to registered representatives of the Dealer will cease with respect to the Offering and may continue with respect to other offerings sponsored by Behringer Harvard Holdings, LLC that are not affected hereby.
XX. Electronic Delivery of Information; Electronic Processing of Subscriptions
Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company has agreed and assumed the duty to confirm on its behalf and on behalf of dealers or brokers who sell the Shares all orders for purchase of Shares accepted
by the Company. In addition, the Company, the Dealer Manager and/or third parties engaged by the Company or the Dealer Manager may, from time to time, provide to the Dealer copies of stockholder letters, annual reports and other communications provided to Company stockholders. The Dealer agrees that, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, all confirmations, statements, communications and other information provided to or from the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Dealer and/or their agents or customers shall be provided electronically. To the extent that the Dealer desires physical copies of such materials to be provided, it may request physical copies to be provided from the Company, the Dealer Manager and/or such third parties; provided , however , that the Company, the Dealer Manager and such third parties shall determine the processes and service providers needed to produce such copies and the Dealer shall be required to pay the resulting costs and expenses of the production of such copies. Such costs and expenses may be deducted from selling commissions, reallowances or other payments to the Dealer pursuant to this Agreement.
With respect to Shares held through custodial accounts, the Dealer agrees and acknowledges that to the extent practicable and permitted by law, all confirmations, statements, communications and other information provided from the Company, the Dealer Manager and/or their agents to Company stockholders may be provided solely to the custodian that is the registered owner of the Shares, rather than to the beneficial owners of the Shares. In such case it shall be the responsibility of the custodian to distribute the information to the beneficial owners of Shares.
The Dealer agrees and acknowledges that the Dealer Manager may use an electronic platform to process subscriptions, including but not limited to the Depository Trust Company (DTC) model. The Dealer agrees to cooperate with the processing of subscriptions through such an electronic platform.
XXI. Severability
All provisions of this Agreement are severable, and the unenforceability or invalidity of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the invalid or unenforceable portion or portions shall be removed (and no more) only in that jurisdiction, and the remainder shall be enforced as fully as possible (removing the minimum amount possible) in that jurisdiction. In lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision, the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith to add automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
XXII. No Waiver
Failure by either party to promptly insist upon strict compliance with any of the obligations of the other party under this Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to enforce strict compliance with respect to any obligation hereunder.
XXIII. Assignment
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party, except with the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
XXIV. Authorization
Each party represents to the other that all requisite corporate proceedings have been undertaken to authorize it to enter into and perform under this Agreement as contemplated herein, and that the individual who has signed this Agreement below on its behalf is a duly elected officer that has been empowered to act for and on behalf of such party with respect to the execution of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized agent.
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THE DEALER MANAGER: |
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BEHRINGER SECURITIES LP |
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By: |
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Robert F. Muller, Jr., |
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Chief Executive Officer |
The Dealer has read the foregoing Agreement and we hereby accept and agree to the terms and conditions therein set forth. The Dealer hereby represents that the list below of jurisdictions in which it is registered or licensed as a broker or dealer and are fully authorized to sell securities is true and correct, and the Dealer agrees to advise the Dealer Manager of any change in such list during the term of this Agreement.
1. Identity of Dealer:
Name:
Type of entity:
(corporation, partnership, proprietorship, etc.)
Organized in the State of:
Licensed as broker-dealer in the following States:
Tax I.D. #:
2. Person to receive notice pursuant to Section XVI:
Name:
Company:
Address:
City, State and Zip Code:
Telephone No.:
Facsimile No.:
3. Account to which payments to Dealer will be made via Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer:
Name of Financial Institution:
Name of Account Holder:
Routing Number:
Account Number:
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY THE DEALER: |
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(Dealers Firm Name) |
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Signature |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Exhibit (k)(4)
FORM OF
TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT
This TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made and effective as of [ ], 2013 (the Effective Date ) by and between Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Licensor ), and Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Corporation ) (each a party , and collectively, the parties ).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Licensor is the owner in the United States of America (the Territory) of the trade name and service mark PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME and an application to register PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Serial No. 85692933) filed on August 1, 2012 (the Licensed Mark ).
WHEREAS, the Corporation is a newly organized closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act);
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain investment advisory agreement dated as of [ ], 2013 between Licensor and the Corporation (the Advisory Agreement ), the Corporation has engaged Licensor to act as the investment adviser to the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to use the Licensed Mark in connection with the operation of its business, and Licensor is willing to permit the Corporation to use the Licensed Mark, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
LICENSE GRANT
1.1 License . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to the Corporation, and the Corporation hereby accepts from Licensor, a personal, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use the Licensed Mark solely and exclusively as an element of the Corporations own company name and URL address and in connection with marketing and promoting investments in the Corporation. Except as provided above, neither the Corporation nor any affiliate, owner, director, officer, employee, or agent thereof shall otherwise use the Licensed Mark or any derivative thereof without the prior express written consent of Licensor in its sole and absolute discretion. All rights not expressly granted to the Corporation hereunder shall remain the exclusive property of Licensor.
1.2 Licensors Use . Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Licensor, its affiliates, or any of their respective successors or assigns from using or permitting other entities to use the Licensed Mark whether or not such entity directly or indirectly competes or conflicts with the Corporations business in any manner.
ARTICLE 2
OWNERSHIP
2.1 Ownership . The Corporation acknowledges and agrees that Licensor is the owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the Licensed Mark, and all such right, title, and interest shall remain with the Licensor. The Corporation shall not otherwise contest, dispute, or challenge Licensors right, title, and interest in and to the Licensed Mark.
2.2 Goodwill . All goodwill and reputation generated by the Corporations use of the Licensed Mark shall inure to the benefit of Licensor. The Corporation shall not by any act or omission use the Licensed Mark in any manner that disparages or reflects adversely on Licensor or its business or reputation. Except as expressly provided herein, neither party may use any trademark or service mark of the other party without that partys prior written consent, which consent shall be given in that partys sole discretion.
ARTICLE 3
COMPLIANCE
3.1 Quality Control . In order to preserve the inherent value of the Licensed Mark, the Corporation agrees to use reasonable efforts to ensure that it maintains the quality of the Corporations business and the operation thereof as prescribed by Licensor and further agrees to use the Licensed Mark in accordance with such quality standards as may be reasonably established by Licensor and communicated to the Corporation from time to time.
3.2 Compliance With Laws . The Corporation agrees that the business operated by it in connection with the Licensed Mark shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any governmental body in the Territory or elsewhere as may be applicable to the operation, advertising and promotion of the business, and shall notify Licensor of any action that must be taken by the Corporation to comply with such law, rules, regulations or requirements.
3.3 Notification of Infringement . Each party shall immediately notify the other party and provide to the other party all relevant background facts upon becoming aware of (i) any registrations of, or applications for registration of, marks in the Territory that do or may conflict with any Licensed Mark, and (ii) any infringements, imitations, or illegal use or misuse of the Licensed Mark in the Territory.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 Mutual Representations . Each party hereby represents and warrants to the other party as follows:
(a) Due Authorization . Such party is a limited liability company or a corporation, as applicable, duly incorporated and in good standing as of the Effective Date, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such party.
(b) Due Execution . This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and, with due authorization, execution and delivery by the other party, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.
(c) No Conflict . Such partys execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not: (i) violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any provision of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of such party; (ii) conflict with or violate any law or governmental order applicable to such party or any of its assets, properties or businesses; or (iii) conflict with, result in any breach of, constitute a default (or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, require any consent under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, suspension, revocation or cancellation of any contract, agreement, lease, sublease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or arrangement to which it is a party.
ARTICLE 5
TERM AND TERMINATION
5.1 Term . This Agreement shall expire (i) upon expiration or termination of the Advisory Agreement; (ii) if the Adviser or any of its affiliates ceases to serve as investment adviser to the Corporation; or (iii) by Licensor or the Corporation, upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other party.
5.2 Upon Termination . Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, all rights granted to the Corporation under this Agreement with respect to the Licensed Mark shall cease, and the Corporation shall immediately discontinue use of the Licensed Mark. For twelve (12) months following termination of this Agreement, the Corporation shall specify on all public-facing materials in a prominent place and in prominent typeface that the Corporation is no longer operating under the Licensed Mark and is no longer associated with Licensor or the Adviser.
ARTICLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Assignment . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. The Corporation may not assign, delegate or otherwise transfer this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Licensor. No assignment by either party permitted hereunder shall relieve the applicable party of its obligations under this Agreement. Any assignment by either party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be pursuant to a written assignment agreement in which the assignee expressly assumes the assigning partys rights and obligations hereunder.
6.2 Independent Contractor . Except as expressly provided or authorized in the Advisory Agreement, neither party shall have, or shall represent that it has, any power, right or authority to bind the other party to any obligation or liability, or to assume or create any obligation or liability on behalf of the other party.
6.3 Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service (with signature required), by facsimile, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses:
6.4 Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely within the State of New York. The parties unconditionally and irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in the State of New York and waive any objection with respect thereto, for the purpose of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.5 Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by all parties hereto.
6.6 No Waiver . The failure of either party to enforce at any time for any period the provisions of or any rights deriving from this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or rights or the right of such party thereafter to enforce such provisions, and no waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by all parties hereto.
6.7 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
6.8 Headings . The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
6.9 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original instrument and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
6.10 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
6.11 Third Party Beneficiaries . Nothing in this Agreement, either express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any third party any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date by its duly authorized officer.
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LICENSOR: |
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Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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THE CORPORATION: |
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Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title |
[LETTERHEAD OF VENABLE LLP]
February 15, 2013
Priority
Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
10 East 40
th
Street
44
th
Floor
New York, New York 10016
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have served as Maryland counsel to Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a closed-end management investment company (the "Company"), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of 100,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company classified and designated as Class R Common Stock, Class RIA Common Stock and Class I Common Stock. The Shares are to be issued in the Company's continuous public offering, covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the 1940 Act.
In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Documents"):
1. The Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus included therein, substantially in the form in which it was transmitted to the Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act;
2. The charter of the Company (the "Charter"), certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT");
3. The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
4. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;
5. Resolutions (the "Resolutions") adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the authorization of the filing of the Registration Statement and the sale and issuance of the Shares, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
6. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and
7. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.
In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:
1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or any other person, is legally competent to do so.
2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.
3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party's obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.
4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all such Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.
5. Upon any issuance of the Shares, the total number of shares of any class of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of such class of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.
2. The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Resolutions and the Registration Statement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the substantive laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to compliance with federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or the 1940 Act.
The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Venable LLP |
2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc.
New York, New York
We hereby consent to the use in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-182941 on Form N-2 of our report dated February 15, 2013, relating to the financial statements of Priority Senior Secured Income Fund, Inc. as of February 6, 2013 and for the period from July 19, 2012 (inception) to February 6, 2013 which is contained in the Statement of Additional Information, which is part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
February 15, 2013