Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-33559

 

 

THL CREDIT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-0344947

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

100 Federal St., 31 st Floor, Boston, MA   02110

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

  (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 800-454-4424

 

Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, If Changed Since Last Report.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   ¨     No   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   ¨     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-Accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).    Yes   ¨     No   x

The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $.001 par value per share, outstanding at August 9, 2010 was 19,791,888.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

THL CREDIT, INC.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2010

Table of Contents

 

    

INDEX

   PAGE NO.

PART I.

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

        Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010 (unaudited)

   2
  

Statements of Operations for the period from April 1, 2010 through
June 30, 2010 and for the period from May 26, 2009 (inception) through
March 31, 2010 (unaudited)

   3
  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the period from April 1, 2010
through June 30, 2010 and for the period from May 26, 2009 (inception) through
March 31, 2010 (unaudited)

   4
  

Statements of Cash Flows for the period from April 1, 2010 through
June 30, 2010 and for the period from May 26, 2009 (inception) through
March 31, 2010 (unaudited)

   5
  

Schedule of Investments as of June 30, 2010 (unaudited)

   6
  

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

   8

        Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   19

        Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   25

        Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   25

        PART II.

  

OTHER INFORMATION

  

        Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   26

        Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   26

        Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   26

        Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   26

        Item 4.

  

Reserved

   26

        Item 5.

  

Other Information

   26

        Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   26

SIGNATURES 

   28


Table of Contents

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In this Quarterly Report, “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to THL Credit, Inc. unless the context states otherwise.

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

THL Credit, Inc.

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2010
   March 31,
2010
 

Assets:

     

Investments at fair value:

     

Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments (cost of $84,732,921 and $0, respectively)

   $ 84,842,626    $ —     
               

Total investments at fair value (cost of $84,732,921 and $0, respectively)

     84,842,626      —     

Cash and cash equivalents

     174,836,729      100,500   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     55,080      —     

Deferred offering costs

     —        414,767   
               

Total assets

   $ 259,734,435    $        515,267   
               

Liabilities:

     

Accrued expenses

   $ 1,148,345    $ 435,000   

Base management fees payable

     743,327      —     

Accrued administrator expenses

     351,013      —     

Due to affiliate

     60,714      171,360   
               

Total liabilities

     2,303,399      606,360   
               

Net Assets:

     

Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, 100,000,000 preferred shares authorized, no preferred shares issued and outstanding

     —        —     

Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 100,000,000 common shares authorized, 19,791,888 and 6,700 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively

     19,792      7   

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     256,764,291      100,493   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     109,705      —     

Accumulated undistributed net investment income

     537,248      (191,593
               

Total net assets

     257,431,036      (91,093
               

Total liabilities and net assets

   $ 259,734,435    $ 515,267   
               

Net asset value per share

   $ 13.01    $ (13.60
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

 

     For the  period
from

April 1, 2010
through
June 30, 2010
   For the  period
from

May 26, 2009
(inception)
through
March 31, 2010
 

Investment Income:

     

From non-controlled, non-affiliated investments:

     

Interest income

   $ 2,440,486    $ —     
               

Total investment income

     2,440,486      —     
               

Expenses:

     

Base management fees

     743,327      —     

Administrator expenses

     351,013      —     

Professional fees

     283,334      —     

Insurance expenses

     149,028      —     

Directors’ fees

     127,375      —     

Other general and administrative expenses

     57,568      —     

Organization expenses

     —        191,593   
               

Total expenses

     1,711,645      191,593   
               

Net investment income (loss)

     728,841      (191,593
               

Unrealized Appreciation:

     

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     109,705      —     
               

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 838,546    $ (191,593
               

Net investment income per common share

   $ 0.04    $ (28.60
               

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations per common share

   $ 0.04    $ (28.60
               

Basic and diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

     19,625,761      6,700   
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited)

 

     For the  period
from

April 1, 2010
through
June 30, 2010
    For the  period
from

May 26, 2009
(inception)
through
March 31, 2010
 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 728,841      $ (191,593

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     109,705        —     
                

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     838,546        (191,593
                

Capital Share Transactions:

    

Issuance of common stock

     265,488,445        100,500   

Less offering costs

     (8,804,862     —     
                

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

     256,683,583        100,500   
                

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     257,522,129        (91,093

Net assets at beginning of period

     (91,093     —     
                

Net assets at end of period

   $ 257,431,036      $ (91,093
                

Common shares outstanding at end of period

     19,791,888        6,700   

Capital Share Activity:

    

Shares issued

     19,785,188        6,700   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

     For the  period
from

April 1, 2010
through
June 30, 2010
    For the period
from
May 26, 2009
(inception)
through
March 31,  2010
 

Operating Activities:

    

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 838,546      $ (191,593 )

Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

    

Purchases of investments

     (28,968,750 )     —     

Proceeds from sale of investments

     7,218,750        —     

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     (109,705     —     

PIK interest income

     (197,098     —     

Accretion of original issue discounts on investments, and other fees

     (65,668 )     —     

Income from investment in member interest

     (612,706 )     —     

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (55,080 )     —     

(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses

     (189,832     435,000   

Increase in base management fees payable

     743,327        —     

Increase in accrued administrator expenses

     351,013        —     

(Decrease) increase in due to affiliate

     (170,684 )     171,360   
                

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (21,217,887 )     414,767   
                

Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     203,380,996        100,500   

Offering costs paid

     (7,841,647 )     —     

Decrease (increase) in deferred offering costs

     414,767        (414,767 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     195,954,116        (314,267 )
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     174,736,229        100,500   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     100,500        —     

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 174,836,729      $ 100,500   
                

Non-Cash Financing Activity:

Issuance of 4,140,496 shares of common stock for the purchase of investments valued at $62,107,449

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

June 30, 2010

 

Portfolio company/Type of Investment (1)

 

Industry

  Principal (2)
No. of Shares /
No. of Units
  Amortized Cost   Fair Value

Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments – 32.96% of net asset value

       

Anytime Worldwide, LLC
Senior Secured Note, 16.0%, due 12/11/14
Class A Units
(3)
Warrant for Class B

 

Recreation & Leisure Services

  $
 
12,900,000
157,257.10
 

 

$
 

 

 

12,352,521
564,140

—  

 

 

$
 

 

 

12,352,521
564,140

—  

               
        12,916,661     12,916,661

Food Processing Holdings, LLC
Senior Subordinated Note, 13.5% cash
    2.0% PIK, due 8/10/15
(4)
Class A Units (5)
Class B Units
(5)

  Food Processing Services   $
 
 
12,092,215
162.44
406.09
   
 
 
11,534,830
163,268
408,161
   
 
 
11,534,830
163,268
408,161
               
        12,106,259     12,106,259

HEALTHCAREfirst, Inc.
Senior Subordinated Note, 13.5% cash
    3.5% PIK, due 12/4/15

  Healthcare, Business Services   $ 12,528,125     12,156,330     12,156,330
               
        12,156,330     12,156,330

Intelligrated, Inc.
Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan,
    L + 1000, due 6/21/17
(8)

  Industrial   $ 10,000,000     9,625,930     9,625,930
               
        9,625,930     9,625,930

JDC Healthcare Management, LLC
Senior Subordinated Note, 12.0% cash
    3.5% PIK, due 6/16/14
Member interest
(5)(6)

  Healthcare, Dental Services   $
 
10,373,587
1,393.00
   
 
9,777,071
1,393,209
   
 
9,777,071
1,393,209
               
        11,170,280     11,170,280

LCP Capital Fund, LLC
Member interest
(5)(7)

  Financial Services   $ 12,000,000     12,612,706     12,612,706
               
        12,612,706     12,612,706

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.
Senior Subordinated Note, 13.5% cash
    2.0% PIK, due 6/24/15
Preferred Stock, 19.0% dividend rate
Member interest
(5)(6)

  Healthcare, Ambulatory Surgery Centers   $
 
 
13,222,117
913.04
389,821
   
 
 
12,859,389
895,545
389,821
   
 
 
12,859,389
1,005,250
389,821
               
        14,144,755     14,254,460

Total investments – 32.96% of net asset value

      $ 84,732,921   $ 84,842,626
               

Cash equivalents – 26.09% of net asset value

    $ 67,162,119   $ 67,162,119   $ 67,162,119
               

Total investments and cash equivalents – 59.05% of net asset value

      $ 151,895,040   $ 152,004,745
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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(1)

All debt investments are income producing. Equity and member interests are non-income producing unless

otherwise noted.

(2)

Principal includes accumulated PIK interest and is net of repayments.

(3)

Comprised of 157,100 Class Financial Units and 157.10 Governance Units.

(4 )

Interest held in companies related to the portfolio company.

( 5 )

Member interests of limited liability companies are the equity equivalents of the stock of corporations.

(6 )

Equity ownership may be held in shares or units of companies related to the portfolio company.

(7 )

Income producing security.

(8)

Coupon is subject to a LIBOR floor of 2.5%.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

June 30, 2010

1. Organization

THL Credit, Inc. (the “Company”) was organized as a Delaware corporation on May 26, 2009. The Company has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company has elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Company’s investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation, primarily through the origination of privately negotiated investments in debt and equity securities in middle-market companies.

The Company was initially funded on July 23, 2009, issuing 6,700 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $100,500 to THL Credit Opportunities, L.P., an affiliate of THL Credit Advisors LLC (the “Advisor”). While the Company incurred certain costs in connection with an anticipated initial public offering, which ultimately would have been borne by the Advisor had the offering not closed, the Company did not formally commence principal operations until the completion of the offering on April 21, 2010 as described below.

On April 20, 2010, in anticipation of completing an initial public offering and formally commencing principal operations, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. and THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P. (“BDC Holdings”), and affiliate of the Company, to effectuate the sale by THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. to the Company of certain securities valued at $62,107,449, as determined by the Company’s board of directors, and on the same day issued 4,140,496 shares of common stock to BDC Holdings valued at $15.00 per share pursuant to such agreement in exchange for the aforementioned securities. Subsequently, the Company filed an election to be regulated as a BDC.

On April 21, 2010, the Company completed its initial public offering, formally commencing principal operations, and sold 9,000,000 shares of its common stock through a group of underwriters at a price of $13.00 per share, less an underwriting discount and commissions totaling $0.8125 per share. Concurrently, the Company sold 6,307,692 shares of its common stock to BDC Holdings at $13.00 per share that was not subject to an underwriting discount and commission. On April 27, 2010, the Company closed the sale of the aforementioned 15,307,692 shares and received $191.7 million of net proceeds.

On May 26, 2010, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option under the underwriting agreement and elected to purchase an additional 337,000 shares of common stock at $13.00 per share resulting in additional net proceeds of $4.1 million.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements of the Company have been presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP are omitted. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial results included herein contain all adjustments, consisting solely of normal accruals, considered necessary for the fair presentation of financial statements for interim period included herein. The current period’s results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the period ending December 31, 2010.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Changes

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

in the economic environment, financial markets, credit worthiness of our portfolio companies and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ and these differences could be material.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and, at times, cash held in demand deposit accounts may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limit. Cash equivalents are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy used in connection with GAAP reporting and as described in Note 4. Cash equivalents consist of an overnight repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Company (“SSB”) dated June 30, 2010 and payable July 1, 2010 in the amount of $67,162,138, reflecting an interest rate of one basis point. This agreement was collateralized by U.S. Treasury notes pledged by SSB. The collateral pledged is valued at $68,492,080. In the event of default by SSB, the Company has the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation.

Valuation of Investments

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued using market quotations, which are generally obtained from an independent pricing service or one or more broker-dealers or market makers. However, debt investments with remaining maturities within 60 days that are not credit impaired are valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates fair value. Debt and equity securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors. Because we expect that there will not be a readily available market value for many of the investments in our portfolio, we expect to value many of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of our board of directors in accordance with a documented valuation policy that has been reviewed and approved by our board of directors. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

   

our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

   

preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with senior management of the Advisor;

 

   

to the extent determined by the audit committee of our board of directors, independent valuation firms engaged by our board of directors conduct independent appraisals and review the Advisor’s preliminary valuations and their own independent assessment;

 

   

the audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of the Advisor and independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendation of the independent valuation firm to reflect any comments; and

 

   

our board of directors discusses valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Advisor, the respective independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

The types of factors that we may take into account in fair value pricing our investments include, as relevant, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded securities and other relevant factors. The Company utilizes an income approach to value its debt investments and a combination of income and market approaches to value its equity investments. For debt investments, the Company determines the fair value primarily using a yield approach that analyzes the discounted cash flows of interest and principal for the debt security, as set forth in the associated loan agreements, as well as the financial position and credit risk of each portfolio investments. The Company’s estimate of the expected repayment date is generally the legal maturity date of the instrument. The yield analysis considers changes in leverage levels, credit quality, portfolio company performance and other factors.

Investment Risk

The value of investments will generally fluctuate with, among other things, changes in prevailing interest rates, general economic conditions, the condition of certain financial markets, developments or trends in any particular industry and the financial condition of the issuer. During periods of limited liquidity and higher price volatility, the Company’s ability to dispose of investments at a price and time that the Company deems advantageous may be impaired. The extent of this exposure is reflected in the carrying value of these financial assets and recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Lower-quality debt securities involve greater risk of default or price changes due to changes in the credit quality or the issuer. The value of lower-quality debt securities often fluctuates in response to company, political, or economic developments and can decline significantly over short periods of time or during periods of general or regional economic difficulty. Lower-quality debt securities can be thinly traded or have restrictions on resale, making them difficult to sell at an acceptable price. The default rate for lower-quality debt securities is likely to be higher during economic recessions or periods of high interest rates.

Security Transactions, Income Recognition, Realized/Unrealized Gains or Losses

Security transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis. The Company measures realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, using the specific identification method, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized upfront loan origination fees and prepayment penalties. The Company reports changes in fair value of investments that are measured at fair value as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in the Statement of Operations.

Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on an accrual basis to the extent that the Company expects to collect such amounts. Original issue discount, principally representing the estimated fair value of detachable equity or warrants obtained in conjunction with the acquisition of debt securities, and market discount or premium are capitalized and accreted or amortized into interest income over the life of the respective security using the effective yield method. The amortized cost of investments represents the original cost adjusted for the accretion/amortization of discounts and premiums and upfront loan origination fees.

The Company has investments in debt securities which contain a contractual paid-in-kind, or “PIK”, interest provision. PIK interest is computed at the contractual rate specified in each investment agreement and added to the principal balance of the investment and record as interest income. The Company will cease accruing PIK interest if there is insufficient value to support the accrual or if it does not expect amounts to be collectible. To maintain the Company’s status as a RIC, PIK interest income, which is considered investment company taxable income, must be paid out to stockholders in the form of dividends even though the Company has not yet collected the cash. Amounts necessary to pay these dividends may come from available cash. For the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, the Company recognized $197,098 in PIK income. No PIK income was recognized for the period from May 26, 2009 (inception) through March 31, 2010.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

The Company capitalizes and amortizes upfront loan origination fees received in connection with the closing of investments. The unearned income from such fees is accreted into interest income over the contractual life of the loan based on the effective interest method. Upon prepayment of a loan or debt security, any prepayment penalties and unamortized loan origination fees are recorded as interest income.

In certain investment transactions, the Company may provide advisory services. For services that are separately identifiable and external evidence exists to substantiate fair value, income is recognized as earned. The Company had no income from advisory services for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, and for the period from May 26, 2009 (inception) through March 31, 2010.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and currently qualifies, and intends to continue to qualify each year, as a RIC under the Code.

In order to qualify for favorable tax treatment as a RIC, the Company is required to distribute annually to its stockholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income, as defined by the Code. To avoid federal excise taxes, the Company must distribute annually at least 98% of its income (both ordinary income and net capital gains). The Company, at its discretion, may carry forward taxable income in excess of calendar year distributions and pay a 4% excise tax on this income. If the Company chooses to do so, all other things being equal, this would increase expenses and reduce the amount available to be distributed to stockholders. The Company will accrue excise tax on estimated excess taxable income as required.

If the Company does not distribute at least 98% of its annual taxable income in the year earned, the Company will generally be required to pay an excise tax equal to 4% of the amount by which 98% of the Company’s annual taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income during the year earned. To the extent that the Company determines that its estimated current year annual taxable income will be in excess of estimated current year dividend distributions from such taxable income, the Company accrues excise taxes on estimated excess taxable income as taxable income is earned using an annual effective excise tax rate. The annual effective excise tax rate is determined by dividing the estimated annual excise tax by the estimated annual taxable income.

The Company follows the provisions under the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions. The provisions require management to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. There are no unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. Although the Company files federal and state tax returns, the Company’s major tax jurisdiction is federal. The Company’s inception-to-date federal tax years remain subject to examination by taxing authorities.

Dividends

Dividends and distributions to stockholders are recorded on the applicable record date. The amount, if any to be paid out as a dividend is determined by the Company’s board of directors on a quarterly basis. Net realized capital gains, if any, generally are distributed at least annually, out of assets legally available for such distributions, although the Company may decide to retain such capital gains for investment.

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2009, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-05, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” The update provides clarification to ASC 820 for the valuation techniques required to measure the fair value of liabilities. ASU No. 2009-05 also provides clarification around required inputs to the fair value measurement of a liability and definition of a Level 1 liability. ASU No. 2009-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after August 28, 2009. The Company adopted ASU No. 2009-05 beginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

In September 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-12, “Measuring Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent),” that provides additional guidance on how companies should estimate the fair value of certain alternative investments, such as hedge funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds. The fair value of such investments can now be determined using net asset value (“NAV”) as a practical expedient, unless it is probable that the investment will not be sold at a price equal to NAV. In those situations, the practical expedient cannot be used and disclosure of the remaining actions necessary to complete the sale will be required. New disclosures of the attributes of all investments within the scope of the new guidance is required, regardless of whether an entity used the practical expedient to measure the fair value of any of its investments. ASU No. 2009-12 is effective for the first annual or interim reporting period ending after December 15, 2009, with early application permitted. The Company adopted ASU No. 2009-12 beginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on its financial position and results of operations as of and for the period ended June 30, 2010.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” that requires reporting entities to make new disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair-value measurements including significant transfers into and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value measurements and information on purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair-value measurements. The FASB also clarified existing fair-value measurement disclosure guidance about the level of disaggregation, inputs, and valuation techniques. The new and revised disclosures are required to be implemented in interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the gross presentation of the Level 3 rollforward, which is required for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted ASU No. 2010-06 beginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the period ended June 30, 2010.

In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09, “Subsequent Events,” that amended its guidance on subsequent events. SEC filers are not required to disclose the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events. The amended guidance was effective upon issuance for all entities.

4. Investments

In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Company discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level 2 – Quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;

Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by management.

The Company has adopted the authoritative guidance under GAAP on determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly. Accordingly, if the Company determines that either the volume and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and management judgment will be required to estimate fair value. Valuation techniques such as an income approach might be appropriate to supplement or replace a market approach in those circumstances. The guidance also provides a list of factors to determine whether there has been a significant decrease in relation to normal market activity. Regardless, however, of the valuation technique and inputs used, the objective for the fair value measurement in those circumstances is unchanged from what it would be if markets were operating at normal activity levels and/or transactions were orderly; that is, to determine the current exit price. The guidance also requires additional disclosures regarding inputs and valuation techniques used, change in valuation techniques and related inputs, if any, and more disaggregated information relating to debt and equity securities, which if applicable should be disclosed. As the Company’s fair value methodologies are consistent with the amended accounting principles, adoption did not have a material effect on the financial statements.

The Company has adopted the authoritative guidance under GAAP for estimating the fair value of investments in investment companies that have calculated net asset value per share in accordance with the specialized accounting guidance for Investment Companies. Accordingly, in circumstances in which net asset value per share of an investment is not determinative of fair value, the Company estimates the fair value of an investment in an investment company using the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) without further adjustment, if the net asset value per share of the investment is determined in accordance with the specialized accounting guidance for Investment Companies as of the reporting entity’s measurement date. The adoption of this guidance does not have a material effect on the financial statements. The guidance also requires certain additional disclosures, which if applicable, must be disclosed.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

The following is a summary of the industry classification in which the Company invests as of June 30, 2010:

 

Industry:

   Cost    Fair Value    % of
Net Assets
 

Financial services

   $ 12,612,706    $ 12,612,706    4.90

Food processing services

     12,106,259      12,106,259    4.70

Healthcare, ambulatory surgery centers

     14,144,755      14,254,460    5.54

Healthcare, business services

     12,156,330      12,156,330    4.72

Healthcare, dental services

     11,170,280      11,170,280    4.34

Industrial

     9,625,930      9,625,930    3.74

Recreation & leisure services

     12,916,661      12,916,661    5.02
                    

Total

   $ 84,732,921    $ 84,842,626    32.96
                    

 

Region:

   Cost    Fair Value    % of
Net Assets
 

Northeast

   $ 12,612,706    $ 12,612,706    4.90

Southeast

     26,251,014      26,360,719    10.24

Midwest

     34,698,921      34,698,921    13.48

Southwest

     11,170,280      11,170,280    4.34
                    

Total

   $ 84,732,921    $ 84,842,626    32.96
                    

The following is a summary of the levels within the fair value hierarchy in which the Company invests:

 

Description:

   Fair Value    Level 1        Level 2        Level 3

Loans and debt investments

   $ 68,306,071      —      —      $ 68,306,071

Investments in funds

     12,612,706      —      —        12,612,706

Equity investments

     3,923,849      —      —        3,923,849

Cash equivalents

     67,162,119    $ 67,162,119    —        —  
                         

Total investments and cash equivalents

   $ 152,004,745    $ 67,162,119        —      $ 84,842,626
                         

The following is a rollforward of the amounts for the period April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 for investments classified within Level 3:

 

     Loans and
debt
investments
    Investments
in  funds
   Equity
investments
   Totals  

Beginning balance, April 1, 2010

   $ —        $ —      $ —      $ —     

Purchases (2)

     75,262,055        12,000,000      3,814,144      91,076,199   

Sales (2)

     (7,218,750     —        —        (7,218,750

Unrealized appreciation (1)

     —          —        109,705      109,705   

PIK and non-cash earnings

     262,766        612,706      —        875,472   
                              

Ending balance, June 30, 2010

   $ 68,306,071      $ 12,612,706    $ 3,923,849    $ 84,842,626   
                              

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments still held as of the reporting date

   $ —        $ —      $ 109,705    $ 109,705   
                              

 

1

All unrealized gains (losses) in the table above are reflected in the accompanying Statement of Operations.

2

Net purchases (sales) include proceeds from principal paydowns and capital drawndowns.

The Company has invested in LCP Capital Fund, LLC (“LCP”), an investment company that was organized to participate in investment opportunities that arise when a special purpose entity or sponsor thereof, needs to raise capital to achieve ratings, regulatory, accounting, tax, or other objectives. The capital may be in the form of credit default swaps, subordinated debt, preferred stock or other forms of equity.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

As of June 30, 2010, the Company had subscribed into series 2005-01 of LCP in the amount of $12,000,000. This commitment has been fully funded. The Company’s contributed capital is maintained in the form of a collateral account held by a custodian and acts as collateral on certain credit default swaps for which LCP receives premium payments on throughout the year. LCP anticipates distributing to the Company on a quarterly basis. Such distributions are reflected in the Statement of Operations as interest income in the period earned. LCP is a closed investment vehicle which provides for no liquidity or redemption options and is not readily marketable. LCP has a remaining life of 19 years; however, it is expected that series 2005-01 will dissolve within 2 to 7 years. Other capital series within LCP will have exposure to different investments and will have different remaining lives.

5. Related Party Transactions

Investment Management Agreement

The Company entered into an Investment Management Agreement on April 1, 2010 under which the Advisor, subject to the overall supervision of the Company’s board of directors, will manage the day-to-day operations of, and provide investment advisory services to the Company.

The Advisor will receive a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of a base management fee and a two-part incentive fee.

The base management fee will be calculated at an annual rate of 1.5% of the Company’s gross assets payable quarterly in arrears on a calendar quarter basis. For purposes of calculating the base management fee, “gross assets” is determined as the value of the Company’s assets without deduction for any liabilities. For the first quarter of our operations, the base management fee will be calculated based on the initial value of the Company’s gross assets. Subsequently, the base management fee will be calculated based on the value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base management fees for any partial quarter will be appropriately prorated.

The incentive fee will have two components, ordinary income and capital gains, as follows:

The ordinary income component will be calculated, and payable, quarterly in arrears based on the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, subject to a cumulative total return requirement and to deferral of non-cash amounts. The preincentive fee net investment income, which is expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets attributable to the Company’s common stock, will have a 2.0% (which is 8.0% annualized) hurdle rate (also referred to as “minimum income level”). Preincentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence, managerial assistance and consulting fees or other fees that the Company receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under the Company’s Administration Agreement (discussed below), and any interest expense and any dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee and any offering expenses and other expenses not charged to operations but excluding certain reversals to the extent such reversals have the effect of reducing previously accrued incentive fees based on the deferral of non-cash interest. Preincentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash. The Advisor will receive no incentive fee for any calendar quarter in which the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income does not exceed the minimum income level. Subject to the cumulative total return requirement described below, the Advisor will receive 100% of the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income for any calendar quarter with respect to that portion of the preincentive net investment income for such quarter, if any, that exceeds the minimum income level but is less than 2.5% (which is 10.0% annualized) of net assets (also referred to as the “catch-up” provision) and 20.0% of the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter, if any, greater than 2.5% (10.0% annualized) of net assets. The foregoing incentive fee is subject to a total return

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

requirement, which provides that no incentive fee in respect of the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income will be payable except to the extent 20.0% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations over the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters exceeds the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the 11 preceding quarters. In other words, any ordinary income incentive fee that is payable in a calendar quarter will be limited to the lesser of (i) 20% of the amount by which the Company’s preincentive fee net investment income for such calendar quarter exceeds the 2.0% hurdle, subject to the “catch-up” provision, and (ii) (x) 20% of the cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the then current and 11 preceding quarters minus (y) the cumulative incentive fees accrued and/or paid for the 11 preceding calendar quarters. For the foregoing purpose, the “cumulative net increase in net assets resulting from operations” is the amount, if positive, of the sum of preincentive fee net investment income, base management fees, realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of the Company for the then current and 11 preceding calendar quarters. In addition, the Advisor will not be paid the portion of such incentive fee that is attributable to deferred interest until the Company actually receives such interest in cash.

The second component of the incentive fee will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on December 31, 2010. This component will equal 20.0% of the Company’s cumulative aggregate realized capital gains from inception through the end of that calendar year, computed net of the cumulative aggregate realized capital losses and cumulative aggregate unrealized capital depreciation through the end of such year. The aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees is subtracted from such capital gains incentive fee calculated. The capital gains incentive fee determined as of December 31, 2010 will be calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take into account any realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized depreciation for the period ending December 31, 2010.

For the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, the Company incurred base management fees payable to the Advisor of $743,327 and incurred no incentive fees. The Company incurred no base management fees or incentive fees for the period May 26, 2009 (inception) through March 31, 2010.

Administration Agreement

The Company has also entered into an Administration Agreement with the Advisor under which the Advisor will provide administrative services to the Company. Under the Administration Agreement, the Advisor performs, or oversees the performance of administrative services necessary for the operation of Company, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which the Company is required to maintain and preparing reports to the Company’s stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, the Advisor assists in determining and publishing the Company’s net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of the Company’s tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to the Company’s stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of Company’s expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Company by others. Payments under the Administration Agreement are equal to an amount based upon the Company’s allocable portion of the Advisors overhead in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including facilities, office equipment and our allocable portion of cost of compensation and related expenses of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. Under the Administration Agreement, the Advisor provides, on behalf of the Company, managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which the Company is required to provide such assistance. To the extent that our Advisor outsources any of its functions, the Company pays the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to the Advisor.

For the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, the Company incurred administrative services expenses payable to the Advisor of $351,013. The Company incurred no administrative services fees for the period May 26, 2009 (inception) through March 31, 2010.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

Due to Affiliates

The Advisor and an affiliate of the Advisor paid certain offering, organization and other general and administrative expenses on behalf of the Company. Such amounts have been recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as Due to affiliates as of June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010. These amounts have been subsequently repaid to the Advisor and its affiliate.

Indemnification

The Investment Management Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their respective duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of their respective duties and obligations, the Advisor and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members (or their owners) and any other person or entity affiliated with it, are entitled to indemnification from the Company for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of services under the Investment Management Agreement or otherwise as the Company’s investment advisor.

Affiliated Stockholders

THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. and BDC Holdings own 6,700 and 10,448,188 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock as of June 30, 2010.

6. Net Increase in Net Assets Per Share Resulting from Operations

The following information sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net increase (decrease) in net assets per share resulting from operations for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010:

 

Numerator – net increase in net assets resulting from operations:

   $ 838,546

Denominator – basic and diluted weighted average shares:

     19,625,761

Basic and diluted net increase in net assets per common share resulting from operations:

   $ 0.04

Diluted net increase in net assets per share resulting from operations equals basic net increase in net assets per share resulting from operations for each period because there were no common stock equivalents outstanding during the above periods.

7. Organizational and Offering Expenses

A portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering of 15,307,692 shares of common stock was used for organizational and offering expenses of approximately $191,593 and $8,804,862 and, respectively. Organizational expenses are expensed as incurred. Offering costs, which includes $7,586,313 of underwriters fees, have been charged against paid in capital in excess of par. As of June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, $963,215 and $300,000, respectively, of offering related costs are included in accrued expenses and due to affiliates in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. All organizational and offering costs were borne by the Company.

 

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THL Credit, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

June 30, 2010

 

8. Financial Highlights

The following is a schedule of financial highlights for the period from April 21, 2010 (commencement of principal operations) through June 30, 2010:

 

Per Share Data:

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.99   

Net investment income (3)

     0.04   

Net change unrealized appreciation of investments (4)

     (0.02
        

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     0.02   
        

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.01   
        

Per share market value at end of period

   $ 11.50   

Total return (1)

     (11.54 %) 

Shares outstanding at end of period

     19,791,888   

Ratio/Supplemental Data:

  

Net assets at end of period

   $ 257,431,036   

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets (2)

     3.11

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (2)

     1.80

 

(1)

Total return is based on the change in market price per share assuming an investment at the initial public offering price of $13.00 per share. Total return takes into account dividends and distributions, if any, reinvested in accordance with our dividend reinvestment plan.

(2)

Annualized. Annualized amounts for operating expenses and net investment income exclude non-recurring costs related to director recruitment.

(3)

Calculated based on weighted average common shares outstanding.

(4)

Negative amount reflects incremental underwriting fees and offering expenses related to the initial public offering and exercise of the overallotment shares and the effect of rounding on a per share basis.

9. Commitment and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company, or the Advisor may become party to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings related to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. Neither the Company, nor the Advisor, is currently subject to any material legal proceedings.

10. Subsequent Events

There were no material events to report subsequent to June 30, 2010.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to factors previously identified elsewhere in this filing, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance:

 

   

the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies;

 

   

changes in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in the value of our assets;

 

   

the relative and absolute investment performance and operations of our investment advisor;

 

   

the impact of increased competition;

 

   

the impact of future acquisitions and divestitures;

 

   

the unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings;

 

   

our business prospects and the prospects of our portfolio companies;

 

   

the impact, extent and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property protection;

 

   

the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to us or THL Credit Advisors;

 

   

the ability of THL Credit Advisors to identify suitable investments for us and to monitor and administer our investments;

 

   

our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;

 

   

any future financings by us;

 

   

the ability of THL Credit Advisors to attract and retain highly talented professionals;

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and

 

   

the impact of changes to tax legislation and, generally, our tax position.

This report, and other statements that we may make, may contain forward-looking statements with respect to future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “potential,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

Overview

THL Credit, Inc. (the “Company”) was organized as a Delaware corporation on May 26, 2009 and initially funded on July 23, 2009. We commenced principal operations on April 21, 2010. Our investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation, primarily through the origination of privately negotiated investments in debt and equity securities in middle market companies.

 

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We are an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For instance, we generally have to invest at least 70% of our total assets in “qualifying assets,” including securities of private or thinly traded public U.S. companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities and high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less.

On April 21, 2010, the Company completed its initial public offering, formally commencing principal operations, and sold 9,000,000 shares of its common stock through a group of underwriters at a price of $13.00 per share, less an underwriting discount and commissions totaling $0.8125 per share. Concurrently, the Company sold 6,307,692 shares of its common stock to THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P. (“BDC Holdings”) at $13.00 per share that was not subject to an underwriting discount and commission. We received $191.7 million of total net proceeds for the aforementioned offerings.

On May 26, 2010, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option under the underwriting agreement and elected to purchase an additional 337,000 shares of common stock at $13.00 per share resulting in additional net proceeds of $4.1 million.

We have elected to be treated for tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and assets diversification requirements. Pursuant to these elections, we generally will not have to pay corporate-level taxes on any income we distribute to our shareholders.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

On April 20, 2010, in anticipation of completing an initial public offering and formally commencing principal operations, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. and BDC Holdings, to effectuate the sale by THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. to the Company of certain securities valued at $62,107,449, as determined by the Company’s board of directors, and on the same day, issued 4,140,496 shares of common stock to BDC Holdings valued at $15.00 per share pursuant to such agreement in exchange for the aforementioned securities. Subsequently, the Company filed an election to be regulated as a BDC.

We completed our first quarter of operations on June 30, 2010 with approximately $84.8 million (at fair value) invested in seven companies. As of June 30, 2010, the portfolio was invested 55% in subordinated debt, 26% in senior secured debt, 15% in income-producing equity interests, and 4% in equity. Our average portfolio company investment at amortized cost was approximately $12.1 million. Our largest portfolio company investment by value was approximately $14.3 million. The Company had approximately $174.8 million of cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2010.

The weighted average yield of the debt and income-producing equity securities in our portfolio at their current cost was 17.9% at June 30, 2010. The weighted average yield on our senior secured loans and subordinated debt securities at their current cost was 16.6% at June 30, 2010.

At June 30, 2010, 14% of our debt investments bore interest based on floating rates, such as LIBOR, and 86% bore interest at fixed rates. The percentage of our total debt investments that bore floating rate interest based on an interest rate floor was 14% at June 30, 2010.

Our level of investment activity can vary substantially from period to period depending on many factors, including the amount of debt and equity capital available to middle market companies, the level of merger and acquisition activity, the general economic environment and the competitive environment for the types of investments we make.

 

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As a BDC, we must not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” specified in the 1940 Act unless, at the time the acquisition is made, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets (with certain limited exceptions). Qualifying assets include investments in “eligible portfolio companies.” Under the relevant SEC rules, the term “eligible portfolio company” includes all private companies, companies whose securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, and certain public companies that have listed their securities on a national securities exchange and have a market capitalization of less than $250 million, in each case organized in the United States. These rules also permit us to include as qualifying assets certain follow-on investments in companies that were eligible portfolio companies at the time of initial investment but that no longer meet the definition.

Results of Operations

We commenced principal operations on April 21, 2010, and therefore have no period which to compare results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Revenues

We generate revenues primarily in the form of interest on the debt we hold. Our investments in fixed income instruments generally have an expected maturity of five to seven years, and typically bear interest at a fixed or floating rate. Interest on our debt securities is generally payable quarterly. Payments of principal of our debt investments may be amortized over the stated term of the investment, deferred for several years or due entirely at maturity. In some cases, our debt instruments and preferred stock investments may defer payments of dividends or pay interest in-kind. Any outstanding principal amount of our debt securities and any accrued but unpaid interest will generally become due at the maturity date. In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of prepayment fees, commitment, loan origination, structuring or due diligence fees, fees for providing significant managerial assistance and consulting fees.

Expenses

Our primary operating expenses include the payment of a base management fee and, expenses reimbursable under the Investment Management Agreement, administration expenses and the allocable portion of overhead under the Administration Agreement. The base management fee compensates the Advisor for work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, closing and monitoring our investments. Our Investment Management Agreement with the Advisor provides that we will reimburse the Advisor for costs and expenses incurred by the Advisor for facilities, office equipment and utilities allocable to the Advisor under the Investment Management Agreement, as well as any costs and expenses incurred by the Advisor relating to any non-investment advisory, administrative or operating services provided by the Advisor to us. We bear all other costs and expenses of our operations and transactions.

Operating Income

Investment income totaled $2,440,486 for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, of which $1,751,894 was attributable to interest on subordinated debt and senior secured loans, $612,706 attributable to interest from income-producing equity securities and $75,886 to interest earned on cash and cash equivalents.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses totaled $1,711,645 for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, and consisted of base management fees, administrator expenses, professional fees, insurance expenses, directors fees and other general and administrative fees, including a $205,000 one-time charge related to cost of recruiting directors. The base management fees for the quarter were $743,327 as provided for in the Investment Management Agreement. No incentive fee was incurred for the quarter. Expenses for administrative services under the Administration Agreement were $351,013.

 

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Net Investment Income

Net investment income was $728,841, or $0.04 per common share based on a weighted average of 19,625,761 common shares outstanding for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation of Investments

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments totaling $109,705 reflects the net change in the fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations totaled $838,546, or $0.04 per common share based on a weighted average of 19,625,761 common shares outstanding for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

Financial condition, liquidity and capital resources

We generated cash primarily from the net proceeds of our initial public offering as well as cash flows from operations, including interest earned and fees received on subordinated debt, senior secured loans and other income producing equity securities. In the future, we may also fund a portion of our investments through borrowing from banks and future equity offerings. We do not expect to incur such indebtedness until the proceeds of our initial public offering have been substantially invested.

At June 30, 2010, we had $174,836,729 in cash and cash equivalents. The primary use of existing funds is expected to be purchases of investments in portfolio companies, cash distributions to our stockholders, and other general corporate purposes.

We anticipate that substantially all of the net proceeds from our initial public offering will be invested by March 31, 2011. At that time, we expect that our portfolio will primarily consist of senior subordinated debt and senior secured loans. We can offer no assurances we will be able to invest all of our net proceeds within this time frame, as our investment outlook will depend on the availability of appropriate investment opportunities consistent with our investment objective and other market conditions.

Dividends

We have elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In order to maintain our status as a regulated investment company, we are required to (1) distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income and (2) distribute at least 98% of our income (both ordinary income and capital gains) to avoid excise tax. We intend to make distributions to stockholders on a quarterly basis of substantially all of our net investment income. In addition, although we intend to make distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually, out of assets legally available for such distributions, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment.

We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of these distributions from time to time. If we do not distribute a certain percentage of our income annually, we will suffer adverse tax consequences, including possible loss of our status as a regulated investment company. We cannot assure stockholders that they will receive any distributions at a particular level.

No dividends were paid during the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.

 

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Recent developments

On August 5, 2010, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on September 30, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 2, 2010.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23 of the 1940 Act that from time to time we may purchase shares of our common stock in the open market at prevailing market prices.

Critical accounting policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining such estimates could cause actual results to differ. In addition to the discussion below, the Company’s significant accounting policies are further described in the notes to the financial statements.

Valuation of Portfolio Investments

With respect to unquoted securities, our board of directors, in consultation with our independent third party valuation firms, values each investment considering, among other measures, discounted cash flow models, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public and other factors.

As a business development company, we generally invest in illiquid securities including debt and equity investments of middle-market companies. Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued using market quotations, which are generally obtained from an independent pricing service or one or more broker-dealers or market makers. However, debt investments with remaining maturities within 60 days that are not credit impaired are valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates fair value. Debt and equity securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors. Because we expect that there will not be a readily available market value for many of the investments in our portfolio, we expect to value many of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of our board of directors in accordance with a documented valuation policy that has been reviewed and approved by our board of directors. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

   

our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

   

preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with senior management of the Advisor;

 

   

to the extent determined by the audit committee of our board of directors, independent valuation firms engaged by our board of directors conduct independent appraisals and review the Advisor’s preliminary valuations and their own independent assessment;

 

   

the audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of the Advisor and independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendation of the independent valuation firm to reflect any comments; and

 

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our board of directors discusses valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Advisor, the respective independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

The types of factors that we may take into account in fair value pricing our investments include, as relevant, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded securities and other relevant factors. The Company utilizes an income approach to value its debt investments and a combination of income and market approaches to value its equity investments. For debt investments, the Company determines the fair value primarily using a yield approach that analyzes the discounted cash flows of interest and principal for the debt security, as set forth in the associated loan agreements, as well as the financial position and credit risk of each portfolio investments. The Company’s estimate of the expected repayment date is generally the legal maturity date of the instrument. The yield analysis considers changes in leverage levels, credit quality, portfolio company performance and other factors.

Our investments are generally structured as debt and equity investments in the form of subordinated debt, senior secured loans, member interests and equity investments. The purchase price, excluding upfront fees and transaction costs, is typically the best estimate of fair value at time of purchase. When evidence supports a subsequent change to the carrying value from the original purchase price, adjustments are made to reflect the expected exit values. Ongoing reviews by the Advisor and our independent valuation firm are based on an assessment of each underlying investment, incorporating valuations that consider the evaluation of financing and sale transactions with third parties, expected cash flows and market-based information, including comparable transactions, and performance multiples, among other factors.

Revenue Recognition

We record interest income on an accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. For loans and debt investments with contractual PIK interest which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the loan balance that generally becomes due at maturity, we will generally not accrue PIK interest if the portfolio company valuation indicates that such PIK interest is not collectible. We do not accrue as a receivable interest on loans and debt investments if we determine that it is probable that we will not be able to collect such interest. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we then amortize such amounts as interest income using the effective yield method. We record prepayment premiums on loans and debt investments as interest income.

Net Realized Gains or Losses and Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation

We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, using the specific identification method, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized upfront loan origination fees and prepayment penalties. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including any reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation, when gains or losses are realized.

Payment-in-Kind Interest or PIK Interest

We have investments in our portfolio which contain PIK interest provisions. PIK interest is added to the principal balance of the investment and is recorded as interest income. For us to maintain our status as a RIC, this income must be paid out to stockholders in the form of dividends even though we have not collected any cash with respect to PIK securities.

Federal Income Taxes

We operate so as to maintain our status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and intend to continue to do so. Accordingly, we are not subject to federal income tax on the portion of our taxable

 

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income and gains distributed to stockholders. To qualify as a RIC, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income as defined by the Code. If we do not distribute at least 98% of our annual taxable income (excluding net long-term capital gains retained or deemed to be distributed) in the year earned, we generally will be required to pay an excise tax on amounts carried over and distributed to shareholders in the next year equal to 4% of the amount by which 98% of our annual taxable income available for distribution exceeds the distributions from such income for the current year.

Because federal income tax regulations differ from GAAP, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. For the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, most of the loans in our portfolio bore interest at fixed rates. One of the loans in our portfolio has a floating interest rate based on LIBOR and an interest rate floor, which has effectively converted the loan into a fixed rate loan in the current interest rate environment. In the future, we expect other loans in our portfolio will have floating rates. We may hedge against interest rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options and forward contacts subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. While hedging activities may insulate us against adverse changes in interest rates, they may also limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments. For the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010, we did not engage in hedging activities.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our current disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us that is required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are not a defendant in any material pending legal proceeding, and no such material proceedings are know to be contemplated.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our most recent Form N-2 filing.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Sales of unregistered securities

On July 23, 2009, the Company issued 6,700 shares of its common stock at a price of $15.00 per share to THL Credit Opportunities, L.P.

On April 20, 2010, in anticipation of completing an initial public offering and formally commencing principal operations, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. and THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P. (“BDC Holdings”), to effectuate the sale by THL Credit Opportunities, L.P. to the Company of certain securities valued at $62,107,449, as determined by the Company’s board of directors, and on the same day issued 4,140,496 shares of common stock to BDC Holdings valued at $15.00 per share pursuant to such agreement in exchange for the aforementioned securities.

On April 21, 2010 concurrent with the Company’s initial public offering, the Company sold 6,307,692 share of its common stock to BDC Holdings at $13.00 per share that was not subject to an underwriting discount and commission.

Issuer purchases of equity securities

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. Reserved

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits

Listed below are the exhibits that are filed as part of this report (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

 

3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.2    Bylaws (2)
4    Form of Specimen Certificate (1)
10.1    Dividend Reinvestment Plan*
10.2    Investment Management Agreement (1)
10.3    Purchase Agreement*

 

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10.4    Custodian Agreement*
10.5    Administration Agreement (1)
10.6    Sub-Administration Agreement*
10.7    Purchase and Sale Agreement (1)
10.8    License Agreement (1)
10.9    Subscription Agreement – THL Credit Opportunities, L.P.(1)
10.10    Subscription Agreement – THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P.*
11    Computation of Per Share Earnings (included in the notes to the financial statements contained in this report).
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.*
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.*
32    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350).*

 

(*) Filed herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s pre-effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-2, filed on April 20, 2010
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-2, filed on July 15, 2009

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

On May 3, 2010, we filed a current report on Form 8-K, pursuant to Item 9 reporting the issuance of a press release, announcing Stephanie Pare’ Sullivan had joined the Company and the Board of Directors had elected her as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  THL CREDIT, INC.
Date: August 9, 2010   By:  

/ S /    J AMES K. H UNT        

    James K. Hunt
    Chief Executive Officer
Date: August 9, 2010   By:  

/ S /    T ERRENCE W. O LSON        

    Terrence W. Olson
    Chief Financial Officer

 

28

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

OF

THL CREDIT, INC.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

THL Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby adopts the following plan (the “ Plan ”) with respect to net investment income dividends and capital gains distributions declared by its Board of Directors on shares of its Common Stock:

 

  1. Unless a stockholder of the Corporation’s common stock (“ Common Stock ”) specifically elects to have his, her or its net investment income dividends and capital gains distributions automatically reinvested in additional Common Stock as set forth below, if the Board of Directors declares a net investment income dividend or capital gains distribution, each stockholder will receive all such net income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash (the “ Cash Dividends ”).

 

  2. Such Cash Dividends shall be payable on such date or dates as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors to stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date(s) established by the Board of Directors for the Cash Dividends involved.

 

  3. The Corporation shall use primarily newly-issued shares of its Common Stock to implement the Plan, whether its shares are trading at a premium or at a discount to net asset value. However, the Corporation reserves the right to purchase shares in the open market in connection with the implementation of the plan at a price per share equal to the average price for all shares purchased on the open market on such date pursuant to the Plan, including brokerage commissions. The number of shares to be issued to a stockholder shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the market price per share of the Corporation’s Common Stock at the close of regular trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the valuation date fixed by the Board of Directors for such distribution. Market price per share on that date shall be the closing price for such shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or, if no sale is reported for such day, at the average of their reported bid and asked prices.

 

  4.

A stockholder may, however, elect to have his, her or its net investment income dividends and capital gains distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock. To exercise this option, such stockholder shall

 

1


 

notify American Stock Transfer and Trust Company LLC, the plan administrator (the “ Plan Administrator ”), in writing so that such notice is received by the Plan Administrator no later than the record date fixed by the Board of Directors for the net investment income dividend and/or capital gains distribution involved. The amount of Common Stock to be issued to Participants pursuant to the Plan will be calculated by reference to all shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant, whether held in its Plan account or elsewhere.

 

  5. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares of Common Stock issued directly by the Corporation. However, each participant will pay the brokerage commissions incurred in connection with open-market purchases. If a stockholder has shares held by a broker, such stockholder should contact his/her broker to participate in the Plan.

 

  6. The Plan Administrator will set up an account for shares acquired pursuant to the Plan for each stockholder who has elected to participate in the Plan (each a “ Participant ”). The Plan Administrator may hold each Participant’s shares, together with the shares of other Participants, in non-certificated form in the Plan Administrator’s name or that of its nominee. Upon request by a Participant, received in writing no later than three days prior to the payment date, the Plan Administrator will, instead of crediting shares to and/or carrying shares in a Participant’s account, issue, without charge to the Participant, a certificate registered in the Participant’s name for the number of whole shares payable to the Participant and a check for any fractional share.

 

  7. The Plan Administrator will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made pursuant to the Plan as soon as practicable but not later than 10 business days after the date thereof provided all shares have been purchased. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a share of Common Stock of the Corporation, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Administrator will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Corporation’s shares at the time of termination.

 

  8. The Plan Administrator will forward to each Participant any Corporation-related proxy solicitation materials and each Corporation report or other communication to stockholders, and will vote any shares held by it under the Plan in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by Participants to the Corporation.

 

  9.

In the event that the Corporation makes available to its stockholders rights to purchase additional shares or other securities, the shares held by the Plan Administrator for each Participant under the Plan will be added to any other shares

 

2


 

held by the Participant in certificated form in calculating the number of rights to be issued to the Participant. Transaction processing may be either curtailed or suspended until the completion of any stock dividend, stock split or corporate action.

 

  10. The Plan Administrator’s service fee, if any, and expenses for administering the Plan will be paid for by the Corporation.

 

  11. Each Participant may terminate his, her or its account under the Plan by so notifying the Plan Administrator via the Plan Administrator’s website at www.amstock.com, by filling out the transaction request form located at the bottom of the Participant’s Statement and sending it to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, PO Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560 or by calling the Plan Administrator’s Interactive Voice Response System at (866) 710-4835. Such termination will be effective immediately if the Participant’s notice is received by the Plan Administrator at least three days prior to any dividend or distribution record date; otherwise, such termination will be effective only with respect to any subsequent dividend or distribution. The Plan may be terminated by the Corporation upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any payment date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Corporation. Upon any termination, the Plan Administrator will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held for the Participant under the Plan and a cash adjustment for any fractional share to be delivered to the Participant without charge to the Participant. If a Participant elects by his, her or its written notice to the Plan Administrator in advance of termination to have the Plan Administrator sell part or all of his, her or its shares and remit the proceeds to the Participant, the Plan Administrator is authorized to deduct a $15.00 transaction fee plus a $0.10 per share brokerage commission from the proceeds.

 

  12. These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Corporation at any time but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Administrator receives written notice of the termination of his, her or its account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Administrator in its place and stead of a successor agent under these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the acts to be performed by the Plan Administrator under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any agent for the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Corporation will be authorized to pay to such successor agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on shares of the Corporation held in the Participant’s name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor agent as provided in these terms and conditions.

 

3


  13. The Plan Administrator will at all times act in good faith and use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure its full and timely performance of all services to be performed by it under this Plan and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Plan Administrator’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents. This limitation of liability does not constitute a waiver of any rights a Participant might have under applicable federal securities laws.

 

  14. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

4


April 22, 2010

By and on behalf of

THL CREDIT, INC.

 

/s/ James K. Hunt

By:   James K. Hunt
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

By and on behalf of

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY LLC

 

/s/ Thomas J. Brienza

By:   Thomas J. Brienza
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

5

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION COPY

THL CREDIT, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

9,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated: April 21, 2010


THL CREDIT, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

9,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

(Par Value $0.001 Per Share)

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

April 21, 2010

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

    Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

        Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

THL Credit, Inc. (the “Company”) and THL Credit Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“THL Advisors” or the “Advisor;” and, together with the Company, the “THL Entities”), confirm their respective agreements with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 1,350,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover overallotments, if any. The aforesaid 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the 1,350,000 shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-159636), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the IPO Securities (as defined below) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). The Company filed a Form N-6F “ Notice


of Intent to Elect to be Subject to Sections 55 Through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940” (File No. 814-00789) (the “Notice of Intent”) pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Investment Company Act (as defined below), with the Commission on June 1, 2009, as amended on August 24, 2009, November 23, 2009 and February 22, 2010, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”). The Company filed a Form N-54A “Notification of Election to be Subject to Sections 55 Through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act” (File No. 814-00789) (the “Notification of Election”) under the Investment Company Act with the Commission on April 21, 2010. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 497 (“Rule 497”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as “Rule 430A Information.” Each prospectus used before such registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information, that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus.” Such registration statement, including the amendments, the exhibits and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and after such filing the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) or its Interactive Data Electronic Applications system (“IDEA”).

The Company has entered into (i) an investment management agreement, dated as of April 1, 2010 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), with THL Advisors, registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”), (ii) an Administration Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2009 (the “Administration Agreement”), with THL Advisors (THL Advisors, as the administrator, is hereinafter referred to as the “Administrator”); (iii) a Subscription Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2010 (the “BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement”), with THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“BDC Holdings”), with respect to the sale by the Company and the purchase by BDC Holdings of 6,307,692 shares of Common Stock (such shares, the “BDC Holdings Securities,” and, together with the Securities, the “IPO Securities”) and (iv) a Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2010 (the “Initial Portfolio Assets Agreement”), with THL Credit Opportunities, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“THL Credit Opportunities”), and BDC Holdings, for the purchase by the Company of the investments described in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus under “The Company—Portfolio Composition” (the “Initial Portfolio Assets”) from THL Credit Opportunities and for the sale of 4,140,496 shares of Common Stock by the Company to BDC Holdings in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). The Initial Portfolio Assets Agreement, together with all bills of sale, assignment agreements and other agreements and documents necessary or advisable to convey the Initial Portfolio Assets to the Company, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Conveyance Documents.” The THL Entities have also entered into a License Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2009 (the “License Agreement”), with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“THL Partners”), which owns the trade name and service mark THL , for the grant of a license by THL Partners to each of the THL Entities to use the THL mark in association with the commercial activities of the THL Entities. This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, the Conveyance Documents and the License Agreement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company Agreements.”

 

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SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

(a) Representations and Warranties relating to the Company . The THL Entities, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(i) hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements . Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, are contemplated by the Commission. The THL Entities have complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, as the case may be, complied and, as so amended, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Investment Company Act and did not and, as so amended, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and, as so supplemented, at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.

As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), the preliminary prospectus dated April 13, 2010, as of the Applicable Time, and the information included on Schedule B hereto, considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means 7:00 A.M. (New York City time) on April 22, 2010 or such other time as agreed by the Company and Merrill Lynch.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in

 

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conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the Prospectus in the first paragraph under “Underwriting–Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second and third paragraphs under “Underwriting–Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under “Underwriting–Electronic Distribution” (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

Each preliminary prospectus (including the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto) complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Investment Company Act and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR or IDEA, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the IPO Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(ii) Independent Accountants . The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Accounting Oversight Board.

(iii) Financial Statements . The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act, 1933 Act Regulations or the Investment Company Act.

(iv) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company of any class of capital stock.

 

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(v) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Company Agreements; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(vi) No Subsidiaries . The Company has no subsidiaries.

(vii) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus. The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(viii) Authorization of Company Agreements; Enforceability . (A) The Company Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of the Company Agreements is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder and thereunder may be limited by general equitable principles or federal or state securities laws or public policy underlying such laws. (B) The BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by BDC Holdings. The BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of BDC Holdings, enforceable against BDC Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder and thereunder may be limited by general equitable principles or federal or state securities laws or public policy underlying such laws. (C) The Conveyance Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable. Each of the Conveyance Documents is a valid and binding agreement of THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable, enforceable against THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of auditors or by general equitable principals and except as rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by general equitable principles or federal or state securities laws or public policies underlying such laws. (D) The License Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Partners. The License Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of THL Partners, enforceable against THL Partners in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of auditors or by general equitable principals and except as rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by general equitable principles or federal or state securities laws or public policies underlying such laws.

 

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(ix) Authorization and Description of Securities . The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. The BDC Holdings Securities to be purchased by BDC Holdings from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to BDC Holdings pursuant to the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. The Common Stock conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; no holder of the IPO Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the IPO Securities is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The shares of Common Stock issued to BDC Holdings in connection with the Private Placement have been duly authorized, issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor, and are validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The issuance of such shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Private Placement is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Private Placement were issued, offered and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

(x) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . The Company is not (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the THL Entities or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Company Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the IPO Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the IPO Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” and the issuance and sale of shares of Common Stock to BDC Holdings in connection with the Private Placement) and compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Company Agreements do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity. As used herein, a “Repayment

 

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Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company.

(xi) Absence of Labor Dispute . The Company has no employees. The THL Entities are not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Company’s principal suppliers, customers or contractors which could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xii) Absence of Proceedings . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Government Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, threatened, against or affecting the Company, which might result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Company Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiii) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.

(xiv) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, and the Company has not received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xv) Required Actions . The Company, subject to the filing of the Prospectus under Rule 497, has taken all required actions under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Investment Company Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the IPO Securities as contemplated by this Agreement and the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, as applicable.

(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Government Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the IPO Securities hereunder and under the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, as applicable, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Company Agreements, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the Investment Company Act, the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, state securities laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

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(xvii) Absence of Manipulation . Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the IPO Securities.

(xviii) Offers to Sell . The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time and (B) completion of the distribution of the IPO Securities, will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the IPO Securities other than (w) the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to any of the forgoing; (x) the Conveyance Documents; (y) the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement; and (z) any prospectus wrapper. All other promotional materials (including “road show slides” or “road show scripts”) prepared in connection with the marketing of the Securities (collectively, “Road Show Materials”) were used in accordance with Section 3. Each of the Road Show Materials and the prospectus wrapper is not inconsistent with the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and when taken together with any preliminary prospectus and the Rule 430A Information, at the Applicable Time, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(xix) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by the Company, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) Title to Property . The Company has good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and good title to all other properties owned by it, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company, and under which the Company holds properties described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and the Company has no notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

 

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(xxi) Initial Portfolio Assets . The Company owns, and has good and marketable title to, the Initial Portfolio Assets, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims or encumbrances of any kind. All of the applicable investment documents and agreements which constitute the Initial Portfolio Assets (the “Investment Documents and Agreements”) are in full force and effect, and the Company has no notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the right of the Company under the Investment Documents and Agreements, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company under any of the Investment Documents and Agreements. Each portfolio company described in the Prospectus under “The Company—Portfolio Composition” is current with all of its obligations under the applicable Investment Documents and Agreements, and no event of default (or a default which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would become an event of default) has occurred or is continuing under such Investment Documents and Agreements.

(xxii) Environmental Laws . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company is not in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company has all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company and (D) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(xxiii) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.

(xxiv) Accounting Controls . The Company maintains effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act (as defined below)) and each of the THL Entities maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Such internal controls are effective and neither of the THL Entities is aware of any material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in the THL Entities’ internal accounting controls.

 

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(xxv) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will be in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) that are then in effect and with which the Company is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not currently in effect, upon the effectiveness of such provisions, or which will become applicable to the Company at all times after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(xxvi) Payment of Taxes . All United States federal income tax returns of the Company required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid. The Company has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by it pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company except those taxes currently being contested in good faith.

(xxvii) Insurance . The Company carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business and as may be required by applicable law, and all such insurance, including without limitation the Company’s fidelity bond as required by Rule 17g-1 of the Investment Company Act, is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxviii) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate, and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such source.

(xxix) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

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(xxx) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the THL Entities, threatened.

(xxxi) OFAC . Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the IPO Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partners or other person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xxxii) Payment and Receipt of Funds . Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any director, officer, agent employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company has made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus.

(xxxiii) Rule 38a-1 Compliance Policies . The Company has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws by the Company, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance of each investment.

(xxxiv) Registered Management Investment Company . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the IPO Securities, will not be, a “registered management investment company” as such term is used under the Investment Company Act.

(xxxv) Notice of Intent . When the Notice of Intent, and each amendment thereto, was filed with the Commission, such Notice of Intent, and each amendment thereto, (A) contained all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the Investment Company Act and (B) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(xxxvi) Notification of Election . When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (A) contained all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the Investment Company Act and (B) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(xxxvii) Election as a Business Development Company . The Company has elected, by filing the Notification of Election, to be treated by the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a “business development company” (the “BDC Election”). The Company will not, as of the Closing Time for the Initial Securities and the Date of Delivery for any Option

 

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Securities, have filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the BDC Election pursuant to Section 54(c) of the Investment Company Act. The BDC Election is effective and no order of suspension or revocation of such election has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(xxxviii) Investment Management Agreement in Compliance with Laws . The terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including compensation terms, comply with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, including without limitation Section 15 of the Investment Company Act and Section 205 of the Advisers Act, each as applicable to business development companies.

(xxxix) All Necessary Approvals of Investment Management Agreement . The approval by the board of directors and the sole initial shareholder of the Company of the Investment Management Agreement has been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the Investment Company Act applicable to companies that have elected to be “business development companies” under the Investment Company Act.

(xl) Compliance of Company Agreements with Investment Company Act . This Agreement and each of the Company Agreements complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act.

(xli) Price Per Share . In determining the initial public offering price per Security set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, the Company complied in all material respects with, and obtained any required approvals under, Section 23 and Section 63 of the Investment Company Act.

(xlii) Interested Persons . Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package and Registration Statement, (A) no person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company except in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and (B) no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any of the Underwriters.

(xliii) Operations Comply with Investment Company Act . The operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to “business development companies.” The provisions of the corporate charter, by-laws and other similar organizational documents of the Company and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package and Registration Statement, assuming they are implemented as so described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

(xliv) Conditions for Use of Form N-2 . The Company has satisfied the conditions for the use of Form N-2, as set forth in the general instructions thereto, with respect to the Registration Statement.

(xlv) RIC Compliance . The Company intends to operate its business so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company also intends to direct the investment of the proceeds received by it from the sale of the IPO Securities in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.

 

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(xlvi) Lending Relationship . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the IPO Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xlvii) Absence of Business Relationships . There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(xlviii) Absence of Extensions of Credit . The Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended credit, arranged to extend credit or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the THL Entities, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the THL Entities.

(b) Representations and Warranties relating to THL Advisors . The THL Entities, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(i), as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of THL Advisors, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect”), and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by THL Advisors, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to THL Advisors.

(ii) Good Standing of THL Advisors . THL Advisors has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Company Agreements; and THL Advisors is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Authorization of Company Agreements; Enforceability . The Company Agreements to which THL Advisors is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Advisors and are valid and binding agreements of THL Advisors, enforceable against THL Advisors in accordance with their respective terms except as the enforcement hereof or thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder and thereunder may be limited by general equitable principles or federal or state securities laws or public policy underlying such laws.

 

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(iv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . THL Advisors is not (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which THL Advisors is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of THL Advisors is subject (collectively, “THL Advisors Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Company Agreements to which THL Advisors is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein and herein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and compliance by THL Advisors with its obligations hereunder and thereunder do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or THL Advisors Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of THL Advisors pursuant to, the THL Advisors Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or THL Advisors Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of THL Advisors or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity. As used herein, a “THL Advisors Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by THL Advisors.

(v) Absence of Employment Disputes; Departures of Key Employees . No employment dispute with the employees of THL Advisors exists or, to the knowledge of each THL Entity, is imminent, and the THL Entities are not aware of any existing or imminent departure of any key employee of THL Advisors.

(vi) Absence of Proceedings . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Government Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, threatened, against or affecting THL Advisors, which might result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Company or THL Advisors or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Company Agreements to which THL Advisors is a party or the performance by THL Advisors of its obligations hereunder and thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which THL Advisors is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect.

(vii) Possession of Intellectual Property . THL Advisors owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, Intellectual Property necessary to carry on the business now operated by it, and THL Advisors has not received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property

 

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or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of THL Advisors therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect or THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect.

(viii) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by THL Advisors of its obligations under the Company Agreements to which it is a party, in connection with the offering or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Company Agreements, except such as have been already obtained.

(ix) Absence of Manipulation . Neither THL Advisors nor any affiliate of THL Advisors has taken, nor will THL Advisors or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the IPO Securities.

(x) Registration . THL Advisors is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Prospectus and Registration Statement. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any facts or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any proceeding which might adversely affect the registration of THL Advisors with the Commission.

(xi) Financial Resources . THL Advisors has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package and under the Company Agreements to which THL Advisors is a party.

(xii) Possession of Licenses and Permits . THL Advisors possesses such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by THL Advisors, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect; THL Advisors is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect; and THL Advisors has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect.

(xiii) Insurance . THL Advisors carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The THL Entities have no reason to believe that THL

 

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Advisors will not be able to (A) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect or a THL Advisors Material Adverse Effect. THL Advisors has not been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xiv) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither THL Advisors nor, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of THL Advisors, is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and THL Advisors and, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xv) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of THL Advisors are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving THL Advisors with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the THL Entities, threatened.

(xvi) OFAC . Neither THL Advisors nor, to the knowledge of the THL Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of THL Advisors is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC; and THL Advisors will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the IPO Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xvii) Investment Management Agreement in Compliance with Laws . The terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including compensation terms, comply with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, including without limitation Section 15 of the Investment Company Act and Section 205 of the Advisers Act, each as applicable to business development companies.

(xviii) Compliance Policies . THL Advisors has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Advisers Act by THL Advisors.

(xix) Description of THL Advisors . The description of THL Advisors in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including in its roles as Advisor and Administrator, is accurate in all material respects.

(c) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any officer of any THL Entity and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such THL Entity to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

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SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

(a) Initial Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b) Option Securities . In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 1,350,000 shares of Common Stock, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering overallotments made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by Merrill Lynch to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by Merrill Lynch, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) Payment . Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option

 

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Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d) Denominations; Registration . Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the IPO Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the IPO Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 497, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497, and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497(c) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b) Filing of Amendments and 1934 Act Documents . The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)) or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus, and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall object. The Company has given the Representatives notice of any filings made pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1934 Act”) within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall object.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement as

 

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originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR or IDEA, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the IPO Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR or IDEA, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the IPO Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the IPO Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for so long as required to complete the distribution of the IPO Securities; provided, however , that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Rule 158 . The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the IPO Securities in the manner specified in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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(i) Listing . The Company will use its best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the IPO Securities) on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities . During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, lend, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any share of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or repayable with Common Stock or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the IPO Securities to be sold hereunder or pursuant to the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day restricted period, the restrictions imposed in this clause (j) shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

(k) Reporting Requirements . The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the IPO Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(l) Compliance with FINRA Rules . The Company hereby agrees that it will ensure that the BDC Holdings Securities will be restricted as required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of this Agreement. The Underwriters will notify the Company as to which persons will need to be so restricted. At the request of the Underwriters, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such securities for such period of time. Should the Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the BDC Holdings Securities, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.

(m) Maintain Status as a Business Development Company. The Company, during a period of two (2) years from the effective date of the BDC Election, will use its best efforts to maintain its status as a “business development company” under the Investment Company Act; provided, however , the Company may change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw its election as, a business development company with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the Investment Company Act or any successor provision.

(n) Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Company will use its best efforts to qualify for and elect to be treated as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code for its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2010, and to maintain such qualification and election in effect for each full fiscal year during which it is a business development company under the Investment Company Act; provided however , that at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors, it may elect not to be so treated.

 

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(o) Copies of Notice of Intent and Notification of Election. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Notice of Intent and Notification of Election and all amendments thereto (including exhibits).

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Expenses . The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the IPO Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the IPO Securities, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the IPO Securities, (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the IPO Securities on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, (ix) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the BDC Holdings Securities, (x) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third paragraph of Section 1(a)(i) hereof and (xi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, Road Show Materials, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and of the Representatives and any such consultants; provided, however , that the Representatives will pay, or cause to be paid, fifty percent (50%) of the rental cost of any aircraft and other transportation chartered by the Representatives in connection with the road show.

(b) Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a) or Section 10 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the THL Entities contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the THL Entities delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; BDC Election; Rule 430A Information . The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at the Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the

 

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use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 497(h) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A. The BDC Election is effective and at the Closing Time no order suspending the effectiveness of the BDC Election shall have been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for THL Advisors . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for THL Advisors, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the THL Entities and certificates of public officials.

(e) Officers’ Certificate relating to the Company . At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or a President, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, of each THL Entity, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.

(f) Officers’ Certificate relating to THL Advisors . At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of THL Advisors, whether or not arising in the

 

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ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or a President, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, of each THL Entity, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(b) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, and (iii) THL Advisors has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time.

(g) Accountant’s Comfort Letter . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Bring-down Comfort Letter . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 5(g) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(i) Approval of Listing . At the Closing Time, the IPO Securities shall have been approved for inclusion in the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(j) No Objection . FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the IPO Securities.

(k) Lock-up Agreements . At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the parties listed on Schedule C hereto.

(l) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities . In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the THL Entities contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the THL Entities hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificate relating to the Company . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer or a President, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, of each of the THL Entities confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Officers’ Certificate relating to THL Advisors . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer or a President, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, of each THL Entity confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(iii) Opinion of Counsel for Company . The favorable opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to

 

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counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

(iv) Opinion of Counsel for THL Advisors . The favorable opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for THL Advisors, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(v) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . The favorable opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.

(vi) Bring-down Comfort Letter . A letter from Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(m) Additional Documents . At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the IPO Securities as contemplated herein and in the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, as applicable, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the IPO Securities as contemplated herein and in the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement, as applicable, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(n) Termination of Agreement . If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 14 through 20 hereof shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The THL Entities, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, and employees, its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its selling agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A

 

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Information or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any prospectus wrapper (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (y) any Road Show Materials or the Company’s road show presentation;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company or THL Advisors, as applicable;

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers and THL Advisors . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and THL Advisors against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section 6, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local

 

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counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement, unless it shall have been finally judicially determined that such indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification therefor or unless such failure to reimburse the indemnified party is based on a dispute with a good faith basis as to either the obligation of the indemnifying party arising under this Section 6 to indemnify the indemnified party or the amount of such obligation and the indemnifying party shall have notified the indemnified party of such good faith dispute prior to the date of such settlement.

SECTION 7. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the THL Entities on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the THL Entities on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the THL Entities on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the THL Entities on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the THL Entities or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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The THL Entities and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, (i) each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and (ii) each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or THL Advisors submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors, any person controlling the Company or any person controlling THL Advisors and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement .

(a) Termination; General . The Representatives, in their absolute discretion, may terminate this Agreement without liability to the THL Entities, by notice to the THL Entities, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce any contracts for the sale of the IPO Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company

 

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has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Stock Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other Governmental Entity, or (iv) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities . If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 14 through 20 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representatives or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to (A) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036 Attention: Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at One

 

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Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attention: ECM Legal (facsimile: (212) 230-8730); (B) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 Attention: General Counsel (facsimile: (212) 816-7912); and (C) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at 60 Wall Street, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: ECM Syndicate Desk (facsimile: (212) 797-9344), with a copy to the General Counsel (facsimile: (212) 797-4564); notices to the Company shall be directed to it at THL Credit, Inc., 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, attention of Terrence W. Olson (facsimile: (877) 494-9096); and notices to THL Advisors shall be directed to it at THL Credit Advisors LLC, 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, attention of Terrence W. Olson (facsimile: (877) 494-9096).

SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . Each of the THL Entities acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and THL Advisors, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the IPO Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the THL Entities, or their respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the THL Entities with respect to the offering of the IPO Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the THL Entities on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the THL Entities with respect to the offering of the IPO Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each of the THL Entities, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the IPO Securities and each of the THL Entities has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

SECTION 13. Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. Each THL Entity hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that such THL Entity may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company or THL Advisors by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. Each THL Entity acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

SECTION 14. Parties . This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the THL Entities and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the THL Entities and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the THL Entities and their respective successors, and said controlling persons

 

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and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 15. Trial by Jury . Each of the THL Entities (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

SECTION 17. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 18. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 19. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 20. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

30


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the THL Entities in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
THL CREDIT, INC.
By:  

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

  Name:   Terrence W. Olson
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
THL CREDIT ADVISORS LLC
By:  

/s/ James K. Hunt

  Name:   James K. Hunt
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

31


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

 

as of the date first above written:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                      Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

By:

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                               INCORPORATED

 

By:

 

/s/ Ian T. Simmonds

    Name:   Ian T. Simmonds
    Title:   Vice President

By:

  CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
  By:  

/s/ Kevin Deignan

    Name:   Kevin Deignan
    Title:   Managing Director

By:

  DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
  By:  

/s/ VJ Voorheis

    Name:   VJ Voorheis
    Title:   Managing Director
  By:  

/s/ Ray Peters

    Name:   Ray Peters
    Title:   Managing Director

 

32


SCHEDULE A

The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $13.00.

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $12.1875, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $0.8125 per share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Name of Underwriter

   Number of
Initial  Securities

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

   3,150,000

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   2,250,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

   1,440,000

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

   810,000

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, LLC

   337,500

Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc.

   337,500

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

   337,500

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

   337,500
    

Total

   9,000,000
    

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B

THL CREDIT, INC.

Pricing Terms

1. The Company is selling 15,307,692 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, which includes (i) 9,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, to be purchased by the Underwriters and (ii) 6,307,692 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, to be purchased by BDC Holdings.

2. The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 1,350,000 shares of Common Stock.

3. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $13.00.

 

Sch B - 1


SCHEDULE C

List of Parties Subject to Lock-up

 

1. THL Credit Opportunities, L.P.

 

2. THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P.

 

3. James K. Hunt

 

4. David K. Downes

 

5. Nancy Hawthorne

 

6. Keith W. Hughes

 

7. John A. Sommers

 

8. David Southwell

 

9. Sam W. Tillinghast

 

10. W. Hunter Stropp

 

11. Terrence W. Olson

 

12. Charles A. Brizius

 

13. Gregory S. Hammer

 

14. Christopher J. Flynn

 

15. Kunal M. Soni

 

16. Scott V. Turco

 

17. Howard Wu

 

18. Walter Chung

 

19. THLP Debt Partners L.P.

 

Sch C - 1


Exhibit A

FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY’S COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

1. The Company (a) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package, Registration Statement and Prospectus, (c) has the corporate power to execute and deliver the Company Agreements and (d) is qualified to conduct its business and is not delinquent in filing reports in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

2. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus and the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The [              ] shares of Common Stock shown by the Company’s stock record books as being issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof have been duly authorized and are validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of any preemptive or any similar rights under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or under any Applicable Contract. No person has any right under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or under any Applicable Contract to cause the Company to register under the 1933 Act any shares of Common Stock or to include any such shares in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby.

3. The IPO Securities conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Shares.”

4. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any preemptive rights or any similar rights arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws or any Applicable Contract, and no holder of the Securities is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.

5. The BDC Holdings Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when delivered to and paid for by BDC Holdings in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any preemptive rights or any similar rights arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws or any Applicable Contract, and no holder of the BDC Holdings Securities is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.

6. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and THL Advisors.

7. Each of the Company Agreements (other than the Purchase Agreement, which is addressed in paragraph 6 above) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Exhibit A-1


8. The BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by BDC Holdings. The BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of BDC Holdings, enforceable against BDC Holdings in accordance with its terms.

9. The Conveyance Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable. Each of the Conveyance Documents is a valid and binding agreement of THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable, enforceable against THL Credit Opportunities and BDC Holdings, as applicable, in accordance with its terms.

10. The License Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Partners. The License Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of THL Partners, enforceable against THL Partners in accordance with its terms.

11. The Private Placement, in the manner contemplated in the Initial Portfolio Assets Agreement, does not require registration under the 1933 Act.

12. Each of the Applicable Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

13. The execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Company Agreements and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the IPO Securities, will not (i) conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, (ii) constitute a violation of, or a breach or default under, the terms of any Applicable Contract or (iii) violate or conflict with, or result in any contravention of, any Applicable Law or Applicable Order. We do not express any opinion, however, as to whether the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of any of the Company Agreements will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any covenant, restriction or provision with respect to financial ratios or tests or any aspect of the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

14. To our knowledge, the Company does not have any subsidiaries.

15. The form of certificate used to evidence the IPO Securities and the Common Stock issued in connection with the Private Placement complies in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law, with any applicable requirements of its Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and other similar organizational documents of the Company and the rules of The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

16. To our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings, actions, suits, inquiries or investigations pending or threatened to which the Company is a party or to which any property of the Company is subject that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus pursuant to Item 103 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act Regulations that are not so disclosed.

17. The statements in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Shares—Common Stock,” “The Company—Properties,” “The Company—Operating and Regulatory Structure,” “The Company—Legal Proceedings,” “The Advisor—Investment Management Agreement,” The Advisor—Administration Agreement,” “Certain Relationships” and in the Registration Statement under Item 30 insofar as such statements purport to summarize matters of law, summaries of legal proceedings, legal conclusions, certain provisions of the 1940 Act, the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Common Stock, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws or the applicable agreements referenced therein, fairly summarize such provisions in all material respects.

 

Exhibit A-2


18. No Governmental Approval which has not been obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect is required to authorize, or is required for, the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement or the BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement by the Company or the transactions contemplated thereby.

19. The Investment Management Agreement contains the provisions required by Section 15 of the 1940 Act and does not contain any provision prohibited by Section 205 of the Advisers Act.

20. The Company has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act which its Board of Directors has determined are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws by the Company, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance of each investment.

21. Each of the Company Agreements complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act.

22. To our knowledge, there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.

23. The Company is not and, solely after giving effect to the offering and sale of the IPO Securities and the application of proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.

24. Although the discussion set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus under the caption “Tax Matters” does not purport to summarize all possible United States federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, such discussion constitutes, in all material respects, a fair and accurate summary of the United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus that are anticipated to be material to U.S. Holders, subject to the qualifications set forth therein.

25. The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497 has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497; and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.

On the basis of the foregoing, (i) the Registration Statement, including the 430A Information, at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus, as of its date, appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations (except that in each case we do not express any view as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial information included therein or excluded therefrom), (ii) the Company is eligible to use Form N-2

 

Exhibit A-3


and (iii) no facts have come to our attention that have caused us to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that in each case we do not express any view as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial information included therein or excluded therefrom or the statements contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement). In addition, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to our attention that have caused us to believe that the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading (except that we do not express any view as to the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial information included or excluded therefrom or the statements contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement).

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact (but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. Such opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991).

 

Exhibit A-4


Exhibit B

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THL ADVISORS

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)

1. Each of the Company Agreements (other than the Purchase Agreement, which is addressed in paragraph 6 in the Opinion of Counsel to the Company set forth in Exhibit A) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Advisors and is a valid and binding agreement of THL Advisors, enforceable against THL Advisors in accordance with its terms.

2. THL Advisors (a) is a limited liability company duly formed, is in good standing and has a legal existence under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) has all necessary power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (c) is registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of California and the State of Texas.

3. THL Advisors is duly registered with the Commission as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited under the Advisers Act, the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission under the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement for the Company as described in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and, to our knowledge, there does not exist any Commission proceeding or inquiry pending or threatened which should reasonably be expected to adversely affect the registration of THL Advisors with the Commission.

4. THL Advisors has the requisite power and authority to enter into the Purchase Agreement, and the Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by THL Advisors.

5. The execution and delivery by THL Advisors of each of the Company Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by THL Advisors of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the IPO Securities, will not (i) conflict with the Certificate of Formation or THL Advisors’ LLC Agreement, (ii) constitute a violation of, or a breach or default under, the terms of any Applicable Contract or (iii) violate or conflict with, or result in any contravention of, any Applicable Law or Applicable Order. We do not express any opinion, however, as to whether the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of any of the Company Agreements will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any covenant, restriction or provision with respect to financial ratios or tests or any aspect of the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

6. To our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings, actions, suits, inquiries or investigations pending or threatened to which THL Advisors is a party or to which any property of THL Advisors is subject, in either case, (A) that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus pursuant to Item 103 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act Regulations that are not so disclosed or (B) which seek to restrain, enjoin or prevent the consummation of the issuance or sale of the IPO Securities under the Purchase Agreement or BDC Holdings Subscription Agreement.

7. To our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Company Agreements to which THL Advisors is a party, other than those that have been made or obtained under the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act.

 

Exhibit B-1


8. No Governmental Approval which has not been obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect is required to authorize, or is required for, the execution and delivery of the Investment Management Agreement by THL Advisors or the transactions contemplated thereby.

9. THL Advisors has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act which THL Advisors has determined are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Advisers Act by THL Advisors.

 

Exhibit B-2


Exhibit C

Form of lock-up from directors, officers or other stockholders pursuant to Section 5(k)

April      , 2010

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

    Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

       Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Re:         Proposed Public Offering by THL Credit, Inc.

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned, a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] 1 of THL Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the “Representatives”) propose to enter into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Company and THL Credit Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, providing for the public offering of shares (the “IPO Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The undersigned acknowledges and understands that, as used herein, the term “Common Stock” includes the IPO Securities and any other shares of the Company’s Common Stock, whether acquired in a private placement or otherwise. In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 180 days from the date of the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Securities, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if:

(1) during the last 17 days of the 180-day lock-up period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or

 

1 Delete or revise bracketed language as appropriate.

 

Exhibit C-1


(2) prior to the expiration of the 180-day lock-up period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day lock-up period,

the Representatives may extend, by written notice to the Company, the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the 180-day lock-up period pursuant to the previous paragraph will be delivered by the Representatives to the Company (in accordance with Section 11 of the Purchase Agreement) and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned. The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34 th day following the expiration of the initial 180-day lock-up period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the 180-day lock-up period (as may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

Very truly yours,
Signature:  

 

Print Name:  

 

 

Exhibit C-2

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Copy

C USTODIAN A GREEMENT

This Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2010, is between THL C REDIT , I NC ., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Fund ”), and S TATE S TREET B ANK and T RUST C OMPANY , a Massachusetts trust company (the “ Custodian ”).

W ITNESSETH : that in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

S ECTION  1. E MPLOYMENT OF C USTODIAN AND P ROPERTY TO BE H ELD BY I T .

The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets, including securities which the Fund desires to be held in places within the United States (“ domestic securities ”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“ foreign securities ”). The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by it from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of common stock of the Fund (“ Shares ”) as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian.

Upon receipt of “ Proper Instructions ” (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “ Board ”). The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for the Fund’s foreign securities the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4. The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  2. D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE F UND H ELD B Y THE C USTODIAN IN THE U NITED S TATES .

S ECTION  2.1 H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by the Fund other than securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “ U.S. Securities System ”).

S ECTION  2.2 D ELIVERY OF S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and receipt of payment therefor;

 

  2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;

 

-1-


  3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

  4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities held by the Fund;

 

  5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;

 

  11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;

 

  12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”, formerly known as The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

-2-


  13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“ CFTC ”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

  14) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  15) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the securities of the Fund to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

S ECTION  2.3 R EGISTRATION OF S ECURITIES . Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having the same investment advisor as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

S ECTION  2.4 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund, other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended from time to time (the “ 1940 Act ”). Monies held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided , however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the monies to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such monies shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

S ECTION  2.5 C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund’s custodian account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Fund is properly entitled.

 

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S ECTION  2.6 P AYMENT OF F UND M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

  1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (d) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;

 

  2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

  3) [Reserved];

 

  4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest, taxes, management, administration, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

  5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the governing documents of the Fund;

 

  6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

  7) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  8) For the fulfillment of the Fund’s obligations with respect to unfunded commitments incurred in connection with Loans (as such term is defined below); and

 

  9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

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S ECTION  2.7 A PPOINTMENT OF A GENTS . The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided , however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.

S ECTION  2.8 D EPOSIT OF F UND A SSETS IN U.S. S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a U.S. Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

S ECTION  2.9 S EGREGATED A CCOUNT . The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (iv) for any other purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions.

S ECTION  2.10 O WNERSHIP C ERTIFICATES FOR T AX P URPOSES . The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

S ECTION  2.11 P ROXIES . The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

S ECTION  2.12 C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING TO F UND S ECURITIES . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other

 

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litigation in connection with securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.12.

 

S ECTION  3. P ROVISIONS R ELATING TO R ULES 17 F -5 AND 17 F -7 .

S ECTION  3.1. D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

Country Risk ” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

Eligible Foreign Custodian ” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

Eligible Securities Depository ” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

Foreign Assets ” means any of the Fund’s investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund’s transactions in such investments.

Foreign Custody Manager ” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

Rule 17f-5 ” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

Rule 17f-7 ” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

S ECTION  3.2. T HE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER .

3.2.1 D ELEGATION TO THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.2 C OUNTRIES C OVERED . The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Fund’s assets, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

 

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Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to that country.

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

3.2.3 S COPE OF D ELEGATED R ESPONSIBILITIES :

(a) S ELECTION OF E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

(b) C ONTRACTS W ITH E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

(c) M ONITORING . In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

3.2.4 G UIDELINES FOR THE E XERCISE OF D ELEGATED A UTHORITY . For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.5 R EPORTING R EQUIREMENTS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign

 

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Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.

3.2.6 S TANDARD OF C ARE AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER OF THE F UND . In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

3.2.7 R EPRESENTATIONS WITH R ESPECT TO R ULE 17 F -5 . The Foreign Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.8 E FFECTIVE D ATE AND T ERMINATION OF THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to designated countries.

S ECTION  3.3 E LIGIBLE S ECURITIES D EPOSITORIES .

3.3.1 A NALYSIS AND M ONITORING . The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.

3.3.2 S TANDARD OF C ARE . The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

S ECTION  4. D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE F UND H ELD O UTSIDE THE U NITED S TATES .

S ECTION  4.1 D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

Foreign Securities System ” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

Foreign Sub-Custodian ” means a foreign banking institution serving as an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

S ECTION  4.2. H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however,

 

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that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Fund which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

S ECTION  4.3. F OREIGN S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

S ECTION  4.4. T RANSACTIONS IN F OREIGN C USTODY A CCOUNT .

4.4.1. D ELIVERY OF F OREIGN A SSETS . The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  (i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

 

  (ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;

 

  (iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;

 

  (iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

  (v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

  (vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  (vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

  (viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

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  (ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;

 

  (x) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  (xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

4.4.2. P AYMENT OF F UND M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

  (i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

  (ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Fund;

 

  (iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

  (iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

 

  (v) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  (vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

  (vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

4.4.3. M ARKET C ONDITIONS . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

 

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The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

S ECTION  4.5. R EGISTRATION OF F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

S ECTION  4.6 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

S ECTION  4.7. C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

S ECTION  4.8 S HAREHOLDER R IGHTS . With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

S ECTION  4.9. C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING TO F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written

 

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information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

S ECTION  4.10. L IABILITY OF F OREIGN S UB -C USTODIANS . Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At the Fund’s election, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

S ECTION  4.11 T AX L AW . The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such information.

S ECTION  4.12. L IABILITY OF C USTODIAN . The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in the Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.

 

S ECTION  5. P AYMENTS FOR S ALES OF S HARES .

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the Fund’s account such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.

 

S ECTION  6. L OAN S ERVICING P ROVISIONS

S ECTION  6.1 G ENERAL . The following provisions shall apply with respect to investments, property or assets in the nature of loans, or interests or participations in loans, including without limitation interests in syndicated bank loans and bank loan participations, whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S. (collectively, “ Loans ”) entered into by the Fund.

S ECTION  6.2 S AFEKEEPING . Instruments, certificates, agreements and/or other documents which the Custodian may receive with respect to Loans, if any (collectively “ Financing Documents ), from time to time, shall be held by the Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

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S ECTION  6.3 D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN . The Custodian shall accept such Financing Documents, if any, with respect to Loans as may be delivered to it from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to examine the contents or determine the sufficiency of any such Financing Documents or to provide any certification with respect thereto, whether received by the Custodian as original documents, photocopies, by facsimile or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian is under no duty to examine any such Financing Documents to determine whether necessary steps have been taken or requirements met with respect to the assignment or transfer of the related Loan or applicable interest or participation in such Loan. The Custodian shall be entitled to assume the genuineness, sufficiency and completeness of any Financing Documents received, and the genuineness and due authority of any signature appearing on such documents. Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Loans, (i) the Custodian shall be under no obligation to determine, and shall have no liability for, the sufficiency of, or to require delivery of, any instrument, document or agreement constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan, other than to receive such Financing Documents, if any, as may be delivered or caused to be delivered to it by the Fund (or its investment manager acting on its behalf), (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, delivery of any such Loan (including without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.8 above) may be made to the Custodian by, and may be represented solely by, delivery to the Custodian of a facsimile or photocopy of an assignment agreement (an “ Assignment Agreement ”) or a confirmation or certification from the Fund (or the investment manager) to the effect that it has acquired such Loan and/or has received or will receive, and will deliver to the Custodian, appropriate Financing Documents constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan (such confirmation or certification, together with any Assignment Agreement, collectively, an “ Assignment Agreement or Confirmation ”), in any case without delivery of any promissory note, participation certificate or similar instrument (collectively, an “ Instrument ”), (iii) if an original Instrument shall be or shall become available with respect to any such Loan, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) to make or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall be under no obligation at any time or times to determine whether any such original Instrument has been issued or made available with respect to such Loan, and shall not be under any obligation to compel compliance by the Fund to make or cause delivery of such Instrument to the Custodian, and (iv) any reference to Financing Documents appearing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any such Instrument and/or Assignment Agreement or Confirmation.

If payments with respect to a Loan (“ Loan Payment ”) are not received by the Custodian on the date on which they are due, as reflected in the Payment Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 6.4 below) of the Loan (“ Payment Date ”), or in the case of interest payments, not received either on a scheduled interest payable date, as reported to the Custodian by the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) for the Loan (the “ Interest Payable Date ”), or in the amount of the accrued interest payable, the Custodian shall promptly, but in no event later than one business day after the Payment Date or the Interest Payable Date, give telephonic notice to the party obligated under the Financing Documents to make such Loan Payment (the “ Obligor ”) of its failure to make timely payment, and (2) if such payment is not received within three business days of its due date, shall notify the Fund (or the investment manager on its behalf) of such Obligor’s failure to make the Loan Payment. The Custodian shall have no responsibility with respect to the collection of Loan Payments which are past due, other than the duty to notify the Obligor and the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) as provided herein.

The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever under this Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing Documents, except for such responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve any rights against prior parties or to exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loans or any Financing Documents (including, without limitation, no obligation to take any action in respect of or upon receipt of any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any bank agent or Obligor, except pursuant to instructions from the Fund and except that the Custodian shall undertake reasonable efforts to forward any such notice to the Fund or the investment manager acting on its behalf). In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian may request instructions from the Fund and shall be entitled at all times to refrain from

 

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taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Fund or the investment manager and the Custodian shall in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant to and in compliance with the Proper Instructions of such parties.

The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan Payments actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Fund; any and all credits and payments credited to the Fund, with respect to Loans, shall be conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment thereon.

The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Fund’s request, release to the Fund’s investment manager or to any party as the Fund or the Fund’s investment manager may specify, any Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Fund. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be deemed to have or be charged with knowledge of the sale of any Loan, unless and except to the extent it shall have received written notice and instruction from the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) with respect thereto, and except to the extent it shall have received the sale proceeds thereof.

In no event shall the Custodian be under any obligation or liability to make any advance of its own funds with respect to any Loan.

S ECTION 6.4 R ESPONSIBILITY OF THE F UND . With respect to each Loan held by the Custodian hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Fund shall (a) cause the Financing Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the Custodian; (b) include with such Financing Documents an amortization schedule of payments (the “ Payment Schedule ”) identifying the amount and due dates of scheduled principal payments, the Interest Payable Date(s) and related payment amount information, and such other information with respect to the related Loan and Financing Documents as the Custodian reasonably may require in order to perform its services hereunder (collectively, “ Loan Information ”), in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require; (c) take all actions necessary to acquire good title to such Loan (or the participation in such Loan, as the case may be), as and to the extent intended to be acquired; and (d) cause the Custodian to be named as its nominee for payment purposes under the Financing Documents or otherwise provide for the direct payment of the Payments to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the Loan Information provided to it by the Fund without any obligation on the part of the Custodian independently to verify, investigate, recalculate, update or otherwise confirm the accuracy or completeness thereof; and the Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Fund in providing necessary Loan Information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof. With respect to each such Loan, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information and notices it may receive from time to time from the related bank agent, Obligor or similar party with respect to the related Loan, and shall be entitled to update its records on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information.

S ECTION  6.5 I NSTRUCTIONS ; A UTHORITY TO A CT . The certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund, identifying certain individuals approved by the Fund’s Board to be officers of the Fund or employees of the Fund’s investment manager, administrator or sub-administrator and authorized to sign any such instructions, may be received and accepted as conclusive evidence of the incumbency and authority of such to act and may be considered by the Custodian to be in full force and effect until it receives written notice to the contrary from the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to ensure that any investment by the Fund with respect to Loans has been authorized.

S ECTION  6.6 A TTACHMENT . In case any portion of the Loans or the Financing Documents shall be attached or levied upon pursuant to an order of court, or the delivery or disbursement thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of court, or any other order, judgment or decrees shall be made or entered by any court affecting the property of the Fund or any act of the Custodian relating thereto, the Custodian is hereby expressly

 

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authorized in its sole discretion to obey and comply with all orders, judgments or decrees so entered or issued, without the necessity of inquire whether such court had jurisdiction, and, in case the Custodian obeys or complied with any such order, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to anyone by reason of such compliance.

S ECTION  6.7 S ECURITY I NTEREST .

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall constitute a security agreement. Terms used in this Section 6.7 which are defined or otherwise set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall have the same meanings in this Section 6.7 as in the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a term is defined or otherwise set forth in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in another Article as well, the term as defined or otherwise set forth in Article 9 shall control.

S ECTION  6.7.1 C OLLATERAL . For purposes of this Section 6.7, “ Liabilities ” of the Fund shall mean those liabilities described in the fourth paragraph of Section 15 of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the provisions of Section 15 of this Agreement (and in furtherance thereof), the Fund hereby agrees that, in connection with its Liabilities, the Custodian shall have a security interest in the following, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or created (collectively, the “Collateral” ):

 

  (i) all of the Fund’s promissory notes and chattel paper (A) copies of which are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (B) assigned to the Fund and for which originals or copies of confirmations or other evidences of the assignment are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (C) in which the Fund holds participations and for which originals or copies of the participation agreements or certificates are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, or (D) assigned to the Fund or in which such Fund holds participations and for which instructions have been given to make payments of principal, interest or other amounts thereon to any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians;

 

  (ii) all of the Fund’s payment intangibles (A) evidenced by or created under written or electronic agreements originals or copies of which are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (B) assigned to the Fund and for which originals or copies of confirmations or other evidences of the assignment are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (C) in which the Fund holds participations and for which originals or copies of the participation agreements or certificates are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, or (D) assigned to the Fund or in which such Fund holds participations and for which instructions have been given to make payments of principal, interest or other amounts thereon to any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians; and

 

  (iii) any and all proceeds of any thereof.

S ECTION  6.7.2 F AILURE TO S ATISFY L IABILITIES . In the event that the Fund fails to satisfy any of the Liabilities as and when due and payable, the failure shall constitute a default under this Section 6.7, and the Custodian shall then have with respect to the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies arising hereunder or under applicable law, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Without prejudice to the Custodian’s rights under applicable law,

 

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the Custodian shall be entitled, without notice to the Fund, to withhold delivery of any Collateral, sell or otherwise realize on any Collateral and to apply the money or other proceeds and any other monies credited to the cash accounts in satisfaction of such Liabilities. The Fund acknowledges that, in the Custodian exercising any such rights or remedies against any Collateral, it will be commercially reasonable for the Custodian (i) to accelerate or cause the acceleration of the maturity of any fixed term deposits comprised in the Collateral and (ii) to effect such currency conversions as may be necessary at its current rates for the sale and purchase of the relevant currencies.

S ECTION  6.7.3 UCC F ILINGS . The Fund hereby irrevocably authorizes the Custodian at any time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral as described in Section 6.7.1 or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) provide any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of any applicable Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Fund is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish any such information to the Custodian promptly upon the Custodian’s request. The Fund also ratifies its authorization for the Custodian to have filed in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any like initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

S ECTION  6.7.4 C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICE . The Fund represents and warrants to the Custodian that the Fund’s chief executive office is located at the address set forth in this Agreement. The Fund covenants to provide to the Custodian at least 30 days’ prior written notice of any change of location of the chief executive office.

S ECTION  6.7.5 P ERFECTED S ECURITY I NTEREST . The Fund agrees to take such actions as the Custodian may from time to time request in order to insure that the Custodian has a first perfected security interest in the Collateral and that the Custodian has the ability to enforce its security interest. Without limitation upon the foregoing, for such purposes the Fund (a) shall promptly deliver to the possession or control of the Custodian or its designee originals of any instruments (including promissory notes) and chattel paper comprised in the Collateral and not already in the possession or under the control of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (b) shall promptly obtain termination amendments of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or terminations or subordinations of security interests or other liens, in form and substance satisfactory to Custodian, where the failure to take such action could result in a competing security in or other lien on any of the Collateral having priority over the security interest of the Custodian in the Collateral, and (c) shall promptly execute and file such notices and registrations and take such other actions, including actions required under the law of any foreign jurisdiction, which are, in the opinion of the Custodian, necessary or advisable to assure the attachment, perfection, priority and ability of the Custodian to enforce the security interest and (d) further authorizes the Custodian to take such action as in the opinion of the Custodian may be necessary or advisable under any foreign law including making an appropriate entry in any security interest, charge or lien registry in the country whose laws the Fund is organized or in which the Fund maintains an office.

 

S ECTION  7. P ROPER I NSTRUCTIONS .

Proper Instructions, which may also be standing instructions, as used throughout this Agreement, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from the Fund, the Fund’s investment manager, or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and the person or entity giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds Transfer

 

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Addendum to this Agreement, the terms of which are hereby agreed to. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. The Fund or the Fund’s investment manager shall cause its duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the names and specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  8. A CTIONS P ERMITTED WITHOUT E XPRESS A UTHORITY .

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:

 

  1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;

 

  2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

  3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

 

  4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed by the Board.

 

S ECTION  9. E VIDENCE OF A UTHORITY .

The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund (“ Certified Resolution ”), as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  10. D UTIES OF C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO THE B OOKS OF A CCOUNT AND C ALCULATION OF N ET A SSET V ALUE AND N ET I NCOME .

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate as often as daily the net income of the Fund as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various components.

 

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S ECTION  11. R ECORDS .

The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.

 

S ECTION  12. O PINION OF F UND S I NDEPENDENT A CCOUNTANT .

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-2, and Forms 10-Q and 10-K or other reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

 

S ECTION  13. R EPORTS TO F UND BY I NDEPENDENT P UBLIC A CCOUNTANTS .

The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “ Securities System ”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund 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.

 

S ECTION  14. C OMPENSATION OF C USTODIAN .

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  15. R ESPONSIBILITY OF C USTODIAN .

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything that is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian, acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss,

 

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liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor in their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.

If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, or if the Fund fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 14 hereof, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

 

S ECTION  16. E FFECTIVE P ERIOD , T ERMINATION AND A MENDMENT .

This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided , however, that the Fund shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision of the Fund’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, and further provided, that the Fund may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements. The provisions of Sections 4.11, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

S ECTION  17. S UCCESSOR C USTODIAN .

If a successor custodian for the Fund shall be appointed by the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities of the Fund then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in a Securities System.

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such resolution.

In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian hereunder and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund’s securities held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

S ECTION  18. I NTERPRETIVE AND A DDITIONAL P ROVISIONS .

In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

 

S ECTION  19. M ASSACHUSETTS L AW TO A PPLY .

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

-20-


S ECTION  20. P RIOR A GREEMENTS .

This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior Agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund’s assets.

 

S ECTION  21. N OTICES .

Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To the Fund:    THL C REDIT , I NC .
  

100 Federal Street, 31 st Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

   Attention: Terry Olson, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone: (617) 946-2682
   Telecopy: (877) 494-9096
To the Custodian:    S TATE S TREET B ANK AND T RUST C OMPANY
  

John Hancock Tower

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

   Attention: Paul Woods, Senior Vice President
   Telephone: 617-937-6289
   Telecopy: 617-

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

S ECTION  22. C ONFIDENTIALITY .

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iii) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian and its affiliates may report and use nonpublic portfolio holdings information of its clients, including the Fund, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to the Fund.

 

-21-


S ECTION  23. R EPRODUCTION OF D OCUMENTS .

This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

S ECTION  24. R EMOTE A CCESS S ERVICES A DDENDUM .

The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum attached hereto.

 

S ECTION  25. S HAREHOLDER C OMMUNICATIONS E LECTION .

SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian “no”, the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES   ¨    The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.
NO   x    The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

-22-


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above-written.

 

THL CREDIT, INC.
By:  

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

  Terrence W. Olson
  Chief Financial Officer
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Joseph C. Antonellis

  Joseph C. Antonellis
  Vice Chairman

Custodian Agreement Signature Page


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

SUBCUSTODIANS

   SCHEDULE A

 

Market

  

Subcustodian

Argentina    Citibank, N.A.
Australia   

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Citigroup Pty. Limited

Austria    UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Bahrain   

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Bangladesh    Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium    Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Brussels branch)
Benin    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bermuda    Bank of Bermuda Limited
Botswana    Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited
Brazil    Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria   

ING Bank N.V.

UniCredit Bulbank AD

Burkina Faso    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Canada    State Street Trust Company Canada
Chile    Banco Itaú Chile
People’s Republic of China   

HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Colombia    Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
Costa Rica    Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia   

Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d.

Zagrebacka Banka d.d.

Cyprus    BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A., Greece (operating through its Athens branch)
Czech Republic   

Československá obchodní banka, a.s.

UniCredit Bank Czech Republic a.s.

 

As of 04/08/10

-1-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

SUBCUSTODIANS

   SCHEDULE A

 

Market

  

Subcustodian

Denmark    Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Sweden (operating through its Copenhagen branch)
Ecuador    Banco de la Producción S.A. PRODUBANCO
Egypt    HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Estonia    AS SEB Pank
Finland    Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Sweden (operating through its Helsinki branch)
France    Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Paris branch)
Germany    Deutsche Bank AG
Ghana    Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited
Greece    BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Guinea-Bissau    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Hong Kong    Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Hungary    UniCredit Bank Hungary Zrt.
Iceland    NBI hf.
India   

Deutsche Bank AG

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Indonesia    Deutsche Bank AG
Ireland    Bank of Ireland
Israel    Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Italy    Deutsche Bank S.p.A.
Ivory Coast    Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire
Jamaica    Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited
Japan    Mizuho Corporate Bank Limited
   The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Jordan    HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

 

As of 04/08/10

-2-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

SUBCUSTODIANS

   SCHEDULE A

 

Market

  

Subcustodian

Kazakhstan   

SB HSBC Bank Kazakhstan JSC

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Kenya    Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited
Republic of Korea   

Deutsche Bank AG

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Kuwait   

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Latvia    AS SEB Banka
Lebanon    HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Lithuania    AB SEB Bankas
Malaysia    Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mali    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Malta    The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mauritius    The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico    Banco Nacional de México S.A.
Morocco    Citibank Maghreb
Namibia    Standard Bank Namibia Limited
Netherlands    Deutsche Bank AG
New Zealand    The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Niger    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Nigeria    Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.
Norway    Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Sweden (operating through its Oslo branch)
Oman    HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Pakistan    Deutsche Bank AG

 

As of 04/08/10

-3-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

SUBCUSTODIANS

   SCHEDULE A

 

Market

  

Subcustodian

Palestine    HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Peru    Citibank del Perú, S.A.
Philippines    Standard Chartered Bank
Poland    Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.
Portugal    Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Paris branch)
   BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Puerto Rico    Citibank N.A.
Qatar    HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Romania    ING Bank N.V.
   UniCredit Tiriac Bank S.A.
Russia    ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO
Saudi Arabia    Saudi British Bank
   (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Senegal    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Serbia    UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC
Singapore    Citibank N.A.
   United Overseas Bank Limited
Slovak Republic    Československá obchodna banka, a.s.
   UniCredit Bank Slovakia a.s.
Slovenia    UniCredit Banka Slovenija d.d.
South Africa    Nedbank Limited
   Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Spain    Deutsche Bank S.A.E.
Sri Lanka    The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland    Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden    Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB

 

As of 04/08/10

-4-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

SUBCUSTODIANS

   SCHEDULE A

 

Market

  

Subcustodian

Switzerland    UBS AG
   Credit Suisse AG
Taiwan - R.O.C.    Deutsche Bank AG
   Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited
Thailand    Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited
Togo    via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Trinidad & Tobago    Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia    Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
Turkey    Citibank, A.S.
Uganda    Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited
Ukraine    ING Bank Ukraine

United Arab Emirates –

Dubai Financial Market

  

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Arab Emirates –

Dubai International

Financial Center

  

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Arab Emirates –

Abu Dhabi

  

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Kingdom    State Street Bank and Trust Company, United Kingdom branch
Uruguay    Banco Itaú Uruguay S.A.
Venezuela    Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam    HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited
Zambia    Barclays Bank of Zambia Plc.
Zimbabwe    Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited

 

As of 04/08/10

-5-


  STATE STREET    SCHEDULE B
  GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK   
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS

 

Market

  

Depository

Argentina    Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia    Austraclear Limited
Austria    Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Bahrain    Clearing, Settlement, and Depository System of the Bahrain Stock Exchange
Bangladesh    Central Depository Bangladesh Limited
Belgium    National Bank of Belgium
   Euroclear Belgium
Benin    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Bermuda    Bermuda Securities Depository
Botswana    Central Securities Depository Company of Botswana Ltd.
Brazil    Central de Custódia e de Liquidação Financeira de Títulos Privados (CETIP)
   Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia
   Sistema Especial de Liquidação e de Custódia (SELIC)
Bulgaria    Bulgarian National Bank
   Central Depository AD
Burkina Faso    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Canada    The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile    Depósito Central de Valores S.A.
People’s Republic of China   

China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, Shanghai Branch

China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, Shenzhen Branch

Colombia    Depósito Central de Valores
   Depósito Centralizado de Valores de Colombia S.A. (DECEVAL)
Costa Rica    Central de Valores S.A.
Croatia    Sredisnje klirinsko depozitarno drustvo d.d.
Cyprus    Central Depository and Central Registry
Czech Republic    Czech National Bank
   Středisko cenných papíru - Ceská republika
Denmark    VP Securities A/S

 

As of 04/08/10

-1-


  STATE STREET    SCHEDULE B
  GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK   
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS

 

Market

  

Depository

Egypt    Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry S.A.E.
   Central Bank of Egypt
Estonia    AS Eesti Väärtpaberikeskus
Finland    Euroclear Finland
France    Euroclear France
Germany    Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt
Ghana    GSE Securities Depository Company Ltd.
   Bank of Ghana
Greece    Kentriko Apothetirio Aksion, a department of Hellenic Exchanges S.A. Holding
   Bank of Greece, System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities in Book-Entry Form
Guinea-Bissau    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Hong Kong    Central Moneymarkets Unit
   Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited
Hungary    Központi Elszámolóház és Értéktár (Budapesti) Zrt. (KELER)
Iceland    Icelandic Securities Depository Limited
India    Central Depository Services (India) Limited
   National Securities Depository Limited
   Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia    Bank Indonesia
   PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Israel    Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd. (TASE Clearing House)
Italy    Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Ivory Coast    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Jamaica    Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Japan    Bank of Japan – Net System
   Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC) Incorporated
Jordan    Securities Depository Center
Kazakhstan    Central Securities Depository

 

As of 04/08/10

-2-


  STATE STREET    SCHEDULE B
  GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK   
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS

 

Market

  

Depository

Kenya    Central Depository and Settlement Corporation Limited
   Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea    Korea Securities Depository
Kuwait    Kuwait Clearing Company
Latvia    Latvian Central Depository
Lebanon    Banque du Liban
  

Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial Instruments

for Lebanon and the Middle East (Midclear) S.A.L.

Lithuania    Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia    Bank Negara Malaysia
   Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Mali    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Malta    Central Securities Depository of the Malta Stock Exchange
Mauritius    Bank of Mauritius
   Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd.
Mexico    S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V.
Morocco    Maroclear
Namibia    Bank of Namibia
Netherlands    Euroclear Nederland
New Zealand    New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Niger    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Nigeria    Central Securities Clearing System Limited
Norway    Verdipapirsentralen
Oman    Muscat Depository & Securities Registration Company, SAOC
Pakistan    Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
   State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine    Clearing, Depository and Settlement system, a department of the Palestine Securities Exchange

 

As of 04/08/10

-3-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS

   SCHEDULE B

 

Market

  

Depository

Peru    CAVALI S.A. Institución de Compensación y Liquidación de Valores
Philippines   

Philippine Depository & Trust Corporation

Registry of Scripless Securities (ROSS) of the Bureau of Treasury

Poland   

Rejestr Papierów Warto ciowych

Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartos´ciowych, S.A.

Portugal   

INTERBOLSA - Sociedad Gestora de Sistemas

de Liquidação e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores Mobiliários, S.A.

Qatar    Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a department of the Qatar Exchange
Romania   

S.C. Depozitarul Central S.A.

National Bank of Romania

Russia   

Vneshtorgbank, Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian Federation

National Depository Center

Saudi Arabia   

Tadawul Central Securities Depository

Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency

Senegal    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Serbia    Central Registrar, Depository and Clearinghouse
Singapore   

The Central Depository (Pte) Limited

Monetary Authority of Singapore

Slovak Republic    Centralny depozitar cenných papierov SR, a.s.
Slovenia    KDD - Centralna klirinsko depotna druzba d.d.
South Africa    Strate Ltd.
Spain    IBERCLEAR
Sri Lanka   

Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited

Sweden    Euroclear Sweden
Switzerland    SIX SIS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C.   

Taiwan Depository and Clearing Corporation

Central Bank of China

Thailand    Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited

 

As of 04/08/10

-4-


  

STATE STREET

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS

   SCHEDULE B

 

Market

  

Depository

Togo    Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Trinidad and Tobago   

Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Central Depository Limited

Tunisia   

Société Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la

Compensation et le Dépôts des Valeurs Mobilières (STICODEVAM)

Turkey   

Central Bank of Turkey

Central Registry Agency

Uganda    Bank of Uganda
Ukraine   

All-Ukrainian Securities Depository

National Bank of Ukraine

United Arab Emirates - Dubai Financial Market    Clearing and Depository System, a department of the Dubai Financial Market
United Arab Emirates - Dubai International Financial Center    Central Securities Depository, owned and operated by NASDAQ Dubai Limited
United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi    Clearing, Settlement, Depository and Registry department of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
United Kingdom    Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited
Uruguay    Banco Central del Uruguay
Venezuela    Banco Central de Venezuela
   Caja Venezolana de Valores
Vietnam    Vietnam Securities Depository
Zambia   

Bank of Zambia LuSE

Central Shares Depository Limited

TRANSNATIONAL   
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

As of 04/08/10

-5-


SCHEDULE C

MARKET INFORMATION

 

Publication/Type of Information

  

Brief Description

(scheduled frequency)     

The Guide to Custody in World Markets

(hardcopy annually and regular website updates)

   An overview of settlement and safekeeping procedures, custody practices and foreign investor considerations for the markets in which State Street offers custodial services.

Global Custody Network Review

(annually)

   Information relating to Foreign Sub-Custodians in State Street’s Global Custody Network. The Review stands as an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to assist them in complying with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also gives insight into State Street’s market expansion and Foreign Sub-Custodian selection processes, as well as the procedures and controls used to monitor the financial condition and performance of our Foreign Sub-Custodian banks.

Securities Depository Review

(annually)

   Custody risk analyses of the Foreign Securities Depositories presently operating in Network markets. This publication is an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to meet informational obligations created by SEC Rule 17f-7.

Global Legal Survey

(annually)

   With respect to each market in which State Street offers custodial services, opinions relating to whether local law restricts (i) access of a fund’s independent public accountants to books and records of a Foreign Sub- Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a fund’s ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (iii) a fund’s ability to recover in the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a foreign investor to convert cash and cash equivalents to U.S. dollars.

Subcustodian Agreements

(annually)

   Copies of the contracts that State Street has entered into with each Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains U.S. mutual fund assets in the markets in which State Street offers custodial services.

Global Market Bulletin

(daily or as necessary)

   Information on changing settlement and custody conditions in markets where State Street offers custodial services. Includes changes in market and tax regulations, depository developments, dematerialization information, as well as other market changes that may impact State Street’s clients.

Foreign Custody Advisories

(as necessary)

   For those markets where State Street offers custodial services that exhibit special risks or infrastructures impacting custody, State Street issues market advisories to highlight those unique market factors which might impact our ability to offer recognized custody service levels.

Material Change Notices

(presently on a quarterly basis or as otherwise necessary)

   Informational letters and accompanying materials confirming State Street’s foreign custody arrangements, including a summary of material changes with Foreign Sub-Custodians that have occurred during the previous quarter. The notices also identify any material changes in the custodial risks associated with maintaining assets with Foreign Securities Depositories.


  F UNDS  T RANSFER  A DDENDUM   LOGO

OPERATING GUIDELINES

1. OBLIGATION OF THE SENDER : State Street is authorized to promptly debit Client’s account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the selected Security Procedure chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money that State Street has been instructed to transfer. State Street shall execute payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Client’s instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received after this time will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.

2. SECURITY PROCEDURE : The Client acknowledges that the Security Procedure it has designated on the Selection Form was selected by the Client from Security Procedures offered by State Street. The Client agrees that the Security Procedures are reasonable and adequate for its wire transfer transactions and agrees to be bound by any payment orders, amendments and cancellations, whether or not authorized, issued in its name and accepted by State Street after being confirmed by any of the selected Security Procedures. The Client also agrees to be bound by any other valid and authorized payment order accepted by State Street. The Client shall restrict access to confidential information relating to the Security Procedure to authorized persons as communicated in writing to State Street. The Client must notify State Street immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of any change in the Client’s authorized personnel. State Street shall verify the authenticity of all instructions according to the Security Procedure.

3. ACCOUNT NUMBERS : State Street shall process all payment orders on the basis of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. Financial institutions that receive payment orders initiated by State Street at the instruction of the Client may also process payment orders on the basis of account numbers, regardless of any name included in the payment order. State Street will also rely on any financial institution identification numbers included in any payment order, regardless of any financial institution name included in the payment order.

4. REJECTION : State Street reserves the right to decline to process or delay the processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in the account to be charged at the time of State Street’s receipt of such payment order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause State Street, in State Street’s sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network, time, credit or similar limits upon wire transfers which are applicable to State Street; or (c) if State Street, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly authorized.

5. CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT : State Street shall use reasonable efforts to act on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received in a timely manner affording State Street reasonable opportunity to act. However, State Street assumes no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot be satisfied.

6. ERRORS : State Street shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any erroneous payment order provided that State Street complies with the payment order instructions as received and State Street complies with the Security Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in payment orders.

7. INTEREST AND LIABILITY LIMITS : State Street shall assume no responsibility for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment order, unless State Street is notified of the unauthorized payment order within thirty (30) days of notification by State Street of the acceptance of such payment order. In no event shall State Street be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages and even for failure to execute a payment order.

8. AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (“ACH”) CREDIT ENTRIES/PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS : When a Client initiates or receives ACH credit and debit entries pursuant to these Guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association and the New England Clearing House Association, State Street will act as an Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by State Street with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until State Street receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank. If State Street does not receive such final settlement, the Client agrees that State Street shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Client in connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Client via such entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.

9. CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS : Confirmation of State Street’s execution of payment orders shall ordinarily be provided within 24 hours. Notice may be delivered through State Street’s proprietary information systems, such as, but not limited to Horizon and GlobalQuest®, account statements, advices, or by facsimile or callback. The Client must report any objections to the execution of a payment order within 30 days.


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10. LIABILITY ON FOREIGN ACCOUNTS : State Street shall not be required to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of State Street, or any deposit made with State Street and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of such deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to: (a) an act of war, insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a defacto or a dejure government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of civil authority; or(c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch of State Street in order to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of State Street, harm to the employees or property of State Street. The obligation to repay any such deposit shall not be transferred to and may not be enforced against any other branch of State Street.

The foregoing provisions constitute the disclosure required by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 167D, Section 36.

While State Street is not obligated to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch or any deposit denominated in a non-U.S. currency during the period in which its repayment has been prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked, State Street will repay such deposit when and if all circumstances preventing, prohibiting or otherwise blocking repayment cease to exist.

11. MISCELLANEOUS : State Street and the Client agree to cooperate to attempt to recover any funds erroneously paid to the wrong party or parties, regardless of any fault of State Street or the Client, but the party responsible for the erroneous payment shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in trying to effect such recovery. These Guidelines may not be amended except by a written agreement signed by the parties.


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Security Procedure(s) Selection Form

Please select one or more of the funds transfer security procedures indicated below.

¨ SWIFT

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a cooperative society owned and operated by member financial institutions that provides telecommunication services for its membership. Participation is limited to securities brokers and dealers, clearing and depository institutions, recognized exchanges for securities, and investment management institutions. SWIFT provides a number of security features through encryption and authentication to protect against unauthorized access, loss or wrong delivery of messages, transmission errors, loss of confidentiality and fraudulent changes to messages. SWIFT is considered to be one of the most secure and efficient networks for the delivery of funds transfer instructions.

Selection of this security procedure would be most appropriate for existing SWIFT members.

¨ Standing Instructions

Standing Instructions may be used where funds are transferred to a broker on the Client’s established list of brokers with which it engages in foreign exchange transactions. Only the date, the currency and the currency amount are variable. In order to establish this procedure, State Street will send to the Client a list of the brokers that State Street has determined are used by the Client. The Client will confirm the list in writing, and State Street will verify the written confirmation by telephone. Standing Instructions will be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit, the Standing Instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution.

¨ Remote Batch Transmission

Wire transfer instructions are delivered via Computer-to-Computer (CPU-CPU) data communications between the Client and State Street. Security procedures include encryption and or the use of a test key by those individuals authorized as Automated Batch Verifiers.

Clients selecting this option should have an existing facility for completing CPU-CPU transmissions. This delivery mechanism is typically used for high-volume business.

¨ Global Horizon Interchange sm Funds Transfer Service

Global Horizon Interchange Funds Transfer Service (FTS) is a State Street proprietary microcomputer-based wire initiation system. FTS enables Clients to electronically transmit authenticated Fedwire, CHIPS or internal book transfer instructions to State Street.

This delivery mechanism is most appropriate for Clients with a low-to-medium number of transactions (5-75 per day), allowing Clients to enter, batch, and review wire transfer instructions on their PC prior to release to State Street.

¨ Telephone Confirmation (Callback)

Telephone confirmation will be used to verify all non-repetitive funds transfer instructions received via untested facsimile or phone. This procedure requires Clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized verifiers. State Street will verify that the instruction contains the signature of an authorized person and prior to execution, will contact someone other than the originator at the Client’s location to authenticate the instruction.

Selection of this alternative is appropriate for Clients who do not have the capability to use other security procedures.

¨ Repetitive Wires

For situations where funds are transferred periodically (minimum of one instruction per calendar quarter) from an existing authorized account to the same payee (destination bank and account number) and only the date and currency amount are variable, a repetitive wire may be implemented. Repetitive wires will be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit, the instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution. Telephone confirmation is used to establish this process. Repetitive wire instructions must be reconfirmed annually.

This alternative is recommended whenever funds are frequently transferred between the same two accounts.

¨ Transfers Initiated by Facsimile

The Client faxes wire transfer instructions directly to State Street Mutual Fund Services. Standard security procedure requires the use of a random number test key for all transfers. Every six months the Client receives test key logs from State Street. The test key contains alpha-numeric characters, which the Client puts on each document faxed to State Street. This procedure ensures all wire instructions received via fax are authorized by the Client.

We provide this option for Clients who wish to batch wire instructions and transmit these as a group to State Street Mutual Fund Services once or several times a day.


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¨ Instruct

Instruct is a State Street web-based application designed to provide internet-enabled remote access that allows for the capturing, verification and processing of various instruction types, including securities, cash and foreign exchange transactions. Instruct is designed using industry standard formats to facilitate straight-through processing. Instruct provides a number of security features through user entitlements, industry standard encryption protocols, digital security certificates and multiple tiers of user authentication requirements.

¨ Secure Transport

Secure Transport is a file transfer application based upon the Secure File Transfer Protocol standard that is designed to enable State Street clients/ investment managers to send file based transfer and transaction instructions over the internet. Secure Transport features multi-factor authenticators such as SecurID and digital certificates, and incorporates industry-standard encryption protocols.

¨ Automated Clearing House (ACH)

State Street receives an automated transmission or a magnetic tape from a Client for the initiation of payment (credit) or collection (debit) transactions through the ACH network. The transactions contained on each transmission or tape must be authenticated by the Client. Clients using ACH must select one or more of the following delivery options:

¨ Global Horizon Interchange Automated Clearing House Service

Transactions are created on a microcomputer, assembled into batches and delivered to State Street via fully authenticated electronic transmissions in standard NACHA formats.

¨ Transmission from Client PC to State Street Mainframe with Telephone Callback

¨ Transmission from Client Mainframe to State Street Mainframe with Telephone Callback

¨ Transmission from DST Systems to State Street Mainframe with Encryption

¨ Magnetic Tape Delivered to State Street with Telephone Callback

State Street is hereby instructed to accept funds transfer instructions only via the delivery methods and security procedures indicated. The selected delivery methods and security procedure(s) will be effective                      for payment orders initiated by our organization.

Key Contact Information

Whom shall we contact to implement your selection(s)?

 

CLIENT OPERATIONS CONTACT

    

ALTERNATE CONTACT

    

 

    

 

  

Name

    

Name

  

 

    

 

  

Address

    

Address

  

 

    

 

  

City/State/Zip Code

    

City/State/Zip Code

  

 

    

 

  

Telephone Number

    

Telephone Number

  

 

    

 

  

Facsimile Number

    

Facsimile Number

  

 

       

SWIFT Number

       

 

       

Telex Number

       


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INSTRUCTION(S)

TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION

 

Fund _______________________________________________   
Investment Adviser ___________________________________   

Authorized Initiators

Please Type or Print

Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who are currently authorized to INITIATE wire transfer instructions to State Street:

 

NAME

  

TITLE (Specify whether position is with
Fund or Investment Adviser)

  

SPECIMEN SIGNATURE

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

Authorized Verifiers

Please Type or Print

Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who will be CALLED BACK to verify the initiation of repetitive wires of $10 million or more and all non-repetitive wire instructions:

 

NAME

  

CALLBACK PHONE NUMBER

  

DOLLAR LIMITATION (IF ANY)

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 


REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT

ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement dated as of April 19, 2010 (the “Custodian Agreement”) between THL Credit, Inc. (the “Customer”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates (“State Street”).

State Street has developed and/or utilizes proprietary or third-party accounting and other systems in conjunction with the services that State Street provides to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain information in databases under its ownership and/or control that it makes available to its customers (the “Remote Access Services”).

The Services

State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment advisors, consultants or other third parties who agree to abide by the terms of this Addendum (“Authorized Designees”) with access to State Street proprietary and third-party systems as may be offered by State Street from time to time (each, a “System”) on a remote basis.

Security Procedures

The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply, with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user identification or other password control requirements and other security devices and procedures as may be issued or required from time to time by State Street or its third-party vendors for use of the System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer is responsible for any use and/or misuse of the System and Remote Access Services by its Authorized Designees. The Customer agrees to advise State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State Street and State Street may restrict access of the System and Remote Access Services by the Customer or any Authorized Designee for security reasons or noncompliance with the terms of this Addendum at any time.

Fees

Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and related payment terms shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in effect from time to time between the parties. The Customer shall be responsible for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any government or governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum, including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes, use, value added and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or similar taxes which may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any claimed exemption from such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by proper documentary evidence delivered to State Street.

Proprietary Information/Injunctive Relief

The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, knowhow, algorithms, programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files, documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary and

 

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intellectual property rights of State Street and third-party vendors related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and confidential proprietary property of State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors (the “Proprietary Information”). The Customer agrees on behalf of itself and its Authorized Designees to keep the Proprietary Information confidential and to limit access to its employees and Authorized Designees (under a similar duty of confidentiality) who require access to the System for the purposes intended. The foregoing shall not apply to Proprietary Information in the public domain or required by law to be made public.

The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii) use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv) allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street’s databases, including data from third-party sources, available through use of the System or the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street’s customer.

The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the System in any way; enhance, copy or otherwise create derivative works based upon the System; nor will the Customer or Customer’s Authorized Designees reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or any part of the System.

The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street or its third-party licensors and vendors inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.

Limited Warranties

State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and/or has the right to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology, including but not limited to the use of the Internet, and the necessity of relying upon third-party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided “AS IS” without warranty express or implied including as to availability of the System, and the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the use of the System and Remote Access Services and investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access Services, nor shall any party be responsible for delays or nonperformance under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party’s control.

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS RELEVANT LICENSORS AND THIRD-PARTY VENDORS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

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Infringement

State Street will defend or, at its option, settle any claim or action brought against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that access to or use of State Street proprietary systems by the Customer under this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any United States patent or copyright or misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding, cooperates with State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding and allows State Street sole control over such claim or proceeding. Should the State Street proprietary system or any part thereof become, or in State Street’s opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of infringement or the like under any applicable patent, copyright or trade secret laws, State Street shall have the right, at State Street’s sole option, to (i) procure for the Customer the right to continue using the State Street proprietary system (ii) replace or modify the State Street proprietary system so that the State Street proprietary system becomes noninfringing, or (iii) terminate this Addendum without further obligation. This section constitutes the sole remedy available to the Customer for the matters described in this section.

Termination

Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days’ prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the Customer or thirty (30) days’ notice in the case of notice from the Customer to State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of any service agreement applicable to the Customer. The Customer’s use of any third-party System is contingent upon its compliance with any terms and conditions of use of such System imposed by such third party and State Street’s continued access to, and use of, such third-party System. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession or in the possession of its Authorized Designees and immediately cease access to the System and Remote Access Services. The foregoing provisions with respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a period of three (3) years.

Miscellaneous

This Addendum constitutes the entire understanding of the parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer: (a) confirms to State Street that it informs all Authorized Designees of the terms of this Addendum; (b) accepts responsibility for its and its Authorized Designees’ compliance with the terms of this Addendum; and (c) indemnifies and holds State Street harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities arising from any failure of the Customer or any of its Authorized Designees to abide by the terms of this Addendum.

 

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Exhibit 10.6

Execution Copy

SUB-ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

This Sub-Administration Agreement (“Agreement”) dated and effective as of April 20, 2010, is by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Sub-Administrator”), THL Credit, Inc. (the “Company”), and THL Credit Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”).

WHEREAS, the Company is a closed-end, management investment company that intends to elect to be regulated as a business development company;

WHEREAS, the Company has retained the Administrator to furnish administrative services to the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Administrator desire to retain the Sub-Administrator to furnish certain administrative services to the Company, and the Sub-Administrator is willing to furnish such services, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. A PPOINTMENT OF S UB -A DMINISTRATOR

The Company and the Administrator hereby appoint the Sub-Administrator to provide certain administrative services for the Company for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Administrator accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services stated herein.

 

2. D ELIVERY OF D OCUMENTS

The Administrator will promptly deliver to the Sub-Administrator copies of each of the following documents with respect to the Company and all future amendments and supplements, if any:

 

  a. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws;

 

  b. The Company’s pre-effective amendment No. 2 to its registration statement on Form N-2, SEC File No. 333-159636, any subsequent amendments thereto and any subsequent registration statements on Form N-2 and any subsequent amendments thereto (the most recent such registration statement or amendment thereto at any time being referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

  c. Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) authorizing (1) the Company to enter into this Agreement and (2) certain individuals on behalf of the Administrator to (a) give instructions to the Sub-Administrator pursuant to this Agreement and (b) sign checks and pay expenses;

 

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Execution Copy

 

  d. A copy of the administration agreement between the Company and the Administrator; and

 

  e. Such other certificates, documents or opinions which the Sub-Administrator may, in its reasonable discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in the proper performance of its duties.

 

3. R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE S UB -A DMINISTRATOR

The Sub-Administrator represents and warrants to the Administrator that:

 

  a. It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

 

  b. It has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

 

  c. All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

  d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impair the Sub-Administrator’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and

 

  e. Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Sub-Administrator or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

4. R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE A DMINISTRATOR

The Administrator represents and warrants to the Sub-Administrator that:

 

  a. It is a limited liability company duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

  b. It has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and by its governing documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

  c. All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

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Execution Copy

 

  d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Administrator’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and

 

  e. Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Administrator or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

5. R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE C OMPANY

The Company represents and warrants to the Sub-Administrator that:

 

  a. The Company is a corporation duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

  b. It has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and by its Certificate of Incorporation to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

  c. All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

  d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Company’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

  e. Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Administrator or any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

  f. The Company is an investment company that intends to file an election to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

 

  g. A Registration Statement has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); and

 

  h. As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, the Company is authorized to issue shares of capital stock.

 

6. S UB -A DMINISTRATION S ERVICES

The Sub-Administrator shall provide the following services, subject to the authorization and direction of the Administrator or the Company and, in each case where appropriate, the review and comment by the Company’s independent accountants and legal counsel and in accordance with procedures which may be established from time to time between the Administrator and the Sub-Administrator:

 

  a. Prepare for the review by designated officer(s) of the Administrator the Company’s financial statements and periodic financial reports required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and financial information required by proxy statements, Form 8-K and such other reports, forms or filings as may be mutually agreed upon;

 

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Execution Copy

 

  b. Coordinate the audit of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s independent accountants, including the preparation of supporting audit workpapers and other schedules, and make such reports and recommendations to the Board (or the Audit Committee of the Board (“Audit Committee”)) concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Board or the Audit Committee may reasonably request;

 

  c. Calculate management fees and incentive fees in accordance with the Company’s investment advisory agreement and/or other applicable documents;

 

  d. Calculate incentive amounts available for distribution to shareholders by the Company;

 

  e. Provide periodic testing of the Company with respect to compliance with the mandatory qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”) for status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, and as mutually agreed the requirements of the 1940 Act applicable to business development companies and the investment policies and restrictions of the Company contained in its Registration Statement for the Company as may be mutually agreed upon, including quarterly compliance reporting to the designated officer(s) of the Company as well as preparation of related Board materials; and

 

  f. Provide sub-certificates in connection with the certification requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to the services provided by the Sub-Administrator.

 

  g. Implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the Personal Information (as defined below) of the Trust’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Administrator receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. Pursuant to Section 17.02 of the Standards for The Protection of Personal Information of Residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Privacy Standards), “Personal Information” is means an individual’s name and one or more of the following: Social Security number, driver’s license number, state-issued identification card number, financial account number, or debit or credit card number, with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or password, that would permit access to a resident’s financial account.

 

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The Sub-Administrator shall perform such other services for the Administrator and the Company that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time, for which the Company or the Administrator will pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement, including the Sub-Administrator’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The provision of such services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

The Sub-Administrator shall provide the office facilities and the personnel determined by it to perform the services contemplated herein.

 

7. F EES ; E XPENSES ; E XPENSE R EIMBURSEMENT

The Sub-Administrator shall receive from the Administrator with respect to the Company such compensation for the Sub-Administrator’s services provided pursuant to this Agreement as may be agreed to from time to time in a written Fee Schedule approved by the parties. The fees shall be accrued daily and billed monthly and shall be due and payable upon receipt of the invoice. Upon the termination of this Agreement before the end of any month, the fee for the part of the month before such termination shall be prorated according to the proportion which such part bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of termination of this Agreement. In addition, the Administrator shall reimburse the Sub-Administrator for its out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with this Agreement. All rights of compensation and expense reimbursement under this Agreement for services performed as of the termination date shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

The Administrator agrees promptly to reimburse the Sub-Administrator for any equipment and supplies specially ordered by or for the Company through the Sub-Administrator and for any other expenses not contemplated by this Agreement that the Sub-Administrator may incur on the Company’s or the Administrator’s behalf or at the Administrator’s or the Company’s request or with the Administrator’s or the Company’s consent.

The Administrator acknowledges and agrees that the Company and/or the Administrator will bear all expenses that are incurred in the operation of the Company and not specifically assumed by the Sub-Administrator. Expenses to be borne by the Company and/or the Administrator, include, but are not limited to: organizational expenses; cost of services of independent accountants and outside legal and tax counsel (including such counsel’s review of the Company’s Registration Statement, Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, proxy materials, federal and state tax qualification as a regulated investment company and other notices, registrations, reports, filings and materials prepared by the Sub-Administrator under this Agreement); cost of any services contracted for by the Company or the Administrator directly from parties other than the Sub-Administrator; cost of trading operations and brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Company; investment advisory fees; taxes, insurance premiums and other fees and expenses applicable to its operation; costs incidental to any meetings of shareholders including, but not limited to, legal and accounting fees, proxy filing fees and the costs of preparation (e.g., typesetting, page changes and all other print vendor and EDGAR charges, collectively referred to herein as “Preparation”), printing, distribution and mailing of any proxy materials; costs incidental to Board meetings, including fees and expenses of

 

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Execution Copy

 

Board members; the compensation and expenses of any officer, director\trustee or employee of the Company; costs of preparation, printing, distribution and mailing, as applicable, of the Company’s shareholder reports; all applicable registration fees and filing fees required under federal and state securities laws; the cost of fidelity bond and D&O/E&O liability insurance; and cost of independent pricing services and valuation firms used in determining the value of the Company’s assets.

The Sub-Administrator is authorized to and may employ, associate or contract with such person or persons as the Sub-Administrator may deem desirable to assist it in performing its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by the Sub-Administrator and that the Sub-Administrator shall be as fully responsible to the Administrator for the acts and omissions of any such person or persons as it is for its own acts and omissions.

 

8. I NSTRUCTIONS AND A DVICE

a. At any time, the Sub-Administrator may apply to any officer of the Company or his or her designee for instructions and may consult with its own legal counsel or outside counsel for the Company or the independent accountants for the Company at the expense of the Company or the Administrator, with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Sub-Administrator under this Agreement.

b. The Sub-Administrator shall not be liable, and shall be indemnified by the Administrator, for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon any such instructions or advice or upon any paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons. The Sub-Administrator shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company or the Administrator. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing upon the Sub-Administrator any obligation to seek such instructions or advice, or to act in accordance with such advice when received.

 

9. L IMITATION OF L IABILITY AND I NDEMNIFICATION

The Sub-Administrator shall be responsible for the performance only of such duties as are set forth in this Agreement and, except as otherwise provided under Section 7, shall have no responsibility for the actions or activities of any other party, including other service providers. The Sub-Administrator shall have no liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Company or the Administrator insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of the Sub-Administrator’s duties hereunder in reliance upon records that were maintained for the Company or the Administrator by entities other than the Sub-Administrator prior to the Sub-Administrator’s appointment as Sub-Administrator hereunder. The Sub-Administrator shall have no liability for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or damage resulting from the performance or nonperformance of its duties hereunder unless solely caused by or resulting from the negligence, bad faith, reckless disregard or willful misfeasance of the Sub-Administrator, its officers or employees. The Sub-Administrator shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages, including lost profits, of any kind

 

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whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) under any provision of this Agreement or for any such damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder, each of which is hereby excluded by agreement of the parties regardless of whether such damages were foreseeable or whether either party or any entity had been advised of the possibility of such damages. In any event, the Sub-Administrator’s liability under this Agreement shall be limited to such amount as may be agreed upon from time to time between the parties hereto.

The Sub-Administrator shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.

The Administrator shall indemnify and hold the Sub-Administrator and its directors, officers, employees and agents harmless from all loss, cost, damage and expense, including reasonable fees and expenses for counsel, incurred by the Sub-Administrator resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit in connection with the Sub-Administrator’s acceptance of this Agreement, any action or omission by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, or as a result of acting upon any instructions reasonably believed by it to have been duly authorized by the Company or the Administrator or upon reasonable reliance on information or records given or made by the Company or the Administrator or its investment adviser, provided that this indemnification shall not apply to actions or omissions of the Sub-Administrator, its officers or employees in cases of its or their own negligence, bad faith, reckless disregard or willful misfeasance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification contained herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

10. C ONFIDENTIALITY

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other parties regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by the other parties hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. No party will use or disclose confidential information for purposes other than the activities contemplated by this Agreement or except as required by law, court process or pursuant to the lawful requirement of a governmental agency, or if the party is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for failure to make a disclosure, or except at the request or with the written consent of the other parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other parties may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other parties to the disclosing party’s employees, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions.

 

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The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by a party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Furthermore, and notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, the Sub-Administrator may aggregate the Company’s data with similar data of other customers of the Sub-Administrator (“Aggregated Data”) and may use Aggregated Data for purposes of constructing statistical models so long as such Aggregated Data represents a sufficiently large sample that no Company data can be identified either directly or by inference or implication.

The undertakings and obligations contained in this Section shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

 

11. C OMPLIANCE WITH G OVERNMENTAL R ULES AND R EGULATIONS ; R ECORDS

In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Administrator agrees that all records which it maintains for the Company shall at all times remain the property of the Company, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request. The Sub-Administrator further agrees that all records that it maintains for the Company pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. Records may be surrendered in either written or machine-readable form, at the option of the Sub-Administrator.

 

12. S ERVICES N OT E XCLUSIVE

The services of the Sub-Administrator are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Sub-Administrator shall be free to render similar services to others. The Sub-Administrator shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Administrator from time to time, have no authority to act or represent the Company or the Administrator in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Company or the Administrator.

 

13. T ERM , T ERMINATION AND A MENDMENT

 

  (a) This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written. The Agreement shall remain in effect unless terminated by a party on sixty (60) days’ prior written notice.

 

  (b) Upon termination of this Agreement, the Administrator shall pay to the Sub-Administrator such compensation and any reimbursable expenses as may be due under the terms hereof as of the date of such termination, including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with such termination.

 

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  (c) This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.

 

14. N OTICES

Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, by overnight delivery through a commercial courier service, or posted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other): if to the Administrator or the Company: THL Credit Advisors LLC., 100 Federal Street, 31st Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attn: Terrence W. Olson, fax: 877-494-9096 ; if to the Sub-Administrator: State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 5049, Boston, MA 02206-5049, Attn: Fund Administration Legal Department, fax: 617-662-3805.

 

15. N ON -A SSIGNABILITY

This Agreement shall not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior consent in writing of the other parties, except that the Sub-Administrator may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Administrator.

 

16. S UCCESSORS

This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrator, the Company and the Sub-Administrator and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

17. E NTIRE A GREEMENT

This Agreement contains the entire understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous representations, warranties or commitments regarding the services to be performed hereunder whether oral or in writing.

 

18. W AIVER

The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.

 

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19. S EVERABILITY

If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.

 

20. G OVERNING L AW

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

21. R EPRODUCTION OF D OCUMENTS

This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, xerographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

22. C OUNTERPARTS

This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first written above.

 

THL CREDIT, INC.     THL CREDIT ADVISORS LLC
By:  

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

    By:  

/s/ James K. Hunt

  Name:   Terrence W. Olson       Name:   James K. Hunt
  Title:   COO & CFO       Title:   CEO
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY        
By:  

/s/ Joseph C. Antonellis

       
  Name:   Joseph C. Antonellis        
  Title:   Vice Chairman        

 

11

Exhibit 10.10

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 21 st day of April, 2010, by and between THL Credit, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”) and THL Credit Partners BDC Holdings, L.P. (the “ Purchaser ”).

THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

i. PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE SHARES

 

  a. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Corporation agrees to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Corporation 6,307,692 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 (the “ Shares ”) at a price per Share of $13.00 for an aggregate purchase price of $81,999,996. Payment by the Purchaser shall be made to the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Corporation against delivery by the Corporation to the Purchaser of certificates for the Shares to be purchased by the Purchaser.

 

  b. The offering and sale of the Shares are being made pursuant to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as such terms are defined below). The Purchaser acknowledges that the Corporation intends to enter into a purchase agreement with certain underwriters pursuant to which it intends to offer and sell (the “ Offering ”) up to an aggregate of 16,657,692 shares of its Common Stock to the public pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

  c. The Corporation has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a preliminary prospectus (the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”) and will file a final prospectus (collectively, the “ Prospectus ”) with respect to the Corporation’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-159636) (the “ Registration Statement ”) reflecting the Offering, including all amendments thereto, the exhibits and any schedules thereto and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “ Rules and Regulations ”) in conformity with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the Rules and Regulations, the “ Securities Act ”), including Rule 497 thereunder. The Purchaser hereby confirms that it has had full access to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, and the other information incorporated by reference therein, and was able to read, review, download, and print such materials.


  d. The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497 will be made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.

 

  e. Closing of the purchase and sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement is conditioned on the closing of the purchase and sale of Shares pursuant to the Offering and shall occur at the same time.

 

  f. The Purchaser agrees that it has entered into a standard lockup agreement with the underwriters in the Offering covering all shares purchased by it from the Corporation.

 

ii. The Corporation hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants for the benefit of, the Purchaser that:

 

  a. The Corporation has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation. This Subscription Agreement, when accepted by the Corporation, shall have been duly executed by the Corporation and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

  b. When issued and paid for pursuant to the terms hereof, the Shares to be sold hereunder by the Corporation will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, free and clear of all liens and free of any preemptive or similar rights.


iii. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants for the benefit of, the Corporation that:

 

  a. The Purchaser has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement by the Purchaser and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Purchaser. This Subscription Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Corporation has not made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section ii of this Subscription Agreement.

 

  b. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or constitute a material breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Purchaser pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument or agreement to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Purchaser is subject, nor will any such action result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Purchaser or any applicable law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree.

 

  c. The Purchaser understands that nothing in this Subscription Agreement or any other materials presented to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares constitutes legal, tax, or investment advice. The Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax, and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Shares.

 

iv. The foregoing representations, warranties and agreements, together with all other representations and warranties made or given by the Purchaser to the Corporation in any other written statement or document delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of this Subscription Agreement and the Closing Date, as if made on and as of each such date, and shall survive each such date and if there should be any material change in such information prior to the Closing Date of the sale of the Shares, the Purchaser shall immediately furnish in writing such revised or corrected information to the Corporation. The Purchaser understands that the Corporation will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations, warranties and agreements, and the Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.


v. Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Subscription Agreement, all covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties made by the Corporation and the Purchaser herein will survive the execution of this Subscription Agreement, the delivery to the Purchaser of the Shares being purchased, and the payment therefor.

 

vi. This Subscription Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by the Corporation and the Purchaser.

 

vii. In case any provision contained in this Subscription Agreement should be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

viii. This Subscription Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

ix. This Subscription Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, will constitute but one instrument, and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

THL CREDIT PARTNERS BDC HOLDINGS, L.P.
  By:  

THL CREDIT PARTNERS BDC HOLDINGS GP, LLC;
its general partner

  By:   THL CREDIT PARTNERS GP, L.P.;
    its sole member
  By:   THL CREDIT GROUP GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:  

/s/ James K. Hunt

    James K. Hunt
    Authorized Person
THL CREDIT, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

    Terrence W. Olson
    Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]

 

5

EXHIBIT 31.1

CEO CERTIFICATION

I, James K. Hunt, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of THL Credit, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 9, 2010     By:  

/s/ James K. Hunt

      James K. Hunt
      Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 31.2

CFO CERTIFICATION

I, Terrence W. Olson, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of THL Credit, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 9, 2010     By:  

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

      Terrence W. Olson
      Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 32

Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of THL Credit, Inc. (the “Registrant”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), James K. Hunt, as Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, and Terrence W. Olson, as Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

/s/ James K. Hunt

Name:   James K. Hunt
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Date:   August 9, 2010

/s/ Terrence W. Olson

Name:   Terrence W. Olson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Date:   August 9, 2010